Watching the Neighborhood Grow

Jenni moved out last weekend and into their new home about a mile from here.  In a few days, carpet cleaners will arrive to do the entire house (so excited) and then I'll slowly move back into the rooms.  Going to make the front bedroom (where Jen slept) that looks out onto the street into my combo sewing room and office. That way I can keep an eye on the progress of the 8 homes being built. So interesting to watch the workers. None of them will move in until all the homes are done. The Port Authority is in charge and they all have to put in so many hours under their contract. Some of them are really struggling I can tell. I seriously doubt I could do it.  I felt sorry for them during the heat spell we had and I feel sorry for the fall and winter weather ahead. It's raining now but they're pounding away.

I decided there was no way I could store all my material in here along with office supplies so half the room will be my sewing table, ironing board (new iron arrived today), and a cutting table, if I can make it work.  I'll have a few sewing supplies, of course, but the stacked shelves and bins full of material will stay in the back bedroom along with other stored items that accumulate and I don't want to put in the garage. The single bed will also be there so I'll have a place to put overnight guests, even though those are far and in-between.

Hmmmm...I just got hungry so think I'll go make a quick wrap sandwich and eat it while I continue to type.  Back again - two small wraps and a beer!  Yum.  Went to Safeway yesterday and they had these HUGE  Subway or hero sandwiches, whatever they're called, for $5.  Like a large garlic bread you'd buy in the bakery. Anyhow, I bought one and when I tried to eat just a small slice for lunch, it was too big to even get into my mouth!  And messy.  Solved that problem,though.  Took it all apart, put the bread into baggies to make individual garlic bread toasted under the broiler with cheese and garlic and butter.  Took the lettuce, put in a baggie for use in wrap sandwiches. Same with the cheese and meats.  And there was a ton of meat!  Roast beef, turkey, and ham.    I was surprised to see just how much there was.  That'll keep me in wrap sandwiches for a while and I can add tomatoes if I want.

Anyhow, here are the pictures that were online that the realtor posted of Jen and Wayne's house.

Andy, Jake and Mary are all on vacation in Europe right now. Went to Germany to visit his relatives and now they're in Prague. Love seeing their photos on Facebook.

Been suffering with what I guess is sciatica for the last couple weeks.  For quite a while it was just my left hip so I figured it was arthritis or bursitis. Only bothered me in bed and I was fine when I was up and about.  Eventually, though, things went from bad to worse and I realized something more was going on as walking became an ordeal.
Three friends and I were scheduled to make a day trip to Seattle on Oct. 5th but Linda P had a blood clot in her leg and needed to rest and I was having all day  hip/leg/back issues.  We may try again next month if we're healthier.

I realized that this ole bod just wasn't going to improve if I didn't make at least some effort at stretching exercises.  I took the memory foam off my bed a couple nights back, thinking for sure, I would miss it terribly but I seem to be sleeping okay on a firmer surface.  Am using the bed for my exercises too since I'm not real keen on getting down on the floor. I spent 15 minutes following the diagram pages I have but I can tell it's going to be a slow process.  Bound to be when you haven't exercised worth a darn for months on end.  That'll teach me!  I hopeful, though, that after a few days I'll be able to do the exercises a little smoother and a little faster.  Need to get my strength up.  Between my left knee and right shoulder replacement surgeries, I pretty much am still dealing with lingering stiffness and soreness.  That damn shoulder especially.  There are times when I do a certain movement where I'm moaning in distress and unable to move.  I wonder if that's what they call frozen shoulder.  It's horrible, I know that much.  My knee was replaced on Sept. 2013 and I was told it was one of the worst looking knees they'd ever seen. I wasn't surprised as I was in a great deal of pain waiting for that operation.  And my shoulder replacement in Aug of 2014 was also a tad MORE than just a replacement. They had to do fancy wancy stuff (which means I can't recall the wording) but it was extensive because it was so badly screwed up.  I remember in 2013 while waiting for my knee to be operated on, I complained bitterly ALL THE TIME that my shoulder hurt more than my knee -- but of course, nothing was found with an xray as I recall.  Grrrrr.....

Signed up for HBO now last night. At least for a month or two.  Wanted  to get caught up on a few shows I'd seen got Emmy awards. Started in on Big Little Lies and am totally engrossed. Stars Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and Nicole Kidman.  It is super good!

Got a new iron in the mail today. My old one had a short in the cord and I didn't know anyone who could fix it.  I wish I could find someone as I liked that iron. I'll keep it in the garage and ask around. It's a black and decker and I got it used to start with. From the reviews I've read on Amazon of various irons, just about all of them have people complaining about one feature or another.

My brother has a book on Amazon now.  Cravenstone: Time Enhancers. He's writing under the name of Dage (rhymes with wage) Corvish.  (Corvish relates to crows in latin)
Anyhow, it's GOOD!  I'm enjoying it a lot and it's very interesting to see what your sibling relates to and what he calls places he's familiar with.

Cravenstone is Marrowstone Island; Boondock is Hadlock; and he mentions Port Townsend, Lapush, Hood Canal, Graywolf.  Kind of a science fiction about time travel but has to do with crows, sasquatch, serial killers, sex trafficing, teaching, running, and other topics.

I've been busy, as usual, sewing this and that. Got a new favorite blogger on Facebook and Youtube called Darlene Michaud.  She's funnier than hell and I love her tips and ideas on making quilts and crafts.  Her readership has skyrocketed too so I suspect a lot of people are discovering her.

Dana and Lill bought a 2017 Prius recently and I got to ride in it when they came up last week.  I really liked it. Wasn't that hard to get in and out of and it was so quiet and easy riding. If I win lotto, I'm getting me one.

And that's about it for now.  Think I'll go grab a couple Oreos for dessert. That ought to go good with the beer I'm almost done with.  Have a good October.