Busy Project Week

Every time January 1st rolls around, I get in this organizing mood where I need to clean out closets, sort through pictures, go through the house for items to donate to Goodwill, and generally just rearrange and downsize.  One day I might REALLY downsize and dispose of certain books, CDs, movies, things on the walls, jewelry, knickknacks, dishes, clothes, junk in the garage, linens even. So much I could thin out around here -- and I will eventually. Small steps.

Today I sorted through this catch-all box I have in my office. I throw newspaper clippings in there along with photos, letters, cartoons, and anything I think I might want to look over later.  It was starting to fill up and typing those words,  makes me remember that I also need to clean out the receipt box.  All in good time.

I worked on my computer files yesterday by putting certain things in various folders and delegating photos to the places they needed to go.  Not a quick and easy job 'cause I keep a lot of odds and ends for whatever reason.  I got the pictures sorted and into the correct boxes (that are also sorted by places and names).

 As soon as I feel a little peppier, I need to start making chain necklaces for all the seaglass necklaces I made last month.  I ordered a long chain on line but I'll need to add the hoops and fasteners myself.  Not a quick project as I'm not that adept using pliers yet.

 That cookbook sitting there is another project. I pulled out all my vegan cookbooks and others to see if I can find new (but easy) recipes to try.  My dinner menus have gone down the tube this year and I need to change that.

I did finish this counted cross stitch sampler and now I have to get my nerve up to try and frame it myself. I found a frame at Goodwill which may or may not work.

 Again, that will have to be undertaken when I'm more peppy.  Which I'm not today especially. Still have problems sleeping through the night because of my hip.  I was thinking that bursitis was the culprit (and it may be) but it could be arthritis or sciatica too.  Since I can't get a second cortisone shot for a couple months, I decided to try the pot store for some cream.  Got some candy too. What I  bought is supposed to help pain, not get you high.

The verdict is still out on whether it helps my hip.  Maybe I'm not applying enough or maybe it won't really help the problem.  It did help my upper left arm, however. I noticed that for sure.  Wasn't able to put my arm over my head but after applying the cream, it felt remarkably better.  I was pleased because it ain't cheap goin' to the pot store!  ha ha

Sewing wise I'm working on this quilt for a friend. I have the squares completed and have to put the sashing on today or tomorrow and then see what I can use for a backing.

I decided I needed to put more effort into my exercise program. Which, to be honest, has been pretty much non-existent.  I went online to study the ones that would help sciatica and they all seemed fairly easy.  But they weren't!  I'm so out of shape, I could barely do any of them!  So discouraging to admit how I've turned to pot and gone to pot. ha ha
I'll keep at it, though.  Part of my problem was fear.  I had decided a few nights back when I woke up in a lot of hip pain that I would just lay there in bed and do some stretching exercises.  I was rather proud of how well I could throw that ole leg up in the air.  I got cocky, though, and decided to try a side maneuver.  Big mistake!  I got one of those HORRIBLE leg cramps up high in the inner thigh and behind the leg.  If you've ever gotten one of those, you know they're way worse than calf charlie horses. And those suckers don't go away as quickly as charlie horses either!  I wanted to die.
My leg hurt all the next day and I was scared to go to bed the next night in case I got another one.  Bed is not my friend lately.

Meanwhile, though, I'm determined to use my little bike pedaler daily while I watch tv. And that I can do!

Well, let's see.... what else?  Oh, if I had stayed married, today would be my 54th wedding anniversary.  Isn't that interesting?  And yesterday was my dad's birthday. He would have been 95.  Hard to believe he's been gone 8-1/2 years already.

Oh, and that's another project I did yesterday. Cleaned and sorted my obit notebook. Put all my relatives obits into a different notebook that has genealogy info.  Poor ole obit book was still quite full. Makes me sad.  I'll be going to at least one funeral I know of so far this month.

Think I'll go take a short nap before I begin my next little project.  I got a new jigsaw puzzle for Christmas and it's been calling my name.  Here's a picture I saw on Facebook that I just loved. Steve Mullensky took it.  Moon over Port Townsend Bay. So pretty.