Busy May Monday for me

Its 1 pm and I've been up for 7 hours already. Never know when bursts of energy are going to descend on me but when it happens, I take advantage of it.  I've been wanting to hang some curtains in my bedroom as the blinds don't keep out the early morning light enough to suit me. I knew undertaking this project by myself was going to be a challenge 'cause it meant getting up on a chair and using tools over my head.  Not my favorite thing. Once I decide I'm going to do it, however, it's full steam ahead.  I ran to Henery Hardware to buy a curtain rod at 8 a.m.  They were clear in the back of the store so I strolled down with my walking stick hoping my hip was going to behave herself. Man, that store has a lot of merchandise.  Got what I needed for $6.  Just your simple old fashioned rod.
I used a little footstool I have under my table to rest my foot on while at the computer to help me get up on a kitchen chair.  I was a little nervous but I figured if I was careful and went slowly, it wouldn't end with a 911 call.   Once I got that done, I moved the driftwood hanging decoration from the bedroom to the kitchen where I can see it bettter. Manager made us take down all decorations around our doorways.  As long as the bedroom was tore up to make room for me to climb up, I decided the room needed a few things changed around -- like where I had the tv, the clock,a bin of clothes, the radio, and the sewing basket. All better now and I like it.

                                                               my before window

                              and after....looks cozier plus I have lights on the window

                                          Love my little driftwood mobile so much

My next job was to make a small door draft roll for the window next to my recliner.  I felt a very slight draft even with the window closed  but didn't especially want to spend a lot of time putting pillow stuffing in a thin roll. Too  time consuming.  I had a neck pillow I'd sewn up when I couldn't find my other one for when I sit in the second recliner to nap. (later found it in the car) Anyhow, I cut open this pillow, sewed a seam to make it smaller and then crammed some stuffing in and sewed it up.  Not the prettiest thing I've ever made and I really wanted it about half the thickness that I ended up with but it'll do. It's not like I'm getting any company anyhow.

Those little white batting squares were given to me by Joanne Gilles and I'm sewing them together with a zigzag stitch to make them bigger for use in my quilt that I'm working on now. A  quilt-as-you-go type that I think I know what I'm doing -- but we'll find out sooner or later.

I had a small bowl of oatmeal cookie dough left in the fridge and have been wanting to clean out the shelves a bit so I cooked them up. Only amounted to about 11 cookies. I set the temperature gauge for 350 and took the cookies out about three minutes sooner than the recipe called for as the temperature gauge said 550!  Grrrrr..... And the manager couldn't care less.  I'll have to approach her again at some point. I was willing to play with it but this is getting ridiculous.

When I got back from the hardware store, the maintenance guy was vacuuming the elevator slots so I had to take the stairs. I wasn't even sure where they were but I found them and climbed upstairs. Had to take one step at a time but my goal is to get strong enough to walk up them like a normal person. May or may not ever happen.

I wanted to add some pictures to my blog as I was getting tired of the one I have at the heading. Couldn't find anything that satisfied me but I did add some to the side. Just wish they had come out larger. Maybe I'll play with it some more and put them on the top instead of the side. I think that makes a difference in how they look.

I finished a 500 piece jigsaw last night and now I have a 325-pc one set out of a doughnut.  Looks kind of hard as it's mostly pink and I think it's circular. Neighbor lent it to me.  I lent her my book 'Town Kid' and then she realized who my folks were.  Thought my dad was the sweetest thing ever. And he was. Remembered that Marcella often had her hair in curlers and had to go to the hairdresser. Ha!

Manager seems to be making an effort to make things easier around here. Sent around a notice that they may start playing bingo in the hall if people are interested. Not sure how that would work since we have two floors and they wind around and everyone has to sit in their doorway using a tv tray. I probably won't participate in that even though I usually like bingo. I play it on my computer. She also wrote that they're going to set chairs outside if family members want to come visit.  Her assistant sent around a few papers from an art book or something that people can color if they want to. I'll pass on that too.  She also said people can pick up a book or puzzle in the locked rooms if they ask permission and go in one at a time.

I've started to watch The X-Files on VHS now. They're better than some of the sci fi shows of the past.  Am also trying to turn the tv off altogether in the evening so I'm not distracted and can get some reading in. It's a struggle as I generally nod off after a few pages but I'm working on it.

Well, I guess I'll go get a little sewing done now.  Mary and Andy may come over sometime (maybe the weekend?) to take Jake to Fort Worden as he loved the bunkers.  I'll drive out there too so I can get my visit in and take some pictures.  If it doesn't rain, that is. Mother nature always gets her say in our plans.  I'm too tired to go back and proofread this today so sorry for any typos.

Here's a before and after picture from my collection of 20th Street off San Juan.  I noticed when I was out driving a few days ago and put a painted rock at the pink house, the old mailbox we had was still there but a newer box was sitting inside it.