It’s official - I just turned in my laptop and keys. I’m officially retired!

It's that time of year - I pulled out most of the garden.  I still have the pepper plants and one zucchini plant left. 

 

I replanted and put the mums that I got as decorations from my birthday party out on the front porch.  Looking fall-ish!!  Now if only the weather would feel fall-ish.  

The latest mini-mystery quilting project...Pot O'Luck - the mini-mysteries are small projects and have the pattern released an hour apart so you can complete it in a day.  I, on the other hand, did not complete it in a day, but I did get it done, 

The fabric: 

Clue #1

Clue #2 

0

Clue #3 

 

The Reveal! Putting it all together, adding a couple of borders, and it's a cute table runner - ready to quilt!  (Which means it's in the pile of things ready to quilt.  Good thing I'm retiring soon - my backlog is growing!)

You turn your back for one minute..... 

I needed something out of my quilt cupboard and while I got what I wanted and turned to close it again, Jessie had jumped in and made herself at home....

I had an issue quilting the Surf's Up quilt - my machine wouldn't move more than a few inches left or right..... 

After moving the road blocks, I got the main quilt quilted, now I "just" need to quilt the borders.  They should be fairly quick to quilt, I just have to make up my mind how I want to quilt them.  I also got the RBD 2026 Challenge quilt quilted last week - it "just" needs the binding added.

When everyone was here for my birthday/retirement party, I was lamenting that my water hyacinths hadn't bloomed all summer.  Even though they provide good shade for the fish, I was hoping they would also bloom.  So what happens?  They bloom a couple of days later....

The new UV filter is still doing it's job, too!

Cindy M and I took the dogs for a walk at Turtle Bay, or at least I took Ripley.  Luna isn't up for long walks, though she loves to go, she just poops out less than a mile in, so we've been taking her on shorter walks in the neighborhood.  Ripley did a 2 mile walk with me, and then AJ took both dogs later in the day for a neighborhood walk.  (He said Ripley walked much better for him since I'd already taken her out.  She has a tendency to pull when walking....)

The trees are just beginning to turn colors, with the poison oak being the first to turn....

We spotted a doe on our walk - watching us very carefully .

 

I got a 99.6% on my first Japanese test! 

 

I don't think I mentioned it, but I started a Japanese language class at Shasta College in August - my first time back to college since ~1987???  I've been doing Duolingo for a while now, but it honestly hasn't helped a ton - mainly because I don't put the effort in.  By taking the class and actually getting graded, I'm more apt to put the time in (I hope, at least).  AJ and I are planning another trip to Tokyo next spring.  My Japanese still won't be great, but it will be better than it was the last trip.

I had a mandatory one-on-one with the instructor yesterday, which she said she usually checks in with the students to make sure they know what resources are available and that they are settling into college life okay, etc.  In my case, we just chatted about "stuff".  Her parting comment was "I mean this in the best way, but having older students in class really keeps the younger student on their best behavior - I haven't heard an F-bomb all semester."  Great - now that I'm old I'm a good influence?? I told her I'd try not to shatter their illusions by dropping any myself, lol!

I found a new hobby for retirement....or re-found one.  Growing up, we did puzzles all the time, especially during the winter when it was too wet to go outside.  As I was wondering through Costco a couple of weeks ago, I grabbed a puzzle "just because".  It has become a community puzzle - set up on the same table we used growing up - with anyone that is here finding a few pieces and putting them in.  Allison's helpers work on it, I work on it, Cindy C. worked on it while she was here, people that were here for my birthday dug through, looking for edge pieces, pieces that fit, etc.  (I had to put out a brand new puzzle on my birthday, Cindy and I finished the Redwoods puzzle the night before.)

The new one is Denali, and does not have regularly shaped pieces, which makes my brain hurt trying to put pieces together that fit, which means that it's a good thing!

AJ painted me a new dragon for my birthday - this is from one of the War Hammer armies - not one that he plays - but he got one for me and painted it - he amazes me with his eye for detail.  This comes a basic grey, and the pad that is stands on is bare and flat.  He added all the rocks and snow.  I don't know if I'm more impressed with his artwork or the fact that it took him over a month to paint it and he planned ahead that far!!

The birthday/retirement party was a success - the weather was nice enough we were outside and we had way too much food, as usual.  Susan and Dave A. ended up staying for dinner (home-made pizzas) so it was a late, but fun, night. 

I'm not sure if this signals Jessie's approval or disapproval of the Falling Leaves project...  

I have all the blocks cut out for the quilt - 21 leaves to make.  Cindy came in last night for the weekend, so I don't know that I'll get much work done on it.  Good thing sewing can wait - I'd rather spend the time with Cindy!