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!

And just like that - a new project!  The Falling Leaves quilt will be using my stash for the leaves, but I didn't have enough background fabric on hand.  This should be a quick quilt to make since I only have 5 more working days left (more time to sew)!!!  I'm on vacation starting today until the 14th, and my last day is the 18th.  That's it!  Weird, but I'm excited! Cindy C is coming in today from Wyoming, and I'm having a low-key birthday/retirement party on Sunday, just cake and ice cream,  Fun times ahead!

 

 

And my final "almost finished" project from the weekend!  I have all the blocks done for the Summer Reading quilt, and found enough fabric in my stash for the border.  I will need to buy fabric for the back, but the rest of the quilt came from leftover fabric - not bad!  (Of course, it didn't even put a dent in my fabric stash - I still have tons of fabric, but it is a start!)  I think it turned out cute, and I love my different colored kitties! 

One more of my semi-completed projects from the weekend - the Block a Month Lady Liberty quilt, which is the one I'm doing through the local quilt shop, Sew Simple.  I'm ahead on this one!  I finished my August block, and had enough scraps from prior month's to make the September block and put all the blocks together.  October's "block" is the border, so I'm caught up until then. 

One of my semi-finished projects from the weekend - the Surf's Up Mystery quilt.  I was chatting with the people at Hokema's (that ran the mystery) and said something about having fabric in the kit that I didn't use.  She pointed out that I was missing two borders and the unused fabric was the outside border.  Sigh....read ALL the instructions....I was so distracted by the options to put it together that I didn't really finished it.  I added the last two borders to the quilt and picked up the backing fabric, so this one is ready to get quilted. 

I spent last weekend "finishing" things - though I didn't actually "finish" them, I just moved them to the next step.  For me, that's a win!  I added a border to the 2026 Riley Blake Designs (RBD) Challenge quilt and have it on the frame to quilt.  Did I start quilting it?  Not a chance, but I'm ready!

I did get some stuff done in the yard and around the house, since I didn't get all my quilting done.  I'm having a low-key birthday party next weekend (cake, ice cream and some friends) so I spent some time out in the yard in the mornings.  The summer was hard on my yard this year.  We are expecting cooler weather this week, and I am ready for Fall!! 

 

Finally!  I'm back to three eggs a day (from 4 chickens).  My two Easter Eggers have been laying green eggs faithfully, but my Sapphire Gem went broody, so wasn't laying.  Either she's back to laying again (after three weeks - the normal time it takes for eggs to hatch) or my older Welsummer is laying again.  Since the Welsummer is just 18 months old, she should be laying too, but both of them lay brown eggs and I haven't had any brown eggs for 3 weeks.  They are both looking healthy, so I'm blaming the heat for one and being broody for the other.  But, at least I'm back to 3 eggs now. 

AJ got a new toy, and the first thing he made was something for me!  He got a 3D printer, and his first printing test was to make ruler holders for me.  I honestly had been thinking about getting another one (don't judge - a quilter needs LOTS of rulers, just sayin'), so it worked out for me - a simple test for him and something for me.  The first test failed - the "ink" he got jammed up the printer.  As usual, when he placed his order, the printer came Saturday, but his "ink" wasn't scheduled to be delivered until Monday.  He ran into Best Buy and got some Sunday morning, but evidently it wasn't compatible with his printer.  Poor guy - a new toy and he broke it first thing. He spent most of Sunday tearing the printer down and putting it back together.  Luckily, the correct ink came Sunday afternoon, so he was able to play with his new toy (and Mom got a present!).  

       

 

 

Thursday night Cindy M and I took the paddle boards out again, and, once again, I didn't go involuntarily swimming!!  I did have to take a break from standing, but not because my legs were tired,  my feet were!  I found myself gripping the board with my toes/feet so much (to keep from involuntarily swimming!)  that they were needing a break.  We've been paddling in the cove by the dock - the boats go out to the lake so it very calm - and each time we've seen wildlife, which just makes the lake trip that much better. This trip we saw a blue heron that we startled so it flew up into a tree (sorry to ruin your possible dinner, guy!) and deer.  We aren't sure if we saw one or two deer - there was one by the blue heron when we went by, and on our way back there was one a bit further down the lake shore.  Same one??  Hard to tell, no name tags were visible.  I do find I have a harder time taking pictures on the paddle board.  I'm not able to adjust the camera lens or twist around for a better shot (let's face it, I'm not able to do much more than look straight ahead!) so my photos fro the moment aren't as good as they could be.  Something to practice on!