A Gift From a Guest

Yesterday included a morning of office work—scheduling appointments, making and returning phone calls, filling out forms, and other miscellaneous tasks. I was able to cross everything off the list and then some. I find that the best way to do that is just to put it all in a pile, start at the top, and deal with each item as I come to it. I am not allowed to set anything aside.

John Willis of Special Operations Equipment wore this shirt a few weeks ago during one of his sewing livestreams.

I like this definition, although I don’t hate paperwork. I prefer a clean desk, so I’m usually motivated to keep things from piling up on it.

I also cleaned the grill so we could use it—mice like to spend the winter inside—and I recorded today’s podcast. I’m going to take a mid-year break and skip next week’s episode. The schedule is really full for the next couple of days and I am teaching three classes next week, including one in Missoula.

The mail brought a lovely package from one of my podcast guests. Cheryl Espinosa of Aunt Honey’s Estate said she wanted to send me some vintage patterns as a thank-you for having her on the podcast. When she asked what I liked, I requested Stretch-and-Sew patterns:

A bonanza! There are some really nice ones in here.

In a funny coincidence, the same day she sent me that e-mail and asked what patterns I would like, I had stopped at one of the thrift stores in town and found a dozen vintage sewing patterns in their sewing section. I bought them, of course, and they are now on their way to Cheryl.

I spotted another ground squirrel while I was making dinner, this time in the backyard. I got my .22 and was going to shoot it from the bathroom window, but it heard me removing the window screen and ran back under cover. This morning when I got up, I heard a pack of coyotes howling in a nearby meadow. It would be lovely if they would come over here and have ground squirrels for breakfast.

I finished cutting background units for the Fat Quarter Fancy Star quilt. I may not start the sewing for a few weeks yet, but at least the fabric is cut and prepped.