Scrap Books

I picked up these two books at Ginger's this week. I know, I know, I'll admit it. I'm a book junkie! Anyway, sooner or later I'm going to have to deal with scraps as they're multiplying at an alarming rate. There are seven or eight quilts in these two books that I really like. I thumbed through these books for the last couple of weeks before deciding that I really needed them. Needed? Well, I wanted them.

My problem? I feel guilty thinking about scraps when I've got oodles of uncut yardage to deal with. I feel guilty about even considering making something that won't bust stash except for backgrounds and backing. Well, maybe "guilty" is too strong a word, but my Catholic soul loves that word! LOL. I don't think this kind of guilt is something that needs to be confessed, but it's a tad bit bothersome to me.

I was laughing out loud this morning about the scraps. While I don't think I'll be making the big move back home for at least five more years, but I had a vision of the movers in here saying, "Hey, lady, you really don't want us to pack these scraps, do you?" Think about that for a second. Would you pay good hard-earned money to pack and move SCRAPS? Yes? No? I mean, for crying out loud, they're scraps!

Well, maybe they're more than just scraps. They are a history of the quilts I've made. They are the remnants of fabric that I have petted and loving cut and sewed. They represent a journey for me ... one that takes me all the way from the brain that couldn't comprehend things no matter how hard I tried - to a quilter who can make almost anything I put my mind to. And the scraps I'm talking about are not only my own scraps, but tubs of historically signficant scraps I've accumulated along this journey of the past seven years. Oh, Lordy, I'm getting teary-eyed just thinking about my scraps!

So I sit here this morning pondering my scraps. Do I deal with them now, or do I let the movers deal with them in five years? To quote Yogi Berra, "I wish I had an answer to that because I'm tired of answering that question."

Heritage blocks are finished

There are 60 pinwheel four-patch blocks, and 12 of each of the other two triangle blocks. This quilt had better be beautiful because I've already spent three weekends on it! LOL. Now I'm at the sashing stage ... I'll be sashing like forever. If anyone hears incoherent babbling from the Left Coast, that'll be me!

Some miscellaneous thoughts:

~ Has anyone but me noticed that word verification letters are starting to make sense? Or maybe I've become dotty in my old age. I'm getting things like "popitle" and "wamcoot" and "bustar." I mean, they're not really words but at least there are syllables.

~ It hailed so hard last night that there was what looked like snow drifts on the curbs as I was heading to work. We had temps in the high 80s and low 90s last week. High today 53; low tonight 38. There's snow on the mountaintops. I guess Mother Nature didn't get the memo that our ten minutes of winter was over two or three weeks ago.

~ I need a new mattress. Mine is only about four years old, but it has a pillowtop only on one side. I can only spin the mattress, not flip it. I end up sleeping in the same two indentations. I guess I could find someone to sleep on the other side to even it out ... naw! I'll be mattress shopping in the near future!

~ Note to self: Check the gas gauge before you get on the freeway! There won't always be a convenient exit with a gas station when the QuiltMobile start sputtering!

~ Another note to self: Turn on the clothes dryer when you put almost every single pair of decent underwear you own in it. Remembering 10 minutes before you have to leave for work doesn't cut it. Guess it's a good thing I didn't throw away all of the old ones!

~ Last note to self: Don't forget to take your shopping list with you to the market. Going in there for one thing and getting home $120 poorer without the one thing you went for is not very bright!

(sigh)

Simply Sophisticated Month 4 Winner!

There were a ton of entries this month. A lot of Simply Sophisticate makers who don't have blogs and who emailed me their pictures. Thank you all for participating in this group. It's been fun for me, and I hope everyone is keeping up with their monthly blocks because of it!

Thank you to Kimberly at The Fat Quarter Shop for donating the monthly $25 gift certificate! I am an avid fan of The Fat Quarter Shop because of the wonderful programs and kits and -- well, everything there! And special kisses to Miss Emma!!

Okay, enough blabbing! The winner of the drawing for the fourth month gift certificate is ......... Lisa D!

Congratulations, Lisa! You'll be receiving your gift certificate in a few minutes!

If you haven't signed up for Simply Sophisticates BOM, there's still time! There's an easy link in my sidebar, or you can click here! It's going to be a beautiful quilt!

Stash Report Week 4

Simply Sophisticate BOM block makers, please post your finishes HERE for the drawing today.

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As I enter the time of the year that's so busy for me, my sewing time will be less and less. I am going to try to sew something every week to get some finishes, but my focus is going to have to be on work until July.

Last year I cut out a bunch of quilts during this time but this year I'll spend that time sewing instead. My goal is end up with tops and not UFOs. Lordy, I have enough UFOs already!

I received the first block for the Charleston Harbor BOM that Kimberly offered at The Fat Quarter Shop. I don't see the BOM on the site any more, so it must be sold out. Here is a link to the pattern. Along with that block came the four yards of backing that I preordered, so that's my one addition to the stash this week.

I'm still working on the Heritage pinwheel quilt, but I had to put it aside yesterday to catch up on BOMs. Well, I didn't have to, but I just needed to get away from it for a day. I'm in the process of turning those pinwheels into four patches. I'm going to stick with this one through to a completed top. I'm afraid if I put it aside that it will be a UFO that I'll never finish. It's not difficult, just tedious.

Besides the BOM and backing that was automatically shipped, I picked up a pack of Templar and some applique glue at Ginger's this week. $68.52 in my savings account.

So that's it for me this week. We'll see what next week brings!

Year-to-Date Totals:

Busted: 27.50 yards
Purchased: 44.625 yards
Net YTD: <17.125> yards busted

A BOM Kind of Day

I got a little behind this month because of work, so today's the day to catch up! Last night I did my Simply Sophisticated blocks. They're posted HERE. Those of you who want to be entered in this month's drawing, you can post your finishes on that post or email me a picture. The drawing is tomorrow afternoon, Sun. 1/25/08. There's still time to get them done!

Today I did the first block of the Charleston Habor BOM that just arrived yesterday. I also received the backing, so that will be my only fabric purchase this week. This block was so easy, but I managed to become real intimate with my seam ripper. Just wasn't paying attention! LOL. I love those fabrics!



The Thimbleberries 3's Company blocks are done. I chose the light colorway for this BOM and I really like it. T'Berries patterns are written so well and the blocks are easy to put together. These sure didn't take very long! Another one caught up!



Block 8 of the 2008 Designer Mystery BOM out of my beloved Peace on Earth fabric. I give away a lot of my quilts, but this one is for me!!



Sweet Treasures Block 5. This fabric is wonderful. I love the blue in it.



Whew! I'm all caught up - for this month!! Bring on February! I'm ready!

My Favorite Quilt Show Booth

Every year I walk around Road to California and try to pick the booth that I like best. Of course, I always love Ginger's booth, but they're my local quilt shop and Jane works there, so their booth being a favorite is a given for me. I'll get some pictures up later this week showing how wonderful it was.

I was there on the third day of a four-day show, so some of the booths weren't as full as I'm sure they were at the beginning of the show. I know all of the vendors were tired, and, frankly, one or two were downright crabby. Nope, I didn't buy anything from those folks!

However, there was one booth that was just amazing. Every time I walked by, the employees were smiling, the customers were laughing and having a good time, and it was drawing other shoppers in. It turns out this quilt shop is sort of local to me - I visit it five or six times a year, and each time I walk into their quaint little shop it makes me slap-dab happy!

The shop -- Stars & Scraps in Corona CA! This is what I saw when I walked up!



Here's Raquel, the shop owner. They were all decked out in western-themed aprons and had wooden stars for badges! Look at that customer laughing! Honestly, it was like having one of those laugh boxes in that booth. Every time the laughter would die down, someone would giggle and off everyone would go again!



Here's Cindy manning the cash register. I asked who was the sheriff and everyone pointed at her! LOL



And I apologize for not getting this employee's name, but look! She's giggling, too! I mean, this booth was the happiest place in the world! It was like that ALL day!



Oooh, check out that neat quilt on the back wall, the one that looks like birthday presents! Hmmm...

Stars & Scraps. If you're in the area, stop by and tell them hi! You'll love them!

Stash Report Week 3

Simply Sophisticated BOM makers, post your finishes HERE to be entered in this month's drawing!

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Man-oh-man, this is gonna hurt to admit! I was NOT good at all this week. I knew it was going to be brutal, but the amount of both stash purchased and dollars spent threw me for a loop. Oh, well, my savings account will be the beneficiary of my follies!

This week I had a little purchasing frenzy at The Fat Quarter Shop. Some automatic shipments arrived, BOMs, charms, layer cakes, and a Moda U kit. I decided to go ahead and order the backing for that one, and for another quilt. I had totally forgotten that I ordered the new Thimbleberries BOM, and the first block arrived and the backing I preordered for it. I'm going to love making this quilt. Then I discovered I needed some older fabric that Kimberly didn't have any more, so I surfed and found it. I haven't gotten everything in yet, but it's all reported this week to get it over with! All total, 25.25 yards.

Now, to the quilt show.





I bought a ton of patterns, some templates, but did end up getting a few small kits. The reason - I way overbuy when I buy fabric for a pattern, especially online. It's actually cheaper for me to buy the kit. Jane and I went by the SewEzi booth and saw this neat tray attachment for the tables that we have. We ordered those. Surprisingly, I only purchased two books at the show, a Liberty Homestead book titled "Bumblebee Lane," and a Kansas City Star book titled "Embroidered Quilts." It was tough figuring the yardage in those kits, but it came out to 15.375 yards. Some patterns and the tray attachment are ordered, so they're not pictured.

So total yardage purchased this week, 40.625. Total dollars spent $899.94. Gulp!! Those non-fabric purchases sure add up quickly!

I am going to SO be busting in the next few weeks to get even again! I can do it. I'm determined! Meanwhile, my savings account is smiling! LOL.

Year-to-Date Totals:

Busted: 27.50 yards
Purchased: 40.625 yards
Net YTD: <13.125> yards busted

Simply Sophisticated Month #4

I'm SO late in posting this! Sorry, folks!!

For those of you who ordered your Simply Sophisticated BOM from The Fat Quarter Shop, Kimberly has genereously donated a $25 gift certificate to the winner of the monthly drawing! To be entered in the drawing, you must blog about your completed blocks and give us a link here or email me with pictures of your completed blocks to be entered in the drawing. A name will be drawn from those entries for the gift certificate!

It's not too late to join in the fun if you're not making this quilt! I think there are a few spots still available, so sign up for the BOM right now!!!!!

A lot of you said that December was way too busy to get your blocks done. Never fear! Just skip ahead to this month's blocks, get them done, and show them to us. You can catch up with last month's blocks later! LOL. See? The rules are simple!

The drawing will be held on Sunday, Jan. 25th around 3:00 p.m. my time. You can complete your blocks up until about an hour before to be in the drawing!

Good luck to everyone! I hear this month's blocks will sew together really fast, so turn on those sewing machines and just do it!!!!!!

Thank you again and again to Kimberly at The Fat Quarter Shop for making this BOM so much fun! Go check out the new site! It's awesome!!

Cyber Window Shopping

I can't believe I went a whole three hours today without checking out The Fat Quarter Shop! And during those three hours, the new 2009 Designer Mystery BOM was added! Out of my new favorite fabric, Glace! Yes, I reserved my place! LOL.

I got a box in today from Kimberly. Some automatic shipments. So I'll have to add money to my savings account and a confession to make on Sunday's Stash Report. And I won't even go to the quilt show until this weekend. Looks like I'll be a busy little bee sewing to bust in the next couple of weeks. I am determined my numbers are going to end this year with busted yardage, instead of backwards like last year!

Today there was a mess on the freeway that I travel to and from work. Right by the office it was closed because a tanker truck overturned and spilled a load of liquid asphalt over all lanes. What a traffic mess!! The accident happened at around 5:00 this morning, and the freeway finally opened at 5:00 tonight. Millions of people had to divert to ground streets and to other freeways. Not fun!

I'm still sewing and twirling. I think I'm going to bed now, though. I woke up at 3:00 a.m., so it's been a long day!

Oh, darn, I forgot to eat again. I guess it's too late now. Oh, well, I won't wither away!

Twirling Seams

First, I must say -- I'm no expert! But this is the way I learned how to twirl a seam. It only takes two seconds to do it, and I'm happy with the way my center seams lay flat. Secondly, forgive the photography!!



Sew the two half square triangles with a quarter inch seam.



Press to the dark, or to the same side on both blocks. My iron wasn't hot yet, so the pressing isn't the best here.



Now you have opposing seams.



Nest seams and pin again. Then sew using a quarter inch seam.

This is what it looks like before you start twirling.



I darkened two seams on here with a pencil so you can tell, hopefully, the one that's important to remove. Not the slanted line on the left. You will be popping the thread on the vertical seam on the right.



Slide your seam ripper under the stitch that's closest to the long horizontal seam. For me there are usually three stitches in that quarter inch space. By cutting just the one closest to the long seam, the other two stitches pop out on their own. Flip it over and do the same thing on the other side. Note: I keep a seam ripper on my ironing board for just this thing. It really takes like two seconds to do this.



Turn the block over and open the seams. You'll see how it goes all by itself. The right side goes down, the left side goes up. The center of the seam is twirled.



Here I just press the center twirl with my finger to hold it open. (And I desperately need a manicure!) Then I place the iron on top of the whole block, or just the center if it's a large block.



Flip the block over and press with the iron on the right side. Ta-Dah!! A twirled center that lays flat.

I hope this helps. I am really lousy at explaining things. In case I confused folks, here's a blog that Judy did on the subject.

Pinwheels

Millions and millions of pinwheels!

I have the halves all pinned, and sat down this morning to make a couple - just to see how they would look. This part will go fast.

It takes a couple of seconds more to twirl the center, but it's worth it to get them to lay flat. I remember the first pinwheel I made way back when I first started quilting. There was this bump in the middle after I pressed the block. I didn't know much about quilting at that point, but that just didn't look right to me. So I posted on an online message board I belonged to - "How do I get the center to lay flat?" I still remember the answer someone posted, "Get a hammer!!" Honestly, I thought she was serious. It's a good thing there were a couple of "LOLs" very quickly replied to that answer!!

This week is spent doing a lot of pondering and praying for friends. A very good friend and her family has the stomach flu and they've really been sick. Judy's Chad is going off to college. Someone else is finding out today whether the chemo is working. Sometimes boring sewing is a good time to reflect and hold others close in your thoughts and prayers.

It's getting hot here. Yesterday was in the 80s, but it's still cooling down nicely at night. Although it's certainly springtime here in SoCal, the trees outside the front door are still dropping leaves.

576 HSTs

This sure doesn't look like a day and a half of work, does it? 576 HSTs, 2" finished.

I was dreading each step of the process. In hindsight, the cutting apart, de-papering and ironing went quickly. The sewing was the most boring part!

Now these little puppies will be turned into 132 pinwheels, and then into 60 blocks, 12 Side A triangle blocks, and 12 Side B triangle blocks. I'll keep plugging away on this quilt top, but it won't be finished for a couple of weeks. I probably won't get much sewing in next weekend.

Thank you, Judy, for the Quiltathon Weekend inspiration! It was fun to sew with everyone!

Stash Report Week 2

Still hanging in there. Next weekend will be the big test if I go to Road to California quilt show. I might show up here for my third week stash report with my tail between my legs!

I finished up the borders and pieced the backing on the Merry & Bright from last week, so no UFO there! It's in the to-be-quilted pile.

Today I cut the Heritage kit, so I'm going to count it busted. 12.375 yards. Backing will get busted after I've completed the top. I think I'm going to add a four inch border around the quilt. I don't know. I'm still contemplating that. It finishes at 91" square as designed, but the perfect quilt for my bed is 100". The border will bring it closer to size. I bought extra fabric last year in anticipation of doing this. We'll see how I feel about it later.

Oh, and $10.84 into my savings account for the Triangles on a Roll I picked up last night! I decided that all quilty dollars will be matched in my savings, not just fabric purchases. I buy a lot of books and patterns, so those bucks should be counted, too.

Year-to-Date Totals:

Busted: 27.50 yards
Purchased: 0 yards
Net YTD: 27.50 yards busted

Half Square Triangles

Man, what was I thinking? Don't answer that!

I have to make 576 HSTs. Moda recommended using the Triangles on a Roll for this pattern. They're all pinned and I'm sewing them - and sewing and sewing and sewing. I just renamed these HSTs for Dummies! It might have been easier to do them the old-fashioned way. I hope to at least get these done this weekend. The quilt top will be all downhill after that!

January Quiltathon Weekend

Thank you, Judy, for organizing the Quiltathon weekend! I'm up and ready to go!

You see that strip of red Merry & Bright sitting there? That's the ONE border I need to sew on that quilt from last weekend to finish the top. I don't like doing borders, so I've procrastinated all week! LOL.

I need to stay focused and get it done. THEN I can move on. The project I've pulled out to work on is Moda's Collection for a Cause project, Heritage. I picked up this kit from Kimberly at The Fat Quarter Shop a few months back and it's been sitting there teasing me! On New Year's Day when Jane was here, I pulled it out and showed it to her. That was it. I made the commitment to cut it and start sewing those bazillion HSTs this weekend!

When I got home from work last night I read through the pattern. They recommend using 2" finished triangle paper. I pulled out my trusty Triangulations program, and then promptly discovered that I probably didn't have enough ink left in my printer to print them all. So a quick call to the quilt shop to make sure they had the Triangles on a Roll, and then a mad dash over there before they closed. I'm set to go!

But first I have to get that red border on! If not, well, then it'll just sit and sit, and next year this time I'll have it on my UFO finish list! LOL. I know me too well!

I have four quilts that need the bindings machined on. I'll plan on doing those this weekend, too. I'm sure I'll need a break from HSTs at some point! That will give me handwork for next week.

I'm off to sew!!!!!!

Just When I get Comfortable ...

... then, whammo, a 5.0 earthquake!! Definitely got my attention - and Daisy's!

I had just gotten home, walked Daisy, and sat down at the computer when it struck.

I will NEVER get used to the earth moving!

Wine

Jane and I have this thing going about picking out wine by the neatest bottles! LOL. Don't laugh, we do! For Christmas I brought over Red Truck. New Year's Day she brought over White truck and this one .... Polka Dot!!



It's a Riesling, really sweet, in a dark blue bottle. One of the finer wines with a screw-on cap! ROFLOL. Geez, you can't take us anywhere!

I was going to toss the bottle tonight, but figured I might as well blog about it first. Yes, I'm getting low on blogging fodder!

I have only one side of the last border left to finish the Merry & Bright quilt top, but I'm too pooped to do it tonight. Maybe tomorrow. The thing is, I already know what the top looks like, so why finish it? I'm JUST kidding! It's one of Judy's unpublished patterns. Whenever she unveils it, I'll post the picture. I really like this quilt! It's not my usual type of fabric, but it was nice to do something different for a change!

This is Hard!

At 6:00 in the morning I really should not view the "Coming Soon" at The Fat Quarter Shop! I really shouldn't.

I found Glace Frosted Windowpanes Quilt Kit! I think the fabric line will be my 2009 favorite!

I love Brenda Riddle's designs. She designed the Prairie Paisley Patchwork Party last year for the Fat Quarter Shop. The one I'm going to be getting the final borders on in the next couple of weeks. The one I was so ga-ga over last year and bored everyone to tears by my constant blogging about it. The one that ... well, you get the picture. Brenda is absolutely the sweetest lady. I had the pleasure of finally meeting her in person at the Long Beach quilt show this year, and what a joy that was!

Another item I found was on Anne Sutton's blog, Bunny Tales. It's a new applique project, and the pattern is free! Be sure to sign up for her newsletter so you'll be notified when the new block is posted each month. I'm thinking stash busting here!

And last but not least, look what just happened to appear on Jolly Jabber today! Do you think Jane is going to get me for this? I think so -- at least she'll try! LOL. Thank you, Kimberly!

I'm off to shower and head in to the office early today. It'll be a very long day as I have the accounting software guy coming out at 6:30 tonight to install updates. I didn't sew last night, but I know I will tonight even though I'll be tired. My mind will be going a mile a minute, and that's the best way in the world to destress!

Stash Report Week 1

This was a good week! I actually busted some stash! I'm not quite through with the quilt top but will finish it up today, so I'm going to go ahead and report it!

15.125 yards of Merry & Bright, with a little Holly Jolly thrown in for good measure! This includes the backing and binding.

Purchases -- zip!!

Don't know how long I'll stay in the positive, but it feels good on Week 1! LOL

Year-to-Date Totals:

Busted: 15.125 yards
Purchased: 0 yards
Net YTD: 15.125 yards busted

A UFO Year

I know I say that every year, but there are about nine or ten UFOs that I'd really like to get finished in 2009.

I'm working on this one now. It'll be my Merry & Bright Christmas quilt next year! I want to finish the top today and piece the backing so I can start off the year with a bust! I can do it!!

While this one is not technically a UFO but a Christmas gift, I want to get it together and in line for sending off to be quilted. I'll embellish it after the quilting is done. Lady Baltimore, thank you again and again for the beautiful blocks, strips and yardage! You went way overboard as my 12 Days of Christmas partner!

The Prairie Paisley Patchwork Party top needs borders. There are at least four borders, my least favorite thing to do. But this quilt is my absolute favorite, so it's going up at the top of the list of UFOs to complete! The backing will be a bust.

Also on the list is Butterfly Kisses. I stopped at the point of this picture, but I can finish the top in one weekend. Finishing kit and backing will be a bust.

Thimbleberries' Hometown Christmas is on the list. The remaining blocks are cut. I just need to sit down and sew them up and assemble the top. I've waived doing the pieced/appliqued borders. I'm going to do a plain inner and outer border and call it good. Backing will be a bust.

Red and white shooting stars will be finished, too. I want to make it bigger than it is now. The red squares and white background blocks are cut out. I just need to devote a weekend to it. I don't know how big it will be. I'll just sew on it until I get tired of it. This is the UFO tub pictured above, and is all from stash. The entire quilt will be a bust.

I also have started blocks for green trees on a white with black print background. I need to assess how many blocks are done. I think I want to forego any borders, and maybe just put a red binding on it. It would look nice hanging on the foot board of my bed at Christmastime. This was from stash also, and it will all be a bust.

The priority UFO list has the Split Star Quilt for an Hour that Judy gave us in 2008. All the blocks are made, so I just need to lay it out and follow her perfect instructions to finish. This was the one I made out of my collection of Dimples fabric. Another stash quilt. Only the backing will count as a bust.

I also have a Bento Box quilt already cut out. Jane and I had a cutting weekend and this was one that I cut. It should go together easily and quickly, and it's a stash quilt.

I've only two quilts that I've obligated myself to - in my mind - this year. Both will be from stash. The first is a sofa quilt requested by my niece, Kyra. I have already pulled the fabric and will use Judy's Buttons and Bows pattern. This was a free pattern that she so generously posted on her blog. I think it will be pretty out of an older Fig Tree line from the stash.

The other new quilt that I want to do this year is an Underground Railroad quilt for Rachel, my future niece-in-law. I certainly have enough Civil War fabrics in the stash to pull this together. I just need to find the book. I know it's up there on the bookshelves.

Now, I haven't mentioned applique at all on my want-to-do list, but I do try to applique some each day during the week. There are lots of applique projects in the works. I have a lot of BOMs that will finish up this year, and I'm real excited about those, too!

Judy and I chatted a bit last night about my being paralyzed by my stash. I started boxing up what's on the shelves yesterday in anticipation of switching around the stash room. Oh, Lordy, I filled a big tub, a medium tub and three file boxes, and have only cleared a shelf and a half. I don't know. Judy suggested I start making donation quilts, 60 x 80. I thought about that for a long time last night, and I'm doing to do it. I will be using the stash that I'm not as excited about any more. My goal right now is to make one between each of the UFO finishes. It will be a good opportunity for me to dig in my stash of patterns and books and try those out. But the best part is that someone will be receiving a comfort quilt. Yep, I'm going to do it. Maybe I can get at least six or eight made this year from the stash.

So there you have it! Sewing will take my mind off other things, and I really enjoy the process. All of projects I've listed are very doable. If I stay off the computer!!

For My Brother

Dear Don,

We've been eating our Mom's traditional New Year's food all of our lives. For me that's 57 times. I even learned how to cook it almost as good as she did. Black-eyed peas for health and smothered cabbage for wealth - I sure ain't about to mess with that tradition!

So I'm clipping along this morning. Pork roast is in the oven and smelling good. Cabbage is ready to cook. Other things are in the works.

I opened the pack of Camellia black-eyed peas and got them going on the first boil to soften them. I'm tootling along feeling really smug. They were soft enough, so I took the pot over to the sink to drain them so I could start sauteeing the onions and ham in the pot.

Yikes!!!!!!!! What is this??????



Just do me a HUGE favor! Please don't tell anyone back home I did this! Please!! It's bad enough I have to start over this morning. I couldn't handle the shame of being ousted as a Southerner! Black-eyed peas are now in the pot softening. Near disaster averted! I think I've been in SoCal too long!

I love you. Happy New Year!