Sun Mar 31: Easter

Fitbit Activity: 10859 steps taken today, 13 floors climbed today, 4.53 miles traveled today, 2000 calories burned, 513 active score

DH was up all night again reading or something so he was not able to wake up for the morning - we had picked out two things to possibly do today - but neither were done.

We had bowls of cereal, I read the Globe (third week now - I'm getting used to reading newspaper again!), did some online exploring, then left for a walk around Central and Harvard - just to get out and see some new streets. It was windy so not as pleasant as yesterday....

Then home again for some left over soup, and then I put in my earplugs and started a Craftsy class.  The Free Motion Fillers, Vol. 1  will be wonderful I know - but I just needed to listen enough to get what the piecing would be for the quilt top.  I ended up listening to a lot of the free Modern Buttercream class. So much detail is involved!  The next time I do a layer cake it will be done differently that's for sure!  I also have purchased Free Motion Quilting a Sampler and will do that sometime, but the layout of the Filler class really appealed to me so I'm going to start with that.

DH didn't want the ham and eggs I had in mind for dinner so instead we went to S&S Deli for dinner - I had a nice salad - with diced tomatoes & cucumbers, sliced mangoes and grilled chicken, lettuce and lime coconut dressing.  Yum!  The waitress looked really tired though so that put a little damper on the meal - that and having two guys discussing health problems.  Boy we are lucky they were both under 40-years old.  DH got lump crab with some sort of buttered crumbs on top that he really likes.

At home we read up a little on bridge as tomorrow we are going to a beginning bridge meetup!  We have to leave here before 8:30 in the morning to get there on time!

Sat March 30: Spring

Fitbit Activity: 8038 steps taken, 3 floors climbed, 3.35 miles traveled, 1956 calories burned, 441 active score 
Today the sun was shining, the temperature was in the 50s, flowers were blooming.  Spring was in the air.  It was really something to see all the locals sitting on steps and grass to soak up the sun!  I was out and about going to the post office - but it turned out to be closed - so I went to UPS to return the pinmoors and to send some books to San Diego.

I already had pink pinmoors and had asked for different colors for my packs two and three from Leahday - there was a mix up so they are sending me white and purple but of course I to return the two pink they had sent me.  Done.

Expenses

PINMOOR - Pin Anchors Pack of 100 - Colors Vary
(I wrote to request two different non-pink)
$38.95 each    2 purchased    subtotal  $77.90

Little Genie Magic Bobbin Washers
$10.95 each     1 purchased  subtotal $10.95

Isacord Polyester Thread - Sterling

$6.00 each     3 purchased    subtotal $18.00

Isacord Polyester Thread - Black

$6.00 each     3 purchased    subtotal $18.00

Shipping $6

Total $130.85
I had found some lovely books on paperpiecing that I thought my friend Ci would like so sent those along with the Cake Doctor Cupcakes book to her - and I put in two books for our son too. Done.

I pulled out my precut strips to see if I had any inspiration for what order to sew them, but none came so I put them away again. I need to FMQ the charity quilts then will know if I make the one for DH in one piece or in chunks or if I need to tie it while I am here! Not done.

In the evening we met friends of DH from college - WPI undergraduate - for dinner here in Inman Square - Portuguese food.  Food was okay, the company was better.  Fun to hear about college days and what is happening now too.

March 25-29 2013

It was difficult this week to write each evening so I'm combining my memories into one entry....

Mar 25 Monday -


Fitbit Activity: 12471 steps taken, 13 floors climbed,5.2 miles traveled, 2234 calories burned, 708 active score

had fun going to the Museum of Fine Arts with Mary!  We were there when the doors opened and left when they were locking it up.  Went on an overview tour first, then a nice lunch (get the vegetable tort - it's really a wonderful quiche).  After that we split up to see the galleries we wanted. She went to Asian Art and I went to American.  Next time we think we want to get the audio tour headphones to help guide us around.


Mar 26 Tuesday - 

Fitbit Activity: 4435 steps taken, 4 floors climbed, 1.85 miles traveled, 1722 calories burned, 216 active score

starting to go thru my to do stack and getting things done so that is good.  I will feel like I deserve sewing time if I get more done!  I sent out an email blast for the organization.  Got a nice Life Alive salad to go with the main dish for dinner at home.

Mar 27 Wednesday - 

Fitbit Activity: 12368 steps taken, 1 floor climbed, 5.16 miles traveled, 2120 calories burned, 598 active score

walked to Trader Joe's - but on the way planned to stop for lobster rolls - but the place was closed so instead we had small pizza at a place that was across the street - it was good but we ate too much so we would not have left overs.  I'm liking Trader Joe's granola so that was the reason to me for going.  DH got crackers and cheese.  We also stopped at the Co-op grocery store and got some yummy ice cream on the way back.

Mar 28 Thursday - 

Fitbit Activity: 12093 steps taken, 12 floors climbed, 5.07 miles traveled, 2160 calories burned, 637 active score 

had fun going to see the Kennedy House and a little of Brookline with Mary.  We took the bus both ways - were so lucky to get to go inside the house - usually only open in the summertime.  Very interesting to see and hear how the house was organized.  Rose had two live-in helpers and felt children should be measured but not held...  The house was owned by someone else then made a museum after 1966.  Rose and Joe lived there their first seven years of marriage so the kids do not remember any of it I'm sure.  It was open as Carolyn Kennedy was giving a book talk in the evening -but I could not stay for that as I had even with DH to attend.  I was really impressed with this part of Brookline and do want to return for more exploration!

Then met DH at Radcliffe for a talk about Leaving to Learn.  It's a good idea, I'm not sure though how many schools have resources needed to set up intern for all their students.

Then we went to Area Four to meet one of DH's old college roommates and friends.  Very nice guy.  We will see him again the middle of April for the WPI event.

I came home while DH went to an event at MIT - just watched TV.

Mar 29 Friday - 

Fitbit Activity: 11912 steps taken, 0 floors climbed, 4.97 miles traveled, 2129 calories burned, 607 active score
Well today we were planning on going to hospital so DH could have procedure done - but it turned out he had been given wrong information and was directed to the wrong office and will need an appointment anyway.  It took a while as he had to find Kinko's to print the doctor's orders and we had lunch too.  We both walked more than 10K steps so that was good.  Hoping he can get an appointment for Monday so this can be crossed off as DONE!  I made phone calls and got a few things off my to do list.  There is always more that needs to be done, but perhaps tomorrow I'll feel like I have done enough to deserve to sew....

I ordered some pinmoors from LeahDay.com she and Josh have such wonderful customer service!

If I can get a pair of short Uggs I'm thinking of making this fabulous modification.....

Sun Mar 24: Friends and Fabric

Today my DH and I straightened up our little apartment, in case our friends came over after breakfast.

Then we walked a few blocks and met our friends at a place across from S&S Deli for brunch with jazz music.  Turns out it the same menu and wait staff as at S&S - just with the addition of live jazz!  It was a lovely breakfast.

Then they walked back and we played a new card game that DH had gotten a week or so back - called Modern Art.  It took a while to master the game - and we think we were missing a key direction of having everyone draw a card at the end of a turn or round - but it was fun in the end.  We decided we should learn to play bridge together - there is a group that meets near MIT each week or month but we have to master the beginnings first.

They were going to go grocery shopping - after a little talk we went with them and were dropped off in Arlington - in front of the Corner Fabric Store - we were going to take bus back home.  The shop was compact, but had a lovely selection of good fabrics including Kona Cotton - black - AND it turned out some fabric with UFOs.  My DH had just said if I ever saw some with little space ships I should buy and then he found some!  So it was fun - I had him pick which one he liked best and got a yard.  I will make a baby quilt for his friend's baby just over a year now - or maybe just under a year.  Anyway it will be easy as I will mainly just put some borders on it and will be able to practice my free motion quilting.

We stopped at a used book store and got a few books on bridge, then enjoyed walking by houses and businesses and a cemetery on our way to Porter Square.  There we went to Au Bon Pain mainly so I could use the restroom - but we ended up having some tea and a croissant!  At 6:00 the lady asked us if we wanted any more - as on Sundays she tosses everything as she closes up.  So we got some extra pastries and muffins and what not.  I will freeze them so they stay nice.

We took the T home - and were glad to be able to rest and watch some TV once we were back. DH's back was hurting again too - would have walked from Porter to Davis then took the T as I wanted to get more steps in, but oh well.

Upstairs, Downstairs is winding down - we only have about 5 episodes left to see.  I'm glad today we finally spent a little time discussing the exploits so we are learning what we each think about characters and events rather than just thinking our own thoughts.

Expenses
3 yards @ $6.99 each Kona black = $20.97 minus discount 6.29 (more than one yard)
1.13 yard @ $11.99 each UFO fabric = $13.55 minus $6.78 (end of roll)
=====
4.13 yards and $21.45 total

Sat Mar 23: China Town

I was determined to see the fabric shops that were downtown so set off by myself to China Town. I took the T and got off at DownTown Crossing.

Went to Winmil Fabrics - nice sales clerk and clients in the store.  The plain fabric was thin, the calico was old fashioned I thought - but there were some nice dots!

Van's Fabrics was hidden under construction signs - they unlocked the door to let me in - and also it turned out to let me out!  That was a little scary....  They had beautiful brocades and specialty fabric.  The plain fabric was thin - the other fabric had an Asian flare.

Grey's Fabric & Notions was again beautiful.  The lady working was sewing on a dress - they have such beautiful fabric and she is so nice.  I think I would like to take a sewing class with her - hopefully that will happen.  The day before though someone had come and purchased all her black Kona cotton so I was out of luck.

Windsor Buttons was closed by the time I got there - looked in the window didn't see fabric - but did see yarn and buttons.  They are going out of business so I hope to get inside before they shut up shop!

DH decided to meet me in China Town as he hadn't been there.  I went inside two grocery stores while giving him time to meet me.

We had a nice meal at Gourmet Dumpling House.

Walked 7.4 miles today - it was really nice.

Thur Mar 21: MIT Press

Woke to lovely snow - the kind that melts on impact to the earth.  Very nice kind to walk in - no ice or build up to think about.

Stayed inside until after DH finished an online department meeting.  Then we went to Veggie Galaxy for lunch.  This time I had the 'hamburger' - it wasn't as impressive as the first meal there. The coconut pie was just as delicious though!  DH got the lemon pie - it was very tasty too.  His BLT was okay.

We walked on to the MIT Press - what a wonderful store!  I picked out a few books for myself and for DS & DH.  Will probably go back to get more!

Then we cut across to go to the fabric store as DH has decided he really wants black in his quilt.  The quality of the fabric was not good for quilting though so I will need to go elsewhere to get that.

His back was hurting so he took the bus - I walked back though.

Now we are watching Upstairs, Downstairs....

Mary wrote she was not able to go out today so I was on my own.....

Wed Mar 20: Central Square

I walked to Central Square two and half times on this day.

1.  to get milk at the Co-op

2.  to accompany DH to the T and then to have lunch at Life Alive

3.  to meet DH on his way back from his ham radio meeting

In the morning I went thru all the papers and magazines that have been collecting and read them and put them in stacks to go out or to copy information from.  I also did laundry and moved things around so it's easier to clean parts of rooms.

Tues Mar 19: Dentist?

I walked down to the dentist I have picked out to try only to find out he closes his office early on Tuesdays.  I called and have a tentative appt on April 7 for a cleaning.  Have to send our insurance info to them.

I spent more time ready and organizing things - doing bookkeeping.

I need to put information in Quickbooks - that will be difficult I think without a printer...

Mon Mar 18: Gardner Museum

Had a lovely day today with my new friend that I met at the cafe last week.  We met at Central Square Starbucks, then took the bus - I think it was the 84 - to the Gardner Museum area.  She knew right where to walk to get there.  It is a pleasant place with a variety of art pieces in three stories of a house built to resemble a mansion in Venice.

Pretty tired now but think we may get together for a different museum on Thursday.

Sun Mar 17: St Pat's Day with Friends

After some miscommunication with my DH we took bus to his friend's place in Winchester MA - we were included in a family tradition of corned beef and boiled vegetable dinner.  Fun to be in a someone's home - and great to be included in the day!