The last row

It feels like the arcs and wedges for the last tow of the wedding ring quilt have taken as long as the other 6 rows did, combined.  But, it's only because it was spring and my priorities were elsewhere.  The last row is pulled from a different set of scraps.  All the main fabrics got used in the first 6 rows and I had used every square except some dark blue and brown ones, so I had to cut more.  Before I started piecing them into blocks, I wanted to lay it out and make sure it wasn't going to stand out.  I needn't have worried.  There's so much variety that it would be hard for anything to stand out.  But, I can see the subtle difference.  I was so worried about using too many dark squares that the new wedges are a little lighter and flatter than the rest of the quilt, but I can only see it because I'm looking for it.  Now, I just need to sew them into blocks and then a row and then add them to the quilt.  Then I can add the borders and start quilting.   

I didn't take many pictures last week.  There's this beautiful geranium.  This was such a good purchase.  The flowers are so cheerful.  

And, this picture of Bella.  Bella doesn't want to be picked up or held or cuddled, except first thing in the morning when I wake her up.  She's fine being cuddled and scratched and rubbed then, and the rest of the time, she doesn't want to be touched.  But, she doesn't want me to be out of her sight either.  So, she watches me.  All the time.  

Most of my pictures were of "light summer supper" recipes.  It is too dang hot to cook.  I'm looking for something I can toss on the grill and serve with a cold salad and be done with it.  There are so many to choose from.  The internet is getting so hard to search, tho.  It's all about the monetizing and it's getting harder to find recipes that will sit still long enough for me to gather the ingredients (the ads make them jump around on the page and suddenly I'm supposed to add an ingredient I didn't even know I needed or I skip an important step in the prep process).  So I've started taking screenshots of them, and if they're good, writing them on recipe cards.  That way, all the frustration of the ads happens at one time, generally while I'm relaxing, and not while I'm trying to cook.  We had some really nice food last week that we ate with two kinds of pasta salad and a potato salad.  This week, I'm planning much the same, except with more green salads than pasta.  There's a pineapple chicken that we're having with green salad and an asian garlic-ginger dressing, grilled shrimp, tilapia cooked on the grill in a foil pouch with asparagus (never done anything like that before).  We don't go out a lot and don't spend money on a lot of things, but we eat like kings!

Tomorrow is a work event.  Yay.  I'm not sure that anyone from my job group is going, so it may just be me and the testosterone boys.  I guess I'll need to study up on my sports-ball-whatever so I can participate in the conversation.  Except it's really just two of the five that are like that.  I've always gotten the feeling that the other three would rather talk about what they do at home, watch on TV, what they cook and eat, and their success with plants, if only they could get a word in edgewise.  

Remember when the news was about things other than the orange mf whining and demanding and being a big fat baby?  Oh, I miss the days when what was going on in the world was important.  

I'm struggling y'all.  Struggling hard right now.  Struggling with how to interact with my birth family when they seem so determined to harm my real family.  Struggling with how to interact with my jewish friends, a few of whom believe Israel is entitled to commit genocide, despite the fact Israel exists as a country today because of genocide against the jewish people.  Struggling with my ability to interact with the world when what I really want to do is punch half of it in the face.  With a crowbar.  

Every day I get up and take those interactions as they come.  Dealing with whoever I need to deal with to get through the day.  But, my introverted self is feeling more and more comfortable just staying at home, inside, and letting the rest of the world tear itself apart.  

Everybody be strong.  Hang in there.  Deal with it one day at a time and try not to feel overwhelmed.  One day, one person, one interaction, one thing accomplished at a time.  Then, one more thing.  And another, until it's time to start over with a fresh day.

Lane