Back Where We Belong

We've come full circle. I'm happy to be starting a new year in a newer home located where we began as newlyweds over 50 years ago.

2025 was a crazy, hectic, and busy year. Buying our home last January was the easy part. Packing, moving, and getting the old one shined up and sold took time, much effort, and considerable stress. 

We had long days full of hard work. We sold, gave away, or tossed out of a lot of excess stuff. We learned new skills together, took our time, and did most of the work ourselves. Not bad for 70+ year old seniors, and it's been very satisfying to accomplish.

We met some delightful people along the way. Unfortunately, dealing with delays, stupid rules, and incompetent idiots taught us a few lessons. Our patience was tested a couple of times, failed once or twice. And our stress relieving hobbies were packed up for over nine months...no quilting, no electronics...never thought we could survive that!

Still, we enjoyed most of the process of planning, moving, and settling in at our new location. Goodbye Sumner County -- Hello Cookeville!

We're here now, right back where we belong, already relaxing and enjoying life. And that's all that matters. 

A Year For Change

Hello everyone, welcome to 2025!

I have big news...the Useful Remnants blog will be on pause for a while, starting now. We have several major home projects lined up that will temporarily take me away from quilting. In fact, the sewing room will be all packed up (I'm sure I'll be having withdrawal symptoms).

It's really quite exciting with many busy days and positive changes ahead for us. Sometimes you need to prioritize and focus on what's most important. I'll check in periodically once things settle down or if I get a chance to stitch up a little project.

Meanwhile, y'all keep quilting and if you need ideas, browse through the blog.  I've been writing since January 2011, that's 719 posts and 413 quilting projects. 

Cheers to a happy year ahead!

Another Fabric JACKPOT!

I hit an unbelievable jackpot last week. Fabric for one dollar a yard!  It all started with an innocent trip to the grocery. As we walked in, I noticed a flyer on the bulletin board: Fabric for sale, $1 a yard. WHAT? I pulled off one of the phone number tags and tucked it in my pocket. Probably too good to be true, I thought.

After we got home, I called and went to check it out, wearing my COVID mask. Oh, yeah there was fabric. A whole room full of good quality, beautiful material in a rainbow of colors, folded and labeled. All priced at $1 per yard. Miss Betty, in her 80's, has arthritis and just can't sew any more.

I focused on the quilting cotton, and quickly gathered up bundles from ¼ yard remnants to 12 yard bolts of 108” backing. It's a good thing I keep a large bin in my Escape, because I filled it up, along with several tote bags. I spent $200 and hardly made a dent in her inventory.

Of course, my sweet husband told me I should go back for more. His reasoning was simple: get all you can since it's good stuff and insanely priced. He'd rather I spent $1 per yard now instead of $5 to $15 later. And he was right. The next morning I headed back over there, armed with large laundry baskets.

So, in less than 24 hours, I added 500 yards of quilting cotton in a variety of prints and solids to my already huge collection of fabric. Five hundred dollars is definitely a lot to spend, but I'm pretty sure I won't need to buy anything except batting for several years.

I had to clear out some things to make space. It took me nearly three days to sort, fold onto mini-bolts, and enter all of it into my inventory spreadsheet.

I am over the moon. Thanks, Miss Betty!

They say money can't buy happiness,

but it CAN buy fabric,

and that makes me more than happy!

Sewing Bonanza!

I found another yard sale bonanza last Friday: a liquidation of an entire sewing room. Dozens of large tubs of fabric, thread, zippers and buttons, all sorted and labeled! 

I bought ALL the thread and buttons, some fabric and zippers, along with notions, plastic storage trays and a rolling storage cart. Over 330 spools of thread, 105 cones of serger thread, about 50 zippers, 72 yards of fabric, and THOUSANDS of buttons. Most of the fabric was apparel blends, or I would have bought more.

I've been doing happy dances all weekend, thinking of ways to use everything.  It's like winning the sewing lottery. I am energized, happily merging this wonderful find into my already well stocked studio.  I shouldn't have to shop for thread or buttons for a long, long time.

Thanks to LeAnne for the opportunity to keep part of her mom's sewing collection alive and useful.  My space will need to be reorganized to fit everything in, but that's half the fun. My husband is trying to decide whether or not to reinforce the floors on this end of the house.

Do not question 

the size of my fabric/thread/button stash...

unless you think it should be bigger!

A Day Worth Living

What will you do today? Make choices so that you can look back and say that this was a day worth living.

Share a smile or a hug.

Be productive.

Express gratitude.

Get some fresh air and sunshine.

Move: walk, run, stretch.

Learn or do something new.

Pamper yourself.

Make time to just be.

Laugh and have fun.

Enjoy eating great food.

Compliment someone.

Seek beauty in the ordinary.

Be in the moment.

Find adventure.

These are a few suggestions for your consideration, however, please choose your own.

“We are not here to live out

someone else's idea

of a satisfying life.”

Leap Day!

I'm taking today as a bonus. The sun is shining and it's warm outside. I'm going to accomplish just three things on this extra day.

What three things? 

1) something fun; 

2) something I've put off; and 

3) something kind.

After that, my day is free. I'll go with the flow and see what happens. No expectations, no plans. Maybe I'll flip a coin or roll the dice (like Sheldon) to make decisions. Or just follow my thoughts wherever they lead. 

This beautiful day might give me insight, help me relax, or allow me new experiences.  Leaping out sounds like fun, don't you think?

If The Broom Fits

It's nearly Halloween and I've seen candy and witches everywhere!

Do you remember how excited you were as a child?  Picking a costume, getting ready to go out trick or treating with your friends?  

Let go of all your stress and find that playful state of mind for the rest of the week.  

Watch scary movies, laugh at Young Frankenstein, and by all means treat yourself to something delicious.

Just Because

These doesn't always have to be a purpose or a reason for everything we do. Even those of us who thrive on organization and lists have to admit that sometimes it's just more fun to give in to an impulse.

Some of my best memories are the result of a diversion from my normal routine. A last minute invitation to lunch, an unexpected visit or phone call, or an impulsive decision can produce wonderful experiences. I met my sweet husband on a blind date when I was fifteen...and 46 years later we still call that our luckiest day.

Our lives are lived in a routine of sorts, and that's a good thing. After all, most of us are responsible adults. But no one should get caught up in a tedious rut. We surely don't want to grow old and wonder why we didn't ever play hooky, take that cooking class, learn to play the guitar, or buy those amazing shoes. Or why we didn't make a new friend, give someone flowers, or just sit alone and enjoy nature.

So do something--anything--different today. 

Just Because.

"Life is a gift. Never forget to enjoy and bask in every moment you are in." --Anonymous

Break Some Rules

Life is short. Too short to follow every rule or trend that comes along. 

Sometimes the rules just aren't right and the trends are idiotic.

Who makes all these rules anyhow? 

And why are we compelled to follow them?

I didn't break the rules

The rules were already broken

when I got here. 

"They're more what you'd call 
guidelines than actual rules."

 - Jack Sparrow

“I try not to break the rules but merely

to test their elasticity.”

- Bill Veeck

Let's do some 
“We shouldn't be doing this”

things!

Seek Your Passion

passion [pash-uh n]

: any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling

: strong amorous feeling or desire; love; ardor

: an intense enthusiasm or desire for anything

: the object of such a fondness or desire

Passion is powerful. Passion is the energy that drives us to achieve. It causes our eyes to light up and our faces to glow with anticipation.

Be passionate about life. Find love and revel in it. Indulge in hobbies, activities, people and surroundings that bring joy. Tackle projects with enthusiasm. Seek knowledge, creativity, and beauty in ordinary settings to inspire happiness.

Dare to dream, dare to imagine the possibilities of living a life full of passion.

“Anything that gets your blood racing

 is probably worth doing.” 

~Hunter S. Thompson

“One person with passion 

 is better than forty people merely interested.” 

~Unknown

“Every single day, do something

 that makes your heart sing.” 

~Marcia Wieder

Adventure Awaits

ad·ven·ture

:  an exciting or remarkable experience  

:  a bold, risky, or unusual undertaking

Life should not be boring. Planned, unplanned, big, and small adventures should happen often. Don't miss them when they come along.

Most people think of adventure as travel, and there's an entire world of magical places to see. Go when you can. But, you don't have to be Indiana Jones chasing historic finds, or Jack Sparrow sailing the wild seas. Adventure awaits in your recliner, in your back yard, and in your hometown.

"There's no end to the adventures we can have 
if only we seek them with our eyes open."  
~Jawaharial Nehru

You see, it all begins in your mind. You can make even the most mundane activity into a marvelous adventure by changing the way you see or do it. Slow down, then look around for opportunities that present themselves. If they don't appear, make your own.

Say yes to new things.  Learn or try something inspiring.

Change your surroundings.  Redecorate. 

Listen to a different genre of music.  Create or admire art. 

Experiment with food choices.

Go on a road trip with someone fun. 

Take a wrong turn now and then.

Have an escapade!  Laugh and be silly.

The world is full of marvels.

Pure Joy At Daytona

Photo from Dale Jr. Facebook page

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has finally done something in racing that his famous dad didn't accomplish.  Last night, after a six hour rain delay, Junior won the Daytona 500 for a second time.  He led the most laps and held off a charge from a pack of hungry drivers.  There was pure joy radiating from him after he crossed the finish line.  The excitement continued as he celebrated with his crew and hugged everyone in sight. I have never seen him so thrilled and happy after a race.  

Of course, I was dancing around the living room and crying, and doing my own celebration, like I used to when Dale Sr. was alive.  I've missed that passion and excitement while watching races.  I hope Junior will take this motivation on to Phoenix, then continue his winning ways all season.  Maybe he'll even win the Chase trophy.  He deserves that joy!


“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”  ― Marianne Williamson

NASCAR Truck Series More Exciting Than Cup

I've been a NASCAR fan since the early 1980's. I like the action, the competition and the speed. I used to park myself in front of the television from pre-race hoopla to post race interviews. Lately though, I've become increasingly bored with the Sprint Cup and the Chase. I fast forward a lot on DVR, skipping the long commercial breaks and mind numbing parade of cars riding carefully around the track. At most races, there's no excitement unless one of the drivers throws a tantrum. When the announcer says “Ooohh, they almost touched going down the front stretch!” I wonder what happened to the racing I once loved. 

The Truck Series is another story. Last weekend's truck race at Las Vegas was more like old style racing, even with no Cup drivers infiltrating the field. It was more thrilling than the past three Cup races put together. Here's why I like the trucks.

Quality racing: The drivers actually race each other from green flag to checkers. They aren't afraid to rub fenders or bumpers. They take chances and make a few mistakes. There's more side by side action, passes for position, lap after lap, in the front and back of the field.

Fewer unnecessary cautions: Officials don't regularly throw yellow flags for hot dog wrappers, water bottles, or bits of fake debris. When someone spins or brushes the wall, as long as they get back under control, the race usually stays green. Cautions come out for actual wrecks, not for contrived drama. 

 

Shorter races: Fewer laps to the checkered flag means more intensity on the track. There's no mid race slump where the drivers are content to just ride around—every lap matters.  

Yeah, I know the stands are nearly empty at the truck races. It's like they're the redheaded stepchild of NASCAR. There's no Dale or Danica, no Jimmie or Jeffie. There aren't as many big name sponsors. But I still can't understand why more fans don't go, or watch racing that is so competitive, action-packed and fun.

"No, he didn't slam into you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you. He rubbed you. And rubbin', son, is racin'." – Harry Hogge, Days of Thunder

“Finishing races is important, but racing is more important.” – Dale Earnhardt