2026 OneThing #16 - Write Notes for PRMS Friends

So this came about when on an errand run, I dropped off my PRMS Trailblazers shirt at the school. I figure there might be someone like me who wants to wear the school clothes without spending too much money on them. This was my third (and hopefully final) time dropping clothing off!

 

I don't know the secretaries, but I saw Ryan Newell and had a great time catching up with him! In fact, as much as I am super glad I don't teach full time any more (and most especially in District 112), I really do miss some of the wonderful people I got to know in my eleven years there.

 

So I decided to look at the staff directory. There were 24 people I knew from my years there. Only a handful are people I used to be pretty close with, but I decided to write notes to all of them. I got most of them written while subbing Monday and Tuesday, and a few more waiting in the dentist's office Wednesday. I had originally planned to bring them with me to the lake to finish, but then I decided to just "Get 'R Done!" 

 

After my root canal, I drove to my son's house and dropped off some stuff, visited with my daughter-in-law a bit, and got the clean lake laundry. Then I drove to PRMS and sat in the parking lot to finish writing notes. When I was done, I went into the office and explained my idea. I borrowed the secretary's stapler and attached a Gummy Bears or fruit snacks to each note (and left some for her and her co-worker in the office), then went grocery shopping.

 

I didn't take a picture of the notes, but here's a shot from a few summers ago when Joshua and I got to visit another former PRMS friend, Kerri Shaughnessy. I have been so blessed by so many excellent teacher colleagues over the years! That makes me want to reach out to Mary Verbick . . . 

 

OneThing#15 - Pick Fabrics for Challenge Quilt

I came up with an idea I like a few weeks ago, but in addition to using the fabrics included in the challenge, I wanted to round it out with other fabrics to make a four season, four star wall quilt.

 

Here's what we were given:

 

The wavy / stripy fabric, the satin-y red, and the satin-y silver ribbon (with unfinished edge.)

 

The rules include a maximum perimeter and a requirement that we include at least two stars (any style, any technique).

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the rest of what I've chosen:

 

I had played with a bunch of ideas, but since the rules state that you need to include at least two stars (any design or style), I struggled a bit. 

 

Then I decided to just make four Sawtooth Stars using four fabrics per star. The blues are for winter, the fruit and green for spring, aqua and yellow for summer, and fall tones for fall! I am a bit concerned about the silky-like fabrics . . . but I have a call out to a more experienced quilter friend for advice.

 

I need to register for the show AND for the challenge! I think this will be my only quilt in the show this year.  

2026 OneThing #14 - IJWAWID ("I'll Just Write About What I Did")

I never actually chose a OneThing goal for last week. Hosting on Easter Sunday and then having a pretty full week was enough. We celebrated my 60th birthday by renting an RV and going to Grand Marais. It was wonderful!

 

So I've decided to treat myself to an after-the-fact OneThing. 

 

Last week, I got rid of a grill, a children's bicycle, and the rocking horse. All of these were items I had posted on Craigslist. I had also tried to find a parent of little kids who might like the rocking horse and/or bike. But in the end, I just brought them all to Hands of Friendship. I had stopped by one day after work (Tuesday?) to ask if they were willing to take the grill. The really nice guy said sure. If they don't sell it, it will go to scrap metal recycling. 

 

At some point, I need to recognize that stuff is just stuff and it doesn't have eternal significance! That said, I hate how materialistic and wasteful our culture is. We saw so MANY items on the curb in Bloomington for their clean-up days. It's all just going to the landfill . . . furniture, toys, household items. Wasteful. 

 

Oh - I don't know how much the rocking horse cost 35 years ago. It was from a garage sale. But we got the other two items in this post for free and I had advertised them on Craigslist for free.  

 

The rocking horse was the hardest for me to let go of. Our sons enjoyed it 35 years ago, our grandsons have really enjoyed it in recent years. But it just takes up too much space and I am really striving to downsize. Time to go set a goal for the upcoming week! 

2026 OneThing #13 - Quarterly Check-in

Rather than do a monthly summary (like in 2025), I've decided to just do quarterly check-ins. I'm actually writing this on Saturday, March 28 and setting it to publish at midnight on April 5. Not because it has anything at all to do with Easter, but just because I have a lot going on in the next week and I'm trying to crank through some of my stuff. 

 

January was pretty successful, in my opinion. I got stuff done without getting stressed out. Praise God for a wonderful month!

 

My verse was Proverbs 3:5-6 and says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." 

 

I know I've used that verse before, but it's such a great reminder to look to the Lord for direction instead of going my own way.

 

 

In February, I struggled just a bit more. We still do not have a will . . . or a home for the dog bed I made. But I did get rid of a box of recipes and the cowboy picture is ready to be hung up. 

 

My verse was Ephesians 4:32 and says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you."

 

I love how rich God's Word is! I want to be kind and compassionate toward others. Praise God He's still working on me!

 

March was interesting . . . my goals were slightly less demanding of me, yet I still didn't achieve what I had hoped! The Costa Rica blog entry is out in the ether, but I barely included any photos. The fleece is still very plentiful and I don't even have one baby blanket finished! 

 

Ah, well. It has been a good month and I have indeed gotten some stuff done. I will continue my quest to get rid of unnecessary stuff in my house. I am blessed beyond belief!

 

My March verse was Psalm 119:105 which says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." I just really love that verse. God is good! 

 

2026 OneThing #12 - Get Rid of Stuff

Technically, I'm writing this one day early . . . but I hope to get rid of even more stuff!

 

I donated a bag of clothing, two bags of miscellaneous stuff, a rice cooker, a sprinkler, a spreader (for disbursing seed, fertilizer, etc.), and my mother-in-law's old thank you cards.

 

They went to a Goodwill, Hands of Friendship in New Prague, a co-worker, one of my sons, a random person in the neighborhood, and the recycling bin. I have five things out by the curb with a "Free Stuff" sign right now, but it's a chilly and windy morning. I posted on Craigslist but not Facebook (yet). It feels so good to get rid of stuff!

 

Right now, I can't find photos of the things I got rid of . . . I hope I deleted them! Here's what's currently out at the curb (because I love to include photos): 

 

This is from the 1960s! Our kids enjoyed it and so have our grandchildren. It just takes up too much space. But they have had some fun with this! I had it for sale on Craigslist, but no nibbles. I hope it gets to the home of someone with little kids who will love it.

We picked this combo grill / smoker up for free off a curb two years ago and have never used it! Louie has enough grills and smokers and he is okay with it just going away.

We have SO many plant and garden things and we don't really do much in the way of gardening . . . this doesn't even represent half of what is piled in our garage for if we ever do want or need some plant pots.

We got this for free when our young friends were getting new bikes for their kids. Joshua enjoyed riding it when he was four. Benjamin didn't seem that interested in it. We're ready for it to go away.

I don't remember the story behind the unicycle, but it has lived in our garage for many, many years and Louie was okay with it going.

 

 

 

 

 

As always, my focus is on progress, not perfection. If these things are still sitting around on Monday afternoon (the weather is supposed to be better tomorrow and really great on Monday), I'll just donate or toss them. Here's hoping someone wants them! But I am also cognizant of needing to celebrate success . . . and I got rid of seven things this week!

 

Oh - my mother-in-law's cards. I'm going through things she had saved, then my father-in-law had saved. Cards from people still in our family - I'm putting into file folders for those people. They can do what they want with them. Cards from others (church friends, etc.) I'm putting into a file folder for a family gathering. If anyone wants to read through them or keep them, fine! But I finally hit a point where I put a bunch into my recycling bin. I've spent waaaaaay too much time sorting through other people's stuff. So I'm calling this week a big success. It feels good to get rid of things. 

2026 OneThing #11 Be a Blessing

This probably seems like a weird goal for the week, but it made sense for me. I knew I had a lot going on (though last weekend's blizzard gave me some extra time at home that I really enjoyed!) and I didn't want to set myself up for too much of a goal. I always want to be a blessing, but setting it as my one thing made me cognizant of my choices - my words, my actions, . . . and I tried to be a blessing to others around me.

 

I was in a really good state of mind all week. Subbing, co-hosting the quilt retreat at MQ, watching my grandsons, . . . it was all good. Since I love to post pictures, I'll include this one here:

 

 

This quilter was at her very first MQ in-town retreat. She was lovely! She finished this quilt top for a four year old neighbor. (Incidentally, I finished all 88 log cabin blocks for Morgan's and Angela's wedding anniversary quilt. I got a few other small things done as well.)

 

 

 

 

I had lots of fun with the grands this weekend! Joshua's favorite picture was of him doing a silly face (it's mostly his nostrils), but I like this one better:

 

 

 

 

2026 OneThing #10 - Decrease Fleece

This one was a "progress not perfection" thing . . . I started with four boxes of fleece. I cut many 12 1/2" squares to make a couple of baby blankets, but wasn't happy with the way the layout was going. My main goal is to use up the fleece! Secondary was to have a few finished baby blankets to give as gifts when occasions arise. 

 

I consulted with my sister Louise over the phone, but she and I don't always speak the same language . . . and she is amazing at color and design. So I boxed it up to meet with her in person to help me figure out how to arrange the pieces. I had made one of these for Joshua when he was born (seven years ago!) and I made one for my daughter-in-law's nephew. But I think I started with a larger block . . . like 14" square. 

 

Once you sew an X across two pieces, then sew the pieces together and cut the fringey parts, the blocks are much smaller. I got the idea online, but apparently didn't keep track of where I found it! 

 

You sew two squares of fabric together with a big X, then sew all of these together with the seams all to one side of the blanket. Then you use a scissors to cut fringe. This step is the one that takes a really long time! You end up with one side being relatively flat and the other being fringe-y and much more dynamic! It's pretty easy to make and will use up a fair amount of fleece.

 

Once I was done with cutting the squares, my remaining fleece fit mostly in three boxes . . . with a few bigger pieces on top. So my OneThing wasn't achieved the way I envisioned. I hope to get two baby blankets done this week, but that still leaves a lot of fleece. At some point, I plan to make a bunch of mittens. And perhaps I should just toss the smallest pieces . . . 

 

Because I love photos, here's some of what I sent my sister: