Good job

We're here to put a dent in the universe.

Steve Jobs, entrepreneur and inventor (1955-2011)

Wednesday word

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. Benjamin Franklin

I did it myself this year. Property taxes and income taxes are due in the same month -- that seems a bit much.

Not what I had in mind

When I chose “give” as my 2011 word (see post on January 13) I didn’t mean give to the plumber, give to the carpenter, and give to the insulator.

Warning – ugly pictures ahead

The back stairway rotted away earlier this month. So a carpenter is scheduled to put in a new beam and new stair treads.

While they were inspecting the stair damage and taking measurements, they had to go under the house. In the crawlspace the torn and failing insulation was found. I’ve been calling around trying to get bids for replacing the insulation and re-wrapping the ducts.

And today, my dear little tankless water heater gave me a loud scary signal that it was about to give up. It has been working faithfully since December 1983. That’s a pretty good life for a water heater. Click here.

I’ve been searching for a replacement all day. It seems they don’t make them this small anymore. I know I don’t need more than 76,000 BTUs because the old Rinnai was only 65,800. The new ones are all over 100,000 and that requires replacing the ½ inch gas pipe with a larger one. Big expense!

I think I’ve found one that will work The Eccotemp FVI12LP indoor power vent tankless water heater is available at Sears.

I found my word for 2011

The word is give.

I pondered all the suggestions you gave me as comments. Thank you. While I was feeling blue and lonely they were encouraging. About a week ago, the thought came to me that to get going I must start giving to others, not waiting for something from outside to perk me up. Ah ha!

I looked on the internet for the meaning of the word give. It has many, many meanings. One struck me: “To contribute generously, fully, and freely.” Others were:

To yield to force or pressure, to relax, to become less rigid; as, the earth gives under the feet.
To become soft or moist. To move; to recede. To shed tears, to weep .To open, to lead. Dedicate; “give thought to” “give priority to” “pay attention to.”
Here is a link to read more definitions: http://ardictionary.com/Give/2066

What a multi-faceted word give is. I think I can give a little something each day. I can give a smile to my irritating neighbor. I can give encouragement to someone who appears unhappy. I can create some patterns and give them away on my blog. I can give to a charity that I admire.

Once I found my word I wanted to make a banner for the wall above my computer. I searched the internet for images representing give.

Most of them looked like begging hands. Then I thought of the old quilters’ symbol – Heart in Hand. I even had a heart in hand pattern from long ago. See it here.

Now I have my new banner up on the wall next to last year’s. (I’ll try to be good this year, too.)

What’s the word?

I’m looking for a word for this new year. Last year I chose “Good” and made a little banner to hang above my computer. See it here.

This year I need a word that will mean something all year.

I’ve thought of:
Spirit
Get off your duff
Stop inertia
Go
Move

Those words or phrases are not right. I need something to inspire me. I have been in a resting phase since October 2010. It was as if all the air had suddenly gone out of my balloon. Right after Robert died in May, I plunged into some community work and kept on trucking. However at the six month marker the doldrums hit. I am cozy and comfortable and content, but not motivated to get going on something interesting.

Any suggestions are welcome.

This was the year that was …

I’m looking forward to 2011. I'll have to think of a good word to live by for the new year.

A new partner

I met him last week. He is very patient, but he does not say much of anything.

I’ve always enjoyed playing Scrabble although I’ve never been a top notch player. Robert usually beat me even though he was not a very good speller. It was irritating.

But now I have Al. He plays Scrabble at about the same level I do. He wins some and I win some. Our scores are within a few points. He lets me take as long as I want to figure out my next word. I’ve even left the room and had a snack with no complaints from him.

I think Al has a dictionary hidden away somewhere. I don’t use a dictionary – that’s my family rule.

It is a little awkward playing Scrabble on my Kindle but I am sure I will get used to it. I’ve decided that I’d better limit my games to one a day. This could get addicting.

Flashback Friday – appliqué

A few years ago I made this graphic for the word. I sent it in to Wordsmith.org and it is now somewhere in their archives. Wordsmith sends out A.Word.A.Day. I look forward to it every day in my e-mail box. If you love words you might try a subscription.

I love to do hand appliqué.

I got the date right

I wrote my first check in 2010 and I put the right date on it.

The first orders for the new year were sent out this morning. That’s a good start.

I’ve chosen my word for the year. It is GOOD.

The Quiltart list has been having a discussion about words to inspire you for a year. These are not New Year’s Resolutions, but themes for the new year. I hope I will examine my actions and motivations this year and ask myself “is this good for you? Is this good for the community and the world?”

Gramineous

Gramineous:
Pronunciation – gruh-MIN-ee-uhs
Meaning – (adjective) Of or relating to grass.
Etymology – From Latin gramineus, from gramen (grass).

I’ve been watching the grass grow. That’s about it for the past week. I’ve been so bored and lazy.

Our lawn just grows. No chemical fertilizers, no watering, nothing. Every two weeks the lawnmower guys arrive and run around with their machines for 15 minutes. Pretty simple. The grass is Bermuda grass and it grows all over the California Delta with no help from anyone. It can be a pesky weed with its long stolens and invasive habits. Back when we had flower beds I fought it constantly. When the sewer trench was dug across the yard we could see that the grass roots went down in the ground at least six feet.

The word Gramineous was a “word of the day” last week from Wordsmith.org. http://wordsmith.org/awad/subscribe.html I really enjoy getting a delicious word every day in my e-mail. Try it

Wednesday's Word -- Cat

Blackie the cat really likes the new office. He's found a favorite perch.

My friend Jackie told me today that she is disappointed when she clicks on my blog and finds nothing new. So, to fill the gap when I have nothing to say or post I'm introducing "Wednesday's Word."