BOMs Away - Blatherings

Welcome to the link-up for BOMs Away Mondays!

Where we share what we're doing on a BOM-type project 

so they don't stall out in UFO-land!

(Linky at the bottom.)

Today is what I used to call "A Lupus Day" (where my body is just slammed down into inoperability by too much exertion and not enough recovery time). Now I'm calling them "A Sun Tsu Day." 

Sun Tsu's Art of War was on our reading list for Blackbelt prep, and one precept in particular resonates with me:

So times such as today are all about recovery, all about withholding from pushing myself in any way that will only damage things more and trigger a major flare that will put me in bed for many days. I don't "fight" (train) at all, but I eat good fresh food, zero sugar or processed items, lots and lots of water and fresh-squeezed juice, and keep mostly horizontal with feet up if not sleeping.

It's a super fine line I'm walking this month with the ramped-up training before testing day. Yesterday was too much, starting at 0800 with an hour of training, straight into some hours of the written test and interviews, a lunch break, and then a good 6 hours of helping out at the color belt tests all afternoon and evening. I really enjoy doing it, particularly when there's a roomful of tiny little pre-K kiddos getting their yellow belts. You cannot get more adorable than that!! But I should have known better than to put in a 12-hour "work" day at this point in time. 

"Funner" things this week: 

Friday was Scott's birthday

Navarre, entertaining as always, refused to get dumped out of Marissa's his laundry basket

Lobsters are making an appearance

~*~*~ 

Have you done any BOM work recently? 

Hopefully you're having an easier time on your end.  :)

BOMs Away - Blackbelt Test Prep & Octopus

Welcome to the link-up for BOMs Away Mondays!

Where we share what we're doing on a BOM-type project 

so they don't stall out in UFO-land!

(Linky at the bottom.)

I haven't finished a BOM block to share, as we're on overload at Taekwondo to get ready for our Blackbelt test in 3 weeks.

Like yesterday, when we had to run a 5K at 0630, followed by 200 pushups, 200 situps, "and other exercises" for the physical fitness part of the test.

And today, several of us met at the dojang to work on board breaks together. After yesterday's crazy stuff, everyone's favorite stretch was this one:

Getting up from it was another matter. . .   lol!

My splits leave a lot to be desired - 

And check it out - I just now discovered my phone can make GIFs, making it cool to watch one of Scott's practice kicks. . . 

With my Lupus stuff, it's super tricky managing the extra physical activity, so pretty much when I'm not at practice or working on forms at home, I have compulsory bed rest. 

Which means nothing else that isn't crucial happens until after the Big Day. That includes quilting. :( At least I have some great handwork projects to give me something to do!

I've got a good start on the next Octopus's Garden block:

~*~*~ 

Have you done any BOM work recently? Hopefully you're able to function at your normal level right now.  :)

Thank you, Fat Quarter Shop!

Last month I participated in the annual Pets on Quilts online quilt show, and I was chosen for one of the sponsor prizes.

I thought it was quite generous of Fat Quarter Shop to send me a $50.00 gift certificate! And it came at a great time.

And it turned into this  :)

You know how somebody's quilt-along or pattern sucks you in, and you don't always know just why it does that? Something about the combination of the fabrics used and the presentation just strongly appeal to you, and you talk yourself out of doing it since you already have so many projects?

Well. . . 

Amy Smart at Diary of a Quilter did that to me recently when she used Keera Job's Daisy Days collection to put together a really sweet quilt - and then she even said she'd make a tutorial for it, so we even have the directions for free.

Amy's pic from the FQ

So along comes the Fat Quarter Shop certificate, and I didn't have any yardage needs for my next three priority finishes, and of course, I went shopping so I could make my own "Farmhouse Four Patch" quilt. Here's the link to Amy's tutorial for it: Four Patch On-Point Quilt Tutorial

Amy's pic of her quilt

I have always found Fat Quarter Shop to be reliable and to ship out in a timely manner. My little box was waiting for me when we got back from a short trip out east to meet up with Devon for a few days, and I've just sent the blues through the wash.  :)

Thanks, Amy! 

And thank you very much, Fat Quarter Shop!