Ramblings Of Absolutely Nothing

A post that has nothing to do with quilting.

A rewording of a quote by the book, "Shit My Dad Says" about girlfriends, sums up how DH is feeling about work.  "Let them figure out that they don't want you.  Don't do it for them".  It's been a bad week for him and he's had it with their crap.

"Shit My Dad Says" is a great book and I laughed my way through it.  I need to write something similar about my 70-year-old FIL's religious "episodes".  When he was going on about how the world is ending soon I told him I'd buy him a baseball bat and a lawn chair for the yard.  When it comes, run fast so we can let you in before we lock the door.

He wasn't happy with that response.

The other day he was telling DH that WWE's Nexus group was the embodiement of pure evil and that kids shouldn't be exposed to this evil.  Yet he loves TNA and I know he watched last night's episode that was far more violent than a bunch of wanna-be WWE villians beating up John Cena.  Then you wonder how he knows about the Nexus group if it's so evil.

He comes in a couple of weeks to take the kids to Branson.  That should be interesting since he's out of shape, can't ride any of the rides, sleeps all afternoon and hates the heat.  I wonder how many religous lectures my kids will get every day.  I'll have to bring them back to reality when they get back.

It's hard finding a balance with elderly parents.  You want to respect them, but at the same time, if they are full of it, how much should you take?  I told DH to shoot and bury me in the backyard face down so the world can kiss my a** if I get too hard to handle and need to go into a home.  

I told DH when he dies, I'm putting a "Natural Gas Line, Call Before You Dig" post in front of the grave site.  He didn't think that was funny.

County Fair

I know I sort of whined about how our county does the quilt judging, but it seems a lot of gals haven't been putting in their quilts for the same reason.  I went over Monday night to see the quilts and they had ONE 10 foot section with quilts folded up.  There were probably 15 quilts.  In past years there was an entire wall of them.  I was shocked.

The other thing that was extremely disappointing is that the gals got small sticker ribbons that were on their cards.  What happened to the glorious but simple ribbons?  They aren't that expensive.  Couple of bucks maybe?  Our county has cheaped out to a "blue award" sticker for ladies that have spent months making a quilt?  I didn't even see the really fancy ribbons for "Best of Show" and other specialty ribbons.

I figure between the sticker ribbon idea and the same ladies winning the regular quilters have just said "forget it" and walked away.  BTW, those same ladies do deserve to win and they deserve a real ribbon to go with it despite my "whining".

I've vented.  I feel better now.

  

Working With My Go! Cutter

This Go! cutter may actually have decent usage after using it today.  I'm not totally enamored with it, but if it keeps working like it has today, I may decide to like it.

I got brave, grabbed my 4.5x12.5 ruler, a fine lined permament pen and very carefully drew lines every 4.5 inches on my 1.5 inch strip die.

I cut out some strip sections on both a pink and brown fat quarter and figured I'd see if this cutter actually worked and if my drawn lines were straight.  You can see the horizontal lines across the die.  To make sure everything was flat, I alternated the excess fabric.  I put the mat over and ran the set through.

Well, what do you know. The dang thing actually works.  I measured them and they are all perfectly cut.

Only 68 more fat quarters to Go!  *snicker*  I couldn't resist being punny.

Testing Out The Go! Cutter Plans

I pulled out two fat quarters from my stash and played with the Go! Cutter using both techniques.

First try:

I cut a 3.5 inch wide strip, laid it horizontally across the die and made the cut. I get 10 pieces out of it. Enough for the 3.5 strips that I need and a couple that need trimmed down to the next size of 2.5.

I cut a 2.5 inch wide strip and did the same thing.

There are a couple of issues with this technique; one is that the strips have to be perfectly straight across or all ten pieces are off. Second is that the smaller you go, the less stable the strip becomes.

Second try:

I trimmed down the fabric to fit the width of the die and made five strips. I then made sub cuts with my rotary cutter starting wih the 3.5 inch length. This will take forever and I have to move the strips off of the cutter to the rotary mat to finish the cuts.


I think the best method is to make the widths first and use the cutter this way. I need to use a Sharpie marker and draw several horizontal lines on the die to align the strips exactly. That's what scares me LOL. The last thing I want are permanent lines that are useless.

Now to make a block to figure out the correct 1/4 inch seam allowance so it comes out perfectly.

Log Cabin Cutting?

I got brave and pulled out my FQs for my log cabin quilt.  I didn't realize there was another row of FQs underneath and about fell over.  The browns/pinks are simply stunning!  I just sat there and petted the fabric in wonderment.  This will make a stunning quilt only if I get the courage to cut the strips.

The Go! cutter would make this easy if I do it right.  I sat down and figured the amounts needed for each FQ.  For example the longest strip size is 3.5 inches but I only need 5 for each of the lights and 6 for each of the darks.  For the dark fabrics the smallest size are 1.5 inch squares at 46 per fat quarter and 66 per light.  

For efficiency and best use of fabric:

Do I rotary cut a 3.5 inch strip, place it on the Go! cutter to get the 1.5 width and after getting my 5/6 lengths, rotary cut down to the 1.5 inch square?  Then cut the next longest strip and keep going?

Or do I just place the fabric on the Go! and cut 1.5 inch strips down the length and then subcut starting with 3.5 and go down to 1.5 inch squares?

I'm thinking just doing the strips and moving down from size to size on each strip might be the best way.

I suppose I could just try each way with a fat quarter and see.

Any ideas?

Log Cabin Decisions

I'm sort of here..drugged by Dayquil and Nyquil, but functioning.

I've been debating about starting my log cabin quilt.  I have the 1.5 inch strip die but I'm not sure how to apply it for this project.  I have about 20 fat quarters to cut into strips and then subcut into the logs.  I saw a demo with the die for making a log cabin, but it didn't make any sense.  I also hate to take a sharpie marker and draw permanent horizontal lines that could screw everything up because I didn't do it right.  Add in that those lines would be there forever to remind me that I screwed up.

Then there's the mess of strips.  The book said to get a silverware thing to organize all the logs, but my 9-patch quilt was a HUGE mess for months.

The county fair starts this weekend.  I didn't bother entering anything.  I just don't care anymore.  The same ladies win the top ribbons every year and it's no longer fun.  It's not that they don't deserve to win as they are far more talented than I am.  It's just a reminder that once again, despite how much I've learned and done that I'm still not good enough. Plus, you'll never win against a computerized long arm machine regardless of how good you are.
 

I'm Here..

I just have a really bad cold and have been wiped out from doing the zillion block 9-patch quilt.  I'll be back online shortly.

Virtual Game Hypocrite

 I, Bethany the Hypocrite, have done it again.  I have bought Farmcash for Farmville.  I said I would never stoop that low to giving a virtual game real money.  I again, bow my head in shame as I am weak.  The beautiful horses finally did it in for me a few weeks ago.

DH has enabled this by bringing home 10 dollar cards from Best Buy as he works 5 minutes away.  I do refuse to give Zynga the ability to know my account numbers or use Pay Pal.  Just the cards.

I relentlessly pursued a white stallion on a mystery box so I could have foals.  What I didn't know is that you HAVE to give the foals away.  I am the only one of my friends breeding horses and while I love giving them away, I don't have any of the specialized ones for me.  Selfish I know, but having a Clydesdale, Mustang, Pinto, Haflinger, etc foals would make my day.

When Zynga came out with a black stallion on Tuesday I knew I had to get my daughter one so I could selfishly breed foals that I could have.  Three darts tries for a total of 60 FC (a little over 10 bucks) I have one for her.  Now to build a stable from scratch which will take weeks unless I pony up more FC and send her FC horses.  Heheheh..pony up..just realized I was punny.  Hmm...DH..I see a trip to Best Buy coming up soon.

I'm not terribly selfish though.  I let people use my iPad to get the white pony and leopard as they didn't have one.

I however; refuse to go into a 12 step program.  I love every horse I've purchased.  And the sheep.  And the goats.  And the cows.  And the LE animals.  I even paid FC to use the plane so I could get the gray bunny for a co-op as I don't have enough friends to do it together.  I really want the grape sheep, but I'm not sure it's still available.

Off to build a barn for daughter and take over her farm. Muwahahahahah



  

  

You Can Sew With Crochet Thread??

After fixing the decorative stitches, I started on a project that requires them.  I've never used my decorative stitches let alone to make a lacey section for a pin cushion.  That's what my embroidery machine is for.  If you don't feel like reading through my rambling, the pics are at the bottom...

I knew I needed to practice before using the fabric from the kit.  It's not like I can drive to get this fabric if I mess it up.  It would be a Saturday trip to Lincoln for it.   So I cut a square out, pressed a crease in the center, added some stabilizer and went to try it out.  After all it's just straight lines and the border foot is supposed to make that easy.  I took a deep breath and started.

The crease was extremely hard to see and wondered if I should use a water soluble pen.  However; trying to wash out the pen would probably distort the design.  The stitch looked fairly straight so I figured I was good.

On to add the flowers.  Somehow you are able to program the machine to do one design, add the cutter and save it.  I tried a couple of times to do this but it wasn't working.  I was too much in a hurry to check the book.  Meh..I'll just wing it.  First one was way off.  2nd one wasn't too bad.  3rd one was better but to make it look "pretty" just wasn't happening despite a few more.

The Scallop designs.  Somehow these should align correctly so you don't get mismatched scallops right?  I figure the horizontal line is for that.  I follow the guide to keep the scallops straight and go to the next side.  Hmmm... I'm off.  Maybe I do need that embroidery machine.  I feel a headache coming on.

Truthfully; this is painfully slow going and keeping the red guide perfectly aligned with the previous row of stitches was giving me a headache.

The next section was a lace looking design using crochet thread.  You can sew with crochet thread??!!  Really???  Guess I've been out of the loop for this part of sewing.  This might have possibilities for quilting, like a hand quilted look with invisible thread.  Deep breath.  You've done pretty good so far right?

I cringe as I start the stitch.  I have visions of my Horizon grinding to a halt screaming ERROR and shutting off for it's own personal safety.  Nothing happened and the machine started stitching without any problems.  No way.  You can really sew with crochet thread.  Except for the fact that I had blue thread as my bobbin thread showing at the top, it stitched out beautifully.

Directions say to move over a space and do the same thing.  Okay.  Then it said that another set of stitches went down the middle of them.  Errr.. okay.  This time, the middle stitch wasn't aligning dead center.  It kept hanging on to one side giving a visible space.  Hmm.  Wouldn't it have been easier to do this stitch and then add the next?

Last stitch was done using a wing needle.  From the picture, it looked like she had actual holes in hers.  Mine didn't.  Maybe because I was using Kona cotton and she was using batiste?

I wasn't about to try the last part since I didn't have any tulle to practice on.

Want to see the finished look?  I only did one side as I had a splitting headache now

Here's the stitch between the two where I messed up.  Do I do the first one, add the middle and then go to the next or follow the directions?

I'm actually quite proud of myself!  I still need to practice getting the scallops right, adding more flowers, and getting that middle section right.  It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be either.  I just wish I  had some batiste fabric to test it on to really see how the stitches look.

The Perfect Machine?

I get several emails a week asking about purchasing the types of machine that I own and other questions about quilting.  I jokingly told DH that I should really sell these machines for a living in real life and he said I'd sell them off the shelf as soon as they came in.

My biggest fear is that someone buys a machine on my recomendation and then they hate it while cursing my name in secret.  That's part of why I don't sell them in real life.  The thought of crushing someone's hopes and dreams on a particular machine scares me to death as it's happened to me several times.  Despite my fears, feel free to email me about my machines.  I'm happy to help.

The truth is there isn't a perfect machine out there that does everything.  That's why I own several machines.  I should sell two of them but I just can't part with them either as they do things the other can't.  I bought my Sapphire 870 first not knowing that the Topaz 30 existed.  The Topaz is the same machine with embroidery.  My Janome 350e is meh..okay, but I love the touch screen and it's perfect for simple projects.  My Sapphire..well, the color is blue..my favorite color while the Topaz is err..ugly so I can't give that up either.  Too bad I can't switch the plates around.

Oh..wait,  I also own a 1980's Viking machine that does a beautiful straight stitch, but it's so darn heavy you can't even lift it.  The master cam doesn't work so it can't do anything else than the straight stitch.  It sits in the basement because I can't have it upstairs as there is no room for it.  However; I still love it and call him "Tank" since he's built like one.  He also has the 5.5 mm feed dogs and I can't give him away for that either.  

I just feel so guilty that the Sapphire and the Janome 350e sit in a box.  DH says not to worry about it, but I do.

The two machines I use the most are the Horizon and my Topaz.  I hadn't planned on buying either of them after all I had my Sapphire and the Janome 350e embroidery machine.  However; I wasn't loving the 350e and was outgrowing it as well.  The Topaz caught my eye and it came home.  It does everything I want but the FMQ just wasn't working the greatest.  I couldn't get the tension right and the machine is designed that the pressure foot goes up automatically after you stop.  Great for piecing but not for FMQ.

After realizing that I hated my 6600, I wasn't about to buy another Janome machine.  I wasn't happy with the 350e and I figured the company hated me.  The last thing on my mind was buying the Horizon. 3000 bucks was way too much money for the machine despite all the features.  However; I was crazy enough to try it out at the dealer and loved it.  It helped that he gave me a great deal on the 6600 sealing the purchase.

Like the other two Janomes, it has things I love and hate about it now that I've had it since May.  However; I don't despise it like I did my 6600.  I wouldn't trade it in for almost anything..cept maybe the new Viking Ruby that comes out soon.  That's tempting.

They didn't really fix the 1/4 inch foot issue.  I think I know what the problem is after testing the foot out on my Topaz.  It's the shank adapter.  It sits too far to the left.  The actual foot sits perfectly on my Topaz feed dogs and sews a beautiful 1/4 inch seam.  If I put the foot back on the Horizon, it just barely catches the right feed dog.  There is nothing wrong with the foot.  Janome needs to fix the shank issue if you are adamant about having the foot ride on both feed dogs.  Don't let this stop you from buying it though.  It pieces just fine as I did my 9-patch quilt with it and didn't have too many problems.

The thing that sets this baby off and why I won't get rid of it is that it FMQ amazingly.  The precision, the accuracy, the new foot, the tension, it's a dream come true.  I've never loved a machine for FMQ like this.  I will use it for all my needs unless the piecing gets crazy and then I'll just move over to my Topaz.

Since I've given myself permission to know it's okay to have more than one machine, I have better bonded with my Horizon and I know that my Sapphire, 350e and my vintage Viking aren't sulking in the basement.  They know they are loved.

Now to get back to learning how to do decorative stitches that create one big pattern without screwing up big time.  The Border Foot really helps, but keeping the stitches to align perfectly side to side is harder than I thought.

Janome 7700 Horizon Stitches

Hmmm.  I discovered that when I worked through some of the decorative stitches they were off by a huge amount.  The leaves don't align right and the flower and the cathedral windows don't even touch up.

I called up my dealer and asked about this problem.  He wasn't quite sure and went to test their demo machine.  It did the same thing as they've never tested theirs either.  So..do all of us with Horizons have our dec stitches not aligning right?

My dealer said there is a simple solution by turning the metal slot in front of the machine with + and - signs.  I had to turn mine 1/4 of the way to the right to get the stitches to align up.  Wow.  Janome really needs to fix that issue on the Horizon.  At least it doesn't take a trip to the dealer to fix it.  The nice part about this feature is that you can manually adjust any stitch to work the way you want it.

I also discovered this neato foot in my Horizon:  The Border Guide Foot

 
What it does is allow you to align straight designs to be the same width apart.  You can see that on the bottom of the picture.  The designs don't align up because I'm still learning, but they are parallel to each other.  Sweet!  I may find other purposes for this foot as well.

Sew Mama Sew Asks About Your Thread Stash

Sew Mama Sew is asking about our thread collection and asked if we'd answer some questions.

Pictures...LOL.   I have so much thread in my collection.  Some nice arranged on the wall:

And others stuffed in bins:

And some more on a thread rack but not on the wall:

Now on to the questions:

How do you select colors for your personal thread collection?

By project.  I just can't buy thread just for having it.  Every thread I have is used for a purpose.  To waste thread is a crime.

Do you always match the color perfectly to your project?

If it's an embroidery project that comes with a specified thread chart, then yes.  Some embroidery designs can have 30+ different colors and it's just easier to buy what the project says to use.

If I'm quilting I match to how I want the quilting to look.  Do I want it subtle or obvious?

Do you ever use contrasting thread?  


Yes if it adds to the quilting and the pattern.

Do you use the same color in the bobbin as the upper thread?

Yes and No.  If the backing is different than the front I match for both.  If I'm piecing I use whatever is in my bobbin collection first.  I figure no one will see the piecing.  If it's a white fabric I match top and bobbin.

What if a fabric has big areas of very different colors?


I don't buy it.  LOL.  I find a thread that blends in with the colors.  Mulit-colored fabrics are more forgiving with thread than plain colors.

Do you have any tips or suggestions about choosing thread? 


Don't be afraid to try different brands.  Look for the best prices you can but don't cheap out either.  Get a real thread chart of brands you love and mark what you have already.

If it's a color you will use a ton of, buy a cone.  Prewound bobbins rock.  Just make sure you get the ones that fit your machine and not the cardboard ones.  Make sure you buy the right thread for the project.

Do you ever buy thread because you love a color (without a particular project in mind)?

Sometimes.

Do you "invest" in threads?

Yes.  With the embroidery threads.

What types of thread do you have? (elastic, quilting, all-purpose, wool, etc)  

I have silk, cotton of all weights, polyester, monofilament, hand quilting and variagated.

Driving Around Lincoln!!

Woo Hoo!  Yesterday was amazing as I spent the day driving all by MYSELF all around Lincoln!  I dropped DH off at work and then the day was mine for the next 8 hours.  My DDs were with me as we got an oil change, drove to JoAnn Fabrics, went to the mall, had lunch with DH, over to the sewing machine dealer, back to the mall and then to Target.

What makes this so amazing?  I have never driven around Lincoln in the 8 years I've lived in NE.  I've missed driving in a city for years and it was such a treat.  I actually find city driving much easier than country driving.  Mostly because the cops have nothing better to do than give out speeding tickets along the major highways.

While I was getting an oil change, I took a look at some used cars.  The Ford was crap but the Volkswagon Beetle was incredibly fun.  DH said NO at lunch.  While he won't admit it, I bet it was because he didn't want to be seen with one.  It's okay.  For now, a second car isn't really needed.

Next stop was JoAnn Fabrics.  I picked up thread for two projects and found a wonderful Indigo blue fabric that I had to have.

Next we headed to the mall.  I feel sorry for anyone who works in the Justice store as the music is horrendous and loud.  I couldn't listen to Hannah Montanna, The Jonas Brothers and other teenage singers without quitting after the first hour.

My girls got a couple of shirts (have you seen mall prices?) and we walked around the rest of the mall.  We met up with DH for lunch and I headed over to the sewing machine store.  I spent an hour talking with the lady and got tons of help with the Horizon issues.  It's nice to know I'm not crazy as my machine is working as it should and I won't panic anymore.

We went back to the mall and got the girls' hair cut, bought Webkinz that were 75% off as my daughters LOVE these and  I went into JC Penney's and got a quick make-up consultation.  The girl was pretty good at doing this and I bought a couple of things that actually work.

I went back to DH's work and he drove us home.

LOL By the way DH; 48th Street does NOT go to Pine Lake Road.  It dead ends at Old Cheney..LOL.  It's a good thing I know how to get to 27th from Old Cheney.

Pattern Burning

If you decide to make a purse/bag for your daughter make sure you don't buy the pattern I had.  Ever.  I have no problem buying a pattern from someone who designs their own, but if you can't write instructions that make sense, your name will be cursed forever after.

3/4 of the instructions weren't included and the other 1/4 made no sense.  However; after much frustration and nearly killing a Horizon, I have one done for my DD:

Now to go burn a pattern and never purchase another from this person again.

Cursing My Horizon!

I've spent the day cursing my Horizon and need to vent.  I'm so frustrated I'm about ready to sell it off.  I finally said a few choice words and pulled out my Topaz.  In seconds I had one side of the lining for my DD's purse done w/o the aid of a walking foot or guessing where the 1/4 seam allowance is.  Press Heavy on the Sewing Advisor and I went through fusible batting and the fabric with a perfect 1/4 inch seam allowance.

What I can't figure out is why the Horizon is being such a PAIN with the 1/4 inch seam allowance.  It too goes through fusible batting and the fabric with the aid of the walking foot, but finding that blankety blank, blankety blank 1/4 seam allowance is nearly impossible.  This machine is amazing and is capable of so much but that 1/4 seam allowance is off.

I have to DRAW the seam allowance if I want to use the Horizon as there isn't a true marking for it.

This is the foot at 3.5 mm.  The fabric isn't even on the right feed dog.  If you use the seam guides etched on the plate, it's off.  You may have to click on the pic to see

To find the 1/4 seam allowance at 3.5 mm I aligned my ruler to fit the  horizontal line etched line of the plate and the 1/4 line on my ruler.  The fabric doesn't cover the feed dog and I have to guess where to sew the 1/4 line on the purse edge.

I checked the 1/4 seam at 5.5 You can see that the true 1/4 inch is between the two etched lines. I had to put tape against the ruler and follow the tape as a guide.

What I don't get is why the Horizon doesn't work with a 1/4 seam.  Both the Topaz and the Horizon have exactly a 7mm width and are the same width from one feed dog side to the other.  They are the same size vertically as well.  The foot for the Topaz and Horizon are basically the same width.  

A couple of minutes later....Bingo!  I may have the answer!!  I took off the 1/4 foot of the Janome and aligned the Topaz foot under the Janome pressure foot.  It doesn't fit, but that doesn't matter.  I checked the center line of the foot and realized it's OFF center to the left!!!

I put the pressure foot down completely on the plate and indeed.  The pressure foot is NOT centered!!  Can you see how the pressure foot is over.  The needle is centered, but the foot is not!!

 

It's Done! Just Have A Pressing Question

Well, except for one last seam and the top corners.  Here's where I truly need help..the pressing part.

Here's the top:

And here's the back:

How do you press the seams so they look nice?  Do I press them open or to one side?  Or have the seams pressed opposite each other?   I really have tried to press as I go but the seams don't lie flat.

I will NEVER do this quilt again.  Having blocks finish at 1.5 inches isn't hard.  It just takes FOREVER!

I Did Sparklers!!

Remember how I said I don't do public pools?  I don't do sparklers either.  I've been scared to death of them as long as I can remember.  I have horrible visions of my hands and clothing on fire from a stray spark.  Fireworks I can handle.  Sparklers will make me faint.

My daughter brought some home from a friend and DH let my daughters use them.  DH and my DDs are having a blast with them while I stand on the porch frozen in fear watching.  DH comes over to me and asks if I want to hold one.  He told me they were the paper kind and not the ones that we had as kids.  He lights one up for me and I gingerly take it.  He held my hand and helped me twirl it slowly around.  It poppled and crackled making me jump, but DH told me it was okay and that it would stop burning when it hit the end.  It finally fizzled out and nothing caught on fire.  I actually did 4 of them but DH had to hold me so I wouldn't be so scared.

It appears I can now do public pools and sparklers.  For now.

I also didn't drop to the ground when people were lighting the really loud fireworks.  I have this crazy thing that loud noises like a car backfiring, an emergency vehicle going by or fireworks make me drop to the ground.  I'm aware of everything but can't move for about a minute and then can get up.  It's a pain when it happens and there's no reason for it.  It's not a seizure and it's not PTSD.  I just know to hold on to DH when the fireworks are going off.  

I'm SO close to getting this quilt done:

Just finish this last section and then sew all the pieces together and it will be done.  Woo Hoo!

Hoping To Get This Top Done Today

Well, I didn't get this top done like I planned the other day, but I'm pretty darn close:

There's more at the top but that empty space is filling up.

The finished quilt will be 20 squares by 36 squares.  I *plan* on doing a simple purple border, an appliqued flower border, another purple border and the binding.  I ordered the Go! Rose of Sharon die set today for the appliqued border.  I can see where this die would make applique go that much faster.

For now, I just want the 9-patches part done and will worry about the borders later.  My daughter wants a purse made and then I will see how well the 7700 does with this project.

Daylight Hours

Apparently adjusting to day hours has been harder than DH and I thought.  Although some of the adjustments are pretty hilarious.

*DH can bring silverware to work now.

*He doesn't have to wait for relief help to go to the bathroom.  He sat there for awhile trying to figure out why the other coworkers were just getting up and going.  I'm still laughing at that.

*The computer passwords for everything are killing him.  He just had to clock in/out and now it's far more complicated.  It doesn't help that not everything has transferred over to Health And Human Services Dept. yet.

*Not needing a uniform.  He's overwhelmed with choosing shirts in the morning as he'd never owned so many before this job.  Just buying shirts was overload for him.

*Daylight.  Our bedroom was the "Batcave" as the windows have been covered up for 8 years.  Now that I have an actual bedroom it's been wonderful.  I just keep thinking the lights are on when I go down the hallway and go to turn them off.

*Not needing permission to make phone calls.  It's so wonderful to talk to him during his lunch break and on the way home.

*He's the only guy there and it's funny as he's now in a female dominated job instead of a male oriented one.  There are things he'll never be able to relate too and he gets a little lost.  However; they are all fascinated that he's worked in a prison and bombard him with questions.  They are all very sweet to him.

*Not being almost squished by sliding metal doors or waiting for them to open/shut.  I'll have to ask him if regular doors confuse him.  LOL.

We are both adjusting but it's getting easier.