Stitch in Time - April 2012

[DrDebby]

First of all, apologies to Martha when you stop by. But, it's evening of April 2nd and I know you've been having a hard time being online lately, so I've started the stitch.

Now, on with the chatting.

[BeyondTheNineSquares]

HI. Thanks for starting this Deb. Life is nuts. Today it hit 93 and my car a/c quit. Life in the south without car a/c. Sigh. Am hoping Mom won't notice. If I tell her it's broken she'll be hotter than if I don't, but it costs lots to fix a/c in cars, so . . . open windows here I come.

More later. I did see Eva's picture of her show. Wow, Eva. Hope you sold a bunch. I'm so sorry to be so far behind. Life is just so full of high and low stuff and I can't keep up with either. Not boring though. lol

[EvaJ]

Well here it is Tuesday and I am totally exhausted. Worse than yesterday so don't think much is going to get done today. We had to make a quick trip down to get a few groceries and some meds and that took every last drop of energy I had.

I so wanted to get some of the doll furniture packed away in the shed but it is chilly and windy and I don't want to go out and clean enough of the shed so I can get a couple of big boxes in there. Our shed is pretty packed but it really would have some room if I could get a few things moved around.

Tomorrow won't work either because we have a bunch of things scheduled for tomorrow. Oh well........one of these days it will all get done.

[poochemio]

Time for R&R Eva, you will get to that stuff later, go sit in another room so you don't even have to contemplate those boxes.

So the snow and rain continued into the night last night, followed by repeated power outages, the first being the longest. I built a fire in the bedroom kiva so we would have some light other than flashlights, yes I do have candles, but a fire makes much more light. It was early to bed last night consequently. Split pea soup was a welcome warming treat last night to be sure.

I continue on with my cull and purge and have even found a way to incorporate that in my IFJM journal. I'm testing different brushes and paints and if I don't like them they either go on ebay or to the local teen art club. I'm seriously leaning more towards the latter, good art karma and all. My character is simplifying her life too, and experimenting as she goes. Nothing stellar yet, but I've come to the conclusion this is not what this journal is about, more like experimenting and seeing what works as a style evolves.

My kitchen was an utter disaster, now clean other than mopping floor, that will be next. The whole house has kind of piled up since we have both been down with allergies intermittently for weeks. My new vacuum cleaner came in the mail yesterday, it's time to clean up the fur off of things, I got an animal fur attachment. I had this model in Austin, it worked well, disappeared in the move. Our roof spring a couple of leaks in the night last night, dripped onto the top of my wine rack, ruined a couple of my vintage bartending books . Perhaps it's just nature helping me to get rid of excess stuff?

Well off to see how long my interest can be held by tidying. Have a good day all.

[blestlady]

Hello all........beautiful spring day here! The birds' symphony mornings and evenings here is just wonderful! We went to McD's for breakfast (yep, still on WW) and then sat out on our porch swing a long time having the coffee we brought home. Not getting the washing done and need to do at least one load today, so will start that when I get off here. I did get bills paid and mailed off the ones we still mail plus an Easter card to our 2 grandsons in FL with $. Wish it could be more but I figure they are still young enough to find something to buy with $5.

Snow, Margo?? Wow! Sorry about the leak and loss of elec. My purging has taken a little break. I have spring fever, not spring cleaning fever. lol

Hello to Debby, Martha, Eva (I agree, take a rest from those boxes) and everyone.............

[DrDebby]

Oh Martha, your poor dear. Open windows and allergies do not mix.

Eva, maybe you need to rest for a few days. You've been going flat out for weeks now, even when you haven't felt good.

Margo, so sorry about leaks onto your vintage books. Even if you were going to reduce, it pains me to hear they were ruined. Tho' if the water wasn't dirty, it may be possible to save the books. My mom (a librarian) helped me save some books I had in a garage that got wet. She had me buy white (no printing) paper towels. Then carefully open up each page and place a paper towel between them. Don't try to close the book, just get the pages separated and something absorbing the water. When the books were dry, I then carefully closed each one and place it under weights for several days to see if they would flatten back into a book shape. Several books were saved. Alas, some were indeed ruined. But, it was worth the effort to save what I could.

Bonnie, we cross posted. Hi.

Kind of a lazy morning around here. Happens when DH is home. More because every morning is like a Saturday morning with leisurely coffee and a late breakfast. Followed by us talking, then, him taking a nap. I end up being very quiet so no banging around in the kitchen, nor running my sewing machine until he gets up again. When he gets up, there will be lunch, and half the day is gone with not a lot to show for it. So, I've finished up the notes from the shoe making book from the library. It is due tomorrow. I've also played in my fake journal. Made a grocery shopping list for today or tomorrow. Hmm... what else can I get up to that's quiet... Computer games.

[EvaJ]

Sounds like everyone is kind of having a lazy day. I did get the counter cleared of all the junk mail and bills put up for payment next week when we get paid. I also cleared the kitchen counters of the mess on there. And the dining room table is almost clear off too. It had fabric on from the box I got from a friend last Friday. Now I have a load of laundry going and it will need to go in the dryer in a few. Still need to make out a deposit slip so that I can take the money from the weekend to the bank tomorrow. Some of the money we are keeping out to play with. Probably more dolls.

I have three dolls now that need to be cleaned and their clothes are in the washer so I guess I better go get them cleaned up and their hair fixed. Want to stop at a new thrift store tomorrow when we are out to see what they have.

[rue d'oak]

A new thrift store, Eva! That sounds fun. Hope you have found some goodies.

Had rain last night. Bit of a surprise.

Been trying to get practical things done the last few days. But I have been bit by the spinning bug, so I keep sneaking off to play with my wool and spindle.

Have a great day, all!
Jen

[EvaJ]

I have been on the run most of the day today. Left house at 8am to do the grocery shopping, OfficeMax to buy ink for my printer, (I went to print something last night and it said can't not print out of yellow ink), Kmart for a doll wig on sale and then back home to drop off groceries and John and back on the road to drop off paperwork at the doctor's office and on to the Art Guild meeting. This afternoon was a chiropractor appointment so now I am home for the rest of the day what is left of it, as it is 3pm.

Got some nice dolls this morning at Goodwill but no time to check out the new thrift store so will have to do that tomorrow or Friday. John will get restless and want to go check out the new store. It is down in the same area as Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul stores so will probably hit all three. Got to spend some of the profit from the show this past weekend. I have a bunch of dolls now that need clothes so I have plenty to do, just haven't had the time to work on anything.

Still haven't got my dolls all put away from the weekend.
I can't stand mess, so I know that by tomorrow I will get it done because I am tired of it just sitting in the living room.

[DrDebby]

Eva, I know you like to keep busy, but geez, you're an energizer bunny! Looking forward to seeing all the newest dollies and their new clothes.

Hi Jen. I like spinning, but with chronic tendonitis, I can only do it for so long. So, it sits for months (years?) at a time. I've never gotten good at it. All lumpy, bumpy and/or too thin so the strand breaks. Waiting to see what you are able to do with it.

It's snowing. It's been snowing all day. But, it's just warm enough that it's not sticking to streets and sidewalks. It'll all be gone as soon as there is a break in the cloud cover.

The purple pants saga continues. I have cut and re-sewn the pants. The darts in the back are so much better. I cut the front to account for the dip in my waistline and lowered the dart there. Also was smart enough to measure the old waist line and the new. With the swoop down it added an inch and a half to the length. So, I reduced the side seam a bit and made a slightly larger dart in the front. That dart had to be moved down anyway. They seem to fit pretty good. I'm letting them sit for the moment. I think I'm going to bast the waist just a little bit snugger and see how that feels before putting a waistband on them. They do feel weird because they mostly fit. Most of the time, my pants are snug unless they are sweat type pants. Yeah, they feel weird. Not tight, not wrong, just different.

Oh, and for your amusement... My sewing machine is set up in the living room. DH is sitting on the sofa reading.
DH looks up, "Is that your pants?"
Me: "Yes, what else would I be doing with this purple fabric?"
DH: "It doesn't look like pants."
Me: "What does it look like?"
DH: "Fabric, I guess. It doesn't look like pants."
Me: "That's why I'm sewing the pieces together. So they'll look like pants."
DH: "Sewing confuses me."

[blestlady]

Debby, hilarious conversation with DH about your pants you are making.

Hello to the rest of the gang..........

[EvaJ]

Debby, you and DH made me laugh. That is so cute.

Today has been one of those days where the sun hasn't shone and it is really hazy out. Really didn't want to do anything. Both of us felt kind of dumpy.

My track ball mouse for my computer died yesterday and I had to go back to a regular mouse and I just don't like that type of mouse. So today we went looking for one. After 4 stores we found it and double the price we paid for the last one. But then it has been several years since we had to buy one. This mouse lasts a long time but like everything else they do wear out.

Then we did the thrift stores. Goodwill nothing, St Vincent DePaul I found a doll and lots of fabric and lace. Then went to the new thrift store but it looks more like an antique shop than a thrift store and everything too high priced. We walked around and left. They did have some nice pieces of old furniture. We were tired after all that running so now home so John can take a nap in his lounge chair and I can play computer games with my new mouse.

[DrDebby]

Hi Bonnie.

Eva, yup, the mouses, of all kinds, they break. Glad you were able to find a replacement. Sorry about the new thrift shop not being so thrifty.

Haven't gotten back to the pants yet. I think that's next. I've been re-arranging my kitchen a bit. All the different, new ingredients I've bought so I can bake gluten-free were sitting out on the counter. I decided this morning that I had had enough and they needed a home. So, I worked on where would be the best place to keep them and moved things around. Then, a couple of days ago, DH pulled chicken out of the freezer, he wanted roast chicken for his lunches this week. Only when we'd bought the chicken there were 2 in the package. They were stuck together and had to be thawed apart. DH got his roast chicken, but that left a thawed out chicken that needed to be dealt with. So, I cut it up and put it in a soup pot. Now, I'm removing bones and skin before putting the meat back in the broth. Im thinking about splitting it in half. Half will be be chicken and dumplings (yes, GF dumplings) and half will be chicken and rice soup. But, that is going to take some work to separate the meat from the bones. Yes, the meat is falling off the bones, but I want to get all those bits and pieces that aren't meat out of the meals. Then, maybe I'll get back to the purple pants. Sorry, no amusing conversations or quips from DH today, he's at work.

[blestlady]

Hello all.........thunder-storming again. Had tons of rain yesterday and last night, but thankfully no thunder in the night. Been cloudy all day today but just now raining. We are in for cooler weather for the next week unless the forecast changes. Some 30's at night.

Went to WW this morning, lost another lb, getting there.......

Eva, glad you found some thrift store deals.

Debby, always nice to have an organized kitchen, isn't it? Well........I've heard that anyway........

I found the cutest pattern for crocheted peeps the other day. We'll see if I can find the link so you can see it though most here aren't into that kind of thing like I am. These are so fast and easy. I haven't made them but can tell by the pattern.
http://whiskersandwool.blogspot.com/...e-pattern.html

[poochemio]

Hi gang, somehow I forgot to subscribe to the new thread, and was wondering why you were all so quiet. Duh!

I've been baking today and attempting a few sketches in my IFJM journal. I have big doing for the next two days so the only way to get my Easter goodies done.



Tomorrow is Good Friday as I'm sure you all know. I live in the part of Northern New Mexico where the original Spanish settlers settled. They are an extremely devout group and there is a huge procession tomorrow with the Santos going up the hill to Chimayo. It is a huge deal and I want to be there sketching and clicking away. I think I could easily fill several sketchbooks from this one event. Saturday is my long awaited Colcha embroidery class, more of the local heritage. Oh and I almost forgot tomorrow afternoon at one of the local casinos is a low rider car show. My sketching fingers are tingling at the thought of all of these wonderful opportunities to hone their skill.

Jen I swear you are going to lead me down the path of yet another art form!!!! The fiber arts coop I'm going to for my class is predominantly spinning and weaving so the urge is going to be huge. I've actually always wanted to spin yarn, but that seems a bit silly for me to do as the only knitting I do anymore is scarves, though a shawl is doable. We will see how good I am at resisting on Saturday though. This place is awesome a huge old building the front filled with handspun yarn and handmade crafts, the back of the building is full of looms. Be still my fast beating heart. Add to that my landlady is a weaver and has 5 looms and has offered to teach me to weave. More hours in the day please.

Eva Deb is right you are a living breathing Energizer bunny.

Martha something has got to give soon. You do not live in the part of the country where you can go without a car ac for long, this is coming from someone who lived in the south 30+ years.

Bonnie rock on with your weight loss, says the girl who has been baking all day.

Okay time to get offline the procession begins at 7:00 am and its led by the archbishop, I don't intend to miss that part, so I will be awake in the wee small hours. Nighty night all.