Small Favors

The weather has been horrible.  Well, I guess that is a relative term since I have lived in places where it has been MUCH worse, but today was a saving grace.  When every hour is scheduled, a cancellation can be a Godsend.  While I love going to my annual doll club luncheon, I was elated when the call came through that it was cancelled due to bad weather.  Now, there is bad weather, and BAD weather.  Having spent my college years at the very tip-top of New York State, I know BAD weather.  For heavens sake--if you waited for decent weather up there you wouldn't have any life at all, so you just got on with it.  Granted, when you went out on the road that had a 1" base of solid ice covered with 2' of snow, and the temperature at -20*, there wasn't a lot of competition for space on the road.  If your car skidded across two or three lanes of roadway, chances were good that there wasn't anybody else out there to argue with you while you wrestled your car back into compliance, and you learned about all there was to know about handling a car in crisis.  I am grateful for that early training, because, like learning to ride a bicycle, it stays with you forever.  I kind of chuckle over the weather crises that we have here on Long Island, because they are pretty wussy.  But, wussy can be life threatening when confronted by three lanes of folks who think they can actually stop those SUV's on a dime, and tend to ride at 50+ no matter what.  So--it's all relative.

When the call came about the luncheon cancellation, I headed to the grocery stores with my list in hand, considering it a golden opportunity, since everyone else would be in the mall, hunting up those last minute gifts.  The stores weren't bad, except that they didn't have many checkers on, but I was able to get what I needed, and so I head into next week well prepared, and armed for all the company to come.  Our house is the holiday place, since we have a big dining room, and the layout is great for large gatherings.  People can blend from one room to the next, depending on the conversation, they can get around freely, and I like to think that the food is pretty good.  We always have a house full, and it is the greatest pleasure.  I have an aunt who always said that it was a joy to have people who wanted to come and visit, and she was absolutely right.  In fact, it may be time to schedule a visit with her, since it has been a while.  I used to feel it was in imposition, but now I see it differently.  God bless her and all the courageous folks who had us over weekends when our kids were growing up.  Entertaining a family with five active children is a daunting prospect that I appreciate more and more as time goes by.  

We have three extra bedrooms, and they will all be filled over the holidays. Now that I am nearly ready,  I confess to looking forward to it.  Last week when it was all ahead of me I was worried that I wouldn't get it all done.  Better today.  Life's joys!

Haven't Lost It Yet, But There's Still Time...

Okay, so what's the date?  Hold the little mouse on the clock on the bottom of the screen and it comes up the 18th.  That should be good, right?  Still time to deal with what is left to do.  I did sit myself down a week ago and make a master schedule of all the holiday prep that needs to get done before the big day, and I assigned the detail jobs to specific days, so I should  be able to get it all in, yes?  Luckily, I had the sense to put things in calendar order, so that I am all ready for my doll club event on Saturday.  After that, there are no guarantees.  Things keep creeping in to steal away my time, and destroy my feeble attempts at organization.  

Guests are coming in from out of town.  Originally, the first of these were to arrive on the 23rd.  Okay.  Good.  Then the Doctor said that he got the week off and would be arriving on the 22nd.  Okay.  Guest room #2.  Unfortunately, the bad one, since it is my sewing room, and when it is needed, it needs to be dug out.  Okay.  Still on schedule.  Then, the Auditor, coming to stay on the night of the 19th.  Just one night, but means the room has to be ready ahead, and then redone for the 23rd.  Okay, still working reasonably on schedule.  Got the wrapping done today, and I think there are no last minute runs to the store for emergency gifts.  The decorating isn't done though.  The tree is up, but the other decorations are not hung by the chimney with care, and  I need to get the boxes and storage bags out of the living room before the late night Friday guests arrive, as well as make some serious progress in the sewing room, since the weekend is taken up with the Doll Club luncheon, and the Grand's  Christmas Pagent.  I thought I was doing well, but unfortunately, it is once again "Crunch Time".  I haven't even gotten around to any planning for food to feed all these people, who will be expecting to eat while they are here, and that includes not only Christmas Day, but Christmas Eve as well--and not just dinners.  We are not running a B&B here, more like an all-inclusive, but there isn't any staff. 

I'm figuring a good night's sleep will clear the cobwebs, and in the morning, I will see my way to a productive day  tomorrow, all will be well by the time it needs to be.  I confess I used to chuckle about the holidays, comparing them to the end of the college semester, when finals were coming and the term paper was due.  The better part about the holidays was that when it was over, whatever didn't get finished was done and gone, unlike the late term paper, which still needed to be completed.  And besides, who doesn't like a good challenge?  Wish me luck--I need it!

Overcoming Inertia

There are fundamental differences between MyTreasure and myself, one being that he loves to listen to music (with the volume of our player set on 11) and he loves to attend concerts.  My preference is Books on Tape (set at a normal volume, or at least loud enough to be heard over the sewing machine) and actually performing in those concerts.  So, when brochures come in the mail hoping to seduce him into purchasing tickets to subscription series of different orchestras and choruses he leaves them on my side of the breakfast table, as if I am actually going to pick them up and look at them.  I used to, but now, for the most part, I just slide them into the circular file.  He reads through them and if he finds something that he knows I will like, he calls it out loud, usually halfway across the house, and if it is juicy enough, I say to get tickets.  The last one we went to was in Riverside Cathedral, in the Lady Chapel, a group performing very old music--a capella for the most part.  It was a great concert.

A couple of months ago he asked me about tickets for a concert on December 14th.  I hate to commit to things at that time of year, because I know it always gets crazy, and there are a million things to be done before Christmas. Yesterday was the day, and I was grumbling about going due to the aforementioned million, and the weather was cold when we went out for church.  Somehow we always end up going to Manhattan in the cold.  The train is cold, the streets are cold, the cement is cold, and there is almost always a howling wind in those street tunnels.  The seating was not assigned, and the doors were opening quite a while ahead of when we were able to arrive, so we were going to have to hope we could attach ourselves to something decent where hopefully we could see the musicians.

So.......the afternoon warmed up, and there was no wind.  We made our train connections by some governance of Providence--the LIRR to the #1 uptown to the S, over to the #6 (the 4/5 local never came), then hop off at 86th and walk back two blocks.  We handed in our tickets, and headed to the left , because most people go to the right, and walked down the side aisle where we snagged two seats on the aisle that had a decent view between the humongous marble columns that can completely block the view of the unfortunates behind them.  Once in the pew, we were able to relax, and look around.  What a setting!  We were once again in St. Ignatius where our son was married a number of years back.  The inside has been completely restored, and it is just glorious.  The program began--wonderful Christmas selections, familiar and unfamiliar, all performed to perfection by the church's various choirs and orchestra.  There were also carols to sing along with, accompanied by the orchestra and the organ, with descants by the choirs, just to top it off.  There were three wonderful ladies behind us who were just enthralled by it all, and made comments to that effect as it went along, and one who enjoyed herself by humming along when she knew the song, and at times, experimenting with melodies that she didn't know but thought she would like to try anyhow.  I went back out into the not-so-chilly evening with a much adjusted attitude, and a lovely holiday glow.  We even saw the tree from the bus going back down 5th Ave.

I confess to having trouble leaving the house.  It is cozy here, and my stuff is here, and there is plenty to do.  I always enjoy it when I get to the concert, but I get stuck inside my head, and would probably never leave home if I wasn't prodded.  What a shame if I didn't go--all the lovely things I would miss.  Thanks, MyTreasure.

The Old Cardboard Box Thing

It was my Dad's contention that kids always had more fun with the box than with the toy that came in it.  I have seen this to be true at special times when the kids just break out and have fun playing with each other--like the wrapping paper fights after the Christmas presents are all opened up, or after the groceries have been unpacked and a stray cardboard box big enough to sit in finds it's way into the living room.  This bunch of "Grands" ( a couple of them live in a 4th floor walkup and have no yard) wait for this special time of year when they can go out into the back yard with Pa (otherwise known as MyTreasure) and rake up a good old pile of leaves, and then have at it.  There is jumping and throwing and laughing--I keep trying to tell them they have to close their mouths so that they don't get full of leaf pieces and twigs, but they just keep laughing, and so do we.  

You can tell they are growing up.  This was the first year that they helped Pa put the leaves into bags when they were done.  Not bad looking weather for the first week in December!  It's all over now though--the leaves are picked up, and the lawnmower has been winterized and stored away.  But the grass is still green, and there is still a flower or two peeking up from the dying garden.  Some of those plants just don't want to give it up.  They are my favorites, since I am such a poor gardener, and I confess to being partial to the flowers that bloom in spite of me.  Now it's onward toward the big "C"!

Whew!

T-day went by in a whirlwind.  I was able to do all the prep on Wednesday, and had most of Thursday morning to finish up the last minute stuff that you can't do ahead.  The guests began dribbling in early, and we got the appetizers out well ahead of the official start time of three o'clock.  We had consumed a lot of crostini and cheese before the last batch of tardy folk came in, so that most of us were more than ready to chow down as soon as the many bowls and platters made it to the table.  Everything was passed,several times, and I really didn't get much of a look at the food after getting things out of the kitchen the first time.  Helping hands were there while I got the dessert served, and all the containers of leftovers went to the basement to the party fridge, carried by somebody--not me.  Then there was pie--four kinds, with whipped cream.  Somehow the bowl of "schlag" was cleaned out before it made it to me, so that my pie was naked, and I confess to being distressed, but that was actually a good thing, what with being on  Weight Watcher's and all.  

Weddings and holidays never only last one day here at Chez --well, we never did pick a name for this 100+ year-old-heap--the best that comes to mind is Big Brown.  Maybe if you translate that into French it would sound classier...Since the company was to continue throughout the weekend, I invited people to come for leftovers.  Friday I toddled down to the basement to pull up the repeat of Thursday's dinner, and lo and behold!  Looking very lonely and a little forlorn  amongst the pretty much empty shelves of the aforementioned party refrigerator were the very slim remnants of Thanksgiving dinner.  I guess the food must have been really good, because there wasn't a whole lot left there.  We had enough for Friday, but the Saturday folks ate take out pizza.  Of course, that suited them just fine, since they are vegetarians.  There certainly weren't any of those veggies left!  Who would have thought that Brussels sprouts could get scarfed up like that!  

So, this year we got the flip side of the the two edged sword.  At least we won't be eating the same old thing for nights on end the way we have in the past.  Tomorrow I will make turkey soup out of the bones, and MyTreasure will have his last turkey sandwich of the season--without dressing--that was gone days ago...

Two Dandies or Where November Went

My doll club has these quarterly "challenges" wherein a theme is selected, and then you get to make something that embodies the theme. Sometimes it clicks with me, and sometimes I have trouble deciding what to make. This time it was Country/City. I rolled this around in my head, since it could be just one doll or two. I thought of making a topsy-turvey doll, or one that was city on the front and country on the other side. I ended up with the most obvious--Country Mouse, City Mouse, except that these guys are a little bigger, and definitely fit into the rat category. So I have Country Rat/City Rat. But, they are both so dapper that I think anyone could forgive their lineage.

At least I am ahead of the game for the next quarter. The theme for Feburary is "Music", and of course, she just has to be the "Fat Lady Singing". Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Where October Went

Every so often something comes along that catches my fancy, and I have to give it a try. Mostly I work with fabric, but I have always been intrigued with paper. I have in fact, collected papers, books about card making, rubber stamps and embossing powders, but have never managed to get myself into producing anything. Last spring, a member of my doll club came in with a photo book that she called the "Explosion Book". We all loved it, and she was called upon to teach us how to make it at one of our meetings. Of course, that was a month when I could not be there. We prevailed upon her to repeat the lesson, which she did back in September. I took myself out to the Materials Resource Center, and gathered the papers that I would use (why is it that you never have what you need in the piles of things that you have already amassed?) and started folding and gluing. It takes more time than I would like, since each book uses 6 squares and 24 triangles, plus the end boards, but I love putting together the colors--a bit like designing a small quilt. I think the end result is dramatic. Of course, I can never make just one. Maybe my musician's mind makes me want to keep doing something until I have figured out the best, most efficient way to put something together.

So, off we go to the church fair this weekend, where I am sure the books will be picked up and admired, turned over, and laid once more back my little table due to their "exorbitant" price. Hard to compete with those ladies in China who turn things out for pennies. It will be a pleasant day though, spent with friends. I confess to enjoying looking at all the different ways people choose to spend their free time, and letting them see how I spend mine.

My Space

A couple of Christmases ago I decided for my Christmas gift, I would like to have a bigger TV upstairs in our bedroom. We had a 13 incher, all the way across the room, and it was not a pleasure squinting at such a small screen. I had in mind one of those nice flat dealies that would hang on the wall and not take up any space--all very neat. Every time I would go to the store to try to pick one out, the sales child would do his best to explain about DTV, but since his real knowledge of how the whole thing would work was about equal to my own, my head would start to throb, and I would finally just walk away from the whole thing, never collecting on my Christmas present for that year. Not long after that, my daughter passed us their old TV, since they had managed to actually purchase a lovely, large flat TV of their own. So this big box was given space on MyTreasure's dresser (his concession to not having to come up with a Christmas gift), and it has worked out pretty well, since the TV has a big enough screen to enjoy whatever I am watching.

One thing of course leads to the next. The old wing chair there in the bedroom had arms that hit just in the wrong place for knitting. At one point I got a stiff shoulder from leaning sideways in order to knit. I even changed my knitting to European style because of it, but the chair really wasn't comfortable. I would often crawl under the covers and watch TV from bed, but I couldn't sit up straight enough to knit, and often fell asleep before the end of the program. I really hate it when I sleep through the last 15 minutes of a two hour murder mystery. I went on line and checked out recliners, but was never inspired by what I saw, and of course, hundreds of dollars were always involved.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, an ad came on TV. Those horrible furniture ones, where you can get it for so much less, because BOB! is such a great guy. I checked it out online, then trotted over to the store to see how the thing looked, and how it felt to sit on, and what colors were available. The saleslady was not as young as in the TV store, but about as helpful. They only had it in the store in one color, and no, they didn't have the other fabric swatches, but they were supposed to come in next week, and I should come back to see the swatches, and no they didn't have the chair there for pick-up--it would come from the warehouse, but call before you come. Yeah, right! I went home, ordered the thing online on Monday afternoon, and it was delivered on Thursday morning. It is truly comfy, the velvet is cozy, and without the arms, the knitting goes very well. I asked MyTreasure how he liked it, and he said "It's Godawful! It looks like a fainting couch!" Luckily, I am not easily offended, and I know a good thing when I see it!

Makes You Think

I got a call from a friend last night that was actually a wrong number. He thought he was speed dialling somebody else, and got me instead. The beginning of the call was pretty funny: "Hello?" "Irene?" "Albert?" "Albert????" "Who were you calling?" "Kurt." "Oh, this is Carol. This is Norm, isn't it." "Yeah--must have gotten the wrong speed dial number, and why did you think it was Albert?" "Because he calls here once in a while when he mixes up his girlfriends, and I thought it was him." "Ah, well as long as I have you on the phone, I'll tell you what's going on..."

He went on to say that he was in the hospital, and that in the morning they were going to drill into his skull to relieve the pressure from some bleeding that was going on in there. Wow. This is a big strapping healthy guy, and here he is in the hospital, all in just a day--life can turn on a dime.

It gives real weight to that overused phrase "Carpe Diem". Those of us who are blessed with the physical strength and ability to get around really need to get out there, do what we can and what we want to do while we have the ability to do it, because there is no guarantee that we will always have that blessing. The days slip by in that flowing stream of time, and they pass, whether we accomplish or not, and they do not come back to us. I take my life span for granted, expecting it to be unnaturally long, but there is no real reason to think that I will always have the good health that I enjoy now. I have had great joys in the accomplishments of my family, and great satisfaction in several of my own. I confess that I am living the life that pleases me, and do not feel unfulfilled. The future looms however, especially when I hear of the recent trials of others, and one wonders what is ahead.

Good luck, my friend. I hope all went well for you today, that the doctors were able to give you what you need. I was thinking of you, sending my prayers.

An Excellent Halloween

The trick or treaters came and went, and they had a perfect day/night for it:  cool, but not cold, nice and clear, leaves blowing down the streets.  We used to have quite a parade to our door of goulies and fairies of assorted ages, and the door bell would drive our dog crazy.  She would faithfully bark each time it rang, all through the afternoon and into the evening.  The numbers have dwindled over the years as families had fewer kids, and as the fear factor kicked in, so that kids are no longer allowed out on their own to ring those doorbells.  Our street is also a bit disconnected, and the houses are not close together, so we get less foot traffic.  We only had about 30 kids come by.

The big hit this year were little glow in the dark bracelets that I picked up last minute.  The kids were so excited to get them that they forgot to wait for the candy.  One little fairy arrayed all in layers of pink, with pink glittery shoes, put the bracelet on her wrist and said "Oh--pink!  My favorite color!"  Really?  I'm shocked!  Couldn't have been cuter!  I confess that I get a kick out of the joy the kids get out of trick or treating.  I think children have so few times that they get to make the total decision for what they are going to wear, what they want to turn themselves into for a day, and where they will go to collect, of all things, that forbidden fruit--candy.  They get to wear make-up, and come home with a bagful of the stuff that Mom will never buy in the store.

I keep a bag of decorations in the attic--nothing too exotic, but it does make our porch pretty spooky after dark.  I got belayed by daylight savings being put off a week, and most of the kids had come and gone before I could light the candles in the luminerias out on the steps.  But, we all had fun, and today is another beautiful fall day.  Maybe I'll go out and enjoy the colored leaves before they all blow away.  Happy Birthday Sue!

Rising Cost of Eating

I was asked to go shopping for our church's food pantry, since I have some expertise on knowing where to find the good buys on groceries.  What they want is "shelf food", cans and boxes that can wait until they are needed.  We all shop for our families every week, and we all know that food prices have been creeping up.  I always kept a mental list of my bargain price that I would pay for things, and when I would find it, I would buy.  So, I started out for my favorite cheapie places and hunted up the best prices on canned veggies and spaghetti sauce, pasta and rice mixes, and my trunk is pretty full.  When I came home and added up the receipts, I had only spent half of what the food pantry had allotted.  Today I will go back and spend the other half of the money--I was not able to find peanut butter at the price I wanted to pay, so will have to invest in jars on sale at one supermarket, even though they are 50% higher than the price I was looking for, and that was a sale.  Jelly also seemed to be expensive--guess I don't normally buy much jelly.  

It seems like for a lot of years food prices were pretty stable--thank heavens, because that was when I was feeding my growing bunch of five chomping mouths.  As they moved away, our grocery needs have shrunk, and the prices have gone up.  A gallon of gas was up to the price of a gallon of milk.  The gas has gone back down, but the milk has gone up even more.  And what happened to the price of a dozen eggs?  It used to rise and fall some, but all of a sudden the price doubled, and has continued to drift upward.  Don't even mention the cost of a jar of mayonnaise.  We survive on seasonal vegetables, and meat on sale that goes right into the freezer.  Soda, however, is cheaper than it ever was.  I can get a dozen cans of soda for quite a bit less than that dozen eggs.  I confess, I can only shake my head and wonder how people survive what I call the "store wars".  I see older folks who can't possibly read the fine print on the ingredients labels.  There are no individual prices on things any more, and bending down to read the shelf labels to make sure you have the item that is supposed to be on sale is nearly impossible.  Even if you can decipher the abbreviation written above the bar code, chances are that it is the wrong item above the shelf tag, since at the end of the work shift, management has the underpaid and possibly underage work staff go through the store and pull the stock forward on the shelves so that the shelves look full for the next day.  All the kids want to do is go home, so who cares if things are in the right place.

So, back to the store I go.  Then, I have to unload all this stuff at the church.  Wonder where I should leave it?  There is quite a lot, and I can't just stack it all in the hallway.  Well, I hope it helps somebody...

Las Vegas Unveiled

I didn't know what to expect from Las Vegas. I didn't know if I would enjoy it or hate it, and it proved to be a mixture of both. Our trip was great--I confess, we had a very fun time, and certainly were not bored. It is freetrade Disneyworld for adults, meaning that there is plenty of competition for your entertainment dollar, and it isn't all just going to the Disney corporation. But of course, the whole place is fake, just like Disneyworld, and it has no business being where it is.

We hit most of the big hotels, and saw about all there was to look at--shark filled aquariums in the middle of swimming pools, dolphin pools, wave pools, Italian garden pools, dancing choreographed fountains, dripping walls of water running down in restaurants and bars, coves of sinking pirate ships, Venetian canals, complete with gondals--you notice a theme here? Water, water, water, in the desert? Maybe that's their fascination, since the place is just about as desolate as the Sahara. Nobody should be living there at all, much less building this illusion of well-being.

We went out to the Hoover Dam where their water supply Lake Meade languishes in its canyon. All around the edge is a big white edge where the water level has dropped. From ground level it looks like quite a large band of white rimming the dark rocks. From the air, it is formidable. Our helicopter pilot told us the water level drop that is the white band is 120'. Nobody seems to be minding much in town--the fountains run every 15 minutes at the Bellagio, and the water walls run all the time. In the hotels there isn't any suggestion that maybe you could take a shorter shower, they serve you water in the restaurants, and there is even a place in a mall that has a rain storm falling from the ceiling every hour, for your amusement and edification. It was all a little warped.

Flying over the landscape in the helicopter really showed off the desolation of the place. It is empty rock and sand for as far as you can see. Looking down at the wild horses was a bit of a shock--what on earth do they do all day? There is nothing out there. After you leave Las Vegas, it is 20 miles of desert to the next town in any direction, and those are very small towns indeed. Coming from a lifetime of living in suburbia, where one village runs right into the next, with no visible divider, it is so hard to imagine living surrounded by all that emptiness. And I mean empty--not a tree, or a gas station, or even billboards. Not even cactus. Sand and rock. Did we really need to take it away from the Native Americans?

The hotels we visited ran the gamut from over the top luxury to pretty well used up. The least expensive was actually quite nice--I was worried that it would be ugly, but I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be a true bargain--low price, and a great room. That was the Sahara, located at the north end of the strip, and definitely a recommend. Skip the Tropicana--good location, but really tired, and not inexpensive. As they said to us in London, "Give it the swerve!" We moved all around, due to the wedding that we attended on the weekend. We met up with the relatives, and a good time was had by all. Thanks for inviting us Keith and Krystle! Congratulations, and best wishes for a happy life!

The Year of the Wedding

Family weddings have dribbled on one in a blue moon for the last 13 years.  Until this year--2008--who would have thought everyone would decide to get married in 2008?  This week we will be traveling out to Las Vegas for the fifth wedding of the year.  Four of them have been out of town, and we have enjoyed spending time in places we probably would not have travelled to otherwise--Germantown PA, Iowa City (got to see the flood damage) and Rochester NY (who knew the Erie Canal could be so cool!)  We're those guests that live far away, and you send the invitation thinking "Well, they'll never come!"  You bet we come!  The best revenge for them not keeping in touch!  The wedding this weekend was only across the street in the little Episcopal church that we can see from our windows, very lovely, and good to spend time with our neighbors. Now we are headed for Las Vegas.  

I confess I go with some reservations.  Well--actually a lot of reservations, since we are moving our hotel every couple of nights to accommodate our various plans for the week.  I'm not sure that Las Vegas is the place for us, since the gambling has little appeal, we prefer concerts to shows, and tend to seek out museums in the places we visit.  The only museum that I have heard about in Las Vegas (and granted, I haven't done my homework--maybe there are others) is the Liberace Museum.  I'm keeping my expectations low--maybe it will be great! There are certainly enough restaurants to keep us amused.  Wish our foodie friends were coming...

The wedding is what we are going for, and time with relatives.  I am happy for the excuse to get us off our chairs (and ladders) and take a trip to a place that we keep saying "Oh yeah!  We should go there."  We'll be flying down into the Grand Canyon, and driving out to Hoover Dam.  Meshes with our stop at the Hoover Library on our way home from Iowa City.  See--who says there is no plan for the universe!  All the best to the 2008 Brides and Grooms.  We've enjoyed sharing your celebrations.

Sudden Fall

I confess I do love summer, and for some reason I think it is going to stay that way long past its time, and so it is always a bit of a disappointment when the days get shorter, and the temps start dropping.  This year it was summer right up to the first of October, and then one night, overnight, it became Fall.  I was freezing for two days until I got my fanny up the old attic stairs and retrieved my warmer clothes.  My feet were begging for socks, but all that was in my closet were sandals.  I was so reluctant to give them up and put on real shoes with closed up toes and heels.  I lugged my storage tubs down the stairs, and emptied and refilled, switching out tanks for turtles, shorts for longs, tricot for flannel, and cottons for wools.  

What I really need to do is take to heart the notice that the Big Brother truck will be in my neighborhood on the 14th, and weed out all the lurkers in the back of the closet(s), and make them go away.  My personal dilemma with most of these neglected cases is that I sewed them myself, and I really like the fabrics.  I keep thinking that if I recut and update a bit, I will wear them again.  I have done this a number of times, since we were swathed in yardage in the 90's, and styles today are much more sleek, with shorter hems--easy to remodel.  But.....then you don't have room anything new.  See--I told you it was a dilemma!  Okay.  Reduce, reuse, recycle.  Here I go!

That Sinking Feeling

You all have experienced it--that dropping of your insides when you hear certain words spoken that you know can't be altered or recalled by anything you can do.  I got home the other night from my grandson's birthday party around 9pm, and hit the play button on the old answering machine and heard one of those sentences:  "Hi!  You left your fanny pack here!"  Oy.  Little Hemo' lives 1 hour and 15 minutes away.  What to do.  It is Saturday night, and I have to play for church in the morning.  Be there at 8am.  Wallet and keys in the fanny pack.  Worse yet, I, as my last act before leaving for the party, tucked my extra key ring with the organ key on it into the fanny pack, because I didn't want to forget it in the morning.  "As I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down..."  My head starts to ache. Singing won't help.

 Okay, pull it together.  There is another key tucked away in the organ bench.  I can walk up to the church, since it is only up to Main Street.  And then, after church I can drive back to Westchester and hope that I don't do anything stupid that would require producing a driver's license and registration.  Little Hemo's birthday present was a ticket to see the new movie (and you know you all want to see it!) Beverly Hills Chihuahua.  He has the afternoon free, so we will go to the movie, retrieve the fanny pack, and all will be well with the world!  

I did not sleep as well as I would have liked, waking up in the middle of a dream where two other organists also showed up to play for the church service, but the service went well, and I came home and put on some warmer clothes, since the weather has decided to be appropriately Autumn, now that it is October.  MyTreasure was gracious about giving me his keys and credit card so that I could refill the gas tank, and I was on my way.  The afternoon went just fine--no traffic in either direction, Hemo' and Gracious enjoyed the movie and the popcorn, and I confess that BHChihuahua was less painful than the preview promised.  Just a little reminder that life can turn on a dime.  

Cruise To Nowhere

A couple of days ago Garden Fairy and I hunkered down in front of her computer and started to go through all the sites that list cruises to the Caribbean, determined to book a week's worth of warm weather in the end of January, when we all long for it the most. Actually, the real longing sets in towards the end of February, after enduring several months of scarf and gloves, when we look back on the summer days of just grabbing the pocketbook and heading out to the car, unencumbered by pounds of insulation. (This feeling is multiplied exponentially according to the number of children who accompany.) However, the travel companies are well aware of this, and tack on misery surcharges, so that as the season goes on, the price goes up. We thought we'd sneak in ahead of the raises by going in the end of January.

We started reading itineraries, hunting down possible ports, plane fares coming and going--all the things to which you need to commit in order to make this happen. Going out of New York was a priority for us, since it eliminates the weather factor of travelling by air in January. Unfortunately, the trips out of New York run 10 days, 3 days longer than we were looking for, which of course, adds to the cost. After a few hours of calculating, and selecting, and rearranging, the grand total for this little warm-up getaway was going to run us well over $5000 a couple. Wow! All our enthusiasm for this venture drained away, and we adjourned to the kitchen for some coffee and aspirin for our overtaxed brains.

We went back to the computer, and tried for alternatives. By then, the afternoon had drained away, and I had to head home to fix dinner for my niece and two kiddies who were coming by at 7. Next morning I pulled out a brochure for hotels on Ft. Myers Beach, and found a place that will let us stay right on the sand overlooking the beautiful Gulf from our balcony. GF concurred, and we dialled 800 and booked our week. No ship, unfortunately, and MyTreasure is disappointed, but I won't have to those seasick pills, and the birdwatching will be spectacular!

Updated Economics

I went to my doll club meeting today--always interesting due to the diversity of the members. We are a group of women who make dolls out of cloth. The main benefit of belonging to a group like this is the camaraderie. It is very unusual to find anyone who wants to make anything out of cloth these days, and to have friends who will talk about it is like finding treasure.

The nature of craftspeople is to collect interesting looking things that may come into some use down the road. You never know when you are going to need something shiny to stitch to a little coat, or a small brass buckle or bell that will just finish up a hat. We have our favorite haunts, one of them being the Materials Resource Center. They get donations from individuals and businesses of surplus items that would normally be sent to the land fill, and sell them by weight. You never know what you are going to find when you go there. There are old wallpaper books, and spindles, fabric remnants, wood pieces, unmounted rubber stamps, little boxes, bins of electrical parts--you have to have an open mind when you go through that door. I try very hard not to buy anything until I have an idea what I am going to do with it, but I never leave without SOMETHING in my hand.

Another source had been a number of stores that have come and gone that were "odd lot" stores--places that bought out closeouts for almost no money, and then resold them for a small profit. I used to get some spectacular bargains. Now we have bigger chains with more outlets, pretty much calling themselves Dollar Stores. Unfortunately, they seem to be going the way of all retail these days, and there is talk of them raising the price. Remember the old 5&10? Guess we'll be headed back in that direction, only instead of 5&10 cents, it will be $5&10. Playing the "stay one step ahead" game has kept me on my toes all these years. I confess, I enjoy it.

Ever Stop To Think?

That's a joke on a t-shirt--"Ever stop to think and find you can't get started again?" That's where I'm at this week. We were so busy last month, but after arriving back home I have been at loose ends and trying to tie things back together isn't working too well. I get up, have breakfast, do the shower, get dressed, and what? Maybe too many options-- I'm having trouble deciding what to do each day. Before, there were deadlines--all those wedding favors and welcome bags had to be put together, and the dresses had to be sewed. Now it is all a little vague, and I find myself diddling the day away. It seems too early to start on the Christmas list, although with the sultry days we have been having, going to the AC'd mall would not be a bad idea. I do need another dress for the wedding that we are attending in October (this is the year of weddings!). There are still dolls unfinished in their respective boxes waiting for heads and clothes, but none of that is calling to me. Maybe I just have to sit still and listen for that "still small voice", and just enjoy the drift for a bit. How many people have that luxury? Before I know it, it will be crazy again, and I won't have appreciated this quiet time. So--maybe a dvd and a few rows on the knitting....

Rochester Reunion

I confess I never think of our family as large, but now that they are all coming with spouses, and children, and significant others, it adds up to quite a few folk when we are all in one place, which I may add, doesn't happen more than a couple of times a year. The occasion was a happy one--a wedding. The bride and groom are true optimists, and had planned the whole thing for outside. The weather cleared up not too long before the festivities began, and we all enjoyed ourselves outdoors--rehearsal dinner right on the Erie Canal, complete with canal boats riding by, and dinner al fresco on the patio.

The main even was held in a beautiful garden, and the reception was also on a patio. The weather was just right--not too hot, not too cold, and was made extra special by all the out of town guests who were present. There were baskets of rose petals for the bride to tread on that did double duty as entertainment for the children after the ceremony. The dancing went on into the night, and when MyTreasure and myself finally decided to call it quits, it went on without us. Some of my "children" are pretty good dancers--something that we don't see at a family dinner. Maybe we should start adding that as an after dinner activity. On Sunday we were pretty tired, but still had two more parties ahead of us. By Monday, everyone had taken off, and I was happy to get into my car and not have to talk to anybody. Conversation can be tiring! Indeed, there was much catching up to do with cousins that we see infrequently, and it was wonderful to see them all well and happy. Thank heavens they are all willing to travel, because they make family gatherings extra special.

Congratulations, Rickybobbie! May your marriage be as wonderful as your wedding, and we wish you both the best in your new life together.

The Other Half Of My Week

Since I promised the bride a picture of my dress when it was finished, I thought I would just go ahead and put it here for the world to see. I confess, I like it fine, especially on the size 10 dress form. Unfortunately, I take up a bit more of the fabric, so that the skirt doesn't pleat as nicely as it does in the picture. But then again, that dummy is at least 8" shorter than me, so I suppose I am entitled to the extra girth. Also, the glitter doesn't come out in the picture--it sparkles very nicely, without being "in your face--look at all those sequins!"

The jewelry became an issue when I put on my lovely white gold and diamond pendant, and it hung down inside the neck of the dress. What's a gal to do? I located a long, long strand of pearls, and it wraps around my neck 6 times, so staying above the cowl front. Yes, yes, if you blow up the picture and count, it goes around DD's (dress dummy's) neck seven times. She's not a REAL person with a stickie-outie belly, and a generous derriere. She also has no bust. HA! Well, see you all at the wedding--I'll be the one dressed like DD.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation--Cont'd

I've been in the sewing room for the past few days, catching up with what needs to be finished for the big wedding, coming up next weekend. All the mulling I did over cutting out my dress paid off, since it fit very nicely, and went together without all the do-overs that often plague any seamstress. The fabric is covered with glitter, and I did not think it would benefit from the extra handling that mistakes entail, and there is still enough attached so that I will be sparkly enough.

Next came the "blue fairy dress". It looks large to me, but should fit perfectly, since it was the same pattern that I used a couple of weeks ago for the flowered dress (OMG--Something Went Right For A Change!). This didn't go together as smoothly as the flowered dress, though. I had to recut the front bodice, and the skirt front, since my iron melted parts of the chiffon, and had to go buy more chiffon, since I had forgotten to add the extra inches for the deep hem. I can go buy a new iron, but to get the brain to work isn't as easy. At least they still had a piece of the fabric. How do you like it, Gracious? Is it twirly enough for the dance floor?

So, now all that is left to do is make 85 little wrapped boxes of chocolates, and 20 welcome bags for the out of town guests. And get myself to Rochester

Necessity's Ungapatchka

A while back I was intrigued by a listing on our library schedule that simply read "Dollinks". I asked the lady behind the desk what that meant, and she told me that it was a doll club that met once a month in the meeting room, and that they always seemed to be having way too much fun. Wow--I make dolls! I like fun! Sounds like I should check it out. Well, I did, and they took me in, and now I too am having way too much fun! I confess, it is a treat to be among a group of fabriholics--to be able to speak of buttons, and trims, and different brands of stuffing to someone whose eyes brighten up, rather than glaze over. The club's official name is "Long Island Cloth Dollinks". Our creations are made by hand, and from cloth. The long and short of it is that we all have way more of these ribbons and fabrics than we should, so the group started the "Ungapatchka Table" each month. (Ungapatchka is a Yiddish word that means way too much, or over the top fussy.) It is an opportunity to bring in whatever you feel you should no longer own, and let the other members have at it. I do try to be on the contributing end of this arrangement, rather than the acquiring end, but everybody knows how it goes with "holics"...

Yesterday was the August meeting, and I spied a bag of yarn coming out of the tote bag. I made my way around the table, and snagged it for myself. Or rather, for my daughter Necessity. Imagine my amazement when I read the tags, and realized it is Japanese Noro, in large enough quantities that could make something nice. The Dollink who brought it in said that somebody had given it to her--it was a too large, unfinished sweater, plus some leftovers, and that the she was never going to do anything with it. Well, Yay! Somebody's Ungapatchka is somebody else's treasure find! Here is the picture Necessity--come and get it and enjoy! And thank you Barbara N!

Where Am I--What Day Is it? Or "What I Did On My Summer Vacation"

I must confess, we squeezed every drop out of the last two plus weeks. So much so that I am a little dazed now that most of the major commitments are out of the way. We drove up to New Hampshire to visit for a couple of days, then swung on down to Cape Cod for a few more days in the sun and sand. Came home, did the laundry, repacked the trusty wheeled clothing conveyor, and set off for the airport, so that we could get to a wedding in Iowa. We stayed a few extra days, since Iowa is not a regular stop on places we frequent, and unless we have a very good reason for returning, we may never pass that way again. Shall I hum along on that one?

We got home two nights ago, and after a final check of the accommodations, made ready for the 12 ladies coming for a two day doll workshop with Barbara Willis, who was in from California to teach classes to other dollmakers from Manhattan, and Long Island. It was warm in the dining room (it's August, for heaven's sake), and they all brought their sewing machines and tote bags full of stuff to stitch. They went their way around dinner time today, and all that remains is a doll club meeting tomorrow, and playing church on Sunday morning. I guess that leaves Sunday afternoon free. Anybody want to join in this craziness?

OMG--Something Went Right For A Change!

There is a sewing book called "10-15-20 Minutes to Sew" by Nancy Ziemann. She gives you lists of things you can accomplish in these shorts amounts of time, so that you can fit sewing into your busy schedule. Every time I have a few minutes and think I'll just zip up a seam or two, things just go to the devil--the machine knots up, I sew the wrong side to the right side and have to pick out the stitches, or the thread breaks on the serger (15 minutes just to rethread right there!). Why, seems just last week I had to remake the whole top of the dress I was trying to get into my suitcase--see "Shopping in My Attic". I offered to sew a dress for my granddaughter to wear for the doctor's wedding. Fancy dresses for little girls are so much fun--who can resist? But, time is getting short, and will this baby fit? At 9 am this morning, I decided to put together a trial dress, and headed to the attic to find a piece of fabric that I know she had seen, and had liked. Of course, it wasn't up there, it was down on the bed (mound) in the sewing room. I redrew the pattern and started cutting. Nothing went wrong! Everything went together perfectly, and at 1:15--VOILA! A Dress! I hope you like it Gracious.

Taking Too Much Time

I had two weeks of free days (Mondays to Fridays) this month to accomplish the things that needed to be done before we travel again, and one of the projects was a doll that will be given to it's new owner in August. I also need to make myself a suitable "mother of the groom" outfit. I pulled the fabric out of the attic, did a little experimentation on the pattern that I purchased while up in Burlington, and decided to wait on cutting the dress for the wedding. Sometimes it is better to mull a bit, especially when the amount of fabric is limited, and a mistake would mean total ruin. So, I moved on to the doll. This little baby took waaaay too many days. I always end up doing this--redesigning the whole thing, and then having to come up with tiny patterns for clothes to fit. At least if it is too tight, the lady will never complain! Yesterday was the big finish--gluing hair to her head. Today I took pictures, since she will be moving to a new home, and the pictures will be all that I have left to remember her by.

Now it is time to pack up and go on vacation. New Hampshire and Cape Cod beckon. The Cape is always so lovely--all those picket fences and tiny paned windows, just for us to look at and enjoy. We go to so many pretty places, and each one is unique. Cape Cod has been a part of my life since I was a girl--my family wisely returned every year for our vacation, and the tradition continues, meeting up with children and grandchildren. I confess to enjoy seeing it all over again through their eyes, and I am happy that they enjoy it as much as I do.

Gettin' It Done!

There is so much to be done this month, and I confess there are times when it just doesn't seem possible to work through it all. I have found that listing out the days with specific things to be done on each day makes it manageable, and I don't get overwhelmed trying to decide what to do first on the long, long list of "How I Spent My Summer Vacation".

I have many sewing projects--to which I keep adding--I know, I know--my own fault. The FITO (fly in the ointment) is the current heat wave. The sewing room isn't bad, since there is a door that opens on to a tiny balcony on the second floor (very charming when approaching up the street from the south), as well as two big windows. When there is a breeze, and they are all open, it is very comfortable. If it is very hot though, and the iron is turned on, it warms up in there, and it is hard to concentrate. I have wrung out a t-shirt, and worn that, with great success. Little secrets of survival...

People stop by our house all the time and leave things. All of our ex-children (again, there's the need for that word which will describe your now adult, originally children) have returned to live here at one time or another, leaving behind part or all of their worldly possessions, usually in our attic, usually to be reclaimed later on. It's how we get some of our best stuff. Soooo, enter MyTreasure (unbidden, I may add) with an old air conditioner is his arms, and pops the thing into the sewing room window. Yaaay! Now there is hope for finishing the list! Thank you, MyTreasure!

Shopping In My Attic

I ventured into one of our larger merchandise emporiums the other day on a quest for a pair of very fancy shoes to wear to the doctor's wedding. On my way to the shoe department, I passed the racks of colorful dresses, and I thought "Hmmm--bridal shower on Saturday, something pretty and summery (and cool) that doesn't look like it has been through the washing machine fifty times might be in order." I took care of job one-- got the shoes. Then I made a little reconnoiter through the dresses, and discovered why they are all still in the store, and on the markdown rack to boot. What an odd assortment! All crazy colors, and the worst thing for me--all too short. I am tall to start with, and when I sew for myself, I usually always add 2" to the hemline.

I went home and went up to the attic. It was then I realized that I should have gone there a couple of weeks ago, when I bought all those bargain fabrics at Joann's to make into shorts and capri pants. I scrounged around a bit, then came down with a couple of choices. I pulled out my patterns, and found something that looked like it would work, and started cutting. The only glitch was that I was working with a pattern that I hadn't tried before, and my body has decided that it wants to look matronly now, but the pattern was designed for a long distance runner. Luckily, there was plenty of fabric, and I redesigned the bodice, and made a second one. Anyhow, the dress is finished, and with some gold earrings and a necklace, I should do just fine on Saturday.

I confess that I like to shop. What I need to remember is that walking through the store should be considered browsing, just to see what we are wearing this year. Then, all I have to do is go up to my attic, and make a selection. After all, there is the bounty of more than 30 years of fabric collecting up there, and I ought to be able to find something to wear!

WhooHoo--Veggies in my Sink!

Look! I'm a farmer! There's a Harvest! I got to go out and bring in the crops! The beans are good, but I confess, there is nothing in the store that compares with a cucumber right off the vine. Unless, it's corn...Maybe another year, after we plow up the backyard.

Still Catching Up

Last weekend was a big family party at our house. It was the first time in more than a year that our whole crew has been together, and we had quite the celebration. The bride and groom were here and we feted them with a "Jack and Jill" shower. Showers used to be the exclusive domain of the ladies of the wedding, and it was a nice way to get to know the relatives and friends of the opposite side before the wedding day. I don't think it was the idea of the men to be included in these affairs, but somewhere along the way, some showers have become couples parties. The bride requested this, since she had not met a lot of our family, and they don't get into town that often. So, it turned into a giant family bbq, with serious food. The day was perfect--plenty of sun, not too hot, not too cold, the yard and the flowers looked great, and everyone came.

Man, were we tired when it was done! The lawn furniture is stowed back away, and most of the leftovers disposed of. I'm still washing linens and towels from the overnighters, and I'll need to remake the guest beds to be ready for the next group before they show up. I'm having trouble getting my thought patterns to move onto the next project--and I need to do that, since time seems to be flying by, and we are already pushing into the twenties of July. I confess that it is my pleasure to entertain the family, but I am happy that the next full blown party isn't until the "Big T" in November!

Congratulations and Best Wishes to the Bride and Groom!

My Love/Hate Relationship

I never enjoyed gardening. Something to do with dirt under my fingernails. I always had a spot right outside my kitchen window that was "my garden". For a number of years, I put in tomato plants and cucumbers, and few peppers, and we had summer veggies. By August the whole thing was pretty much a giant weed patch, but the tomatoes still grew and that was all that I cared about. Then the ground became depleted, and several large maples grew up on the other side of the fence along the driveway, and stole away the sunlight. Last summer was pretty sad, with practically no yield. I am pretty much a neglect gardener--stick the stuff in the dirt, and wish it well. Garden Fairy has done her best to turn me into a gardener, and this year it looks like she might have made some headway. I decided to put flowers in where the tomatoes had been, and move the veggies into tubs on the south side of the house where the sun still shines. GF brought plants from friends who were dividing things out of their gardens, and the two of us made a couple of nursery runs, and filled up the old space with flowers that wouldn't mind the shade. The weather was cooperative and dumped appropriately timed showers, so that there was water to get things started, and I stepped up my commitment to putting the sprinkler on more often, and lo and behold! A flower patch!


I have kept up with the tubs, since it is easy to keep the reservoirs filled, just by putting the hose into the little filler spout, and running the water until it comes out the drain holes. The plants seem to be ecstatic, including the very large basil. I'm going to have to make some pesto very soon. I'm just hoping that the giant doesn't find the top of the bean stalk, and decide to drop in for dinner--at least I know the beans will be fresh and delicious, and there will be fresh flowers on the table! I confess, I am proud of myself, and have even learned to like going out to the garden to pull a few weeds. Thank you, Garden Fairy. Maybe next year you'll learn to knit!

My Feathered Friends

Garden Fairy has at least ten bird feeders in her yard. She has all kinds of seeds that she puts into each one, and her yard is filled with birds, including quite a number of varieties that I do not have in my yard. Every winter I would put out one feeder and fill it (not too faithfully) with the generic stuff that they sell in our supermarket (ah--back to that again...) This winter I went with her to the "bird store" as she calls it, and picked up some other seeds, and had three feeders that were filled every day by MyTreasure. We have always had cardinals, and there was a little wren that came for the safflower seeds, and two different nuthatches that were regular visitors, plus the assorted sparrows, purple house finches and chickadees that seem to enjoy that supermarket seed.

I decided not to put seed out over the summer, since we are away so much. The cardinals are still out there doing their thing--they nest in our ewe hedge. I'm not sure where the doves have gone, since I don't hear them calling, and haven't seen much of the purple finches. I do have a pair of catbirds who use my bird bath, and the wren has been out there. About 4:45 am, though, while it is still dark, the place comes alive. With the screens on the windows, all that chirping just finds its way right into my sleep, and wakes me up. There are two dogwoods just below our bedroom window, and there was one bird the other morning that sat there for more than an hour doing that single burrripp! every five seconds. When your eyes are shut, and you are laying still, you can figure that stuff out with precision.

Our humidity has been very high, even though the nighttime temperatures cool down, but last night I got so tired of being in the damp I confess that I put the air conditioner on. The real benefit? No morning serenades! I also didn't hear the garbage guys, or those dedicated early morning walkers--fine residents of our neighborhood who pair up at 6 am to stay slim by using their Reeboks and their mouths, all at the same time. Maybe that way they burn more calories.

Standing in the driveway this morning we saw two male cardinals chasing each other. They were pretty determined, and went back and forth for quite a while--we couldn't tell which one was the interloper, or the winner, for that matter, but it was a pretty sight, and we enjoyed it. The female was up on the wire just taking it all in, same as us. Well, sing on little birdies! Just maybe you could start a little later in the day...

I'm Not Just Imagining This

We went back to Wegman's in Rochester last weekend because we were in town for the doctor's graduation dinner, and we stayed in the Holiday Inn that is right next to Wegman's, so we went in again to see if we were imagining it all. MyTreasure took a couple of pictures, just because we can't believe such a place exists. See me in the candy aisle--buying hostess gifts for someone dear to me who cooks me special dinners. And then, here is the veggie aisle. I still can't believe that there is a supermarket like this. Although, I have to admit, their prices are higher than I usually pay, and I would probably still find myself in my old haunts hunting up the bargains, but would definitely drop into Wegman's for their specialty items. I went out with red lentils, plus long grain brown rice, and MyTreasure picked up some well priced beer assortment 12-packs. I confess that Wegman's is pure suduction for a foodie like me! No wonder I need Weight Watcher's!

Speaking of Moving Up Day

Who would have thought when your "children" are pushing 40 that there would still be "graduations"? How many have we been to--with five of them, and multiple degrees, it has added up to quite a few. Sort of like the driving tests. I counted up how many times I had driven over to the place in Lindenhurst where the test is given, and then after consolation, driven right to the Motor Vehicle to reschedule the next appointment--I think it totalled ten times. I was so grateful when my youngest daughter passed on her first try.

This weekend we travelled to a "graduation dinner" for our #4. His residency is finished, and the department has a yearly dinner to send off the "graduates" to their new lives. It was very sweet, and we felt all the proud emotions that a parent feels watching their little fledgling mount the steps and shake the hand offering the diploma. This was a somewhat different, since he is 34 years old, and is already contracted for the job he wants, and there is not any uncertainty about his future--Thank Heavens! He certainly exceeded our expectations. Congratulations Dr!

Dude! Where's My Tank?

I read a little book a while back about Feng Shui, and I liked it a lot. It talked about the "chi" or energy within a space, and how certain arrangements of furniture can "block the chi". Sounds a little weird, but when it comes to my workspace, there are things in there that annoy me, and sometimes actually keep me from going into my sewing room. I have a large cutting table that is six feet when it is open, and it definitely blocks the space. But, I leave it open, because then I can just go ahead and cut fabric, without having to open up the table first. And the always set up ironing board--same deal.

Well, the really big problem is the bed. Yes, there is a bed in there, under that mound of fabric. When I want to work, I more or less clear off the cutting table by putting whatever is there onto the bed. Most of the time, I can keep track of what's in the mound, and don't lose much. But, a couple of months ago, someone was staying over, and I had to close up the table, the ironing board, and locate the bed, so that our guest could sleep in it, instead of spending the night upright on one of the loveseats in our living room. I have many, many patterns and articles all sorted into clear plastic envelopes, and I thought it would be a good idea to put them into the file cabinet in the attic. I came across one that I had marked "My Clothes", which are tissue patterns of ready-made clothes, that I trace around, and then reproduce. It works really well, since you have a garment that you know fits, and you won't be wasting your time on an untried pattern that turns out to be for somebody who is stick straight, or has an ample bust, with no hips--the complete opposite of what my body is. I dutifully climbed the attic stairs, pulled out the file drawer, and went through the envelopes, and only found doll patterns, and baby clothes, and polar fleece, etc. Back to the sewing room. Where is "My Clothes"? Closet, dresser, down to the bottom of the mound, baskets under the sewing table, pattern boxes--I know I saw it not that long ago! Over it all again, and nothing. Then I picked up some envelopes of doll patterns ("Naked Nancy" being one,) and there it is in my hand--"My Clothes"! Yay! Pull out Tank Top 2005, and T-shirt from Bob's Stores, and I'm good to go. I confess that I have decended to the level of functioning amid my self-made chaos. I don't guess I'll ever get it together, but, I get stuff done, even if the room isn't tidy. At least when we have company it turns back into a guest room, and then it looks all nice again.

The Lure of the Bargain

Last week I was in JoAnn's, and for the most part I try to stay out of there, since I already have just about everything they sell, in mulitples. But, I had gone up to the attic a while back and took a look at all my summer shorts, and they were pretty old and tired. I decided to sew up some new ones, and capris also. The old ones went into the bag for Big Brothers, who obligingly called a couple of days later and gave me a pick-up date.

I found a nice shirt in Penney's on sale, and I bought it in all three colors. It is the kind of thing you can layer over a tank top and is great for travelling. I bought it in all three colors. White was easy, but I didn't have anything to go with the other two colors--a magenta, and an olive drab. I hopped up to the fabric store in my attic, and found a knit that had that exact magenta--Yay! Shorts! The olive drab was another story. Enter a little flyer that I had picked up in JoAnn's. On the back was a bunch of squares that had sales, one of them being half off on their mark-down fabrics. The devil whispered in my ear "Go to Sayville, go to Sayville", and so I did. On a Sunday, no less. For a dollar a yard, I got flannel to make receiving blankets that I will donate to a NICU, and some denim with spandex for shorts, and for two dollars a yard a lovely floral, which will become a "designer sun dress", and pretty much a whole summer wardrobe for fifty dollars. Thank heavens the temps cooled down so that I can put some time in the sewing room, and get it all stitched up. I just can't find my tank top pattern, but it will turn up. I confess, I do love a bargain!

My Constant Companion

I started knitting a large tote bag from a pattern by Janet Scanlon that she calls "My Constant Companion". It is a "felted" bag, and for that process, you knit something big out of 100% wool, then put it into hot water in the washing machine, and it shrinks down. We've all done this over the years with certain of our most beloved sweaters, just not intentionally. I have one Fair Isle alpaca sweater that now serves as a pin cushion, but I digress. I confess when I started knitting "My Constant Companion" I did not think to take the name literally, but it turned out to be the case. I knitted, and knitted, and knitted, and the thing got bigger and bigger--big enough to keep everything in it while I was working on it--the extra yarn, the pattern book, my bag of knitting tools, snacks...



So! Finally done, complete with inside pocket, outside pocket, I-cord straps, and into the machine it goes. Wonder of wonders, it does its thing, and turns into a fine looking tote bag, all ready to hold plenty of whatever I decide to put into it, and maybe will turn into my constant companion, just like the pattern said.

The Perfect Pairing

For Mother's Day I was the recipient of a fine pair of hand knit socks, made from hand dyed yarn. You may notice that the colors match a certain group of beloved objects that we all make and consume every spring--the venerated Easter Egg. Not too many people would even consider wearing such a thing, however the the maker of the socks understands me very well, and knew that I would enjoy having them. But, I bet she didn't remember that I already had the perfect shoes to go along! They were quite the sensation at my last exercise class. If you haven't already seen "The Making of the Easter Eggs Socks", go to http://www.mothernecessity.blogspot.com/, starting with the May 13th post, and check out how the yarn was dyed. Thanks Necessity!

Grilled Stakes

Good Grief! We were FRIED at the Belmont yesterday. It was so hot I didn't know what to do with myself. I could have worn less clothing, but I was not inappropriately attired for the day, but we were just pouring sweat. I kept checking my shirt to see if it was changing color as it soaked up, but it was just drying out in the heat. The floor of the indoor grandstands was covered with a layer of condensation, since it is cement, and what with all the detritus of a 100,000+ crowd, it got to be ugly. No taking your shoes off no matter how many blisters you had!

Outside in the backyard it was a little better if you walked over to the shade, and there was a nice little breeze going on back there. The Catch 22 was the fact that the heat made you really thirsty. They were ready and waiting with all sorts of drinks, but for whatever reason (Newsday said low water pressure) the restrooms were locked. There were long, long lines for the many portapotties standing all over, so the incentive to do without liquid intake was real high.

Negotiating through the crowds of people cut down on the ability to get from the place where they parade the horses, and then through to where you watch the race. Inside the grandstand there was no air moving. At one point, my niece and I stood next to the open doors of a Budweiser refrigerator truck, until they came and closed them back up. Lines at the betting windows were very long, but the people working them were very patient, and working in that heat without any breaks, since there were so many bettors--when they were not taking in money, they were paying out. Definitely a long day for them.

Then came the big race that we went to see. Or actually didn't see. If I looked between heads I could see the big screen tv. The starting gate was right in front of us, but since all the fans were standing on the benches, I really couldn't see that either. I could see the back stretch, and the final turn when Big Brown faded and then was pulled up. Such a let down--so interesting to see the crowd reaction, which was dejection. Big Brown, Big Bust! We, however, were not all that dejected, since it meant that we were going to make money on our bets. MyTreasure got a very nice payout on his longshot win, and I doubled money on my safety bet.


Finally, we still had to get out of the track, and back on the LIRR. It was slow going, and did I mention that it was HOT? The train was air conditioned, but poked along, so that we missed our connection, and didn't get home until around 9:30. Happily, it was Saturday night, and all the restaurants were open, so we revived ourselves with beer and margaritas and burritos, and got home in a better mood than we were on the train. An adventure for sure! I confess I don't know if I will go again--the intrigue of saying "I was there!" lingers, even if the outcome was not what we hoped...this time...