Another Reason . . .

. . . that it's nice to have a sewing machine and know how to use it.

Can you see what's wrong with these pillowcases?

That's right, the pattern on the left one is upside down. When fabric has a one way design the pillowcases need to be sewn opposite to each other. In cheap, mass production that step is neglected.  So, PFCMom to the rescue.

Much better! (All I did was use a seam ripper to open the case up, then I re-sewed it back together the correct way.) Now the bed is ready for Lt. Lehi and his sweet wife, who I now have a name for: Miss Pasta.

If You've Ever Wondered

This is how McDonald's gets such long french fries:

This potato was a gift from a relative of Lt. Lehi's wife in Idaho. It weighs two (2) pounds! It's nine (9) inches long and ten and a half (10.5) inches around the middle. It's a whopper! (No pun intended)

All these giants go to the french fry factory, and what makes it to the grocery stores are the much smaller potatoes. How would you like to have these to cook with?!

A Little Reminder

Linen

Count Your Blessings - Day 7

My all time favorite fabric is pure linen!

A recent addition to my kitchen.

What I look for in a kitchen towel.

Work

Count Your Blessings - Day 6

If you want to be happy in school or on a mission or at a job or in a marriage--work at it. Learn to work. Serve diligently. Don't be idle and mischievous. A homespun definition of Christlike character might be the integrity to do the right thing at the right time in the right way. Don't be idle. Don't be wasteful. "Seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118). Be industrious and labor, including laboring for and serving others--one of the truly great keys to true happiness.  [Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; From a devotional address, "Living after the Manner of Happiness," delivered at Brigham Young University-Idaho on September 23, 2014.]

I'm thankful to have learned the value of work!

 

Stairs

Count Your Blessings - Days 3, 4 & 5

Stairs is what I'm doing these days. We bought an antique home, built in 1898, that we call "The Stairmaster." I've lost ten pounds just going up and down all the stairs.

Front stairs into the house.

Stairs from the garage and outside to the back hall and kitchen.

Formal staircase from entry hall to second floor.

Second leg of main staircase from entry hall to second floor.

Top of second leg, with second landing, main staircase from entry hall to second floor.

Last leg of main staircase as it reaches the second floor.

Staircase to third floor attic, looking up I can't quite get it all in.

Looking down the stairs from the third floor attic.

And let's not forget the steep stairs to the grotty, unfinished basement where the laundry resides.

So with no other effort than "taking the stairs" day after day, the excess weight is coming off. I'd call that a blessing!

P.S. All that yucky carpet will soon be ripped up and gone. I left it on until we got all the furniture in and on the correct floor to avoid marring (any more than whatever is underneath is) the stairs.

Music

Count Your Blessings - Day 2

I'm so thankful for the power of music. We saw this young man, David Archuleta in concert on Halloween (best way to spend the evening!) and enjoyed the spiritual power of many of his new songs.

Humor

Count Your Blessings - Day 1

Do you know Jeanne Robertson, the humorist?

Or how about James Veitch?

I'm so grateful for people who can see the funny side of life.

Wednesday's Wisdom

In this mortal experience, we cannot control all that happens to us, but we have absolute control over how we respond to the changes in our lives. This does not imply that the challenges and trials we face are of no consequence and easily handled or dealt with. It does not imply that we will be free from pain or heartache. But it does mean that there is cause for hope and that due to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can move forward and find better days--even days full of joy, light, and happiness.

W. Christopher Wadell, 2nd Counselor Presiding Bishopric
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Best Friends

Noble was home for our 5th annual Family Reunion. The time was too short and went by much too fast. Sure love my best girlfriend.

An Updated Family Photo

I think the last family photo I shared was from Lt. Lehi's USMC graduation in 2014. Here's a newer one from his wedding last November. We lined up in height order, PFCMom is the plump shrimp on the left. Then Noble (27), TopDad, Lt. Lehi (25), Mr. Movie (20), Dandylion (18), and JET (23).

I actually used to feel tall at 5'7" as a young adult. Not so much anymore. I feel like a little old lady when the chuns come home. I fit under the chin of all the boys! And Noble towers over me in her heels. JET is tallest at 6'4". I LOVE them all!

A Good Hair Day

Sometimes my hair cooperates and looks pretty good. This was one of those days. 

I thought I'd better capture it on camera to preserve it.

New Look

We bought a great RV trailer last summer and thoroughly enjoyed our trips with it. It's just right for the two of us now.

BUT!

I think the decor is dark and pretentious, as if it's trying to be a high class hotel. I don't like it so I'm replacing the window coverings to begin a change of atmosphere to be more in line with, well, something fun, like vacation.

Original curtains and blinds in the bedroom. 

New curtains on TopDad's side of the room.

This is how they open.

I have pink on my side--see the button to hold them open?

I fell in love with this tropical bird fabric and I think it's lots more fun!

Thank You!

Thanks to any and all who took Noble's survey for her math class. She is finished and by passing all of the section tests with 100% she doesn't have to take the final. Little smarty pants! We are so proud of her.

Help!

My sweet daughter, Noble, is in need of participation in a survey for her last math class assignment.
The survey is one question and takes just seconds to complete.

Here's the link to her tumblr page with the link to her survey.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Noble says "Thank you!"

Something Clever

I saw this trash bin in a rest area bathroom in Minnesota and thought the elastic looked suspiciously familiar.

Yep! On closer inspection I saw the familiar label. Somebody's being frugal here, and I say, "Good job!"

Monday Musings

Here is a staged photo of a home in a magazine: . . . Note the bedside table.

Here is a real life bedside table, totally unstaged.

 And another, unstaged:

I recall my first inkling that something was amiss when, as a ten year old, I accompanied my parents as they looked at model homes in subdivisions around San Diego. As I toured the tiny (8x10) bedrooms I wondered aloud, "Where is the dresser? And the dirty clothes hamper, and the trash can?" There would be a bed, maybe a bedside table or nightstand, a desk and chair, a cute rug. All of it just as trendy and new as could be. But I recognized that it wouldn't look like this when people actually lived in the home because it lacked the accoutrements of real life.

I've given up trying to have a magazine photo worthy nightstand (or bedside table). It's just not possible. I clear off the surface and it looks all beautiful, then I do some living and items just migrate to the top where they are within easy reach as I'm going to bed or getting up in the morning.

Someday I'll have a dedicated guest room where I can stage a beautiful table with just a lamp, a pretty doily, and a vase of flowers. Otherwise, I live a real life and need real things beside me.

How about you?

Tuesday's Treasures on Wednesday

A trip to the thrift store today and I scored big time!

Pieces in this pattern are in my mother's kitchen - I decided not to wait to inherit and have looked for this pattern
every time I go to a thrift store or yard sale.  Today I scored this beautiful three bowl set, totally worth the wait!

A couple more books for me, and two girl's classics for a young friend of mine.

An unused copy of a classic -- it will be a gift.

Three fun baby books. Sandra Boynton is a favorite of mine.

The table runner I bought for the delicious looking apple fabric.  Some colorful cloth napkins.

A spring daffodil, two linen towels, and a yellow embroidered napkin.

Christmas napkins, two each of three motifs, hand appliquéd.

Detail of applique.

Lovely cross-stitched linen tablecloth.

Detail of cross-stitching.

Christmas fabric for more gift bags!

Wonderful pieces of fine wale corduroy. Just right for children's clothing.

 Lastly, I took my two sewing machines in today for servicing. While I'm without them I plan to prepare a few things to sew. (Actually, I'm going to attempt a little bit of mass production so I can stock an Etsy store with things to sell. Watch for the announcement of an opening soon!)

I Am A Reader

Last year I read over 125 books. Many were old favorites which I consider the same as visiting with a beloved friend. At the beginning of 2017 I set some reading goals so that I would cover more new ground.

Reading Goals for 2017
12 non-fiction books (these usually take longer to read, more thinking)
38 fiction new to me (minimum)
50 old friends (I can read as many as I want as long as I reach the other goals)
100 TOTAL

Here are the titles I've read during the first quarter of 2017

Non-Fiction:
The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball
Amish Grace by Donald B. Kraybill, et. al.
The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Daughters in My Kingdom, The History and Work of the Relief Society
Life at the Bottom by Theodore Dalrymple
A Square Meal by Jane Ziegelman & Andrew Coe

Fiction:
Home and Away by Dean Hughes
The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith
At Home in Thrush Green by Miss Read
The School at Thrust Green by Miss Read
The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith
The Handsome Man's DeLuxe Cafe by Alexander McCall Smith
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith

Old Friends:
The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas
The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne
Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne
The Little Lady and the Prince by Hester Browne
Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
Gossip from Thrush Green by Miss Read
Affairs at Thrush Green by Miss Read
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Friends at Thrush Green by Miss Read
Celebrations at Thrush Green by Miss Read

I'm well ahead for my non-fiction goal which is good. I tried to be conservative so I could actually reach the goal. I'm a book and a half short in the new fiction category, and plenty to spare in the Old Friends category. It looks like I have a few favorite authors, which I do, but for this first quarter I was catching up on a couple of series. I think I have one more No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books to read, and then I can venture into some new territory.

What have you been reading lately?

Daily Bread

Whole Wheat bread fresh from the oven

This particular bread makes the best toast! It's my favorite food in the morning, or afternoon, or even night time. (I think I'm a breadaholic!)

A Valentine's Dinner for Two

One dozen red roses courtesy of TopDad

Baked Salmon, brown rice, steamed broccoli, green salad, fresh homemade bread, and raspberry/cherry juice.

A very old recipe of my mother's - Wild Raspberry Dessert

January's Frugal Report

One good thing to be said about surgery is that it keeps one from over-shopping!

I did well in keeping within budget for January, ending the month with almost $59.00, which rolls over into the next month.  The goal is to keep accumulating an excess which then can be put into savings or used to pay off something.

Here are the numbers:

tithing and offerings - $160
food - $179.80
gifts - $50.25
postage - $76.82
storage unit - $25.00
eating out - $44.33
bank fees - $1.61
other - $205.27

I was able to eat out of our pantry and freezer and was careful to use up things and not waste. I don't get tired of eating the same thing everyday, but my husband does so I get creative remaking foods, incorporating them into something new, or packaging up leftovers for the freezer to be brought out later.

Gifts ended up being less than I expected because of a change of mind. Not being able to drive limited me on what I could do.

Postage cost lots more than I expected, but in my defense I did finished some projects and got them sent off to far away children, so I felt good about that.

In my January post I forgot about my portion of the storage unit we rent; two children pay the other portions.

I hadn't thought about the meals we'd need when I had my surgery. It was out-patient surgery on my right eye; Mr. Movie accompanied me as he had time off work to do so. While I was in surgery he ate brunch, then we had dinner that night, and lunch the next day. Even eating cheaply it adds up.

Bank fees are exactly the same every month; a fee for the ATM and tax on the fee.

The "other" was where I broke in my resolve. I did well until the third week when I was going stir crazy so I surfed the net and spent money for books and sewing patterns (as if I didn't have enough already!). Other also includes the cat food, toiletries, treats, and things I bought when TopDad took me to Chinamart and a thrift store or two.

Overall, I feel I did rather well. It wasn't all deprivation. I like being creative, and I like feeling a little bit of pressure to be so. TopDad takes care of all the other household bills, debts, and such. I am responsible only for food (for humans and cats), laundry and toiletries, gifts and holidays, personal expenses (subscriptions, donations, clothing, grooming), storage unit (for me mostly books, and our crib awaiting grandchildren), and anything I don't want my husband to know about (which isn't much).

How did you do in January? Did you reach your month's financial goals? What do you find most difficult?

Here Comes the Sun

 As I cut a brownie for TopDad in the kitchen I noticed the living room wall was glowing.

I grabbed my camera and headed outside to catch a glimpse of the sun which has not been seen in over a week!

And there it was, just setting in the east casting its golden glow over all creation. Such a treat!!

The boys are saying: Finally!

There's something to eat in the house.