In June, after Noble moved out, I was setting up my sewing room and had a flash of inspiration so I grabbed an old spiral notebook and began a sewing journal in which I wrote down all of the "To Do" projects as I found them while organizing the room. Since then as I've finished a project or finished a piece of mending I've noted the date and checked it off the list. Today I was able to, at long last, check off the T-Shirts for JET. Remember those. Oh my goodness. I guess I'm kind of dense or rather a perfectionist who couldn't see the easiest solution until I'd finished two of them. As I was serging the side seam of the third one I discovered that the easiest way to do them was to serge the side seam from the bottom up all the way to the end of the sleeve without unpicking under the arm of the sleeve. After I followed that prompting I was able to finish the other three in less than an hour. Thank you Lord for your tender mercies!
Completing a project is such a great feeling! It spurs me on to complete more. I have a deadline on the next one. It is a patchwork quilt for a church service project. On September 10 we are having a Day of Abundance, food of the food bank is being gathered, quilts are being made and we have a goal to fill up a truck from Salvation Army with donations. "Because I have been given much I too must give." Our Branch is making five quilts and I have one of them. After I get the quilt done I will begin on my Autumn/Winter wardrobe. I'd like to have some "Me-Made" days this winter. Then on to Christmas presents. I think I could sew from now until I die and never run out of projects. But that's okay, I'm never bored!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Today I Am Serious
That is part of my new mantra: "Today I am serious about being healthy, losing weight and being physically fit." Like most others I want to exercise and diet for one day and achieve my goals. Sort of like practicing the violin once and playing like Itzhak Perlman. Like that's gonna happen. So I finally got it through my aging brain that reaching my goal is going to take a whole lot of todays. Each day that I consciously choose to exercise and eat correctly will bring me closer to my goal. The more days I chose to be serious the faster I will reach my goal. Therefore Today I Am Serious.
In other news: Noble is doing great at school despite logistical challenges like not being at liberty to go off post; not having a mail box to receive mail; not having a working computer, etc. She is, however, having the sweet experience of being liked by a guy whom she likes at the same time. This is a new experience for her. Learning the language is progressing; she feels ahead in some ways from all the time she spent listening to K-Pop, watching Korean Dramas, and other television shows; and learning the Korean alphabet ahead of time.
Elder PW's letter this week was more upbeat; with new people to teach and a baptism on the horizon he is encouraged and happy.
JET began school last week and likes college; he has a good job at a car dealership which he likes. Next two steps is finding the right living situation close to school and work and then getting a new (to him) car. He attended the Singles ward this week and was gratified to have been scoped out by all the girls as well as having two of the cutest sit by him during the meetings. Can't get happier than that for an 18 year old boy.
Doc Brown (almost 15) and Dandylion (13) come home most days with good things to say about school. They both like learning and enjoy the small classes and attention of the small school here. Doc Brown is so named because of his penchant for coming up with ideas for inventions and innovations a la Back to the Future.
And there's the latest news from the Heartland.
In other news: Noble is doing great at school despite logistical challenges like not being at liberty to go off post; not having a mail box to receive mail; not having a working computer, etc. She is, however, having the sweet experience of being liked by a guy whom she likes at the same time. This is a new experience for her. Learning the language is progressing; she feels ahead in some ways from all the time she spent listening to K-Pop, watching Korean Dramas, and other television shows; and learning the Korean alphabet ahead of time.
Elder PW's letter this week was more upbeat; with new people to teach and a baptism on the horizon he is encouraged and happy.
JET began school last week and likes college; he has a good job at a car dealership which he likes. Next two steps is finding the right living situation close to school and work and then getting a new (to him) car. He attended the Singles ward this week and was gratified to have been scoped out by all the girls as well as having two of the cutest sit by him during the meetings. Can't get happier than that for an 18 year old boy.
Doc Brown (almost 15) and Dandylion (13) come home most days with good things to say about school. They both like learning and enjoy the small classes and attention of the small school here. Doc Brown is so named because of his penchant for coming up with ideas for inventions and innovations a la Back to the Future.
And there's the latest news from the Heartland.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
School Started Today - And other life changes
I still can't get used to school beginning before Labor Day. But here in Iowa, ready or not, school begins the third week of August. TopDad teaches woodshop, drafting, keyboarding, small engines, and an eighth grade exploratory class at the local Middle/High School. (Our town is smaller than the high school I attended in San Diego) Our two youngest boys are in ninth and eighth grades. We had breakfast together today, read a chapter in the New Testament, had family prayer and they were out the door.
HOWEVER! I am not alone as I had been looking forward to. No, I am the caretaker of two very little boys, ages 4 and 2. Sons of the neighbors across the street. This came to be because I had prayed for a way to earn a little money to fill in the gaps of our budget; the neighbor prayed to find someone close and dependable to tend her two boys. So here we are. I get a chance to use all the patience I've developed over the years!
Jet, the recent HS graduate, is working in Council Bluffs and preparing to begin college on Monday. He's getting his wisdom teeth out tomorrow and hoping to be hired for a different job at a extended-stay hotel which includes a room, so he can move to CB and live close to school, work and play.
Noble is at Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California studying Korean. She's doing well and very happy.
Elder PW has been sick with a cold this week, but otherwise in good spirits, and pressing forward.
Yesterday was my first day tending Little Boy and Cutie Bug, and it brought back all the suppressed memories of how time consuming and exhausting having little ones around is. Wow! The best thing about children is that they grow up! They learn to dress themselves, feed themselves, wash themselves, entertain themselves (boys are always better at this than girls, in my opinion), converse intelligently, etc. So any mothers of young children reading this, press forward with steadfast faith--whatever stage you are in--it is not forever.
Along with all the usual household chores, and the new responsibilities for little people, I am an early morning Seminary teacher! Am I crazy? This will be a challenging year, but my mantra is "I need the money."
Sometimes it is impossible to cut expenses anymore, so the alternative is to raise income. I'm thankful I can do something at home, allowing me a modicum of freedom to get things done.
HOWEVER! I am not alone as I had been looking forward to. No, I am the caretaker of two very little boys, ages 4 and 2. Sons of the neighbors across the street. This came to be because I had prayed for a way to earn a little money to fill in the gaps of our budget; the neighbor prayed to find someone close and dependable to tend her two boys. So here we are. I get a chance to use all the patience I've developed over the years!
Jet, the recent HS graduate, is working in Council Bluffs and preparing to begin college on Monday. He's getting his wisdom teeth out tomorrow and hoping to be hired for a different job at a extended-stay hotel which includes a room, so he can move to CB and live close to school, work and play.
Noble is at Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California studying Korean. She's doing well and very happy.
Elder PW has been sick with a cold this week, but otherwise in good spirits, and pressing forward.
Yesterday was my first day tending Little Boy and Cutie Bug, and it brought back all the suppressed memories of how time consuming and exhausting having little ones around is. Wow! The best thing about children is that they grow up! They learn to dress themselves, feed themselves, wash themselves, entertain themselves (boys are always better at this than girls, in my opinion), converse intelligently, etc. So any mothers of young children reading this, press forward with steadfast faith--whatever stage you are in--it is not forever.
Along with all the usual household chores, and the new responsibilities for little people, I am an early morning Seminary teacher! Am I crazy? This will be a challenging year, but my mantra is "I need the money."
Sometimes it is impossible to cut expenses anymore, so the alternative is to raise income. I'm thankful I can do something at home, allowing me a modicum of freedom to get things done.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Mid-Summer Report
Well since nobody reads my blogs it is almost pointless to post anything, still . . .
We are surviving a horrendous heat and humidity wave, which feels more like a stagnant pool than a wave. I grew up in San Diego and know about waves, they move, advancing and retreating. This is staying completely still. Topdad and Jet got an A/C installed in the dining room window which, surprisingly, keeps all the public rooms on the main floor cool enough to be comfortable. Climb halfway up the stairs to the second floor and it's a different story. Oh, well, I just remind myself that people have lived here in Iowa for over a hundred years without air conditioning, I'll survive.
Topdad announced today that school starts in a month. This summer has just flown by and I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. I've kept my family fed, the laundry done and the house clean; but all those lovely projects I wanted to work on are still languishing in boxes. Ever the optimist, I'll hope for better conditions after school begins and I actually have the house to myself and no one clamouring for attention or food.
Noble called on Saturday to let us know she had survived BEAST (playing war in the field). She had her final physical fitness test this morning, and though we haven't heard the results we are praying she passed with flying colors.
I went to the storage unit this morning, after a lovely bike ride with Topdad, (and then a short walk with the dog, Charlie), to retrieve the last of my sewing stuff. I now have everything in the sewing room and look forward to a fall of creating. I've been looking on Craigslist for a dress form to help with fitting things to myself. No luck yet, but I'll keep looking.
Riding my bike on the trail is lovely, the wildflowers are so beautiful! The trail is flat and I can ride a long way. It's just the trip there and back that is hard. My cruiser bike and my old legs don't handle the hills very well yet. Must keep building muscles!
I really admire other sewers who can cut out and sew a dress in a day or two. I wish I could watch them to see their technique. By the time I've cut something out I'm too tired of it to begin sewing. I have to wait a day. Then I'm so persnickety about everything that it takes me a long time to finish anything. I just like the inside to look almost as nice as the outside! I'm fascinated by haute couture and all their special finishing techniques. Especially the old school designers, their clothes really were very well made.
I've learned something about gardening this year. Most flowers need sunshine! The ones I planted under our big maple tree haven't done as well as the ones at the sunniest spot in front of the porch. Next year I'll have to find some shade loving varieties for under the tree. And find a sunny spot for the sun loving ones. Also I'm growing an oak tree. In the early spring when I was cleaning out the area under the tree I found an oak seedling, the acorn probably hidden by a squirrel in the fall. I carefully dug it up and put it in a pot to protect it. When I figure out where I want it permanently I'll plant it and put a block ring around it to protect it from errant weed whackers and lawn mowers. We planted a six foot oak tree in Midvale in honor of our twentieth wedding anniversary and then had to leave it. Oaks take so long to grow! But this one I can say I grew from an acorn.
I think that's all the news that's fit to print.
We are surviving a horrendous heat and humidity wave, which feels more like a stagnant pool than a wave. I grew up in San Diego and know about waves, they move, advancing and retreating. This is staying completely still. Topdad and Jet got an A/C installed in the dining room window which, surprisingly, keeps all the public rooms on the main floor cool enough to be comfortable. Climb halfway up the stairs to the second floor and it's a different story. Oh, well, I just remind myself that people have lived here in Iowa for over a hundred years without air conditioning, I'll survive.
Topdad announced today that school starts in a month. This summer has just flown by and I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. I've kept my family fed, the laundry done and the house clean; but all those lovely projects I wanted to work on are still languishing in boxes. Ever the optimist, I'll hope for better conditions after school begins and I actually have the house to myself and no one clamouring for attention or food.
Noble called on Saturday to let us know she had survived BEAST (playing war in the field). She had her final physical fitness test this morning, and though we haven't heard the results we are praying she passed with flying colors.
I went to the storage unit this morning, after a lovely bike ride with Topdad, (and then a short walk with the dog, Charlie), to retrieve the last of my sewing stuff. I now have everything in the sewing room and look forward to a fall of creating. I've been looking on Craigslist for a dress form to help with fitting things to myself. No luck yet, but I'll keep looking.
Riding my bike on the trail is lovely, the wildflowers are so beautiful! The trail is flat and I can ride a long way. It's just the trip there and back that is hard. My cruiser bike and my old legs don't handle the hills very well yet. Must keep building muscles!
I really admire other sewers who can cut out and sew a dress in a day or two. I wish I could watch them to see their technique. By the time I've cut something out I'm too tired of it to begin sewing. I have to wait a day. Then I'm so persnickety about everything that it takes me a long time to finish anything. I just like the inside to look almost as nice as the outside! I'm fascinated by haute couture and all their special finishing techniques. Especially the old school designers, their clothes really were very well made.
I've learned something about gardening this year. Most flowers need sunshine! The ones I planted under our big maple tree haven't done as well as the ones at the sunniest spot in front of the porch. Next year I'll have to find some shade loving varieties for under the tree. And find a sunny spot for the sun loving ones. Also I'm growing an oak tree. In the early spring when I was cleaning out the area under the tree I found an oak seedling, the acorn probably hidden by a squirrel in the fall. I carefully dug it up and put it in a pot to protect it. When I figure out where I want it permanently I'll plant it and put a block ring around it to protect it from errant weed whackers and lawn mowers. We planted a six foot oak tree in Midvale in honor of our twentieth wedding anniversary and then had to leave it. Oaks take so long to grow! But this one I can say I grew from an acorn.
I think that's all the news that's fit to print.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Pattern Giveaway
Debi, the delightful, talented and generous blogger over at My Happy Sewing Place, has just annouced a vintage pattern giveaway. And the first pattern is totally darling. I'm suppressing my covetousness. The link to Debi's blog is over to the right; her blog has dozens of links to other wonderful and talented ladies. I didn't know there were so many people interested in vintage and historical clothing like me. And the creativity. . . well it is truly inspiring. Thanks to all you terrific seamstresses.
My current project is an experiment in trimming down the width of T-shirts for my son, JET. He is 6'4" tall and weighs about 200. At (almost) 18 he is long and lean. Shirts that are long enough for him are way too wide. We found some really nice shirts on sale for $5 that are long enough, washed them to see how they shrank and now I'm going to attempt to re-size them. My plan is to take off the sleeves, trim down the shoulders and side seams then reattach the sleeves. Stay tuned for further developments. If anyone reading this has experience or advice, please feel free to leave your comments. THANKS!
My current project is an experiment in trimming down the width of T-shirts for my son, JET. He is 6'4" tall and weighs about 200. At (almost) 18 he is long and lean. Shirts that are long enough for him are way too wide. We found some really nice shirts on sale for $5 that are long enough, washed them to see how they shrank and now I'm going to attempt to re-size them. My plan is to take off the sleeves, trim down the shoulders and side seams then reattach the sleeves. Stay tuned for further developments. If anyone reading this has experience or advice, please feel free to leave your comments. THANKS!
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