are going through my head. I should be sleeping, since I have to get up in 5 hours, but I was in bed wide awake so I decided to get up and write in my blog. Hey, does anyone know why blogs are called blogs?
We had an inservice day today, and it actually wasn't too boring! We also had time to meet as a staff, and then meet with our department. We discussed department goals and a few things we needed to talk about. I won't even have to have a meeting on our work days! =-) Tomorrow we start with an all school meeting, but it won't be as long since we did some things today. I will have time in the next couple of days to really work on my plans for the year.
On my last day off yesterday I planted a "Fairy Garden" in a pot. It will have to come in during the winter, but it is outside right now. I went shopping with one of my sisters this summer and we both bought little metal arbors, chairs, a loveseat (looks like willow stuff), a little flower pot upside down as a table with a tiny tea set on it, a wheel barrow with garden tools, a watering can, and I even have a little gazing ball. I put it all in a pot with some plants, with texture and different colors of green and heights. I got some moss from my sister, which I have under the arbor, and I put little river pebbles around all of the plants. It's really cute. I'll have to see if I can get a picture.
Yesterday I alsoI painted some fabric. I have to have a small challenge quilt done by Sept. 18th. We were to look at a watercolor painting of a Lake Michigan shoreline that they have at the Rahr Art Gallery in Manitowoc, and make something that it inspires us to make. Because watercolors are so "blendy" painting fabric seemed the way to go. Now I am going to make a design and cut pieces to make it. Mine is going to be "November Sky Over Lake Michigan." I did fabric last year, but I needed something darker for water. So I experimented and did a couple of pieces. Oh, that reminds me, I still have the fabric hanging outside to dry. Last year I went to a friend's house and she taught me how to do it. I realized I forgot some things yesterday. I might decide to paint some more so I know I have enough useable pieces.
DH plastered all of the wallboard seams, and screws tonight. It took him about four hours. Tomorrow night he plans to do a second coat, and since he is texturing the walls, that should be enough. He bought a new contraption that is used to texture. Hopefully it won't be too hard! So he should be painting next week (he's using a sprayer), and then we'll be ready for the vinyl. I am getting sooooo excited! I was down there tonight and I could see it finished in my mind, and I just thought, "It's becoming a reality." =-)
Did you hear about the blond who was driving down the road and saw another blond out in the middle of a farmer's field in a row boat? She slammed on the brakes and got out of her car and yelled at the blond in the field, "It's blondes like you who give blondes like me a bad name, and if I could swim, I'd come out there and kick your ass!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Another one of those nights...
where I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't fall back to sleep. I have a headache. I had a great day, though! I had my lesson on the Fun Quilter. I can hardly wait to get mine now! Because of doing machine quilting with my Bernina, I didn't have too much difficulty, although I definitely need to practice. It is different moving the machine instead of the quilt. She was showing me (and drew them on my practice piece) different designs. Fun is a good name for this quilt machine! After my lesson I went to see a friend. She had me for lunch. I haven't seen her for a couple of years, and hadn't really sat and talked to her for at least SIX years. We picked right up where we left off though, no problem. I hope we don't wait that long to get together again. She told me about a fabric map of the world she had found at Wal-Mart, and I stopped to get one. It will go up on my current events bulletin board and I am going to have students stick a push pin in the part where their current event is from. I make them do a story with a dateline from somewhere outside of the United States. Another thing I did today was stop at a store I like and I found something to get for my sister for a house warming gift. I liked it so much I bought one for me, too! LOL As I was driving to my friend's place today, I spotted a store that I had not seen before. It is called "Primitive Heart." Sounds like it definitely has possibilities! I will need to go check it out. No time today.
Tonight after supper DH and I went downstairs to clean up in the basement. I was picking up the waste pieces of wallboard and sweeping. I got quite a lot done in my quilt studio area. He was cleaning in his shop. Temporarily he is moving all machines to one end so he can put all of the things from his carving shop (he calls them his dirty shop [sawdust] and his clean shop) so the vinyl can be put on the floor in there, too. There are only a few things left in my studio area that have to be moved out yet. After I worked for awhile I asked DH for a mask. I think that is why I have a headache, breathing in that dust at first.
Tomorrow (or later this morning) is my last day of summer break. I think I will finally get that fabric painted! I have had everything out to do it for two weeks or so. I hate to think about being back at work with no time for me again. Hopefully this year won't be as bad since I don't have an overload and I have one year of being department head under my belt.
One of the things I was thinking about when I woke up is my sons. I was talking about them with my friend today. Even when your children are adults you wish you could "kiss it and make it all better." But you can't. So I just love them.
Tonight after supper DH and I went downstairs to clean up in the basement. I was picking up the waste pieces of wallboard and sweeping. I got quite a lot done in my quilt studio area. He was cleaning in his shop. Temporarily he is moving all machines to one end so he can put all of the things from his carving shop (he calls them his dirty shop [sawdust] and his clean shop) so the vinyl can be put on the floor in there, too. There are only a few things left in my studio area that have to be moved out yet. After I worked for awhile I asked DH for a mask. I think that is why I have a headache, breathing in that dust at first.
Tomorrow (or later this morning) is my last day of summer break. I think I will finally get that fabric painted! I have had everything out to do it for two weeks or so. I hate to think about being back at work with no time for me again. Hopefully this year won't be as bad since I don't have an overload and I have one year of being department head under my belt.
One of the things I was thinking about when I woke up is my sons. I was talking about them with my friend today. Even when your children are adults you wish you could "kiss it and make it all better." But you can't. So I just love them.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Hellooooooooooo Everybuddeeeeeeee!!!!! Part 2
This seems to be working now. I did a long entry this morning, and lost the dang thing. It wouldn't publish and then I saw two, one published and one a draft. I assumed it had published and deleted the wrong one. So, it is partially my own fault.
The title of this post has to be said with just the right inflection. Do you remember the Muppet named Grover? We had a book I read to my sons when they were little that had him as a character and that is how the book started. I always had to do his voice. Loved it!
Yesterday I spent lots of money! I made the down payment on the vinyl for the basement, and I also paid in full my Nolting quilt machine. It is due to be shipped Sept. 1, but I won't have it set up until after the vinyl is in. DH has all of the wall board up now and is finishing something in his shop. Then he's going to move the things we couldn't move out of my studio area into his shop. He will begin taping the seams and plastering. He is going to borrow something from a friend that will make it easier to make the plaster textured. We are going to paint it with a paint sprayer. He'll be spraying the ceiling white... all if the wood, pipes, etc. We aren't putting a ceiling in. The shop lights will hang from there and there will be a bunch of them so I have a lot of light. I am getting so excited. I am having a lesson on Monday morning on how to use it. I'm excited and nervous at the same time.
I was at a curriculum writing meeting all day yesterday and got really frustrated. I want to have a say in it, but there are some people who argue and butt heads and don't want to give an inch, and then blame the other person for doing it. I had to get up and walk out. The facilitator told me at the end that there are stages people go through as a committee to write curriculum, just like grief has stages. What we are going through right now is called "storming", he said. He also said he isn't worried. He said if we were still doing this in January, then he would have to move us along and get things going better. Well, it drives me NUTS!
This morning I slept in. DH and I went downstairs when I returned from quilting last night and he showed me how far he was. We started discussing the cupboards that we'll be putting in, and I got so wound up I couldn't get to sleep. So I slept later this morning. Then I mowed the lawn, and I got some things ready to mail and finished reorganizing my closet, and did a few other things on my list. We went out to eat for supper tonight and then I dropped DH home and I went to get groceries. Came home and watched Kyle XY since we missed it Monday. Then I read the paper and here I am.
We are going up to the trailer tomorrow and taking our DGD. It is Halloween for the activity and she will go "Trick-or-Treating. I bought treats to hand out. I always get a costume for her, but it's too early for that yet, so she is going as a "Red Hat Lady." She has a long velvety dark purple dress and I have the hat. She can't wait to show the friend at the campground who is two trailers down because she is a red hat lady. DGD really likes her. It'll be fun. I love having her there, but it is definitely not as relaxing when she is there. I won't be bringing my sewing along!
She wants to be a Jack-O-Lantern for the real Halloween, so I will have to get looking for that.
I am re-vamping my teaching this year. I have to keep doing that or I would get bored. I am hoping that teaching in units this year will give me more time to do a thorough job. We have so much and it seems we never have enough time. I've been planning, but have more to do. I have to look at the number of units I'll be doing and figure out how much time I have to use for the units. Some will take longer than others. I need to make a sort of schedule for myself for the year. "Curriculum Mapping" is what it is called. I just call it planning my year. It will be interesting to try a new approach.
Boy, I was really funny this morning, and tonight I am dragging butt. That's what happens after a day of hard work. Will talk to you again soon!
The title of this post has to be said with just the right inflection. Do you remember the Muppet named Grover? We had a book I read to my sons when they were little that had him as a character and that is how the book started. I always had to do his voice. Loved it!
Yesterday I spent lots of money! I made the down payment on the vinyl for the basement, and I also paid in full my Nolting quilt machine. It is due to be shipped Sept. 1, but I won't have it set up until after the vinyl is in. DH has all of the wall board up now and is finishing something in his shop. Then he's going to move the things we couldn't move out of my studio area into his shop. He will begin taping the seams and plastering. He is going to borrow something from a friend that will make it easier to make the plaster textured. We are going to paint it with a paint sprayer. He'll be spraying the ceiling white... all if the wood, pipes, etc. We aren't putting a ceiling in. The shop lights will hang from there and there will be a bunch of them so I have a lot of light. I am getting so excited. I am having a lesson on Monday morning on how to use it. I'm excited and nervous at the same time.
I was at a curriculum writing meeting all day yesterday and got really frustrated. I want to have a say in it, but there are some people who argue and butt heads and don't want to give an inch, and then blame the other person for doing it. I had to get up and walk out. The facilitator told me at the end that there are stages people go through as a committee to write curriculum, just like grief has stages. What we are going through right now is called "storming", he said. He also said he isn't worried. He said if we were still doing this in January, then he would have to move us along and get things going better. Well, it drives me NUTS!
This morning I slept in. DH and I went downstairs when I returned from quilting last night and he showed me how far he was. We started discussing the cupboards that we'll be putting in, and I got so wound up I couldn't get to sleep. So I slept later this morning. Then I mowed the lawn, and I got some things ready to mail and finished reorganizing my closet, and did a few other things on my list. We went out to eat for supper tonight and then I dropped DH home and I went to get groceries. Came home and watched Kyle XY since we missed it Monday. Then I read the paper and here I am.
We are going up to the trailer tomorrow and taking our DGD. It is Halloween for the activity and she will go "Trick-or-Treating. I bought treats to hand out. I always get a costume for her, but it's too early for that yet, so she is going as a "Red Hat Lady." She has a long velvety dark purple dress and I have the hat. She can't wait to show the friend at the campground who is two trailers down because she is a red hat lady. DGD really likes her. It'll be fun. I love having her there, but it is definitely not as relaxing when she is there. I won't be bringing my sewing along!
She wants to be a Jack-O-Lantern for the real Halloween, so I will have to get looking for that.
I am re-vamping my teaching this year. I have to keep doing that or I would get bored. I am hoping that teaching in units this year will give me more time to do a thorough job. We have so much and it seems we never have enough time. I've been planning, but have more to do. I have to look at the number of units I'll be doing and figure out how much time I have to use for the units. Some will take longer than others. I need to make a sort of schedule for myself for the year. "Curriculum Mapping" is what it is called. I just call it planning my year. It will be interesting to try a new approach.
Boy, I was really funny this morning, and tonight I am dragging butt. That's what happens after a day of hard work. Will talk to you again soon!
Hellooooooooooo Everybuddeeeeeeee!!!!!
I just spent 45 minutes writng a post and because of a blogger problem it was lost. Damn.
Later. I am going to see if it is working now.
Later. I am going to see if it is working now.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Just finished my coffee...
so I'm awake. I have been getting up when DH gets up so I get used to it again before school actually starts. Even though school has not started yet, I am doing school things. Yesterday I went to our "Data Retreat." A retreat usually is enjoyable- maybe they call it that to try to make us feel we enjoy it. I go because I have to go. As department head for social studies I am in charge of writing our department goals. I was able to complete that yesterday (as a draft- I will discuss it with my department, but knowing them they won't have any changes), and also figure out how I would use department meetings to discuss strategies that we are supposed to be using, and encourage their use. I did have help from an ELL teacher (English Language Learner) who teaches 6th grade SS, so that was good. She's a person who is really on the ball. She's on the Curriculum writing committee with me, too. We have THAT all day meeting tomorrow. At least I get paid for those meetings! Today I am meeting with a teacher who will be teaching both 7th and 8th grade social studies this year but hasn't taught it before. I gave her some things to take home over the summer, and today I am going to talk to her about what I do to teach 8th grade so she can get an idea of what to do. I will share any of the activities I do with her if she wants. You really do have to adapt things to fit your own personality. I am sure that some other teachers couldn't pull off some of the goofy things that I do in my classroom. A couple of years ago I had two high school students come to visit me. One of them said, "You know what, Mrs. V? Sometimes my HS SS teacher says things and I think, 'I already know that. I learned that from Mrs. V.' " Then she said, "I was learning things, and I didn't even know it because I was having so much fun!" That made me feel GREAT! =-)
I am still trying to get things done around the house before my teaching bogs me down. Yesterday I started rearranging my closet. I have been doing things to help DH out (like mow the lawn, which he usually does) since I want him to keep working on the basement. He did more wall boarding last night. He is almost ready to plaster.
One thing I have been procrasinating about is painting fabric for my challenge quilt. My former quilt buddies in Two Rivers and Manitowoc have a quilt show at the Rahr Art Gallery in Manitowoc every couple of years. This year it will be the month of Dec., into January again. The challenge was to take a painting (that will be displayed with the challenge quilts) and make something that it inspires. It is a water color painting, so right away I thought of painting on fabric. After being taught how to do it last summer by a friend, I had some fabric I could use. I decided I needed some darker "water" fabric and I have the things to do it, but right now my confidence is flagging and I am wishing my friend lived a lot closer! I will have to boldly step out and do it, but I have to wait until I feel bold! Soon, very soon. I am going to take the painted fabrics and use pieces to make my quilt which I will call "November Sky Over Lake Michigan." I am also using a new technique to put it together that I was also shown by the same friend. She makes gorgeous quilts, art quilts, and mine won't match her expertise, but it will be something new, which I think a challenge should be. Just have to get my Star Trek courage up... to boldly go where I have not gone before! LOL
Time to hit the shower. Oh yeah, and get in it to clean up, too. Wish I could sit in my jammies all day and read. That's what I REALLY feel like doing today!
I am still trying to get things done around the house before my teaching bogs me down. Yesterday I started rearranging my closet. I have been doing things to help DH out (like mow the lawn, which he usually does) since I want him to keep working on the basement. He did more wall boarding last night. He is almost ready to plaster.
One thing I have been procrasinating about is painting fabric for my challenge quilt. My former quilt buddies in Two Rivers and Manitowoc have a quilt show at the Rahr Art Gallery in Manitowoc every couple of years. This year it will be the month of Dec., into January again. The challenge was to take a painting (that will be displayed with the challenge quilts) and make something that it inspires. It is a water color painting, so right away I thought of painting on fabric. After being taught how to do it last summer by a friend, I had some fabric I could use. I decided I needed some darker "water" fabric and I have the things to do it, but right now my confidence is flagging and I am wishing my friend lived a lot closer! I will have to boldly step out and do it, but I have to wait until I feel bold! Soon, very soon. I am going to take the painted fabrics and use pieces to make my quilt which I will call "November Sky Over Lake Michigan." I am also using a new technique to put it together that I was also shown by the same friend. She makes gorgeous quilts, art quilts, and mine won't match her expertise, but it will be something new, which I think a challenge should be. Just have to get my Star Trek courage up... to boldly go where I have not gone before! LOL
Time to hit the shower. Oh yeah, and get in it to clean up, too. Wish I could sit in my jammies all day and read. That's what I REALLY feel like doing today!
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Oh, my arms...
ache! I just finished mowing the lawn. I haven't been doing that this year, but since DH is working so hard on my quilt studio I figured I should do that. He finished all of the wiring (in place, but not hooked up) and yesterday he bought wall board and he has almost all of it put in already! He is going to finish that as much as he can, before we go back up to the camper for a few more days. He can't do all of it in the bathroom until he runs the pipes.
I worked on some DJ things the last two days home, because I facilitated the DJ Club last night. We only had 3 of us there. I got phone calls from 3 others, and I think 2 are giving it up, at least for summer. One of them is probably really busy because she alters all of the Packer jerseys. Like Brett likes his sleeves shortened. She also repairs them if necessary after each game, but they only wear them once. They are sold after each game. At least I know that's what happens to Brett's. She says sometimes they are not washed, and they really STINK!
Really got off topic there! I finished 3 more DJ blocks yesterday, but I haven't done my journal yet, so I have to do that to update my numbers. I'm taking it to the trailer.
Next week I have school things going on already. Waaaaaaaaaaah! I am not ready for this yet! (I never am, but once I get there I'm OK!)
Well, I have more fabric to fold... I have 8 tall rubbermaid boxes filled, and have tubs here with special fabrics in, like Christmas, and plaids, that I have to re-fold yet. So I will work on that. Moving this sewing room is a HUGE project in itself! I haven't had any time to be bad. 0=-)
I worked on some DJ things the last two days home, because I facilitated the DJ Club last night. We only had 3 of us there. I got phone calls from 3 others, and I think 2 are giving it up, at least for summer. One of them is probably really busy because she alters all of the Packer jerseys. Like Brett likes his sleeves shortened. She also repairs them if necessary after each game, but they only wear them once. They are sold after each game. At least I know that's what happens to Brett's. She says sometimes they are not washed, and they really STINK!
Really got off topic there! I finished 3 more DJ blocks yesterday, but I haven't done my journal yet, so I have to do that to update my numbers. I'm taking it to the trailer.
Next week I have school things going on already. Waaaaaaaaaaah! I am not ready for this yet! (I never am, but once I get there I'm OK!)
Well, I have more fabric to fold... I have 8 tall rubbermaid boxes filled, and have tubs here with special fabrics in, like Christmas, and plaids, that I have to re-fold yet. So I will work on that. Moving this sewing room is a HUGE project in itself! I haven't had any time to be bad. 0=-)
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
The paint, paint, paint roller...
...goes paint, paint, paintin' along! Only one more coat of paint to put on the walls in the bathroom. I did all of the corners and edges twice, and one coat with the roller so far. It is good paint, and one coat might be enough, but I like to be sure with two coats. It will only take me another 45 minutes, if that, and then on Friday I can do the wall paper border and reinstall things I took off the walls. I bought a new (prettier) towel bar and towel ring to put up. I have decorations to go back up, too. That will be my goal for Friday.
DH spent last evening working downstairs in my studio. He has the wire run for the outlets where I will plug in all of my lights. He is also wiring his wood shop properly. Last night he said, "I can't WAIT for this project to be over!" Then he looked at me and said, "You probably can't wait, either, huh?" VBG He will be getting the wall board to start soon. Having a deadline has sure livened things up down there! Hooray! We are still not sure exactly what we will be putting on the floor. Have to decide that SOON.
DH called a little while ago and suggested that we should go out for lunch since I am going back up to the camper today and he won't see me for a few days. Oooooh, a date! =-) I have a little over an hour before I have to hop in the shower, so will try to get some other things done.
The excitment is building!
DH spent last evening working downstairs in my studio. He has the wire run for the outlets where I will plug in all of my lights. He is also wiring his wood shop properly. Last night he said, "I can't WAIT for this project to be over!" Then he looked at me and said, "You probably can't wait, either, huh?" VBG He will be getting the wall board to start soon. Having a deadline has sure livened things up down there! Hooray! We are still not sure exactly what we will be putting on the floor. Have to decide that SOON.
DH called a little while ago and suggested that we should go out for lunch since I am going back up to the camper today and he won't see me for a few days. Oooooh, a date! =-) I have a little over an hour before I have to hop in the shower, so will try to get some other things done.
The excitment is building!
Monday, August 07, 2006
Oh, I wish I could sing
...so you would all be able to hear me! What a glorious day it is today! The weather is absolutely beautiful, and I hope not to spend all of the day inside! But... times a'wastin, and I have miles to go before I sleep!
I had my granddaughter from Thursday evening until Sunday evening. On Friday I took her down to see my mom and dad. We were going to go swimming in Lake Michigan, which would have been a first for her, but the beaches were all closed because of E. coli pollution. DARNNIT! We have had heavy rain and the run off into the lake causes it. Both farm manure run off and untreated sewage that goes in when the system can't handle the overload during the rain. Milwaukee does that all the time. So, instead, she went swimming in the pool where my parents live, and she was the only one in the pool! Then, on Saturday, we went to our camper by ourselves. Her dad came up on Sunday, spent some time and then tool her home. DH didn't go to the camper. He stayed home and worked on wiring my QUILTING STUDIO!!!!!!!! He told me that he is up to the lights part, the outlets are finished. Well, they aren't useable yet, but tomorrow night his retired electrician friend is coming over to do the hook up into the new circuits in the box, and he will also assist DH in hooking the outlets to the wires that are all in place. Then DH is going to start the wall board. He will have everything done that needs to be done before the walls get put on (and painted), and that has to be done before the flooring can go in, which needs to be done before my Nolting Fun Quilter arrives! The entire room will not be done by then, but we will continue to work on it. My storage area won't be built until after the machine arrives, but soon after, I think. I am going to put pre-made kitchen cupboards in where I can, and the rest DH will have to build. I am getting so EXCITED!!!! (Can you tell???) I will have to post photos once it is done.
Today I am working on painting my bathroom. Tomorrow I am going back up to the camper for a few days of "girl time." A number of the women are planning to spend some time together. We've been beading together (and, I'll admit, drinking a bit...). Thursday I will come home for an appointment. Then I will continue working on the house, and pack for a quilt weekend with my quilting buddies. One has a cottage on a lake, and we have been going there for a mini retreat for about 4 years now. Not sure what I will be taking... maybe Dear Jane. I'd like to get that finished. I can't go up until Sat. morning because we have a 50th wedding anniversary party to go to on Friday night. It is one of DH's carving friends and his wife. Nice peoples! =-)
So, if I am not posting regularly this week, you will know why! Gotta get back to the bathroom... the walls are calling me!
Angel
I had my granddaughter from Thursday evening until Sunday evening. On Friday I took her down to see my mom and dad. We were going to go swimming in Lake Michigan, which would have been a first for her, but the beaches were all closed because of E. coli pollution. DARNNIT! We have had heavy rain and the run off into the lake causes it. Both farm manure run off and untreated sewage that goes in when the system can't handle the overload during the rain. Milwaukee does that all the time. So, instead, she went swimming in the pool where my parents live, and she was the only one in the pool! Then, on Saturday, we went to our camper by ourselves. Her dad came up on Sunday, spent some time and then tool her home. DH didn't go to the camper. He stayed home and worked on wiring my QUILTING STUDIO!!!!!!!! He told me that he is up to the lights part, the outlets are finished. Well, they aren't useable yet, but tomorrow night his retired electrician friend is coming over to do the hook up into the new circuits in the box, and he will also assist DH in hooking the outlets to the wires that are all in place. Then DH is going to start the wall board. He will have everything done that needs to be done before the walls get put on (and painted), and that has to be done before the flooring can go in, which needs to be done before my Nolting Fun Quilter arrives! The entire room will not be done by then, but we will continue to work on it. My storage area won't be built until after the machine arrives, but soon after, I think. I am going to put pre-made kitchen cupboards in where I can, and the rest DH will have to build. I am getting so EXCITED!!!! (Can you tell???) I will have to post photos once it is done.
Today I am working on painting my bathroom. Tomorrow I am going back up to the camper for a few days of "girl time." A number of the women are planning to spend some time together. We've been beading together (and, I'll admit, drinking a bit...). Thursday I will come home for an appointment. Then I will continue working on the house, and pack for a quilt weekend with my quilting buddies. One has a cottage on a lake, and we have been going there for a mini retreat for about 4 years now. Not sure what I will be taking... maybe Dear Jane. I'd like to get that finished. I can't go up until Sat. morning because we have a 50th wedding anniversary party to go to on Friday night. It is one of DH's carving friends and his wife. Nice peoples! =-)
So, if I am not posting regularly this week, you will know why! Gotta get back to the bathroom... the walls are calling me!
Angel
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
It's five o'clock in the morning
...but I haven't danced the whole night through. I've been awake since a storm went through about 3:30. Once I was awake that was it. Between hot flashes and DH's snoring, and my clenching my teeth, I haven't been able to sleep. DH gets up at 5:30, so maybe I can sleep some then.
Yesterday I went to get my bangs cut and then went to a yarn shop. I fell victim to the socks craze, buying a pattern and some of that yarn that gives you a design from the way the yarn is dyed. Don't know when I'll start them, but soon, I'm sure. I need to finish something else, first. And, it's on size TWO DP needles. Am I NUTS?????
Like I need another project.
But, as the QuiltChicks motto goes, "It's not a matter of need." 0=-)
I made real food for supper, too. Pork roast, dumplings and sauerkraut, a good German meal. I haven't made it for ages. In fact, I haven't COOKED in ages! Unless pizza counts.
Guess what! DH's retired electrician friend came over last night after supper and DH talked over all of the plans for the wiring downstairs. After his friend left, he actually STARTED!!! One night this week we are going to go to the store where we'll buy the flooring and decide what we'll be getting and talk to them about preparing for putting it in. We thought we'd better get in NOW in case it has to be ordered. The wiring, wallboard and flooring have to be in before my QUILT MACHINE comes. Woooo Hooooo! I am going to get some of the pads to stand on at the machine. The kind in pieces that you put togther like a puzzle. That's what the seller has and she said it's great. Otherwise my cleanup of the floor will mostly consist of a Swiffter (sp? I'm too lazy to go look); I love those things.
The guest room carpeting will be put in Thursday morning. It will be nice to have a place to put all of the stuff that is currently sitting in my living room... and dining room, and bedroom, and foyer, and a few things still left in the basement, like the treadmill and exercise bike. That room will be packed for a few weeks. We won't set up the bed until the other rooms are done.
Today I am going to start my bathroom redo by washing the walls. I think that I should do that to make sure there isn't any mildew or anything when I paint. Then I'll start putting on the painter's tape. Thursday after the carpeting is in I can have another frentic day of motion. That's what I am like lately. It's like, omigod it's AUGUST already, and I still have (want) to do this and this and this... Before I know it I'll be back with the rugrats. I have the paint for the bathroom already. After it's painted I also have a wall paper border I bought about two years ago. The bathroom "theme" is "There's No Place Like Home," (from my favorite movie), and besides a sign that says that, I have houses, the primitive country kind, in decorations, and pictures on the wall. That's what is on the border, too. This place is going to look great when I get finished with all of this. Then I'll have more time to sew, too!
DH will be up soon, so I think I'll quit going on and on and on, and end. Bye!
Angel
Yesterday I went to get my bangs cut and then went to a yarn shop. I fell victim to the socks craze, buying a pattern and some of that yarn that gives you a design from the way the yarn is dyed. Don't know when I'll start them, but soon, I'm sure. I need to finish something else, first. And, it's on size TWO DP needles. Am I NUTS?????
Like I need another project.
But, as the QuiltChicks motto goes, "It's not a matter of need." 0=-)
I made real food for supper, too. Pork roast, dumplings and sauerkraut, a good German meal. I haven't made it for ages. In fact, I haven't COOKED in ages! Unless pizza counts.
Guess what! DH's retired electrician friend came over last night after supper and DH talked over all of the plans for the wiring downstairs. After his friend left, he actually STARTED!!! One night this week we are going to go to the store where we'll buy the flooring and decide what we'll be getting and talk to them about preparing for putting it in. We thought we'd better get in NOW in case it has to be ordered. The wiring, wallboard and flooring have to be in before my QUILT MACHINE comes. Woooo Hooooo! I am going to get some of the pads to stand on at the machine. The kind in pieces that you put togther like a puzzle. That's what the seller has and she said it's great. Otherwise my cleanup of the floor will mostly consist of a Swiffter (sp? I'm too lazy to go look); I love those things.
The guest room carpeting will be put in Thursday morning. It will be nice to have a place to put all of the stuff that is currently sitting in my living room... and dining room, and bedroom, and foyer, and a few things still left in the basement, like the treadmill and exercise bike. That room will be packed for a few weeks. We won't set up the bed until the other rooms are done.
Today I am going to start my bathroom redo by washing the walls. I think that I should do that to make sure there isn't any mildew or anything when I paint. Then I'll start putting on the painter's tape. Thursday after the carpeting is in I can have another frentic day of motion. That's what I am like lately. It's like, omigod it's AUGUST already, and I still have (want) to do this and this and this... Before I know it I'll be back with the rugrats. I have the paint for the bathroom already. After it's painted I also have a wall paper border I bought about two years ago. The bathroom "theme" is "There's No Place Like Home," (from my favorite movie), and besides a sign that says that, I have houses, the primitive country kind, in decorations, and pictures on the wall. That's what is on the border, too. This place is going to look great when I get finished with all of this. Then I'll have more time to sew, too!
DH will be up soon, so I think I'll quit going on and on and on, and end. Bye!
Angel
Monday, July 31, 2006
Wow, do I have a lot of fabric!
I've been refolding all of my fabric in the way I learned how to do it in my book about designing your perfect sewing space. I now have 7 (Count 'em, seven) large tubs (60 quart snap-top Rubbermaid) of folded fabric, and I am not even half finished. Gulp! It looked like a lot in my closet, but now that I've come OUT of the closet, I realize how much I really have! Also, my shoulders are getting really tired. I do a couple of tubs a day and then do other things. It is all going in tubs getting ready to move my sewing room downstairs... when it is finished. I am keeping out things to work on, and believe me I will have plenty to do without cutting up new fabric. I can see what is in the tubs though, if I need to find something. They are blue, but translucent.
Our new carpeting for the first bedroom I painted will be put in on Thursday. Today I emptied the rest of the closet. As soon as that carpeting is in I can start storing things in there. I talked to DH about the basement... and he said he is going to get it to the point of the flooring in by the time my quilt machine comes. So, it won't be totally done, but at least a majority of it will be done. I should go pick out flooring and have them come to measure for it soon so that it can be put in as soon as he is ready. It is taking three weeks for the carpeting to come in, so I wonder if the flooring will be the same. I also should have them measure this room for carpeting. I'm trying to get everything out of it for that before I go back to school. I need to paint it, too. Well, if I don't get it finished this summer I will do it on teacher convention days. We have to do so much other inservice that I don't go to the fall convention much. I usually go to the one day one in spring; it's right here in Green Bay.
Today I am feeling rather "bummed" about how long everything is taking and how little I feel like I am accomplishing with my time off from school. (You HAD to remind me, Susan!?!) In Wisconsin, school can't start for students until after Labor Day (Business people got that one through because of the tourism... they need students to work until then). I do have two meetings I have to go to on Aug. 22 and Aug. 24; one for curriculum writing and one for data analysis (looking at test scores and using them to set goals). These are both things I have to do because of being Social Studies Dept. Head at my school, but at least I will get paid for those days. We have two work days the week before Labor Day, plus an inservice day. So, I have four weeks left, with one of those having two meeting days, and then the week after that I have 3 days. I have done a bit of what I have to do to for school, but I have to spend a good day of work at home where I can spread things out. I'll put that off until closer to going back so I get in the mood. I hate to go back when there is so much I want to do. Boo! =-(
We were up at our camper trailer this weekend, but it was soooo hot that I barely went outside. I worked on a couple 0f DJ blocks that I had started awhile ago. I hate starting one and then not finishing it right away because I forget what I was thinking when I started it and I have to figure it all out again. But at least they are done now. I think I have about 60 squares left to do. Plus 40 triangles and four corners. Most of the squares are relatively simple, but I just need the time to do them. That's one thing I am leaving out to work on. Today the heat index is 109 degrees. I was only out for a couple of minutes and that was the end of that. I just can't take the heat any more. One more hot day, and then it is going to cool off. We may have a severe storm again before that happens. All of our rain storms this year have been extremely violent. Scary! Me no like!
I am also emptying out my huge 5 drawer large filing cabinet so it can be moved. I've got that half empty, too. The house looks a mess... cluttered, not dirty... and will look like that until all is rearranged. It drives me slightly bonkers. So what else is new, huh?
Angel
Our new carpeting for the first bedroom I painted will be put in on Thursday. Today I emptied the rest of the closet. As soon as that carpeting is in I can start storing things in there. I talked to DH about the basement... and he said he is going to get it to the point of the flooring in by the time my quilt machine comes. So, it won't be totally done, but at least a majority of it will be done. I should go pick out flooring and have them come to measure for it soon so that it can be put in as soon as he is ready. It is taking three weeks for the carpeting to come in, so I wonder if the flooring will be the same. I also should have them measure this room for carpeting. I'm trying to get everything out of it for that before I go back to school. I need to paint it, too. Well, if I don't get it finished this summer I will do it on teacher convention days. We have to do so much other inservice that I don't go to the fall convention much. I usually go to the one day one in spring; it's right here in Green Bay.
Today I am feeling rather "bummed" about how long everything is taking and how little I feel like I am accomplishing with my time off from school. (You HAD to remind me, Susan!?!) In Wisconsin, school can't start for students until after Labor Day (Business people got that one through because of the tourism... they need students to work until then). I do have two meetings I have to go to on Aug. 22 and Aug. 24; one for curriculum writing and one for data analysis (looking at test scores and using them to set goals). These are both things I have to do because of being Social Studies Dept. Head at my school, but at least I will get paid for those days. We have two work days the week before Labor Day, plus an inservice day. So, I have four weeks left, with one of those having two meeting days, and then the week after that I have 3 days. I have done a bit of what I have to do to for school, but I have to spend a good day of work at home where I can spread things out. I'll put that off until closer to going back so I get in the mood. I hate to go back when there is so much I want to do. Boo! =-(
We were up at our camper trailer this weekend, but it was soooo hot that I barely went outside. I worked on a couple 0f DJ blocks that I had started awhile ago. I hate starting one and then not finishing it right away because I forget what I was thinking when I started it and I have to figure it all out again. But at least they are done now. I think I have about 60 squares left to do. Plus 40 triangles and four corners. Most of the squares are relatively simple, but I just need the time to do them. That's one thing I am leaving out to work on. Today the heat index is 109 degrees. I was only out for a couple of minutes and that was the end of that. I just can't take the heat any more. One more hot day, and then it is going to cool off. We may have a severe storm again before that happens. All of our rain storms this year have been extremely violent. Scary! Me no like!
I am also emptying out my huge 5 drawer large filing cabinet so it can be moved. I've got that half empty, too. The house looks a mess... cluttered, not dirty... and will look like that until all is rearranged. It drives me slightly bonkers. So what else is new, huh?
Angel
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Well, I did it!
I ordered the Fun Quilter! If I bought both the machine and the table I got $700 off. It will take 6-8 weeks to get here. In addition to the machine and table (12 feet) I also get a bobbin winder, thread samples. needles, oil, set-up, 2 hours training and shipping and crating. It comes in three colors, so I picked purple. =-)
I also had my oil changed, in my car (my own oil wasn't changed, so I still squeak), stopped and bought a two plate hanger for on the wall in the guest room, and met with my friend for 3 hours (we did a lot of extra talking!) I had some things to pick up at the store, so I did that, and when I got home I realized I had forgotten to go to Steins (Garden Center) to get the plants for my fairy garden! Tomorrow...
I was just thinking that you used to be able to buy houseplants all over the place. When we first got married my job was at a Sears Store in the "Toy, Garden, and Pets Department." We had a huge house plant section. I can remember a lot of places that did that. Now the only place you can get houseplants around here is at a garden center. You used to be able to get sewing things in department stores, too, and that has gone the way of the home ec classes! Around here--- not much left. Well, at least I can still buy what I want! And I couldn't do without my Quilt Stores! When I first started quilting, there were no quilt stores. I got my fabric at JoAnn's or another fabric store. Things I made back then are faded terribly, even without being in the sun. Some of my navy blues are now gray. And the fabric!!! Every year I think it can't get any better, but it does.
I learned how to add links today, so I have links to my fellow QuiltChicks pages now. Baby steps. =-)
While I was writing, I decided to finish supper and I put some rice in a pan on the stove. I totally forgot about it! I ran in and all of the water was boiled away and it was burning on the bottom. I was just going to get it to a boil, and then turn it down and cover it, but because I forgot, I ended up putting it all in the garbage. Then I started more rice. This time I stayed until it was boiling, and turned it down and put the cover on it. Not the worst thing I ever did though! Once I let a candle burn down into the candle holder... which was wood... and it started on fire. Luckily one of my friends was here and saw it and told me and I carried it to the sink and put it out. Trouble seems to follow me. I don't know why! But I must have a good guardian angel, cuz I am still alive. 0=-)
I also had my oil changed, in my car (my own oil wasn't changed, so I still squeak), stopped and bought a two plate hanger for on the wall in the guest room, and met with my friend for 3 hours (we did a lot of extra talking!) I had some things to pick up at the store, so I did that, and when I got home I realized I had forgotten to go to Steins (Garden Center) to get the plants for my fairy garden! Tomorrow...
I was just thinking that you used to be able to buy houseplants all over the place. When we first got married my job was at a Sears Store in the "Toy, Garden, and Pets Department." We had a huge house plant section. I can remember a lot of places that did that. Now the only place you can get houseplants around here is at a garden center. You used to be able to get sewing things in department stores, too, and that has gone the way of the home ec classes! Around here--- not much left. Well, at least I can still buy what I want! And I couldn't do without my Quilt Stores! When I first started quilting, there were no quilt stores. I got my fabric at JoAnn's or another fabric store. Things I made back then are faded terribly, even without being in the sun. Some of my navy blues are now gray. And the fabric!!! Every year I think it can't get any better, but it does.
I learned how to add links today, so I have links to my fellow QuiltChicks pages now. Baby steps. =-)
While I was writing, I decided to finish supper and I put some rice in a pan on the stove. I totally forgot about it! I ran in and all of the water was boiled away and it was burning on the bottom. I was just going to get it to a boil, and then turn it down and cover it, but because I forgot, I ended up putting it all in the garbage. Then I started more rice. This time I stayed until it was boiling, and turned it down and put the cover on it. Not the worst thing I ever did though! Once I let a candle burn down into the candle holder... which was wood... and it started on fire. Luckily one of my friends was here and saw it and told me and I carried it to the sink and put it out. Trouble seems to follow me. I don't know why! But I must have a good guardian angel, cuz I am still alive. 0=-)
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
I had a GREAT day!
I went to see my sister's new house today. It is really nice, and just perfect for them. After my tour we went to Cedarburg, which is a nice little tourist town. One of our favorite stores to buy things for our house is there, so we bought a few things there first. We went to the old mill which is all shops now, and found a few more things. So I am happppppeeeeeee about what I found. We are both making a "Fairy Garden" with some miniatures we found. You make it in a pot with some small house plants. I brought some moss back from her house to use in it. We have little gardening tools, wheelbarrow and watering can, and then a love seat, and two chairs (metal, look sort of like twig furniture) and also a little upside down terra cotta flower pot with a tiny tea set on it. We also have an arbor. I bought a sprig of stars to put on it, but then you plant something that will grow over it. Oh, and I also have a gazing ball on a pedestal! The stuff is just so darn CUTE! You can put it outside in the shade. I am looking forward to putting it together. I think I will stop tomorrow and get the pot and plants.
I have four things to do tomorrow, and one is to go buy my Nolting Fun Quilter and table! I get $700 off if I buy it before the 27th is over. It's a sale. I've been holding back since I won't have the space for it until the basement room is ready... and that will be awhile. It takes 6-8 weeks to get here, so I have that leeway, but if DH doesn't start working a bit faster it won't be ready by then. We shall see how it all pans out. I am excited to get the quilter so I can do all of those quilt tops I have sitting here in a tub.
I am getting together with my best friend from school tomorrow for coffee and discussion of a book we are reading together- _The Purpose Driven Life_. I am having some problems with the book, but plugging away at it anyway. At least I am trying.
I started going through my quilting files tonight. I am going to get rid of a lot. I have patterns from 1980 that I won't make. If I haven't made it by now, there are probably four more patterns I want to make more than the old ones. I'm organizing, but it is also so I can move the filing cabinet (It is 3.5 feet wide, five drawers tall. It's a product made by the company my DH works for. It is a second because of a dent, and it was inexpensive. A new one is quite expensive. It will be moved into my quilt studio when it is ready. For now I need to empty it so when the new carpeting is in the guest room I can move it in there to store temporarily. I have to get this room emptied so I can paint it and get it recarpeted. Don't worry, I will always have my sewing table set up somewhere!
I am soooo hot today! The humidity is awful. Life seems to be hot for me all the time lately. I'm hot. Well, I've always been HOT, but now I'm hot. 0=-) Of course, that beer I had didn't help much! TTYL Angel
I have four things to do tomorrow, and one is to go buy my Nolting Fun Quilter and table! I get $700 off if I buy it before the 27th is over. It's a sale. I've been holding back since I won't have the space for it until the basement room is ready... and that will be awhile. It takes 6-8 weeks to get here, so I have that leeway, but if DH doesn't start working a bit faster it won't be ready by then. We shall see how it all pans out. I am excited to get the quilter so I can do all of those quilt tops I have sitting here in a tub.
I am getting together with my best friend from school tomorrow for coffee and discussion of a book we are reading together- _The Purpose Driven Life_. I am having some problems with the book, but plugging away at it anyway. At least I am trying.
I started going through my quilting files tonight. I am going to get rid of a lot. I have patterns from 1980 that I won't make. If I haven't made it by now, there are probably four more patterns I want to make more than the old ones. I'm organizing, but it is also so I can move the filing cabinet (It is 3.5 feet wide, five drawers tall. It's a product made by the company my DH works for. It is a second because of a dent, and it was inexpensive. A new one is quite expensive. It will be moved into my quilt studio when it is ready. For now I need to empty it so when the new carpeting is in the guest room I can move it in there to store temporarily. I have to get this room emptied so I can paint it and get it recarpeted. Don't worry, I will always have my sewing table set up somewhere!
I am soooo hot today! The humidity is awful. Life seems to be hot for me all the time lately. I'm hot. Well, I've always been HOT, but now I'm hot. 0=-) Of course, that beer I had didn't help much! TTYL Angel
Monday, July 24, 2006
Has it really been that long????
Since I posted??? Well, three people have mentioned something to me, so I guess I had better get at this!! School, at the end of the year, was so very busy. I had a student teacher and she needed a lot of guidance, or maybe I should say, encouragement. She came to me after an experience where two guys had basically blasted her and took away all of her confidence. She did well with me, but was not confident. She got better at the end. Student teachers always don't discipline enough. They students would see me in the library or halls and ask when I was coming back. They missed me. I had a lot of good comments from students at the end of the year. I was surprised by whom some of the comments were from. A boy who didn't do much all year, for example, told me that I was his favorite teacher. Gee, I wonder if he does anything for the teachers who WEREN'T his favorite! LOL At any rate, I was exhausted at the end of the year and needed to sleep a lot. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Oh, sorry, I still doze off sometimes!
I went to a quilt retreat the week after school let out. I actually went to bed EARLY most nights, and also slept in. My body was just tired. I worked on a couple of UFOs, but didn't finsih anything. I did relax though, and enjoyed the people. They said I was very quiet this year, and asked if I was OK. Guess that tells you what I am usually like! (wink, wink) Actually, I think it was because of where I was sitting, and the people around me. They were quiet people. Can't get into too much trouble that way. =-)
DH and I spent 11 days in a row at our camper trailer at the Jellystone Campground. We didn't "go" as much this time, but enjoyed the trailer. It rained almost every day, at least for awhile, and the storms were short but rather violent. It kept us from taking the boat out on the Bay, and also from hiking or biking any distance. Hopefully it will be better the next loner time we will be up there. We go often on weekends, and have so much fun with the other seasonal campers. They got me beading last summer, and I have done quite a lot with that. I'll have to see if I can take a photo of some things to post.
I've been cleaning, and I painted a bedroom. I am waiting for the carpeting to be installed. We are making that room a guest room, but it will be stuffed with things until my new studio is finished. Then we will make this room into a TV/exercise room. I hate waiting for things. Too much of my summer will be gone before I get to the next step. I wish I could hurry my DH along on the studio. He always has an excuse. Yesterday he did say something about taking a few days off of work to work on the studio. That would be great. I'd even help him. A little. Maybe. =-)
Speaking of my DH, he just called that he was going to go donate blood. We both have the same rare blood type (B negative), and they need it. He started donating blood when I suggested that "we" should do it. He's donated gallons, and guess what chicken has never gone and donated even once?? Buck..buck... begock! (That's me making a chicken noise... use your imagination!)
I have been working out in the garden. I am making notes about what I will be moving next spring, to make the gardens bloom more evenly. And, of course, there is always the weeding to do. I actually am going to add two areas. Eventually we'll have a 3-season room on the back of the house and then we will walk out on to a patio I will make and then the flowers around that will blend with the other flower beds, leaving an opening where we will have an arbor with seats. I found someone at the botanical fair who makes them out of metal that looks so cool when weathered. Rich liked it, too. I got so good at DIGGING last summer at the archaeological dig that I figure I can remove sod for the flower beds, and later I will also do that for the patio. Rich doesn't want the work of doing a patio so I am going to do it myself. It'll be cool to be able to say that I made it myself. But... first things first. There are other things I need to avoid doing first. LOL
I have this big long list of things to do, and I am being really good at ignoring it today. I was going to do it tomorrow until I got a phone call a little while ago. Now, instead, tomorrow I am going to go see my sister's new house and then we are going shopping at our favorite place to buy our primitive house decorations. My other favorite shop went out of business. Not because the owner wasn't doing well, but to spend more time with family. It was closed before I even heard there was a possibility of it closing. Boo!
Yes, I definitely am into avoidance today. Can I go take a nap now?
I went to a quilt retreat the week after school let out. I actually went to bed EARLY most nights, and also slept in. My body was just tired. I worked on a couple of UFOs, but didn't finsih anything. I did relax though, and enjoyed the people. They said I was very quiet this year, and asked if I was OK. Guess that tells you what I am usually like! (wink, wink) Actually, I think it was because of where I was sitting, and the people around me. They were quiet people. Can't get into too much trouble that way. =-)
DH and I spent 11 days in a row at our camper trailer at the Jellystone Campground. We didn't "go" as much this time, but enjoyed the trailer. It rained almost every day, at least for awhile, and the storms were short but rather violent. It kept us from taking the boat out on the Bay, and also from hiking or biking any distance. Hopefully it will be better the next loner time we will be up there. We go often on weekends, and have so much fun with the other seasonal campers. They got me beading last summer, and I have done quite a lot with that. I'll have to see if I can take a photo of some things to post.
I've been cleaning, and I painted a bedroom. I am waiting for the carpeting to be installed. We are making that room a guest room, but it will be stuffed with things until my new studio is finished. Then we will make this room into a TV/exercise room. I hate waiting for things. Too much of my summer will be gone before I get to the next step. I wish I could hurry my DH along on the studio. He always has an excuse. Yesterday he did say something about taking a few days off of work to work on the studio. That would be great. I'd even help him. A little. Maybe. =-)
Speaking of my DH, he just called that he was going to go donate blood. We both have the same rare blood type (B negative), and they need it. He started donating blood when I suggested that "we" should do it. He's donated gallons, and guess what chicken has never gone and donated even once?? Buck..buck... begock! (That's me making a chicken noise... use your imagination!)
I have been working out in the garden. I am making notes about what I will be moving next spring, to make the gardens bloom more evenly. And, of course, there is always the weeding to do. I actually am going to add two areas. Eventually we'll have a 3-season room on the back of the house and then we will walk out on to a patio I will make and then the flowers around that will blend with the other flower beds, leaving an opening where we will have an arbor with seats. I found someone at the botanical fair who makes them out of metal that looks so cool when weathered. Rich liked it, too. I got so good at DIGGING last summer at the archaeological dig that I figure I can remove sod for the flower beds, and later I will also do that for the patio. Rich doesn't want the work of doing a patio so I am going to do it myself. It'll be cool to be able to say that I made it myself. But... first things first. There are other things I need to avoid doing first. LOL
I have this big long list of things to do, and I am being really good at ignoring it today. I was going to do it tomorrow until I got a phone call a little while ago. Now, instead, tomorrow I am going to go see my sister's new house and then we are going shopping at our favorite place to buy our primitive house decorations. My other favorite shop went out of business. Not because the owner wasn't doing well, but to spend more time with family. It was closed before I even heard there was a possibility of it closing. Boo!
Yes, I definitely am into avoidance today. Can I go take a nap now?
Sunday, January 29, 2006
No luck!
Well it didn't work a second time, either, unless it is still in cyberspace somewhere! I'll try again another time!
Oops.... forgot the picture!
I tried to add the picture by going in under "EDIT", and it even said it was uploaded, but it never showed up... even with refreshing the screen. Sigh. Well, here it is.
January 29 and All's Well
Last weekend I went on a quilting retreat with my quilting friends whom I get together with on Thursday nights. We had a wonderful weekend! It was in a new place; we were her first retreat. It was in an old house, with a huge room set up for sewing and another room next to that for pressing and cutting. Upstairs were bedrooms with beds. Soon she will provide bedding, but we brought our own for now. I want to get some of my QuiltChick friends to come up for a retreat soon. There was a nice kitchen with two tables together where we could eat, and we were able to cook what we wanted, and ordered great pizza from a local place for one supper. They are such good friends. I feel lucky to know them. I surprised everyone by going to bed early both nights, but I am just so darn tired these days, and couldn't get into staying up to sew. I stitched binding on both baby quilts (I had finished quilting the second one last week one evening), and started hand stitching that on one. I also made a set of postcards with the theme "Blue Moon." I called mine "Blue Moons" and on a snazzy background put two overlays that just possibly could be seen as butts... Hey, it fit the theme! heh heh
I never catch up at school, but I keep plugging away at it. I should be correcting papers right now instead of being on the computer! I'll do some later.
Friday after school my best buddy and I drove to LaX for our last meeting on the Archaeology Project. The actual meeting was a waste of time, but I finished stitching the bindings on both baby quilts during the drives and at the motel Friday night. Actually I finished the last bit of the second one at home last night (It had gotten too dark to sew in the car). But they are FINISHED!!! Three down, one to go. That's my next project, to quilt and bind the fourth one. I plan to put some labels on the two quilts this afternoon, and then I will pack them up with a note and mail them on Monday after school! That will feel soooo good, to have those gone. I realized that they were like a dark cloud hanging over my head, and I needed to just DO them and get them where they needed to go. In the case of these two, I can't call them baby quilts any longer... but they will be nice for cuddling in to watch TV, or to make a tent, etc. They are rather large for baby quilts. I guess you could call them crib sized, though. As I have noticed before, binding a quilt really makes a big difference in what it looks like. When I put the red binding on these quilts it really made them look so much nicer. I quilted them with a varigeted primary color quilting thread from YLI. Love the way it looks, and I am getting better at it. My photo isn't the best (a bit crooked), but it shows the color, etc.
I had best get at the things on my list. Ana and Eric will be here in a couple of hours and I won't get anything done then. Hugs!
I never catch up at school, but I keep plugging away at it. I should be correcting papers right now instead of being on the computer! I'll do some later.
Friday after school my best buddy and I drove to LaX for our last meeting on the Archaeology Project. The actual meeting was a waste of time, but I finished stitching the bindings on both baby quilts during the drives and at the motel Friday night. Actually I finished the last bit of the second one at home last night (It had gotten too dark to sew in the car). But they are FINISHED!!! Three down, one to go. That's my next project, to quilt and bind the fourth one. I plan to put some labels on the two quilts this afternoon, and then I will pack them up with a note and mail them on Monday after school! That will feel soooo good, to have those gone. I realized that they were like a dark cloud hanging over my head, and I needed to just DO them and get them where they needed to go. In the case of these two, I can't call them baby quilts any longer... but they will be nice for cuddling in to watch TV, or to make a tent, etc. They are rather large for baby quilts. I guess you could call them crib sized, though. As I have noticed before, binding a quilt really makes a big difference in what it looks like. When I put the red binding on these quilts it really made them look so much nicer. I quilted them with a varigeted primary color quilting thread from YLI. Love the way it looks, and I am getting better at it. My photo isn't the best (a bit crooked), but it shows the color, etc.
I had best get at the things on my list. Ana and Eric will be here in a couple of hours and I won't get anything done then. Hugs!
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Half way through January already
and I can't believe it! I guess when you are so busy, the time flies!
School has been keeping me busy, as usual. I have a pile to correct that I plan to do on Wed. when I show an all period video each class. That's the only way I can catch up sometimes! It IS a worthwhile video, not just a time filler. We are starting to get into Greece now. Fun!
Rich and I finally sent out some Christmas cards recently. A bit late... but better late than never. Our holiday time was so full. My mom ended up in the hospital with congestive heart failure. She is home, doing sooo much better now. She never really "bounced back" from the surgery to implant the pacemaker. I'm sure it was because of the CHF, but no one realized it until she was having so much trouble breathing that Dad took her to the emergency room. There was fluid in her lungs. I haven't seen her since she got home, but have talked with her on the phone and she sounds a lot better than she has for months. She says she feels better, too.
I've been lazy so far this Saturday. I am feeling somewhat guilty that right now Rich is doing the dishes. But then, hey, I can get over that. =-) The only reason I feel guilty is that it is usually a job I do, and he was just saying that he has so much to do today. He is planning to work on my studio in the basement, so I should really go let him do that.
We got a phone call from some friends in Manitowoc and they are coming over after they do some shopping today. We have invited them for supper. Guess I'd better go buy some food!
Today I want to finish quilting the baby quilt that I have half finished. I also want to sew binding on it and the first one I quilted so I have hand work to take to quilting. The last two weeks I haven't done anything because I had nothing prepared. I am going to be glad to finish them and send them on their way! I have that as a thing hanging over my head. It'll be nice to get out from under it! I have to think about DJ club which is next week, too.
In the last few days I have had the opportunity to make up my mind, finally, about which direction I want to go in regarding machines. I looked at the Bernina 440 with the stitch regulator. I also looked at the Handi-Quilter. Tried both, too. But, I have decided to go with a Nolting Hobby Quilter (the new one has a new name, but I am not sure what it is, can't remember what she said) once the basement studio is finished. I will keep my Bernina 170 with the embroidery module. If I get another machine it will be a Pfaff to do different things on, but I don't even know if I will do that. First the Nolting! I will finally get all those tops quilted! It is a long arm, but not as expensive as larger ones, and also very light weight. I can't wait to get it and start playing. =-)
Well, best to stop talking about it and start doing it!
Angel
School has been keeping me busy, as usual. I have a pile to correct that I plan to do on Wed. when I show an all period video each class. That's the only way I can catch up sometimes! It IS a worthwhile video, not just a time filler. We are starting to get into Greece now. Fun!
Rich and I finally sent out some Christmas cards recently. A bit late... but better late than never. Our holiday time was so full. My mom ended up in the hospital with congestive heart failure. She is home, doing sooo much better now. She never really "bounced back" from the surgery to implant the pacemaker. I'm sure it was because of the CHF, but no one realized it until she was having so much trouble breathing that Dad took her to the emergency room. There was fluid in her lungs. I haven't seen her since she got home, but have talked with her on the phone and she sounds a lot better than she has for months. She says she feels better, too.
I've been lazy so far this Saturday. I am feeling somewhat guilty that right now Rich is doing the dishes. But then, hey, I can get over that. =-) The only reason I feel guilty is that it is usually a job I do, and he was just saying that he has so much to do today. He is planning to work on my studio in the basement, so I should really go let him do that.
We got a phone call from some friends in Manitowoc and they are coming over after they do some shopping today. We have invited them for supper. Guess I'd better go buy some food!
Today I want to finish quilting the baby quilt that I have half finished. I also want to sew binding on it and the first one I quilted so I have hand work to take to quilting. The last two weeks I haven't done anything because I had nothing prepared. I am going to be glad to finish them and send them on their way! I have that as a thing hanging over my head. It'll be nice to get out from under it! I have to think about DJ club which is next week, too.
In the last few days I have had the opportunity to make up my mind, finally, about which direction I want to go in regarding machines. I looked at the Bernina 440 with the stitch regulator. I also looked at the Handi-Quilter. Tried both, too. But, I have decided to go with a Nolting Hobby Quilter (the new one has a new name, but I am not sure what it is, can't remember what she said) once the basement studio is finished. I will keep my Bernina 170 with the embroidery module. If I get another machine it will be a Pfaff to do different things on, but I don't even know if I will do that. First the Nolting! I will finally get all those tops quilted! It is a long arm, but not as expensive as larger ones, and also very light weight. I can't wait to get it and start playing. =-)
Well, best to stop talking about it and start doing it!
Angel
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Merry Christmas!
Howdy! Well, it is Dec. 24, and in a little while I will be going to finish my Christmas shopping! Nothing like waiting until the last minute! No choice, actually, as every minute of every day has been filled to overflowing! I am keeping my "cool" though, and not freaking out. I thought I would write this first, and then go out. I'll go to the mall that is very close to our house (a mile) and hopefully will find everything I need there. Only need a few things yet.
Actually I am really relaxing so far this break. DH and I went to Appleton yesterday and we bought some things for ourselves. Got a few presents, too. =-) We had finished shopping for DGD on Thursday night after picking up my car at the garage.
Oh yeah, my car... I got in my car to go to work on Wed. and I couldn't turn the key to start it. I called DH and he came to get me to take me to school. Thursday (first day of vacation) I waited for a tow truck to come get my car. The guy who came used a ball-peen (sp?) hammer to tap my key farther into the ignition and was able to start it to back out and get it in line for the tow truck. I had to pay for him anyway, so I just let him take it in rather than drive it and have to take the shuttle home, etc. It cost almost $300 to fix and cover the towing. I needed a new "tumbler" unit for the ignition. At least it works now and I keep telling myself, "It's cheaper than car payments. It's cheaper than car payments." I really do love my car! I'll keep it as long as it works and isn't costing me too much money to upkeep. I will probably buy a new car right before retirement. I still subtract the car payment money and hopefully will be able to pay for a new car and not have car payments then. We want to also have our house paid off by retirement. I am paying extra on that, too.
Tonight DH and I are going to have a fire, sip Bailey's Irish Cream, open presents and just relax and have some quality time together. That will be a nice way to spend Christmas Eve. =-) Tomorrow we will go to church and later in the afternoon travel to my sister's house for a family get together. We have a few things scheduled for next week, but basically it will be "go with the flow." I hope to be able to do some quilting!
My first day of break, besides waiting for a tow truck, I finished making some bracelets for Christmas gifts. I needed another hobby like another hole in the head, but I sure am having fun! It was people at the campground who got me going on this. I jumped in with both feet, too! The funny thing is, I don't usually wear a lot of jewelry! But I love the bracelets I have been making. I took a photo of some I made recently. Not sure how well they will show up, but will post them as soon as I have time to put the phots into the computer.
I want to get back to scrapbooking, too! I have photos to do a book for DGD about our disney trip (almost 2 years ago!), and bought a book to start to redo my sons' photos from childhood. I think that will be fun! I originally put them in magnetic page books, which are totally falling apart. Also, I put every picture in, no matter how bad it was. Like my finger is in the picture... LOL! So this will be fun to fix up for them.
Well, if I don't get off of the computer I won't get anything done, right? So I will end for now.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Angel
Actually I am really relaxing so far this break. DH and I went to Appleton yesterday and we bought some things for ourselves. Got a few presents, too. =-) We had finished shopping for DGD on Thursday night after picking up my car at the garage.
Oh yeah, my car... I got in my car to go to work on Wed. and I couldn't turn the key to start it. I called DH and he came to get me to take me to school. Thursday (first day of vacation) I waited for a tow truck to come get my car. The guy who came used a ball-peen (sp?) hammer to tap my key farther into the ignition and was able to start it to back out and get it in line for the tow truck. I had to pay for him anyway, so I just let him take it in rather than drive it and have to take the shuttle home, etc. It cost almost $300 to fix and cover the towing. I needed a new "tumbler" unit for the ignition. At least it works now and I keep telling myself, "It's cheaper than car payments. It's cheaper than car payments." I really do love my car! I'll keep it as long as it works and isn't costing me too much money to upkeep. I will probably buy a new car right before retirement. I still subtract the car payment money and hopefully will be able to pay for a new car and not have car payments then. We want to also have our house paid off by retirement. I am paying extra on that, too.
Tonight DH and I are going to have a fire, sip Bailey's Irish Cream, open presents and just relax and have some quality time together. That will be a nice way to spend Christmas Eve. =-) Tomorrow we will go to church and later in the afternoon travel to my sister's house for a family get together. We have a few things scheduled for next week, but basically it will be "go with the flow." I hope to be able to do some quilting!
My first day of break, besides waiting for a tow truck, I finished making some bracelets for Christmas gifts. I needed another hobby like another hole in the head, but I sure am having fun! It was people at the campground who got me going on this. I jumped in with both feet, too! The funny thing is, I don't usually wear a lot of jewelry! But I love the bracelets I have been making. I took a photo of some I made recently. Not sure how well they will show up, but will post them as soon as I have time to put the phots into the computer.
I want to get back to scrapbooking, too! I have photos to do a book for DGD about our disney trip (almost 2 years ago!), and bought a book to start to redo my sons' photos from childhood. I think that will be fun! I originally put them in magnetic page books, which are totally falling apart. Also, I put every picture in, no matter how bad it was. Like my finger is in the picture... LOL! So this will be fun to fix up for them.
Well, if I don't get off of the computer I won't get anything done, right? So I will end for now.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Angel
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
I wonder if I will ever catch up...
Does this sound like a continuous lament? Well, it is! I had grades due yesterday. Friday some special education kids gave me late/missing work, and since they are spec ed we have to accept it. So I was up until 1:00 Sunday night correcting it. I was too busy the rest of the weekend, Grrrr. At school I finished posting the grades and added comments, and finished just in time. Then I started to correct Geography Bee tests and finished those at 11:00 last night. Today I gave the kids a test, and while they tested I was correcting another assignment (Egyptian Coffins designed especially for themselves. The kids love it). I still have two classes papers to do, and I haven't even started the tests yet. (Take a deep breath!) So, I have decided that tomorrow they are seeing a video! I can correct while they watch. It's not the most exciting video, but hey, it'll give them something to do while I catch up! Ancient China, our next topic. I came up with some new activities to try. We are on a big literacy kick, so have lots of new ideas. Good, too.
Speaking of the "literacy kick," my partner in crime and I prepared today for our staff development presentaion on vocabulary activities after school today. We present on Monday after work hours. We have one more time to present this year yet, in February. I don't know why I keep agreeing to do these things! We DO get paid, so that is a good thing.
A magazine did an article on DH and his carving. A reporter came recently and interviewed him. The reporter hardly wrote anything down, but most of what he wrote was correct. It is pretty cool to see it. DH really is good at carving. He is down in the basement carving right now. Just a few more Santas... He isn't going to sell carvings after this year. He wants to be able to carve what he wants to carve, and let it be a hobby again instead of a job. He also will get at some things around the house. After 5 years he is finally going to wire the basement. Wooooo Hooooo! Then he'll insulate it and we'll have wall board put up, and also the bathroom down there will be put in. My sewing room will be moved down there after that. Hopefully that will be early this summer. I'll have twice the amount of space as I have now. We'll also have a guest bedroom again (my sewing room now). Our granddaughter asked if we could call it HER room! LOL
I came home tonight already exhausted. I am soon going to go and unpack a few Christmas boxes to decorate. We'll do the tree this weekend. Over the weekend we did the outside decorating. Good thing, too. This morning it was -2 degrees when I was driving to school. I HATE BEING COLD!!!!!!!!
Well, time to go deck the halls and fa la la la la and all that! Jingle your sleigh bells! Angel
Speaking of the "literacy kick," my partner in crime and I prepared today for our staff development presentaion on vocabulary activities after school today. We present on Monday after work hours. We have one more time to present this year yet, in February. I don't know why I keep agreeing to do these things! We DO get paid, so that is a good thing.
A magazine did an article on DH and his carving. A reporter came recently and interviewed him. The reporter hardly wrote anything down, but most of what he wrote was correct. It is pretty cool to see it. DH really is good at carving. He is down in the basement carving right now. Just a few more Santas... He isn't going to sell carvings after this year. He wants to be able to carve what he wants to carve, and let it be a hobby again instead of a job. He also will get at some things around the house. After 5 years he is finally going to wire the basement. Wooooo Hooooo! Then he'll insulate it and we'll have wall board put up, and also the bathroom down there will be put in. My sewing room will be moved down there after that. Hopefully that will be early this summer. I'll have twice the amount of space as I have now. We'll also have a guest bedroom again (my sewing room now). Our granddaughter asked if we could call it HER room! LOL
I came home tonight already exhausted. I am soon going to go and unpack a few Christmas boxes to decorate. We'll do the tree this weekend. Over the weekend we did the outside decorating. Good thing, too. This morning it was -2 degrees when I was driving to school. I HATE BEING COLD!!!!!!!!
Well, time to go deck the halls and fa la la la la and all that! Jingle your sleigh bells! Angel
Sunday, November 27, 2005
I'm awake!
Right, I'm awake. It is just a little past 3:00 and I have been awake since 1:00. I've been thinking about making things. I started a mitten/hat/scarf set for DGD today. Will check the fit of the mitten tomorrow. I am adapting the patterns I made for myself. I started knitting it in the car on the way to Milwaukee today. At one time I had the four needles all there in front of me (double pointed) and thought about how if we had to stop fast for an accident I could kill myself with those buggers! But then I kept knitting anyway.
My CT scan showed nothing. I have a nasal spray, and I am also getting a new mouth splint from my dentist for wearing at night. I hope that helps, because I don't feel any better. I still have an earache. =-( Both the Dr. and the Dentist told me that it is likely a combination of things causing the problem, because it is all connected. My dentist told me that if this doesn't help he will refer me to an oral surgeon for the TMJ. Ther is another kind of splint that you can wear during a flare up that helps a lot more. Sigh!
I have been so very busy. I've been spending a lot of home time correcting essays for my 8th graders. Many have passed the first time. Some are revising. I have things home to correct this weekend, too, but haven't started yet.
My mom had a pace maker put in. We've been running (well, driving) down there a lot. She wasn't recovering as quickly as she should have been. She is still very weak and her lip quivers a lot. She says it is all nerves. She is trying to keep her life stress free. At least as stress free as possible. She has only gone out to go to the Dr. She didn't even go to my niece's wedding! She is finally starting to feel a little better now. She still looks like she is sick.
We had DH's sister, husband, son and two granddaughters, plus our son and granddaughter here for Thanksgiving. I got up and threw the bird in the oven (well, I did put it in a pan wrapped in foil) and let it cook. DH and I cleaned like crazy that morning so the house was clean by the time they arrived. It needed the cleaning! DH washed the floors this time. Usually I do it but my back was hurting so much it would have been extremely difficult for me to do it. It is the first time he did it since his back surgery. He didn't complain about his back hurting, so hopefully it was OK. Men are pretty big babies when it comes to pain, I think. If they had to give birth Homo sapiens sapiens would have become extinct long ago! Anyhow, we had a nice day with them.
Friday was my niece's wedding. I had gone to a shower for her last Sunday. It was at a wine bar, and my sister had purchased a number of bottles of wine to have served. I didn't take any though. I drank water all night. There was fancy food, which doesn't impress me all that much. I ate a plate full of snacks and felt I hadn't eaten anything. I sat with another sister and we were pretty bored. The high point of the night was going around and telling how we knew the bride and telling a story about her. I *almost* would have rather played the stupid games!
Showers sure have changed since I was married. The kinds of gifts she got were what we would have gotten for a wedding gift. At my shower people chipped in and together they all bought me a blender (avocado green, I might add). The rest of the gifts were a recipe and one of the ingredients for it. We played games and the prizes were things like a glass measuring cup or a kitchen towel. I gave my niece a crystal bowl and that was what I gave her sister for a wedding present 9.5 years ago. This was only a shower gift this time! I got her something she registered for as a wedding gift, and let me tell you, I have never spent that much for a picture frame in my life! I certainly don't have anything like that for myself. Of course, I wouldn't want it, anyway. I'd rather have the "black painted with some rubbed off" look myself.
The wedding was beautiful. The bride sang a song to her husband. It was nice that their minister knew them so well. That made the ceremony very personal. The reception was at a huge resort on a lake. It was really something. Fancy everything. We drove there in a snow storm with the roads being horrible. It stopped snowing for a while, but then started again so we left early. (But first we danced.) It was a long ride home, too. We had our son and DGD in the back seat. They were snoring away before we had gone 5 miles! When we arrived at our house our DGD asked to stay over night. She went to lay on the couch and was asleep again in about 2 seconds. We got her a pillow and blanket and that is where she stayed, in her dress and everything!
This morning she woke DH up telling him, "It's 7:00 already! I only have three hours left to be here, so you have to get up and be with me!" LOL He told her to be quiet and not to wake me, but she had other plans. She let me sleep about another 15 minutes, though! It was DH's "turn" this time and he had to tell her stories.
After our DS came to get her we finished cleaning ourselves up and left for the big city. There is a craft and gift sale at State Fair Park every year and we have gone to it numerous times with some friends we have known for over 30 years. We had arranged to meet them there today. We walked around, mostly just talking, but I did buy a few things for myself. I got a picture with a house and willow trees to put in my bathroom. I got a sign for the laundry room that says, "Laundry Room. Drop your pants here." =-) I also got a Jim Shore Snowman which was incredibly inexpensive compared to Halmark. DH bought some Chai tea. DH picked out a snowman picture he liked and we got that, too. After we were finished going through the sale we went out to eat supper. Then we drove home. By the time we got home it was 9:00. I got ready for bed and read a few minutes and fell asleep. But here I am, awake in the middle of the night. Probably due to caffeine. I had a big soda today. Not used to all that caffeine!
We will be getting boxes out of the attic to start decorating for Cmas tomorrow. It is supposed to be in the 50's tomorrow so we will get the outside lights up. Then we'll start inside. I doubt that the tree will go up until next weekend though, since DH is the one who puts it together. He has been carving, and still intends to make one more batch of larger Santas. He turned away two big buyers this year. Big in the sense that they purchase a lot. He felt really bad because they have been such loyal good customers for years, but he just didn't have that much time to do it this year, and he has decided that it was becoming more a a "job." He wants to take the time to carve more of the things that he wants to carve instead of production carving. That's fine with me!
Since he won't have to start carving right after Cmas for next year already, he is actually going to wire the basement! After it is wired and insulated, we will have someone put in wall board. Once it is finished, along with storage cabinets all along one wall, that will become my sewing room. I will have a lot more room, but it still will be crowded with all my things! Especially if I buy a quilting machine. I would buy a hobby size, but it will still take up space. I am eager to move down there. DH and I will both be down there then, instead of in two separate places in the house. The present sewing room will become a TV room, and the present TV room will become a guest room again. We'll put our old bed in there with a new box spring and mattress set.
I hope that the Cmas season goes well for me this year. I would really like to enjoy Cmas again. I haven't enjoyed it for quite a few years now. It just feels like work. We don't have that many gifts to buy any more. I already have some done and will get things out in the mail soon. Sons are done and we just have our DGD and a few smaller items to get. We don't know what to get each other, so we are going to go buy our own present and give it to each other to give to each other! LOL I don't think we'll need to wrap the presents. We will always get a little something that will be a surprise, too, though. I don't even know what I want. I have so much already. I will probably go to a store with things for my house and buy something without having to feel guilty about it. LOL (Actually, I rarely feel guilt. Usually I feel I deserve it!)
Last weekend we had gone to the community theater play. We have season tickets. They are so inexpensive that we bought 4 tickets this year. This time we asked some friends to go along as our guests. We had a great time, even went to Perkins for pie afterwards. =-) This play was called "Ethan Claymore," and it was very good. We laughed and laughed, which is ALWAYS a good thing!
Well, I have been writing for over an hour now. I'm sure that this is "more than you really wanted to know!" But, it helps me sort out my thoughts. I don't dare put every thought down though! At least you, my friends, get to find out what I have been doing that keeps me from writing to you individually as often!!!! I am also starting to get cold! The heat is way down for the night time. I have a hooded sweatshirt on, but am still cold. Oh, how I dread winter coming!
Hugs for now!
My CT scan showed nothing. I have a nasal spray, and I am also getting a new mouth splint from my dentist for wearing at night. I hope that helps, because I don't feel any better. I still have an earache. =-( Both the Dr. and the Dentist told me that it is likely a combination of things causing the problem, because it is all connected. My dentist told me that if this doesn't help he will refer me to an oral surgeon for the TMJ. Ther is another kind of splint that you can wear during a flare up that helps a lot more. Sigh!
I have been so very busy. I've been spending a lot of home time correcting essays for my 8th graders. Many have passed the first time. Some are revising. I have things home to correct this weekend, too, but haven't started yet.
My mom had a pace maker put in. We've been running (well, driving) down there a lot. She wasn't recovering as quickly as she should have been. She is still very weak and her lip quivers a lot. She says it is all nerves. She is trying to keep her life stress free. At least as stress free as possible. She has only gone out to go to the Dr. She didn't even go to my niece's wedding! She is finally starting to feel a little better now. She still looks like she is sick.
We had DH's sister, husband, son and two granddaughters, plus our son and granddaughter here for Thanksgiving. I got up and threw the bird in the oven (well, I did put it in a pan wrapped in foil) and let it cook. DH and I cleaned like crazy that morning so the house was clean by the time they arrived. It needed the cleaning! DH washed the floors this time. Usually I do it but my back was hurting so much it would have been extremely difficult for me to do it. It is the first time he did it since his back surgery. He didn't complain about his back hurting, so hopefully it was OK. Men are pretty big babies when it comes to pain, I think. If they had to give birth Homo sapiens sapiens would have become extinct long ago! Anyhow, we had a nice day with them.
Friday was my niece's wedding. I had gone to a shower for her last Sunday. It was at a wine bar, and my sister had purchased a number of bottles of wine to have served. I didn't take any though. I drank water all night. There was fancy food, which doesn't impress me all that much. I ate a plate full of snacks and felt I hadn't eaten anything. I sat with another sister and we were pretty bored. The high point of the night was going around and telling how we knew the bride and telling a story about her. I *almost* would have rather played the stupid games!
Showers sure have changed since I was married. The kinds of gifts she got were what we would have gotten for a wedding gift. At my shower people chipped in and together they all bought me a blender (avocado green, I might add). The rest of the gifts were a recipe and one of the ingredients for it. We played games and the prizes were things like a glass measuring cup or a kitchen towel. I gave my niece a crystal bowl and that was what I gave her sister for a wedding present 9.5 years ago. This was only a shower gift this time! I got her something she registered for as a wedding gift, and let me tell you, I have never spent that much for a picture frame in my life! I certainly don't have anything like that for myself. Of course, I wouldn't want it, anyway. I'd rather have the "black painted with some rubbed off" look myself.
The wedding was beautiful. The bride sang a song to her husband. It was nice that their minister knew them so well. That made the ceremony very personal. The reception was at a huge resort on a lake. It was really something. Fancy everything. We drove there in a snow storm with the roads being horrible. It stopped snowing for a while, but then started again so we left early. (But first we danced.) It was a long ride home, too. We had our son and DGD in the back seat. They were snoring away before we had gone 5 miles! When we arrived at our house our DGD asked to stay over night. She went to lay on the couch and was asleep again in about 2 seconds. We got her a pillow and blanket and that is where she stayed, in her dress and everything!
This morning she woke DH up telling him, "It's 7:00 already! I only have three hours left to be here, so you have to get up and be with me!" LOL He told her to be quiet and not to wake me, but she had other plans. She let me sleep about another 15 minutes, though! It was DH's "turn" this time and he had to tell her stories.
After our DS came to get her we finished cleaning ourselves up and left for the big city. There is a craft and gift sale at State Fair Park every year and we have gone to it numerous times with some friends we have known for over 30 years. We had arranged to meet them there today. We walked around, mostly just talking, but I did buy a few things for myself. I got a picture with a house and willow trees to put in my bathroom. I got a sign for the laundry room that says, "Laundry Room. Drop your pants here." =-) I also got a Jim Shore Snowman which was incredibly inexpensive compared to Halmark. DH bought some Chai tea. DH picked out a snowman picture he liked and we got that, too. After we were finished going through the sale we went out to eat supper. Then we drove home. By the time we got home it was 9:00. I got ready for bed and read a few minutes and fell asleep. But here I am, awake in the middle of the night. Probably due to caffeine. I had a big soda today. Not used to all that caffeine!
We will be getting boxes out of the attic to start decorating for Cmas tomorrow. It is supposed to be in the 50's tomorrow so we will get the outside lights up. Then we'll start inside. I doubt that the tree will go up until next weekend though, since DH is the one who puts it together. He has been carving, and still intends to make one more batch of larger Santas. He turned away two big buyers this year. Big in the sense that they purchase a lot. He felt really bad because they have been such loyal good customers for years, but he just didn't have that much time to do it this year, and he has decided that it was becoming more a a "job." He wants to take the time to carve more of the things that he wants to carve instead of production carving. That's fine with me!
Since he won't have to start carving right after Cmas for next year already, he is actually going to wire the basement! After it is wired and insulated, we will have someone put in wall board. Once it is finished, along with storage cabinets all along one wall, that will become my sewing room. I will have a lot more room, but it still will be crowded with all my things! Especially if I buy a quilting machine. I would buy a hobby size, but it will still take up space. I am eager to move down there. DH and I will both be down there then, instead of in two separate places in the house. The present sewing room will become a TV room, and the present TV room will become a guest room again. We'll put our old bed in there with a new box spring and mattress set.
I hope that the Cmas season goes well for me this year. I would really like to enjoy Cmas again. I haven't enjoyed it for quite a few years now. It just feels like work. We don't have that many gifts to buy any more. I already have some done and will get things out in the mail soon. Sons are done and we just have our DGD and a few smaller items to get. We don't know what to get each other, so we are going to go buy our own present and give it to each other to give to each other! LOL I don't think we'll need to wrap the presents. We will always get a little something that will be a surprise, too, though. I don't even know what I want. I have so much already. I will probably go to a store with things for my house and buy something without having to feel guilty about it. LOL (Actually, I rarely feel guilt. Usually I feel I deserve it!)
Last weekend we had gone to the community theater play. We have season tickets. They are so inexpensive that we bought 4 tickets this year. This time we asked some friends to go along as our guests. We had a great time, even went to Perkins for pie afterwards. =-) This play was called "Ethan Claymore," and it was very good. We laughed and laughed, which is ALWAYS a good thing!
Well, I have been writing for over an hour now. I'm sure that this is "more than you really wanted to know!" But, it helps me sort out my thoughts. I don't dare put every thought down though! At least you, my friends, get to find out what I have been doing that keeps me from writing to you individually as often!!!! I am also starting to get cold! The heat is way down for the night time. I have a hooded sweatshirt on, but am still cold. Oh, how I dread winter coming!
Hugs for now!
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