Always Something To Do!

The month has flown swiftly by... hard to believe it is almost the last week of the month! With our 34th anniversary.... the 1st week, Valentines Day and our DD's birthday the 2nd..... me getting a silly cold the end of last week and into this... it seems to have taken it's toll on the days. I have worked on some projects but did not complete the goal for January let alone finish up this month. I'm still trying to catch up.... always something else to find to do.
I went out to lunch with a friend last week... we went to a little place called The Little Bit of Britain. It's a fish and chips shopp. The food was good and we had an enjoyable time... just chatting and taking our time. They had all sorts of different foods from England... you know in a gift shopp attached to the shopp. Although, since it was fried it is not something I will be doing very often. I am trying to be good about what I eat. I need to get back on the wagon as far as exercising and all..... the holidays tend to call me and I follow.... So, now it's time to put things to right!
I saw the cutest thing on Sewing With Nancy on PBS TV last week. She and her guest were doing projects where they recycle different things. And one of the projects was to make grocery type bags.... of light weight bags to use for shopping out of old scarves. The ones everyone wore in the 80's! They used 30 inch square scarves for the most part. Really simple too. I will have to take some pictures... and maybe do a sort of tutorial on how to do it! Fast project and so light weight it would be simple to have one in your purse, pocket etc.... at all times... thus saving you from having paper/plastic bags! Every little bit counts!
I am working on sewing the binding of a quilt right now when not working on a belated birthday present for DD. She doesn't know what it is.... or even that it's coming her way... well, maybe she does now! Hope to have it done soon and will take a picture to post it after I give it too her! That and blog hopping and I finally also finished a book called "Lorna Doone". I found it at the D.I. for $1. Not bad.... it was a pretty good read. And yes, there are cookies called Lorna Doones... not mentioned in the book at all! It is a love story and a very good one too! With lots of action and adventure. I highly recommend it if you can find it! It seems to be an old book so good luck finding it! You might want to look on Amazon!
Well, I need to frost a cake to deliver for a funeral luncheon and then back to the binding... I may need to make a cake for us too though.... there it's calling my name again.... Jeannnnn, you want cake!!!! Now where are my Rice Cakes.... guess they will have to do!
Hope you all know that if you stick yourself with a pin/needle... and you bleed on a project your own saliva is the best way to get the blood out! Take care. Later....
Oh, I almost forgot! Since I posted a couple of pictures in December/January of DH and myself... I've been told that I need to put more pic's of me on the blogg.... I will try to do more of that! I won't promise when.... but I will try! Thanks for the comments

Advice From A 1949 Singer Sewing Manual

O.k. my niece Mica sent this to me.... I just had to print it up! It's just too funny to pass up!


Advice from a Singer Sewing Manual from 1949:Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do. . . Never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominates. Never try to sew with a sink full of dirty dishes or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is free to enjoy your sewing. . .When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Put on a clean dress. Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your sewing machine to dust your fingers at intervals. Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on . . .[If] you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing as you should. .

Now remember.... keep your French Chalk near by... we wouldn't want to loose our grip! Hmmmmmmm I'm thinking the person who wrote that already had! Too Funny! Enjoy your day! I know I will.... constantly thinking of this advice! At least they meant well! I mean they wanted us to enjoy the time sewing!

Checking Out How Outta Style I Really Am!

So my dear SIL and I went down to Salt Lake City (about a 30 minute or so drive) to go shopping at the Gateway Mall. It's a nice outdoor mall... with lovely shops close together and it has one of those fountains that water springs up out of the ground that the kids just love! Oh, and it has music playing while the kids run in and out trying not to get wet! Considering it was only in the 30's or low 40's that would be a good idea! The NOT getting wet idea!
We went into all sorts of places to just look and see what is happening in the fashion world! Not that I'm anywhere near fashionable at all! Which truly is o.k. with me... but I do try to see what is going on... and sometimes I add things to the wardrobe that actually fit in! One thing that we really noticed a lot of this year is "detail". I know your probably wondering what I'm talking about! What I mean is.... most all tops.... i.e. sweaters, blouses, shirts etc.... all have something added for detail! Some of them had fringe (there was a great sweater at Cold Water Creek that I really liked that had a fringe made of the same yarn as the sweater... but it wasn't just a loose yarn fringe.... it was doubled and then it was twisted upon itself! I thought it was a great touch! ) Some of them had flowers all up and over the collars/neckline. We saw a lot of collars that had ruffles on them also, not big fluffly ones.... but soft ones or two layers of thin lightweight type fabric ruffles. We saw scarfs that had little knots of something inside them.... not sure but I was thinking they were little puff balls of some sort. Some of the items had detail that were just extra fancy or pretty buttons. Of course, not everything out there appealed to us.... and that is just fine... if everyone liked everything out there it would be a pretty boring world!
One store we went into had really pale type tops (we supposed they were thinking Spring) but they were sooo pale, to me Spring has pizazz and ump! Not just lalalalala..... dull to me! Like a washed out something or other! Necklines were decorated with different fabrics... something that made the item "pop"! Some of the dresses (shifts as some call them, in the sleeveless variety) reminded me of the 60's styles. Which isn't too surprising because there was a lot of other 60's reminders too. Mostly Jackie Kennedy type stuff. We saw some great Spring light weight type jackets, or coats in lime greens and the color at one store was "orange"!!! So, I challenge you to go take a look at some of the stores near you to see what touches your fancy or not! And see if any of these "details" will be added to your sewing! I'm not yet sure how or what I will add.... we shall see!

Oh, no pic's but I have cut out all 3 Christmas stockings for my 2 little grands and my SIL... now to sew them and get them off the list of things to do b/4 the end of January! Also the project for a birthday to come is sitting and waiting too! Lots to do... DD#2 and I are going to start into water aerobics.... and maybe get DD#3 to get "on board"! I also mended/altered a few items... making more room in the sewing room and getting things off the sewing table! Oh, and watching Gilmore Girls DVD's in the process! Cute grandchild tidbit.... the other day when the family was over.... grandson was looking at the movies to see what he wanted to "rent" (borrow) from us and he grabbed a VHS movie and showed it to his mom.... mom said nope sorry bud, the VCR isn't working right now. He came back to me and told me mom says that the CTR isn't working! (for those of you who aren't members of the LDS church... CTR stands for Choose The Right; and it's the name of some of the primary (kids) classes, one of which grandson is a member) Cute! Always something to think about when the grands are around!

I went in last week to visit with our Stake President's councilor (one of our local Church leaders) and I was asked if I would head a group to get patterns, idea's and all for the clothing that people are to wear for the Pioneer Trek that the youth are going on this Summer. The youth, 14 to age 18 or 19 go up to Wyoming to an area that was where several Pioneer groups that made their way into Utah from Missouri with hand carts and some wagons pulled by people and some oxen. They basically do an reenactment. But they have to pull the hand carts (two wheeled carts with all their gear in them) to various sites. Then they have speakers tell them about different events that happened. Real histories of people who were on these treks. Taken from diaries. A lot of people died on these treks... in the past. So many people had to bury their family members along the way.... of course these treks now are on for two or 3 days. The youth go on these to help them to understand and grow from the testimonies these people left behind.
So, they will be wearing bonnets, skirts or pioneer dresses, pantaloons and aprons if they want (girls that is) and then the guys will wear pants that are NOT jeans, like dockers... or some such and then straw type hats... bandanna's, and old time shirts.... the shirt my DH wore when we went (about 5 or so years back) was an old twill shirt with the upper collar removed and then the lower collar restitched... guys can also wear belts or suspenders. Anyway lots to do to get things ready so I best finish up here. Enjoy your week! DH has jury duty so he is busy too... although, I think he would rather be at work so as to not get behind there!
Take care..... don't forget to put all the pattern pieces back into the envelope! Nothing like opening up a pattern to find out you have lost a piece!

Christmas at Our House

The toy giraffe is great! It is a stationary thing with petals that the more you petal things like letters, numbers and pictures come up. All 3 of the kids wanted to try it out! Well, I mean grandkids that is... The rest of us "big kids" didn't have a chance!

Anyone for Chutes and Ladders?

Matching Mommy and Me Aprons! And no! I didn't make them... DGD got a kitchen set from her Aunts/Uncles and sewwww she and her mommy got matching aprons too!

As you can see, I took a few pic's of the grands... and terrible "mom" that I am.... I didn't really get any of the "kids".... sorry guys! I will try harder this next year!

This one is sorta for my mom and dad... remember when? Just thought you would appreciate this!

Out With The Old, In With The New

So, I've been trying to catch up a few things before I jump into others that have been waiting! I finished one UFO last night, it's a handy take along ironing pad that I mentioned a while back! It has a nice size pad and then connected to it is an area that has zippered pockets you can put smaller items, bits and pieces of projects etc.... into. I was taken by it... if someone were going to take a sewing/quilting class it would be fun to take because you would already have your pressing area! I still have one to finish for me... but the one for my friend is finished.... finally!
I did some mending and have more to complete! Sometimes that can be never ending. I still need to finish up the binding on the quilt for the Bishops storehouse I started to work on while taking care of the grands in November! Just couldn't quite get to it all.... isn't it funny how when your at someone else's house... it's hard to be motivated?!? Although I did get some of it done.... there is maybe 3/4 to go! Heavy sighhhhhhh!
Also since DD#2 has a birthday coming I have a project that I also want to get done soon.... and then there is the challenge that I set for myself.... I still have 3 Christmas stockings that I haven't done..... (seems that I never remember until Christmas Eve.) So, I have given myself a challenge to finish these b/4 the end of January! Wish me luck!
I've been trying to sort out things to go to the Desert Industries also.... since we are having a trailer available this Friday/Saturday to pick things up. I've found a few things.... guess I best look a little harder. Now is a good time to look into your closets and see what you may have that your not using! I was reading somewhere and it said that if you take hangers of clothing that your not sure that you wear and turn them backwards... (the hangers that is) and they are still hanging that way in say 6 months.... these are the clothes that you need to give to charity! So basically you turn the hangers around so they are harder to take off the rod, and if you haven't turned them around get rid of them! Sounds simple enough! I just need to do it! Since I got so many new to me clothes from my friends daughter's house... there are things that I just don't wear as much. O.K. I can see what I need to do!
I also have a cute couple of pieces of corduroy that I bought for granddaughter.... cute stuff that I need to get to... not quite sure yet what to make... but that is a project in the works!
Gotta go.... projects are calling my name and I still need to get busy and work out! I've been quite lax in this department for a while!
Don't for get to make sure you pick up all the pins off the floor.... our 4 legged friends and the 2 legged little ones would find them quite interesting! Later.....

Happy New Year and Now it's Time to Get Something Done!

Time flies when your outta control!!!!
Things have been crazy around here, we babysat for the grands in November over the Thanksgiving Holidays and then went Christmas tree hunting (as per usual) running after 3 little ones and trying to keep up was something else! As many of you know.... (because I've said it a million times...) this is why you have kids when your less than 50!!!! Of course, sometimes this can't be helped and I'm sure that if it came to be that we had to take care of the grands forever and always... we would manage just fine. With the help of our Heavenly Father of course! LoL...

Pic's of the grad and DDIL, your's truely and DH,

DDIL, Grad, DDIL's folks

Our kids gave me and DH our Christmas present early this year.... they made plans to fly us to Oregon to see our son graduate from The Portland Art Institute a week ago Friday. It was great to see him and our DIL.... they are such sweeties! We got together with some of her family and a bunch of their friends to have a congratulation party the night after... it was fun! DDIL put us to work! Which was great..... I mean a person needs to keep busy..... ( I stay outta trouble that way..... sometimes that is!) I helped get a few things chopped up so that we could throw together 5 different kinds of soup! We had crackers, cheese, soups, great local soda pops.... local breads.... several cakes, and lots and lots of talk and a second tour (for me that is) of DDIL's sister's house. Which is cool cause it's 100 years old and on the Historic Registry... DH hadn't seen it yet... so he was properly impressed! This is where I would be inserting pictures! And I say that lightly because for some reason either my computer, my camera, or just operater error.... it is not to be!
Which drives me crazy..... because I would really like to share all the great pic's we got of our fun!

O.K. now your wondering what happened aren't you???? Yep, DD#1 helped walk me thru the picture problem and hopefully that is all that I will need!

This pic is us DDIL, Son, Your's Truely, and DH all on the trax system that moves around downtown Portland... another passenger took this! Sooo sweet of her! I know, your thinking ohhhh isn't that sweet that me and DH are twinner's.... this was not planned... we just both found red jackets that we liked!

Here are some pic's of the house I mentioned!



Outside.....

Inside.....

Christmas went way too fast, but was wonderful as usual. Spending time with loved ones or talking to them is always a large plus!!! As I said, our children bought us our trip to Oregon to see our Son and DIL and that was great! The only draw back was having to do all my shopping two days b/4 Christmas.... which I never do!!! I think that with all the different things that were going on or that were going to go on.... I just couldn't get my act together enough to think out what we were doing for gifts and all.
Hope that your Holidays were wonderful!

Here are a couple of pic's of our winter wonderland! Yep, baby it's cold outside! Although.... it has warmed up this week... we are in the 30's.... Having a heat wave..... Tropical Heat wave.... Oh, a boy came by last week after our last storm wanting to clean the walks/driveway... to earn some $$ I told him sorry.... my hubby likes to play with the snowblower too much! Kid just looked at me like I was crazy!

I'm Sooo Excited!

Did I tell you that I sent off my camera to be fixed? Yep... I sent it off a week ago this past Monday... yesterday I got an email saying that it is fixed.... (at no charge to me!) and is now being FedEx'd back.... last I just checked.... it was in Tennessee! Which is rather strange, cause it's coming from Illinois! What do I care how it gets here.... I suppose it's taking the scenic route! But, it is coming and that means....... yes!!!! I can take pictures again! And even post one or two!
Hope all is well with every one's Thanksgiving plans... we had an early Thanksgiving dinner sorta with one of our daughters..... (we ate pie! and she sent home potato's, etc...) DH had a few appointments so we were on a time crunch! It was good though!
I got the binding sewn onto a quilt that I'm working on for our Church. I just need to hand sew it now! I figure that I can do this while'st tending the little grands....
More later.... Make sure your needles are sharp!