Friday, August 26, 2011

catch up

I know, I've been absent a bit here.  I've had a bit of a funk.  A melancholy mood, if you will.  No big whoop, it just happens sometimes.  I can't say that I'm completely done with yet, either.....but at least I've gotten back to a couple of projects. 
So, let's see, was it last weekend that I went to a scrapbooking thing?  I think it was, it was the 20th.  But I didn't scrapbook!  I took along a project instead.  Because I still want to chat with the ladybirds but didn't feel like scrapbooking.  I saw on another blog where she took some fabric and covered some clothespins.  While I was visiting my Mom I snapped up some clothespins at one of the yard sales we visited on the cheap.
 I measured the width of the pins and then rotary cut my fabric, it really didn't take too long at all.  They're the dash right after the 1/2 inch.  So, I used all scraps from my scrap basket, some vintage sheets, some just regular fabric.  Then, modpodged the pins and stuck the fabric to it.  I didn't do a sealing layer yet because the one that I did do I didn't love because the modpodge I have is matte and it's kinda rough feeling. 
Today I finally finished the back of the vintage sheet quilt I've been working on.  It just hasn't looked right.  I finished it and then I looked at it from a different angle and realized I liked that better except the sides were not long enough.  So, after some seam ripping and re-sewing I think it's done!  Now I can make a quilt sandwich :) 
In other news, I finished up a book last night, the 2nd in a series by Rick Riordan called The Throne of Fire.  I really liked it, v. entertaining and a quick read.  As with all of his books it's a great story, there are some laughs and I am looking forward to the next book in the series! 
I also finished a Beth Moore book, called Get out of that Pit, that I have been reading for-ever.  It hasn't taken a long time because it's not good, just a lot to sink in.  I think I am going to read it again from the beginning. 
Let's see, what else is new?  I can't believe summer is almost over!  It's gone by so quickly!!!  Tomorrow I am going to go rafting, so that should be fun.  I haven't been swimming or in any type of water (besides a shower) all summer!  Last year at this time, Mom and I were in Florida and swimming every single day.  Oh, yeah!  I found a new yarn store last night!!!  I saw a sign last week driving down the road, but couldn't see a store front.  Last night I was driving down the same road, and as luck would have it no one was in back of me so I could cruise by veerrrry slowly and I found it!  It was closed but the door was open so I peeked in and she let me check it out.  V. pretty stuff and might be a good place for a knitting club to form.  Hmmm, the wheels in my head are turning :)

Sunday, August 14, 2011

another girly monster

I guess I just can't stop making monsters! :)  This is the latest one, at first she was not my favorite.  I made the body a little too small, and when you're trying to sew around already stuffed limbs that can be sort of annoying.  So, by the time I was finished with that part, I hurried through the rest.  As a result her eyes are off center and sewing up the opening was a little sloppy.  Hmphf.  So she drove around in the car with me for a couple of weeks so I could think of what to do with that.  Today, I added the flowers that look like two puffs of hair a little bit.  I saw the tutorial on Make it and Love it, which is a blog I follow.  So now she is complete!  And has found her home in my chair with the rest of the monsters :)

Saturday, August 13, 2011

visit with Mom and pickles

So, last weekend I went to visit my Mom, it was great!  It was nice to see her face again and catch up a little bit.  Here are some highlights:
* We shopped till we dropped!  I found so many new clothes and Mom spoiled me!
* La Comida rice
* Pink pyrex from Mom!  Love it :) 
* Nice nice weather, pretty mild temps
* Beautiful farmer's market!  delicious scones, giant blackberries, lots of cucumbers, ripe everything
* Estate sale with tons of fabric to sort through, all you could fit in a bag for $1!!! Also found 3 other pyrex bowls for a quarter each!!!
* Sitting at the creek chatting with Mom after dinner Friday, it was fun to people watch
* Visiting with Mom's friend Nelly over breakfast at the Italian Cottage which has prolly the best cottage fries ever!
* Book sale at the library that we happened upon where I got a ton of books on tape for the hubs for .25cents each!
* Guava flavored french maccaroon that was gorgeous and delicious!
* Visiting with Jeannette and Nathan over "linner"

So, I had originally taken Monday and Tuesday off from work. Monday was going to be a drive day and Tuesday if I found enough cucumbers at Farmer's Market then I would be pickling.  So, Monday ended up being a clinic day at work so I drove home Sunday night, which is what I usually end up doing anyways.  But, since the doctor was gone the rest of the week, I got to take Tuesday off to make pickles!  I have to say, it was quite an experience!!!  Next time I will try to get everything prepared ahead of time, before I start boiling the water.....I felt a little rushed and dropped a jar in the scalding water spilling it (water) everywhere!  Luckily I didn't break anything or get burned.  All in all though, I'd call it a success. 
 There are these pickles made in Chico that are called Dave's Dazzling Dills, and they are wonderful!  They are spicy, and garlicky and tangy and a little bit pungent.  I try and buy some every time I'm there.  My mission was to try and replicate the flavor.  I found this recipe by doing a google search.  Luckily my Mom has wild grapevines growing in her back yard!  I don't know where in the world I would have found those otherwise.  So, since I was in a hurry I left peppercorns out of all of the jars except the first one, whoops!  Next time I'd like to add a little mustard seed, not sure if it will add to the flavor too much, but I just like them. 
 *****if you use that recipe make sure you only use 1/2 cup of salt NOT 1 1/2 cups**************
 
I've tried the pickles I made, the recipe said to wait three days.  They are pretty good, not as spicy or strong as Dave's.  Other recipes say to wait 6-8 weeks to try them, so maybe after that long they get stronger. 
This weekend I've been rearranging and reorganizing the craft house.  Mom gave me a couple bookshelves and one of those plastic drawer things.  I've got everything filled already with fabric and such. 

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

oooooh boy

Something has been bothering me.  I'm going to apologize ahead for any vagueness or random thoughts that may not make sense.....
So I ran into a lady in the grocery store.  And, we did the whole dance of "how are you," "I'm fine" la-dee-da.  She said in such a put out way how busy she is with soft ball and baseball and rolled her eyes like oh man it's just SO much to deal with.  The thing is - she has 3 kids.  There were several things running through my head as I was taking in what she was saying and her body language.  Why exactly is she so put out by the busyness of her life - she chose to have kids, she can't exactly lock them away and not let them have activities....and frankly why not just embrace it and enjoy that she has kids to run around with and support them with her love and attention???  Ugh. 
I mean, I get it, I do.  Sometimes it's nice to just relax and not have a million things to do.  But really.  Some people are missing the point of life in general!  You have kids and a family to love, for crying out loud!  Don't act like they are getting on your last nerve by just being.  And, I realize I don't have kids that demand my attention all day and may jibber jabber on and on.  I think part of why this bothered me so darn much is that I had just read an article in a magazine about a lady who had 3 little girls who were all killed in a car accident at the same time.  It floored me.  She described the busyness in her house before and then the silence after.....can anyone even imagine?  I can't. 
Also what bothered me about our exchange is that this is someone who a few years ago I wanted as a friend.  She goes to church, she has a nice family, does bible studies, makes jam, yadda yadda.  We have things in common that I thought would be nice to share with a friend.   But, we just never clicked in that way that people do when you just get each other.  And really, it's better.  The friends I have are so dear to me.  They get me.  Even when they don't really get me.