Wednesday, July 20, 2016

so.many.weeds.

I totally meant to post this weekend but ran out of time!  I actually got a lot done on Sunday, much needed house chores.  Saturday night I started weeding - wild night at my house!  My strategy was to have the sprinkler soak a section of yard, move the sprinkler and weed the soaked spot.  For the most part the weeds just came right out that way.

My internal alarm clock has been going off super early lately - like 3 or 4 am.  Yuck.  But, I can sometimes fall back to sleep a little bit.  Sunday morning I was up at like 5:30am.  I decided to take advantage of the coolness of the morning and start weeding.  I set the sprinkler in the back yard and weeded the front flower beds.  Then, I'd go in the back, move the sprinkler and weed back there.  I kept hopscotching back and forth until about 10:30am and I got it alllllll weeded!  Here's Rocky looking over my dead weeds.  This was really only about 1/3 of it, I had three giant trash bags full besides what's on the ground here!  While the yard was still damp I sprinkled 'weed and feed' over it in the hopes of bringing some of the grass back to life.
I have to say that my back and legs were SO sore Sunday and the next few days!  OMG.  Like so sore.  My next yard challenge is going to be pulling the foxtails out of my raised bed, and cleaning rocks out of the flower beds in the back.  Next month I am going to see if I can re-seed the grass.  The weed and feed container said I need to wait 30 days to re-seed.

Saturday morning I made it to farmer's market.  I was looking for cucumbers.  Last year I totally spaced it until the end of the Summer and by that time pickings were few.  I got there about mid morning and there were still lots of cukes!  I bought a few pounds, fresh garlic, jalapenos and dill.  Super fresh, beautiful, fragrant produce!  Perfect for pickles.

Sunday afternoon I set about making some spicy garlic dill pickles.  I know I've said before that canning is so much easier in my new kitchen, but seriously it is SO nice!  I've got lots of counter areas which made it cool to have "stations".  I also love my dishwasher!  I washed the jars while I was cleaning up the cucumbers and cutting the jalapenos and peeling the garlic.  The water started to boil right about when the dishwasher cycle ended which was perfect for processing.  The jars need to be warm so that when you add the jars to the boiling water it's not a shock - there's a chance a jar could break if it's put in cold.  I've never had that happen but it's better to be safe.

It never ceases to impress me how pretty pickles are.  My kitchen smelled so delicious!

After finishing the pickles I wanted to get some sewing done.  I went into the sewing room and who did I find in the closet snuggled with fabric?  George!  How cozy is she?

I decided to make some fabric baskets.  I've been thinking it would be cool to have some to hold random stuff.  I used the measurements from the 1 hour basket tutorial on Craftsy.  I didn't follow the tutorial, just got the measurements from it.  After making this one I wish I had actually read the directions.  Not sure what I was thinking but I left an opening for turning along the top edge instead of the lining!  It would have made my life easier to do it that way - now I'll remember for next time.

I made two at the same time with different facings.  This top one is a super stiff facing.  Not exactly my favorite.  The facing had a "memory" and kept some of the curl from being on the cardboard bolt.  I'm not a fan.  Plus turning it inside out was a super pain.  boo

This second one I used a soft fleecy facing that I use for my project bags.  I was pleasantly surprised that it held up like a basket.  I was afraid it would fold in on itself but it stands up nicely.  Currently I don't have anything in this pink floral one but I'm sure I'll fill it up with something soon!


I plan on making some shorter versions to put on my rolling cart to hold a few things like scissors and such.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

putting the craft room together


I am so, so close to being completely finished with the craft room!!!  I did take a "before" picture that is hairy scary!  Usually when I tell people I have a lot of stuff and that it's all over the place I can tell they don't really know what I mean, or think I'm exaggerating.  The mess I had was not an exaggeration, lol!
As you can see, I had stuff everywhere!  I had boxes brimming with stuff, stacks of stuff to organize.  I just took it one box at a time, and pretty soon you could start to see more of the floor.

Last weekend I also realized that I still had not put the light switch cover back on from when I painted.  In every room of the house the switches are different colors.  Like my bedroom has all white switches, the spare oom has cream colored switches.  The sewing room has cream colored covers and it was kind of old looking.  I thought about covering it with fabric, but instead did scrapbook paper and mod podge.  It turned out super cute!  And, if I get tired of it, I can re-do it.



This view is looking in from the doorway.


Here is the view standing by the window looking straight back.  You can see that I have a double closet with huge floor to ceiling doors.  I decided to use the door space like another wall.  Not sure if you can really tell but I did paint the corkboard a violet color, one of my favorites.  I plan to put mini quilts around in the open space.



This view is standing over by the bookcase looking towards the door.  I put my design wall on that wall.  My super fancy design wall is two table cloths that have the fuzzy backing.  I bought these on clearance for a total of $5!

I have my sewing table right in the middle of the room.  That way there is room to walk around the table to cut, and also table space for quilting.

This view is standing at the closet looking towards the window.  On the left is my yarn stash.  On the right bookcase are my scrapbooks, notions, and patterns.


I'm including this picture for my Mom in case she reads this post.  This was her dolly growing up I believe?  Well, I put it through the wash last weekend and she came through really well!  I need to get more wool yarn for her hair, that was the one thing that sort of frayed.  Isn't she cute though???


I finally got a lily bloom!!!!  I am so loving these lilies in the front flower bed.  These will definitely be staying.

It's such a relief to have the craft room put together.  I am finally feeling like I can sew in there.  I have a million ideas.  While Mom was visiting she remarked that there are bits of my creativity in every room.  It was so nice of her to notice because that really has been my goal.  I've wanted to fill my home with things I've made, that make me happy and others feel comfortable and welcome.  It has been soothing for me.

I've tried not to talk about losing my husband as much here lately.  But, this year being an election year....and all the horrid things going on in the world right now....make me miss him more.  He was my safety zone.  My person to talk politics with that would not get angry or defensive, or misunderstand me.  I don't always know how to say what I mean.  And lately the daily headlines hurt my heart - every one of them.  Knowing that another family is now knowing the heart wrenching loss that I have and in the public eye, with people commenting on either end when really their hearts are broken....it's too much sometimes.  I pray for peace, love, understanding for everyone.