Flyby...

As the song goes..."this is just a flyby..." I thought I would give a brief update as I am working on our  desktop. Just bought new antivirus software and it's really quite the joke that I am the IT specialist in our house (quit laughing Steve!) Things have been quite hectic here! We made a quick trip to the Deeter's Old Folks home to find it had sucked down a whole tank of propane! 27 degrees inside the house does not feel good! It has been super cold over there...negative degrees, so the house gets a pass this time, but we took measures to boost the insulation options and got ourselves on a keep full situation, so that should not happen again!
The best news ever is that our kids will be back in country in a few short weeks! Yay! Can't wait! I have jumped into super Grandma mode and have been getting things for Colt. They will not see their   household goods for 6 months, which is annoying enough for an adult, but a 2 year old needs his stuff! Gram picked up a Radio Flyer Retro Red tricycle yesterday...just like the ones we had as kids, only new and not rusty! It is different than his "motorcycle", so hopefully that will be fun for him! Of course I have my toy box for visiting kids, but I also have my Grandma box with things I have been collecting for Colt. Lots of books, puzzles, cars, trucks...the things little boys dig! Of course a trip to the Carter's outlet will be in order. I have been waiting to take Sara shopping so she can pick out what he needs. Squeal!!!

I also have been sewing too! Working on an extra special project that I can't reveal just yet, but I promise there will be pictures and lots of gushing when it's done! I am almost finished with my Sewaholic Cordova jacket and it is fabulous! I see a few more of those in different fabrics as well. Did you notice how many of Tasia's patterns were nominated for best patterns of 2013 on Pattern Review? I've said it before...I'm a Sewaholic fan! I also bought some Simplicity patterns at the 5 for $5.00 sale the other day. Simplicity 1699...cute new peplum top...just sayin...I also am in love with Leanne Marshall designs!  Did you get the notice from BMV for the $2.99 sale? Including Vogues? I have so many great patterns but so tempting! We'll see. Tom tells me now is the time to buy because in retirement spending money may be more tightly monitored. Sigh! I know my stash will carry me through! I did resist buying more sock yarn while at JoAnns. I have a beautiful pattern on the needles and try to knit whenever I have a spare minute. That includes stitching to and from Portland in the van ( God help me if they ask me to drive...whenever will I knit?) One of the instructors is teaching the others to crochet. It's awesome to see..a crafting revolution!

Well, I better get in gear and do some cleaning or something while the desktop finishes it's thing. It's a work day for me. Tomorrow is my Friday, which is a good thing because it's a holiday (yay for time and a half!) and it's dog day, so everyone should be Happy, Happy, Happy! Hope you all are enjoying your Martin Luther King holiday weekend...see you again soon...with pictures!

Clothing Expiration Date?

Yesterday as I was getting dressed I wondered...does clothing have an expiration date? I was pulling on a favorite print t-shirt that plays in the rotation a few times a month and thought about when I had made it. Had it really been almost 4 years? I remember buying the remnant at JoAnn's after we had breakfast with Sara at a little diner in Oregon City. Tom and Sara went to the automotive store to get something for her car and I snuck into the fabric store. The T was a BWOF raglan sleeve that takes a minimal amount of fabric (less than a yard). It's not stretched or faded. The shirt still looks good and works well with my wardrobe. Should I be concerned that I'm still rocking it? I find many of the things I make become the things I wear all the time and sometimes the clothing I buy end up in the donation bag. Dear Readers, how do you determine when it's time to say goodbye to your creations?

Back to Work...

Ahh, the dreaded end to vacation. Actually I have worked a few days over the holiday, but today is the day we go back to work in earnest. Not entirely a bad thing as getting back in the groove can be good. Bad thing is less time to sew, knit, crochet, read, play the guitar, play with the dogs, watch football, watch movies, play on the internet...

Progress has been made in the studio. My first Cordova is well on it's way. The zippers have arrived from the ebay shipper and the mystery bundle had a black one in it, so my next Cordova will be black wool. I may alter the sleeve in that one to be a plain fitted sleeve as the wool is a little bulkier than the suggested fabrics (when has that ever stopped me?) and the tucks might not work as well. I am loving the peplum and hope to have it done in a day or so to wear! I am working on a quilt for Colt as well...I need to get back on that as they will be coming home soon! Yay!!!

I started a good book last night. It was sent to me as a giveaway on Goodreads and I am already halfway through! It's called "The Valley of Unknowing". Friend me at Goodreads and we can talk about books!

Well, better get off the computer and get something done before time to head to work. Later Kittens!

A Much Better Day

After feeling punky all day yesterday, my sweet Baboo sent me to bed with a couple of Tylenol PMs. Surprisingly it took about an hour to fall asleep, but when I awoke only one side of my head hurt! Luckily that went away as the day wore on and my Cordova pattern showed up. Yay! It's already traced and the first version is cut out. I ordered some zippers off eBay when I discovered I had no zippers the right size in my stash. I watched an interesting documentary on Jack Kevorkian and discovered the 6th  season of Army Wives is now up on Netflix (I know I'm way behind G...I'll catch up!) I played my guitar while Tom was out...it's getting easier, but it's going to take a lot of practice to sound how I imagine the music in my head. The only distressing thing that happened today is that the shipping tracker I've been following for the shearling boots I ordered said they were delivered...somewhere on the East Coast...what??? Hope they straighten that out soon! Well, time to kick a Pom off my lap and get some cake for us...I'm sure he won't mind when I come back with food! It's back to work tomorrow!

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a joyous new year celebration. Things are still quiet here. We watched football and other TV shows and I finished my sock. I also completed a comfy plaid tunic...the last creation of 2012 and I had intentions of taking a picture for the blog, but I'm trying to kick a migraine headache and nobody needs to see that visual! Maybe tomorrow...