First Week In

I completed my first week at my new job! I am so happy with new challenges. Although the change was prompted for other reasons, being stimulated in a new environment is a big plus. After work Friday, I loaded up all the dogs and headed back across the mountain to celebrate Tom's last official shift before retirement and help pack the shop.  I didn't plan on being his last call. I dropped Kodi off at home because a 3 1/2 hour drive is hard on the boy. I took the littles back to the station to have ice cream with the boys. On the way home I was hit from behind by an uninsured driver as I turned into my driveway. I'm okay, praise God, but really sore. We got a rental car so I can head back for work Monday, but it's just one more thing to deal with...ugh! And still no sewing in sight! Oh well, things could always be worse...

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

When you can't sew, what's a girl to do? Shop, of course. Well. actually I am not shopping shopping, but rather just browsing. The thought did cross my mind to go hit Fabric Depot one.last.time. as they are having 30% off this weekend, and that's about as good as it gets anymore, but my fabric stash is truly deep and after a week of packing up and cleaning, I don't want to deal with any more stuff. So snoop shopping it is! Was anybody else impressed by Buttericks pre-fall offerings? Usually when the new patterns come out I may see one or two that interest me, but usually I'm a little meh. I have so many patterns, a ton of BWOF (or BS if you prefer) and some mad skills, so I could adapt something from another pattern if the mood struck, but I saw several patterns that I actually will buy. Perhaps it's just lack of sewing making me crazy, but here's what has inspired me:

Butterick 5950  I love the silhouette of this dress and see the long sleeve view as something nice to wear with boots and tights; the sleeveless will be great next Spring with a jacket.

 Butterick 5956 I didn't notice this top my first go round through the offerings, but upon closer inspection see this as a great pattern I can modify for some interesting scrub tops for work.

 Butterick 5957 This is a seemingly basic vest pattern, but I love the yoke and in seam pockets...perfect for layering in my new habitat!

 Butterick 5954 I love the lines of this tunic. I know I have lots of sweater knits in the stash that would be perfect for this pattern!

 Lastly is Butterinck 5951 I chose to show the line drawings because the beauty of the design is lost in the print of the drawing. Love the gathers at the waist darts. If there isn't crazy fullness there, I think it could be very flattering.

So there you have my five top picks. Did anything jump out at you as a "must sew" pattern?

Only a few more things to pack and then tomorrow I'm on the road again for the final time. New job starts Monday...so excited to get back to work and a routine! We haven't set up our internet over there yet, but I'm hoping Tom will sort that out while I am at work. See you on the other side...

My Bags are Packed, I'm Ready to Go...

Well almost...this week off has been anything but! Tom is still gone on a wildland fire and I have been steadily chipping away at the packing, while juggling inspections for the sale of the house. Met the prospective buyers yesterday. Really nice people. I approve, even though it is really none of my business as long as they show me the money! I am finding a strong emotional attachment to this house...so many memories we have created here. I gave the gal a spaghetti squash out of my garden. She said she didn't know how to cook it. I gave her some ideas and suggested she try it. She's gonna end up with a bunch of it! And tomatoes...what a crop we have this year...sniff, sniff!!! Today's focus is going to be outside and the garden shed...hopefully no inspectors today, Later Kittens...

MIA

Wow! I just looked at my stats and realized I have not posted anything since June! Crazy summer! Actually, I do understand why I have not been able to squeeze in any quality blog time. Big things have been happening in the casa de Deeter! We are putting the finishing touches on the La Pine home. Good thing, because I am going to be living there starting next week! I said goodbye to my old job last Monday and I start my new job a week from this Monday. Tom will officially retire come September, although he will continue to work for awhile. We put the house over here on the market last week and have a good offer pending! I have been steadily packing and taking loads across the mountain (sniff, sniff...my fabric is all in boxes and no quality sewing time in sight!). My garden is probably the best it has ever been, so I have been canning as much as I can. The new owners are going to get a nice housewarming gift in the form of goodies from my garden! I harvested the peach tree yesterday and spent most of the day in the kitchen making dilly beans, pickled beets, canning green beans and peaches. Today is all about the packing. Also listed a bunch of stuff on Craigslist and all of the free stuff is gone. A ratty old porch swing was the big winner...I had half a dozen calls for that! Who knew it would be so popular? I also managed to get rid of two old TVs that aren't going with us...score!!! We currently have no internet or sattelite in La Pine, so I probably will go dark again soon, but hopefully sewing will commence in the near future and I will have something to share. Hopefully before the snow flies! And since posts are boring without pictures, take a look at my little man...he got his first big boy haircut!

Pop approved and melt's Gram's heart!

Addicted to....Garlic

This is not a sewing related post, so if that's what you're hoping for you can look away right now! Let's talk about garlic. My new BFF and I were chatting (hi Berta!) about what we love from Costco and she brought up the big bag of peeled garlic. They are ginormous and cheap...like $4.99. I had looked at those lovingly before, but I love a me some roasted garlic, and was not sure how I would achieve that with already peeled garlic. I bought one anyway the last trip and it occurred to me that I might be able to roast them low and slow in my Little Dipper crockpot. This little gem came free with a large crockpot we bought years ago, and with the exception of the occasional queso dip or little pot of BBQ sauced little smokies, this appliance was sadly underutilized. Well not anymore! It is my dedicated garlic roaster now. Two days in a row I roasted garlic for the most tasty garlic laden focaccia bread you can imagine...yep, big ol' bag of garlic goes on my Costco staple list for sure!

Disclaimer: Berta, if you are reading this, I do not think we are BFFs in that weird stalking way...I think you are pretty cool and am so happy you re part of our team! Sorry no photos of the garlic filled bread...it goes that fast! Hopefully next post will have actual sewing related content! Over and out.

Staying Alive...

Sorry...BeeGee moment here. I have been busy! With work...with the garden...sewing...with this guy...

We made cupcakes today. And put out a bunch of fires! And hung out in the garden. I love that little guy!

I put together a quilt for our bed and have it ready to quilt. Hopefully I can get it done this weekend. Darn work gets in the way of my creativity! Later Kittens...

Don't Piss Off the Fabric...

I just love Peggy Sager's webcasts! She cracks me up! When she said "Don't piss off the fabric", it really resonated with me that sometimes we don't pick the right pattern for the fabric we are using and fabric+wrong pattern=WADDER! I had this ITY knit in a bundle of fabric I bought at the Goodwill a while back. It was a busy print with yellow, grey, black and white. I thought it was pretty, but was convinced that yellow is not a good color for me, yadda, yadda, yadda... Anywho, look what that busy piece of fabric became:

I think I did a good job of keeping the fabric happy...I know I am happy! I did things a little different this time. My usual M.O. Is to just serge everything ( although the major seams are serged) and use clear elastic for the neckline finish. I used my straight stitch machine and just rolled them and they look marvelous! I know this is a whole lot of print, but I think it will be great with a black pant!

I'm not the only creative one in our house...remember this?

Check it out...horses are gone and elk are in the mountains! 

Yay Tom! The bed looks awesome! Now I need to get cracking on the quilt!