A Good Book

I've been desperate to find a good book to read.  I've given up on a couple of books of late because they didn't hold my attention.  The writing was pretty awful.  I don't blame the writer as much as I do the publishing companies and the editors.  The stories were original, but the plot development, character development, and dialogue had major problems in both books.

I'd probably have the same issues if I ever wrote anything for real, but I would hope that an editor would reign me in and make my book this side of awesome....

I'm reading a pretty good book now called Hourglass.  I think I'll be able to finish it.  It really just okay.  It's a YA novel.  I'm not in love with the characters as they seem just a bit too smart and mature, but the story is very original.

In my trolling Twilight sights for Breaking Dawn news, breakingdawnmovie.org helped me find this book.  I've read the excerpt and I'm hooked.  From only a few pages, I'm enthralled.  Wow!  The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  I've asked M to reserve it for me at the library, but I might have to snag a copy for my very own.

Sinking

I find myself sinking a bit.....okay, a lot.

If you know that you're doing it, then you should be able to stop.....

It would be one thing to be sad about things, like about the dog, but I feel such a sense of despair.

I know despair is a dramatic word, but it totally fits for what I'm feeling.

It's not like I'm not able to laugh and that I walk around morose every single minute.

I'm still getting work done.

I have a lot on the brain....

Putting the dog down.  I still forget and look for him.  The extra dish.

Possibly changing Z's school because his backpack was put in the toilet yesterday during gym.  Just another incident of bullying that the school has no answer for.

S's constant arguing with me.  The sky is blue.  No, it's not.

M's desire that I change jobs to the one he found for me (probably in response to my routine bitching about my current job) that pays $2.50/hr less.

Finishing a quilt, but having no desire to finish or start another one despite one staring me in the face from the wall every single day.

No need to go on!

All Dogs Go to Heaven

Marvin, the Martian dog, last photo.....

M and I made the difficult decision this weekend to euthanize Marvin.  His health and quality of life had seriously deteriorated the past year and especially the past couple of months.  (One of kids stepped on him yesterday afternoon and I think he was hurting more than usual.)  Even with the best preparation and good intentions, putting a dog down is one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do and we've done it quite a few times.  I was up with him for a good part of the night hoping that we wouldn't have to go.....  He could barely eat last night, wasn't taking water, couldn't get up by himself or stay sitting for any length of time.  The moaning and strange sounding barking did me in.  I made M go this morning instead of waiting until this afternoon because I couldn't bear to think of him languishing in the state he was in alone all day.

Marvin was 17 years old this summer.

He was a really great dog!

M and I got him in 1994 just a few months before we got married.  We saw him at the pet store and couldn't resist.  For a pet store dog, he came really cheap.  We only paid $99 for him.  He was a bit older and the store must have been trying to unload him.  I think it may have been because of his coloring?  He was a Blue Merle Longhaired Dachshund.

He loved to ride in the car.  He loved to be outside.  He loved to snuggle.  His love of jumping and getting around caused back problems when he was three or four years old.  We opted for his back surgery after he became paralyzed unexpectedly one day.  There was a chance that he wouldn't walk again, but he did!

The vet visit was fairly traumatic as usual.  He hadn't had regular care for years and it was decided that we would take him to the emergency animal hospital around the corner from our house so we didn't have to wait for an appointment.  (We didn't want to go to Denver Dumb again because you can't be with your dog and can only go in to say goodbye after the procdure is done.)  There was some confusion as to whether or not we wanted an evaluation first so we waited unnecessarily for awhile before M checked on things.  The vet made things a little easier.  I got to hold him during the procedure which was important.  The vet put him into a deep sleep and then gave him the drug to stop his heart.

I didn't want to give him up and could have held him forever.

Thank you.....

Sometimes They Come Back

The boyfriend came to the the first game of C's soccer tournament last weekend.  A-ha! An opportunity that I couldn't resist.....you know it!  I couldn't resist mentioning that C wouldn't let me put a label on his quilt.

Yeah, she'll hate me forever or at least five minutes.

We had emailed each other before, with permission--C let me email tournament details and season schedule, so he emailed me last week to ask if I could still put a label on his quilt.

He asked C first if it was okay to ask me to do it.  She thinks he's a dork, but his reasoning is that he wants a lable on it so it is a fact that someone, his girlfriend, gave it to him and that it was made especially for him.

I think I like this guy!  (I almost think, though, that she has met him too early in life.  I don't think there's such a thing as high school sweathearts anymore.)

He brought the quilt to C's soccer game yesterday.  He had it in a zippered plastic bag--so, maybe there is something weird about this guy?!  (or, his mother taught him well?!  I'm kicking myself that I didn't think of that.  Then, again, I hope he's not keeping it in there and just used it to transport the quilt.  We don't want him to store it.  We want him to use it!)

I put together label yesterday with acceptable wording printed it on Printed Treasures and sewed it on the quilt yesterday.  The first one I made was awful so I got online and got instructions for a better method--I may have been quilting for years and made more than one label, but I don't work with a lot of common sense at my disposal and I also forget from one project to the next.  Duh!

I even got to take what I think are better pictures ....

name removed to protect the innocent

Rush Job

Connie of Top Quilters did a wonderful job quilting the C.U. Boyfriend quilt.  She picked it up at Creative Needle after I dropped it off last Wednesday, called me on a Friday to recommend thread and pattern, had it done by Saturday morning, and delivered back to CN.  I rushed right over to pick it up along with some binding fabric.

She quilted a geometric continuous Edge to Edge square pattern on the top with monofilament top thread and black for the back.  I wasn't sure about the monofilament, but it looks wonderful.  It would have been hard to use a colored thread and still have an Edge to Edge design, which is cheaper, with the buffalo applique.

I wanted to start binding it right away, but we were out all Saturday and I had Sarah's bag to finish.  I knew it was going to be really difficult to finish it on time for Tuesday because I refused to compromise by machine sewing the binding on both sides.  I had 240" of binding to sew......  I'm pretty quick now, but still having only started on Sunday night, working all day but sewing at lunches (ahem....), and then at C's Monday soccer practice, and a bit Monday night, I wasn't done 3 pm on Tuesday!  I should have sewed the binding with a lighter color thread, but I was an idiot and used black.  Black fabric for the binding, black thread, and black backing fabric.....  I use my machine sewed seam line for a guide, matching up the edge of binding, and sewing just below it with a blind stitch.  I could barely see what I was doing in poor light and even used my book light attached to my shirt for extra lighting.

I stopped after work to buy a Shout Color Catcher.  I never prewash my fabric.  C misunderstood me and put the quilt on for a regular Delicate Wash.  It wasn't finished drying, lint rollered, and wrapped until 8:15.

She wouldn't let me put a label on it.  UGH!  Can you say Quilt Sin?!  I didn't get any good pictures--no closeups and it was too dark to take them outside.  Darn it!

He liked it....  I have her word for it.  She was able to tell him in all honesty that she designed it from an existing plaid quilt pattern, cut most of the fabric, and pieced two of the diamonds.

He's off to C.U. today for Move-In Day.

He wants to come see her play in her soccer tournament this weekend.  Crazy in Love?!

Back to School

First day of school for S and A.  S is in 5th and A in 3rd.  C has been in school since the 11th.  Z, 8th grade, went to school on the 11th, but was off on the 12th to allow the 6th graders to have the school to themselves and get settled.  They all still have late start at 9 on Mondays.  C has first period off--not bad for a Sophomore.  (I kept pestering her about it.  Isn't there some class you can take?!)

Sarah's bag did get finished.  I ended up using a McCall's pattern as a guide that I bought for $.99.  I measured the tissue pattern pieces--hate those--and cut the bag pieces.  I incorporated the 1/2" seam allowance that the pattern called for.  I quilted the fabric for the outside of the bag in a simple meander.  The liner isn't quilted and she's annoyed by the polka dot fabric--I couldn't find anymore of the same fabric I used for the outside and wasn't going to run across town to another Hobby Lobby looking for it.  The straps and front pocket (I  only put one on the front) are stabilized with a fusible interfacing (the same weight I used for a T-shirt quilt).  I ended up doing the binding on the top of the bag differently than the pattern instructed, using the same method I use to bind my quilts (no-bump end and hand sewn to the back).  I placed heat set rhinestonses in the center of the smaller flowers.

C wants one, too, but a smaller version.  I'm racing to finish the binding on the boyfriend's quilt.  It's going to be close.....

Breaking News

The quilter called me today to finalize the pattern she will quilt on the top and thread for the CU Boyfriend Quilt.

Could it be that it will be done in time?!

Funny story......

Scott believes M doesn't like him.  Well, that's a given on some level.  He's done nothing but date M's daughter.

M took A and S to meet their teachers, be tested, drop off supplies, and fill out paperwork yesterday.  Scott's mom came up to M and A at the school.  She works there.  She introduced herself as Mrs. (insert last name) and M drew a blank.  He had no idea who she was as she didn't include Scott's mom and so M just nodded and smiled, thinking she was some teacher or something.  She of course told her son and ribbed him a little about C's dad not putting two and two together and him not making enough of an impression for M to remember his last name.

The other thing is that when C makes plans and asks her dad about curfew, etc he always sides on limiting her activities and an earlier curfew.  I always let her stay out, etc. because I want her to like me and to think I'm a cool mom trust her and him--they've not shown me I can't.   Because of this, I supposedly like him.

If making a quilt doesn't solidify approval of the relationship, I don't know what will.  Maybe I should say M made it? 

It's in the Bag

Aunt Flo is visiting this week my house this week for all the girls.  S started the other day.  She's only 10!  She's not ready.....  I'm not ready.....  Granted, we're not talking a rushing river, but we are talking a bout of major emotions!  She was very weepy last night over the whole experience and the other changes she's experiencing.  We knew it was coming--maybe not this soon as C didn't start until she was 14--and have talked, but it's not real until it happens.  I tried to be as supportive as I could be and I challenged C to be the best big sis there is because of the fragility.

I'm not feeling all that well myself.  My associated anxiety that I always experience at this time of the month has hit once again.  Paired with the fact that payday is still days away and I'm a basket case.  Oh, and I can't wait to see the quilting on the CU Boyfriend quilt and am praying that the quilter can work a miracle and get it back to me....like tomorrow.

I put on a positive face and lied through my teeth put a positive spin on things during our little pep talk.

There's a pill for that.  (I wish.  I haven't found a really good one.)

You may feel like crap, but activity is the best way to chase the pain away.  (Sure, there are days when you just want to lie in bed for one reason or another.)

It's no big thing to deal with at school.

S has insisted that I make her a bag for school.  I just wanted to buy her a backpack, but NO!  I've decided to go ahead because it may be the pick me up she needs.  I have a couple of free patterns bookmarked but, of course, I'm thinking of modifying them for size, handles, and technique.

I know I'll regret it.  I'll be telling MYSELF, I told you so!  On the other hand, I keep insisting that I'm an experienced enough sewer to be able to do it, right?  I am going to put something down on paper first and try to be organized.

Quilting All-Nighters

I'm a zombie today after being up all night finishing the quilt.  My butt was glued to my sewing chair for most of the night.  (A sad state since I was even too lazy/involved to changed the channel on the T.V. and ended up watching Borat while M snored away on the couch.)  My body is a mess of aches and pains.  My brain is mush.

I dropped it off at Creative Needle for Top Quilters--a whole 'nother story that I don't want to get into right now.

The polka dots won.  The quilter is just going to have to deal with 5ish" on all sides for the backing instead of the six requested.  She's usually pretty quick and I called ahead so she's expecting it.  I had hoped to deliver it to CN by Sunday, but.....well, you know!

C says she loves it!

I forgot to laugh when M said that she'll probably break up with him as soon as she gives it to him.

It's a good thing I'm so tired or I'd bore you with more critique of my work.  I like the buffalo--I just wish I'd have planned better and it could have been bigger.  I used the Upside Down Applique method which I love!

Comedy of Errors

I've made my last quilt......JUST KIDDING!

I'm almost done with the CU Boyfriend Quilt.  I can't finish it soon enough.  With the amount of mistakes I've made, unsewing, and resewing....I could have made two quilts by now.

WHY o WHY can't I be more organized?

I started with a bit of a plan.  I drafted the quilt in EQ7, but I strayed from the design for some reason trying to make the quilt bigger.  However, I bought fabric based upon the design so I ended up going back to original width but adding an extra row in length.  The two rows I had added two extra blocks to had to be taken apart which created more problems.....

I didn't have a pressing plan in the beginning.  I did one after piecing the first row where it didn't matter, but it still wasn't right and I also got confused by sewing the block parts together in the wrong order.

We added the diamond blocks, but I printed the patterns the wrong size....and pieced them.  This error was a result of me not wanting to spend the money to print the patterns the full size at Kinkos.

I have one more row to piece and the darn buffalo to make which I have to fudge because I screwed up the diamonds.

With all this how does the quilt look?  Not bad except for the thread mess of fraying blocks on the back.  All those seams of the plaid pattern intersected!!!!

Have I learned my lesson?  Probably not.....

Why do I quilt again?

We didn't buy fabric for the back.  I don't have much yardage in my stash except for black with white polka dots or spiders on silver webs.  I don't have time to piece a back at this point.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

I was standing at my sink at 2 am last night doing dishes.....when a mouse ran from one side of my kitchen counter along the space between the sink and the window to back behind my microwave and I assume into my stove.  Right in front of me!  I think I must have scared it out of its hiding place by being awake at that hour and running the disposal.  I let out a scream and M got up off the couch where he was sleeping to investigate.  He turned on the oven and we think the mouse ran out along the baseboard and into the space between the dishwasher and the under the sink cupboard.

Ick!

I hate mice in my kitchen.  It grosses me out!  We keep everything really clean and my counters clear as to not to invite any pests, but we still get an occasional uninvited guest.  The cat usually gets them before they get into the house.  She's not too good at catching them inside.

I can only imagine that it didn't expect anyone to be up at that hour and came out to look for food, thinking the coast was clear.

It's hard to put a peanut butter baited trap down on the floor because the dogs always find it and set it off before having a chance to catch the mouse.

One more instance that I wish I had a door on my kitchen or no dogs.....

Oh, What a Savings!

Since I can't give up certain things, I just have to find cheaper things or way to do things.

I have to have my breakfast in the morning.  I can't get going in the morning unless I have a McD's $1 Sausage Burrito and Vanilla Iced Coffee or Vanilla Latte, but at $3++ a day, I've had to figure out alternatives.  (It's not only an eating thing, but a mental health thing!)  I've taken to making my version of the Iced Coffee at home and then stopping by and getting my $1 burrito on the way to work.  (I could make these at home, too, but I'm just not there yet.)  I've had to work with my recipe, but I've figured it out enough to be satisfied.  M's Keurig makes things easier and I've figured out which setting to use to make the coffee strong enough since it gets watered down by the ice.  (It's the only coffee maker we have so I know those K Cups are more expensive per serving, but at least we can get them at CostCo.)  I use Half and Half and I've found that for cheap using WalMart's brand.  I'll be looking for cheaper syrup options, maybe even making my own, but for now I'm working on a bottle of Torani Vanilla Syrup because I found that at WalMart, too.  I stole S's Starbucks cup with straw and have been using that.  (I love it because it's double layered and doesn't sweat.)

The only thing is that I feel the need to fill the cup up and I'm drinking more coffee per day if I would buy because I usually only got the Medium.

I'll be making a poor woman's latte when the weather turns cooler......

I figure I'm saving a $1+ a day which will add up, right?

I'm making progress....  I used to be a Starbuck's girl, having to get a latte and pastry there every morning at $5.50 a pop years ago.

How do you save money without giving something up entirely?

Driver's Ed

C talked her dad into registering and paying for an online driver's ed class.  She will take the class and then test at the DMV for her permit.  Yeah, she IS 15 years and 3 months.

Wow!

Timing is everything.  M is sweating the increase in our insurance.  We barely can keep up with him driving.  We just received notice that our insurance is going up $600.00/year because of the $15,000 settlement in addition to car repairs, etc. our insurance paid to the driver he rear ended in the spring.  Maybe we should see if he can take a class?!

(It's a good thing he can't be bothered to read my blog!)

I'm a tad annoyed about the increase for a number of reasons.  He never followed through against the driver who hit him last fall in the awful accident that totalled his truck, severely bruised his ribs, and broke his glasses.  (The woman that hit him ran a red light and about took off the front of his truck.)  He got his totalled truck replaced, but he never pursued medical or pain and suffering.  He still has discomfort.

If he had, we might have come out even.  But, what do I know?!

His answer?  "Well, the guy I hit got a lawyer and the lawyer will take about half of the settlement."

What is half of $15,000?





And Then You Go and Do Something Nice...

My sewing machine pedal has been acting up and with 48 more block parts to go, I was freaking out a bit a bunch.  48 more block parts and 24 blocks to assemble....gah!

My sewing machine is old.  I toy with the idea of replacing it when I have money again, but then I ask myself Why?  I love my Pfaff.  I would just end up getting another Pfaff and probably a lesser model.  I've not taken very good care of it.  It's never been serviced.  M has fixed the cords a couple of time when dogs have chewed them.  I've replaced the power card for the same reason.  I can still wind bobbins, but I have to watch it and stop it from winding when it gets too full because a little piece is broken.  I don't oil it enough.....

Saturday night I was trying to sew.  I had to jimmy the foot pedal after every block and I was getting frustrated so I started stomping on it.  Temper!  M took it from me to try and fix it.  It was touch and go for awhile, especially after a tiny piece fell on the floor and was lost for awhile.  I started hyper-ventilating because I'm right in the middle of a project.

He's a genius, though, and fixed it.

It's moments like those when I think about....things.  We can both be real poop heads to each other sometimes, but we still try and do nice things for each other every once and awhile.