I've avoided the Alice's Porsche block for a long time.
Keeping with my pattern, I knew I'd probably have to make the block more than once so I took the block out for a test drive.
There's a paper piecing block out there, but can't use it. I toyed with using for awhile, but I knew I was going to have to modify it if I used it. It didn't have any wheels and required you use buttons for the wheels or applique them. eeeew
I decided to use the Upside Applique method again. I'll have to do some tweaking, but here's a sample. Things were going pretty well until I cut the background fabric accidentally.
I printed the photo on photo fabric for my pattern. I need to think about this a little. It does double duty as a stabilizer, but it's difficult to cut hence my error. I also need to get my sewing order down. I sewed the windows first and I'm not sure this is right. I will probably use fusible and cut out some parts, like the headlights and mirrors, instead of upside down appliqueing them. I'm going to use a different shape for the headlights. I may satin stitch applique the yellow fabric parts. I'm happy twith the fabrics overall.
This is the picture of the Porsche I used from Stephenie Meyer's website.
Today was my last day of vacation. I took Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off because my babysitter was off having fun in New Orleans. LOL Michael took the time off, too, so I probably shouldn't have. I have annoying anxiety about going back. I left things in good shape when I left, but it's hard for me to enjoy vacation because I always worry about what I'll come back to.
I didn't do much of nothin'. I'm trying to quiet that nagging voice in my head that is telling me how bad I am for not getting more done.
Heck, I didn't even do much of anything fun either so that voice can argue with the other one. Quilting would have been nice, but I did some housework instead.
You know something's up when I'd rather do housework than sew.... Not too much housework, though, The walls are still filthy. The kitchen floor didn't get mopped.
I remade Edward's Bed block with so-so results. People are so wrong when they say I'm so good or that I have too high oppinion of myself. I still screwed this block up on the third try. I would have tried again, seriously, but I was out of fabric. Yeah, idiot. The difference in me, though, is that I refuse to leave something if I know I can do a better job the second or third time around---if I have fabric. LOL
I finished watching True Blood, Season 1. Why am I putting so much emphasis on this by announcing it here? Well, the show has a lot of history for me. I tried to watch it before, but we stopped HBO in the middle of the season when we were too broke for even cable. Iris, of TQC.....%#@*, burned the season for me but I sent it back to her in my fit. The show is my guilty pleasure because it's embarrassing for me to watch with M because of all of the sex! (Yeah, something wrong with something if I can't watch a sexy show with my husband in the room.) I've read most of the books and I was annoyed the whole time, but they're a whole series and if you read one you've got to keep going. I'm known for reading crap (I grew up on Harlequins, etc.), but these books are bad crap. When I read books like these, I kick myself for not being able to come up with such a good idea. I know that writing is more than the idea and the story, but when I read stuff like this it's hard to fathom how some books get published. (Oh, yeah! People aren't like me: they don't let negativity and self-doubt stop them from doing things.) The writing is SOOOOOO bad even with a great story. How disingenious am I for saying I read them and then calling them crap? LOL I like the T.V. show, though, for the most part. I am Team Eric!
I also watched Season 1 of Bones and some of Season 2. I watch the reruns all the time, but it was nice to play the episodes all in a row. I've seen a lot of Season 2 and remember them so I've skipped a lot of those episodes.
I'm a freakin' couch potato. It's Netflix's fault.
Quilting hasn't been calling my name as I've said. I'm trying to figure out what to do? If it weren't for the Twilight stuff I probably wouldn't sew at all. I'm feeling burned out. I thought to try to make a charity quilt or something, but I haven't even felt like doing that. Deep down, I know it's because I'm being stupid. I've gotten into this habit of not being able to love what I'm doing enough because I don't feel like I'm loved for what I do. I so seriously F'ed up last fall and I don't think I'll ever recover. It's not good to do something out of anger and that's where I'm still at because you'll start hating what you love.
Since I wasn't sewing and it was my last day off, I cooked instead. I made a big batch of spaghetti sauce. I cooked Sloppy Joes for lunch. I put a rump roast in the crock pot with some picante sauce to make some shredded beef. I'll make lasagna this week. We'll have enough leftovers to get through another week of baseball practices and games. We can't eat out because M and I are both tapped for moola because of vet bills and some purchases.
We're still trying to get Ginger's, the sick dog, health situation figured out. M took her to a clinic to be altered yesterday. We're glad that the surgery was able to be done as her sugar levels and weight are still so messed up. The vet said we needed to get it done because she thinks that the diabetes is brought on or aggravated by her "cycles"--kind of like a Gestational Diabetes. She was in a Catch-22. She needed to be fixed because of the diabetes, but because of he diabetes she wasn't stable/strong enough for surgery. She seems to be doing well enough today, but I don't think M is getting accurate readings on her urine tests.
I got Linger, the second book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls Series, but I don't think I'm going to read it. I'm so strange about stuff like this. There is one more book in the series and I'm thinking that I will fare better if I can read book 2 and then book 3 right after. Book 1 wasn't so bad because it had a positive ending for me, but I've heard that Linger is very sad and ends with the obligatory cliff hanger. I have to assume that the third book will tie up loose ends, but with Maggie you never know.
I'll end with this because it makes me happy. I love this commercial and I want this car. If I can't have one, I'm going to get one for C. Forget that she doesn't drive for two more years.....
C continues to have a good time in New Orleans. They completed a service project that included collecting canned goods for a food bank and cleaning classrooms at a Lutheran school.
Her group has also been having a lot of fun and I have more pictures. They got to see an illusionist perform, take a riverboat ride, see a comedy act, and hear a Christian rock band, Stellar Kart, peform.
C is having a good time in New Orleans at the the youth conference.
She left yesterday with one other girl from church and their chaperone.
They got into New Orleans in the afternoon. They went to the Superdome for an opening ceremony with about 25,000 other youths. They had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.
I've noticed the new backgrounds and layouts that Blogger started offering awhile back, but I held out.
I was in a funk so I decided to change things up a little. I had the blog deleted for a spell yesterday, but brought it back.
The boys are going to go camping. Turns out the group is up there. M should have ignored the Closed signs and gone further up the trail.
I have many suggestions for the way the trip should have been planned and how everyone or small groups should have met at a certain time and at a certain place before heading up, etc. What do I know?! And, beyond you me to even suggest something like this because it's rarely well received.
They're still going camping, but by themselves somewhere closer.
I drove to the airport without incident. I did fine. You probably all knew that and were thinking that I should stop being such an idiot. C is on her way.
S and I drove back and went to McDonald's for breakfast. I had my Vanilla Iced Coffee that I have to start every morning with--yes, I'm addicted. She's partial to the new smoothies. We had pancakes.
We stopped back by the house to determine M's plans. Please go camping. Please go camping.... YES!
S has been wanting to check out the Quackers, a rubber duckie store, for forever. I wanted to stop by the Thrift store. We walked from our house into downtown Englewood--very easy and only about 10 minutes. Nothin' knocked our socks off. We also stopped by this store that sells Native American and Western goods like jewelry and animal skins. We didn't go into the survivalist store--I've had thoughts of moving to a compound in Idaho or Montana to get away from it all--no, seriously I have, but I wasn't even tempted to buy a 50 gallon water jug today. We were headed home before I remembered the bakery on one of the side streets. We popped in. It's specializes in Peruvian treats. I got a Beef Empanada for later--always wanted to try one of those.
It was a day to things I've always wanted to do, but always find excuses, etc not to. That's something I guess.
I ran into an old friend's husband at the new used book store/coffee shop in my neighborhood. I've been wanting to check it out and we had the time after I took the girls to Chipotle last night. He approached me because he recognized me. I recognized him, but couldn't place him. We introduced ourselves and started chatting.
I always find it interesting to gain perspective. Not having girlfriends is one of the reason I feel like my life is so out of whack. Many times one talks to a friend you find that there are in a similar boat and you don't feel so alone or.....wrong.
This person lives in my neighborhood. They have house issues like us. He and his wife can't seem to agree on much about the house. They disagree over their daughter. Sounds a lot like my life.
I also maintain that it would be good for M to have friends. He might see that I'm not so bad. When I do talk with other women, I learn that many rule their roost. I think he would find it interesting to know about the real world where women and wives do get their way about many things. Life can be calmer. I could go on an on.
Off to the airport. I didn't get my way. He's sleeping thinking he's won. In the scheme of things, has he really?
I'm sitting here writing at 11:03 and I'm in a state of crazy.
I'm always in a state of crazy about my life and I get by albeit horribly, but I'm still alive for whatever reason so I breathe a sigh of relief as I close my eyes every night. I rarely manage to count my blessings and I just am thankful that I've made it through another day and am alive for my kids.
Dramatic, yes! Truth, hell yes!!!!
M scared the beejeebers out of me tonight. I was finishing up watching The Haven facing the T.V. and my front porch when I saw a man walk up with a kid in his arms. I wasn't expecting anyone as the boys were supposed to be camping so I freaked.
M and I got tense with each other last night over A's stool holding and constipation. Any progress we'd made the last couple of months has totally gone bye-bye over the past month and a half. We're all so frustrated and I'm just basically sad about his condition. I'm worried about Alex. I got totally freaked out last night after reading an article about a 16 year old who still deals with his condition! I want to be more aggressive with the laxative/softener therapy as the pediatrician suggested. Pardon the pun, but M is poopooing this. His idea is to ask A if he's pooped, let him go for days, give him an enema, and then fuss at him while he sits on the toliet for the rest of the night.
Z has his own set of issues.
The dog is still sick.
Horrible selfish me was looking forward to the boys being away with the Boys Scouts camping. It was going to be S and me until Sunday because C is headed off to her trip in New Orleans.
They left at 5, late, to drive up to the camp site. They were supposed to meet the rest of their group up at that site.
I guess they drove up there and couldn't find anyone. And, the site is apparently closed.
Ahem, ..........
So, with two very disappointed boys he drove back. He was the guy on my porch.
He said he didn't have cell service to try to contact anyone.
ooooookay.....
Who the hell planned this thing? Are the rest of the group camping as we speak and M was the only one who couldn't find the group? No one called him as far as he can tell. It was too late for him to call tonight. They had a meeting on Tuesday and supposedly everything was set. He got an email saying the reservation was confirmed and there was a link to a map.
He's going to see if he can get in touch with someone tomorrow.
The good thing? (I can be an optimist....) I won't have to drive C to the airport tomorrow morning. I'm going to get him to do it since he's home now.
