Delicious treasures

Look at this! I have been drooling over this dress for months...watching as one by one they got sold. I don't have a little girl to shop for...it is too gorgeous to give away to just anyone...but since I had free money, and it was on clearance...I went for it!!!! OH PLEASE...someone have a little girl!

At work, sometimes you can get "Rupp Bucks" (Mr. Rupp is the store manager) You get them for being a very very good girl.(or boy I suppose) Well last night I got $15 worth! I decided to spend them on just fun things...without worrying about needs.
The silly outfit on the left is one I have been drooling over...cause it is just silly and fun. But I just could not justify the money. So, as a result, there was only a 3T...we will have to wait a very long time to see her in it. The one on the right is just sweet!

Saturday

Hey look! My project is pretty much almost done! We have been putting along doing this project, and the end is in sight. I just love it!


I don't know if any of you were aware, but this little area used to be broken and annoying drawers....Conan and the boys put in very very very nice shelves, that now can hold my pots and pans, baking stuff, and we saved two of the drawers. So very nice! Today, it should be mostly done. I will have some touch up work to do, and I hope Conan can add a little door over my new cupboard space! Then life will be SWEET!!!

Obsessive project

Well folks...I bet you have wondered what I have been up to! (at least I like to think that maybe you are that curious about me)

I got caught up in quite a project this week. I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned my basement. It sadly is still not done, but I got about half done, and enough that I could set up a sewing area. This was a large part of my motivation to do it. (It also was just stinky and dirty...needed to be done.)

So I set up my table, Miss Mayflower painted a yucky book shelf that was down there...I hung up unfinished projects...to inspire me. Some of them just need to wait until I have finances to finish...some just need my time.

So...my first project...I have a friend, who gave a gentle suggestion to try out cloth pads...as I have mentioned before. I was highly skeptical, but willing to give it a go. So as you know my first round was OK...super comfortable, but not so effective. I can't really afford to shop around...cause those buggers are expensive! But, I wanted to give it a fair chance...cause they were so soft and comfortable. And BTW...this is worth it to me, cause I can't stand tampons...so uncomfortable.

So in a crazy moment of lack of self control...I bought some lovely fabric, that can have many uses...but that I may use to make my own! That way I can experiment for far less. Last night I began. (and could not stop till it was finished, at nearly 2 a.m.! Oh I am crazy!) I actually did not start off my using my new fabric, but some stuff that I had around. BTW...it is blueberry fabric that I got to make my Grandmother Mary Lou a pretty bandage to go around her cancer site on her leg. She wanted something pretty to cover up the ugly bandaging.

So here is the process... First I studied the ones I received as a gift...I liked the one on the right cause it is so neat and tidy...So I started there.
But, I wanted something bigger, so I made some paper patterns, first just on white paper, till I got it the way I wanted it, then I made them from heavier paper, so I could trace around and reuse them if I wished.



So then I cut the pieces...one of the items that I think is needed for success is PUL...a waterproof material. I went to the re-store, hoping to find some. I think I may have, but I am not sure. My little Who girl has some diapers that are lovely, soft, pliable and very waterproof. The stuff I got was not so soft and pliable...so I know already that I am not going to use it again...the appeal of a cloth pad was its softness and comfort. I might have to indulge and actually buy some, but it is pricey.

The green stuff is the waterproof material. And I guess you can see that I used a regular pad to help guide my process as well.
So then I made a little insert...cause I am really worried about leaking. It is just made of a bit of an old towel...although I also added two layers of flannel as well..just in case.

I have to show my faithful companion...Wally.

And finally the finished and oh so pretty product. The prettiness is so appealing...I find the idea of having pretty things to look forward to in the midst of a generally unpleasant experience..quite nice!

So there it is...Ideally I will get some snaps...but for now I used a bit of Velcro...it won't stay though. I read online, as I looked at how others have done this...to use little channels..just like "real" pads. We will see how it works!

Oh...and look how cute it looks, all folded up and ready for service! (please ignore the yucky bathroom wall.. so much work to be done)

Hey look! Another puzzle!

I have been thinking about working on tatting again. I really love it, and it is one of the things that I have set aside, due to plain old busy-ness, and that silly thing I do. Because I can never do it perfectly, I give up. So..time to do take some action in resolving that bad habit. Here is a practice round. (again..forgive the poor camera..it does not do tiny close ups so well)
Guess what?! I went on a "big girl" camping trip. Look at my friend's super cool shelter. She is taking it camping next week. I am eager to see how it fairs in the rain. It is so neat and tidy looking and fairly affordable. I think the Clan might need one!
This is a small portion of my friends well supplied camp kitchen. Please also note the Driver's Manual in the back. This is how our fire came to life.
We spent lots of time relaxing in our chairs, visiting and chatting. Lovely!

Revelation!

I totally did it with my blog! I went to read it over, after posting, and voila...My first sentence was a perfect illustration of the very behavior I analyzed! Made me laugh.

(avoided blogging, because I didn't think I could do it "right" so "why bother" doing it!!!!!)

Just here

You know, I have been avoiding blogging, cause I don't have pictures. But I have some thoughts tumbling around in my head, and this is a nice way to get them out. Thanks to my dear husband, we are in the midst of revamping kitchen cabinets...just a simple coat of white paint, and repairing faulty shelves etc.

As we are going through this process, I am realizing and remembering how disgusted I have been by these cupboards since we moved in. They are covered in grease, sticky, nasty and gross. The drawers are falling apart...shelves falling and irritating. But all along I haven't done a thing about it, but have been irritated and grossed out.

Why do I do that? Why did I not just clean them the best I could? (See...the cupboards aren't the only incident with this behavior, so I am very interested in getting to the bottom of this question!)

So...in summary..I think I avoid things that are overwhelming, and more importantly, things that feel like they can never be perfect. This leads to the "why bother" attitude, and chronic dissatisfaction with myself, my surroundings, and even others!

Hmmmm...lots to think about! Suggestions and thoughts are welcome!

Projects

Well...I am still alive, in case you were wondering. I have several projects to report on, as well as an experiment. This is a wee bit personal...so prepare yourself.
(How is that for a lead up?)
I have been trying(please note that the weather has been limiting...and "trying" has been a bit dicey) to dry more laundry outside, and cut back on dryer usage. I really try to avoid drying it inside, cause I can't stand the visual clutter upstairs, and our basement is so damp and smelly, I just really don't like doing it in there. But, in addition to my two drying racks, I added a little line to our deck.

Remember my Asiatic lilies that I have been nurturing and hoping and watching?

They bloomed!!! A gorgeous bright orange, and lovely lovely pink. I love them.

So, I can't really take credit for this project, as far as proof of my motivation, but I can certainly say that the results are at least, in part, proof of my motivation. Anyway....My Dear Husband is the one who decided it was time to paint the kitchen cabinets. Truth be told, I balked, 'cause it is just so overwhelming. But we have begun. The old hardware must go back up for now, but I followed the advice of a sister dear...and soaked them overnight in a solution of vinegar and salt, then scrubbed and scrubbed. Much improved! ( I posted two, cause the flash was dramatic, but a little deceptive)

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See how white and bright and neat and clean they look! Yeah for a good motivated smart husband!

K...so this is the personal part. I have been conducting an experiment. I have been trying cloth menstrual pads, on advice of a friend. I have to say I was a bit hesitant...but willing to try anything once. So far, as far as clean up and maintenance...it really is no worse than clothe diapers, which I am an old hand at. Comfort wise, it is a bit tricky to tell. You see, I am not used to wearing undies...so the wearing of undies is more uncomfortable that I am used to(See..the clothe pads fasten around the underwear). But the nice soft flannel pads are quite nice, compared to scratchy plastic-y pads. I also have rather gushy issues...so leaking has been a problem. (Though to be truthful, no more of a problem than I have with traditional pads) So, the jury is still out.