A Lesson In Frustration

That's the kind of week I've had - and it's only Wednesday!  I started working on some new plush key chains, using patterns that I designed myself.  I had them on the kitchen table, and Pat accidentally knocked over a cup of coffee.  The patterns were soaked, but with her quick action, Pat was able to save them and they dried overnight.  Memo to self - always make a second copy of new designs.   Over the weekend, I made four of them and put them on some black hooks that I had.  I hated the way they looked.  The hooks were way to big and dark, so I had to order some new ones.  Not expensive, but shipping from China so that project was put on hold.

Then I decided to finish some pot pinchers I had started.  These mixed nuts pinchers turned out great. I started the rest, but soon discovered that I had been sent extra wide bias quilt binding instead of double fold bias binding.  It's been a while and so I doubt that I can return it.  I figured I'd try to use it, but the difference in the width makes the pot pinchers too small for the average hand.  I ordered the correct binding, and now that project is also on hold.

I did manage to get some scarves finished, and still have more to go, so that's the project that I'm working on currently. Krissy wore one of the leopard print scarves to her chorus concert.  She looks more like her mom every day.

And as if I haven't had enough frustration for one day, I decided to start tearing out the stitching on the Belle embroidery design I did two weeks ago.  This was so horrible.  I hated it, and didn't want it on my sweatshirt.  So as badly as I didn't want to rip out another design, I'm doing it.  I'll pick another design and start again.  It's for sure that I'm not redoing this one.

But hey, at least the rest of the week has to be better - right?

How Do I Love Thee??

I really have an amazing husband.  In less than a month, we will celebrate our 39th anniversary.  It's been an amazing trip, and although some years were really tough, I'm not sure I would have changed any of it because it made me who I am.

Today is my birthday.  I won't tell you how old I am, but I recently attended my 45th high school reunion!  Rod has been asking me what I wanted for my birthday, and I could not think of anything.  I had been looking at  dreaming of a Koala Cabinets for sewing, but at nearly $1,000 they are waaayyy out of my price range.  It's truly beautiful and a quilter's dream, but not in my budget.  I have been sewing in the living room, because it's so convenient when I have Jake.  He is just fascinated with all the mess treasures in the sewing room, and, in the living room I can keep an eye on him and he can watch his favorite TV shows.  I had been using a folding table with a plastic top.  I loved that table because it was so light, but the legs buckled under the weight of the sewing machine while the table was being slid into the corner of the living room.  My wonderful husband caught the sewing machine and left the table fall.  Then he brought me up a wooden table that he had made from banquet table legs and a wooden top.  It was a little high, but worked pretty well until it also weakened from the weight being moved from one place to another.

Saturday, I didn't see Rod much until time to get ready for Izzy's birthday party.  Yesterday, after he had made two trips to Trader Horn and been out of sight for a while, he presented me with this wonderful table on casters.  It's not a Koala Cabinet, to be sure.  But it's the perfect height for me, it moves easily, and most importantly it was made with love.  You can see there are some narrow shelves under the top, and (if  I can locate them) I think I have some narrow thread holders that will fit there.  He will eventually stain and varnich it, but right now I just need to use it. It's one of the most thoughtful, wonderful gifts that I've ever received.  And that's just one of the reasons that I love him.

Feels So Good to Finish a Project; But They Don't Always Look Great

It is a great feeling to finish project that I started years ago.  This is the batik quilt that I started as a BOM in the nineties (I can't remember what year).  From the time I started putting the blocks together, Mary insisted she wanted this quilt.  I'm not a big fan of batiks, so I agreed.  Last month I finally finished the top, and started looking for someone to quilt it.  Believe it or not, I found a person on eBay whose prices were really reasonable.  Her eBay seller name is jeano 1961.  Mary chose an all-over daisy design and I left color up to Lori, the quilter.  The quilt arrived here on Saturday, and I can't tell you how beautiful it is.  Her work is top notch, and she will definitely be getting more business from me.  I had the binding ready to go, so I put it on while Mary was at a wedding on Saturday.  Pappy and I were keeping Bubby, and so when Mary got here to pick him up, the quilt was ready for her to take home.  She was so pleased and it went directly onto her bed.

But not all projects turn out great.  I decided to take a hooded sweatshirt and embroider Disney designs onto it for our December trip.  I unstitched the pockets so that they would be easier to embroider.  I unsewed the arm seams to that I could do a better job.  It was a noble undertaking.  It was a great idea.  NOT!!!  Goofy turned out great.  He's on one pocket.

The Genie turned out great - he's on the other pocket. 

I was so pleased, so decided to try putting Mufasa and Simba on one of the sleeves.  It's a very complicated design - takes 60 minutes to stitch.  Didn't understand why orange and tangerine were listed as colors on the chart, but OK,  I'd give it a try.

Now, do I need to take the time and try to rip out all this stitching???  Embroidery threads are a B*&^h to tear out.  I think I'll leave it alone and hope that if I roll up my sleeve it won't show.  I think I just wasted an entire morning, and ruined my sweatshirt.  Hope the afternoon goes better!

Mmmm Good

Just finished my morning protein shake.  8 oz. 1% milk, 1 container Dannon Lite Strawberry Banana Yogurt, and 1 scoop of strawberry protein powder.  It was wonderful.

Disappointed, But Determined

Well, another disappointing weigh-in.  It was another weight gain.  Not a lot, but still a gain.  Two bumpy weeks in a row, but I am more determined.  When I plugged my numbers into my weight tracker, the message said to review my tracker and see what changes I had made.  And that's exactly what I did!  Here's what I found.  The first few weeks when I had a significant loss, I had made a protein shake for breakfast.  It was quick and I didn't feel hungry before lunchtime.  For some reason, I have been eating cereal these last two weeks.  I noticed a rise in my mid morning blood sugar readings, and perhaps that cereal also contributed to my weight gain.  For lunch, I had been eating tomatoes with sandwiches or soup.  Our tomato season has ended, and store bought tomatoes just don't taste like our home-grown.  I had been eating one slice of thick sliced bologna on my sandwich.  Perhaps, this next week I will try thick sliced turkey with mustard and pickles, and drink a tomato juice (Mmm).  There were no significant changes in dinner, but I had changed my evening snacks.  Also, I found that I had not been eating my yogurt.  That will change!  This morning, I am making a protein shake, but I don't have any fresh strawberries.  I have strawberry protein powder which I haven't tried yet, so I'm going to add a container of strawberry yogurt to my milk and use the strawberry powder.  And, I will start pushing the water.  Go, Me!

Wonderful Weekend

This past weekend was full of fun, friends, and food.  My 45th class reunion was scheduled for this weekend.  I wasn't attending the formal reunion, but did go to the informal get together on Friday evening.  It was held at the 1810 Tavern, a place I didn't know existed.  It was on the second floor and the steps were seriously steep, so I chose to sit on the outside patio.  The evening was warm with a slight breeze.  There were lights strung around the patio, and an small oil lamp on each table.  Since we were meeting one of my best friends from high school, we chose a table for 4 and ordered dinner.  We chose one of the night's specials - a skirt steak with roasted asparagus.  We thought we were getting butternut squash risotto, but what was on our plate resembled corn bread.  It was delicious and topped with a horseradish sauce.  It was delicious, and we will probably eat here again.  For dessert Rod chose the pumpkin cheesecake and I selected the apple strudel (can't resist German food).  My friend Nancy and her husband Bob joined us and we spend much of the evening together.  There was very little reminiscing - it was mostly catching up.  It was only the second time we had seen each other in 45 years, but at the end of the evening it was almost like we had never been separated.  Some other friends from high school also joined us for a few minutes of catching up.  It was so great to see them after so many years.

Saturday morning, we had Jake and Izzy since Kristin and George both had to work.  Pappy cooked everyone "dippy" eggs and bacon for breakfast.  Then we went outside to enjoy the beautiful day, and Rod and I sat and laughed at the kids playing their special games.  He grilled hot dogs for lunch, and the kids presented me with some buttercups they found in the yard.  Izzy's had nice long stems, while Jake's had no stems at all.  It was a wonderful morning.

Saturday night we attended the Beaver County Invitational Band Festival.  It was held at Geneva College, here in Beaver Falls. Rod and I used the handicapped entrance, where there were special spaces for wheelchairs and scooters with seating alongside for the companion.  I had an excellent spot on the 50 yard line.  Bands from all over Beaver County, and the band from Geneva College performed.  It was a wonderful, musical evening for a $5.00 ticket.  A portion of the ticket sales, as well as part of the food sales went to benefit the bands.  We had a bowl of haluski (cabbage and noodles) that was great, and cost only $3.00.  Granddaughter Kristina participated with the Riverside High School Marching Band, although she's only in 7th grade.  It was sad to see that so many of our local bands are incorporating grades 7-12 into their high school bands because of low membership.  What has happened to the music education in our area that so few students choose to participate in band?  Is is more interest in video games, is it that it is so difficult for working parents to provide transportation to evening and after school practices, or is it just a lack of interest?  Whatever the reason, it is just sad to see a band with only 23 members.

Sunday, we invited Mary and her family for dinner.  With Mary's working, Krissy's band and Bubby's therapy, we don't see very much of them and we had a wonderful evening.  Rod and I decided to do a boneless pork loin roast on the rotisserie and we basted it with Pam's homemade pear butter.  It created a nice, sweet crust while the meat inside was moist and full of flavor.  The side dishes were quick and easy, green beans with bacon, baked beans, and cheese topped pierogis.  We discussed our sad, sloppy Steelers and watched the highlights from some other games.  After they left, Rod and I ended our evening by watching Goldeneye with Pierce Brosnan (I love me some Pierce Brosnan).

All in all, it was a great weekend with beautiful weather, family, good food and old friends.

Could Last Week's Weigh-In Have Been a Fluke?

Today was weigh in day.  I was very apprehensive because last week showed such a large loss.  Could it have been a fluke?? I stuck to the program just the way I have been, but when I stepped on the scale and looked down, it showed that I had gained 2.8 pounds from last week.  I was so disappointed, could last week have been a fluke??  I don't really know.  But time marches on, and so do I.  I'm not giving up.  I'm determined that this excess weight will go away!

Last night we made Weight Watchers Macaroni and Cheese with Broccoli.  It was delicious, and the rest of the family must have thought so too, since Rod had 3 helpings!  One serving, however was 7 points, and I had a hard time finishing my serving.  Right now those points aren't a big deal, but as I lose weight I will lose points and then it could be a problem.  But in my Scarlet O'Hara mode, I won't think about that today.

Yesterday was a "cutting" day.  I cut 28 scarves.  Today is a "sewing day".  Off to sew! Have a great day.