Blender Cover

Hi Gang-
I hope that you are having as Lovely a weekend as I am having.I got up & did my chores , allowing for the hour between times when DH & I are suppose to wait from the time you take your meds until you are allowed to eat.
Then I came in & we ate breakfast & DS called about parts for my little Tracker that he  is working on.Gosh it is just like anything else that you are working on  - it always needs something that you do not know about until you get into it. It needs bearings for the transmission & he had to order them  so DH left to go pay for them.
When he left I tore the living room apart -pulling everything to one side of the room-then steam cleaning it.Next I moved that side to the other side and steam cleaned it  That was the time that DH showed back up. It turned out that DS had not called the part in on time-so we have to wait till Weds. for it to come in.
Poor DH he could not get to his easy chair so he went outdoors to work on a vehicle . It's a shame you have to "boot"" them out to get to clean.

I was so proud of the floor that I put the baby gate up for a couple of hours just to be able to enjoy a clean hardwood floor. No critters OR men OR boys tromping across it with mud all over the place. It was very enjoyable even if I was running in & out.

Then I was hanging out laundry & I fixed us Cornbread & Buttermilk & DH headed back out to work on a vehicle & I headed to the sewing room-JOY!

That flat piece of fabric was the one that I embroidered the butterflies on in preparation for birthing it into a blender cover. Amazing how you can do that , isn't it? LOL

I cut out a circle for the top like a hat to finish it off & I even had good luck attaching the hat to the body!
Boy, I was on a roll. That was when I discovered it had started to rain , but the laundry was still wet  - so I always heard that fresh rain water was like washing your clothes in softener , so we will see. The butterfly with the white on it is the front of the cover.

There are two butterflies on each side  of it to give me some "eye-candy". LOL
So, my day has been VERY successful & I am  happy with it. I do wish that I could "clone" me though & have the other me cleaning the kitchen & checking out Food & another to be doing some things I want to do outside. I did get 4 loads of litter off of the yard this morning & poked it in the wood stove. I am making progress ,even if it is " A cookie sheet full" at a time. It really works nice though because the sheet Just fits the door to the wood stove Perfectly & then I shove the whole pile right into the stove. YEA. Even the walnuts are not exploding on me when I put them in the fire -like they do in the Fall when they are fresh & full of nut.
I am getting a lot of help from the squirrels though - they chew out the nut & leave the empty hull . What consideration they offer. Sometimes they even sing songs to me if they are not dropping nuts on my head. LOL

Well, time marches on - I need to go gather the eggs & lock up a few of the chickens & watch the flowers grow!LOL
Love to all & Many happy stitches!
Linda

What happens when you stumble

with a rotary cutter in your other hand?

Yep, that is what happens & I feel very lucky that I did not do more damage. I told my DH that everytime I have Ever cut my fingers that I ALWAYS have a sink full of dishes just waiting for me.

Did you think that I have a picture of what I was working on? Welllllll, me too. I snapped it right after I did this picture of "the sewing room assistant queen". But just now when I went to download it - that picture is not in there. GRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!That white piece of paper was what I was using to draw off a pattern for my blender cover to go along with that toaster cover.

It is on a blue quilted piece of fabric that comes close to matching  it. But, I cannot show it to you & now the camera keeps  telling me that the card is not initialized and it will not let me take any pictures at all. I do not know what that means -except I know it means trouble. Dumb thing. Something else to challenge you.

I called the gentleman that I purchased that Janome embroidery machine off of & told him that I was calling to purchase a usb stick that I could use with his Janome-just so I would get it right. He gave me an interesting tidbit. He said it would be a small size stick because they had found that these machines work much better with a smaller size usb stick. I am glad I took my "own" advice & checked with him first. Another thing I discovered , he is just one of the sweetest people I have  ever done business with . He took time to talk to me& he Listened to me - I could hardly believe it. Don't you wish all people were like that when you needed help!

Well, I better let you go -maybe tomorrow I can figure out the camera because I know I need it working-there are plenty more projects to have to show , thanks to Mr. Janome.
Love to all & many happy stitches!!!!!!!!!!

Toaster cover

What a day - no wonder they get away from me.  I actually bumped into a wonderful day in the grocery store & she said she just did not know where days went to - then she laughed & said ,"TV".LOL  Our tv is very lonely today because DH has been gone all afternoon & I have been buzzing around. Got all of my morning chores accomplished & raked another woodstove full of tree debris . Yea-getting there!

Then I worked at loading my #2 daughter-in-law's chickens ( I had baby sat them all Winter for her -and received wonderful eggs from them in return) on DH's truck to take them home to her. I learned that I do get attached to any animal - no matter who they belong to. It really hurt to see them going down the driveway & knowing those beautiful eggs would not be there in the morning?
But, I reminded myself that DH wants to get chicks like hers(they are red sex-links). All of my life I have loved the little bantams with all of their colors & personality-) Until this past Winter when my bantams quiet laying around Thanksgiving & they are just starting to lay a few now. With the price of groceries as high as they are -the red ones laid every single day all Winter long -with no extra care.It was awesome! So, live & learn! LOL

 Girls Heading Down the Driveway-Bye Girls - you were very edcational& your eggs were so appreciated all winter long.

Once in the house I wanted to do dishes, laundry , steam the floors and more -But- I decided that since DH was gone the house could just wait because it is VERY SELDOM that the house is quiet because DH is really married to the television.

I needed the quiet to read the manual that came with Mr. Janome. I knew if I just left it sitting that I would slowly lose my courage to try to see what it would do-because I would not want to be disappointed once again since so many had said it was my fault - I was doing things wrong. SO - that was why I headed to the sewing room

It was nice & quiet & my brain was actually trying to behave itself  & let the knowledge contained in the manual soak in. I took it step by step. I had wanted a toaster cover for Forever & decided that would be my first project.

This particular cover was a gift from an Oregon friend who is a bus driver & a wonderful gal. It amazed me AFTER (you know how that hind-sight thing is) --- that it is actually a larger size cover & we actually have the  larger size toaster! Talk about things starting to look better????

 So I carefully loaded everything up-I had a problem hooping it because the binding part was right in the way of the hoop . It took ALL of my strength to finally pull that off and it did jump out of the hoop on me twice -but Mr. Janome did not fuss at me one little bit!

It actually started to " PURR' right along just singing its song as I was holding my breath! I just could not believe it- it was working !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 As you can see I managed to do the top and the sides of the cover with this design that was already in the machine. I have got to get a flashdrive to be able to use the ones from the internet -so I just wanted to see if this machine would Hate me instantly??? I certainly hope that it NEVER changes its mind about me & it will be Love forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Whooppppeeeeee!  Hey- all this was accomplished during a horrific thunder storm too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is good -counting my blessings!
happy stitches to you

Maybe Tomorrow

Hi gang,So
It was another one of those days that just seemed to run off & leave me. The morning started off nice-getting the chores accomplished successfully & enjoying a morning too beautiful to believe. The sun was out & the weather was so warm & easy to work in.

I even got the broom rake & worked on another small area -then raking it all up & putting it in the woodstove until I had it full. All of these scraps of tree branches & walnut  twigs kept the stove all day long. DH came & hollered for me to come get ready to go. We were leaving an hour early to stop at the Humane Society store (place where volunteers sell donated items to help the animals in need)

DH found a used laptop fan for this nice used laptop I am learning how to use. Of course it plugs into the USB port - and I need that space for the flashdrive thingy(like my technical jargon)So that is something new to figure out.

We did find a nice used answering machine -so will hope to see if that works. We were very pleased. Then it was time for my counseling session- boy did I need that. My angel was there to help me decipher the events of my life these last two weeks.To gain insight & learn from it all.Some people just give from themselves to help others along the way & isn't that the job of an angel.

Then we stopped & got gas & cat food & shavings to clean cages with on Friday. I did get my laundry hung out this morning & then carried it in at dark,when we arrived home. It was a blessing to have a full moon
to see by. I locked the chickens up  & then my daughter in law #1 called & said she had heard that DH was coming to her house tomorrow to work on our vehicles & wondered if he would  bring them to her. I told her that we always had to wait to see how he would feel  first -then if he could not make it she would come get them. When I locked them up & told them good night I realized that I had got too attached to them & this would hurt.  We did look at some baby chicks today but they were not the same breeds as hers . I would normally not pick that breed because I have always loved the small -brightly colored bantams - but mine always quit laying during the winter-time & I have to wait till Spring for eggs once again. Also bantams make wonderful mothers-but along the way they like to sit on Any egg during the summer & they quit laying to hatch their babies. These sweet red sex-link chickens have laid all Winter long & they do not sit on eggs -so your eggs do not get ruined.Plus, if I am going to get too attached to them -they might as well be mine.LOL

So , tomorrow if DH gets to go to our son's house to work on the vehicles I have high hopes thata I can do chores , clean our floors because they are crudy -then my desire is to head to the sewing room & get introduced to Mr. Janome the embroidery machine.Hope,hope, hope!
Love to all
Linda

I'm coming back???? LOL

Yep those little pills sure do save my sanity easing the pain & fog until I almost feel like a normal person, and I don't break down bawling if someone looks at me crooked.

That made it nice as DH had that doctor appointment this morning. Turned out it was a "treatment -visit" instead of a doctor visit - that will be next month.They gave him his shot that he hates & then loaded him up with his meds & we were out the door.

Our brother-in-law had sent us 72.00 so we stopped going home & grabbed some groceries & some gas & that was it. DH said that he was tired of looking in the  fridge & seeing nothing. LOL  Our youngest son is getting us some groceries also & they are coming for a visit when they do. It will be so nice to see them & the grandson. He is almost walking now & soon there will be no stopping him. lol

Once we were home & changed clothes I went out & raked some more on the yard. It is a disaster & now that it is so warm this week and not freezing ANY this week but it does chill the house by morning I rake up all of the litter & fill the stove with that & then lay a couple logs on that & I am killing two birds with one stone. Having our fire & cleaning the yard at the same time-that sounds like a win-win for me. It is that time of year when the more you look - the more you see to do. I cleaned up my smallest flower bed because I wanted to try an experiment . The chooks love to get in there looking for worms & tear my flowers all to pieces. So, I had a piece of soft netting that you use to cover your fruit trees to protect them from the birds eating your fruits. I laid it down in the bed & weighed it down with a few rocks. I want to see how they react to that ????? I am really hoping that I win the battle of the flower bed.

While I was working DH came & hollered at me to come fix his treat. We had splurged & got a container of oysters because He LOVES oyster stew & since all the food has been tasting terrible to him I wanted to see how that would go. Turned out he loved it - I had not heard him say that in Months now.I ate a bowl of the broth with crackers.

After we ate & even took a walk as I went up to lock in the chooks. That was nice.Once in the house I managed to get to the sewing room & complete my house shirt. You can hardly even tell that there are birds in that design -so that is why it will be a "house-shirt". I love the color & the knit is so nice & soft so it will be so comfortable. I usually like to use the new ones for go to town so it will feel strange wearing one looking so new. LOL  I am so tickled that this will be my last battle with the Brother embroidery machine. Yea!

The serger still "bucked " and acted up a little -but still I pulled it off. I even used the "lettuce trim" around the sleeves and bottom. Looks like I am back in the creative progress! Yea! Had me worried there for a while!

What a wonderful - beautiful day!
Happy stitches to you!

Monday Meltdown

Have you ever had one of those days that you just got overwhelmed & caught off guard? Well, today was that day for me. The weather was sooooo beautiful & I had got all of my morning chores accomplished & a bath & hair clean -just to have an appointment with the doctor. I have a lovely young lady doctor that I am nuts about. She is kind & sensitive to your feelings- But- I think my "unraveling" came once we arrived at the clinic & signed in. I had been off of my meds for two weeks. I had called & told them that I would run out of my meds Before my doctor visit & I did not know what to do. The young pharmacist had called & said that she would have someone call me . But nobody called & I ran out  &  Mr. Fibromyalgia jumped on me with a vengeance. The pain moved back in & my body was consumed with fire & the brain fog settled back in & I was lost. It was horrible -but I think I bluffed my way through as I did not want my DH to have anything else on him as he fights with his cancer.

Once we arrived at the clinic I could feel that depression settle on me -just the thought that I have finally been diagnosed with this monster & the right medicine which locks it away in its cage , but had been denied it for two weeks just seemed more than I could bear on the inside. It is hard to fight extreme pain because it leads to exhaustion . But, when I gave the girl my papers she handed me my prescription- and was dated two weeks ago-it had been here all that time & I had not been notified. I told her I had a doctor appointment & did not know about my meds. She asked if I wanted them & I said a definite YES . But while I sat there waiting something inside of me began to crumble & when that sweet little nurse called me as I approached her & she asked those fateful words -how are you? That did it - I dissolved in tears -of course -mortifying myself.Once the tears started -there was no stopping them.

I made an absolute idiot of myself - but they definitely found out that I needed those meds . Same story with my sweet doctor. We had a sweet chat -in between tears. It turned out that my thyroid was messed up too. I showed her my gums -how I seemed to have a bony area sticking out on one side which made me 'whoppy-jawed". She too thought that when he had pulled my teeth he had broken that one side off uneven leaving me really whoppy-jawed. I asked if she thought it might interfer with getting dentures to fit & she said probably not since they would make a mold. But, I just hate that EVERYTHING on me is always Quirky.

So it ended up she raised  my thyroid meds & I have to have bloodwork in April . I apologized to her and told her that I guess once I was behind doors where DH could not see me I just let all of my pain & fears loose . I try to be so brave for him as I do not want to add any extra burden on him at this time when he needs all of his strength to fight this disease. I will be fine once I get my meds ( or as Chris on DietCokeRocks  - calls them- happy pills) back in my system . Plus, I get to see my counselor on Weds & they are calling for such beautiful weather here -with all of that sunshine - I will be on top of the world  & a new woman.  LOL

So, with high hopes I came home -did evening chores  & fed us -then started on that serger once again. I pulled the manual out & read & re-read taking it one sentence at a time -like Lynne had taught me to use for patterns & construction.

After another hour we had come to some kind of a compromise-not perfect -but usable for a shirt for me -hopefully to work out the kinks as we go along. So, I managed to get the shoulders re-sewn & the neckband attached. Making progress -but I need to lock the chickens up & feed the woodstove & get ready for bed as DH has a doctor appointment in the morning.

I hope you guys have had a lovely day - the weather here is going to be "unbelieveably too beautiful " here for the rest of the week. Everybody both here & in other countries are talking about the "global warming affect" & wondering if this is why all of our weather is so different?

So, love to all & Happy stitches to you until I see you again. :-)

A new week

Not much sewing going on as the serger is still mad at me , so it was a pleasant break when our oldest son & his family came up to pick up my car to take it back to his house to work on it next weekend. Cory works such long hard hours Sunday is about the only day that he gets a break .

Of course we made a swing by the sewing room to visit with the new member of the team-But - Miss Rosie had to give everybody a through inspection & verify them eligible to enter her domain.  She can be so funny - But - one thing you can say about Rosie is that she has taught everybody & everything the meaning of the word RESPECT.

You don't catch Rosie in a mood this "mellow" very often at all-maybe she just wanted to start the week off differently.
I still have not got the serger to co-operate at all - so my shirt is still in limbo! Dog gone thing!
As soon as I ever get it back in whack - I will finish my shirt - I just hope not too many more grey hairs take over my head before that happens. LOL

Plus, I need to get a flashdrive before I can test the Janome.Time will tell. Tomorrow is my day for a doctor visit & I am dreading it. I have been out of my meds for the fibromyalgia for the last week  & the pain is getting bad. Maybe that has something to do with me & the serger?It's hard to accomplish anything good when you have physical problems. They tell you to NEVER stop your meds -but - then they won't let me get them anywhere else & they will not return your phone calls - so I don't know what to do?I wish I could just afford my own doctor.

Well, loves - I hope you have had a lovely day!
hugs -linda