Vegas 2009

Warm Weather

It is finally Spring. Warm and the grass is growing. Now I need to finish up all the indoor work so that I can perhaps garden this year. I thought pots of tomatoes, basil, lettuces, cukes. Guess I had better check on the mower, too. Today I am off and will knit,
walk Cricket, and sew. Dinner is already made which will make today an easy day.

New Year

Already into March and I have gone through the photos and cleaned the house. Well still have the garage and the den to do. I will attempt to blog more often. Rainy this weekend, of course it is because I am off. That's OK. Maybe I can finish a few more projects.

Quite Slow

I haven't done much blogging, or cleaning, or anything else it seems. I have gotten out my swaps except for one more that I need to finish this week. I did get the Christmas cards and gifts out in time (I hope) for Christmas. Maybe 2011 will be better. Although if I attempt anything, it will be Feb. 1st since we will be on vacation part of the month. I will get the Vegas pics from October on here also. Since the laptop that I am using isn't really mine, I can't upload pics or anything. Happy Holidays and I hope that next year I can fix my tendency to procrastinate.

So Slow

I don't get on here much anymore. Well I didn't before either. I am getting caught up on some projects. Still have a few to finish, but at least I know what I am doing. I hope this coming year to be more active and organized. Yeah right! I have cleaned out some of the garage and really need to finish that and then begin going through the closets. This coming year I would like to do:
1. Sort photos, probably toss all the negatives.
2. Fix all the damaged furniture-tile the tabletops, new covers for the chairs,
new lampshades, fix the broken chair, and refinish the mission oak chair.
3. Get Etsy up and running.
4. Ebay everything else that isn't needed.
5. Lose weight and exercise, maybe join a gym.
6. Clean extensively-touch up paint, repaint trim, clean carpets, fix whatever.
7. Save, save, save.
8. Get a laptop if I can't repair the old one.
9. Knit socks from the German Verena magazines.

I think that should be enough to try to accomplish.

Moving Along

I guess that I don't post too quickly here. Working on getting caught up on projects. I have cleaned out a bit in the garage, taking a couple of boxes to Goodwill and tossing out others. I will put things on ebay next week and take a few more things to Goodwill. After vacation, I will definitely get things on Etsy. It will be a bargain for the covers, I will go over and press and make sure all the totes, covers and bags are good for selling. I will also put bunnies, the wire basket, and other supplies on too. I suppose we are moving along slowly. I hope to start repairing things next year in preparation for getting our own home. New lampshades, recover chairs, tile the tables, repair the wooden chairs, ect.
I hope to finish up my sewing projects before vacation-bear clothes, porcelain doll outfit, wallet, pillow, monkey, shawl, and newest swap.
I'll keep on cleaning and also packing some things up so I am not having to dust so much. Next on the list is getting myself a laptop. The HP touch look interesting but that will be with my ebay and etsy sales.

Strawberry Surprise

 
Steve sent me these giant strawberries for Mother's Day. It was an awesome surprise. They were fabulous-tasty
juicy, and covered in chocolate.

Sewing Again, Maybe?

I started knitting a really pretty cotton scarflet or cowl. Then I've found that
I don't have tops to wear with it. So, in purusing the pattern websites, Vogue
has a cool pattern for a variety of tops that are modern and would work well with
scarves and cowls. I have the fabric and think that maybe I should start sewing again. I also found a nice pattern for a top and pants that would work with the
linen fabric I also have. Or, do I make the shirtdress pattern I have? Are they
still in fashion? I guess that I will have to do some research and see what's in.
I haven't made myself anything in years, I still have a pair of shorts cut out and waiting to be made, but they are a Hawaiian print, so I think that I will toss those out and stick with the plain colors I already have. I used to go to Joann's to get patterns at a huge discount. All that is down here is Hancock. I'll have to see what kind of discounts they have. I thought that Joann's had things like all Vogue and Butterick patterns $3 something like that. Now these things are over $10 a piece. At those prices, I can't afford to just buy them in case I may make something or they had better be very classic styles. Well, off to making a couple of sock monkeys today and then deciding which one or ones will go to my swap partner. I need to get this one finished up before I begin on the new one which has my mind swimming with ideas.

Where has the Month Gone?

It is hard to believe that it is already the end of March. I did get my informal swap packages out, along with the quilt blocks. Those seem to be taking a long time for some reason when they are really quite small. It is probably because no matter how hard I try, the blocks were either too small or too large. I had to add a border on one of them, but the funny thing is that the ones I received had the same problem. I had to chuckle. I guess I am a decent sewer, but not such a good quilter. I do better with crazy quilting where there isn't the need for being so accurate. I hope that my recipients like the things that I made and sent out. It is fun to receive packages in the mail and to be creative in making and sending out ones too. It can really make a day brighter!

Beautiful Weekend

It was a great weekend-temps in the 50's and I am over my cold-no coughing or weezing. Took Cricket for a walk, which we will start doing regularly. The kids
are all exercising it seems, so I think that we also need to get on the bandwagon
and get in shape. Especially since both pairs of pants that fit, tore big time-
like I can't fix them. Went to Walmart, which is where I had purchased them and
found that they don't have anything in my size in a tall. Went to the men's section
and found a pair that I will have to exchange for a bigger size, but I think they will work and at least they will be long enough. I will check KMart too. I do miss
going to the Eddie Bauer warehouse, which was only 5 minutes from my house. They had all the discontinued and returned merchandise and they carry talls. I may actually have to start sewing again to find clothes that fit, at least pants.
Knitting up some dishcloths and cleaning tawashi for the newest swap.

Tired

Boy, I am tired, I am tired of the cold weather. I am also tired of having a cold for the past
week. It sure takes its toll on getting things done, the energy is just gone.
But, the good thing is that I received these wonderful tea themed gifts from
my friends in the Ravelry Pin Cushion Group-Karen, Dawn, and Monica. I have
been drinking a lot of tea and taking a lot of cold medicine. I am hoping to
finish up my last couple of swaps and get everything in the mail this week, a
bit late, but only by a week.

Snow in South Carolina

We had about 3" of snow Friday night Feb. 12th. It made for some tricky driving since they don't salt or treat the roads and there are some pretty steep hills.
It was melted by Saturday afternoon when the temps reached about 45 degrees.
We are looking at some crummy weather again Sunday evening.

Catching Up

Haven't written much lately. In December we had our knitting group Christmas Party.
A great time was had by all at Robyn's house. The gift exchange worked out so well.
Everyone is so creative. Sarah embroidered the most beautiful picture which I have hanging in the hall.

Las Vegas 2009

What a great time we had!!!!! Lots of laughter and winning and eating. We stayed at the Imperial Palace the first night. I like their buffet-not too much food to choose from and lots of yummy desserts. The next three nights were at the Bellagio very roomy and push button draperies and sheers. The next three evenings were at Cesaer's Palace in the Augustus tower which is brand new and it certainly was palacial. The room had a couch and table with chairs and a very roomy bathroom with whirlpool tub. I enjoyed eating from their food court which has delicious wraps and excellent lobster bisque. Had a great time downtown and just the whole week made my whole year.

Changes Again

Well here we go again I guess. John is taking a new job which at least
won't require the constant travel he had before. I hope this one
works. Lisa has decided to go back to school and work part-time. I
hope her car lasts. I'm glad that she wants to get into a good field-
pharmacy. With all the baby boomers, it should be growing. Chuck
keeps looking at getting a house, something foreclosed on and cheap.

Steve seems to be settled. He has a new roommate and some budget goals
which I hope he can stick with.

I've been cleaning and pricing to hopefully be able to take to the Pickens
flea market and sell. I would like to continue to get rid of everything
that we don't need and haven't used in the past year or two.

I've been knitting a summer top-Simplicity from Verena Summer 2009. Need to
finish before summer ends, although it can also be a vest. The fall issue
is due out in Sept. and I would like to make a cardigan. Looking at the
German preview option, I think that I am going to make the one that was in
last year's issue.

Jockey Lot

WOW!! I sure have a lot of stuff! I have slowly, very slowly been trying to get
rid of the rest of the items that I don't need. I have been going through and
pricing and boxing up everything that I want to take to the Pickens Flea Market
or Jockey Lot as it is known down here. Porcelain dolls, tupperware, books,
vhs tapes, stereo stuff, just a lot of things that I don't need and want
anymore. I hope I can get most of this sold. It isn't worth putting on ebay.
It is nickel and dime type things and items that have pages and pages on ebay
and chances are won't sell.

I hope that the kids don't spend a lot of time and energy buying up material
goods that they will just have to dispose of down the road. Some of my items
were given to me, but in such small quarters, where am I to put them? I
wish that I had been able to eliminate this stuff before we moved. Oh well
too late now, but before we move again, I want to thin all the boxes out of the
garage. Most of what I have will never be used again.

I am working on my knitting too. No more adding to the yarn and fabric stash.
I actually have enough yarn for 10 pair of socks, some cotton tops, and a wool
cardigan. I also have fabrics for a suit, tops, nightgown, and the most beautiful
fabrics from South Korea and Saudi Arabia. I have been looking at Vogue magazine
for patterns to use what I have. I really like the patterns that include a top,
jacket, pants, skirt, dress-multiple pieces that I can mix and match. I have
been whittling out the old clothes that I have in my closet along with the too
small items from years ago. Maybe I will eventually get some of this accomplished,
but one step at a time. So, we'll see how the flea market goes and putting a few
items on ebay and getting my etsy shop started, maybe that will clear out and make
room to organize my crafting.