Random

Haven't been posting for a while.  So much going on.  Garden is in and hopefully with the crazy weather we are having on the coast it will hold up.  I planted Garlic for the first time and am keeping my fingers crossed. 
My husband has been brewing his own beer and found a bread recipe for the used grain.  It's pretty good, this is my second go around with this recipe.  It makes two large loaves of bread.

On a rare visit to Hobby Lobby, I found two sweater/shawl brooches on clearance.  I only bought one Simplicity pattern for $1.99.
 

Last weekend it happened, I bought the bucket list sewing machine.  I have always wanted a Singer Featherweight 221 and as I was talking about my new machine to my hairdresser a month or so back I was telling her about Featherweights.  She just tosses out, "I have one of those, want to buy it?"  Really?  So, this happened:

Haven't had a chance to use it yet....I just want to look at it.  It's from 1956. 

Keeping Busy

Simplicity 8423 View A.  I made this in a very thin knit material that I probably will not use again.  At least I am putting the new machine to use.

I finally tried out my new Amish Swift.  Gift from my mother from Amazon.  I wound three balls of sock yarn and I tried to use the Nostepinne but I may have to use a thicker yarn to get the hang of it.  A swift sure did make ball winding a lot easier!

Feels Like Winter

We have had a wet, humid winter here and yesterday morning was one of the rare occasions that we had a freeze this winter.  My recent fails were a hat I don't even want to talk about and over dehydrated mangoes.  I made two aprons over the holidays.  We have a local sewing store with a limited supply of fabric but I had an itch and came up with these:

My daughter and I stopped at the Redwing outlet in the next town. They had a great deal on a very limited selection of women's shoes.  One pair for $15 and if you bought two you only had to pay $20.  No brainer.  I opted for the free shoe jewelry on my pair. 

 

 

We are back to being warm and humid today. 

 









Hello

It's been busy around here!  Had to make another trip to Kansas City for business and I was able to make a trip to see my granddaughter.  We were put up at the Westin, this was my view:

I bought another pen and bottle of ink, of course!

Then we went to see our granddaughter who is laughing and babbling.  She is pictured here babbling to my husband.

Here she is babbling to this thing I bought her.

And this is how she looks at me LOL.

That's OK, I know I am secretly her favorite.

My mom gave me a Christmas present early.

I am not the greatest seamstress in the world but my old machine was always giving me a problem and I was giving myself a headache comparing features of different machines and prices.  I decided on a more economical machine and honestly it sews like a dream.  It made me feel I wasn't so bad after all!  I have made a dress and blouse already no pictures yet.  Thanks mom!

Just so you know I haven't been slacking on the home front, I recently canned 20 quarts of tomato sauce.  They are hidden from the college students so they don't take off with all of them.

We recently made a trip north of us to see college student number 3 sing in the choir.  We went to eat first and she picked the place.  This is why:

Yes I tried it, I am sure we have diabetes after this. 

Our local high school did an amazing job in a production of Prometheus Bound.  My son is on the right.  It took them to the Drama Fest competition where they did a fantastic job.  I am amazed at all the lines they had to remember.

Be back soon!

Strike While The Iron Is Hot

A friend of mine is teaching herself to sew, with some help from me.  I bought her the pattern she wanted to try and picked up the Fall 2014 Fleece Concepts booklet from Hancock Fabrics.  This caught my daughter's eye:

This is all tied.  After a discussion she decided she did not want to make a duvet, just a cover, so I did not have to buy an additional 6 yards of fabric.   She also has a twin bed not a full one as pictured.   The printed fleece for this project is 70%  off ($3.29 yd).  The pattern book I bought at Hobby Lobby with a 40%  coupon ($6.49).  The pillow form was not on sale, so the total was $56.    Had I not bought the pillow it would have been $43.  This also includes an extra 2 yards for curtains.  I will still have some scraps left over to make additional things also.  Not too bad and it will give her bedroom a whole new look.  She was excited, so I wanted to get everything together before the next best thing came along.  
Sorry for lack of posting.  The kids are all back at school, which meant a ton of paperwork and running to the doctor for physicals and such.  We are still trying to settle into the new routine of this school year.  Middle son is driving so that makes things a little easier, one less to pick up, but more nerve wracking.  

Humid Day

I hope everyone who celebrates had a good Thanksgiving.  We traveled as usual and the temperature dropped to 19 degrees.  I am far too acclimated living in the south for this kind of weather.

Those who read know this is the time a year we get a deer (or two) to fill the freezer.  Since we had enough leftover we only needed one.  Bad news, we didn't get a deer, good news, one of the in-laws shot a few and gave us one.  I was very thankful indeed!  My MIL also gifted me a typewriter but I've been so busy since we got home I haven't had time to take it out of the case, it will have to wait for a future post.

It's that time of the year folks!  If you want to sign up for the Money Saving Challenge for 2014 head on over to Frugal Makes Cents Two.  I need to reel myself in more and this a perfect opportunity for me to stay on track.

I needed a break from the insanely long Dr. Who scarf I am knitting so here is the silly rabbit I made.  The pattern was free and made from materials I had on hand.