I disapeared for a few weeks. I do that sometimes when I get really focussed. So what's new?
I developed a pattern. Well, I call it an "instructional" because there are no pattern pieces, just the instructions regarding how to cut what.
It is for a clutch I designed to work with a larger bag that a friend of mine developed. Kind of a companion piece. I've got a first update that needs to be done, and hopefully will have it for sale soon.
That took a lot of time, making the sample, re-making the sample, re-working the sample, writing, editting...you get the idea.
It is not an easy process, and it can become all-consuming. Thus my absence. Even friends and family have wondered where I've disapeared to. No where, really! Just been buried at work and at home.
What about the kitties? Right now, we have fleas. ICK! Fighting the slow battle, and on the look out for natural alternatives for prevention. Any thoughts? Feel free to comment!
How is Sophia Loren doing? Well, she graduated from living under the bed to living in the closet. Has a couple shelves she's moved into, kind of like a walk-up. She pops out more for food and luvins. Spends a lot of time in the window too.
This past weekend she found a little place behind books on the lower shelf of my coffee table. She began hanging out in there to be close to me when I'm home. She can hide there and not be seen by the others.
She really doesn't like Max and Cleo. Who can blame her? They are still mean to her, but she now fights back.
Kids...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Adventures of Cleo, the Happiest Cat In the World
Cleo has a definite morning routine. Most days it goes like this:
Start Time, between 7 and 8am... Wake up, come bounding out to find me, hop across me (on sofa) to get to the window, look outside a while. Hop back across, eat, drink, cover the food dish so no one else can eat. Jump up and lay next to me for petting and chin scratches. Jump down, dash to bedroom to see if Sophia Loren, the new little kitty, is still there. Terrorize her a little, get bored, begin running room to room, preferably in figure 8's. If Max happens to be in the path, she just plows him down. She jumps and attaches herself to side of long bench, and runs across it (on the side!) as a means of entering/exiting the living room. This goes on a while... When she gets bores, she follows me to the bathroom, plays in tub, steals toilet paper, rolls on my shoes, and finally collapses with exhaustion on the bathroom floor until I get in the shower.
One morning I had left the bathroom, missing the whole playing with shoes and passing out part. Apparently she chose to take her morning nap in the bathtub. I walked back into the bathroom and hear loud, echoing purring. I pulled back the shower curtain and there she was...
She was on her back, completely stretched out with her back legs straight out behind her, her front legs, curled, up in the air. Her eyes were closed, and well, if not for the purring, I'd have thought she was dead!
I spoke her name, she opened her eyes, turned her head slightly, meowed, and went right back into death position.
She is by far the happiest cat I've ever met.
Start Time, between 7 and 8am... Wake up, come bounding out to find me, hop across me (on sofa) to get to the window, look outside a while. Hop back across, eat, drink, cover the food dish so no one else can eat. Jump up and lay next to me for petting and chin scratches. Jump down, dash to bedroom to see if Sophia Loren, the new little kitty, is still there. Terrorize her a little, get bored, begin running room to room, preferably in figure 8's. If Max happens to be in the path, she just plows him down. She jumps and attaches herself to side of long bench, and runs across it (on the side!) as a means of entering/exiting the living room. This goes on a while... When she gets bores, she follows me to the bathroom, plays in tub, steals toilet paper, rolls on my shoes, and finally collapses with exhaustion on the bathroom floor until I get in the shower.
One morning I had left the bathroom, missing the whole playing with shoes and passing out part. Apparently she chose to take her morning nap in the bathtub. I walked back into the bathroom and hear loud, echoing purring. I pulled back the shower curtain and there she was...
She was on her back, completely stretched out with her back legs straight out behind her, her front legs, curled, up in the air. Her eyes were closed, and well, if not for the purring, I'd have thought she was dead!
I spoke her name, she opened her eyes, turned her head slightly, meowed, and went right back into death position.
She is by far the happiest cat I've ever met.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Birthday Party, 40ish Style
A friend of mine turned 40 this week. To celebrate, she lined up a limo to pick a few of her friends up and transport us to another friend's house for a party. What a great idea! No driving, no going out to a bar or restaraunt, just a relaxing evening.
The limo did the pick ups and we had some champaigne on the way to the party. It was Jordon, and if you've never tried it, do so! A really yummy sensation! Really a sparkling wine, but quite tasty.
We arrived at party central. The birthday girl's family and the hostess put on quite the spread. I hadn't been there in a while, and a new addition to their phenominal house is a room they converted into a bar.
The bar overlooks the pool, and is so tastefully done. We hung out, ate, had some beverages, listened to music, and had a great night.
I want to say that the birthday girl made amazing dirty martinis. I've never really liked them, but hers were really good! I have to remember that. I tried a number of tasty concoctions, then switched to water and soda at dinner (I had to be able to function today).
Dinner was served, the birthday girl requested Carrabas so that no one would have to cook. Mmmmm so good. Chicken Marsala, Chicken Parmasan, Caesar Salad, pasta, bread... More music, sat by the pool because it's February in Florida and you can do that. It was a great night.
At one point, there was police activity. Seems someone tried to break into the house next door. Six sherriff gentlemen and a really big police dog! We were impressed with the response. When asked, our hostess told them that we were all too old to have done something stupid like that, LOL! Happy to report the neighbors were safe and all ended well.
Limo picked us up about 1am and we went back to our homes. The birthday girl was walked to her door with all her gifts, and we thanked her for a great night.
Not a bad way to attend a birthday party! I guess I'm a responsible adult, but I loved it!
The limo did the pick ups and we had some champaigne on the way to the party. It was Jordon, and if you've never tried it, do so! A really yummy sensation! Really a sparkling wine, but quite tasty.
We arrived at party central. The birthday girl's family and the hostess put on quite the spread. I hadn't been there in a while, and a new addition to their phenominal house is a room they converted into a bar.
The bar overlooks the pool, and is so tastefully done. We hung out, ate, had some beverages, listened to music, and had a great night.
I want to say that the birthday girl made amazing dirty martinis. I've never really liked them, but hers were really good! I have to remember that. I tried a number of tasty concoctions, then switched to water and soda at dinner (I had to be able to function today).
Dinner was served, the birthday girl requested Carrabas so that no one would have to cook. Mmmmm so good. Chicken Marsala, Chicken Parmasan, Caesar Salad, pasta, bread... More music, sat by the pool because it's February in Florida and you can do that. It was a great night.
At one point, there was police activity. Seems someone tried to break into the house next door. Six sherriff gentlemen and a really big police dog! We were impressed with the response. When asked, our hostess told them that we were all too old to have done something stupid like that, LOL! Happy to report the neighbors were safe and all ended well.
Limo picked us up about 1am and we went back to our homes. The birthday girl was walked to her door with all her gifts, and we thanked her for a great night.
Not a bad way to attend a birthday party! I guess I'm a responsible adult, but I loved it!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday Snippet - Adventures at the Walgreens..
I was at the drugstore picking up a couple things, and thought to myself how lucky I was that there were only two people in line at the counter. The parking lot was full, where was everyone?
As I stepped into line I "felt" someone fall in behind me. Soon after the clerk called for assistance. I turned around and there were 10 people behind me!
The clerk looked at me and asked, "Where did they all come from?" Her question had a slight accusitory tone to it, like I had done something, so...
I looked her square in the eye and replied, "It's my fault, I have bacon in my pocket."
She burst out lauging. The ladies in front of me bust out laughing. People behind me were confused.
It was a magical moment.
As I stepped into line I "felt" someone fall in behind me. Soon after the clerk called for assistance. I turned around and there were 10 people behind me!
The clerk looked at me and asked, "Where did they all come from?" Her question had a slight accusitory tone to it, like I had done something, so...
I looked her square in the eye and replied, "It's my fault, I have bacon in my pocket."
She burst out lauging. The ladies in front of me bust out laughing. People behind me were confused.
It was a magical moment.
Friday, February 20, 2009
It's All about the Hair!
I got my first haircut this week in seven months. Yes, SEVEN. Why? Quite simply, like many Americans, I've cut back.
Tuesday however, I declared, MY HAIR NEEDS A BAILOUT!
A few of my friends tried to tell me over the past few months, "There are some things a girl can't go without." OK, I admit, seven months may have been extreme.
My stylist, the amazing Stacy, kindly squeezed me into her busy day. She's a gal that you can never just call and get in with because she's always booked a month out. Wednesday was my lucky day.She had a few minutes and she made room.
She said that she expected my hair to look like crap, and that she was pleasantly surprised. I told her that it was a testament to the cut she had given me before. In truth, up until about a month ago, it was still manageable.
I had this short, sassy, wispy thing going on. It has really in the last month that it quit drying properly up and holding its shape.
My bangs were down almost to my chin, and I had the sad, tell-tail sign of a mullet in training. I joked that we should have taken before and after pics.
When she was done working her magic, I had real bangs again, and my head felt about 10 pounds lighter. We laughed at the PILE of hair on the floor. She said it looked like a small animal.
She also was very cool and suggested a color family to work from the next time I color. Yes, when I colored in December, I was shocked at the dark red w/ fushia highlights I got, and how it took a week for wash water to run clear. The color did grow on me, and it covered the nasty gray that is cropping up, but I'd love to be a tad lighter.
It is amazing what something as simple as a haircut can do to change a persons mood. I had the most wonderful time at work on Thursday, I feel like a whole new person! I got some planning done, I worked out a problem I was having with a design, oh yes, my hair must be cut more often!
Tuesday however, I declared, MY HAIR NEEDS A BAILOUT!
A few of my friends tried to tell me over the past few months, "There are some things a girl can't go without." OK, I admit, seven months may have been extreme.
My stylist, the amazing Stacy, kindly squeezed me into her busy day. She's a gal that you can never just call and get in with because she's always booked a month out. Wednesday was my lucky day.She had a few minutes and she made room.
She said that she expected my hair to look like crap, and that she was pleasantly surprised. I told her that it was a testament to the cut she had given me before. In truth, up until about a month ago, it was still manageable.
I had this short, sassy, wispy thing going on. It has really in the last month that it quit drying properly up and holding its shape.
My bangs were down almost to my chin, and I had the sad, tell-tail sign of a mullet in training. I joked that we should have taken before and after pics.
When she was done working her magic, I had real bangs again, and my head felt about 10 pounds lighter. We laughed at the PILE of hair on the floor. She said it looked like a small animal.
She also was very cool and suggested a color family to work from the next time I color. Yes, when I colored in December, I was shocked at the dark red w/ fushia highlights I got, and how it took a week for wash water to run clear. The color did grow on me, and it covered the nasty gray that is cropping up, but I'd love to be a tad lighter.
It is amazing what something as simple as a haircut can do to change a persons mood. I had the most wonderful time at work on Thursday, I feel like a whole new person! I got some planning done, I worked out a problem I was having with a design, oh yes, my hair must be cut more often!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Shirt Class, Kitty Update
Hi all! I wanted to take a moment and brag on my shirt class! I taught the shirt pictured over two evenings at ye olde workplace. I went into the second class fearful we would never finish - we had the collar, sleeves, buttons, buttonholes, and hems to do.
I knew the collar would take a long time, as I had done it in the sample, so I bounced it off a pal at work. She showed me the coolest trick, involving setting the collar into the front facing and using a bias strip across the inside to use to cover the seam.
WHY HASN'T ANYONE SHOWN ME THE BIAS STRIP TRIP BEFORE????
I practiced, and whala! It turned out amazing.
I also practiced my button holes, and learned how to use the button feature on the machines.
Happy to report that the class was thrilled with the collar solution, and we got that done along with the sleeves, one button, and one buttonhole. We also discussed the hem, to wait until buttons and holes were finished, and I showed them a trick that the alterations lady showed me for the hem.
Happy class, happy me, happy day!
Kitty Update: I have changed Ally-cat's name to Sophia Loren. She has this amazing eyeliner going on, and looks so exotic, like Sophia Loren did when she first hit the big screen. Here is a blurry picture, she was exploring...
She does NOT like Max or Cleo. She has started coming out to eat. She growls at them with food in her mouth, but they let her eat. They also try to chase her when she's done. I think this is progress. She needs to realize that she is intimidating to them. I'm working on helping her do that :-)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Celebrating with Food
My birthday was Friday. Many calls and emails from friends and family. Even got some traditional paper cards, signed, mailed with a stamp! One was about the 7 menapausal dwarves, which made me laugh.
Yes, I'm oh so lucky to have entered the wild world of peri-menapause symptoms in my VERY early 40's. Makes for some interesting days :-)
Anyhow, I've had three birthday dinners in three days. All amazing, great friends, lots of fun. But this year is different.
I've lost 11 pounds since Christmas. I realized a difference in how my pants fit, and weighed myself. What is my "program"?
- smaller portions
- more active
- cut out about 95 percent of diet soda
I ended up coming home with doggie bags from my birthday dinners. I can only eat half as much as I used to!
I am amazed, and I'm making sure to now be conscious about my eating. I miss my Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, Diet Rootbeer. I have found that 0 cal/0 sodium no seltzer water handles my carbonation craving. I need to get away from the flavored to plain with a splash of juice, but it's amazing what cutting the diet soda has done for me.
I'm going to start walking a couple days a week. I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
Kitty update: I have stopped feeding Ally in the bedroom. I've brought her out and shoed her the food and water a few times, and when she's hungry, she'll come out. Tough kitty love :-( I hate it, but she has been in the bedroom for three weeks!
Yes, I'm oh so lucky to have entered the wild world of peri-menapause symptoms in my VERY early 40's. Makes for some interesting days :-)
Anyhow, I've had three birthday dinners in three days. All amazing, great friends, lots of fun. But this year is different.
I've lost 11 pounds since Christmas. I realized a difference in how my pants fit, and weighed myself. What is my "program"?
- smaller portions
- more active
- cut out about 95 percent of diet soda
I ended up coming home with doggie bags from my birthday dinners. I can only eat half as much as I used to!
I am amazed, and I'm making sure to now be conscious about my eating. I miss my Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, Diet Rootbeer. I have found that 0 cal/0 sodium no seltzer water handles my carbonation craving. I need to get away from the flavored to plain with a splash of juice, but it's amazing what cutting the diet soda has done for me.
I'm going to start walking a couple days a week. I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
Kitty update: I have stopped feeding Ally in the bedroom. I've brought her out and shoed her the food and water a few times, and when she's hungry, she'll come out. Tough kitty love :-( I hate it, but she has been in the bedroom for three weeks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
