This morning.
We have a frost advisory tonight, so all the porch plants will have to come inside. The pots you see in the secret garden are too heavy to carry in and out so they’ll stay. Here’s hoping they withstand the low temps – as well as my little zinnias. As so often happens around here, we get one night in October with frost and then the temps become milder for a couple of weeks. But in the meantime, all the plant life is dead.
I’m not ready for our catalpa leaves to drop, either.
But just in case, here it is this morning
We have lots of catalpas, actually. I think there are seven. But this one is right by the shed and the driveway so it’s the one we see all of the time.
I have a lot of crafty skills. But I’ve come to the conclusion that I do not have the sewing skills necessary to make little clothes for my Blythes. I tried again yesterday after working on my Elna sewing machine. I got it to work, but friends….this kind of sewing is not my strength. And though I certainly don’t expect everything to come out perfectly when I’ve just started, I know when I’m floundering. It’s too stressful for me, so I will leave that to those who are so much better at it. And there are many wonderful seamstresses out there.
As I’ve said before, sewing a straight 1/4 inch seam to make a quilt top is very different than making clothes. I remember back in junior high school Home Ec class, I was dreadful at making an A-line dress. Dreadful. Especially the darned zipper!
I’m fine with it this morning though I was a bit sad yesterday. And to forestall any questions, this was a beginner’s pattern and very easy. And I still couldn’t do it. I have the doll house project ahead of me, so there’s plenty to do that I can do.
We get our booster shots tomorrow. And then Don gets his shot from the eye doctor on Saturday. Next week we’ll get our flu shots. Enough already!
Here’s the exciting list of things my paycheck is going to cover: heating oil, getting the septic tank emptied (which has become more expensive than it used to be,) and a new, lighter snowblower. I would have loved to put it all in savings, but needs must. I’m grateful that I can pay for these essentials.
Stay safe.
Happy Tuesday.
Even though I sewed as an adult and enjoyed it…in junior high my apron and my blouse were awful…my friends and I laughed…love the photo…enjoy your day…
Thanks, Brenda!
Stay safe.
That’s an impressive list of life necessities your pay check will be covering – bravo. On the sewing front I was chatting with a quilt making friend about doll clothes – she makes fabulous quilts and has a child-friend with a beloved doll and would like to make clothes, so she bought a pattern and has been wildly frustrated. Her theory is that it is the 3-Dness of bodies, large or small, that make them challenging, and I agree. I suggested a hat as a starter, thinking of your yarn hats, and she reports that a hand stitched felt hat is her first big win. So that’s fun!
ceci
Thanks so much, Ceci.
Stay safe.
Good morning Claudia. My grandmother made all my dollies clothes. And mine. We always had matching dresses. As I got older I would attempt to make my Barbie clothes. HA! Even grandma said that was for the birds. Hahahaha. It does take a special talent to make doll clothes and I’m happy you have pointed out how incredible these womens skills truly are. At least you gave it try!
It’s nice you earned money to get these important items done for your home (and maybe a jigsaw puzzle or two). It’s satisfying and takes away a worry many out there will have the next few months. We have radiant heat here in CO and the way you heat your home is mystifying to me! Stay warm everyone!
So did my grandmother. She was an excellent seamstress.
A lot of houses out East have oil heat – perhaps because they’re generally older?
Stay safe.
Oh, Autumn is my favorite season, even with all the falling leaves. And would you be up to sewing doll clothes by hand? I do a lot of hand embroidery and love hand work, but it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Your Blythes are so cute!
No hand sewing of doll clothes! I have embroidered, crocheted, quilted, and knitted, but no hand sewing.
Stay safe, Tana.
I sewed in factories for 42 years and yes sewing by a pattern can be difficult, keep trying. Glad you are able to pay your bills as so many cannot afford the high cost of living today and to think that no one in any elected office is doing much to help is a disgrace! Our heating oil is now $5.49 a gallon so that means a 250 gallon tank will cost $1373.00 and that won’t take most through the winter. I locked in at $4. 69 back in Sept. but still much to high for most. Take care and get all your shots and stay safe.
Unfortunately, the price of heating oil/gasoline is determined by the oil companies, so that isn’t due to anyone in elected office. Neither is inflation, which is world wide. But, prices are very high right now! It’s so hard on so many people.
I sure hope it eases up for everyone, Barbara.
Stay safe.
i am sure you could do that tiny sewing, but if it’s frustrating, then probably not worth it (no one needs more frustration in life). but kudos for trying. glad there are people who can make what you want for your girls.
i am like that with lots of stuff … learning to cook better than i do now (which is at the basic i’ll-get-by level) and crochet, for starters.
for sure there are more fun things to do with money, but glad you can cover the less-fun-but-necessary things, too.
beautiful photos. beautiful views. glad you have them.
good luck with all the plants. we’re having similar weather here … dropped to 29 degrees yesterday morning, but supposed to reach the 70s by the end of the week. dressing in layers and car heater on and off, on and off a lot now.
glad you and don can get the shots soon. be well and safe.
thanks very much for the prayers and support for my neighbor sam and his family. and for me … my thoughts are many and include the idea that for emotional reasons, i may need to move (there are many other/ good reasons to stay). any suggestions on getting past that would be appreciated. thanks again.
best i get to doing things around here.
hope everyone has a nice easy day. stay safe.
kathy
If you do not want to move, try it for awhile and see how it goes. If you want to move anyway, go for it. This is a sad time…horrible…I will be thinking of you, Kathy.
thanks, brenda.
no decision yet. i had no plans to move before because there are so many great things about this place i’m in, but it feels changed … sad and disturbed. will give it some time (though i have done some looking online, just in case. there are very few vintage apartments without carpet around here anytime and i found none available in this search). hard, for sure … but sam had and his family have it worse.
thanks for your help.
hope you are well and stay safe. happy wednesday!
kathy
Time. Time is the healer.
Our neighbor committed suicide when I was a kid and my dad found his body. We didn’t move, we just helped each other heal. Over time, we did.
Stay safe, Kathy.
i am sorry that you and your family had that experience, for that neighbor and what he went through.
thanks for your reply.
i agree that time helps.
God is the Great Physician and i pray for Him to please comfort sam and his family and to heal us all. and to please help me know what to do in this situation … because right now i am not feeling good about staying or about moving.
here’s to better days ahead for us all.
thanks again, claudia.
happy, safe wednesday to you and don.
kathy
xo
My Mom sews but I can’t for anything. I have other skills I tell myself! Enjoy the cooler weather. Mom and I are hoping to get our flu shots this week also.
Same. Grandma and Mom both sewed. Me? Not so good at it!
Stay safe, Linda.
A blessing that the money you made can pay for necessary expenses..
Even if you can only put a little into savings every little bit will help in this economy. The good news is that for the age of your home it seems you need very little maintenance. For us it is always something , now the driveway needs more gravel. But thank you God we have a home.
Glad Don will have his eye appt Sat.
Oh, there are things that need to be fixed here at home, but we have to wait until we have more money.
Stay safe, Linda.
We all have different talents, Claudia, and you have many. I have trouble with a simple hem yet I can quilt, knit and do counted cross-stitch. I never mastered crocheting for some reason. I marvel at the smallness of the doll clothes, especially those oh so tiny shoes. But as you say, there are many fine makers of doll clothes out there.
You are getting all your ducks in a row for winter. That’s good. My doctor just got her flu shots in so we will be getting ours soon. Take gentle care. Hugs, Elaine
Yes, we’re off to get our boosters today.
Thanks, Elaine.
Stay safe.
Ah…sewing. Always an adventure as far as I’m concerned. My mother was quite the seamstress in her day. Unfortunately, I didn’t get that gene. Kudos to you for getting your machine working, and for trying to sew doll clothes. You have many other talents.
Sorry to hear your paycheck has to go to necessities, but glad you can pay for necessities. Saving money has become more difficult these days, that’s been our experience.
I have a few plants that survived the freezes, because they were either under trees, or closer to the house. We get our booster and flu shots next week….it was hard to find openings any sooner. Enjoy your day! ;)
It sure is hard to save and Don isn’t getting any work, which makes it harder.
Booster shots today.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
My sewing skills are very basic, and thus I haven’t any suggestions for you. My mother was a fabulous seamstress, and neither my sister nor I inherited the talent or inclination to sew.
Like you, we have a frost advisory tonight. I’ve brought in the one hanging pot (kangaroo paw fern, Microsorium diversifolium) that spent time outside all summer, and my how it’s grown.
Black-eyed susans continue blooming in the front garden, along with a few last roses and the odd coneflower or two. I’m crossing my fingers for a light frost tonight.
And while this week has some chilly temperatures (highs and lows), the forecast for next week includes 70°-80° days.
Glad to hear you & Don are getting your booster and flu shots soon (before anticipated Covid surges and the start of the “flu season”), and that Don will receive his shot from his eye doctor Saturday.
Stay safe, well & warm!
We had a frost, but it seems like it might be a light one. I’ll know more as the day goes on.
Stay safe, Amy!
I’ve missed a few days here. I’m glad you are bailing on stitching clothes for the girls and moving on. Life’s too short. (And maybe I feel that way because I can relate so well — I can do many a crafty thing but not sew!) Good luck with the boosters. And I can relate to the septic — I noticed that this summer when we pumped out too.
Reminds me of the ever rising cost of our storage space! Thankfully, pumping the septic tank doesn’t happen every year.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Oh, sewing in Home Ec class….ugh. Zippers!!!! I still couldn’t do one if my life depended on it. My Grandmother was a professionall seamstress. She was one of two ladies who sewed the wedding dress for one of Mayor Daley’s daughters, and sewed the flags that were used to decorate the streets in Chicago when the Pope visited. Sadly I didn’t follow anywhere near her footsteps. However, the patience you display with puzzles and dollhouse work, I have no doubt you would somehow conquer it.
We had our freeze last night. It has been sooooo cold!! 70* by Sunday!! We get our Flu shots tomorrow and we will be Boosted on Friday. Glad that will be done! Hope you are having fun w your puzzle and pondering the direction for the next dollhouse. Take care.
Boosters today. Flu shots next week. We figured we’d space the shots out a bit!
Stay safe, Chris.