Even more random things

I have lots to say about nothing.....nothing earthshattering, anyway! In the past few days, there has been soup-making going on..... I took formerly frozen leftover carcasses of rotisseried chickens and simmered them into a rich broth which after straining, and chilling to remove the fat (ick), eventually became my chicken tortilla soup (yum!).

See what I mean about nothing earthshattering to say? (Although my family was fairly enthusiastic about the soup.)
















And there was the acquisition of a certain fish named Jack! I had missed having a goldfish, and Michael made it a point to get me to a store that had fish! We picked out one that I liked and when the clerk packaged her up, she told me that I could have her for free, as she would be an adoption case, because she was "defective". Apparently she has only got one good eye. We decided:

1. She fits in just fine in this house of found puppies, pound puppies, abused and mistreated puppies, etc.

2. Immediate transgendering took place, as I decided the one-eye thing sort of lent itself to a pirate theme, and named her Jack Sparrow.

So Jack has settled into his/her place of honor on the island in the kitchen, and by day three, decided we were okay folks, perked up, started eating regularly and seems well adjusted.

Given that my work load is reduced for several hours daily, I put the time to good use quilting daily! took the plunge and started refinishing some kitchen cabinetry. The stairway/banister project continues also, but we wanted to try one cabinet in the kitchen to see if this was a good idea.

If it works, and I can save us the huge cost of replacing the cabinets, or even refacing them, for that matter, it more than makes up for my having a reduced work load for a very long while!

Of course, this required actually looking at the cabinets closely.....and as Michael jokingly said, "we have been living in squalor!" It's just one of those things ..... you wade through the dinner dishes and collapse after a day of work.....and just don't look any further than the food preparation surface. If that's clean - there are days when that's just good enough, thank you!

(go ahead, click and see just how icky they are!!)




































First I sanded the tarnation out of drawer facings and the cabinet body itself (which was not fine wood to begin with - portions were just plywood, I think!) and then I began applying the same tinted polyurethane that I was using on the banister of the staircase.




















Not much is going to help this end cabinet.....it's just not a good piece of wood. But if we can get it better, and the rest of the kitchen is okay....I can live with it. It's very sun damaged and dried, but maybe it will blend in with the rest of the kitchen when its all refinished.
































The drawers are found in odd places over the last few days, drying in the bathroom on the counter, or on the hearth....whatever works. (Ignore the Christmas balls and greenery left in the fireplace on the candle holder!)

Today I put one drawer (three coats improved) back into the cabinet (two coats and one more to go) and Yahoo! I think we have a possibility here.




















(Yes, the drawer is crooked - which will be corrected as soon as I locate a thingie to hold up the drawer on the right side as it slides.....I know what I'm talking about, but can't convey it very well.)

Next step will be the cabinet above. For that, I have the citrus stripper that Home Depot swears is the cure for difficult grooves, etc.....Tomorrow is another day.

But wait......here's your picture of the day of a portion of the Animal Kingdom.....(snicker!)















And oh my, what's this????















(possible quilt for a fellow courier's wife Michael knows at FedEx.....undergoing chemo.)

FABRIC! Karene and I snuck away today to M&L Fabric in Anaheim. Oh my. Sensory overload. Fabric packed from floor to over my head, far and wide. It's a huge, HUGE store. In the front by the door, is fabric on bolts, as we might normally find it. (with prices we might normally find at say, Joanne's or on sale at our LQS.)

But in the back, my friends, is the end of the rainbow! Imagine taking the cardboard forms out of the bolts of fabric, and then just flattening them. And stack them, from floor, to over my head. And only show the narrow ends! Aisle after aisle after (grocery store length) aisle of fabric. Flannel fabric, garment fabric, seersucker, linen, muslin, minkie, fake furs, and .....
















(possible fabric for a quilt in my den.....or to have on hand for a future chemo quilt for a woman, since the colors and hearts are a little "feminine".)

QUILTING FABRIC!! 100% cotton fabric from name brands I recognize from, cough, ahem, our local quilt shops. Only......all for $1.69-$1.98 a yard. I'm proud to say, I made it out 24 yards later, having gotten a dollar back from my $50.00 I had saved for this very adventure. Yay!















(possible chemo quilt for my neighbor's son who was just diagnosed with brain tumor and underwent surgery a few days ago......these chemo quilts and also some Project Linus quilts and Quilt of Valor quilts are likely to be the focus of my Red Hat Society Chapter, the Red Hot Sew 'n Sews....I was trying for a little more masculine here, so picked a print that could use more manly coordinating colors, such as tans, browns, greens.....I can't recall now, which tan Karene and I picked to go with this one....so just threw them all in the picture....maybe something simple like a Rail Fence would work well?)

I got enough for three definite quilts, and extras to boot. I came home and showed them to daughter Karen and we agreed....."it would be really swell if we didn't have to work at all, sew we could sew all day!"

There now. I'm all done blathering!

Oh, and Jack says the view from his new swimming hole (during the reconstruction) "ain't great!















;)

Caption ideas?

I already thought of "It's a dog's life" and "Could we be any more comfortable?"

Give me a caption for these pictures! (I'm collecting pix and captions all year this year, to make another calendar for Michael next year!)

Saturday Chores

First, I'd like to call your attention to Sadie......who struck an impromptu pose for me today.....

"Yes, I know I'm beautiful, thank you! I'm glad you noticed!" she said.

"Since I'm so cute, let's play ball!"

But from there, the day sorta went downhill.....all work, no play....I typed a bit.

And then I tackled the stair railing. The railing is Part I of Never Ending Project #315, filed under Homeownership Nightmares.

Many moons ago, we hired someone to paint the stairway (flat latex on walls) and to paint the railing posts (he recommended oil based paint). This guy scared me from the beginning. It's a long story as to why we hired him for this portion of the house, but he was part of a package deal with outside painters who were doing some warranty work. We were trying to be nice and throw them a little additional business, as they worked for free on some outside painting that had begun to chip and peel while still under their warranty.

His first move was to use that painter's tape, you know, the blue stuff, to mask the wooden steps. I'm not a painter. But I've never been able to mask onto wood, without the paint seeping under the tape where the grain dips a bit and is uneven. I free-hand my "cutting in" now, to avoid what happened with this guy. He enthusiastically painted right up to the tape on the wood, on the steps and on the handrail, trusting his loosely applied tape to protect the wood. Wrong.

I tried to mention to him that the paint might seep under. However, my Chinese is non-existant, and his English was.... not much better.

After several hours, all four dogs (who cannot be around strangers, as they are pound puppies, found puppies, abused puppies, etc, and their reactions are varied and sometimes not exactly neighborly) were beginning to howl and needed to go outside. He declared the job "all done" and I gave it a cursory glance and he went on his way. I think I even wrote a check, hastily, for his remaining portion of the job not covered with the down payment. The guys outside had finished up the warranty work and everyone left. I finished taking dogz outside, dealing with my transcription business, answering phones, returning work, typing madly, and finally.....

I took a few moments to see the painting job disaster that this guy had done. In some places, he had left the tape for me to remove. Sneaky. Underneath was a horror story of dried, leaky smears. He didn't paint all the way to the wood in some places, leaving a noticable unpainted portion.....and he made up for it in other places, the leaky smeared ones.

I know. I should have called them back. I should have made a stink. I should have done any number of things other than just shrug and give up and walk away, knowing someday, I'd have to redo most of it. It wasn't the best of times, that summer, and I just ran out of steam.

Now I'm dealing with it. I am stripping off the smears, evening the edges of the paint, and also, cleaning up the grime of 15 years and today, decided to refinish the wooden railings. That was because, even after the big guns, recommended by Home Depot,

my railings were disgusting. Not all of the hand dirt and grime were gone. And the finish was just plain tired. (kinda like the finish on the kitchen cabinets.)

Notice the one cleaner spot when I first started scrubbing. Its amazing how much dirt you don't see when you just don't want to!!

I started sanding. Michael joined in, sanding some of the white railings where the painter amateur painter had left huge globs of drips and splatters. After I finish with the refinishing of the hand railings (one finished one is pictured below), I will repaint the white posts, first with primer to take it to a compatible surface, and then with semi-gloss latex....the same stuff I'm using on the floorboards throughout the downstairs.

It looks a little better!

Then the fun really starts. I'm wallpapering the area from floor boards to railings.....

On both sides.

Yeah. I apparently crave challenges.

Well, I'm off to do dishes, and some typing I didn't finish this morning. Tomorrow is Quilt Class!! Yay!

Random Things

Poor Max the Wuss Magnificent is still waiting for the Girlz to get their own beds to rest on downstairs......He says, "Sigh."















I got another small piece of transcription business today, to help make up for the recent loss of a large piece......Small pieces add up, so I'm encouraged.

Laurie had an extremely good interview resulting in a job offer today, and if all goes well, she will be able to leave her current position and will be starting next Tuesday. Great job, great growth potential, great money, and GREAT BENEFITS! We decided to celebrate when she and Billy came up for dinner tonight, and Michael got her this giant cookie!

(I love Billy's new mohawk!)

I made stuffed shells, enough for my dinner, a batch for Karene, and a batch for my freezer.....Yay!















I also made honey-whole wheat-almond bread, and cottage cheese dilly bread....and all of the loaves rose beautifully, baked well and sliced up nicely!




























We enjoyed an over-all-too-quickly dinner with Karen, Billy and Laurie.....We didn't play any games tonight because we all have "stuff" to do tomorrow requiring early alarm-clock setting......So we will have a rematch next week!

It was a good day! I am thankful.


Oh, and I registered my Red Hats chapter two days ago....so the name is ours....







We are indeed, the Red Hot Sew 'n Sews!

;)

Quilter's Garden is open! Yay!

About four weeks ago, Karene ran to the little shopping center near her house, to have lunch with her mom, I believe. I'm really fuzzy on these details, because its been a rather crazy few weeks, what with Christmas, New Year's, and some business crises, etc. Anyway...She phoned me from the shopping center to tell me the news:

"There's a new store opening right across from Esther's Taco House and I think it's a quilt shop!"

I think our initial strategy, if I remember correctly, was for her to start leaving notes taped on the glass. "Are you a quilt shop?" "If so, when will you open?"

("Is tomorrow too soon for you? May we help?")

Anyway, fast forward a week or two. I got another call.

"IT'S GOT TO BE A QUILT SHOP - I see shelves for fabric!"

We decided that if we resorted to the note-leaving technique, the notes should read "Will work for fat quarters" and include our phone numbers.

Finally, she called me around New Year's Eve with the biggest news yet. "It IS a quilt shop! And they are opening on January 3rd!" She actually had gotten to talk to someone from inside the store and she regaled me with details.......

She was able to get away from work long enough to go the first day! She called me with a full report about "beautiful fabric, so cute, patterns, lots and lots of fabric, and a long arm, etc."

Wait. Rewind, please.....



A LONG ARM?

Be still my heart!

Schedules and work prevented me from visiting the shop before Sunday. Daughter Karen and I met Karene there. And, oh, baby.....we are in SEW much trouble. :)

Quilter's Garden......2007 E. Orangethorpe Avenue, Placentia, CA! In the NW portion of the Orangethorpe/Lakeview intersection.

When I entered, I was invited to join their mailing list and also enter a drawing for the beautiful quilt below, by Diane Beauchamp (whose name is on the shop business card - she may be pictured in here somewhere - excuse my manners, I was a tad distracted by the fabric).

I just love this quilt! (click pix to enlarge)













So pretty!! (I dragged Michael to the store the very next day and he entered the drawing also....he's really liking reproduction fabrics! Maybe we'll get lucky!)















This is Dolores Morris.....whose name is also on the business card. A very delightful lady, quite patient with drooling customers.

From there, it just got better and better. Beautiful selection of fabrics, lots and lots of fabrics, great patterns!


















































Everything was beautifully arranged and decorated. Karene, Karen and I just kind of lurched around pointing and exclaiming.....

Then I saw her.


Yeah. Oh my, hello Beautiful Thing!
















Oh, she is pretty!
















Dolores might have heard me hyperventilating, but at any rate, she came over and introduced herself and told us a little bit about The Plan. The Plan is still being, well, planned!

As I recall, it will include two options: one being that they will offer long arm quilting service and finish your quilts for you for a fee......or.......that the Beautiful Thing will be available for rent.

They are working out details, like, you have to take a class taught there by either their staff who has learned from a really fantastic teacher (from Cranberry Quiltworks in Yorba Linda), or maybe you are taught by that particular teacher herself. Again, I am sadly fuzzy on specifics. Anyway, you need to learn about long arm quilting and this specific machine before they turn you loose with it. (Duh! I personally probably need double instruction!)

And since it will take me a long time to get really proficient, I was interested in the fact that they are going to have a computerized system on it (maybe the StatlerStitcher?). Dolores told us it will do all the calculations for you when you key in the dimensions of your quilt, and will automatically perfectly execute the pattern you pick.

Somewhere around this point, I may have lost my customary poise and decorum. I recall looking at Karen and Karene and just standing there with my mouth open, or grinning. Or both!

Moving on, Dolores showed us the classroom.































All those quilts hanging on the wall? Those are classes, my friends. Karen already has plans for that heart quilt. She sees that one in black prints, white prints and hot pink/deep red prints.....oh yeah!

I like the one to the left of it, partially hidden by the popcorn maker - a pretty purple floral with winding ribbons that appear to cross or weave.....sigh!

And up by the register, see that red and white quilt on the right? (right behind Michael's head?)
















That is Quilt 101 class. You learn everything needed to make that, in the class (which I think is six sessions). That is a fantastic newbie quilt! There are several kinds of applique and lots of very useful basics and techniques covered in that quilt, and everything I have heard about the teacher, Regina Collett, has been very complimentary.




















I neglected to take a picture of one very important part of the shop. I completely forgot about it. I blame the sensory overload from exposure to all the fabric and ideas and quiltiness in one place. That's a normal reaction for me! Anyway, it's sew important, and sew cute, that I will go back and take a picture and post it later this week.

(And its not the bathroom! I have noticed that most of the quilt shops on the Quilt Run last year seemed to decorate the bathrooms especially nicely. Quilts, ideas, inspiration.....right where I least expected to find them! Quilter's Garden had a gorgeous quilt in their spacious bathroom....and a perfect inscription for their mirror that puts a smile on your face!) But that's not what I forgot to photograph....

Well, back to work for me. Gotta make some money so I can go shopping!

(What fabric diet?! But, but..... Fat Quarters and background fabrics don't count!!)

Happy New Year!

My mom used to tell me, "Whatever you do on New Year's day, is what you'll do all year long!" I was curious if that was a widely held superstition or just a saying within my own family....so I did a little googling and it appears it is indeed a superstition. "Whatever happens on New Year's Day sets the pattern for the rest of the year." That means this year.......I'm in for lots of cooking.....

Croutons! Homemade, garlic and butter toasted......The Peanut Gallery said, "Yum!" through a mouthful.

And pot pies!

I saw this idea on an ad somewhere and spent an inordinate amount of time making a twisted lattice crust......

which promptly flattened and overflowed and still turned out delicious, thank you! The Peanut Gallery was pleased. I got several compliments :)

I'm also in for lots of friendly competition in 2008 - playing board games with the family! Uncle Kevin and Aunt Jacqui sent us "Life" and Laurie and Billy gave us "Yahtzee". Michael and I used to play these a long, long time ago (translation: before carpools, soccer practice, orthodontia appointments, and tutoring sessions, not to mention the birth and growth of my medical transcription service) and we are really enjoying playing again with the girls and their friends!

I'm going to continue to be surrounded with DOGZ........as my New Year's Day was filled with the tapping of the toenails of sixteen paws......

But hey, Sadie likes board games....She enjoyed the Yahtzee competition.....or was it sitting on Laurie's lap that was the attraction for her??

And thankfully......I took a few moments of time to get into my sewing room. Because my mommy didn't raise a dummy. I am, after all, just suspicious enough to want to insure that my quilting is a continuing activity throughout 2008!!

This is a picture of the Fons&Porter "Checkerboard" quilt I am adapting. I enlarged the individual "checkers" to a finished size of 3" squares. The squares will be set in the denim-blue solid you see in the pictures. The blue was picked out by my Color Guru, Karene! There will be a piano key border, incorporating all of the 1930's reproductions used in the checkerboards. It will be bound with the denim-blue.

What did YOU do on New Year's Day????