Christmas Is Over!!!!!!

Yeah!!!!!!!!!! Christmas is done for another year. So glad. And I don't even have to take down the tree I didn't put up this year. Cool, huh?

Still Kicking

I am still around. I guess if I wasn't someone would post my obituary (Erin, that will be your job). Sam is doing so much better on his new meds. And, he has made a friend. He lives about two blocks over. They get along so well. I am so happy for him.

I have officially applied for nursing school. I have to take microbiology in the spring. I am also taking an admissions test in December. Everyone please pray for me. I really, really want this. I miss the volunteer work I was doing at the hospital. I have thought about volunteering again but my spring schedule is pretty heavy. Working and taking a class (online and lab in person) and Sam. That may not sound like a lot but it is....at least to me.

I have been sewing although not making anything. My last two projects were wadders. One of them, a romper, I ripped the fabric. Across the front. Badly. I was ripping out stitches AGAIN and pulled too hard. Oops. The second project, which isn't actually in the trash yet, was just aggravating. The pattern called for ribbing but I thought I could get away with using the knit from the main body. No. Not a good idea. At all. I have unpicked many, many stitches from this tank top (yes, just a tank top....although as many times as I have sewn and "unsewn" seams it seems like an elaborate wedding gown). I love the fabric so I may give it another try. After I take off the ribbing from the armholes yet again.

I am posting pictures of some undies I made for two superheroes though. These were made a couple of months ago but I just got them off my camera this week.



Trust me, the modeled shots are much, much better. I could just eat them up. Cutest little butts in the world. I took one of them to the bathroom one night (we were all at Grandpap's house). And boyfriend pointed out that he was wearing the unders I had made. Love those boys more than you can imagine. Sweet, sweet, sweet. And now we have another TyDy to add to the mix. I've only seen pictures but he is precious. And tough!!!!!!

I hope all is well with the world you live in. Please note my weight loss ticker. I am now below my pre-pregnancy weight. Yes, I know Sam is nine and most people make it down in less time. But now I can be on the cover of Vogue. I mean that's what all of the celebrity mothers do. A little airbrushing (with a BIG airbrush) and I am all set. Love to all.

Too long

I can't believe I have let this go for so long. Not that much happens or changes in my life. I did interview for an accounting position last week but I haven't heard anything yet. It seemed like the perfect job for me. Of course, if I don't get it that would not be so perfect, kwim?????

I tried to take a picture of a panel quilt I finished but the batteries in my camera decided to die right as I got to the quilt. But it is, of course, incredible. I used a decorative stitch and fancy thread for the border. Probably not magazine worthy, but it's done. I didn't want Baby Ryan to see it this early yet anyway. He might peek you know.

I saw TyDy on Saturday. Unfortunately all of their kisses had already left for the airport. Ty said he would let me know when they get back. Hope it's soon.

For those not in the know, Baby Hattie Jo and Baby Ryan's Gigi is a kangaroo. Not sure how since we all live in the U.S. Maybe one escaped from the zoo. Not the local zoo though. Our kangaroos are way too small to be a Gigi. I am pretty sure Hattie Jo won't fit and I doubt Baby Ryan will fit in any of our kangaroo's pouch-thingy.

It is still hot here. No Fall weather for us. I watch football on Saturdays', with Grandpap, and see people wearing jackets and long sleeves. Makes me hot just to look at them. College football should be viewed in cooler weather. Not sure what is happening here. I am pretty sure my calendar says Fall (I don't really have a physical calendar. If I did, though, it would say Fall). The only leaves that are falling here are the ones that have died of heat exhaustion. No pretty colors. No crunch, crunch of dry leaves. Just hot. We are supposed to a colder weather. Supposed to be in the low 80's later this week. Hello!!! I need a real cold snap. I want my feet to be cold. Cool wind in my hair. Not sweating. Able to turn down the A/C in my car.

Well all, have a great week. I will try to write more often. Unless, of course, I melt.

Things Remembered

The past week or so, I have been remembering good/fun things I seemed to have forgotten. Things like walking barefoot through grass, even if it is wet with morning dew. Eating vegetables doesn't kill me and I actually LIKE some vegetables (corn, broccoli, tomatoes). And smells. The smell of Granny's house, clothes, closets. Best smell in the world. So, so comforting to me.

It's kind of funny (or pathetic), but I keep thinking I can kind her again. I go through her clothes and remember how they looked on her. I smell them (all of her clothes are clean). I sew on her sewing machine. I look at her pictures, sleep in her house but I just can't seem to find her. I just want to feel her with me again. Even if it's only for a minute. To be in her arms, patting my back and telling everything will be alright. But she's gone. She is not in her things, not at her gravestone. Gone.

No matter how many things you acquire in life, when you die, you're gone. So it doesn't matter how many "things" you acquire. You leave them all behind.

What you do leave behind is your imprint on those still living. Granny loved me. I know that and never doubted it. Ever. I guess we have all heard how people "live on" through loved ones left behind. That is so true. What she taught me by the way she lived her life has made me a better person. I went to church with Granny until I was twelve years old. Sunday morning, Sunday night off we went. I went, not because I it was exciting, but simply because she went and that is just what we did. I never knew any different. Now I go to church because of what I learned as a child. I serve in the children's department because of Granny. Through her I learned that teaching a child about God is one of the most important things you will ever do. It may take time, but eventually everyone needs God. Those that learned about him as young children already know where to go. There is no greater gift than God's love.

Her influence in this world was great. She touched many, many lives. A life of service to God and others. That's what filled her life. And that's what I try to fill mine with. If she is looking down from Heaven (I'm not sure if you really want to see the earth after being in God's presence), I just want her to know that she is living on through me. I am not nearly as good as she was at serving others but she was an angel sent to earth so we can all get a glimpse of what Heaven will be like.

I miss her. I really, really do. But her life lives on.

Sam Turns Nine (Tomorrow)!!!!

Tomorrow, my baby will be nine years old. I can't believe it. He is the best thing that ever happened to me. I never could have imagined how much my life would change by just having Sam. He is a blessing. I am raising him, but he is growing me. I will go to any length to get what he needs. Because of Sam, I am very aware of the environment and I want to make it better.

Sam and I are so much alike. We both have forceful personalities. We clash a lot because of that. I see so much of myself in him and it makes me love him even more. It also makes me furious sometimes. The things he does are often things I have done or would have done if I had the tools available to me at his age. He is the best mirror I have ever had. And like any mirror, you may not like some of the things but you love (hopefully) the person that looks back at you. And I do.

Still here!!!!

We are going on a mini-vacation this weekend. Jamee and Sam are going to astronaut camp. I will be manning the hotel room and pool (at least I hope I will be manning the pool). Sam was telling me this morning, while we were swimming, what all he needed to pack. DS, DVD player, my laptop, games for the DS, Kitty. I told him Kitty can't go because he gets car sick. Oh yeah, we will also need his mask, my goggles, swim cap, swim apparel. He also pointed out that we should all shower tonight in case they don't have a shower at the hotel.

If you pack like Sam does, tonight's shower would be a good idea since he has not even thought about clothes or clean undergarments (that's what Sam call drawers). At least his unders would be clean. Can't imagine going off and wearing dirty ones....for four days!!!! Clean ones for four days??????

I am planning on packing clothes and toiletries. I will pack those necessities for Sam as well. But what I am really figuring out is what sewing items I want to bring. Oh yeah, and books. And snacks. And drinks. I will toss clothes in the bag. I always overpack on undergarments just in case I have to stay longer than anticipated or I have an accident or something. I can wear dirty clothes but I want my drawers to be clean!!!!

Back to my sewing dilemma. I just can't imagine not sewing for four days. Even if it is a vacation. I need to sew. I have decided to take a machine (just one). No serger or coverstitcher...just a sewing machine. I am going to "rough it." I can't decide what patterns or fabrics to take though. Decisions, decisions, decisions. I mean what if the fabric I bring just doesn't want to be made into the patterns I have with me????? You cannot force these things. I could take a quilt kit. I have several of those. Hmmmmm. I like that idea. I am also planning on taking some magazines and tracing out patterns. I have so many that I want to make up but I so hate the tracing out of the pattern.

Well, wish me luck. I hope I have a good time. I really don't like vacations very much. I have to get everything cleaned up so I can come home to a clean house. But when you come home, you bring piles and piles of DIRTY laundry. And then you have to unpack EVERYTHING. So you work before you go....spend the vacation thinking about all the work you will have to do when you get home...and then come home and do the work. Vacations were a lot more fun when I was the kid and Mama did all of the work. Hey, Mama....how about going on vacation with me??????

Summer at last

School's officially out for the summer. I am sooooo glad. Sam and I have some fun things planned for the summer. Tomorrow, Sam starts swimming lessons. I am also going to join the aquatic center so we can swim all summer long. They offer water exercise classes as well. I want to sign up for those as well.

Sam is still ice skating. He is in the hockey class now. He absolutely LOVES it. He has his own pair of hockey skates. He wants a hockey stick but I said no. Sam, a hockey stick and my house. I don't think so.

I want to get some sewing done this summer as well. I am up to Season Four in 24. I am loving this show. I never had any interest until recently and now I am hooked. I have started downloading seasons from iTunes and watching them on my laptop. Who would thought a laptop could be so handy. It has a bigger screen than my portable DVD player and I don't have to switch out discs.

The Sunshine State

We are finally seeing the sun again. We had a week of cloudy, rainy weather. We had some rain yesterday but had a sunny morning.

I finished two, yes TWO, shirts for the TyDy duo. Don't have pictures yet but I will post when I get them. I am still mourning my loss though as Dy has dumped me....for an OLDER woman no less. Just know that Pammie better watch out because I want my little man back as MY boyfriend.

Still haven't finished the dress I started eons ago. The zipper is my problem. I think I have figured out how to get it inserted though. Just need to sit down and get 'er done.

School is almost out. I think I am more excited than Sam is about the end of school. So far, I have lined up swimming lessons and ice skating lessons for summer. We also need to work on his multiplication tables and maybe start division (ugh). Long division was one of my weaker subjects. We learned this in fifth grade. I had a lot of stomach aches during math that year. May be that's why I had so much trouble.

On A Roll

I finished a pair of flannel sleep shorts for Mr. Bug. I will post a modeling shot when I get it. They are a Spongey-Bob special. We are a Sponge-Bob loving kind of family. With the leftover fabric, I made a pair of sleep shorts for my nephew. He will probably need to grow a bit more. I made a size 1T for him. I am sure his Mama will be PROUD to put SpongeBob apparel on her toddler. That is two yards down and a bazillion to go.

I am currently working on a dress for my niece. Simplicity 2989. The hem band is not quite as perfect as I had imagined it would be....actually it's not perfect and it's bugging me. If I make this dress again, I will need to try a different approach to the hem band. The good news is that as fast as my Littlest Princess runs, no one will be able to see the imperfections. I still need to put in the zipper. Argh, zippers!!!!! Will update on the outcome of the dress.

I found more dinosuar fabric today. I need to find the coordinates so I can make a quilt for you-know-who. I would also like to make him some summer shorts out of some of the prints. I have a quilt kit (different fabric) that I also need to find the corrdinates for. So I need to make, not one, but two dinosaur quilts. Anything for my baby.

Pants, pants, pants

I finished, almost sort-of, the pants I have been making for myself. I just need to put the snaps on at the waistband. No, I am not going to use a button and buttonhole. Snaps are easy to put on and much faster to undo when you have waited until the very last nano-second to pee. Not that I know what this is like or anything. I mean I am so a plan-ahead and structured person (NOT).

Next on my sewing agenda is a pair of flannel sleep pants for Buggy-Boo. SpongeBob flannel sleep pants to be exact. I need to trace out the pattern first. Alright, actually, I need to FIND the pattern first. This could take a while. My organization could use a little (a lot) of help. I can never find what I am looking for in my "sewing studio" a/k/a the room formerly known as dining room.

I am thinking about switching out my beloved Bernie (you should name your sewing machines to make them feel loved and cared for). I want to sew on Sally (Singer) for a while. Bernie also needs to go in for a tune-up. It has been about two years since his last check-up.

I am excited about sewing on Sally. I have had her for about a year and a half and have NEVER used her. She is very neglected. Obviously. She did have a tune-up right after I got her though so she should be ready and raring to sew. I need to get more feet and attachments for her. Unfortunately there isn't a local place that sells stuff for Sally so I usually have to find stuff on eBay. I can get bobbins locally but I really love feet and attachments. I need a ruffler and gathering foot for sure. Just gives me goosebumps thinking about it.

Fabrics and Michelle

Alrighty! I set up my blog sometime in 2008 and this is my first post. No, I am not a procrastinator. I just like to take my time on some things, like housework, blogging, grocery shopping.

I love to sew. Actually, I think I am really just addicted to fabric. Love to feel it and BUY it. I have to sew to justify buying fabric. I buy way more than I sew. For those of you who do not sew, this is completely and totally normal. Having fabric on hand for emergencies, and yes wanting to sew at 11pm is considered an emergency, is called a STASH. People who sell sewing machines (and usually fabrics too) are called DEALERS. Some people have "stashes" of sewing machines. You will notice that stash, dealers, definition of emergency all have the connotation of addiction. So, maybe I have an addiction (to fabric). There are worse things. I mean, I could have a stash of cats, dogs, old cars that sit in the garage with the intention of being fixed but never are. Yes, the prior statement is called JUSTIFICATION. No, they do not have a Fabri-holics Anonymous. If they did, I am sure my DH would drive me to every local meeting.

For the month of February, I have want to resolve to SEW more than I BUY. Unfortunately, I am already behind. Yes, I know it is only the 2nd day of the month. You're thinking, how far behind could she possibly be. Like 10 yards behind!!!!! That means I have to finish the pants I have been sewing since like before mid-January. When I finish those, I will have sewn three yards for February. Only seven to go. Wish me luck. No, pants are not hard to sew (once you know how......when I first started sewing, I sewed pockets to the ankle end of a pair of LONG pants. I was trying to figure out the waistband before I realized what I had done.....this is called a wadder......like wadded up and thrown in the trash).