Wednesday's vow

Good morning sistas!

I do solemnly swear to never again announce to the world that I plan to spend the whole week sewing!  Geez.  I just cannot catch a break this week.  

I did work on that new valance yesterday morning, but I (as anticipated) ran out of the beaded fringe, so I had to go back to JoAnn's for more of it.  No biggie, since I also had to go to New Braunfels for my mammogram.  Got home and sat down to sew when the phone rang.  It was Mike and he was sick and could I please pick up the boys and keep them until Christie got off work?  Well, hell.  

I said yes because 1. I knew it was legitimate (Christie and Benny both had the stomach virus a couple of days ago), and 2. I've been there.  It's hard to keep kids when you're throwing up!, and 3. I hoped Budder wouldn't get it if I kept him away from Mike.  

SO there went yesterday.  Now today I have to pick Benny up at noon because for some unknown reason it's Early Release Day and the school decided to throw a wrench into everyone's plans today.  

Also, my mom announced that her hearing aid isn't working correctly and we need to go have it adjusted today.  ARGH!

I don't know how I got elected the HBIC, but I want to quit.  

Carrie is coming down this weekend and we have two big things on our agenda.  First is Budder's long-delayed family birthday party.  Chris finally told me that she wasn't going to have a party for Budder this year.  Oookay.  What about a small family party?  The baby turned two and no one has done a damn thing about it!  So I am going to bake a cake.  I told her I am not cooking a big family dinner.  I'm serving cake and ice cream and I'm going to give the child the presents I bought him.  Honestly.

Second, we are taking Benny to see the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid Sunday night.  SO excited!  I figure we can have cake and ice cream Sunday afternoon, and then Mike and Budder can go home and the rest of us will go to the theatre.

In the meantime, I will try to finish sewing that one valance at least.  And maybe get the rest of my place mats made.  I'll have to put off doing the slip covers for the kitchen chairs awhile.  Sigh.

Yesterday I stopped into Tuesday Morning (my favorite place to browse around), and I bought a big white down comforter.  I'm seriously thinking about sewing a duvet cover for my bed room.  I just cannot find a ready-made comforter set in the colors I want at a price I can afford.  But I did find some Waverly fabric that I love.  I could make it two-sided: floral on one side and ticking on the other.  And I could make the bed skirt out of the ticking too.  Pillow shams are easy.  And I've made a bed skirt before.  But I've never tackled anything like a king-sized duvet before.  However I looked at the patterns, and except for the fact that it's a hell of a lot of fabric to maneuver, it's really nothing more than a big pillow case!  

Well, it seems, as is always the case, if I want something nice, I have to make it myself in order to afford it.  I have 45 days to return the comforter, so I have time to decide.

I'd better close.  I have to get the trash out to the curb, and then get as much sewing done as I can this morning.  Love you all so much!

Good Morning Vickie and OFF-

Vickie- the best laid plans of mice and men.  You'll get that valence done sometime this week.  I'm sorry to read about Christie not wanting to do anything for Budder's birthday.  Kudos to you for making a cake and drawing the line at letting them use you further for a bigger event.  That is just not right in my opinion.

As you say the duvet cover is just a giant pillow case.  I incorporated a quilt into a duvet cover.  Your's will be easier as you are making a pocket out of two pieces of fabric.  I think you'll be able to do it.

Well a week from today the movers will be gone and I'll be doing the final clean of the cabins before departure myself.  Sylvester got his shots yesterday and as predicted christened the car several times.  He's predictable that's for sure.  I had the cleaning supplies and paper towels ready as I will next week when we start the journey to NC.

I'm a little stiff this morning for my adjustment but that's normal.  Definately feeling better than yesterday.  Clearly moving the boxes of books really did a number on my back.  Going to have to figure out how to handle those when I get to Texas.

I'm attaching a link to a website about low magnesium.  So many of the symptoms our group or there loved one's suffer from.  I used to take it faithfully and plan to start again as I did feel the benefits.  http://www.homeremy.com/10-signs-you-could-have-a-magnesium-deficiency/?utm_source=facebookads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=fb_magdef_gb_us

Connie - if you are happy where you are then I say stay where you are.  If you want to be closer to family then hold out for an apartment that is 2 floor or above.

Eileen - sorry the finger is broken but happy that they appear to have bandaged it more sturdily.  Glad that Gary is there to help you with the boxes and such while the finger is healing.

Kathy- perhaps the flow pill will help with the lower back pain.  I'm assume that when flow is blocked it backs up into the kidneys causing pain in the lower back.

Carla based on the pictures you're posting it appears that you are enjoying the visit with Vinnie.

Mary hope your visit with the dentist today goes well and not to painful.

Trish hope your recovery from the extractions and back shot are going well.  So many teeth at once would put me under for many days.

Grumma- hope your recovery from your WLS surgery is going well.  Keep us posted.

Jeannie hope the MS meds have finally kicked in completely and that you're getting relief again.  Enjoy your sewing this weekend.

Well, time to get the butt in gear and go work on cleaning and making sure that everything is packed up that I can do.

Cindi B.

Hello Cindi.....I am going to look at the magnesium article on the website you left for us. Thank you so much!

Only one more week before the move. That will go by quickly. I am so jealous of you getting to live in Texas!! Now you and Vickie will be able to get together! 

Flow pain....hmmm I never heard of that. I will have to look into that. I have another friend with bad back pain.

I will be looking for a different place to live...higher off the ground for sure!! I should live by one of my daughters. I am not going to get any younger. I know they will take good care of me. I will love being with them more. 

Love you...HUGS....connie d 

Connie- not so much flow pain as backup pain due to lack of adequate flow.  Pressure on kidneys hurt. Cindi

Good Morning Vickie & OFF Family to follow!

I was going to go back to bed over an hour ago b/c I am still tired and cranky, but have been playing around on the computer since I am too lazy to get up! Originally I thought today would be a great day to accomplish things...now I don't see that happening. I just have no energy or interest. I am in a crappy mood!

I have been eating a lot of crap and cannot seem to get it together! My knee is killing me! Jim has been extremely down since his daughter left last week and b/c his son refused to seek treatment for his lung cancer he was diagnosed with in April. I can't blame him for feeling down, but he has barely had a word for me for days now and has done little to nothing around the house. Excep****ch CNN or lay down.

Yesterday was one of the few times we have had to have Jazz come home from school by herself. Of course something had to happen. We get a call from our next door neighbor while at Jim's doctor appointment that there was a shooting behind our house! Jazz and her best friend had been home for 15 minutes when this occurred...understandably they were scared ****less!

And then after rushing around all freaking day, dealing with her upset and getting her to cheer practice...she comes home w/her cheer uniform...they gave her a skirt that would almost fit me! She was even more upset b/c none of the skirts fit her so the coach pulled out this one and said 'this is the biggest one I have' in front of all the other girls. She was so embarrassed. She IS the biggest girl on the team at 5'8" and 170 pounds, but how dare this coach do this!!! On top of this the coach said she had to have the skirt altered by Thursday (tomorrow) for their 1st game!!! Ummm, I can't sew a stitch, and I don't know of anyone in our area that could get it done that fast. So another breakdown last night...8th grade and all the dramatics!

I feel so bad for her and Jim despite my frustration with both of them. I don't know what to do about how our town is rapidly deteriorating. I can't just up and move! There is a lot of random violence all over the place, but 5 feet from our backyard! And if we had not put up that fence God only knows what Jazz might have witnessed...I am just at loose ends!

Vickie, I thought of you, Trish Jeannie and all the other master sewers in our group last nite! What I would have done to have that skill! I don't understand Christie not having a b-day party for a 2 year old...poor little guy! but stand strong and don't do one yourself. I learned about 'rescuing' my kids one too many times...creates unhealthy dependence! I hear you about the comforter...I found a down one at Goodwill a few years back I love and cannot part with, but it has seen better days. But to replace it would cost more than I am willing to pay. At least you can make one...

Okay, I am really going to lay back down and hopefully wake up in a better mood.

Everyone have a great day!

So sorry for all the trials and tribulations you are going through. Life, sometimes is one thing after another. If I were your husband I would be upset that my son weren't seeking treatment for cancer. But perhaps the man is being realistic also. Sorry about happened with Jazz. Some people have no tact or class. So sorry you have to deal with the violence close by. You are stress eating. We all do that. I went off my plan in April, 30 pounds from goal. Didn't eat sugar, though. Ate lots of Lite and Fit Yogurt and Power Crunch Protein Energy Bars at 210 calories a pop. Thinking of you and everyone here on off. Sending love.

Hello Arlene....you are such a great addition to our family!!

I agree...protein bars are good...but not all day. I use them when I am in a situation where I am hungry and can't get to any other protein or when I am short on protein for the day or just can't get enough protein in other things.

Do you eat regular yogurt or greek? Greek is so much better for us. Try it if you haven't. I use Yoplait Greek Yogurt and add some granola to it for a crunch!! 100 calories a container.

Change up your diet a little here and there and you will continue to lose again. Dense protein is so much better for us and it will keep you full longer. Protein always first, then veggies and fruit. You will do it just wait and see...bye bye pounds!! 

I am so happy to see you posting more and jumping right in with the rest of us!!!!! 

Love you...HUGS....connie d

Kathy -

Do you know how to hand sew?  If yes, then have Jazz put the uniform on inside out.   Strategically hand sew to adjust the uniform to fit her.  Once you have it fitting a bit better, have her take it off and hand sew over what you have already sewn.  That will do it for tomorrow and until you can find someone to sew it on a machine.  That was really cruel of the coach and I would be at the school talking to the principal about bullying.

Cindi

Kathy,

If the issues of the skirt is the waist, I would consider replacing the waist band with a larger band and add some elastic on either side or the back...that way, the front looks the same but there is some give.   I agree the coach was an ass. You could contact a cleaners and ask them for a referral and maybe get the skirt adjusted quickly.   If you have a machine, look for a you tube video of working on skirts and pant bands...they are so easy to do. I wish I were closer and I'd fix that right up for you.

Cindi & Jeannie,

I can't sew a stitch...can barely thread a needle. Pathetic, I know. Jim would sew buttons and stitch up small tears in a seam, but both of us really are unskilled in this area. I have never had a machine. My mom sewed and had one, but never me.

The Youtube suggestion was great, but what we decided to do after watching it was to take the skirt to our local cleaners as Jeannie suggested. She can't do it until Monday and is charging $21...geez, but it will get done professionally and Jazz will be happy.

I did get to be a pro safety pinning my clothes as I got larger and recently as I got smaller. The former to avoid riding up, and the latter to avoid sagging. So I am going to safety pin the side seams inside out as instructed and she will need to wear it like that for the game tomorrow. I will cover the pins with tape for when the skirt flips during cheers. 'Ghetto' I know, but I think you guys take your sewing abilities for granted.

Thanks for all the input. Funny how none of the women I know around here sew, but there are a bunch of you here in one group!

And thanks...I am not as grumpy now...lol!