Out and About

All the sweet enjoyments of a new season can simply overwhelm our senses.  You yearn to be outside enjoying all that spring has to offer yet there are still indoor things to do.  What do you do?  

Compromise. 

 Do the inside things at  night or on a rainy day.  Take advantage of the daylight hours to slurp up the freshness of the day.  Or you can try to do it all by having a tea party outside.

On my weekly visit with Thirdsie Grant, we decided after taking the dogs for a walk, that an outdoor tea party would fit the bill for a compromise.  At the store earlier that day, we picked up TG's favorite treat:  mini Oreos.  Perfect for our pretend crumpets/scones.  They fit on the teeny plate and a handful can jump in your mouth without much effort.  So TG and I shlurped and poured and munched without the pesky worries of spills or uninvited puppies.  However, Stella the Cat had to bring her curiosity every now and then.  And I'm certain that the ants appreciated TG's generous sugar portions ...

 Yes, the best of both worlds; the joys of tea with the pleasure of a spring day.....

Today, I noticed the first of many iris blooming away..(Some around here call them 'flags'.....).

 And on a purpley note, the wisteria ain't doin' too bad either!  I wish you could take a whiff of this sweet flower...My bee friends have arrived and I believe are having a family reunion!  Many Bee Buds!

 Today was Fleur de Lis Day.  Ninety Four Year Old Ruth hosted today.  Yes, she made this cake, pineapple frosting and all.  Crushed strawberries on the side.  With ice cream.  When you are 94 you can eat this in the afternoon too.

 We were twelve this day.  I come away with the most amazing tales of days past and a most positive perspective on the future.....Wonderful ladies...I had mentioned the tables that our hostess had put together for the occasion.  She told me that her husband had made the one large, gate leg table.  They had bought property near a lake and began to build by thinking of the furniture needed to host the family.  She found a table in a magazine that she liked but he was overwhelmed by the price.  He found the pine boards to fabricate this amazing table.  It easily seats a passel of people, with two side drawers for utensils and linens.  Did I mention that he also built grandfather clocks?  Yeah, a visit with NFYOR is always a treat for me....

 Last weeks rainy days found me in the sewing room waiting for interlining for some Diaper Bags to Be...In my piddling around, I figured it was a perfect time to make a quick top for the summer.  I made sure it met the requirements for the perfect top.  Love it.  Took two hours to make. Ka-ching.

 Last week, YS and I walked downtown to check out the thrift store.  We might have taken the weensiest of detours to the cafe to sample it's new soda fountain offerings.  A good idea...

 Hubby and I took TG to the Methodist Monthly Outreach Luncheon last Thursday.  I love getting to visit with my Fleur and Garden Exchange Buds.  TG got to visit with his real Nana and we got to enjoy the culinary expertise of the Methodist Women.

 Good to have a Walk up Drive up window for the Discount Tobacco store.  Do not want to waste time stocking up on your nicotine.

Yes, a lot of Out and Abouts recently.
It's a good idea to go prepared for trips around.  Safety seat; check.  Sun hat: check.  Flowered pants: check.  Huge, over the top sunglasses that nearly covers your teeny nose: Double check.


Have fun Out and About this spring.
And don't forget your sunglasses.....

Vat iz zees?

Yes!  An actual completed piece of clothing for myself!
This does not happen frequently, indeed, the material and pattern were purchased way over a year ago for last year's Easter!  But then Life Happened and the cut out fabric got pushed to the very bottom of my To Do list. 


Then, lo and behold, I had a sewing break.  In between finishing up two quilts and awaiting lining fabric for a diaper bag, I found myself on 'down time'.  I rechecked my Project Board just to make sure I wasn't forgetting something but there it was: the faded notation 'Easter Dress' on the very bottom of the chalk board. I fished the crumpled pile of knit and pattern tissue out of the stash and made sure it would still fit (winter has played havoc on my walking regimen), switched my needle for a ball point medium for this stretchy jersey knit, filled up my bobbin and set to it. 


Buying clothes at my age, size and attitude is a trying thing.  My wee wittle brain still is thinking thirty something in taste, twenty something in style and nigh on sixty something in reality.  This all makes for a highly complicated fashion decision.  'Older' clothes are never appealing to me. Most things I LOVE are terribly expensive. Younger things look ridiculous and there are things that I will not, not, not wear:  

• Puffy sleeves
• Short sleeves
• Most skirts
• Too long of tops (5'3" boo)
• Too short of tops
• Summer colors (strictly autumnal)
• Most capris
• Most Dresses
• Most solid colored tops
• Tee shirts with short sleeves
• Low cut tops

See the problem?  And Hubby wonders why I usually roam around in black pants and tops?  The harbinger of Fashion Woes...

After researching for a L-O-N-G time last year to find a flattering frock for church last Easter, I came up with this nifty little Simplicity pattern with my name written all over it.  Knit; forgiving.  Wrap; hiding things.  Three quarter length sleeve; hides all the unfavorable parts of the arms, leaving my teeny wrists exposed.  Yep.  This was the right one.  Then fabric.  Hubby refused to let me buy black again, but compromised with me when I found this fun, colorful circley design.  Again, the black forgives, the design hides.  Perfect.

Now here it is, a year later, completed Way Early for this year's late Easter date.  For once, I am ahead of my schedule!  And mighty pleased with it I am.  The pattern was a bit cryptic for Simplicity, but then that is why they make seam rippers.

 

I feel fortunate that I can sew for myself given the stylized predicament that I find myself in, but there again is the time to do it when I'd much rather be making baby things....

So if you see me in my garden wearing my Easter Dress this summer, you shall know that no more free time came to sew more clothes for my poor sad fashion complicated self....

What are your fashion pet peeves?

Randomness

As we begin a new week, what say we clean about old business, preparing ourselves for the lark that is the upcoming week with all it's Holidaying?  As you can see, I finished Miss Vivien's Summer Frock.  Fabric from my friend Randi's wonderful etsy store, etsy.com/shop/freshsqueezedfabrics.  Lovely, lovely fabric and wonderful service.  Please check her out for all your summer sewing needs.  Pattern, Simplicity 2625.  Can you picture my little Sweetie Pie, positively glowing with her lovely strawberry blond hair, in this dress?  Grammy can't wait...Always one to not pass on an opportunity to plant shop, we (Birthday Boy (ES), Lovely Wife, Baby Girl, Hubby and Grandchild Father, hopped to a very convenient AND wonderfully complete, garden center in the Greenwood Mall parking lot.  I know, Right?  Lovely, unique plants.  And we bought some.  As you can see, I had to take the photo opp of Baby Girl buying plants, knowing by the time the plants are in full bloom, she will be too!  Grammy's heart kinda melted at the thought...Eldest Son's mama's collection Birthday Banner looks right festive next to their Kit Kat Clock that the Hubby and I got them for their first anniversary.  Kit Kat has his Cub hat on for the season.  Shall we say that perhaps only the clock is hopeful for them this year?  Sigh.And lastly but certainly not to be forgotten...The Pedicure This Week.  Crazy Dee had given me a gift certificate for Christmas but why would I need one in the winter when my tootsies are under the wraps of my woolen sockies?  My waiting was almost my undoing as I noticed that it expired on Thursday, the day I had planned to go!  Ah, Providence!   Needless to say, relaxing in the massage chair with my favorite read of the moment, watching my feet transform into summer sandalage, looking forward to lunch out with Hubby then heading for supper with ES and LL....Well, need I say more......

On to the New Week!!

Prayerful Productivity

My dear Crazy Dee had a triple (turns out quadruple) bypass today in the big city, far away from me.
I'm a pacer, a fiddler, a nervous nellie kinda gal when it comes to things out of my league.
If I could have walked to the big city to be with her, my adrenaline could have done it. But I was grounded here, in prayer warrior mode with more than a bit of wigglies going on.
So here was my day today while I prayed for CD and her crazy heart....

An Amy Butler little kimono top got cut out....

My third pair of AB booties for the childbirth conference next week...

Several Spitty Cloths....

A really fun appliqued Summer Bankie....

Some more work on the 2G's mama's apron repurposing...An old skirt and an even older pattern..(I believe it was one of my first solo patterns in the 70's..)

Actually, the Jitteries started last night when I decided that a discarded pair of shorts from Youngest Son might just make the perfect summer nap sack for yours truly...

And in between all this busy work, my heart hurt for my friend with a long road of recovery ahead of her...
I stared out my OPEN window this early spring day and felt renewed by the hope of the season and for the determination that I have to get her better and what that means...
Is she up to it?
Probably not today, but for all the tomorrows that Our Father has for her, she will be empowered by HIS help, for HIS work....

Be blessed, My Friend Dee.....

Flore's Skirt

I heard of this organization via 'i have to say' blog' by Randi (ihavetosay.typepad.com.) Sewing Seeds is a non profit, organizing sewists to ban together to sew skirts for the little girls in Haiti.
What a grand thing to do; bright,new skirts, new little skirts for little girls with no one to care if they have a swirly, fun skirt to make them feel feminine and special.
A lovely idea.
So I found a .99 pattern from Simplicity.
Ordered some lightweight seersucker for Haiti's oppresive heat and raided my extensive gingham supply from Auction Pauline's stash.

A sunny Saturday to make a joyful skirt for an anonymous little girl that I called Flore.
I prayed for her in the process of making her special skirt.
I prayed that in the wearing of this made-just-for-her skirt, that she would feel loved and cared for.
I prayed that she would know that someone in the United States thought of her and is concerned for her welfare and for the simplicity and joy that a little girl feels with a brand new piece of clothing.

As I placed my tag inside the waistline that says mama's collection on it, I realized that the chances of Flore having a mama, are slim.

Lord, protect my new friend Flore.
Made she be protected and safe and may she hear of You for hope, strength and love.
May she find peace in the chaos of her country right now.
And may she wear your grace as she wears her new twirly skirt....
Amen.