February 5, 2008 at 7:15 pm (Adult Learning, Christmas, leisure time)
I mentioned getting a sewing machine for Christmas and that I was working on a project. I finished it and it didn’t turn out badly at all. It’s not perfect, but neither am I, so….. It was fun cutting out the pattern and working on the project. I’ve put the machine in the spare room for now though. I have three or four other things I need to finish.
Sidenote…I just got through “chatting” with my daughter in California. Boy..what a world this is. I wish sometimes that I could sit down with my mother or grandmother, both deceased, and show/tell them things that we’re able to do now that may not have even been a remote thought to them. I can only imagine what will be in store years to come. ….I feel that in spite of problems with the world today I live in a pretty great time period. 
Well…I guess I’ll go work on another project!
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January 25, 2008 at 12:39 pm (Adult Learning, Christmas, Understanding Life, leisure time)
I don’t think I’ve mentioned it prior to today, but Rex got me a sewing machine for Christmas. It’s basic and that’s what I wanted. As I’ve gotten older and with blood glucose testing, my fingers have become more tender so hand mending is uncomfortable. Even with light fabrics it’s more time consuming, but when you’re doing a mending job on something heavier like denim, it can be painful. Plus, machine mending is usually stronger and lasts longer. Hence the sewing machine.
Wouldn’t you know it….since I got the machine, I’ve had nothing to mend! …Good news/bad news.
I thought about the past and remembered Cassie being a child and how I’d occasionally sew things for her. They were usually articles of apparel, nothing really fancy. I wondered if I’d be able to do anything like that again.
Mind you, it’s been 25 years or so since I’ve sat down at a sewing machine. Now they come with DVDs that show you everything, even how to open the box. There’s also a manual, so I should be set. (???)
I put it on a table and plugged it in. I turned on the light over the needle. I correctly threaded a bobbin AND was able to load a spool of thread and thread the needle. I have a lot to remember, but hopefully I can have some fun with it and mend more efficiently when it’s necessary. :)
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January 2, 2008 at 12:23 pm (Christmas, New Year)
Tags: holiday memories, pets, rats
A highlight of our holidays with Cassie and Ryan was being “introduced” to our “Grand Rats”. Yes, that’s rats. They’re clean. They’re cute. They’re friendly and each has her own personality.
When Cassie and Ryan told us they were driving from California to Michigan with the rats, we were a bit surprised. Cassie and Ryan were welcome with open arms, so….. Ratsy and Squidgie were welcome also.
We spent three days with them stationed on a spare couch and really enjoyed seeing Cassie and Ryan play with them. Rex and I had some play time also. Initially Cassie was concerned about them being warm enough. (Since she moved to California her blood has thinned, and when she comes to visit in the winter we know we’ll be cranking the heat up some.)
On Christmas Eve morning, I needed to finish the holiday baking that I wasn’t going to do any of…so I brought Ratsy and Squidgie’s cage into the kitchen. I thought the heat from the oven might be especially nice for them. When Rex got up he even gave them little samples of cookies and bread. They seemed very interested in obtaining those tidbits.
Cassie used an old beach towel to cover the couch. We did discover a couple of small chew holes in the towel, but now we really have something to remember them by….little holes of endearment.
We had a nice time with the “grand rats” and welcome them back any time. Cassie and Ryan are very welcome too.
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December 31, 2007 at 2:03 am (Christmas)
Boy!! What a blur the last week has been. It took me a day to just catch up on my rest. Rex and I were able to visit with our daughter and her husband from the evening of Saturday, December 22nd. until the early morning of Wednesday, December 26th. It was short but very enjoyable. It was a real eye opening experience for us. We enjoyed spending the time with Cassie and Ryan, but it was a different holiday for us. It was a learning experience and the end of an era. We hope to have opened another era though, and are looking forward to more of that. More details will follow, probably tomorrow.
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December 19, 2007 at 9:06 pm (Christmas)
Rex and I finally have the Christmas shopping completed. Now I have to wrap everything that wasn’t already shipped. That will keep me busy for a while.
Rex is wrapping Christmas gifts now. They’re probably all or at least mostly for me. He’s one of the world’s most interesting gift wrappers. He gives it a good try, but……. It always brings smiles to our faces. He also has this habit of writing little poems on the tags. They’re a hoot. It’s just another good part of the holidays.
Our daughter and her husband are in route from California to Michigan by car. We’re very excited about seeing them and wish them traveling mercies and God speed. It’s quite a trek and we hope they have a great time.
We purchased the majority of our Christmas dinner today. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. It will only be the four of us, but I’m sure we’ll have a good time. One think I’m not sure about yet is what to have for dessert. It’s Christmas and we’d all like to splurge, but none of us need the extra calories or sugar. …Any good ideas!?!?
I guess I should go hit the wrapping now. On to the paper, tape, bows and such.
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December 18, 2007 at 12:49 am (Christmas, health, leisure time)
I suppose all of us from time to time take things for granted. It’s when something starts to hurt, or we run out of it that you really realize just how much you need it or use it.
I’ve been working on some typical Christmas things, crafts, cooking, cards, decorating, etc. Over the season I have really come to appreciate my thumbs. My hands have been in and out of water, craft materials, wrapping paper, ribbon, and other things you get into during the holidays. I’ve developed a skin crack on my left thumb. It’s very sore and I’m trying to use it as little as possible. I’m very left handed and trying to substitute my right hand/thumb is very awkward for me. I never realized just how much I use my thumbs before.
They say you never really appreciate anything until it’s gone. I guess that’s true enough. Something so small having an effect on the things you do on a daily basis is an eye opening experience.
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December 16, 2007 at 10:25 pm (Christmas)
Rex and I decided that this year for Christmas we were going to give more gift cards than we have in the past. We did some shopping for specific things, but purchased more plastic than presents.
I keep hearing things on television, the Internet and in the paper about people buying gift cards because they’re not caring enough to pick out a specific gift. Personally I think that’s a bunch of bunk! I choose to look at the positive side of gift cards. I’ve always been a “glass half full and more” type of person. Some of my thoughts are:
1) You’re getting the full value of your dollar. It’s easy to purchase a $50 sweater for $25, but if you get a $50 gift card you’re giving/getting $50. 2) Gift cards are much more cost efficient for shipping. We sent four packages this year with a total of $55 for shipping and insurance. The heaviest was 4 pounds 1.7 ounces so I’m very glad they were light. 3) I enjoy getting specific things for people and have never minded the time to shop. But so often people take the gift back anyway so it’s a waste of everyone’s time. 4) I’ve never mind getting gift cards.
I guess I’ll just sum it up to say, if you were ever receive a gift card from us, please know that it comes with love and caring. I think that’s the most important thing anyway.
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December 15, 2007 at 9:32 pm (Christmas)
My holiday decorating is late this year. My husband and I donated some things to charity and decided to wait until they were picked up so I wouldn’t have to position things twice. I’ve also devoted quite of time of late to a gift project. Those things being under control, I decided today would be the day. Rex and I started working on decorating this morning about 7:00am. I’d gotten up early, probably because the job was on my mind.
It’s now 4:05pm and I just finished. Rex helped for quite a while and then decided he needed a break. I don’t blame him. I on the other hand wanted to get it DONE so I kept working. It’s up, it’s pretty, and I’m very happy with it.
I love looking across the room and seeing the tree in all it’s glory as well as decorations, some I’ve had since I was a child and that my mother made. I also have things our daughter made when she was a little girl. It’s a big job but I enjoy it so much when it’s finished that it’s worth the time and the tired feet.
I still have wrapping to do and more of the project to work on, but now that the garland is hung, decorations placed and candles lit, I feel like the holidays are finally here.
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December 14, 2007 at 1:46 am (Christmas)
One of the things I always seem to almost forget is to get my packages in the mail for the holidays in a timely manner. I’ve never actually forgotten, but I’ve cut my time short a few times.
As of today my four out of state packages, Washington-California-Georgia and South Carolina, are wrapped and in the mail. I’m so glad to have that completed and it’s hard to believe how tiring the whole process is. But…it’s finished for this year. Yeahhhhh! Now on to the next project!!!
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December 6, 2007 at 10:51 pm (Christmas, health)
It’s taken a while but I’m finally just about over my cold. It feels good to feel good again. I have become a firm believer in vitamin C and Echinacea. I think it helps and doubt if it will hurt.
I finished our Christmas shopping today. I’ve never been this far ahead. Nothing is wrapped yet and I still have a craft I’m working on which will take a while, but I’m making progress.
I’m really behind on my decorating this year also. We’re donating a few things to charity next week and I want to wait for that before adjusting my space. I don’t want to have to do it twice.
It’s early in the season and things are already starting to get busy. I look forward to all of it though and will enjoy it as it comes.
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