Some more bracelets....

Creative with my sewing machine.

I probably told you last year that I bought a new sewing machine. I got such a deal on it but found I did not like the challenge of learning new things, like threading, winding bobbins, using a portable machine, and all that stuff. I tried to sew paper for one of the Advice assignments and it did not work. I kept thinking of my good old Singer that Mom and Dad bought for me in 1965, which is in the closet at Scott and Elise. I just could not bear to sell it for a mere $35. In October I decided to give it a try since Lyle had pants that I needed to shorten. (That's a topic I will try to remember to write about later.) I absolutely could not steer that needle at all, and needed to pull and push the fabric to get it moving. Really missed that old Singer now! Later I was looking it over for another projuct and realized that the machine was missing the foot!! I went back to JoAnn's and they were dumbfounded--that I did not have one and that I actually hemmed a pants without one!! So now I am celebrating this Singer of mine!! I have made window treatments (what a nice way to say it) for the windows. The last few days I really had fun making bracelets!! Tell me what you think! Well, actually remember the quote: If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything.

I'm Back!!

Hi! It has been ages since I have written or added to my blog! While we travelled this summer, it was a pain to get to my blog since some of the time we were internet challenged. And it seems that since we got back home, it has been busy. Often I would think of things I should write but the day went past and I did not do it. So you can imagine I have a lot bottled up inside me just waiting to get out. I need to update you on the "Advice Book" that Davonne, Anita, and I did last year. It ended up taking two volumes, mostly because of all the stuff on the pages. Now we have begun our book for 2011. We are using quotes that we love for this year. So keep an eye on my blog for new entries!

Family Fun--August, 2010

Click here to view this photo book larger

Necklace Still Popular

The other day I went shopping with Anita Solivita. (This is what I call my friend in Solivita since I have a friend also named Anita in Edgerton and "Anita Edgerton" just does not have the ring to it that "Anita Solivita" does.) The first store we were in we purchased an item. When paying for it the sales associate commented on my necklace. She loved it and wanted my blog and email address. When leaving, Anita said, "I knew this would not be a usual day since you are wearing your necklace." I am sure that the photos of my adorable grandchildren get looked at more than you can believe! Below are photos of some recent necklaces given to Moms.

Missed Opportunity

Yesterday when Lyle and I were out and about (out of the house and about to return some items) I excitedly told Lyle as we were passing a mall to look at a dumpster with two mannequins standing by it. At this point I need to take an "Elizabethan just an aside." * Why can't we as English spelling people just spell words as they sound. I have trouble with words like manakin, ordervs, etsetera, etc. It is especially difficult to find the word in the dictionary if I can't spell it. Anyway, back to the missed opportunity. Lyle's first comment was that he did not have his camera. My comment was that we should go back and get the manakins. I said, "Can you imagine the fun we could have with those?" If I had been with Anita or Davonne, we would have spun around and gotten them. But we continued on our "about" part of the outing. After returning our items, when we were near the other mall Lyle asked if I wanted to stop there. "Yes, I want to get the manakins!' I replied. Well, sorry to report, the manakins were gone!! So the lesson is: Thou shalt not should thyself.

Fran

*An Elizabethan just an aside is in memory of my mom, Elizabeth. She was notorious for telling a story within a story. Someday there will probably be a "Fransescian just an aside." By the way, when I looked up how to spell mannequins, I discovered that a manakin is a small tropical bird with a big head. And another by the way, I learned from the dictionary that you must only use etc. when listing things, not people.

Discovered a New Word!!

While looking through the newspaper this morning, I was reading an article that has no earthly good for me--Wedding Clothes that Fit a Budget. I also read "Shorts that Flatter Pear-shaped Figures. Why? I don't know! I need to read "Capris that Make My Tummy Look Flatter." Anyway, in the first article I ran across the word TROVE. I thought it must be a misspelling--it should be "grove" but that would make no sense. I read "Local consignment shops can be another treasure trove." That sparked me to look up the definition of "trove." I love consignment shops, thrift stores, and junking. (OK, if scrapbookers can do scrapbooking, I can do junking.) So here you have it! For all of you who did not know this word before, you have a new word for your favorite place to go. Who knows--it could become a verb!

trove |trōv|nouna store of valuable or delightful things : the museum's trove of antique treasure.ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from treasure trove .