More Sewing

Like I said, I like to sew while I watch TV in the evening. By hand. I gave my sewing machine away when we downsized. I didn't think I'd need it. But I've always enjoyed hand work, and I find it keeps me awake long enough to enjoy a program or movie. I tend to think that when I sink into my easy chair, it's nap time. So, one stitch at a time, I've managed to finish some very satisfying projects. The hamper liner even has french seams (I learned to do that in 7th grade sewing class many years ago). The curtains in our bedroom are fully lined. "I can't believe you did that all by hand!" my sister-in-law Willie said. I can hardly believe it myself. But, I was there.

Necessity. . .

. . .is the mother of invention. I needed a foot stool. I have several storage totes. One of the totes is filled with fabric. I have extra pillows in the closet. And I like to sew while I watch TV or DVD's in the evening. I'd tell you how I did it, but it depends on the size of the fabric remnants you're using.

Big Boy Legos

I wish I would have snapped a pic of this project when it first came out of the box! Lots of pieces neatly lay all over the floor. Mart was almost finished with the project when I took this photo. He is assembling a drawer here. We are really enjoying having a basement. Mart has a very nice room that he can use for a workshop, warm and dry in the winter, and cool in the summer.

Good idea!

There is a lovely french door between our dining room and kitchen. I couldn't think what it was there for. Until today. Cooking onions and cabbage for soup--maybe not a nice fragrance to have wafting through the house. Viola! I pulled the sweet little french door closed and no foul odors could escape into the rest of the house. Bless you again, Mrs. Kelly. (Since she lived here for sixty years, we give her credit for all the details that we like in our home.)

Books, Books, Books

We did some more exploring in Chatham the other day and discovered a used bookstore called Book Brothers. We didn't think to ask the guys if their name was Book. (I do have inlaws whose name is Book, and one of them is actually a retired librarian.) Anyway, what a find. Rooms full of books, well organized, and very nice ambiance. Mart & I both found books that we'd been looking for. I recently read a biography on P.G. (Pelham Grenville, nick-named Plum) Wodehouse that I picked up at the Chatham Library booksale. We've been fans of his since watching the old Jeeves & Wooster series a few years ago. We still pop off with some of the phrases we picked up while watching Bertie Wooster's misadventures. I'd never read any of the Wodehouse's books though. We found a couple old paperbacks at Book Brothers, and learned there are collectors in the area that usually snap up anything that comes in. It made my finds seem that much more special!

Apples, Apples, Apples

Well, here we are, enjoying the fruit of our labour. Fresh apples to munch on, apples to bake in pies, apple bread, and (not shown) apple sauce. We invited Peetra over for apple pie and cheddar cheese and tea. She brought along some apple cake she'd made. So it was an apple party. I can feel Fall in the air.

The Bonnet

Here she is, Miss Claire in her prairie bonnet from Nanna. (See "History Lesson" for more background.)

Claire likes to pretend she is Laura Ingles from Little House on the Prairie. Claire's little sister Emily has a bonnet from Nanna too, but she was not available for comment. Claire likes to pretend that Emily is Laura's younger sister Carrie. I'm not sure what Emily thinks about this (again, she was not available for comment). Poppa and Nanna think just about everything Claire and Emily do is charming!