Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Tuesday-10am

Goodness!  Been a whole week again!
We had a dusting of snow for Christmas Eve.
Not enough to cover the brown lawn, but it was a semi-white Christmas, anyways.  I was happy to see some snow.   
And my backordered new red Thermos mugs finally arrived on Christmas Eve!
Yes, you will be seeing new mugs for 2015!  Whoohoo!  I absolutely love the taller black and red one.  All the ladies over at T-Stands For Tuesday, I've even done a coffee mug red facelift--LOL!
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Karma and I had our own little Christmas miracle!  I went to plug in the dead musical string of lights to see if maybe the music box still worked (because I had turned the sound off and Ian seemed to like the tinkly music) and--lo and behold--they lit up and blinked again!!  TaDa!  
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Karma and I hung out (notice she'll go anywhere I move her stocking and the tiny tree skirt--LOL!)...
...and had a relaxing, quiet Christmas just the two of us. 
I got this basket of goodies delivered from Janie
And Tori sent Miss Karma some cat treats and me an audio version of The Hobbit! 
I also got some Amazon gift cards (one from Patricia, my BFF from high school!).  I just have the best friends!!  And members of my family sent money, too!  Thanks so very, very much!  For each gift, each card, each kind word...you made my holiday so special!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas (those who celebrate it) and may we all have a marvelous coming year!
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Let's see, what else.  We've had a lot of cloudy days.
I washed up all the fabrics Leah and I bought at Joann's.  Now just waiting to receive and wash up the other fabrics I bought on Amazon.  Supposed to all be here by the 6th.  I have little post-it notes to tell me which fabrics are which--flannel, velour, minky, suede cloth, etc. 

I got the sewing machine working again!  Had to take a tweezers and dig around to pull out the jammed thread.  Couldn't even come in sideways with a butter knife and get to that screw to remove the plate.  I have a 4-way screwdriver picked out to order in January.  ;)  But--so far so good--tada! 
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Right after Christmas I ran across 24 Hours of Happy!!  
I know I'm probably the last person on earth to know this website even exists but I love that song because it does make me HAPPY!  I've been playing it and watching a little every day since I found it.  (The pics are Steve Carell doing a cameo "Happy" appearance on a bus.) 
This morning we're seeing some sun again. 
Been seeing sunshine for a few days and it is very welcome.  Was one degree yesterday morning.  Right now it is "-4 feels like -22 F".  Crispy.
This has been such a year!!  
This little guy has changed our lives!  :):)
(Photo from Mama)
Little Ian has recently caught the cold/cough that's going around.  Poor guy has had trouble sleeping unless it's upright against Mama's chest. You get this crud and can't breathe when you lie down.  Sending healing thoughts...all over!  So many people have been down with this or other illnesses this winter already.
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I usually post over New Year's and likely will this year, too.  I love greeting the New Year and saying goodbye to the last one.  How can you not get all warm and gushy and contemplative on New Year's--LOL!  It's the perfect time for reflection and examining your life so far.  See you then!!  
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Meanwhile, I dare you to click on this Happy link and not at least crack a tiny smile.  I am listening to it as I am writing this.  Just want to share the joy.  Can you hear me clapping?!  :):)
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“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” 
Dr. Seuss

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Tuesday 4:45am

Good very early morning on T-Stands For Tuesday!  I thought I'd have new cups to share by now but the two red ones I ordered from Thermos.com--backordered.  Maybe by next week.  :)  Do you see Miss Karma right beyond the red end table?
She was bathing there on the floor.  She spends time every day on her claimed Christmas stocking and now the tree skirt from my tabletop tree.  Yup--the one leg was broken on the tripod stand and another was giving way so that the tree fell over all the time...so it is now gone.  Leah said she has an old green table top tree somewhere that I could have--cool!  Then I'll steal back my tree skirt from Karma--LOL!
My Christmas decorations are disappearing.  Here's a picture of when Miss Karma was keeping me company as I was writing letters a couple days ago.  The big strand of musical lights around the windows--dead as a doornail now.  When one light goes they all go, I guess.    
This is what it has been looking like mornings.  Rain.  So overcast that you need lights on all day.  I couldn't even take a picture without the camera reflection in the window like you'd get at night--LOL! 
I was finally working on the diaper tote all weekend.  The first thing I had to do was sew around all the pieces to hold them together.
Now, I admit that I have only owned my one other machine for the past 40 years and this new plastic machine is taking some getting used to, but I am not thrilled with the tension on this one even when it appears to be working pretty well.  You sewers will know what I mean.  The front looks okay... 
...but the thread kind of lays there on the backside.  
I think I am having troubles threading this top-loading bobbin.  The third time I filled the bobbin I was down to the last pieces...sewing together the handles.  I'm going along and the thread totally jams up.  The top looked okay still...   
...but look at the backside!  LOL!  OMG!!  I'll have to rip that all out.
The thread is all jammed down inside there, so I need to take the metal plate off, right? 
Well, guess what?  None of the screwdrivers that came with it will fit underneath there.  And none of the old ones I saved from my old machine will fit, either.  There's only a couple inches leeway above the screw and they don't even give you a screwdriver that will work.  Totally ridiculous, right!
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Anyways, I will figure out a way.  And then I am going on youtube to see if I can find a nice closeup video on how to properly thread a top loading bobbin on a Brother Sewing Machine--LOL!  Staring at the pictures in the manual has obviously not been working for me.  ;)
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Meanwhile...yesterday Leah, Ian, and I went shopping (super sales) at Joann's.  I needed more of the brown thread and we wanted to look for fabric to sew our own feminine pads and panty liners.  Yes--going even crunchier, folks--ROLF!  (You can find crunchy in the online urban dictionary--but think granola lovers--lol!)  
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If babies can have cloth diapers why can't we use cloth, too, right?  Much better for the environment.  I had no idea this has also become a more popular thing these days.  I was certainly game!  Heck, back in the early 70s this flower child was using sea sponges...talk about going crunchy!  (Apologies to my male readers.)  Anyways, that is going to be the next big project in 2015! 
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We were there for hours--Ian was soooo good and such a trooper.  When I had to sit down at the pattern book table for quite a while Ian kept me company.  But I tell you, Gramma was so totally exhausted last night that she couldn't keep her eyes open and was in bed before 9:30pm.  Trouble was I woke up at 1:30am and wasn't able to get back to sleep (too sore)...so here I am...earlier than usual for the Tuesday group over at Elizabeth's.  :)
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But nothing can dampen the Christmas spirit around here, though!  Not trees and lights dying or dark days or sewing machine woes or good old body pains or even a brown, wet Christmas.  Nosiree!  If I don't see you again before--Merry, merry Christmas from me and Miss Karma!  And I'll end with a big drooly smile Ian's Mama caught by their Christmas tree. 
Happy Holidays!!  :):)
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"I find ecstasy in living -- the mere sense of living is joy enough."
Emily Dickinson  

Friday, December 19, 2014

Friday-10am

We had blue skies one day--whoohoo!
I caught a pretty morning shot another day before the clouds took over the day. 
Ever since the triple dresser was moved Karma has noticed an imaginary friend or foe hiding underneath there.  She spends time each day trying to coax it out or swiping at her invisible victim.  Silly girl! 
Of course it is just interesting because it's in a different spot. 
Nothing keeps her awake for too long, though--LOL!  You might notice she's not wearing her big red collar. 
I took it off since having both that and her hazelwood collar seemed a bit much now that her neck is all cleared up and the fur all grown back.  Not 15 minutes later she comes up for a cuddle...sans any collar at all.  I thought she'd pulled the hazelwood over her head because it was so loose.  Nope.  It was so loose that she got ahold of the beads and chewed it off!  Cracked up several of the beads, the little stinker!  Looked too string-like, I suppose.  Well, I tied the ends back together and it fits more snuggly now.  Can still get three fingers underneath it...but her fur is so thick and the collar so thin that you can barely see she has it on.  No more chomping on beads for Miss Karma! 
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I was over visiting McFamily on Wednesday night.  Ian has been practicing his sitting up techniques.  Does really well, but can still fall over when he's sitting in the corner of the couch like this.  I got so excited to get a picture that I hit him with the flash the first time. 
I took a couple more pictures... 
...but he was so serious working at this new job. 
Gramma decided to entertain him. 
I move the camera down... 
...and when it is ready to take another picture... 
...I pop it up and say "boo"! 
Ian finds this endlessly entertaining. 
1. Ian has a silly Gramma. 
2. Ian is easily entertained. 
3.  Gramma is easily entertained. 
And she loves this face! 
He's almost six months old already.  Do you believe it? 
Just had to pop in and say hi.
Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend.  Last weekend before Christmas.  Got my lights blinking, the Christmas music on, and Karma's sleeping in my lap.  I'm just wishing for some snow!!  ;)
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“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are." 
Marianne Williamson  

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Tuesday-9:30am

Good Morning!  
I didn't think I'd even be able to post today.  For several days Blogger would not let me add photos, but apparently has changed its mind.  I will keep my fingers crossed that everything else works and here goes...
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The closest I got to what I am drinking for T Stands For Tuesday is the coffee pot on the countertop--LOL!
There's no 50 Shades of Gray at my place.  
It's 50 Shades of Red--LOL! 
I know they don't match, but I don't care.  I am loving all the red accents.  :)
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McFamily was over Saturday.
Before pics.   
The old end table went with them, too.  There were sure a lot of cords and electronics relocate. 
Mr. Ian was laughing at Gramma... 


...while he chomped on his chew toy. 
Karma was not amused. 
She is really not sure what to think of this little creature and keeps her distance.  Karma believes he's noisy-wiggly-harmless, but keeps an eye on him just the same. 
She's totally unaware of the range of Ian's future threat potential.  Just wait till he's mobile--LOL! 
After photos. 
Believe it or not, this triple dresser is filled almost entirely with card-making and letter-writing paper and supplies.
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The new TV set-up! 
Now I have room to keep the taboret against the wall, too, instead of under the art table or out in the room.  Nice!  Because now that I can't move my craft table by myself (since repaired, if you recall), I don't keep one chair tucked behind the table there by the window and need to keep a chair at the art table at all times...so the taboret has been perpetually out in the room and in the way.  Now it has its own little spot.  Things like that delight me.  :)
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But the really exciting news that I wanted to blog about since Friday is that my Secret Cashwise Santa has struck again!!  Cashwise delivered the anonymous gift card Thursday night.  I can't help but wonder...who she is??  (I did call Cashwise that first year and they told me it was called in and "she" called back to make sure the card was delivered).  But this angel wants to remain a mystery.  I am so grateful that it is difficult to put into words.  Whoever you are, you have made my Christmas once again and I send you love and virtual bear hugs!!  Miss Karma thanks you, too, as the cat food larder will be expanded, also, of course--LOL!  :):)  
Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!
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It's a pale grey blanketed day.  We had rain all weekend--yes, it was warm enough to rain for a few days.  Then the temps plunged back down and yesterday there was ice everywhere.  The main roads were probably not too bad by the afternoon--but the side streets, driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks were ice covered.   I was going to go over to Leah's yesterday to help work on the Christmas project she's working on but we talked it over and I decided to wait until tomorrow.  (Caroline comes this afternoon.)
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That little old Paseo is just so light that it doesn't want to stop when the roads are slippery and keeps gliding along for a while even when you are pumping the brakes.  Needless to say I drive very slowly and cautiously in that car in the winter...or even in the rain, for that matter.  And this hobbling Gramma doesn't want to fall on the ice, either.  Even though Leah kindly offered to come out and walk with me up the driveway if I decided to brave it, I passed.
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So, that's what's happening up here in Fargo.  We've dropped into the single digits and teens.  Those few warm days melted what little snow we had so it is brown and crispy outside with ice frosting.  Karma and I are snuggled up warm inside, though.  I am absolutely loving my apartment's red facelift.  Hopefully I will make it over to see McFamily tomorrow.  Caroline will be here.  (Can hardly wait to show her the facelift and tell her about Secret Santa!)  Blogger appears to be working again for me.  Life is very, very good!  Have a super week!  :):)
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   “No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” 
Amelia Earhart