Happy Halloween

I made the costumes this year.

Well, I made Carus's costume and Adam's cloak.  I'm not sure you can count his as a costume - we are though.

I finished it this morning just in time for him to wear it to school, which he did.  And apparently he received tons of compliments and many people asked where they could get one like it.  I'm very happy with the fabric.  I'd like to go get some more while it's on sale for 50% off ($6.49 versus normal $12.99/yard).  It's a black velour and it's soft and heavy and I bet it will keep him warm.  He and Robert have plans to coat it with some waterproofing spray because he wants to wear it all the time.  

Carus is a dead bride.  She told me how she wanted her skirt and shirt and I made it.  I used the pattern from her princess costume a couple years ago cutting it shirt length and then adjusting it to be more form fitting to her.  Then, instead of putting a zipper in like the pattern instructed, I put in buttons and loops.  The buttons are fabric covered buttons Carus and I made ourselves.


Adam and Robert stayed home to play video games and hand out candy to the few trick-or-treaters we get (less than 10) and Carus and I went out.  The weather was great for Halloween.  Cool, but not very cold, and dry.

As for my 365s, I have the photos and I will update them soon...hopefully. 

I need more weekend in my weekends

It was absolutely gorgeous this weekend.  High 60s, bright and sunny.  Just a gorgeous fall day where there is a little nip in the air, but the sun is still bright and warm.

285/365
Saturday I took a nap because my throat was feeling scratchy (again) and I had a headache, and then I spent the evening sewing a tulle skirt for Carus - most likely for Halloween.  I don't think we're aiming for something in particular, just a pretty foofy dress for dressing up because if it's for Halloween then you don't have to be all self conscious about dressing up.



286/365
Sunday I was feeling better, and it was still gorgeous outside so we did yard work.  We trimmed one of the three rose of Sharon bushes and that filled stuffed the yard debris bin so we have to wait to trim the other two.  Then, we cleaned up the garden a bit more, dug up the last of the potatoes (only found 5, what the hell?) and planted some garlic.  I planted 4 rows of garlic in a 3 foot by 6 foot (not 100% on how long so don't quote me there) section and I still had cloves to plant. Maybe I'll get a bit more soil and finish off the last 3 foot (ish) square section at the end of the row with garlic.  I need more soil - with compaction and erosion, the soil we have is no longer enough. It will allow us to introduce more fertilizer too.  We had hoped to wait until spring but had to use up the last bit of soil in the shed from this year for the garlic bed.

I had planned on snapping a quick photo of the garlic bed shortly after planting, but got distracted with other stuff and didn't remember until sunset.  Specifically, the end of sunset and now we have a rather dark photo... Meh, you get the gist.

Down time Sunday

237/365

Summer is quickly coming to a close.

I'm not ready, but yet I am.  September is always a hectic and crazy month and knowing that, anticipating that craziness is making me anxious.

I've been wanting to scope out a local trail (Banks-Vernonia Trail) for fall family photo shoots so I loaded up the dogs and Carus and went to check it out.

I'm very happy with it.  It was lovely and it will be more lovely when the leaves have changed.

I need to go more often too; Leia needs to work on her leash manners.  She gets so excited to go somewhere and go for a walk and go for a car ride and she thought she was going to the park and and and...  She did okay with the bikers and runners on the trail, but the walkers were too easy to approach to say hello.  She loves to say hello to everyone!


After the walk I had sewing time.  I started with the mending pile - mending holes, fixing buttons, hemming things.




And then I made Carus some jammie shorts.

The end of the week

Hey look, it's the end of last week.

So where were we.

Oh yeah, last Wednesday and the final band concert of the year.  The school district, thanks to budget cuts (and it's mostly a real thanks and only a teensy bit of a sarcastic one), has one band director.  He teaches all band students from 5th grade through high school.  The end of the year concert is always a bit emotional.  He gets to show off how well his students have learnt over the year and has to say goodbye to his seniors, and their goodbye to such a great teacher is always emotional.  And awesome.  It's teachers like him that give me hope for our public school system.

149/365 - Carus playing the trumpet.  

And the band teacher can just stand back and watch them play, because he's that good.

Adam getting ready to play trombone.  

150/365 - Thursday, after work, Carus and I made little felt crowns for use in photo shoots with babies and little kids.  Though adults could wear them too, if they wanted. Carus did most of the sewing.  She enjoys sewing, I need to sew with her more often.  I think I'll schedule a sewing day soon.

The finished crowns, they're reversible.

151/365 - Friday, while Carus was at dance I walked the dogs. Then, back at the studio the dogs and I waited on the studio porch and watched a visiting hummingbird.  That bird liked those flowers so much it didn't mind how close I was.  I will be taking my camera to this week's' dance class. Cross your fingers that he returns.

Blargh

43:365


The start of my newly designated sewing area.

I'd like a sewing table/desk and a cutting table and lots of storage; either baskets on shelves or drawers. I have so many ideas I'd like to incorporate, but not enough room for them all.

I know, I know. Such a blah photo and "story". Cut me some slack, I had a surprise root canal today (Tuesday).

I went to the dentist to get one of my two known cavities taken care of figuring it was time to stop putting things off and found out I procrastinated a bit too long and I needed a root canal.

It's my first root canal, and isn't wasn't bad as I thought it would be.

Good news is one cavity taken care of, one more to go.

Sewing day

I'm still working on my mystery quilt that I started at the beginning of this year.

Actually, it seems the only time I make any progress is when I get together with Jessica and we work on our quilts together.

I finished the blocks today and have every intention of putting the top together this week while I'm off work.... and then there is sandwiching and quilting and binding... So another year of work then.

Maybe if Jessica and I can get another craft day this week I will succeed in getting a top.  If I do I'll take a picture with the camera and not my phone so you can really appreciate the colors (red, white and blue, and the dark flower fabric has brown - I didn't intend to be patriotic with my colors, it just happened).

Fall 7days, day 1

The fall run of 7 days began today so now you get to look at self portraits of me for the next 7 days. You're welcome.



Carus asked if she could sew so I pulled out my mystery quilt and worked on it a little bit, and Carus decided she wanted to make a little stuffed animal.  She is designing it herself, though I've been recruited into showing how things go together and helping sew. And tomorrow I'll be recruited into going and picking up some stuffing for her.

Carus just decided to participate - her and her bunny ears.

247, 248, and 249 of 366

247:366
09/02/2012 - Sunday

Adam's birthday of course! We had a little family party with dinner (steak as requested by the birthday boy) and chocolate cream pie (he didn't want a cake). I made two pies - one with a mint Oreo cookie crust and one with a regular Oreo cookie crust. Both were good.



My finger was up because I was getting him to hold on blowing out the candles a second for Daddy to get in position with the camera (which I had forgot to check the settings on and THANKFULLY the pic came out). I didn't hold him long enough for Grandpa Alan to get into position though - sorry!



Gramma Jerye came up for his birthday, the first birthday of his she has been to since he was born. Don't wait 14 years to be at another of his birthdays Gramma! And unfortunately she had to head towards home right after dinner. Visits with Gramma's and Granny's are never long enough... 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
 248:366
Monday

Quilting Day! A friend and I are still working out the Mystery Quilts we started back in January. The ones that were supposed to be done by now. (Yay for a fellow procrastinator!) We've been trying to make a point of getting together once or twice a month (or as often as we can) and working on those quilts.



One of these is not like the others...



Oops, made a mistake. Oh well, it was only this one block and it was an easy fix.


* * * * * * * *
249:366
Tuesday

Football season has started! Adam has been in practices for 2 weeks and is enjoying it. He did not want to pose for this photo, he was tired and sweaty and wanting a shower - but he does as I say.

Ignore the messy pantry please. 

244:366

Carus making herself a pillowcase out of a fleece pink and black zebra print.  She BEGGED for the fabric when seeing it in the store. Really, really begged.  She wanted another blanket, but because she already has 5 million bazillion blankets on her bed, I suggested a simple pillowcase, which she agreed to.  I think she meant for me or gramma to sew it, but we had other ideas.  Gramma made her a skirt out of another fabric she BEGGED for, so she had to do this one.  She did well.




* * * * * * * *

Sneaking in an update on The Shed now.  Progress is still being made, but it looks like less is being finished.

Robert got the window in.


And, he got the door in, and foamed the gap around the door.  Next up, painting!

213:366

I got the day off in trade for covering a Saturday shift for a coworkers vacation, so after doing some yard work with the kids, wasting some time playing online, and finishing my book, I pulled out my mystery quilt, and completed step 2 of 6.  On the version I'm helping Carus with - we've still only finished the first step.  I need to have more quilting days.

Also, hopefully Jessica (a friend who is doing the mystery quilt with me and is probably already done with hers) has picked up a copy of the final step for me.  (Hint hint. Please!! And thank you!)

A lot of animals and a little girl too

293/365 - Friend's new horse, Starlett.

By the time Friday rolled around, it had been a VERY long week and a VERY long day. I needed a break.  I threw dinner together and ran away for a couple hours with a friend to the barn to meet her new horse.

Ahhh, barn smells and horses...


294/365 - Sleepy Timmy


295/365 - Carus's Halloween costume is coming along nicely.  She wasn't happy about trying it on and me taking a picture.  There are a few things I'm not happy with, but I'm not sure I can fix it... I'll try. Just one week left until Halloween.


296/365 - Pretty puppy

Costume, kitty, and puppy

281/365 - Carus's Halloween costume. A "not so girly" princess dress. These are the dress pieces cut out, there are still some gauzy material (it's not gauze, but I can't think of the type of material it is) to cut out for the drape and sleeves. I've since gotten the front half of the dress sewn together and so far so good. It's a very pretty blue satin-like material.


282/365 - Sleepy Simba kitty

283/365 - Leia puppy