One of my friends at work has a kitchen decorated in reds with apples, she says. So, when I decided to make "Mommy and me" aprons for her and the little one I found this great print at Bear Paw Quilts. I've become quite the internet shopper, it's pretty funny. As you can see, a nice butcher block style with a double pocket, girly-ed up with a double ruffle on the bottom. Pretty sweet, don't you think?
Yesterday was a wonderful Mother's Day for me. Lill had given me her gifts on Thursday night when she got in, a beautiful flamingo tray and an LROC co
ffee mug. Then yesterday Alice stopped by with flowers from her and Sarah. Everything is pretty cool as you can see by the picture. I'd say these girls were definitely brought up right, but that would be patting my own back, and as my mom always said..."don't break your arm patting your back". I also got a new Kenmore sewing machine. During costume work for the fall musical at the high school, I burned out the motor on my Necchi. I've been using Sarah's Bernette, but it's not really fair since she will be home and learning to sew this summer. As we were walking out of Sears after going to LensCrafters, I saw an advertisement for the portable, on sale for $85. since I've had the Necchi for 25 years, and it's $25 alone for the diagnostic, I figured this was not a bad deal. I think the thing that made the deal was that it has an automatic threader. Given how hard it is for me to see that little needle eye sometimes, this was perfect! I don't need a computerized machine because I really don't do that kind of stuff. I'm pretty much a straight stitch and a little zig-zag kind of girl. I can't wait to get home and play with it--another incentive to heal quickly.
Everything is in order for tomorrow as far as paperwork and notices, I still have to put my bag together and send out my last family/friends email. I'm okay with this, I just wish it was over, and it will be after tomorrow. I doubt I will be in any shape to blog until at least next week at the earliest; I won't even be home until Friday. So, keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
Some of you may remember today's title as the words that start a wonderful song about spending time with a friend. It's from a 70s era movie starring Liza Minelli called "the Sterile Cuckoo". The movie had a lot of poignant moments for me, especially about being away at college and missing my friends; I remember sitting on the dorm hallway floor crying on the phone for an hour to Louie, who "comfortingly" said: "Well, stay for a quarter, if you don't like it you can always go home and go to Cleveland State." But, the important part of the song is about spending time with people who are special and that you will have the memories of the day. I am so lucky to have people surrounding me who I want to spend time with and who make wonderful memories to have. Two who come to mind are my sisters-in-law who have always, from the time we were kids together (well, that's kind of stretching it for Jude because she was really little...love ya, sweeta), treated me as a blood sister, not just one of their brother's friends. The first thing Omi (Naomi for anyone who could possibly not know that is the nickname Lill gave her as a toddler) asked was should she come in for this little adventure, and Jude keeps sending me love and hugs text messages at the weirdest times, just another reminder that I am in her thoughts. I am so happy to have them in my life!
So many other friends have offered to fly in from the west coast-the airlines should be happy! I've asked them to wait, we really need to see how "laid up" I'm going to end up. Lou told me yesterday that about 150 people from his various committees and associates at work are pulling for me, too. Just as long as they don't send flowers, I'll be fine. He has suggested they send fruit since I'll probably wind up constipated from the pain meds-gotta love that man, always thinking ahead.
The only real adventure late this week was the discussion Thursday with the pre-op people at the hospital. They had me registered for the bi-lateral mastectomy, but only for reconstruction on the right side. Suffice it to say that after 3 hours back and forth on the phone, this Bionic Woman will be rebuilt on both sides. In the continuing tattoo vein, Lill thinks I should have Plus 1 tattooed on. I just might, because I am firmly believing I will be survivor 11 million Plus 1.
As the sun is shining and it's supposed to rain this afternoon, I am taking the words of the weatherman to heart: "this morning might be your only window of opportunity to cut the grass that's grown about 2 feet in the last 5 days... so get out there and do it." So, I'm getting out there and doing it-see ya later.
In less than a week I will be cancer free. I have decided to be Plus 1. While I was watching TV over the weekend, the American Cancer Society had a commercial on about being the official sponsor of birthdays, and that there are 11 million cancer survivors. I am going to be number 11 million Plus 1. We have seen both doctors this week, and I've had my pre-op physical. Friday I will have my chest x-ray and then be good to go. I am trying to remain optimistic even though it sounds like this will be a little more intense than was originally described. I talked to a co-worker who has just gone through the same thing, though she had implants, and she came back after 3 1/2 weeks to an abbreviated schedule which was still alot for her to manage. Her advice was to not rush because my surgery will be more intense. i will take her advice.
Gadha loved the aprons I made for her and her daughter, and her little one put it on and danced around last night. Hopefully I will get a picture of the two together in their "mommy and me" styles. I will post pictures when I download the camera.
I am training a nice young guy to take my place while I'm on leave. He graduated UMD in December in Economics and is looking for a full time job; but at least this will bring in some money for him. He will be working my 3 day schedule and will definitely be a help to Siane. My supervisor is one of the greatest people around; she and some of the other girls are taking me out to lunch tomorrow as a get-well send off.
The roseola (Lillian) will be home tomorrow. Jack has decided to pick her up from BWI; okay-so am I a bad mom because I'm not upset that I don't have to drive up to BWI in what will probably be rainy weather and miss the season finale of Grey's Anatomy? Probably the Grey's Anatomy throws it into bad mom territory...
Sarah's paper is fantastic. She sent a copy of the final paper to us, her sister and her grandfather. Oh course she had to give him crap and ask if it was enough "Brown-speak" for him; I don't understand how she's the only one who can get away with saying stuff like that to him.
I'm starting to yawn, so I'm going to bed. good night, all.....
After a full day of doing nothing because of the rain and yuckiness, after dinner last night I started working on the mother-daughter set for one of my co-workers. Of course I can't leave a pattern the way it is, so instead of putting on rows and rows of trim, I made two rows of ruffles and added some bias tape to the pocket top. I have to say my version is way cuter; and of course I had to be a perfectionist and double fold all the sides and stuff so there wouldn't be hanging strings, but I think that's what people will pay for-that little extra that makes it special; even if I have to point it out since most people don't sew and don't know what they're looking at. As soon as I finish a few lines here, I'm going down to work on the mom version.
Two doc appointments down and one to go before surgery. Today Lou and I met with the general surgeon and made sure we knew what was going on with him. Then I had my pre-op physical which wasn't much testing but a lot of waiting around. I'll need to schedule a chest x-ray. Tomorrow we meet with the plastic surgeon and have a few questions for him, then we are good to go!
My friends and family continue to shower me with warmth and affection, and I love them for it. I imagine I will be out of commission for at least a week, or if I'm feeling okay maybe I can have Lill type my entries. Regardless, the next week and a half are going to be really interesting.
I am learning about developing a national aesthetic as Lou and I proofread Sarah's paper. Do you know what a national aesthetic is? I do- nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah! So, if you want to know, you'll have to read the paper! My father-in-law will appreciate it, as it's written in Brown (as in when he asks her to "say something in Brown").
I am so fortunate to have children who are bright, inquisitive and nice. good thing I love them so much.
I wasn't going to tell, but I wanted to put up the picture. It was like Twilight Zone-I googled cowboy boot baby booties, found a link, ran into the other room with the laptop to print out the pattern, then came back to the living room. Lou said, "Did you bookmark the page?" and of course I said "Oops, no," and went back to the link and it said: "Sorry but that site is closed down" and I could not get the pattern again-but at least I have a copy. Are these the cutest you've ever seen? Lill got a pair when she was a baby (in brown and gold), and since Tara's brother and wife are expecting a daughter, and they live in Colorado, I thought cowgirl boots totally appropriate. they'll go out in the mail Monday. From the information I could find on the google search, the pattern is from an Annie's Attic booklet from 1980. People are selling them on eBay for anywhere from $12 to $40, but they're not sharing the pattern.....
Leslie's reversible apron: kitchen and Shabbat sides
Omi's prototypeIt seems that having a fabric stash makes it so easy to procrastinate. I should have worked on the bedroom and the blue room today. Instead, I worked out a prototype for a gathering apron for the swap on Busy Bee. Though the tutorial is a great idea, I don't like a long apron for working in the yard. I would trip myself and all kinds of things. So, taking inspiration from Mary Mulari's clothespin apron, I fashioned a gathering apron for my sister-in-law to test out, even though I have already found some things I would change if I make it again. Anyway, it's a bib style with a center pocket on the bib for a phone (Lou's idea- I don't think he realizes most people aren't umbilically connected to their children by phone the way we are....) and then a front overlay with inverted pleats to allow for expansion as food is gathered. I will send it to Omi and have her try it and see what her recommendations are. I would probably top stitch the pleat edges on the next one, maybe lower the sides of the top so there is a bigger area to reach in, and definitely make the neck strap adjustable. The prototype isn't because I couldn't find any D rings. I know they are somewhere in the laundry area stuff, but I couldn't find them.... this used another of my vintage pieces, a floral curtain, and the bias trim is covering fade marks where a fold was, but I think it's still pretty cute. sorry it's not purple, Om, but ya gotta go with what's around.
these are the pictures of Leslie's reversible apron I talked about at the beginning of the week. Pretty cute, I'd say, but then I have a vested interest.......
I think I will open another post to put up the picture of the cowgirl boots because I don't want to push my luck.
I have never really considered May 1 a special day, but this year is changing that! The mail lady just came through and I got two special presents from two special people! My cousin Karyn, who has a decidedly different sense of humor, sent me a teddy bear for comfort. This is not your ordinary talking bear; this is a Swear Bear. When you press his tummy, he says something nasty with lots of four and more letter words.....Omi and Jeff will love this when they see it.
Then, the second package was from Tara, in CO. She sent me a wonderful survivor kit: Lindt chocolate truffles (everyone's basic survival food) and a kit to crochet a cashmere scarf. She figured I would need something to work on during recuperation and this looks fun and beautiful, not to mention soft. Funny it came today-I just got back from a run to Safeway and Inez's (Stitchery) where I got the supplies for something I will surprise her with.....don't try to make me tell-I won't.
The rain that never came yesterday has been pouring down all day today and would be very depressing if it wasn't such a warm spring rain. And if the oil change hadn't been free this morning on Miss Lucy because they forgot to use the coupon last time. Oh, and if the the steering gear recall Bob mentioned at first would have applied to to my car and I would have had to bring it back for an all-day appointment. But, since I'm 3-0 on great things, I can't be pissed about the rain. And (4) I won't be going out later because Angie just called and has to reschedule dinner tonight-she's not feeling well and going home early. So, Lou and I will eat those wonderful little shrimpies and french bread and then watch a film noir we recorded a few weeks ago and haven't watched yet.
There's nothing on board for the weekend except on and off rain, so I will probably get the rooms straightened up that I haven't worked on yet. Doesn't that sound like fun? yuch.
Looks like naptime, I think I'll take one.
One of my friends at work has a kitchen decorated in reds with apples, she says. So, when I decided to make "Mommy and me" aprons for her and the little one I found this great print at Bear Paw Quilts. I've become quite the internet shopper, it's pretty funny. As you can see, a nice butcher block style with a double pocket, girly-ed up with a double ruffle on the bottom. Pretty sweet, don't you think?
ffee mug. Then yesterday Alice stopped by with flowers from her and Sarah. Everything is pretty cool as you can see by the picture. I'd say these girls were definitely brought up right, but that would be patting my own back, and as my mom always said..."don't break your arm patting your back". I also got a new Kenmore sewing machine. During costume work for the fall musical at the high school, I burned out the motor on my Necchi. I've been using Sarah's Bernette, but it's not really fair since she will be home and learning to sew this summer. As we were walking out of Sears after going to LensCrafters, I saw an advertisement for the portable, on sale for $85. since I've had the Necchi for 25 years, and it's $25 alone for the diagnostic, I figured this was not a bad deal. I think the thing that made the deal was that it has an automatic threader. Given how hard it is for me to see that little needle eye sometimes, this was perfect! I don't need a computerized machine because I really don't do that kind of stuff. I'm pretty much a straight stitch and a little zig-zag kind of girl. I can't wait to get home and play with it--another incentive to heal quickly.
