Sewing, and a day off

1.)  I've been on a bit of a sewing kick lately. 

The primary project has been a dress sewn from a pattern printed in 1959. I bought it from a vintage seller  who specializes in sewing and embroidery stuff. 

I've spent at least $60 on the thing between the pattern, fabric, and buttons. Making your own clothes is not the cheaper option it once was, especially if you buy new material (I was going to use a thrift store sheet, but I couldn't find one big enough in a color that wouldn't make me look like I have jaundice. Darn olive complexion limits my choices a bit).

It's challenging. Probably the worst moment was when I was trimming the seams with pinking shears and chopped a hole right in a super visible place. But something that actually looks like a dress is gradually emerging. 

I'm also putting together a vest for Little Boy from a very obnoxious horse print. I'm trying to do it sans professional pattern-- we'll see if I manage to pull it off. 

2.) A New Chair 

The very used chair that Chris scored off of Facebook marketplace for $5 five years ago has finally been replaced. 

A friend was getting rid of a gliding rocking chair, and we bought it from them. It doesn't have padded arms or a footrest like our old (very used) recliner, but it has a padded seat, can turn 360 degrees, and is in much better shape. 

Bitty Baby loves sitting in it and looking at a book, so the cuteness factor has been up around here pretty considerably too. 

3.) Chris took a day off 

I'm really thankful my husband has a good boss who lets her employees take sanity days.  

His job has been a little (lot) crazy lately. Lots of kids these days seem to think that bringing a THC pen to school is a good idea. 

It's not. No matter what some of their parents may think. 

So Chris decided to take a day off just to get a mental break. We ended up using it as an errand day; we got some groceries bought, the oil changed in the van, and ate lunch at Sam's Club (cheap, reasonably decent pizza). 

We had the girls with us (Little Boy still had school), but it was still really nice to spend time together with my husband that wasn't in a time crunch. We were able to take our time doing errands in a way that we usually aren't, and it was just...nice. I enjoyed it, and I hope we can do it again. 

4.) I wrote something for the Substack 

You can see it here, if you're so inclined.

 It's decidedly more cheerful than the last thing I wrote over there. 

5.) Misadventures in Adoration

Note to the older retired ladies and gentlemen who sign up for the parish adoration timeslots: please don't assume that the lady bringing in a toddler and a five year old will be able to stay very long.

Thursday is my "running around" day, and I usually try to stop by the local parish that has all day adoration on that day. We never stay long- usually less than five minutes (I've learned not to press my luck).  Yesterday I stopped by with the girls and sat down as I usually do...and the one other person in there stood up to leave! 

The thing about Eucharistic adoration is that the exposed Sacrament can never be left alone. If Jesus is in the monstrance, somebody has to be with Him.  I had no idea when, or if, the next person would show up and the girls hadn't had lunch yet. 

I quickly scrambled after him, "excuse me sir, I can't stay very long." 

He looked a little startled, "you can't?" 

"No sir. Not with two babies." 

"Oh. It's just that the 11am person never showed up...(it was 11:45 at this point)." 

I apologized that I couldn't stick around, and (God Bless him) he sat back down in the chapel. I felt bad, but I couldn't ask the girls to sit still and quiet for an unspecified chunk of time, especially with empty stomachs. 

Someone else was walking in as we were leaving, so hopefully the gentleman got some relief soon after.

6.) Attack of the Sunflower Sprouts 

A couple lonely turnip sprouts in a sea of wild sunflower sprouts. 

The veggie seeds are sprouting and happy, which is exciting (and surprising, considering the colder weather we've been having), but the weed seeds and grass are sprouting and happy too. 

The moral of the story? Cut wild sunflowers down BEFORE they go to seed. 

7.) Coat

Always keep an eye out at the thrift store. 

I went by there this week and found a wool coat for $10. It was too big (rather significantly), but I've been wanting a long wool coat for awhile and I thought it was worth the gamble. 

It's missing a button or two, but the fabric is in good shape. 

Out of curiosity, I looked up the brand and what it was going for on eBay. It seemed pretty well made, and I wondered where it came from. 

The only one like it I found on eBay was going for $350 (!?). 

For a savings of $340, I think it was worth it. A cheaper coat would have been worth it too, but it's always fun when you get something for a little that someone else originally spent a lot on.