Uh huh, Belle is a real daredevil about getting on the counter. She has her own perch on the top of the covered trash can right by the counter so she can watch what's going on up in food land. But then again, she loves to watch food or a coffee cup go around in the microwave. What? The microwave is on the counter? oops! Aw, mom, you caught me again! Now, if I act really adorable and mew with a really pitiful voice will I still be in trouble?
1. Most of you know that I love to sew and I do Civil War reenacting. I take classes at the Genteel Arts Academy in Gettysburg whenever I can on period sewing techniques and construction of period clothing, and I took one this past weekend. It was all about "yoked bodices" and included study of period garments and period photographs of others, and then we went on our own to create our own bodice. The classes are 8-5 on both days and in that time I got this bodice almost finished (except hand finishing the piped edges of neck, waist, and sleeve edge). It's hard to see the ruffle at the edge of the yoke or the pleating on the lower edge in the photograph but they're there. Since I lost all day yesterday to having vertigo, today I want to try to find some trim and perhaps buttons to help pop the color of the burned orange dots of berries in the fabric, which is very subdued.
2. Along with that "love to sew" is that I'm going to try to get the skirt and the rest of the above dress finished to wear to a division meeting in less than 2 weeks. It shouldn't be too much of a problem, the skirts usually take me just a couple of days to complete, I just have to get the motivation to go upstairs and clean off my cutting table to get it all laid out and also get the skirt facing cut and sewn and edged. I might put some ruffling on it too, depending on how much fabric I have left after I do the skirt panels.
3. I lost yesterday completely due to having to take some medicine and it making me sleep all day, so I feel like getting myself going, but I'm going to kind of take it easy so I don't overdo things. I probably have a sinus and/or ear infection coming and that's why I had vertigo bad enough to have to take my meds. I don't want to push myself and then be sick the rest of the week. I'm supposed to fly a few days this week, but if I'm not feeling up to par, I'll put in a request to have them off so I don't have to go to work feeling crummy.
4. Last week I told you'all that I'd started Weight Watchers again. I had a weekend of excess since we always order lunch out in our sewing classes and then eat out on the way home from Gettysburg, but I'm back on track now and charting everything I eat. I even went back and charted the weekend food and I'm still within my week's points. We do our weigh in on Saturdays and I lost 1.4 pounds last week, not a lot, but it's something. Last week I did exercise quite a bit though I'm getting a slow start this week since I'm not feeling great, but I'm going to try to work on it.
5. Along those lines, last week we got a Wii so that we could use the exercise features of the Wii fit. We're not into video games but the exercise games are fun and get you moving and even sweating. Hubby and I really like it, and I've been trying to at least do some at home each day. The yoga has helped to stretch and to point out that I have virtually no upper body strength, so that is my focus. I'll continue to go to classes at the gym as I can and work especially on my upper body and my back. I love the hula-hoop game as well as the step aroebics, and the strength training and yoga are good too.
6. It's cold winter here but I'm already thinking about the Landis Valley Plant Faire which is always Mother's Day Friday and Saturday in May in Lancaster, Pa. They have many plant vendors of everything imaginable, and since Mother's Day is the beginning of gardening season here in northern Maryland, I look forward to it very much as it signals that we're finally coming out of the deep sleep of the winter. I always get herbs for cooking, and some new perennials for the garden which gets bigger each year, and hubby gets some interesting tomato plants for the deck garden. There is a wonderful Iris farm that brings incredible Iris plants so I have quite a collection in my garden and always wonder what will come back and what didn't do so well over the winter. Even if I were to leave without buying anything, I still enjoy being on the living history farm for this event, it gets me in the mood for spring. I enjoy my Iris "children" most of all, and I look forward to each and every one of them blooming. I think I have about a dozen different varieties now, I collect a few each year if I can.
7. I ended up going to the fabric store and found some perfect buttons and ribbon for my dress. But when I opened up the car door when I got there it smelled like rotting garbage in the air! It was terrible! We have a couple of plants nearby, one makes cups and such for fast food places, the other makes spices. I don't even want to know what they were making today! I got into the store quickly so that I didn't have to smell the air more than necessary.
8. I went through this month's issue of cooking light and I'm now going through this month's Weight Watcher's magazine. I'm tearing out new recipies to try on the weekends when hubby is home. The ones from Cooking Light all have the nutritional information so I can calculate points per serving so I can decide if they're a good use of my points every day. Speaking of points, I went to Subway today on the way home from the fabric store to get one of their $5 footlongs...not everything is $5. The lower fat ones that I usually get such as Turkey or subway club weren't $5 which was disappointing. The ones I usually go for are 5 points for a 6 inch with no cheese or oil or mayo...but the Chicken Breast one I got is 6 points for half of a foot long. I'm saving the other half for supper. I get 21 points a day so that's just fine with me.
9. I'm disappointed in myself not doing any spinning lately, but honestly I probably have enough yarn made to make several projects and I'm getting more behind in the knitting or weaving phase. I want to let go of my own expectations for myself because then my hobbies become like chores...and just spin or knit or sew because I want to and not because I have to.
10. Today I'm making a better effort towards drinking more water. I feel better when I drink more water (usually I drink next to none) and my body functions better, so I'm going to make more of an effort, not just after I exercise.
I tried a new fitness class for beginners or older adults this morning. Some of the classes that are not for beginners are so fast and demanding that I never think I'll get caught up and on step! But today was different, the teacher is a wonderful guy, gets to know all the students by name a bit about everyone, and also encourages socializing and friendships within the classes. Because you can work to your own level, (and there are some pretty senior citizens in the class) because I pushed myself, the class did work me pretty hard.
This came up on my "Never Not Knitting" calendar which was written by the "Yarn Harlot", Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. (I must add that my bestest friend gave me the calendar and must certainly have known that it was perfect for me and makes me think of her each time I look at it! :) Thank you again, Loraine!)
Purls of Wisdom for Wednesday, January 7, 2009.
"You don't have to feel bad if you are the sort of knitter who doesn't finish a lot of stuff. Many of us are in it for the process rather than the product, and this has only to do with personality differences, rather than moral superiority. Sure, it's hard to remember that when other knitters sit smirking in their new sweaters and you are starting your 57th first sock of a pair, but keep this in mind: It's called "knitting", not "sweater making".
Ok, I'll admit, I have several single socks started, several large projects, several small ones, a shawl in the car, 2 scarves in the living room, and I bought all the yarn to make this "Viking Chicken Hat" (the pattern is free on the internet, just google it) for the baby whom it will no longer fit and I haven't even started it yet. I've often told hubby that I use knitting for entertainment value, and even if I don't finish, I'm enjoying the process. That goes for spinning, too, I generally spin my own yarn (I enjoy the process) rather than buying it unless something that I can't make well is specified in the pattern such as for the hat. So now I feel vindigated, I'm a "knitter" by Stephanie's definition.
And by the way, if you're so inclined, knitter or not, Stephanie's blog is really funny and worth a look: www.yarnharlot.com
As usual, the cats are into everything. I put away shoes in the closet in my sewing room, and one of the cats got stuck in there, I didn't see her go in. I was packing my sewing things for my class this weekend, I have a rolling tool box that I use and I had the top and bottom halves separated while I got my things together. I went to put my box of feet in the bottom half and there was a certain grey tabby sitting in there. I was consolidating cat food bags and airtight containers and the same grey tabby jumped up on top of one of the containers and was eating kibble out of it. Now mind you, it's the same exact kibble that's in her dish, but eating that wouldn't be nearly as much fun! The girls certainly are entertaining, that's for sure. :)
I've not done a TTT before, but since I'm off on Tuesdays this month, I'll try to get one in on Tuesdays at least in January. 1. I've really got to get myself to put away all the winter clothes that the three Hawaiians (daughter, son in law and grandson) left here after their visit. There is a box in the basement for them to go into, but I have to do some rearrangement down there in order to get it to fit. I told them to leave their cold weather gear since they really don't need it all until they come back probably for Thanksgiving 2010. It's on my agenda for today.
2. I took my first yoga class yesterday, definitely low impact, no sweating, and I thought I would have no problem with my muscles from this class, but when I got up, it felt like I've been run over by a truck so I decided not to kill myself to make it to this morning's fitness class. I might go walk at the gym later but I'm not going to push myself too hard and get discouraged and then quit. I think that's a good way to think about most things, I usually go like gangbusters at first and then burn out or get discouraged, but I'm going to try to be like the tortoise and stay slow and steady.
3. I'm trying to let go of the things that stress me, and the clutter in my house definitely stresses me. So each day I'm trying to work on one small area. Today on my agenda is packing my sewing things for my class this weekend, and I'm going to do some cleaning and cleaning out in the sewing room. Yesterday I set aside a plastic bin (and filled it) for the cardboard and newspaper recyclables so that corner of the kitchen wasn't so messy looking. Baby steps.
4. I set up igoogle to handle my various calendars and to send me alerts of appointments and such on my phone. I read about it in a magazine and so far I like it. It's free, and you can add a "to do" list and the calendar to your page, as well as various other things...I'd had the calendar on my one computer in my office, but I couldn't bring it up other places so this works well. I can also interface with hubby's calendar (when/if he sets one up) and have him have access to mine. I have 4 different calendars that all overlay in different colors (fitness classes, reenactment events, household events, my personal events). It took some time to set up but it's worth it.
5. This week I must finish the pre-work for my requalification exams that are coming up the 26th. I've only got a couple of units online to finish and then I will begin to study the items I need to refresh myself on from the manual. It's on my to-do list.
6. I've done well counting points so far this week and keeping my food intake to a level that is in line with my weight watcher's guidelines. It makes me feel a bit better to be in control. It was almost a defiant feeling just eating what I wanted this summer and fall, but I was only hurting myself, and I have the weight gain to prove it!
7. I got some yoga pants and a few tops yesterday on sale at Target. They're comfortable and more able to move than my usual work out clothing, and I finished pulling the tags off and getting them put away last night. Usually putting things away is not my forte...same as with laundry.
8. I'm learning to just let the cats hiss and posture and go after each other without trying too hard to get into the middle or to try to orchestrate good feelings with them all by giving treats when they're close to each other without agressing. They're going to have to figure out who's the "Chairman Meow" and I'm going to love on all of them despite the fact that all three want to be my favorite. All three want to get on the bed with me, but the kittens don't like Grace up there, and she doesn't like the kittens there, she wants me all to myself. It stresses me because I would dearly love them all to get along. I'm learning not to stress so much.
9. After discussing it with other moms of grown children, small children, and no children, I've been making a conscious effort not to let the situation with my son stress me anymore. I had to cut him off, "tough love" him because he'd spoken to me inappropriately and "told me off" for the 3rd time in about a year's time. I told him that he knows where I am when he figures things and on how to speak to his mother and I haven't had contact with him since. He has told me that since he's now an adult, we're equals and he can talk to me as he wants. I told him that unless he can give birth to me, we're never going to be equals, and that I don't want someone so negative, disrespectful, and argumentative to continue to be giving me stress. He's been in our town a few weeks ago and didn't call or send a message, and that in itself sends a message. Everyone says that if I don't stand my ground, it's just an invitation for the behavior to continue and to get worse and I'm not going to be a part of that. Don't even ask me about all the $ he owes me. lol It is a shame because I do miss the good parts of spending time with him. 10. I made two new fleece throws from fabric that was on sale at Joann's, just finished the second one last night. Now the cats all have places to lie on the sofa that have warm fleece on them, and I even get one to put over my legs when I'm watching TV. It was a win-win situation all around. :)
Everyone is talking about New Year's Resolutions, and I try very hard every year not to make any because they are so easy to break. But 2008 was challenging for a lot of reasons for me, and though I can't change a lot of things, but I can work on changing some of them.
Unfortunately due to stress and some medication I was on during 2008, I've put on weight to the point that much of my clothing doesn't fit. I actually had to hit the after Christmas sales to get a couple of items to supplement the clothing that I can still wear until such time that I can drop enough of the weight to get back into what I already have. But losing weight alone is not one of my "resolutions", rather it's to get more fit and healthy. So I went back to weight watchers, and I'm on the program again. And I'm trying to move and get stronger and fitter again, it's been too long since I was there. I've been going to the gym at least to walk whenever I can, and we took a "beginner or older citizen" class the other day that kicked my butt! The median age in that class was probably 65 and they seemed to be participating with more ease than I could manage on my first visit...but everyone was so incredibly friendly and supportive and I am going to go back whenever I'm not flying. I'm going to a beginner yoga class tomorrow before the fitness class. Hey, I just want to lose a bit of weight and not have such a hard time getting off the couch!
With that one comes retaking control of my eating and my life...no more grazing, rather I'm going to be planning what I make and pack for lunch and dinner when I'm flying, and what we eat when I'm home. Saturday night is our "night out" but I am trying not to overdo it those nights either. It had been a fun summer and fall not worrying about what I was eating, but that's over. The leftover cookies got thrown out on Friday along with the fudge. lol
Another "to do" list item for the new year is to try to reduce the amount of clutter and material things in my home and in my life. It's overwhelming. I've already learned to say no to a lot of items that I might in the past have acquired, partially that is economic, but partially because I don't have room in my home or my life for it. Part of that item includes working on and hopefully finishing projects that I've started and when I need or want to do something that isn't yet started, to do so with the materials that I have here at home. (For example, next weekend I'm doing a Civil War sewing class, and I'm going to use fabric and trims that I have in my stash exclusively. Nothing new.) Along with that goes cleaning out and "rehoming" things that I don't use often here.
Hey, I'm a work in progress. I believe in positive thinking...In Louise Hay's fantastic book "You can heal your life" (which I've gotten a bit away from) she suggests making positive affirmations and saying them often while you take the steps necessary to make them true, and so that you change your life to live them. Here's mine for today:
I approve of myself. All of my relationships are loving and fufilling. I am healthy, happy, and prosperous. I am fit and in control of what I eat and enjoy being that way. I am letting go of those material items that no longer benefit my life. I see the grace and beauty in my surroundings.
Have a great day, everyone!
I'm happy to report that Gracie (the chocolate long hair) is feeling much better in this new year and has gotten back her energy and her spunk. She's a love to us, but to the kittens, she is a real tough one. It'll be a month next week since we took her in. Belle (the Grey Tabby) still doesn't like her much, there's still hissing going on and a lot of claw swats between her and Gracie. Rosie (Tri-Colored Calico) really wants to be friends with Grace, so she is too agressive about seeking friendship, often following Grace places, and trying to get to close and it gets Gracie telling her to "leave me alone" quite forcefully, often with her paws and claws. In general the three are managing to co-exist though on not too friendly basis. I think that food and "hoomans" are an issue, there is probably some jealousy going on about each of those especially us humans, and they all are possibly trying to establish who is the dominant. Belle has always been the Queen and I believe that Gracie probably didn't have cat siblings and is quite a bit older, so there is a lot of posturing going on. Rosie is just sweet and lovable and when she gets Grace in her face she looks bewildered. I'm sure they'll all get better as time goes by, maybe never being best friends but at least living in the same home with a minimum of stress.
Young love, what can we say about it? It's beautiful and special, and wonderful. This is daughter Meghann who is nearly 21 with her boyfriend, Eric. They were able to be together at Christmas after being separated since August.
Eric lives on the Big Island of Hawaii, so Meg went over to visit both him and also Jenn and Family on Oahu during the holiday season. The joy in their faces is evident. Meghann is a very acomplished photographer, and she has taken many hundreds of photos over the years...she took some wonderful ones of another example of young and true love:
This is the love of young parents for their baby boy. Here, Michael and Jenn and Aidan are snapped by Meghann as they visit turtle beach on Oahu. Aidan loves the water and loves anything that is swimming in the water. Michael and Jenn love watching him enjoy the water as they both love it as well.
This one is one of my favorites on the day of the family outing to see the USS Arizona memorial. Aunt Meghann also has remained a Park Passport Stamp collector as have Jenn and us, and she got to collect the one for the Arizona, which is the only National Park on Oahu. Even Aidan has his very own National Park Passport so that he can start collecting stamps which are great for building and rememboring memories of visits to the parks. Meg let us know that she was planning on going to all 4 of the parks on the Big Island during her visit with Eric. I always feel like I'm looking at a picture of my own emotions when I was a fairly new mom...and I revisit the joy I felt at experiencing things through my own kids' eyes as I watch Jenn enjoy doing the same with Aidan.
Another beautiful sunset picture with the family walking up the beach. Thanks, Meghann, those pictures are fantastic. :)
The red comments are my own. :)
“Fortified with Burgundy wine allegedly supplied at 20-minute intervals by United crew members during the December 2006 trip, Yoichi Shimamoto became so inebriated “that he could not manage himself,” according to a lawsuit filed Dec. 5″
I landed at 2am yesterday morning because of snow in Chicago. We had ice here, I'm going to Denver today and hope for no snow so I can get back home at midnight (probably be late again) to do it again on Wednesday. If you wouldn't mind, I'd appreciate it if you'd all hold the snow until Thursday when I'm home for a few days. And that way everyone could have a White Christmas AND make it where they're going. :)
An update on Gracie, she's doing a little bit better, she is now eating pretty well and doesn't feel quite as fragile when I pick her up...but she is still sleeping pretty much non-stop and she has a long way to go to get the meat back on her bones. Still, thank you to everyone for their advice and wishes. :) I'll post pictures when I get back from flying.
By BETSY BLANEY, Associated Press Writer Betsy Blaney, Associated Press Writer – Fri Dec 19, 5:38 am ET
Ok, you can knight my dear husband. He travels a fair amount and he always remembers the bring home something special for me. I lived in New York for a year or so when I was a child, and traveled there a lot before and after that to see my relatives. I fell in love with these cakes/cookies...I know they have many names but we call them "Black and White cookies". They're huge and cake like inside, with chocolate and vanilla/lemon icing on top and they're fantastic. Hubby flew home from Newark yesterday in a blinding snowstorm (one of the only planes that got out while the storm was going on) with a bag full of Black and Whites in his bag. :) Needless to say, as my waistline enlarges, my smile factor increases. I'm kind of glad that we don't live that close to NYC or these wouldn't be quite as special! I think it's not being able to get them all the time that adds to their allure. Excuse me, I have to run to the kitchen for more coffee and a Black and White for breakfast.
I am so tired of spam in my inbox that I can't even see straight. I have a business too so my email boxes sometimes end up with upwards of 3 or 4 HUNDRED spams in a day. And because sometimes customer email ends up in my spam box, I have to manually take a look through the spam folder before deleting. I don't open them, I just look at the subject and sender.
Well, I finally had enough of the horrible fraud spam emails that promise all kinds of money to be deposited in your account or via your atm card. I was tired of winning the various lotteries only I'd have to tell them my banking information so they could deposit my money. (I DO hope nobody out there ever gives out their information to ANYONE for things like this. Hey, I am pretty savy, whenever I get an email from a seemingly legitimate source, I never use their links to my account, I always close the email and go onto whatever website (usually on my other computer, too) through my usual website address. I've never had a problem because I am extremely careful.
So back to my mistake. I was feeling particularly naughty, so I went through my spam folder and to everyone that wanted my information I simply hit reply and sent them this message:
"Thank you for your recent advice of money you are wishing to pay me. Please send me your banking information by return email and I will initiate wire transfer immediately for the amount specified." No signature.
Of course, I didn't get the first return banking information from anyone. Go figure. But by opening and replying to their emails, they now know that my address is a valid one and I got even more spam of various kinds. (No, thank you, but I don't need my privates to be any bigger). So, learn your lesson here from me...don't ever even open spams. There is a way that the spammers can find out if you've even opened their spam. And don't reply. And for goodness sakes, never, ever click on anything you find in an email from someone you don't know well, that's how you get virus and worm programs into your computer. Even then, a spammer can capture an email address and make it seem like you're getting email from someone you know. Spammers can send emails from their own address and mask them to seem like they're from another email address. Be cautious. Just delete it.
We wish you and yours a very happy Holiday season. Mom is going to make cookies over the next couple of days to take with us to our dear friends' home for Christmas and we're excited! Mom planted some cat grass in a planter for us this morning, and we even have our very own tiny little Christmas tree in the living room, complete with lights and stockings for us three kittys. 
We hope that you and your family and friends enjoy this season of good cheer. We're hoping for some Catnip under the tree. :) (Though we haven't been totally good this year, hissing at our new sister, Gracie. We promise to try to be better, Santa, honest!)
