Miss Effie's Diary

2013-05-17T08:45:00.001-05:00

I'm waaaaayyyy too busy to talk right now.

I'm prepping for teaching a cheese class in my kitchen tomorrow. And I've got to make ice cream for a party.

But it is a beautiful day ......... and I want to be outside, making my little world pretty.

I have a long way to go. But I love seeing this out my kitchen window every morning.

Surrounding the bench is a garden full of herbs, pink zinnias, white cosmos and hot pink and purple dianthus.

If only I had time to sit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Good ... The Bad ... The Bosch ............

2013-05-09T08:48:00.000-05:00

OK -- I am stating it right here and now.

I need to be nominated for sainthood.

Yep ....... Saint Eff. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think???

On December 30, 2012 ... my $1000+ , 4-1/2 year old Bosch washer decided not to run.

Fast forward to May 9th, 2013 ........... the washer is still not running.

Three different repairmen.

Two control panels ..... a door latch sensor ..... $195 labor bill ....and soon, a new motor ......... I may have a running washer later today.

Or a nervous breakdown.

I'm not really sure.

I have hand-washed clothes in the sink.

I have toted clothes to the laundromat.

And for the last three months ........ the 1946 Voss wringer washer and I have had an intimate relationship. It gets that way when you fill the washer with buckets of water, empty buckets of dirty water from the washer and try to avoid getting your body parts caught in the wringer. :)

I've also have spent a lot of time dancing around her in the middle of the kitchen. Kind of breaks up the magic kitchen triangle when there is a washer there!

So ....... why haven't I just chucked that Bosch out of the laundry room and replaced it with some new and shiny or old and working?

Because I inherited a bull-headed gene that refuses to let me just give up!

I am nice. I am polite. I am respectful. But I have called the company EVERY day for the past 6 weeks.

And today ...... the motor that I finally talked them into shipping overnight is being installed today.

At no cost to me.

Washers should last more than 4.5 years. Factory Authorized repairmen should have a clue. And if we as consumers don't demand that companies take responsibility for their poorly designed product, we will be stuck replacing washers and dryers and refrigerators every two to three years.

It may not be easy ... it may not be convenient.... but as long as we give up and buy another new appliance ... we will be sold inferior products.

I actually had a company customer service rep say to me, "You know, that washer is over 4 years old."

Please don't let the 67 year old WORKING Voss hear that!!!!

You know .................

2013-05-02T07:44:00.000-05:00

that you are a market farmer in Iowa when you trade cut-offs and a tank top for Carhartts and a stocking cap ..................in less than 24 hours.

Will spring ever really come to the Midwest?????

Dreaming of things to come................

2013-05-01T07:17:00.000-05:00

How many more days till I see this?????

Happy May Day!!!

........from your local flower farmer

Getting it done .........

2013-04-30T07:47:00.000-05:00

Miss me????

All I will say ....... spring colds are the worst! Last week, I swore I had been hit by a Mack truck. I'm pretty certain Honey thought I was exaggerating ..... so I did what any loving wife would do. I shared the cold with him. Now the Mack truck has hit him.

Finally, Spring came to Iowa. The sun warmed the soil. The ground dried up. The night time temperatures reached above freezing.

I could finally start planting.

Lot of people ask me how I do this. And it really is quite simple........ on my hands and knees.

Its not sexy ..... its not easy. And its definitely not big time.

We grow a lot of flowers in a fairly small space. And this is how we do it.

This is the main cutting bed in the spring. Last fall, Honey cleaned the beds which was HUGE for me this year. Normally, I am cleaning in the spring and with the winter that lasted forever ..... I still would be doing it.

I no longer till my gardens. This is year number 4 and I am finding that s l o w l y, the weed population is going down. I am no longer bringing weed seeds the the top .... and it seems to be helping. But there is still work to do.

I clean all the grass, weeds etc by hand. Once they are cleared away ... they go right to my feathered composters. :) My favorite tools for weeding have changed throughout the years. Currently, I use a Cobra weeder.

Our soil is full of organic matter so it is pretty light and fluffy. The garden area was a feed lot in the 50's -- and then sat idle for 40 years or so. We top dress the gardens with composted chicken manure in the fall. The paths are wood mulch so that continues to break down over the years.

Our plant supports are then flipped over so I have an evenly spaced planting gird that works perfect for me!

It also works perfect for our marriage.

Honey likes nice straight lines. And well ................. you know how I wander off!!!

So far, I have about 2000 plugs in the ground. I will plant lilies and about 1/3 of the glads this week.

Next week ... I will start direct seeding some of the zinnias, cosmos and sunflowers.

That's enough talking for the day!!! I need to get some work done!

Jammin'

2013-04-18T10:43:00.000-05:00

The last two nights, I have taught jam making classes for Scott Community College.

And ........ OMG!!!!! What fun!!

I really have a ball! Honey is my assistant and he spends most of his time, washing dishes and laughing at the comments from the students. And trying to keep me sane! (yea .... that's a full time job!)

My goal in jam class is to teach some really basics about making jam and canning. And every year, I search out recipes that can easily be made with current grocery store selections.

Now -- I will admit -- I like finding some unusual recipes. Everyone can find a strawberry recipe. But Strawberry Margarita is a lot of fun and the tequila brightens the taste of those store-bought, shipped-in, picked-when-green strawberries!

We made one of my favorite jams last night .......... cantaloupe vanilla.

It is awesome in August when we, on the east coast of Iowa, have incredible Muscatine melons on every corner fruit stand. But even with so-so cantaloupes, it is like eating candy!

And on goat cheese ............. Stand back, sista!!!!! It is delish!

So I will share the recipe. It does make a very small batch but it can easily be doubled.

Cantaloupe Vanilla Jam

2 pounds peeled and seeded cantaloupe, cut into ½” cubes
3 ½ cups sugar
1 TBSP lemon juice
½ to 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine cantaloupe, sugar and lemon juice in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add 3-4 teaspoons of Fruit Fresh to keep the color bright. Heat over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Raise the heat to medium high and boil jam, stirring frequently until a drop of it mounds slightly on a chilled plate. For a smoother jam, use an immersion blender to puree'.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla … ladle the jam into jars and process for 10 minutes in a boiling water canner.

This recipe makes 3-4 8 oz jars of jam.

Enjoy!

Experiment over ........

2013-04-15T11:22:00.000-05:00

The great one-car family experiment at the Lafrenz household is over.

We caved and bought a ~~new~~ different truck. And it is amazing ... we now (in 2013) have a vehicle that was manufactured in the 21st century.

Ok -- we really didn't cave. We always knew we would buy another vehicle.

But I find that I am somewhat disappointed in myself.

I try to be environmentally conscious. I try to be fiscally conservative. (Didn't think you would ever hear me say that, did ya?????) But when push came to shove .......... I wanted my wheels back!!!

I kept saying .... Oh, it is fine. I am happy saving the gas. I really don't need a car. We can live with one vehicle!

And I have to admit ..... we did it for 3.5 months.

But guess what??? I lied!!

I feel like a 16 year old that just got their license! Can I drive 100 yards to get the mail??? Two blocks to buy a soda???

The windows are rolled down! The radio is blaring! (And I am pretty certain I just broke the speed limit!)

Wow! The freedom is great!

But don't worry ..... I haven't gone all 21st century on you.

I'm still using this .......................

Equally yoked............

2013-04-14T13:20:00.000-05:00

The other day, a friend and I were talking about marriage. She made the comment that Honey and I seem to have a marriage that is equally yoked.

I loved that term! Two people ... going in the same direction ... both pulling equally .... looking forward, not back. Making a marriage work.

And then ... this weekend ... Gabby Reece has been on the news show circuit talking about her marriage and how she uses her soft, feminine .....even submissive ... side to keep the marriage working.

And the Twitter-sphere was off and running about how women can not be submissive! And strong women are not submissive and so-on and so-forth. And how women should not submit to their husbands.

Yea. Yea. Yea.

Honey and I practice a marriage philosophy called "Love and Respect". And practice is definitely the right word because I have to practice a lot. Maybe if I practice enough .... I will get it right. ;)

Based on scripture .... Ephesians 5:33 ...... a husband is commanded by God to love his wife unconditionally and a woman is commanded by God to respect her husband unconditionally.

Period. Dot. What ever you want to call it .... that is all.

It is that simple.

Now life, money woes, work stresses, kids, illness and frustrations can throw any marriage off that straight narrow freshly plowed furrow. Suddenly, you are not equally yoked and life is crazy. And no one is happy.

Ms. Reece has it right. A marriage works best when two people work at making the other person happy.

Its not about what you can do for me .... but what I can do for you.

So my feminist sisters seem to be up in arms over this. And I don't get it. And I really didn't think there was anyone more feminist than me!

Don't we all want happy relationships???

I haven't read Ms. Reece 's book and I won't. But should we be blasting someone that found a way to keep a marriage together in a society where 50% of all marriages fail???

I still want equal pay .... I still want equal rights. I still want to see women smash through that glass ceiling.

But I want them to come home to a partner that equally shares their burdens .... shares their joys and their sorrows.

I want them to be equally-yoked.

The porch project..................

2013-04-11T09:11:00.000-05:00

First of all, thank you for all the supportive comments from the last post. Putting your life right on the line ... is not easy. But for me, it is necessary. So thank you for hanging in there!

Now ... on to the next project.

As you know .... Honey has been working on this old house.

A few years ago, a guy stopped by one day. He wanted to paint our house. I showed him the palette I had selected but informed him that we could not afford to have the house painted. But he wanted to give us a bid anyway.

So he looked.

He estimated.

He brought a friend and estimated some more.

And he left the bid in the mailbox.

I think he was afraid of my reaction.

And well, he should have been!

$60,000!

Yea. The decimal is in the right place. And since I really didn't want to put his son through college by myself, we declined his offer to paint our house.

Fast forward five, six, maybe seven years ..........

Honey has committed to finishing the east side of the house and restoring the porch this year. And making plans to restore the porch has been a little more difficult than either of us expected.

We have no pictures of the porch when the house was built. The only picture we have was 35 years after the house was built and the porch had been enclosed. Finding brackets and spandrels and railing detail that is right for the house has been a challenge.

This is not a fancy house. So searching the beautiful homes of Broadway or the Gold Coast for inspiration wasn't going to work.

Many homes that are similar to ours have been "remodeled". Some have been "remuddled" so only the barest trace of the original house remains. There is only one place to look for inspiration.

Yep ......... it to the "marginal" neighborhoods.

And we think we found what we are looking for ............... inspiration. Simple ..... Victorian ..... but not over the top. True inspiration and not the 1990's version of Victorian woodworking.

One thing checked off!

Now to find lighting!

Darkness at Noon ..........

2013-04-08T08:42:00.000-05:00

This is not a light fluffy post.

This is not about sunshine and puppies.

This is about mental illness.

I hate that term. It has such connotations of straight-jackets and padded cells. But I have to admit .... I suffer from mental illness.

I have depression.

I was diagnosed in 1991 after years of suffering. I had canyon deep lows, but when I was feeling good (or faking it well) I was on top of the world.

Many were surprised when I was diagnosed. I hid it well from the general public .... but my good friends knew.

I could pull myself up by the bootstraps or go outside and get the stink blown off me -- I could function.

But the darkness .... the darkness was there.

When I crashed .... I crashed hard. Years of therapy .... Years of medication followed.

Several years ago .... I was able to go off meds. I held off depression by having a fantastic support system, a life that I loved, and prayer.

But lately, the dark feelings returned. Maybe it was the long winter. Maybe it is isolation. Maybe it is stress.

Recently, I needed to go back on medication.

It is a struggle.

But it is a struggle that I am determined to win.

So forgive me if I am quieter than normal ...... if I slightly sit longer in the sun. Or if I cut more flowers for myself.

Its time to fill my soul and to heal .....

The countdown .........

2013-04-04T09:34:00.002-05:00

In less than a week ... the first boxes of plug trays appear.

And the current temp in downtown Donahue .......... 37 degrees.

Yea.

Now -- it is warming up. But it takes more than one or two warm days to heat up the soil. And it sure isn't there yet!


Coming to a garden near me!!!

April is the month of my panic attacks.

I watch the weather forecasts as if I could possibly change the forecasts! I watch them in the morning. I watch them at noon. I watch the 5, 6 and 10 o'clock news .... hoping for change (or not!!!!).

I watch local news.

I watch national news.

I watch farm reports.

I stalk weathermen on Facebook.

I know NOAA employees on a first-name basis.

And I panic.

A lot.

So I decided that I needed a diversion this year. I needed to do something that might take my mind off something that I can not control!

I would teach more classes.

So -- for the month of April ... I am teaching classes and classes. Food classes, gardening classes, and sewing classes.

I have 6 classes to teach this week but most weeks, I have 2 or 3.

Last night was going to be a breeze. I was teaching Pizza class.

Make the crust.
Make the cheese.
Put it all together.

The first step ... I demo the crust. Then the students make crusts as I Honey preps the veggies. Suddenly, I realize that I do not smell roasting garlic.

I look at the oven.

It is not 400 degrees. It is not warm. It is not working.

I turn on the burner. No flame .. no gas.

I go to another stove.

No flame ... no gas.

And another.

And another.

And another.

Same results.

Evidently, yesterday the power went out. Twice. And for safety reasons ... when the power goes out all gas/ electric appliances no longer work and a computer needs to be re-booted.

Re-boot.
Re-boot.
Re-boot.

No gas.

Phone call.
Phone call.
Phone call.

No gas.

Fortunately, the re-boot did get the electric stoves working......... although not like they should have. There were still problems with the ovens. I am certain they were not up to temperature.

We were able to make cheese. We made pizza. We survived.

But controlling classes???

Not so much!!!!

Layers .......

2013-04-02T07:51:00.000-05:00

As many of you know ... we have no heat upstairs in this old farm house.

Many a night, a glass of water beside my bed will have a thin layer of ice on it in the morning.

There are quick dashes upstairs in the evening to jump in the warm bed and be smothered by the weight of the many covers.

There is a heated mattress pad, flannel sheets, a cotton blanket, 2 wool blankets, a down comforter, a cotton coverlet, a cat, and a fleece throw.

And a partridge in a pear tree.

And I am then warm.

Since it is now APRIL!!! -- I thought I could slowly peel back the layers.

I removed the first wool blanket yesterday.

And last night, I was miserable.

I was cold.

I was hot.

I was cold.

I was hot.

I was cold and hot at the same time!

I am exhausted ..... but I am probably not as tired as my dear sweet Honey. Who at this very moment, I am trying to convince that he still loves me!!!!

Today .... I say it to remind you!!!

Menopause .... the unpredictable season of ever-changing temperatures.

Psalm 139:13

2013-03-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

Last week, my friend Debbie invited me to a baby shower. A very special baby shower.

Let me give you a little background ..... Debbie has been the hostess of a small-group through church for many years. Lately, they have changed their focus from study to study and service in the community.

It is not unusual to find this group serving supper at the homeless shelter ..... or cleaning a community center for troubled youth.

Last week, they organized a baby shower for the Crisis Pregnancy Center ........... and I was invited!

First of all ........ Debbie is your gal if you want fun games at your parties! Secondly, I am NOT your gal if you want to win at baby shower Family Feud!

The decorations were fun ... the food was wonderful!!

But the stars of the evening were the gifts. Oh my goodness!

All the gifts were donated to help teens and young women get a good start for their babies. I love this center as they teach parenting skills and help keep the young parents on track along with helping with the health needs of the expectant mother.

Diapers and wipes and pacifiers and some of the most adorable outfits EVER!!! There were lime green jelly bean shoes that were just too cute!

I started to take pictures .... and obviously , had the wrong settings on my camera. Instead of messing with it ... I gave up and joined in the fun of oooooh-ing and aaaaaah-ing.

But I wanted to make sure that the gifts I gave had a little homemade touch.

washcloths

I loved this little hat. In fact, I loved it so much .... I knit it twice!

Cuz you never know when some one might just name their baby Waldo!!!

The Generation Gap .............

2013-03-27T07:46:00.000-05:00

I have come to a conclusion.

The Generation Gap is not about multi-colored hair, piercings or the love of Justin Beiber.

It is about the life of stuff.

A little history ......... I grew up as a daughter of Depression Era parents. My grandparents were thrifty, frugal people that just made do. Nothing was really ever thrown out ........ just because. They were keepers.

I grew up with cupboards made by my great-great grandfather. We had beds that came down the Ohio River, up the Mississippi River and across the Illinois River ...... before the Civil War. And I played with fabulous china dolls that were lovingly and carefully packed away in a cedar chest .... until my next visit with Grandma.

My parents too, were keepers. When they were married 60 years ago ... they bought a sofa and chair. Since that time, the sofa has been cut down to a loveseat ........ and both have been recovered more times than I can remember. But they are still there.

I grew up to be a "keeper".

Honey and I sleep in a bed that was made in the 1880's. An iron bed that belonged to my great-great aunt is in the guest room. And the newest piece of furniture we have, is a sofa that I bought in 1990.

I was taught ..... you save your money and buy the BEST you can afford ..... take care of it and you will have it for a long time. My parents had their Maytag washer and dryer for 25+ years. Honey had his Whirlpool washer and dryer for over 20 years.

But me .... I decided that I wanted energy efficiency. I wanted water savings. I wanted to take better care of the clothes that I had. So I bought what I thought ... was a quality washer and dryer that would last 15-20 years.

Obviously ... I did not buy a quality machine. I bought their line!!!!

The saga of the washer continues ........ and the details are too long and boring to re-hash. But here is a quick synopsis.

Part #1 finally comes in .... was installed ... does not work. Techs that live overseas inform repairman that we need part #2.
Part #2 comes in 3 weeks later .... was installed ... does not work. Overseas-dwelling tech says ....... Oh, part #1 must be faulty.
Replacement part #1 is ordered.
Owner of washing machine breaks down in tears.

I called the manufacturer, told her the current chain of events and got this response.....................

It is almost 5 years old. What do you expect??

I'm almost 59. Am I obsolete??? (Do NOT answer that!!!!!)

I have researched and researched washers. I have read review after review. And I have come to one conclusion................. Stuff doesn't last.

We are a consumer-driven society that has gotten used to replacing cell phones every 18 months and televisions every three years. And let's not talk about computers!

As I look ahead to retirement and trying to live off pensions, 401K funds and social security........ it doesn't look good as I plan for needs.

I am sooooo keeping this baby!!!!

This is the way ..................

2013-03-24T13:35:00.001-05:00

Voss wringer wash machine ... made in Davenport IA in 1946. 67 years old and it runs every time!

we wash our clothes...............

Wash our clothes ....................

Wash our clothes.

Darn good thing I've got this book!

Wow! It is older than me (as is the washer!!!)

March 22, 1996

2013-03-21T14:34:00.000-05:00

There are words that instill fear in everyone.

Nuclear war.

IRS audit.

Three week visit from your mother-in-law.

Blind date.

Now -- I had gone on a lot of blind dates in my life. Some were great and a lot of fun. Some were horrible. And some left me babbling about my cats for two hours.

So a little history. In 1996 I was poor. Like dirt poor. You-can-never-be-so-broke-in-your-life poor.

I had a part-time job, a two-room apartment, a 10 year-old car and no phone. I was poor.

And I was done with dating. Totally. Completely. DONE.

All men were toads.

I was convinced that the next stop in my life was the convent. Live with women. Never mind the fact that I wasn't Catholic. Or a lot of other things. I was never going to deal with dating again!

But a young gal that I worked with convinced me that I should go out with her father.

'Cuz her dad wasn't a toad.

So ... remembering the fact that I had no phone .... he had to come into the lumberyard that I worked at and ask me out.

In front of an audience.

Why?? Because the fore-mentioned daughter told everyone in the store that he was going to ask me out. I remember it as her announcing it over the PA system .... but she tells me that I am obviously senile and she did not do that!

I said yes ... and then the anxiety attack set in.

What do I wear???? Remember --- poor = blue jeans and sweatshirts.

Then ... the panic attack .... no, I am not going!! I walked to the corner, called my BFF. In true BFF-style, she told me to go .... get a doggie bag .... have a good time.

And she said ......... I have a good feeling about this.

Seventeen years later, the good feelings continue.

The great thing about a truly wonderful relationship ........ it seems like you just met and it feels like you have been together forever.

Thank you, my Honey for taking a chance on me --- with my anxieties, insecurities and damaged soul.

Tonight .. we will celebrate that date 17 years ago with a little beer, a little pasta and a salad .......... with blue cheese dressing.

Love you.
C

Date night .........

2013-03-18T07:40:00.000-05:00

Friday is usually date night at the Lafrenz household.

Honey had a plan. He wanted to go to the Bucktown Revue.

Grab a sandwich. Meet up with friends. Relax with some great Celtic, folk, bluegrass music and some wonderfully corny jokes and entertainment.

And me?? I wanted an intimate date with my pillow and blanket. Yep .... it had been a long week with three classes to teach on totally different subjects.

As social as I am .... I can be a bit of a hermit at times.

But Honey doesn't ask much of me. And he is Mr. Supportive here on the farm, at classes .... with everything I do.

So I put on my big girl panties and said .... Let's go!

And I am soooooo glad we did!!!!!

We always run into some friends .... hear local performers that we have never heard before .... and laugh a lot! A lot!!!

One of our favorite performers was there......... Jon Eric. This guy just loves to make music!!! You can see the joy on his face and it dances out of his body as he performs!!!

At one point, they played an Earl Scruggs song (that I was not familiar with.... that really doesn't say much!) ... there were 4 banjos, 4 guitars, 2 basses, 2 mandolins and a violin on stage! A-Maz-ing!!!!

So ... if you aren't doing anything the 3rd Friday in April ..... pop over to the Annie Wittenmyer complex and have a delightful evening. And say hi to the short gal with gray hair.

But if you are tall .... please don't sit in front of her!!!

What do you do .........

2013-03-11T11:24:00.000-05:00

with all your time???

Yep. I was asked that the other day. Now .. it wasn't a rude question. They just wanted to know what I did in the off-season.

I thought a moment.

And I quickly decided that I have two seasons to my life ........... growing and teaching.

And the teaching season seems to be growing!!!!

This week, I have three classes on three different subjects. A couple of weeks ago -- I had 4 classes in the same week.

Tonight is the 5th of 6 sewing classes.

Wednesday ... I teach a bread class to Scott Community College retirees.

Thursday ... it is a cut flower class.

One of my current projects is to sew something new every week of the sewing class. And its just not sewing something new every week ........... it is sewing something that I would be proud to have analyzed, examined and critiqued.

As perfect on the inside as the outside.

Not just good-enough sewing.

This week .... I finished this dress.

As I said previously, I made this dress twice. I got it done .. tried it on and it was much too big. I ripped it apart and re-cut the pieces a size smaller. It is a very full dress ....... almost tent-like. (yea .. that's showing my age!! Remember tent dresses???)

But it will be a loose comfortable dress to wear during the summer.

The fit is good ... the plaids match. I would have loved beautiful chevrons but with the fullness of the back and the front .....it was never going to match completely.

But all the seams are finished .... facings are carefully tacked invisibly in place. And the hem is done neatly with tiny stitches by hand.

In the last four weeks, I have made two aprons, a dress and a pair of pj's. This week, its another apron and hopefully, a pair of pj's for Honey. If I can squeeze it in between bread baking and class handouts.

Maybe I don't have seasons ............ I just juggle!

Shop till you drop.

2013-03-08T07:41:00.000-06:00

black duck

I am not a shopper.

Nope. I'm not.

I tried yesterday. I failed.

Yesterday, Honey and I played one-car shuffle. Well -- not really. I had the car while he worked. And because of my to-do list, I decided it would be smart, eco-friendly and make economic sense to stay in town ................... all day.

All day. :(

Ten hours in the QCA.

I didn't hear a single rooster.

I did well until noon. I did laundry. I did some banking. I bought craft yarn. I browsed through patterns and bought fabric. I picked up toliet paper, sweatshirts and an iron. I hit my favorite thrift store. I bought underwear.

I was done.

And it was only noon.

With 4 plus hours to go.

I discovered that I am very task driven. I need X ... I go to the X store .... I buy X and I leave.

For the next four hours ......... I was lost.

There was the mall, a bookstore, a coffee shop ......... but I had no need, no task and therefore, no desire.

So I sat in the car and knit.

chicken!

Next time ......... I'll stay home and make these.

heart kitty

yellow duck

singing birdie

At least I feel productive!

Wishing & hoping & thinking & praying ............

2013-03-06T07:21:00.000-06:00

Source: dreamstime.com via Cathy on Pinterest

If .... by the rare chance ......... that you follow me on Pinterest , you might have noticed that there is a whole lot of pinning going on.

Yea ......... it is winter and my thoughts rapidly race toward spring.

And spring projects.

This spring and summer, the projects are focused on the house.

The restoration of the "front" of the house and the existing porch.

Source: mackenzie-childs.com via Cathy on Pinterest

Unfortunately, none of the old photos of our house show any original porch trim. Our oldest photo is from 1927. By that time, the house was 35 years old and the porch had been enclosed.

So the search for details that are historically appropriate continues.

Source: google.com via Cathy on Pinterest

So there will be a new look this year ......... from a new sidewalk and arbor. To plantings and planting boxes.

Now .... if Honey and I can only agree on what we like!!!

:)

Stationary ...........

2013-03-01T08:36:00.003-06:00

As you know, January was tough. I swear everything we owned stopped working.

And somewhere toward the end of the month, the truck died.

It wasn't a painful death. It just finally (after 223,000 miles) said ..... enough. We had prettied it up earlier in the month with new snow tires and a new battery but when it said ..... goodbye ... that was it.

Now .... that created a crimp in my style! I was suddenly ............... stationary.

Ten hours a day ......... I am immobile. I am on 1.75 acres. That's my domain.

Now during the summer ....... not a big deal. But in the winter, it has been a little tough.

We looked at the budget. Hmmmm. Not a lot there for a car payment.

We could eliminate the 401K contribution.

Not a good idea.

We could eliminate savings.

An equally bad idea.

We could eliminate our faith pledge to the church.

And I said ........ no.

We had gone through a series of sermons about being stressed, spending too much, needing too much and praying and trusting too little.

And for me ......... it was time to buck up and step up to the plate. The collection plate. Now was not the time to say ........... Wait a minute, God. I just need a Mercedes-Benz!

We kept the pledge and prayed.

I prayed for obedience.

I prayed for faith.

I prayed for answers.

If you know me well ........ you know that letting go of control is a biggie for me. Its hard for me to say ....Let go and let God.

I always think ... if I work harder. If I work longer. If I save more. If I am more frugal. Things will be better.

But this time, I did let go. I did let God find a way.

And He did.

Yesterday, Honey came home with a raise. A surprise raise. And enough to make a car payment every month without disturbing the 401K, the savings or our gifts to God.

Some of you may scoff. Once upon a time I would have.

And we will wait a bit before we buy that newer vehicle. Save a little more. Get by with a little less.

Life is good ........ but never stationary when you walk in faith and obedience.

Prep work ...............

2013-02-27T11:30:00.002-06:00

Organize, Organize. Prepare and Organize.

We used to say that when working on speeches for class.

Today .... we are talking prep work. Not organization. Any one that has seen my fiber, knitting, sewing, embroidery nest in the corner of the tv room .... knows that!

But preparing is the most important task when it comes to sewing.

And we all HATE it!

Really! We hate it!!

We want to take that fabric, cut out the pattern ....... and let that sewing machine run!!!!

The other day, I finished my pajama pants for class.

I had measured.

I had compared the pattern to my favorite pajamas.

I felt comfortable cutting and sewing and finishing them.

I tried them on ..... and suddenly, they were not pajama pants but very baggy palazzo pants! Which I just discovered are back (still) in style!!

Really??????

Now ... I can/will wear them. But I'm not happy/ comfortable/ or pleased with the results. I'm happy with the construction ....but the fit????? Not so much!

So ... I had bought some fabric for this dress.

Source: simplicity.com via Cathy on Pinterest

View E .... the perfect dress for the beer garden on Beer Tuesdays!

And with my unhappiness with the fit of the aforementioned pajama/ palazzo/ MC Hammer pants ..... I made a quick muslin bodice to check the size. It fits.

Damn!!! I wanted it to be too big!

I washed, ironed and pinned the fabric.

Hundreds of pins.

Every few inches so the lines of the plaids line up perfectly .... vertically and horizontally.

Fortunately, it is a nice even plaid and it should match up nicely ........... now that it is pinned and pinned and pinned.

Hopefully, by the end of the day ............ everything should be matched, pinned, cut and marked.

And I might get to start sewing tomorrow.

Pictures ( or swearing!!!!) will follow!

Beatrix Potter meets Picasso ............

2013-02-25T07:39:00.000-06:00

The other day, I received a fabulous shipment of 100% Merino felt from Felt on the Fly.

I went to bed with visions of sugar plums, dancing through my head!

No -- really.

I could not get those luscious colors out of my brain!

Most of the wool felt I have been using is 75% wool. This is truly the good stuff!

Some of the designs for the needle cases and pincushions have come from my collection of antique cookie cutters. Chickens, cats, tea pots, trees, pigs, cows................ even a turkey! And bunnies .... I have a couple of bunnies.

So Peter Rabbit came instantly to mind!

So yesterday ........

I traced.

I cut.

I cut some more.

I stitched.

I embroidered.

I beaded.

And this is what I have so far .....................

I kept thinking ......... another stitch .......... a few more beads ............... the bunny will appear!

I'm not ripping it out!

But it may take a very LARGE glass of wine to make that look like a bunny!

Inspiration ...........

2013-02-21T11:51:00.001-06:00

Sometimes, you find inspiration in the most ordinary places. Like under a very deep layer of dust!

For those of you that don't know me ................ I LOVE LOVE LOVE antiques.

I love all antiques but the ones that speak and sing to me, are antiques that are primitive, handmade, simple pieces. Practical, useful, but beautiful.


A level with a heart carved into it.

I love the grungy paint ... the uneven surface .... the "not-so-perfect" carving.

Comb box carved from a cigar box.

I love pieces that may not be "true" antiques but pieces that were inspired by vintage pieces.

Redware plates

I have collected antique sewing items for years .............. ok, make that decades.

Like over three.

But under four!

Small ... very small selection of my collection. Yea... its in lots of baskets and bowls!

Mostly, I collected wooden darning eggs. Basically, because that was what I could afford at the time.

(Some things never change!)

But I have always studied, read, drooled and coveted other sewing items.......... such as thimbles, sewing birds, and needle cases.

Pincushion .. wool felt, hand cut design, hand dyed floss.

And I think these items have some of that antique/ simple/ handcrafted feeling.

Heart-felt needle case.

Finally, for Jennifer or more importantly, Olivia ..... a cat needle case.

Wool felt, appliqued hearts, beaded eyes..........

I think there will be more of these! ;)

Kind of like Miss Eff's cats ............ they will multiply!

Well, duh!!!!

2013-02-18T11:14:00.000-06:00

One of my New Year's ~~resolutions~~ ~~promises~~ hopes was to spend less time on the computer.

And guess what??? I've been getting more done.

Less computer time + less driving time = more crafting, sewing, knitting time.

Well, duh!

There are still plenty of UFO's. (And why are UFO's so easy to ignore????)

But I have been busy getting some new stuff made.

I started making wool felt needle books .... when you flip up the top, there are "pages" to slip your sewing needles.

What would Miss Eff's be without a "tea" themed needle book??

While I am on a theme ........... how about chickens???

This is one of my favorites!

There will be more as the week carries on. I'm excited about a small shipment of 100% merino felt that I have coming in the next day or so.

I've also tried to shake up the tea towels a bit. New and different transfers and more unique towels. This does increase the price on some ...... but they are still totally hand embroidered.

And yes, I have been sewing and I made a ruffled apron for spring for the Summer Kitchen. I love the pastel colors and the bias ruffle.

And finally, I found a use for those really tiny bits of yarn.

A heart-shaped dishcloth!!!

OK -- I have to be honest. These are tiny dishcloths. But they are cute .....

And some days ............. cute is all you need.