Sassy Lassies Vintage Life

Lassie "still Sassy" and OT student

2015-01-27T18:55:00.000-05:00

Blogger friends... gosh it has been two years since Sassy posted here. She does still exists, and has been very busy studying to become an occupational therapist, rather than sewing. In fact she has not sewn one damn thing in two years. What a shame! No knitting either! How about cooking, you ask? Nope! Hubby does most all of that. She just studies, and studies, and drives, and studies more. Writes paper. Does group projects. And learns some of the most interesting information imaginable. BORING? Not for her. Let's see if I can drum up a photo of Sassy.

Here she is a bit (lot) frazzled. I think the computer camera took this accidentally.

With her anatomy tutor... she'd kill me for posting this with her eyes closed in the photo, but she saved Sassy from the deep dark despair of insertions and origins of muscles.

Then she cut her hair!

And cut it again!!! Pixie!

In OT school she gets to do some fun things like climbing trees. That is Sassy!

Further up she goes.

Then out on a rope! Heart pounding madness was what it was.

Joined by partner Heather.... to walk the rope sideways......

with just the pressure of pushing against each others hands to keep you up,

along with balance, while the ropes move further apart.

Until you fall.

This is us just after she came down and is telling Heather to feel her heart pound. Heather is an

Army veteran and not scared at all. Love the two photo bombing in the back. It's quite a blast at 55 years old, being in a program with a group of twenty and thirty something's.

So maybe we'll see you again soon.... with further fun from OT school.

Big News

2013-02-28T16:55:00.001-05:00

Hi Blogger friends,
Eons and eons have passed with no sewing or knitting and only studying and more studying on these long winter nights here in the northwest USA. I feel so bored with myself some days I could just choke. I long to flit around in one of my 50's dresses and feel carefree and confident. I wonder what would happen if I showed up to Anatomy & Pysiology class as Sassy Lassie? I just giggle at the thought. I just might have to do it as spring rolls around. They all think I'm crazy anyway and my professor would really get a kick out of it.

I do have some rather big news.

I'm expecting!!!!!

No silly not like that. I'm 53 years young!

I'm expecting to go to graduate school.

I got my acceptance letter in the mail on Tuesday and will be going to Springfield College for a Master's in Occupational Therapy. I am beside myself with this new opportunity.

The course is two and a half years non-stop so you won't see too much blogging from me, but I will stop in once in awhile and share what is going on in my life, hubby's, Miss Moll Doll's, and Sir Braveheart's etc.

I'll catch you up a little now. Miss Moll Doll is now on the A team for Main Roller Derby The Port Authorities. In the photo, Miss Moll Doll is in the front row first on the left. The red head. Bea Nimble.

Sir Braveheart just passed the Sgt exam with his police department and will hopefully become active as one sometime this summer. Meanwhile he hangs out with Queen of Braveheart, Luna, Darby and his partner "Chase".

Hubby is busy putting an addition on our home We call it our "rooms with a view" as it looks out onto our beautiful back yard. It is really coming along. Pictures soon. Right now it is all muddy and snowy and one big yuck! But this old picture of hubby is not a big yuck so I'll post it.

Yesterday I backed my car into a tree branch in our driveway and took out a window in my car, so I am taking a mental health day from all activity and being a slug, thus the reason I am blogging.

I wish I had more photos to share of projects I am undertaking. Bloggs are boring and ho hum without photos.

P.S. I have other news too. Will share soon

Hellowwwwwww 2013 Blogger Friends

2013-01-25T08:03:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR

to all my

SASSY FRIENDS

OMG I can't believe I have not been on here since October. My computer crashed and almost burned sometime soon after my last blog post, thus no blogging. Although I had backed up (I thought) my computer, most of my blog photos were not backed up. I feel like I lost a lot. I guess it is still recoverable, but with only a part time job right now and going back to school, moey has been tight (for me). One of these days I will spend the time and money to recover my old PC.

HOWEVER, for a present dear hubby bought us a macbook pro and I have had a bit of a learning curve on it. I still have not done much with the photo application. I do miss blogging and I miss my blogging friends. How are you all? send me a quick hello and tell me how you are. I would love it

This is MissMollDoll and me and Christmas taking silly photos at my sisters house. It was a bit of a sad day without dad there. We all missed him. Sir Braveheart and his Queen did not make the celebration either as he had to work. Not to change the subject but look at the girth of the tree behind me in the photo. It was ginormous!!!!!

I have not done anything crafty or done any sewing but I do have big news. I got a big Christmas present from hubby. No it's not that one, although I am working on that still too. He gave me "Two Rooms with a Veiw". As we speak he is building an addition on our house. It is south facing and looks out to the meadows and mountains behind our home. The lower room will be my 'sewing' room and the upper room and vaulted, sunbathed, woodstoved, cozy sitting room. I will post photos soon.

I got an A in my Anatomy and Physiology class and this week I just started the second half of the course. I have applied to two graduate schools and I am waiting on hearing the news. It should be at least another month of pins and needles before I hear.

And lastly and totally off subject...somehow...don't ask me how..I came across this contest. It is a perfect contest for hubby to win. If you have followed this blog and know his affinity toward animals, remember Penny the porcupine, Veedor the condor, his trek to Thailand with the Elephants, have I told you about Gizmo the Red Bat? Anyway the contest is a chance to go to India to track the endangered Tigers and help with them. The contest works as a drawing so the more chance (PAWS) a person has the better their chance of being drawn as the winner. Would you be kind enough to help me spread the word about hubby and also give him a PAW? First off you must be on FACEBOOK. Sharing with FB friends would be ever so appreciated.

Click here

Once I figure this whole new computer out I will be blogging again...and of course new updates on the rooms with a view. I will need decorating tips. Send me a hello so I know all is well in your world and give hubby a PAW.

Sassy hugs to all.

Doing more studying than sewing

2012-10-20T14:45:00.001-04:00

Ahhhh let me catch you up on my life. It has been somewhat interesting of late. First off, school is going great. I just love it. I love learning, and I adore learning about the human body. What can I say, it turns me on. My teacher is fantastic. He makes it funny, interesting and being a doctor himself, knows his stuff. I love it!!! We have moved through the Integumentary System (skin), Tissues, Bones, and now we are onto the Muscles.

On Sept. 29 hubbies cousin got married...She is 23 years old and a full 27 years hubbies junior. They had a steampunk wedding and we all dressed the part. The wedding took place in the train station of the Essex Steam Train and then we took the train to the riverboat for the reception. it was lots of fun.

Parents of the Bride (Hubby's Uncle),

who just spent the past year (both of them) walking across the United States.

The Bride

The day after this lovely event, I received a phone call from my sister telling me our mother had taken a nasty fall while retreiving a frozen turkey from a friends house. She was going to bring the turkey to my sisters house to put it in her freezer. We then found out the turkey was a year old and probably no good anyway. Damn turkey. Now (snort) she is living with my sister. It is not funny one single bit, but as I write about the frozen turkey I am finding it amusing. Sorry Patti. Sorry mom. Snort. I have the giggles. She broke her thumb and her kneecap. She will kill me for posting this photo. She is healing well. She has three more weeks in the leg cast and maybe 2 more weeks in the hand cast. She had to have surgery on her hand. Poor mommy. It has not been an easy year for her. This is what she thinks of the whole thing.

We also went to a wedding in the Adirondacks. It was a nice little weekend away for the two of us and actually happened before the steampunk wedding. Many years ago when I first started dating hubby, I worked in a restaurant. This little girl was around 5 years old and was the owners daughter. All grown up.

We shared a cottage for the weekend with her mom and her 'boyfriend', her ex-husband, and two other friends, I have not laughed so much in years. OMG!!!!!!!!! Her dad, who is a chef, prepared ALL the food for the weekend, and we donned aprons and served the food during the reception.

I wore the cute polka dot dress I sewed...but no one, pointing upward, took a photo of me.

In other news unrelated to weddings, falls and further education, there is Miss MollDoll AKA Bea Nimble and the Roller Derby world. She is fast becoming a, flash your hands like Mary Katherine Gallagher and say SUPERSTAR. Okay, I am her mother and she DOES where a star on her helmet. If you are ever in the Portland, Maine area, you should most definitely try and see a bout. It is some crazy stuff, and if you figure the game out, come and explain it to me.

I will end with a cute photo of Pabu on our Adirondack getaway.

This is for you Steph. MPB DAY 2012

2012-09-15T21:47:00.000-04:00

I have been so late in posting about MPB day 2012. It happened over 6 weeks ago. Shame on me. Hubby went to pick up some dog food the other day and Stephanie asked about it. Heck it is almost time for next year. In case any of you would like to join us next year, you can save the date today, it will be Sat. August 10th. Be there or be Square.

I started off the day bright and early and arrived in NYC at 9:00 am...and then promptly got lost. One wrong turn and woops I was a goner. I found a parking lot and asked the nice Indian man where the Chelsea Flea Market was, but did not get far. I was beginning to get a migraine and his words sounded something like Charlie Brown's teacher, blah, blah, blah.

There was a park nearby and I thought it might be part of the Chelsea Flea Market. Let me back track. My trouble really began when Peter gave me the directions to meet him at something like "the southwest corner" of 7th avenue". I would not know the southwest corner of my own hand. How the hell am I supposed to know the southwest corner of a street in NYC? Really I kid you not. Directions like that instantly send my brain into a tunnel that there is no return from. Never. I think it is still hiding there and hoping no one will ever mention the 'southwest corner' of anything ever again. My brain does not DO directions. Now think of it with a migraine and soon to be flooded with a whopper of serious migraine medicine and whoooa. I am surprised I ever made it out of NYC.

Anyway, I gave up on finding the Chelsea Flea Market...and went straight to the Fashion Institute where Peter, God bless his soul, had told us to meet him at this sculpture. This I can DO!!!!!!!!

Here we all are!

At the Fashion Institute we saw an exhibit of designers from A-Z. There was no real cohesiveness to the collection, but it was wonderful to see a real Chanel, Valentino, and Francesco Scognamiglio.

While viewing these amazing one of a kind garments, a few of us (I don't think I did it)... set the alarms off.

"Keep your hands at your sides at all times. No touching the garments. Keep your hands at your sides at all times". "but, but, but...they are so close...look ma, you can reach out and touch them." There was a nice guard who just politely smiled at us each time we set the alarm off. (grin).

Soon we were off to have lunch at The Brown Cup. I don't know why I am sticking my tongue out!!!

Looks like I was in the mood to make funny faces.

At lunch, I was able to also finally meet, Peters partner Michael. I'm not exactly sure how it all happened, but we have become fast friends, and I would not have it any other way.
We even look like we coordinated our outfits.

And meeting Peter, what can I say, I have laughed and cried while reading his blog.
He has made me smile on days I did not think I had a smile in me. I adore the man.
I wish I could have spent more time with them, but it was just not in the cards that day.

And now off to do what we came here for...shop...and visit the garment district.

Just minutes after entering "Mood" someone, not sure who, phoned Peter and said there was a commotion outside Mood, as in gunfire, and to stay inside.God bless Peter for a second time. He gathered us and told us to stay inside as something untoward was happening out the doors of Mood. An hour or so later when we gathered our wits about us and made our way outside we found about 30 or more police cars, miles of police tape, 50 or more officers. Peter would not let us (me) stop and be part of the gaggle of onlookers.

Later we found out that a man had come at a police officer with a knife and the officer shot and... well guess the rest.

I am a bit ungrounded on a good day...add NYC (I'm a whole lot country), a migraine, migraine medicine (3 different kinds) and the pure excitement of finally meeting PETER and well....I was more than a bit ungrounded, the song "Fly Me to the Moon" could be heard coming out of my navel. Peter was afraid that I might get lost, so God bless him for a third time, he wrote a note that I could give to a nice New Yorker in case I got lost to tell them where I was supposed to meet him.

I only bought one piece of fabric all day, and I love it. So unique and special. It is a very light peach colored chiffon and was $15.00 a yard. I bought 2 yards. Here I am modeling it in Bryant Park.

I am going to underline it with a silk satin. This may be my first draping project. I sure wish a certain someone would ask me to marry him. I think it would be a nifty wedding dress.

How's this for a lovely image. This is what happens when your face hits the tread of a treadmill. It's even worse now as the scab keeps getting darker and darker.

A Few Of My Favorite Smart Things

2012-09-13T13:44:00.001-04:00

Smahart Knitting things that is...and few it is.

Yes I added the mustache. I could not resist when I saw it in the Flickr enhancements.

I hear they are quite in right now, mustaches that is.

The one below was gifted to Miss Molldoll by one of her campers this summer.
I guess some things, like cup cozies, never go out of style.

Do you think I could find these cute wedges heels to attach these to?

Watch out family, EVERYONE may include you. Christmas is right around the knitting corner.

I really love this and the gal is quite stunning compared to what we looked at yesterday.

The yellow rose of Texas gal.

I also have to share this with you....my facebook status for today:

My day so far:
1) Found "50 Shades of Grey" on the library book shelf...had to snag that one...just so I could see what my 80 year old mother has been reading.

2) Got a flu shot for the very first time. Now I am officially being tracked by the federal government according to a certain someone (hubby).

3) Did a face/body plant on a moving 5mph treadmill. and ended up in a heap. My first thought was for my teeth and nose...are they still attached. thank God yes...although swollen and bleeding. And having just left Anatomy and Physiology where we studied the 'epidermis' now I can see a crap load of it on my knee where the skin all burned/scraped off. This is not the easiest way to learn.

I Know You Have Been Breathlessly Waiting

2012-09-12T14:21:00.000-04:00

For more Smahart Knitting....

I call this "Rabbit Foot Lady" Come on now gals, don't tell me you aren't going to run to your nearest and dearest yarn store to gather what's needed for this little pretty.

Um...what size is her waist? If it is more than 12 inches round, I will eat that hat above.

Not trying to be fresh or anything, but I think he is a graduate of the gay bird club. What do you think Peter?

Hmmm Ummm. Yup...This is what scares all of those Republicans.

How about a little tennis lesson, young man?

" Oh Phyllis, do you think my curls clash with the stripe in my sweater?"

"What are you knitting Sally?"

"Who me?"

" Why I'm just throwing together a nice little matching angora mittens and HELMET"

Okay...how about YOU give this gal a title.

Tomorrow I will show you the few things within "Smart Knitting" that I like.

Smart Knitting

2012-09-11T15:56:00.000-04:00

Who could resist a perfectly good 60 year old booklet titled "Smart Knitting? Especially, when in your head, you say it something like this, "Smhart Knitting" and then inhale a fake cigarette and trip over a tree trunk. All the while, searching the yard sale for some other reason to not purchase this item and then have to blog about it. Oh dear me, here I go again. Meanwhile a perfectly flaming man wearing a fur collar and sandals who's running the show (yard sale) and who noticed you inhaling the fake cigarette, slides over to you and whispers in your ear, "darling, it's only a dollar" entices you further. Like I said, "Who could resist?

Okay, I am feeling a little fresh today and wonder if this is why Mr. fur collar and sandals had this in the first place. Maybe I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say it was his Great Aunt Hilda's knitting magazine.

Do you think Mr. Megaphone is teaching these two how to be Jr. Gay birds?
Okay enough fun already.
Looks like some real brotherly love.

Giddy-Up there Herman

Poor Walter, he always was a little wide in the waddle. Sorry mom, the snowman sweater does nothing to distract from the large hips. Nice try though. We'll give you an A for effort!!!

Walters little brother Winthrop.

And their Wild and Crazy sister Willamina

Frankly I would not knit any of these. How about you? There might be one or two that I could knit. I'll show you those at another time. For now I am off to work. See you soon.

Zelma's PJ Patterns

2012-09-06T08:21:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday I went to an estate sale. They were selling the contents of an entire home and I knew as I stepped into it that I was going to like it. After talking with the family I found out it was the contents of the home of a woman named Zelma who lived to be 95 years young. God bless her. She was born in 1905 and was a real hands on gal. When I walked into the home my eyes first laid eyes on yarn and fabric and cookbooks. I did not take any of that home, instead decided to go for jammies. Lots and lots of jammies. I want to make each and every one of these one day for my grandchildren. They were 10 cents each. How could I not take them home. More on Zelma another day.

Okay this is a Romper

Is this the sweetest illustration?

I think I already had this one...polka dot yoyo boy and puppet boy

Weird Nose Illustration

Paging Dr. Jones

Precious. MollDoll?

Love this one!!!!!!!!!

. What more do you want from a gal?

Which one is your favorite? Do you think you can have too many? Maybe I should start sewing them now?

Lassie Stays Home

2012-09-05T10:25:00.000-04:00

I feel as though I am sitting down on my sofa with a cup of warm tea and sharing news with friends I have not seen in such a long time. Come join me. First off, hubby just came home from a 3 week adventure driving, yes driving from California to Alaska with his youngest brother. I have been here alone, and having watched too many Alfred Hitchcock movies did not want to broadcast it over the WWW so have not mentioned it. My protector is home again.

While in California he was able to stop in and see his bird-son Veedor. He worked with Vee for 10 years as one of his handlers. Veedor is an Andean Condor and until 8 years ago when we had to give him to another handler he was the only free-flying captive condor in the world. You can read more about him here. Hubby drove him twice out to California and did programs with him all over the east coast. They were quite a pair. I would have given anything to see this reunion. It brings tears just seeing this photo. It had been almost 8 years since they had seen each other, but Veedor clearly remembered who Scott was. Vee is now around 25 years old and hubby was thrilled to see how he is thriving, although he no longer flies as hubby and John had him do. To stand beneath him and hear him take off was truly a breathtaking experience.

An up close and personal look at the big fellow. His head turns shades of pink, red and yellow depending on his mood. Some may find him unattractive, but to this gals sensibilities he is one handsome guy. One day, if you twist my arm I may tell you about the day he bit me and I ended up in the ER with a doctor who thought hubby was an abuser. The joke was on him when we brought him out to the car to meet the one and only and I mean one and only Veedor!!!

Onto sewing. I finished this dress: scroll down the page. It came out so darn adorable, I even got my first wow out of hubby!!!. I am going to a wedding this weekend and hope to wear it so will take photos there. It actually looks much better on a human than on the dress form.

I am off to go study the tissues of the body and put together some outfits for a wedding in the Adirondacks, I have a feeling this polka dot number may make only a very brief appearance. Toodles.

Jammin with Miss MollDoll

2012-09-04T12:18:00.002-04:00

These bushes covered in tobacco netting are blueberry bushes. Our blueberry bushes. We have seven of them. We moved into our house 2 years ago and right about now and there were no blueberries (sad face).

Last year we had blueberries, but each morning the birds were up earlier than we were and they ate all of them. No kidding we had about a hand full. THIS year, we got smart and covered them. Holy blueberries Batman. Did we have blueberries. I mean thousands, upon thousands from our seven bushes.

This is what four quarts looks like. The photo is deceiving. This is a large Pyrex bowl filled to overflowing. With this we made two batches of jam and a huge 1.75 liter bottle of blueberry vodka.

Molldoll mashing the blueberries.

Can we get every last bit of this?

We made both Blueberry-Lemon-Ginger Jam and Blueberry Lavender Jam.

It is a bit sweet. Next time I will try the no-sugar recipe.

Here is the blueberry Vodka. It is not looking quite so pretty anymore. Two weeks later and the vodka has sucked the color out of the blueberries. The green is lavender. I sure do hope it tastes good.

I have been so busy..not blogging much, but I do hope to time manage my life and blog more. Today was my first day of school and I think I am going to love it. My professor is a MD. If you know me, you will know that I love that. Learning A&P from a doctor...does not get much better than that. I am so excited and can't stand it. I love to learn, whether it is sewing, fishing, whatever....learning to me is fun.

I also finished a new dress yesterday. I can't wait to show it to you....AND to tell you about my adventure to NYC to finally meet Peter. I was so star struck! I have lots to tell you about. So stay tuned.

Back To School Daze

2012-08-27T09:21:00.003-04:00

Who Me? Yup! I am going back to school. What can I say. Sassy is a bit of a late bloomer. It has taken her a few years to figure things out. But she believes she finally has. She thinks her daddy is directing her from the other side and yes she likes writing in the third person.

The plan is this. I begin class next Tuesday bright and early.... Anatomy & Physiology 1 and then in the Spring onto A & P 2 and maybe another science class. Then starts the real fun. A masters degree in Occupational Therapy.

I am over the top with excitement. I hope to find some time to still me able to sew and knit and cook and do the things I love. I have spent the last week getting organized AND making lavender blueberry jam, ginger/lemon blueberry jam and lavender blueberry vodka with Miss MollDoll. We had so much fun. I am going to do my best to sew this week and get some pictures up here.

The Whole Family...Aren't we Just Adorable?

Dressing For My Age

2012-07-21T10:56:00.000-04:00

The problem with all the patterns in my stash is that they have a waist! I used to have one too!!!! But not anymore. The whole belly fat, no waist effect of age has hit me. If I lose weight, will I gain it right back? Am I going to have to start watching everything I eat so I can fit into my vintage clothes? Or do I just change decades and go for the loose fitting clothes of the 60's and 70's? But then I run the risk of even gaining more weight.

I am not 25 anymore. Have you ever seen a model on a pattern envelope whose hairdresser really does know for sure that she is all grey? That she is what the media would call 'past her prime'? Whose skin on her knees is starting to do things she never knew skin could do? I can't wear the above patterns and get away with it! I can't wear most patterns and get away with it! In my mind I am still 25...maybe 30. Much wiser, so much happier, but want to feel less aged. I am not one who would ever go for injections or false aging products. I don't spend any money on skin care. I think water is the best thing for skin. What do I do about the clothes?

Maybe This Is The Reason

2012-06-28T13:28:00.000-04:00

Someone shared this on Facebook the other day and I just adored it. Maybe I am just not properly adorned and my house not prepared enough to sew? How about you? Do you have dishes in your sink? Is your hair in order? Are you ready for a surprise visit? What if hubby comes home early? Gasp!!! What IS an urgent housekeeping chore? And could you promise me a little bag of French chalk near my sewing machine will make me sew better?

Tomorrow I'll share with you what me and my house looked like when I thought of sewing.

Soap Curls

2012-06-18T08:17:00.001-04:00

On Saturday I used my 'new' grater to make some laundry soap.

Look how sweet the little curls of soap are. Much nicer than my micro plane.

Thread/Filet Crochet Anyone?

2012-06-17T14:04:00.001-04:00

Good job yesterday. Two of you came up with the correct answer to the mystery utensil. It IS a soap suds saver/maker. If I had 1000 guesses I never would have guessed it correctly.

Now onto my other find from the yard sale. I picked up all of these linens and crocheted items for $3.00.

I think a nice 60's empire waist dress would look lovely with this trim around the waistband.

Two days after the yard sale I went back. It is next door to where I now work and they had a whole bunch of stuff marked "FREE". I found a bag of crochet tools which were probably used to create most of the above items and there are a few mystery items here.

Below are what appear to be circular knitting needles, however the inside loop is also stiff. Any ideas?

These 'needles' are around 8 to 10 inches long. They appear to be homemade. Any ideas about these?

These are long steel 'things'. all the same dimension. pointed on one end and blunt on the other.

This is a size 14 crochet hook. You just can not imagine how small the hook is.

This is the last mystery item. Any ideas?

I guess I will have to learn how to 'thread crochet'. Have any of you ever tried it? I am a pretty good knitter, but lack experience with crochet.

SCORE!!!!

2012-06-16T12:53:00.001-04:00

I went to my first yard sale of the summer last weekend...and hubby came along, which is a small miracle. I just love Melmac, but alas hubby does not, so I have these for sale on Etsy.

This is the treasure hubby found. And it cuts like a dream.

It's called a "Meteor".

And this:

Which included:

Homemade Gnocci for us.

How about this?
USE FELS NAPTHA SOUP.

Does anyone know what the thing in the middle is?

And believe it or not? There was more!!! I'll share with you tomorrow.

Miss Mary Riva

2012-06-05T08:10:00.000-04:00

I went to a yard sale a couple of summers ago and it was nearing the end of it. You know, the time when they want to get rid of everything so they don't have to look at it again. Amongst the stuff was a box with cookbooks and recipes in it...I snatched it up for $1.00. When I got it home I realized it was the prize recipes of one "Mary Riva'. I knew the name Riva as there are tons of them in the area I live so I started researching her. One night, while working in the restaurant, some Riva's came in and I asked about her. Boy did I get a wonderful earful. She is still alive, and she LOVED to bake. I am honored to have her recipe book.

She wrote her name across the top of many pages in this booklet.

Got to love a women with a recipe for "Brandy made with Grappa"

The is an intricate recipe that takes up 3 pages of handwritten notes.

On another note, I have taken a new job which will have me away from home much more. While caring for my dad during his illness, I found that although it was sad and difficult to watch him struggle, I enjoyed making him comfortable and getting him to eat and making his life happier when I could. I have taken a job caring for an 87 year old gentleman and his 85 year old wife. In just one week I have gotten some of the most sage advice of my life. I am completely smitten with the two of them and almost fell off my chair when the gentleman said he sewed and had a Necchi in the other room. It could not make me happier hearing stories from their lives in the 30's, 40's, and 50's. They celebrated their 61st Anniversary on Sat and might just be as cute as the day they were married.

My Memorial Day

2012-05-30T09:36:00.004-04:00

Raising the flag.

I saw this display at someones house the night before and knew I had to have my picture taken with it.

A fellow dresser-upper.

Miss MollDoll aka "Bea Nimble" being greeted by her grammar school soccer coach.

There is a 5 mile road race that we go to/participate in each year in my hometown of Norfolk, CT.
MollDoll decided to roller skate/run the race. Here she is gearing up.

My older brother (left) ran the race for the first time.
These are all long time friends of his that ran it as well.

Bea Nimble with her step-brother.

We had a picnic afterwards and I ate too much. All in all it was a great day although we missed having Sir Braveheart and Queen of Braveheart with us.

Get the Kleenex Out ( A Soldiers Homecoming)

2012-05-29T10:39:00.000-04:00

and not because you will be crying but because you will be laughing your _____ off and may cry from laughter! You might even want to go put on a pair of Depends before I tell you how it went!

Note: This was written in 2003 just after Sir Braveheart returned from 10 months in Afghanistan. Sorry for all the exclamations and weird writing, but it originally was an e-mail out to friends and fellow armymoms.

To start....Sat was a long day of waiting. His plane did not get in until 4:45 and I was pacing all day. Cleaning, shopping (more food) and fixing things up...balloons and posters and yellow roses.

In the afternoon hubby came home from his weekly yoga-meditation class. He was gone way too long and I was starting to get anxious. He finally showed up around 1:45...I still had plenty I wanted him to help me do. Well, while we were busy fixing something, our dear girl Tashi (who is sadly no longer with us) the Shitzu that is the newest love of our life, ate her poop. We lost track of her for a few minutes outside and when I found her I discovered she had relieved herself and was now involved in her famous poop eating. I cleaned her mouth out and brushed her teeth (yes I am serious) it was gross....

Time was getting closer and closer...all day long I would say, "only 6 more hours...5 more hours....3 more hours...Around 3 O'clock I figured I had better change and get ready. I did not even know what to wear to go get him and decided on a sun dress...a nice sun dress...I put on a beautiful quartz crystal necklace that Miss Molldoll and Sir Braveheart had given to me for my 40th b-day. It opens up and is a locket and holds their pictures. I felt ready to see my beloved child.

Around 3:30 I checked the internet to see if Sir Braveheart's plane was on time. It was scheduled to be arriving earlier than expected. I started to get anxious again and told hubby we needed to leave. He thinks I am a bit of an alarmist and told me to relax.

Now, we took Miss Tashi everywhere with us and it was never a question that we would take her with us this day,except our dear girl became a woman that Thursday and was in heat....not much, a little drip here and there, so no problem....right? We debated on whether or not to take her, and in the back of my mind was something my sister, who is an honest to God psychic, told me a few days prior. "Don't take TASHI"!!! She thought it would take away from Sir Braveheart's homecoming. The next time I will listen to her when she gets a "feeling" about something.

So off we head to the airport. I had dreamed of this day for so, so long and wondered if reality would match my expectation. As I headed out the door I asked hubby if he thought I should bring the regular (non-digital)camera, to which he replied, "Why? We have the digital". We got into the car and I remembered that I had put some cold medicine (for Sir Braveheart) into the other camera (film) bag. I ran into the house and grabbed the other non-digital camera....(thank you GOD) and off we went. The airport is only a half hour drive from our house and I felt so excited as we drove out of the driveway.

Around 15 minutes later I asked hubby if he brought his cell phone and he said "No, why would we need it"? I say,"What if we can't get to the airport? 

We will have no way to call Sir Braveheart". He turned to me and gave me the look from hell as if to say...Would you get over yourself...what could possible happen? we are just a few minutes away. OK I say to myself...stop worrying.

Around a minute later...with Tashi on my lap and before I knew what was happening, I realize she was heaving and a second later threw up alllllllllllll over me. Now this is not just throw up, IT IS POOP THROW UP. Let's just be direct...IT WAS SHIT!!!!!!!!!!! I mean the nastiest smelliest POOP throw up you could imagine. ALL OVER ME....through the dress and into the tummy tucking underwear I am wearing. It goes ALL over the digital camera and ruins it. We are 10 minutes from the airport and Sir Braveheart's flight is arriving in 25 minutes. I am in complete and utter shock! I can not go into the airport like this. I mean, excuse me, but there is this HUGE POOP puke all over me. I am beyond myself and half scream, half cry for hubby to DO SOMETHING!! Well the smell is so bad that he is gagging!!!!!!!!!! and can barely drive the car. We are near a strip mall and I scream for him to TURN IN. Although there is nothing there except a CVS and I don't hold much hope for a new outfit.I am just soaked with this POOP/puke. It is now running down my leg and into the seat....and Tashi is in the back seat heaving and throwing up more....two more times to be exact. At the CVS I jump out of the car...the POOP/puke is just sticking to my dress in a BIG blob, at least the parts that have not soaked through and are running down my leg!!!!. I am honest to God ready to strip naked in the parking lot...hubby runs into CVS to see if there is ANYTHING I could wear. Time is clicking away....I am just standing there and these total strangers are walking toward me to their car. I look at them and say I am on my way to the airport to pick up my son who has been in Afghanistan and my dog .....blah blah....they look at me with the most heartfelt looks in there eyes and I say to them..."You don't have any extra clothes in your car do you?"...they say, "well I think we do....they are our sons and we were planning on bringing them to Goodwill". So there I am rummaging through these bags full of teenage boy's clothes to find something to wear... They are doing their best to help but I know the smell is getting to them also. I wish I could thank these people....I did not get their name.I'm sure they will never forget this day!!!!!!!!! they pull out a red and blue polo shirt...totally wrinkled and I say great...next come the homey jeans and I figure somehow I will get to the airport. They watch the dog....hubby is still inside trying to find me clothes. I run behind a brick wall (yes I am a bit out in the open) get naked and put these clothes on....as I am coming out Scott is coming out of CVS "empty handed". My last hope at arriving in a decent manner is lost. We jump in the car...but not before Scott finds an old pair of jeans (TOOOOOOO TIGHT) in the trunk and brings them to me. So while we are driving I take off the homey jeans......... now mind you my legs are still smelly and wet and I try to squeeze into the other jeans. This was not pretty..but I did it.

Well in the end, hubby had to stay in the car with the dog. So it was just me and my yellow rose to greet Sir Braveheart after 10 long months away at war. I asked a stranger if he would take our picture (thank God I went back and got the other camera). I think the whole airport knew of my episode. There was another family there waiting for a Marine coming from Iraq. They were all there with flags and banners...there I was alone with my smelly, strangers clothes on. It was not the homecoming I had imagined. But when I saw him come around the corner smiling and (looking a bit confused at my outfit) a thousand worries were lifted from my soul. He hugged me and looked me in the eyes and said, "I told you I would come home". I could not stop hugging him. His body is like steel!!!!and he looks GREAT...strong and handsome and smiling.

This is ALL I really wanted....him safely home, and that he is.

I fixed the barn (his old bedroom) all up nice for him and yet this morning when I went to let the cat out of Miss MollDoll's room...he was asleep in her bed. Guess he did not want to be too far from us either.

With Honor and Pride

2012-05-28T08:01:00.003-04:00

The veteran closest to my heart has been home and out of the military for almost 6 years. There are days it still feels so close , and other days it feels like another lifetime. As long as I live I will never look at the flag the same way, hear the national anthem without a tear in my eye or say the words "land of the free, home of the brave" without choking up. The experience of being the mother of a soldier in war forever changed me.

Today I honor and give my thanks for all the sacrifice of so many families and the brave men and women who have worn the uniform for our country.

Tomorrow I will share with you the homecoming from Afghanistan of Sir Braveheart. You really won't want to miss this story! It will surely bring a tear to your eye.

Kitschy is, as Kitschy Goes

2012-05-26T10:06:00.003-04:00

I have been busy this week making a kitschy dress for Memorial Day. To say it is over the top is a bit of an understatement. Red, White and Blue! Holy flag waving! I found 2 yards of this novelty fabric on Ebay for $3.50. Not a bad deal, but most dresses need more than 2 yards, especially vintage patterns with circle skirts. I checked out my stash and there was this perfect red cloth and a small piece of this blue with very small checks. They were perfect. I found a vintage red metal zipper in my stash and all the buttons. I couldn't lose when it only was costing a few dollars, even if it is ugly as hell.

I am revisiting this pattern. It was the FIRST dress I ever sewed and quite cute.

This time I made the bolero as well. As I said, holy red, white and blue.

Memorial Day always was one of my favorite holidays due to the wonderful small town parade that it held every year in the town I grew up. It is then followed by a 5 mile road race which most of my family have run in on numerous occasions. My 56 year old brother is planning on running it this year 'barefoot' and hubby's uncle who came home this week from spending the last year walking across America is also planning on running it. Here are links to other years. Memorial Day became even more special to me when Sir Braveheart joined the military and was deployed twice. I stand tall when he walks in the parade usually with tears streaming down my face. This year Sir Braveheart will not be marching in the parade, but Miss Molldoll is coming home for the weekend and that puts a big smile on my face.

Anyway, get a load of this dress. Is it too much? Will I stand out like Martha Stewart in prison?

Have a safe and happy weekend. Look up images of the Earth from space on Monday and I think you will see this dress somewhere in North America.

Spring Fever

2012-05-19T08:59:00.001-04:00

Well it is a good thing I started with a muslin because I screwed up right off the bat. It amuses me to no end, as I was 'trying' to be so careful and diligent. What did I do? Totally missed a piece of the pattern when I cut it out. Woops!!! Where is piece #21? And of course it was the BIGGEST piece in the whole pattern. I did not have enough of my, 4 yards for $1.00, fabric left.

I guess the sewing angels were with me though because of all the pieces this one will be hidden. It also requires a long strip of fusible interfacing vertically down the side, so I just filled in the missing fabric with interfacing. We'll see if it works out. Ugh!

So far, so good.

I have been very busy lately trying to make up for a year of getting behind.

The photo below is of an azalea in bloom on our property. It is humongous!!!

I have started a vegetable garden.

I dug this all up myself. I still have lots more digging, but it is a start.

I have planted lots of goodies in here.

Peas

Lilacs. I just love spring.

This is one of the entrances to our house. We never use it and it was a hot mess of weeds. It looked ugly. I dug it all up and am starting to put perennials in. I love an old fashion garden (who knew) and have foxglove, delphinium and lupine in so far.

The start of an herb garden.

Which is on the right side of the door to our garage.

Hubby loves sweets. Pies, cookies, cakes...you name it. I am going to try and make a different pie for him each week. I used a cookbook from 1951 to make this 'Coconut Custard' pie.

It was a mighty tasty snack last night.

I have also done lots and lots of spring cleaning too. Do you spring clean? Well the day is slipping by. I am off to accomplish more. Enjoy the weekend.

Birds of a Feather, Blog Together?

2012-05-15T17:43:00.001-04:00

I was in the middle of writing this post when I got distracted and started reading blogs and came across (well not exactly came across, as I read it every day, Male Pattern Boldness. Was he just saying something about synchronicity the other day? Weird. Here's the post I started:
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I really adore the idea of sewing. What a shame it is that so many people have no idea how to do it, and I'm not just talking about women and gay men. At the very least everybody should be taught how to hem and sew a button on. Don't you think? A button? Is is really that hard?

I know that both hubby and Sir Braveheart could do both. How about those in your family. Can they sew simple things or do they rely on you? Sir Braveheart would probably be better at sewing skin rather than fabric, but hey knowing how to stitch is knowing how to stitch.
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So in response to Peter's hammer and nail analogy. True! Building a house (and I know from hubby's experience what that takes) and building a bookcase are a horse of a different color. I am still at the bookcase stage while Peter most certainly is at the two-car garage with electricity and plumbing stage. Just like anything else, unless you are a savant of some kind, learning to sew takes patience, practice and learning new skills.

The answer to whether or not it is easy would depend on my mood or my proficiency at the time with whatever garment I might be working on.

Easy? Relatively. It's not rocket science.

Easy? Hell no. I screw up all the time.

It is raining out today and I thought I would start sewing my polka dot dress, but then as I was reading the directions and looking at all of the sizes, I decided to make a muslin. I don't want to screw up with $40 worth of fabric.So now I have fabric which cost me $1.00 for 4 yards in the wash and then dryer. Maybe I will get to cutting it out later today.

It Served It's Purpose

2012-05-14T12:40:00.002-04:00

And got me back to my sewing machine. I am not in love with this dress, but it is comfortable. Most/All of the dresses I have sewn thus far have a waistband. Not just any waistband, but a 1940's or 1950's waistband. When I begin sewing the garment, I always think in my head that I will look like the drawing on the front of the pattern. which always (at least it seems to me) have an exaggerated "SMALL" waist.

I made this dress specifically because it does not have a waist. Too many sweatpants and yoga pants worn over the winter have given me a false sense of my shape. In other words, as I popped another cookie in my mouth, there was not a thought about clothes fitting. My yoga/sweat pants grew as I grew. Okay enough complaining and back to sewing. For the time being, I am going to keep on with the no-waist projects. Next on the list is this wrap dress with polka dot fabric. View B.

I have seen some really cute dresses made with this pattern. I hope they don't get my hopes up about what mine will look like.