Category Archive: Life
Pillowcases again
From the looks of the wash this morning, I really was on vacation. However all that has changed now and we had no workmen in the house today. I think I’m ready to go again.
These are the 10 pillowcases I was able to finish today. That brings the total up to 50. Yes, I still have to imbed the serger thread at the beginning of the seam, but I have a feeling that might get done in November or early Dec. I still have several other items trying to get in the Christmas queue. That’s why I’m starting now on getting these done. I would really like to move these out of the sewing room and into the giving closet.
Vacation day #3/Seattle Science Center
We left the house this morning, made an hour drive to pick up our other two grandsons and then to the Science Center an hour from there. Traffic was horrendous, but the boys were excited to go to the center, so were quite patient. We started with lunch, where their uncle Darrin met us. This way we wouldn’t have to interrupt the fun times. There were so many things to see and do.
We started with the water experiments outside – no photos as I still haven’t learned how to get them in bright sunlight (and the day was in the 80s). They enjoyed walking up the inside of a round tub which caused the water wheel outside to go around.` Basically they became the power.
The butterfly house (where Jennifer joined us) was requested so we went there fairly soon. Unfortunately not a single butterfly landed on any one of us. But the boys tried to intice them. These butterflies are enjoying pineapple. That big eye is really camaflouge down near the bottom of the wing.
From there we enjoyed naked rats from Africa, other insects, spiders, scorpions, the works. And off to the dinosaurs. (You didn’t think 9 and 10 year old boys would skip past those, did you?) The room was quite dark, but each of the dinos moved. And some could be moved with levers that you open and close a mouth, move an eye forward or backward so dino could see better.
![IMG_0620[1]](http://fiberadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IMG_06201.jpg)
There was a very enjoyable section on food where they could choose a food and put it in a slot on a machine and it told them the nutritional data. They could then keep adding or subtracting until they had a nutritious meal. In the same area they had this wall display to show the size of servings.
![IMG_0624[1]](http://fiberadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IMG_06241.jpg)
and this recipe on a 6′ tall board.
![IMG_0628[1]](http://fiberadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IMG_06281-e1409196022724.jpg)
This Gemini capsule was fun as they could sit in and pretend to fly it.
![IMG_0621[1]](http://fiberadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IMG_06211.jpg)
![IMG_0618[1]](http://fiberadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IMG_06181-e1409196118294.jpg)
From there we went to a room with gears, transmissions, pulleys, etc, with lots of items to investigate.
Then back outside for more water fun and learning. There was so much to see and do, It may have been a blessing that I wasn’t able to get the camera functioning outside.
Vacation day #2
Today the tile has been finished!. The painting is still to be done and the shower curtain rod, etc. will be done shortly. But I am so very happy this portion is done. The bathroom is once again usable.
As you can see, they ordered enough tile to go up to the window, so even though that wasn’t the original plan, that’s what we have.
Christian arrived with his mother today and we spent a bit of time at Lake Tapps. In the first photo, you can see the marvelous day we had and in the second, you will see in the far distance Mt. Rainier.
![IMG_0615[1]](http://fiberadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IMG_06151-e1409107894924.jpg)
![IMG_0611[1]](http://fiberadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IMG_06111-e1409107839914.jpg)
VACATION day #1
We picnicked at our youngest daughter and husband’s house by Lake Washington and then went in the boat for some wonderful relaxation. I took several photos, but they look like this:
Obviously, my setting was wrong for all that sun. We did finally get a couple duck photos. Very few people were on the south end of the lake, so we virtually had it to ourselves. The weather was in the mid 80s and we totally enjoyed in and out of the water relaxation.
Another pair of socks
This is sock pair #9 for this year. I chose another of my self striping yarns so I could knit while in the car. Also, because there is just so much going on that I need something that doesn’t take thinking. Today I used the pressure cooker again and I don’t leave the kitchen while using it or I may become distracted and bad things could happen. So I knit in the kitchen.
I did the cuff on this pair last month and then decided to make the purple pair instead. So I started Friday with the cuff already done and have been working on them in the car and in the kitchen. They will be my take along pair.
Other than the 2 hours spent walking my Fitbit steps, taking water to the bees, picking tomatoes, roasting a pan of cherry tomatoes, picking and freezing raspberries. freezing three trays of bananas and canning one load, I’m straining to remember what I did. Why does everything take so long? Not one of these was a big job.
Oh, yes, I selected fabrics for the scarf part of the “Knitters Gifts” quilt and will press them later this week. I prepared the pattern as it is a paper piecing pattern, and worked a bit on pillowcases, but didn’t actually finish any Perhaps that is why it seems I don’t get enough done, because I work on several projects instead of just one. I do so want to get back to embroidering. Patience, summer is only for anther month.
This is my vacation week. I will be using it for family time I made a potato salad for our picnic with Kati and Zach tomorrow. It’s really too bad we’ll all be involved in the activity without anyone to take photos. They are going to try to teach me to kayak. I am going to try, but I have no thoughts of being able to accomplish this. I may be spending a lot of time in the water. And I ‘m quite sure this will look very funny to others
Then the next two or 2.5 days, our Boston grandson will be here and we will be enjoying the Seattle Science Center with the three grandsons and a couple of our children. Our children so enjoyed it when they were young, maybe still do. I haven’t been there in a long time. Yes, summer is nearly over and the boys will be back in school and every activity available.
Tomatoes vines
I have never been where tomatoes grow natively, however, I think I have a feeling for how they look — – with the exception that my tomatoes did not have trees to which to attach.
Most of the row was tied and these were too, in the beginning. However, I didn’t keep up with them and this is what happens. So we are just harvesting the tomatoes as they come ripe. It’s just a jungle out there. I think next year will be a good year to just put sweet peas down there as this is at the bottom of the garden and we get sidetracked before getting there. Besides, sweet peas would help the ground and be so pretty to look at from the deck.
Widsith Sock news
And here they are – FINISHED! I had enough dark purple left from another pair of socks that I was able to use to finish these. And they are done before the end of the month which is important since next week time will be spent with grandsons.
Preparing for winter
One of the things that I try to do is to be as truly prepared for winter as possible. If there is a snowstorm or a power outage, I don’t want to have to navigate the roads and I’m quite sure others don’t want me to either. I also stay home when the flu season is the worst.
I am thrilled to have enough hay now in the hay building for the animals. It was rather interesting since I have not purchased 2 ton for this location. The last bale barely fit into the building.
Add to animal feed, the people food. I have been freezing and canning all summer. We started with the berries and yesterday and today, I cooked some beans and canned them as well as picked 4 pints of green beans. Tomorrow I’ll pick more tomatoes and then can the green beans and tomatoes in the same load as they take fewer minutes. Pressure cooking just takes more time than water bathes. Here are today’s black beans, cannellini beans and some garbanzos. I love being able to just grab a pint of beans for a quick meal, so in September when the weather is a bit cooler, I’ll be putting up many more of these.
August Sew Fun
Sew Gifts!: 25 Handmade Gift Ideas from Top Designers was the first book reviewed at Sew Fun this morning. It has 25 really cute gifts for both adults and children throughout the year. Some ideas are an adorable owl pincushion, a child’s pinafore, some modern design pillows, a zigzag tote and
This bird pillow
The tablet Covers book had several very pretty covers with each cover being in several sizes for the various size of tablets and readers in use.
New Ideas for Applique – August 21, 2012
by Pat Sloan
This book has 12 fun appliques from cute bees to a happy snowman, with ideas for use, including embellishing table runners, tote, bags, clothing and quilts.
A cute snowman hanging
pears appliques could either be on towels or a wall hanging.
There is a new chalkboard fabric that can be fun. Fabric Confetti has designed wonderful Greetings and Affirmations to go with this fabric. Chalkboard markers are available as well as chalkboard chalk can be used. Wouldn’t this be fun on a shopping bag – especially if you sent your husband for a few groceries? The list wouldn’t get lost.
They had on display other applique patterns, a scissors, some fancy USB sticks, a folding pen, Angelina fiber, a pressing sheet and some BoNash. If you don’t know about BoNash, I really recommend you look this up as this is a superior product for mending as well as for applique. I mended a pair of jeans for DH and it took looking to find the mended spot.
Sew we end today’s Sew Fun Infomercial
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