All the best laid plans

Hello!  How ya doin?  How's your family?  Glad you dropped in.

Things are normal here.  I did get to the grocery store.  Remember all those wonderful organization tips I gave in my last post?  Yea...well, I got some of them done.  I got my pantry organized, my fridge wiped out/organized, and a list made up.  I wasn't able to get my freezer defrosted or bread made.  Rubic had the flu so we spent about three hours at the..ahem Quick care center Thursday morning finding out that he had the flu and getting him a doctors excuse for work.  That set me back some.  Still the things I was able to do, made it pretty simple to bring home a months worth of groceries and get them put away.  I was then able to get some bread made for sandwiches and pizza crust made for dinner (thank you bread machine).  So all in all a good trip and planning helped.

I did have a bit of a set back which had nothing to do with my grocery shopping trip.  Back the end of December I started some tomato seeds for this years gardening season.  The plan being I would start the season off with larger plants and hopefully have them produce more before getting taken down by our rather hot summers.  Well, they sprouted and were thriving.  We've had some warmer than normal weather and so I have been taking them outside to get some good sunlight.  I don't have great windows for sunlight in my house.  Things were going swimmingly until, while taking them out for their morning sun bathing, I tripped.  Yep!  I tripped.  Seedlings went flying, across the room to land on the floor.  I lost about half of them immediately and about half again since then. The ones still living are not very happy.  THWARTED AGAIN!

Last on my list; this weekend marks a year since I started my weight loss journey.  My goal for the year was at least 52 pounds lost.  I figured that would be a pound a week.  Alas I fell short by three pounds.  My total is 49 pounds lost.  You know what?  I'll take it.  So I didn't make my goal.  I lost.  I helped care for my dad.  I lost my dad.  I started a new venture in my Etsy shop.  The holidays came just like they do every year, but these were a little tougher.  "Life" Happened.  There were many other intrusions that kept me from obtaining the goal I set for myself.  Funny how life happens.  Life happening is not an excuse we use to not workout as some would have us believe.  It's just a fact.  You adapt.  All the best laid plans you know.  The difference between now and then when it comes to life's intrusions was the fact that I didn't stop or give up.  Each  day was a new start and I made the most of those days.  I accepted the consequences of my actions and moved on.  That's why whatever you chose to do to lose weight, needs to be something easily adapted to YOUR LIFE.

All our lives are different and what we need to accomplish our goals is also different.  We're individuals after all.  Adaptability is the key.  To find that silver lining in mistakes you might have made and learn from them, grow from them, not to repeat them. To take lemons life hands you and make lemonade from it so to speak.

So I will keep plugging along.  I'm not going back.  I am told the longer it takes for weight to come off, means it will stay off longer.  Yay!  So I will keep on keeping on.  I'll get the rest of the weight off in due time.

Taking Inventory

So this coming Friday is my normal monthly grocery gettin day.   If you can ever get to the point of monthly grocery shopping, I highly recommend it.  Anyhoo, because of said grocery gettin day, I will begin the process of inventorying what I have on hand and what I need.  I would love to be the organized woman who keeps a list near the fridge or something, adding to it as needed, but that is not the case.  I can make a note of something I need mentally, but it never quite gets to paper.  So!  I inventory.

In a way, this is good because while I inventory I clean out my pantry, refrigerator and freezer.  I also go through a "Use it up" week where I make things based on what I need to finish up before grocery day.  Cleaning out the fridge also means using up leftovers.  I can either serve them as is or turn them into something new.  Case in point, I currently have in my oven a loaf of sweet potato bread; like pumpkin, just with sweet potatoes.  We had sweet potatoes as a side last night and had some, but not enough to serve again.  I made the bread this morning with the left over sweet potatoes as well as the syrup they were canned in.  We also had some left over corn and green beans, but those are in a container (together) in the freezer to await my next veggie soup night (Probably next week).  This will be added to as the week goes on until all the tidbits are ready for soup.  I have some fresh spinach that will be turned into a quiche for breakfast probably tomorrow, and some left over chicken that will be turned into a chicken casserole more than likely tomorrow night.

Fast forward a few days......well I made all the things I planned with the exception of veggie soup.  That will more than likely be tomorrow night since I now have two patients in the house in the form of DH and Rubic.  Bless their hearts they have some kind of bad cold or flu.  Rubic has the worst I'm thinking.  Tonight I'm making a batch of cough syrup for both of them.

I'm nearly out of bread so before I shop on Friday, I want to bake about 4 loaves and 2 batches of hamburger buns.  That way they will already be in place in the freezer before I have things to put in there.  It insures I don't end up with something left out of the freezer.  If I have time I will clean out the freezer, and wipe down the fridge.   I know all of this sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn't.  By taking these steps before I go to the store, I have less to take out or move around and, since everything will be organized, it will be a simple matter of putting things away once I get home.

Whatever your method, a little organization can go a long way in making a rather tedious chore rather ...less tedious.  I can buy groceries nine ways to Sunday, it's the putting them up that's the problem.  Whatever I can do to make that easier is a plus.  I hope maybe something in here might help you in doing the same thing.  Have a great day!

A thrift store date kinda day

Hubby and I went on a date!  Well sorta.  The two of us went out to paint the town beige.  We set off this morning and drove to the Ric Rac in  Dawsonville Georgia.  If you have never been there, you need to remedy that.  Anyway, there is no way we out did the time spent by my sister and I when we go to the Ric Rac, but we gave it a valiant effort.  We were there about 1.5 hours give or take.  During the course of our stay we found a set of 6 heavy duty glasses for $1.50 for all.  DH found three men's shirts in great shape.  I think two were new.  I found three shirts as well as a denim vest.  I have to say, being 48 lbs lighter has made trying on clothes FUN!!!!!  I actually found many more shirts, but settled on the three I choose.  I had to have the vest though.  It's fitted and cute as all get out.  I also came away with a white toy chest.

It's in pretty good shape.  Especially for $20!  It's all real wood.  None of that particle stuff.   I'm gonna use my paint remover gun on it and see if I can stain and varnish it.  Instead of a toy chest, it will soon be a trunk to store blankets and such in.  I will post a picture after it's done.  It will take up residence at the end of my bed where my makeshift Table stood before.  That one didn't last too long, but then it wasn't supposed to.  It also wasn't supposed to be sat on and my son didn't realize that soooo.

I found some other odds and ends, but the trunk is my main find.  We also had lunch out.  Not very frugal mind you, but a date none the less.  We don't get these days too often so it was a great time out and a great day to do it.  If you can believe it,   It's 70 degrees outside today this Jan 14th.  Welcome to Georgia.

So that's my day.  How has yours been?

Just now have my head above water

As of last night I am finally caught up with what is listed in my Etsy shop.  I put the final snaps on three little slip sets.  Now my focus can change to making the little creative outfits I truly enjoy.  I have a few of those in the works.  My store stock fell to 13 items from 30 and that was with me continuing to add items.  The last week before Christmas, however, I put the sewing away and focused on the holiday with the family.

I made 110 sales before New Years Eve this year.  It is my first year on Etsy.  Not to shabby.  My bread and butter were the doll diapers.  I sold 57 sets of those in various sizes.  My goal for the coming year is to have 65 diaper sets of various sizes in stock going into next years Christmas season.  That's 185 diapers ya'll.   Yikes!  In addition, I would like to have my store stock level be at about 50 if possible.

Lest you think all I would talk about is Etsy (My sons says I'm a spokesperson), I have ventured into a few normal things again.  I've started making bread for us again.  There for a while it was too crazy and I bought bread at a local bread thrift store near us.  Still not as cheap as making bread, but cheaper than at the grocery store.  I am bummed to hear the Sams is no longer carrying the 80 oz packages of regular honey.   Now all they carry is the raw honey half that size, but the same price of 13.98.  I know why, apparently raw honey is all the rage.  I get that, but if you are baking with it, then you might as well use the regular.  Once raw honey is heated up past 95 degrees, all those wonderful attributes go away.  I use raw honey to make our cough syrup (Which is never heated up), but other than that, I use honey for bread and granola.

Here is the cough syrup recipe lest I forget:

COUGH SYRUP

3 TBS FRESH THYME-  I use lemon thyme, but you can use whatever you have on hand.  I just like the lemony taste with the honey.
1/3 CUP RAW HONEY
2 CUPS WATER

BRING THE 2 CUPS WATER TO BOIL.  ADD THE THYME AND REMOVE FROM HEAT.  LET STEEP AND COOL DOWN TO BELOW 95 DEGREES.  POUR THE TEA THROUGH A STRAINER TO REMOVE THE LEAVES.  ADD THE RAW HONEY TO THE TEA AND MIX WELL.  YOU CAN ADD EXTRA LEMON JUICE OR CHOP A FRESH LEMON TO PUT IN THE JAR.  STORE IN THE FRIDGE FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS.

The best thing about this cough syrup, is it is non toxic.  You can give it to small children, just not children under two if you use raw honey.  If you make this with regular honey, you can give it to any child, though many of the benefits are lost if you aren't using raw honey.  The Thyme is still medicinal.

In addition to the few things I've managed to accomplish aside from sewing, I have managed to start some of my seeds for gardening in 2017.  The tomatoes are doing fine.  I have about 36-40 plants right now.  I had to replant the broccoli and cabbage and a few snow peas.  The cold weather stuff I'm hoping I can start hardening off soon.  Soon will be the time of warmer weather.  With a temp of 15 degrees this morning and a projected low tonight of 9, I will take whatever warms thoughts I can get.

So not a barn burner, but hopefully this post is a start back on a new year.  How are things in your neck of the woods?

It was weird, but good

Many of you know that our family said goodbye to our dad, granddad, great-granddad,  husband, uncle, and brother this past July.  This was the first holiday season without him.  First Thanksgiving and now Christmas, Daddy was missed.  Daddy was fixture in our family and at every holiday gathering.  This is usually how we found him.

The type of camera has changed over the years; from an 8 mm camera which blinded you (but still he would say "look at the camera!" and all we saw were spots), to the digital wonder you see before you, he felt it his personal duty to be the one to record our family history.

Daddy liked to talk politics and so every get together, even visits, you had to be well versed in current events.  Regardless of how much you thought you knew, You would still walk away having learned something you never knew or never thought of before.  Daddy was a walking encyclopedia and/or history book.  "Well read" would be an understatement.

Daddy was big on quality control when it came to Christmas cookies, especially the cut out Christmas cookies.  He knew he never had to worry.  Mama knows cookies of all types.  She definitely knows her way around an oven.  He did, however use quality control as a good excuse for snagging a few.

We gathered this year and managed to have two successful holidays.  We laughed, joked, opened gifts, hugged and just enjoyed being together.  But it was weird.  It's the best way to describe it.  There were no political discussions.  People took their own pictures, but there wasn't the hiding from the roving camera.

  I missed a bear hug.  Daddy gave great hugs.  He was so big, he could just wrap you up.

 We laughed, but the heartiest laugh over all was absent...for now.

What there was, though, love, family, and togetherness.  Above all of that was Hope.  There was something missing from the festivities this year...Daddy.  But we celebrated, regardless, because we have hope.  Hope given by a baby in a manger who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  One day we will have another Christmas celebration with all of those who have gone on before us, and I will hear that laughter and receive that hug again.


I say all of this to point out, good or bad, happy or sad, Christmas is Christmas.  Not because of the gifts, songs, cards, or even people celebrating.  Christmas is Christmas because of Christ.  This year was hard, but possible because Christ is still Lord.  Christ still chose to come.  So we celebrate.  I hope this Christmas finds you well.  Thank you for all of your support this year and previous years.  I wish for you the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest new year..

Still here

I know I've been absent of late.  My doll clothes business is going great with the holiday season here.  I'm figuring a lull after Dec 20th so things should get back to more normal.  This was my first year having an Etsy shop so there's been a bit of a learning curve.  Right now I'm at 91 sales.  I'm hoping I can pass 100.  In the new year during the slower times, I'm hoping to increase my inventory so next Christmas won't be quire so crazy.  It's been fun seeing all of the places my creations get to go.  I may not be well traveled, but my doll clothes are.  I've been to London, Canada, and the Cayman Island internationally.  I've been to New York, California, Virginia, Pennsylvania and many other states in the US.  I have to say I've really enjoyed this experience.  Here's a link to my store if you're interested.

Teatime Doll Clothes


The new year holds many things on my to do list.  We're in a drought here and so I was wondering if I would have a garden.  Lately we've had a good amount of rain so I may chance it.  Especially if I can get my first priority accomplished for the year; Gutters on the house.  We've never had them, but I want them and badly.  The rain that runs off the house is eroding the ground at the base of my foundation.  Not cool.  We are finally planning on getting this resolved.  When I do this, I'm making it where I can either steer the water to my garden, or catch the water for my garden.  Either way, my garden should benefit.

Speaking of garden.  Dec 23rd is the date I have set aside(if I am going to have a garden) to plant my seedlings to grow indoors.  I've always started them later, like February, but my tomato plants end up setting fruit when it's getting too hot outside.  I'm hopeful I can get a longer harvest time if my plants are bigger when I set them out.  I'm also going to start my cold weather things like spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, snow peas, and lettuce.  These things, once mature, can take low temps as far down as 21 degrees, so if I start them indoors I can get a sooner and longer harvest.  Again, when my cabbage family plants are setting fruit, it's getting too hot for them.

Other items on my to do list include having the few cracks in the foundation of the house patched (don't worry this isn't a weight bearing foundation), rebuilding the crawl space door under the house, Pressure washing the house, and repairing or replacing the decks : front, side, and back.  This will be a work in progress and I make no promises as far as accomplishing all of these.  I'm gonna look into it and see what I can do and what we can afford.  Those are my plans however.

When the time comes, the garden will take priority, but there are a lot of things requiring our attention.  For right now though, the gutters are top of the list.  Everything else falls under that by necessity.  No other repair will be worth it if the ground continues to erode.

With two week to go til Christmas and with Etsy requiring a lot of my time, I may not be back on here until the new year.  If I can I will.  So just in case I don't see you, I will wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!  HAPPY HANUKKAH!  HAPPY KWANZAA!  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I didn't forget! Hobby Horse tutorial

I didn't forget!  It took me a bit with the Thanksgiving holiday and my Etsy store taking my attention.  I am happy to report I have this finished.  It won't take as long as it took for me to post this.  I would say you can finish this in a few hours as long as you have everything.  I had to buy a dowel which cost me about $2. So here ya go:

First you want to choose your fabric.  I used some scrap stretch denim I had on hand.  Denim, Canvas, twill, etc; any sturdy fabric will do well.   I put right sides together (that's the part that would be on the outside, the nice looking side).   I drew out what could be termed as a horses head free handed on my fabric with some chalk.  You can use anything to draw this.  No one will see that anyway.  Make it big enough where you will have a dece3nt sized head.  Mine was about 12 inches from crown of head to snout.  Once you draw it out, cut it out.  

Sew your pieces together just along the top of the snout from about the bridge of his nose to where his eyes would be.  Use a 5/8 inch seam allowance.

Lay your horses head flat with the right side looking up at you.  See below.  Press it flat.  Pin ribbon,  bias tape, or anything else you are planning on using for a bridle all the way across.  Sew in place close to the edge of each side of the "Bridle"

Now you will do the same for the cross pieces of the "Bridle" to finish it up.  Place these at about the half way point between top and bottom of the horses head.  Again, sew along close to the edge on both sides of the "Bridle"

See below and you can see what I mean by close to the edges of each side.

Turn up the hem on the neck about 3/4 inch on each piece.  I zig zag stitched the fabric before I turned it up to make sure it doesn't fray.

 Now pin every thing back together lining up the "Bridle" as much as you can.  See Below.  Se up the rest of the horses head using a 5/8 inch seam allowance.  Leave the neck open.

Trim your seam to about 1/4 of an inch all around the head.  I had the nose a little too pointed so I trimmed it to make it a little more square.  See below.

Pinch the seam together and clip a little "v" into the seam on all the areas that curve.  It will be a row of "v's".  Don't cross the stitching line.  That would be bad.  Makes a hole in your horse.

Turn right side out and press.  Lookie below!  It's taking shape!

I have a good sized bag of fabric scraps that I used to stuff this little guy.  You can use stuffing as well if you have it,  but the idea for me was to make this without having to buy anything if I can help it.  Kinda shape as you stuff to make it look less lumpy and more horsey.  Make sure you get the stuffing down into the nose area and any other tight fitting places.  You will stop stuffing when it is full to the opening of the head.  Leave the neck free of stuffing.

Now for the hair!  Ahem...mane.  I have a large yarn needle and can add hair by pulling it through the fabric and tying it off.  If you don't have the ability to do this, you can sew the hair onto the head with a needle and thread or glue it on.  Use fabric glue  if you do.  To do it the way I do, first you thread about a 9 inch piece of yarn onto your large needle.  Poke it into the horse head pushing the needle and yarn all the way through.  Leave yarn on either side of the "poke".  Take both ends of yarn and tie it into a knot.  Try to keep your "stitches" in rows moving from the center top of the head down on either side.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  It just needs to look like a head of yarn hair.

Once you have all your "Hair" in, he needs a hair cut.  Trim the yarn pieces evenish.

I happen to have googly eyes left from a former craft, but you can use two buttons or even sew in eyes with embroidery thread or felt.  You can also paint eyes on with fabric paint.  I sanded the back of the googly eyes and, using a hot glue gun, glued the eyes onto the horse.  I put glue on the horse and on the eye.  Then smooshed them together.

To finish up I took a 1 inch diameter dowel and pushed it as far into the horses head as possible.  Moving stuffing to one side as I pushed.  I put the top of his head down on a table and pushed the dowel in.  Then, using a hot glue gun, I ran a strip of hot glue on the inside neck and on the dowel.  I squeezed the fabric around the strip of glue.  Then on the outside, I took a staple gun that uses JT 21 staples and stapled the outside of the horses neck to the dowel, fitting the fabric around the dowel as I went.  I covered the staples by tying a strip of red bias tape tightly around the neck wrapping twice before I tied it off.  If you don't have staples, you could use small screws.  The hot glue is for holding the horses head while you fasten it with the more secure fasteners (staples or screws).  It won't last long other wise.

Here he is!  looks kinda "Bieberish" I guess".  Oh!  I forgot!  I used a button for his nose and a strip of yarn hot glues to his head for his mouth.  Also, You can opt to paint or stain the dowel.  I choose to spray it with clear acrylic.