Friday, October 31, 2014

Friday, I updated my totals!

     I don't know why I think I am going to have more money at the end of the month than I normally do, but I am always the eternal optimist until the #'s come in.  I am then grateful I have enough to pay the bills.  I just wish I had extra to plunk down, but that never seems the case.  Then I remember the beautiful trip we took a few weeks ago and realize that I am truly blessed and have a life full of enjoyment.  I am making progress and I will get there.

    I just so want to break below the 6 figure mark before Sarah.  I don't know where to get $3,500.00 with out selling my kidney.  Does anyone want to contribute to the Kim beats Sarah fund?  I am not hearing a roar of volunteers here.  That is okay it is still a race.  I will pass her in a couple of months I just know I will.

     As it is Halloween I am getting phone calls for last minute costume alterations.  I could have made some good money today.  Hub's will be home from the hearing aid place in a few minutes with his bill of what we owe......., then on top of that we will have a bill for our dresser that is coming to match the custom bed we ordered for Hub's a few years ago.  It will replace two dressers and free up space in the bedroom for a corner chair for hub's.

     I just paid a $1200.00 dentist bill and I know we will owe at least another $1000.00 if not more on Hub's hearing aids.  Plus I just paid $348.00 to have his old ones fixed.  Know wonder I can't beat Sarah.  Even when we save in advance for things, life happens.

     Have you looked at Sarah's totals? She is so close to paying off another card and then they are going to fall like leaves.  This is truly the snowball effect at work and I am so proud of her.  She gives me hope.  We are so close to paying off the truck(studio loan).  That will make a huge difference in what we are able to pay on other bills.

     I work very hard, but I also try to enjoy my life.  I don't know if this is the smartest way to get out of debt and I know it is not the quickest, it is just working for me.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Thursday, dodged that bullet!

     Okay computer downloaded a bad virus (actually I downloaded it) and I was taken offline.  It really messed up my e-mail and blog.  I spent hours trying to get it off the machine.  So I emailed the Sluggster,because she is a worry wart, and I called in a better head than mine. My studio computer hack finally was able to get it done. I was seriously worried about the cost and loosing files.  What a mess.  A 24 hour crisis.

     I have been so busy on top of all this that I am rummy.  I also killed my 3 year old vacuum. I mean seriously killed it.  I took it all apart and fixed the hose suction and the belt only to find out the motor was going so new vacuum.  Crap.  I am a firm believer in things breaking in threes, just like death.  As long as they are cheap things!

     Still rite-aiding but nothing to brag like Sluggy.  Although I did buy over $80.00 worth of product, that I use all the time for under $9.00 so that is good and I still have $7.00 in up for later.  I also have $12.00 at Walgreens which I don't think is nearly as good as Rite-aid.  Then I had my card filled out at the local small A&B store which runs great weekly specials.  (I just buy the specials).  I received a $15.00 grocery card.  Great.  Kind of  fun and free money, who can say no to that?

   I only have three items that have to be done in the shop today.  After I get those done I am gong to clean the shop and pay bills.  I swear I am.  I have plenty more work to do in there but I am just going to do what is due out tomorrow and then break for a day.  My back has been giving me fits from too much sewing.  Time for a rest or it will go out completely.

     I have a specialists appointment in Spokane tomorrow so Hub's and I will be leaving tomorrow morning for the day or maybe the weekend if we can get a hold of friends to stay with, or we might just get a hotel for the night we will see.  Play it by ear.  How tired will I be after fasting and being poked and jabbed?

    So I am off to be some what productive today.

Kim 



Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Tuesday, I am singing my Annie song!

     Yesterday was plain awful! You can say that again! YESTERDAY WAS PLAIN AWFUL!  not now, but then........

     I think I had over 100 phone calls yesterday.  I left the shop for and hour and 8 people came at that time.  Some were mad I was not in.  I cannot go to the bathroom or get  any down time.  So much sewing to do it is crazy and more coming in all the time.  I am 1/2 way done with the police coats and only have one more dress blue to complete.  I just kept sewing and sewing.  Then on to the studio to rehearse the Rats and soldier # which is so long and hard to choreograph.  It is starting to come together.

     Poster was approved yesterday and went to print, commercial is done and waiting on poster to go to TV station.  I have so many details in my head I feel like it is going to explode.  Then I get a call from hospital, two nursing students coming in today.  They sleep round robin shifts, but they will have to go upstairs into the guest bath and bedroom as the basement bed and bath are taken by our renter.  It will be fine only it is a lot smaller so I am am going to have to find some closet and space for them to spread out a little. Change sheets, etc.They will be here for about 5 days.  I could have turned them down but was on the schedule since last spring and I forgot.  It is just so hard to find housing in this town walking distance to hospital and campus.  So we will squeeze in.

     I quickly made home made shake and bake with a package of chickens legs and thighs I took out of the freezer, mashed some potatoes, opened a can of corn and one of the ladies from the church brought me a delicious loaf of home made white bread, added some gravy and left dinner and went to the studio.  Came home hub's had cleaned kitchen.  I think he knew how much stress I was under.  I actually broke down crying from stress yesterday.  That is not something I do often.

     It will pass, but I must catch up so I can start costumes. for the show.

I am going to clean house a little for the students coming and then pay the bills before I hit my machines.  I am waiting on some military braid to finish the last set of dress blues.  I( actually had to tell the officer he needed it.)  They have changed all the Army dress regulations and the men do not know them.  Well I do and I am constantly getting them to get the correct stuff.  (MEN)


  Sorry for my crankiness, just a bit overwhelmed.  My rite aid shop yesterday was fun, trying to get all the best deals.  I really saved money and stocked up.  But initially you have to spend to set up a stock pile.  However, every thing purchased was a need and  lower than I would have gotten it any where else.  So now I have at least $34.00 in Up's and I will use them as I continue my shopping!

I think I will do a shepherds pie with the left over mashed potatoes and some ground beef I have thawed.


Have a great and productive day.

Kim

Monday, October 27, 2014

Monday, it is crazy time!

     Yes it is that time of the year.  Pre Holiday crazy time.  I have 20 police coats with up to 10 badges a piece to complete.  Army dress blues, holiday ball gowns plus all the rest of the mix.  Everyone wants there stuff yesterday!  I really need to get organized and pay bills.   Just not enough hours in the day.

    I am doing a Rite Aid shop this morning and hitting a few other places then hitting the machines.  I have meat out for dinner and the laundry is started.

     I have already had the  dance floor returned this morning (it was borrowed for a ball) downtown and I can't find my truck keys, the cat brought a live mouse in the house and I actually screamed and jumped on a near by chair just like in the cartoons.  It has already been a rollicking morning. By 10 a.m. I am done for the day mentally.

    Why when I have a good week financially do I have to change the oil in the car, get new wind shield wipers, the cat, dog and chickens are completely out of food and both cars are on empty?  Why, Why?
Because I thought I would have extra money, but no not for me.

     Complain, whine, sniff I have to get to work!

Have a great and productive day.

Kim

Friday, October 24, 2014

Friday, little engine that could day!

     Well Mom decided that coming at this time would not work for her because of Doctor appts.  Which is good for me as I am so busy.  Although I would rather have her here than at home because I can control her a little better and I have less worry.  It is a catch 22 when your parents age.  My brother is back living with her and that has upset the whole family and the neighbors and her friends and her church, but we cannot convince her to give up on him.  I keep praying he will end up back in jail.

     I keep sewing and sewing and I don't seem to be catching up.  Just constant calls and drop offs.  I am trying to be grateful.

     The Center for Arts and Development is coming this evening to get the dance floor at the studio.  They are having a Pumpkin ball tomorrow evening.  They will return the floor Monday.  Also an ice cream store is opening next to us downtown and their gala is tonight.  So we will be going to that to support them although I think they are nuts.  Over priced ice cream in the Fall, hmmmmmm. 

     Laundry is backed up, the kitchen is a mess, but I just need to concentrate on sewing today, blah, double blah.  I can do this, I can do this.

Out My Window: Getting colder everyday.

Have a great and productive day.

Kim 

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Thursday, more sewing

     I am trying to catch up around here and no one is helping me.  Of course the work is nice but overwhelming.  The police brought me 15 coats yesterday to remove the patches.  Then new coats will come in to replace the patches.  I am trying to keep my head above water.  Last night hub's and I watched TV and he helped me remove patches so today they can pick them up.  They just take up too much room in the shop.

     My mom wants me to come get her in the next couple of days and I don't want to as she is not doing what is good for her, but I will probably cave as I can't stand to have her suffer even at her own hand.

     Last night I hit a good sale at Joanns and got a lot of the fabric for Nutcracker costumes. I have several one of a kinds to make.  Trying to get the poster and advertising out but I am getting too much help from daughter and teachers.  It pays to just do these things alone, because no one agrees. Getting a little frustrated.

    One day is running into the next and I am tired!

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Wednesday, still working

     The housekeeper woke me up, as I did not sleep well last night.  I was so cold.  I actually slept in winter pj's and a wool sweater all night.  Not a good sign.  I need to figure out something for dinner I am still thinking a stew. So I need to get that going in Judy.

     This is not a very big town.  You can get almost any where in less than 5 minutes from my place.  Now that I have somewhat figured out Sluggy's methods. I realize that before I spend any money on things that are not necessary like candy I need to check out Albertsons, Rite-aid and Walgreens.  Prices are so different.  You can save a lot more money when you know the lay out of the land.  I will do so from now on.

     I did not get as much sewing done yesterday as I wanted, but will continue on today.  A ton of stuff came in yesterday.  Two dress blues uniforms and you all know how I love me a dress blue........  So I have plenty to keep me busy.

     We are starting to get the nutcracker costumes finalized and I have a lot of sewing to do.  I also have to order more things. So that is added to my list of to-dos.  I really enjoy making one of a kind costumes it is the multiples that I dislike.

     Today I am going to concentrate on bills, sewing and laundry.  If I can get those things done I will feel like I accomplished something.

What are you going to accomplish today?

Kim

    

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Tuesday,back in the saddle

     Well I sewed like a demon yesterday and must do so again today.  The shop was very  busy yesterday so I made no headway as far as getting things out.  I am blessed with work. I did lay down and take a nap from 5-6 before I went to the studio as I was very tired.

     It is so nice not to have to clean the bank after dance.  I thought about that last night and think about it often.  Even thought giving up the money was scary, I was able to be more productive in other places. I sew at night sometimes, I do some house work.  Or I just relax and it is nice to not always have something hanging over you.

     I was able to pull another Sluggy last night.  I went to Rite-aid and purchased 3 boxes of cereal and a gallon of milk, and two large bottles of my favorite shampoo and rinse, for $1.31.  Okay not as good as the Queen Sluggy, but getting closer.  I also earned $3.00 more dollars in up rewards.  So I am sold on the concept.

     Then I went to Albertsons and with additional cereal coupons I purchased their buy 3 cereals get a large box of pop tarts free.  The cereals were marked down to 2.49 but I had a .50, 2 x75 and a 1.00 for 3, so cereal was about 4.00 and I received the large box of Pop tarts, which we don't eat, but great for dance studio starvation.

     I have a new job.  Every day the old man who lives down the street drives his clunker up into the driveway(it sounds like a tank) and brings me a dress shirt to iron.  His wife is now in a rest home and he eats dinner with her every day and likes to go looking nice.  So I press his shirt and we gossip and off he shuffles.  They are in their early 90's it is so cute.  Yesterday he had on a pink hat, very styling.

     The men ate leftovers yesterday so I have know idea what the kitchen looks like, I had better venture forth and see.  I also need to figure out what to do for dinner as I am sure the spaghetti is all gone.  Stew maybe?  Judy needs a workout....

Out my window:  Beautiful  Fall days, I love it.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Monday, October 20, 2014

Monday, New week!

     Just wanted to say I miss Judy, and I miss Misty and I want to hear form you guys.  

   Well here we are in a new week and I am ready to hit the shop.  I have really not done any major sewing since I left on vacation and the coffers are getting low.  Now I have to go back to work.  So sad.

     I was so inspired by Rivulet's post on fresh pumpkin pie that I hurried and put two small pie pumpkins in the oven before church. Well I forgot them and returned 3 hours later to burnt crisp pumpkins.  It was D#2's birthday so I had to hurry and make 3 other pies with canned pumpkin. Not nearly as good.  So home made spaghetti (her favorite) and bread sticks, and pie.

     I know I have bored you all to death with my new mixer, but really I got home from church and threw the ingredients into the mixer and let it knead for 10 minutes.  The best bread sticks you can imagine.  Then I threw in the pie dough ingredients and in about 1 minute I had 4 perfect pie crusts.  They rolled out beautifully.  I froze one and made three pies.  Youngest daughter took one home.  That mixer just saves me so much time and I love being able to offer homemade food to my family from scratch. The spaghetti sauce was from the garden that I had previously frozen in bags, of tomatoes, squash, onions, and green peppers.  It was my base, plus one jar of my fresh canned tomatoes.  No sugar, no added crap. Now if I hadn't burned the pumpkin it would have been perfect!

     I did not get any de-cluttering or organizing done this week end shame on me.  So now I need to fit that into the schedule.  But I can tell you it wont happen today!  Too much sewing to do.  If I get a run through the house I will be lucky.  How does the laundry pile up so fast? Yikes!

     I have been living in vacation mode and I don't want to go back to work mode but alas I must.

Out My Window:  It is a warm fall and so beautiful.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

    

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Sunday, I pulled a Sluggy yesterday!

     I am so proud of me.  I just never really understood Sluggy and her obsession ( yes obsession) with Rite -aid.  We have one here but the prices for things I would buy are 1-2 dollars higher than Wal-mart.  (beauty supplies, meds, paper products)  But all of my makeup and face cream was running out as I left Florida and I needed to do a major fix up which would be a little spendy. I knew the prices at Wal- Mart so I decided to go into the Rite aid.  I needed two Olay items that totaled over $35.00.  They had buy one get one 1/2 off so that alone saved over Wal-mart.  Okay  Also buy one makeup get one 1/2 off and I needed 4 items. So the same thing.  Then I really started to look at what I was doing when the clerk asked me if I had any coupons.  I can get coupons?  Yes off the internet.  So I told her to hold my things as Rite aid is only 3 minutes from my house.  I went home and sure enough there was a $2.00 and a $3.00 off coupon on the Olay products.  So I printed the candy, the hair color, the fem hygiene and went back.  Well all told I was able to get my hair touch up for about $1.50.  $7.99-2.99coupon in sale flier-$1.50 coupon off internet- $1.00 coupon in store then I also receive up dollars.

     When I was done I was able to accrue 14.00 in up rewards so take what I would have spent at Wal mart, for my 11 items  approx. $106.00, what I spent at Rite aid $74.00 and then subtract $14.00 I saved $46.00.  Hey this is the way to go.  If I had known the program better I am sure I could have saved even more.  I am sold.

     This week I plan to do the cereal deal they have.  3 for 9, but I have $2.25 in coupon also $1.00 if you buy 3  so less $3.25 makes three boxes of cereal $5.75, then you get a free gallon of milk.  Now those boxes of cereal cost $2.75.

It is the little things that count you know!

Thanks Sluggy you are the best!

Kim

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Saturday, chores, chores, chores

     I was able to really get the house straightened up and all the laundry done but no de-cluttering yesterday.  I did get quiches made with all the eggs that were laid during our absence.  I pulled pie shells from the freezer that I had made earlier.  I pulled out a bag of bacon I had burst out of a 14 lb. box and a package of sausage I bought for .99.  Then I used onions and peppers from our garden that were in the crisper.  So two very large quiches, one bacon, one sausage, for pennies a serving.  These freeze up so nice.

     I am going to get through my closet and drawers today if it kills me.  My jaw is really inflamed this morning.  I had two slices of homemade bread and home made apricot jam for breakfast but it was very hard to chew.  I am so tired of my jaw acting up.  I was hoping it was about over.  It seems like when a joint set flares badly it takes about a year to go away.  Then another one goes.  Last year it was my shoulders, I could not take a shirt off over my head and getting dressed was a nightmare.  That is gone now and I am onto another set of joints.  Whine, whine.

     We have a lot of out side yard clean up to do in the next few weeks.  I also need to help our renter put his room back together after the carpet taking in water after a bad rain storm.  The gutters were full and we were not here.  So as the room is dried out I will help him get it cleaned up.  Tomorrow is our middle child's 27th birthday so I need to think of a menu for dinner.  I think I will do pumpkin pies instead of cake.

     Both of the upstairs bathrooms have rug sets that are very worn as in the rubber backing is going.  I have been ignoring them and trying to find them on sale.  Since the floors are all hard wood I keep rubber backed rugs in the bathrooms by showers, tubs and toilets.  The toilet rugs are beyond bad.  I am going to look for new ones today, sometime this afternoon. Hopefully I can find something at a good price.

Well I am ready to get to work.

Have a great Saturday, try to enjoy yourself a little.

Kim


Friday, October 17, 2014

Friday, pulling my head out?

     I have already folded a load of laundry and started another one.  I also organized the rest into baskets that go to the girls apartment and two loads that are left to dry.  I fed and watered the chickens and I am taking stock of my surroundings.  What I see is not that great!  My personal spaces are a mess and I need to do a de-clutter so bad.  I have ignored my drawers and closet for almost a year and it shows.  Now the kitchen is good as mom really went through the cupboards when she was here, but I swear every other drawer and closet is a nightmare.  I think I have just been on the run so much that I have been putting off the inevitable and with the weather changing and the wardrobe changing I have become overwhelmed.  So that is one of the things that I have to face before the end of the month.

     The shop was really busy yesterday.  It will be very busy today also.  My studio books are a mess and I need to really check in with my teachers and get my enrollment sheets up to date.  I have info on all of my new students but old ones are somewhat lacking.  So there is another primary goal. Blah!

     Fall is here and the leave colors are awesome.  We have whirly gigs everywhere you look outside and Hubs is going to have to start raking.  The sprinkler man was here yesterday and blew out the system.  Weatherization is done.  Water bill will go down, speaking of water bill, I had better go pay it.  I had better go pay all the utility bills and other bills for the month.  First I have to make a deposit.

   Here is my list for the day.  Are you ready? (because I am not.....)

1. Go make a bank deposit for studio.
2. Continue laundry
3. clean master bedroom and bath
4. clean spare room and bath
5. Clean kitchen
6.  pay bills
7.  Switch summer clothes for winter clothes in closets
8.  Go through shoes and dis-guard ones not worn
9.  Go through closets and dis-guard clothes not worn
10. clean out drawers in master bedroom
11. clean under sinks in master bedroom
12. clean out drawers in spare bathroom
13. clean under sink in spare bathroom
14. sew a few items for Monday!

     Out My Window: Beautiful and chilly, chickens are laying well.  Too well actually!  I need to make about 4 quiches and freeze.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Thursday, home from Paradise.

     I am home from paradise.  Sluggy has a give away and it is a good one,  Don't know how to link to her blog, but get there as it is a super good, goody box.  Sharon is home and expecting a girl, okay go to her blog and figure that out.  Lena is losing weight while her babies get bigger, no fair she will be a skinny new mother of twins.  Jane is out taking great pictures as usual.  Sarah has not upped her #'s but still cannot be trusted.

     The beaches around the gulf of Mexico are the most beautiful in the world.  We had such a nice time.  Hub's brothers and sisters were a hoot and we just ran and ran.  I of course contracted some ism which I brought home with me.  It laid me low for a few days, but I seem to be getting better.  She crab soup does not agree with me and I came home from vacation weighing less than when I went.  But we biked, and walked and swam in the surf.  Ate a lot of food, well I didn't as I couldn't but all together it was a great trip.  Hubs and I voluntarily bumped our return flight to the next day.  We were given two 800.00 vouchers to be used within the year on Delta so we essentially have 3-4 free tickets to fly any where in the continental US in the next 12 months so I see another vacation coming.

     The really nice thing about the bump is that Hub's and I had the beach house and golf cart all to ourselves for a whole day and night:)  We tooled around and shopped and ate left over food in the fridge.  Grilled cheese sandwiches, strawberry ice cream and whatever else we could scrounge.  We had turned in our rental car so Delta gave us taxi vouchers to get around it was quite the deal.  Quite and peaceful, so nice.  It was fun to have all that family but also fun to just sit quietly on the screen porch and read.

     We got home at 11:30 yesterday morning and I rushed off to pay the house payment.  Now I need to face reality.  Ho hum.  I don't get out in the sun much, but I forget how quickly I tan.  Even with plenty of sunscreen.  My dad was light but tanned dark in a few days and then he would be back to fair in a few weeks.  I do the same thing and if I was out in the sun more would look completely different.  Three days in the sun and I look like I went to a tanning bed for a month.  It is weird.  Must be all the melanin from my life guard days coming to the surface.

     I am glad to be home, the house needs love and the basement is leaking again!  I love the basement it always acts up when I am gone.  It misses me.  I have laundry and alterations and Nutcracker crap to do, so I had better pull my head out of vacation mode and
The screen porch.

View of front of house.

Getting ready to ride, I look bald, but I am not, sun has bleached hair terribly!

Hub's favorite spot, reading as usual!
face reality.

Out My window:  Cold here and I turned on the heat.  I need to go see if my chickens still know me.

Have a great and productive day!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Tuesday, I am off!

     Well, I am ready to pack the final item and make a final run to the bank.  Hub's is already driving my crazy, but I think he is nervous.  I have to remember now that I am traveling with the deaf. Wish me luck!
Pray for Sharon, go make a mean comment to Jane as she thinks Sarah is going to beat me.  Sarah no posting any money while I am gone.

Have a great and productive time while I am away.

Kim

Friday, October 3, 2014

Friday, woo,hoo!

     Me loves a Friday, I don't have to teach. It is the end of my week sorta.  If I don't have rehearsals on Saturday, I feel like I am at an ending point.

     So much for bragging about the warm weather as it is freezing this morning.  I have on long pants, clogs, and a heavy wool sweater over my blouse.  65 in the front room upstairs.  Absolutely frigid I tell you.  I will not turn on the heat until the thermometer says 59, but my joints may not take that.

     I zipped out last night to get some milk at a small local market.  Milk is regulated here so it is all the same price.  It can go on sale but never over a certain price set by a board.  This small market has a butcher and sometimes you can find great sales.  It was after 10 at night and I passed the meat market and there were two large packages of ground beef, 85/15 for 2.49 a lb.  So of course I snapped it up and took it home to repackage.  Lucky find.  The freezer is bursting.

     I was able to get quite a bit of sewing done and I only have a few things left to do today.  I am going to concentrate on payroll and deposits and bills.  I need to leave for Florida with my ducks in a row.

Have a great and productive day.

Kim

    

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Thursday, sleepy....

     Stayed up way too late last night beading a homecoming dress, but this morning I just have to finish it up.  I still have plenty of work in the shop and I am slowly getting things ready for Florida.

     I did not do much around the house yesterday so of course today it looks like it was bombed.  I hate that.  It won't take long to straighten it but it is the monotony of the whole thing that gets me.

     Tried to take a hot bath this morning was interrupted by two customers, that was fun.  So now I am sitting here with a wet head and shivering.

     Tried on my swim suit for daughter and she screamed and laughed.  I just love that kid.  She gives me such confidence.

     I am going to go upstairs and run through the house.  I feel a list coming on.......

1. straighten master bed and bath
2.dry and set hair
3. Makeup
4.straighten guest room (daughter is in it I think)  first remove daughter:)
5. Kitchen
6. put dehydrator away
7. clean up potatoes on back porch
8. check on chickens and collect eggs
9.  make something for dinner. Quiche left over onions,green peppers, bacon and eggs, pie crust
10. put away laundry and see if there is enough for another load
11. dust and vacuum the family room.
12.  Sew, sew, sew!

I teach at 4 today and I am home by 6:30 so I can do a little sewing this evening if I don't get enough done today.  I almost have enough money for payroll.  That is all I am going to worry about at the studio until I get back.

Well I had better get busy, times is a wasting.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Wednesday, week is going fast.

          Hard for me to believe that by next week at this time I will be in Florida.  I am starting to get a little excited.  Or maybe that is stress at leaving.  Can't quite tell the emotion.  I need to be at studio tonight at 4 because 3 of the 4 parents that did not pay last month are in the 4 o'clock class.  They will be in for a surprise as they now owe two months tuition.   It is like they are going to sneak in and not pay, it cracks me up!  Things have gotten better on the payment front, you just still have the slackers.

     I have the last load of pears in the dryer and then that will be put away for the season.  It takes up so much room on my already small counter space.  I love to see it come and I love to see it go.  Kind of like kids!

     I was putting on some makeup before I left for the studio yesterday and I was complaining to my daughter about how old I look.  I have dark circles under my eyes that I inherited from my grandmother.  Sometimes I feel like a basset hound.  I told her I felt old and she told me to go down to the studio and suck a few souls out of young children I would feel better tomorrow.  Funny, funny girl.

     It has been a very warm September.  It also looks like this will continue on into October.  I remember last year having to turn on the heat by now.  I hope this is the last month of an expensive water bill.

     Well I have a lot to do in the shop so I had better get busy.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim