Monday, what just happened?

 Finished another chart last week, onto #12.  Last part of last week is a blur.  So busy, between grandkids, and sewing and all other responsibilities, I was not even sure what day it was. I woke up this morning and asked myself, "What just happened ?"

Signe' took James back home along with her two kids last Friday morning and will stay the week in Twin Falls, which means I have no grandkids, so I have no excuse not to really get things done.  Don't worry I will probably find an excuse. It is one of my many talents....

One poor soul from the church showed up to help with the snake fence, but he had an air compressor stapler. It took two hours for him to fix the fencing.  I went around with the weed eater and cut down all the grass to expose the dug in part of the fence Then took a pulaski and chopped out several large thistle plants. the dug in fence was all secure. Then while he was going around the property, I started weeding the hill.  But after 2 hours my back gave out and I am 1/3 of the way done. I don't believe in asking for help and then watching people work.  If they can work, I can work.  I guess if I was incapacitated, I would sing a different tune. We have a little over 1/2 and acre and 1/2 of that is a steep hill covered in large rock.  Perfect habitat for snakes.

Sissie in the meantime brought up two loads of bricks that had to be trudged across the property to where I will be putting in a blueberry berm. She has all these extra building bricks, you know the large funny shaped stones they are building retaining walls with, all over. They are very expensive, and I will not let them go to waste. After two carloads, I said no more, I had been at the yard now for over 4 hours and I was done. There is still one more load of bricks and they can wait. I took an afternoon nap, and no one needed or deserved one more.

It seems no matter what we do to keep varmints out of the veggie garden it is of no use.  So now Dan and I are actually fencing the individual gardens.  So much work and expense. But we will win this fight as we have thumbs! This is Dan's favorite saying.

So now the marmots cannot get into the yard from the back rocks, but we found a family living under the big shed at the bottom of the property.  They cannot get out of the yard.  I am calling the county for traps.  We will trap them and put them over the fence.  What a lot of work and worry. But I cannot poison or shoot them.

Choir sang yesterday so I played, and I had not practiced for a few days, so I was panicking, but it went fine.  Fingers went where they were supposed to go. I think taking lessons is really helping my confidence.

I have at least two if not three wedding dresses to get out this week. There are 10 dresses that have to be done before I leave in July.  That is if no more dresses come in and I find that hard to believe.  So, my goal is to get 2 done a day during this week. The kids will be back this coming weekend and I need to make hay while the sun shines.

Here is a picture of Kelsa, taken at Aunt Jessies house.  Jethelyn has no girls and spoils her nieces rotten. Kelsa had a princess dress and a wand and a purse and a head band with a braid all waiting for her when she arrived. I love the fake braid. Kelsa's hair goes about 2 inches past her butt as it is, but no we need a fake braid.   The wall behind her is the wall Jess and I papered when I was there last. Jess has an eclectic taste. She manages to put it all together and it looks wonderful. She uses second hand and antique stores and also Facebook marketplace. I love how her ideas come together.

Dan has one garden bed almost completed, and we need to go get more supplies to finish the other.  I will take pictures when we are done.  Then I will plant radishes and carrots for a third time!  I will not give up.  I have to give up on cabbage this year. So frustrating.

Well, I need to get to work. Dan and I already spent an hour outside getting one of the beds surrounded and then he could finish by himself. We will win!!!!!

Have a great and productive day

God is good

Kim

Wednesday, Crazy town here!!!

 In the tunnel right now, and it is of my own making, so I really can't complain about it. But when has that stopped me? Linda said my first paragraph yesterday was a run on sentence. Really?  Linda my life is a run on sentence. Love Linda, she always sets me straight and has my sense of humor, poor darling.

So, I discovered this morning that I have to feed the missionaries tonight, making tomorrow evening less hectic.  That is good.  Sissie has agreed to do some of my shopping, and I can finish the rest after the mission dinner.  Then I will drive up to kids place and spend the night.

Sissie also agreed to come help with the setup, bless her. She is better at that than I am. Pulled out all the red, white and blue decor, and the kids can help me decorate tomorrow, they love that. 

Was able to get another wedding dress ready for a fitting yesterday, so now I have two and both will be here this week, I can finish one and the other next week. But in the meantime, I have had four more dresses come in, crazy.  I have to get all of this done in the next month. It is doable, but only if I pay attention, something I am lax at. 

Yesterday I also able to rip all 8 of those men's jackets. I will get those altered today and pressed so Signe' can take those back to Twin Falls with her this weekend.  Then I have a few piles and lots of dresses.  Snowing in here again. 

Found two squash bugs this morning, so adding checking the plants every morning to my routine. Still fighting a rabbit or something, but I am putting out large cement bricks where the little buggers are digging.  They are so tenacious.  Never had a year like this.

Sissie's car is still in shop, so I am carless, which keeps me home and sewing. She will bring car back late this afternoon.  We really need to get an old beater pickup to share between the three of us, and then when we do have a car in the shop, we have a third vehicle. But a worry for another day!

Went on a service project last night.  Did not know the people. Now this is judgy and I am sorry for that, but if you ask for help and are able bodied, you need to be organized when people come over to help.  Like what do you really want done? This woman was asleep and did not have a clue. Yard was so overgrown, that you did not know where to start.  Of course there were, rabbits, and gunnie pigs and puppies and dirt and mess.  Watch where you step. Huge piles of old dead branches and most of them blackberry which is treacherous. I mean we are talking years and years of accumulation of old cuttings and nothing ever finished.  There were two piles larger than cars in the back.  This is such a fire hazard.  So, the few men that showed up just concentrated on removing one of the piles and they filled a dump full and had to leave one pile and part of another. If a firework, or lightning struck that backyard and we had any wind the whole neighborhood would go up.

We worked two hours, and I was filthy and tired.  But with the mess there I don't see where we can help except get the piles of dead Debree out. This is the kind of mess you have to spend at least 2 hours a day on all summer long. Bishop agreed to go back again and at least get the dead piles out.  I weeded and trimmed all the bushes around the back deck.  So that looked better.  But I think this, is a sucking chest wound. 

Anyway, I need to get to work.

Have a great and productive day

God is good

Kim

Tuesday, the week is getting busy

 I thought this was going to be a nice easy week of just sewing and quiet.  Not so.  I am hosting a book club on Thursday for a book I have not read, and I don't believe many others have either. I forgot I offered to host.  I also need to take missionaries to dinner on Thursday right before book club. Need to go up and stay the night at Signe's as the boys have rocket camp, and she has work and Nate has been called out to Seattle. I will spend Wednesday night there and take kids back to my place after camp is over and then drop kids at her office at 5 and then onto restaurant for missionaries and then home for book club. So, I have to get my ducks in a row, and they are running and flapping...

They have called for a yard clean-up for some elderly couple tonight at 6, so I will be going there. I did do some spraying and dead heading last night in my own yard and still need to address places that scoundrels are coming into the garden.  I have the heavy bricks but have not talked myself into moving then from point A to B.

I was able to get the Regalia done yesterday it was mostly hand work and leather is a beast on which to sew, I was grateful when I was able to use the machine on parts of the dress. I also spent a good deal of time on a wedding dress, that was all hand basting and now has to be tried on to complete with machine.  It was also a beast. So basically, a day of hand work blah!

Not sure what is next in the shop.  Maybe the next wedding dress, I think.  Just found out my friend from the reservation has a few projects for me before the middle of July.  I think a ribbon skirt, a dress and some beaded leggings which need zippers.  Oh, my so fun. You can't say I am not blessed with work.

Now I probably need to get the house really clean if I am going to host book club and what am I going to serve?  Maybe a red, white and blue theme? I will get Sissie on that. I am sure she will be thrilled.... I hope she will be thrilled...

You know if I just sat here and typed I would not have to sew.  It is an idea!

I am off to the salt mines.

Have a great and productive day

God is good

Kim

  

Monday, Back in the saddle. Long post!

 I always tell all my nieces and nephews this.  I also think it is true. I am home, have been here for a few days.  We pulled in on Friday about 3 and I had all three grandkids here at 4.  I think I was missed....

Anyway, had a good time at daughter's house.  Lots of projects completed. I did a ton of alterations. Daughter has a judge in her office that has lost a ton of weight, and he sent over 10 suit jackets to be altered. I did three, for him to try as I had not pinned them.  Two fit well the other a little snug, brought 8 home with me and will do them this week and send them back with Signe' as she takes James home and teaches a dance workshop in Twin Falls. 

James is attending a rocket workshop this week with William. Having the kids for 2 days was tiring, but they are really good, other than the messes.  Boy, can they make a mess. Especially Kelsa. She has discovered scissors (safety) she wanted glue, and I said NO! Can't imagine what that would lead to.

So, at Eldest's house I also made elastic covers for a new picnic set they bought that was highly shellacked and in the full hot sun. I knew it would really eat the surface.  So bought 6 yards of heavy plastic clothe and made shower caps for the table. Turned out great.  Then we made 36 pints of strawberry, and strawberry rhubarb jam. That took a day, and I was tired and sore and then realized I had been on my feet for about 10 hours.  We also did some remodeling in her laundry room and made it much more efficient for her family.  Our last big project was wallpapering a wall in the formal front room.  She has 13 foot ceilings, and after moving the baby grand piano so we could get a ladder in, we took turns going up and down.  It took a total of about 4 hours with two of us.  I was very, very sore after this, escapade, but Jess loved the results, making it worth it. Pulling one's body weight up and down a ladder is different than going up and down stairs. I remember being sore like that when I was dancing.  You walk down the stairs backwards to avoid the pain in your thighs. Anyway, it was a good week.  Sissie did most of the cooking, and cleaning and things I would normally do, so I could focus on projects. That was a great help.

Yesterday we, (grandkids) and I went over to Sissie's to give gifts to Uncle Dan. We called it Happy Funcles Day. He is both a grandfather and an uncle to my grandkids.  He is also a lot of FUN.  Kelsa and William always ask if Uncle Dan is coming. He was touched.

I came home to more damage in the garden, and I have to give up on cabbage this year.  Found another hole dug by a rabbit or marmot.  So frustrating. But I will keep working until the little bounders are kept out.  One way or another.  They are so determined. Now I know why my grandfather said Varmints WITH such a tone!

I have so much sewing to do in the next week.  I had thought about going with Signe' back down to Twin Falls next week but decided against it.  I need to stay home for choir and also my clients. I love being at my eldest daughter's place, but my kids here need me also.  Eldest doesn't really need me. Just love my time with her.

I have 4 if not 5 wedding dresses I need to get out soon as I plan to be gone the last two weeks of July into August.  SO, all dresses due out next month and August must be done.  There are piles here I left plus the judge's suit coats that need to go with Signe' this weekend.  I have plenty to keep me busy. 

Saturday after I got home, I had a full day of yard work.  Started at 10 in the morning, I sprayed verge for over and hour, then planted more perennials I had picked up in Twin Falls on a good sale. I weeded the gardens, trimmed the yard, and Dan came up and mowed for me and then I used the blower to clean up grass. I did a deep water and then Miricle growed all the gardens and pots.  I wanted to do some major weeding on the hill, but my back gave out. So that is for another day. But I was pleased with the catchup on the yard. I still need to do some major repairs on the fencing and that is coming up soon.

I did not get to tell you guys about my two emergency brides I had just before I left town.  On Wednesday, as I was coming home from an errand with James I received a phone call from a bride. It was about 5 p,m. and all I heard at first was crying.  James was so confused at the sobbing on the phone.  The bride had tried on her dress and was trying to put in some push up bra pads and the dress ripped right down the center. I tried to calm her down by saying, I had never had a dress I could not fix.  I told her my address, and I would meet her at the house.  She was shocked, Right Now?  Yes, you are getting married in three days and I am leaving town, and you will just cry all night so let's get it done.

When she arrived, sure enough the nude lace in the front was ripped right down to her ?????.  It had lace straps that held it up and the sheer tulle in the front was just for show. I went to my emergency bride box and found two nice oval lace motifs that matched her dress well and tailor tacked them into the cleavage, which was now way, way too low.  However, the dress a little tight in the bust which is why it ripped in the first place.  I then cut out all the tulle with tiny scissors and the new motifs gave her about 1.5 inches more room, so her boobs were not smashed, and she did not need the push up pads.  Actually, the dress looked better. This took about ten minutes, and she was thrilled.  I did not charge her but asked her to send me a picture and write a good revue.

Thursday night just after the kids came, I get a call from another bride who is in Orofino a town 41 miles away. She is getting married on the 14th and I will be home the 13th.  She had given her dress to someone's Aunt and this person did not know how to alter the back of the dress or to how to bustle the dress.  She sent pictures and it was a mess. Told her she had better drive in right away as I was leaving and I did not want her to have to wait until I got back and worry all the time I was gone.  She had obviously cried her way into town.  It took about an hour to alter the straps, which had to be brought up only in the back to take out wrinkles.  Most of it was hand work.  There was also dried blood on the front of the dress, and many dirty spots on the back.  She said she would be taking it to the cleaners.  I said, Oh know you are not!  They will charge you $200 and not get it clean.  I have spotting solution, and I went to work and got every stain out, even the blood on the front.  Cold water and rubbing alcohol. Did I have time for an extra hour that evening when I was trying to pack?  No.  But she left so grateful and Happy. Yes, Ann, I did charge her, she was happy to pay.  Now I was afraid to leave town due to bridal emergencies. 

Anyway, my life if anything is exciting. Now I must go face the shop and see what damage I can get done today. I believe it is Indian regalia and a wedding dress or two. There is a huge Pow Wow on the reservation this coming weekend, so I expect more emergencies.  Usually, they are just little rips and tears and do them while they wait.  It is an honor to be trusted with these garments that are often two or three generations old. 

Have a great and productive day

God is good

Kim

Thursday, I am draggin!!!!

 I am dragging.  Can't seem to get motivated to do anything.  Woke up tired and grouchy.  But as I am alone, I can only grouch at myself.

I still need to pay some bills and go to the bank.  Waiting on a client.  I need to iron clothes and pack for the trip and can't get myself up off the couch.  I might just take a nap and say screw it.

I have to watch the kids tonight, which will be fine. Just can't seem to motivate myself to do anything.  Shame on me.

I will need to water well this evening and make sure chicken's troughs are full. Sleepy, so sleepy.

Okay I will blog work.  Ia m going to go out and fill chicken feeders.  DONE!  plus, I watered the long flower bed and trees!

My last client just showed so I can now go and do the banking and get bills out. Let's do it. DONE!

See how you are all helping. Remember I said my air conditioner was not acting right?  When we first bought the house, the old owners said that the air conditioner had just quit working right after we signed the buyer's agreement. They panicked as putting in a new conditioner on a house they were selling was not in the cards. Turned out it was just a part.  Well guess what?  The same part!  And it had a 5-year warranty. We were 4 days short of going over the warranty.  Now tell me God is not good! So, no large bill.  blessed.

So, all bills are paid for the month, Halleluiah! Now I have to iron and pack and water the pots and back garden. I don't know when the kids are coming to add chaos to the rest of the day.

I pulled out the iron and board and sorted the ironing. Now I have to do it. Blah!

Oh, I was able to put $500.00 toward the home depot bill so far, I need about $700 more before the end of the month to reach my goal. 

I will be gone for the week, will try and check in if I want to fight with computer. Have a great next 7 days!  I know I will.

God is good

Kim

Wednesday, Getting things done!

 This is my mantra, but Sissie😈 is worse. I guess having kids teaches you that something is always going to go wrong and you really have no control you only think you do.

I have a nail appointment in 15 minutes, so this post will be short.  I am almost done with the second wedding dress just have to steam.

I have a pile of 5 pairs of pants that need to be hemmed by tomorrow, so I will get those done when I get home.

Just trying to get everything caught up around here.  I need to do ironing badly, and I hope to get to that tonight if possible. 

I did get the yard sprayed yesterday, and I will get Dan to hopefully mow the yard.

Sissie is coming up to watch the shop while I am at the salon, she is a trooper.

What are you doing today?  Hopefully it is more fun than my day.

God is good

Kim 

Tuesday, Things I need to do!

 I always made wildflower crowns for my girls and nieces when we camped.  We called them Fairy crowns.  Kelsa loved hers. She is a girly girl. 

I have a list of things that I need to get done before I leave. 

1. need to get nails done

2. need to spray yard

3. need to pay the rest of non on line bills

4. Finish up one wedding dress and do another

5. finish Indian regalia

So not a bad list.  I don't have a car right now as Sissie's is in the shop, and she has mine. I am not one to go many places, so it makes sense that she has my car.  If I need something I call her, and she gets what I need. Or takes me where I need to go. Eventually after I pay all my bills and plans, I will buy an old beater truck.  We desperately need a truck in this family. Between us three girls we always need a truck for yard waste and projects. I have a lot of land to park things on, and we can park it here.  It will be a second vehicle if needed. But I don't believe I will be able to do that until next year. It is a future plan.

I finished a wedding dress yesterday.  Sewed almost all day it was mostly hand work.  Bride will be here this evening for finishing touches. I will start another wedding dress today, bride talked to me yesterday and I told her it would be out by Thursday.  It is nice to have less pressure this year.  I miss the money, but the peace of mind is priceless. It will just take me longer to get my goals made. I am not patient, and boy am I learning patience.

I called my church brethren to help with the snake fence.  They are putting together a team to come and help. But having a little problem with the word snake... I told them to wear long heavy pants, and boots.  I will be out with them but can't do this alone.  My hands don't have the strength needed to fix fencing over and over. Also, my neighbor who has Parkinson's boarders my land and my driveway. She cannot fix her fence, and I will get them to do it. It affects my property. Kay and I do a lot for this neighbor so she can stay in her home. This is just part of it.

I will call for a nail appointment after this post and get my mail bills ready to send off.  Then start on the last June wedding dress.  If I can get it done, I can spray later today. Oh, my plans! now to stick to them.

I love to plan; God loves to laugh. I love to waste time. 

Making beef and broccoli for dinner need Oyster sauce so will call Sissie.

What are you plans for today? Have you got the monthly bills paid?

Have a great and productive day

God is good

Kim

Monday, June? Oh my!

 This is Sissie and I at Lil sis's pool in about 20 years. Actually, this is Sissie now. 

We survived camping! It was a massive amount of work, but the kids had a great time and that is what counts.  Uncle Dan enjoyed himself as he terrorized the kids.

The mosquitoes were horrid.  So, we were slathered in sunscreen and repellant which makes one sticky and then you are in a camp spot that is covered in a fine dirt. 

We got used to seeing each other dirty, I mean very dirty.  I think we just gave up.  By the third day your hair is stiff, and your skin feels stretched. But we survived.

Lots of laughs. The kids were fishing, and we didn't have good bait.  So, they brought down a hot dog which the fish just learned to chew off the hook. Kelsa was holding the hot dog and when they went to get more, she had eaten the hotdog. Finally, Nate went to town and got a can of corn and some worms.  The boys spent all afternoon catching sunfish and returning them to the lake. 

Note the patent leather dress shoes worn camping.  Kelsa is styling as always. The kids had so much fun, the adults so many laughs watching the kids.

Signe' and I went on a walk making sure to take the right roads as to not repeat the 11-mile adventure of the last trip.

We returned home late Saturday and were busy putting away the gear.  When I opened the garage, I noticed garage cat was stuffed on the third shelf up in a unit where I keep paint supplies.  I thought that is weird she has all these nice places to lay with blankets and a special chair.  But oh, weel weird cat. The very last item I stood in the corner of the garage almost hit a rattlesnake!!!

So, we had to kill that.  It was much larger than the last two and in talking to Kay and my neighbor we all realized that garage cat had been sleeping up on shelves for about three days. After snake was killed, she returned to her normal sleeping arrangements. Meaning that the snake had been in the garage for a while. The cat was the barometer. I was thrilled! NOT!

Snake blood on the shovel. I am going to have to put on heavy overalls and my muck boots and go walk the line.  there have got to be holes in the fence to have this many snakes already. I am ever vigilant when I go outside.

So here it is June. It will be a busy month with some travel for me.  I only have two wedding dresses left for this month, and I plan to have them done this week. I will be taking James back to Twin Falls on Friday, as he has an ortho appointment next Monday.  Then we will drive back Thursday of that next week so he can attend a rocket camp with William and then Signe' will take him back home at end of the month. I have to get my ducks in a row to leave town.

So, what are my plans for June?

I was able to get the taxes paid for this half of the year last month and this month I want to be able to pay off the Home Depot card.  As I have 0% on the lawn mower and rototiller.

Things are slower this year as far as wedding dresses are concerned. I think the COVID boom for weddings has dried up and that is okay with me.  I still have one major saving goal and a few smaller ones to get done for the year.  It will be slow going.  But I will persevere.

What are my plans for finances this month?

1. Try and have at least 3 no spend days a week

2. Use up food in pantries and freezer.

3. try not to spend money foolishly when I travel. (this will be hard)

4.Pay off home depot

5. try and save at least 1000 toward the next savings plan.

I think I can do this. 

I have to get started on a wedding dress today and also get the yard sprayed the spurge is going crazy.  I cannot leave it for two more weeks. It will take over the rockery and I have so much rock!

Any great plans for June? If so, what are they?  Are you saving for anything right now?

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

God is good

Kim