Wednesday, The boob knows!

 Oh, the fun that Kim calls life! Got to the boob clinic yesterday filled out allllll the paperwork, ushered into a room. doctor came in shook my hand and said, " I looked at your scans this morning and that duct is clear under your armpit next to the bone. You have dusts like this all over your breasts. This duct is also in an artery, making it impossible for me to do a needle biopsy.  I am 100% sure this is benign, I will see you in 6 months if no change you are free to go.  I have had 4 mammograms to look at, and I see no changes over the years.  If it does change, we will do the biopsy in the hospital "

 So, I was able to leave.  All that worry and tears for nothing, but I was still very grateful. 

Found another rattlesnake today while I was out watering, I believe this was the one that got away on Sunday. Beweare Kim and her hoe!

I am packed and ready to go.  Wish me luck, like I actually get on a plane headed for where I intend to go.

Now my right knee has decided it is going to swell and cause me pain, because I don't plan on doing any walking on this trip. I am ignoring it and taking Aleve.

I will be back! Be good! Save all the stories for me.

God is good

Kim

Tuesday, Curiouser and curiouser...

 I am taking care of the neighbors Dachshund that had 5 puppies. She lives down the street.  She in turn will feed and water my chickens and water my plans while I am gone.

These puppies are so cute.  My grandkids would live down there if allowed.  Kelsa was here Friday night, and we had to visit the puppies twice Friday evening and she could only be lured away with a promise of a morning visit. 

The following morning, I am assuming it is about 8:30 and she is bugging me to wake up to go see the puppies. It was 7:15. Yesterday afternoon Nate brought her down as he was finishing the fence.  We had to go see the puppies twice.

Oliver and Braunwyn came Sunday night about 7:30 to stay the night and we had to go see the puppies twice and then in the morning.  Same scenario he was up at 7 to go down to the puppies.  Grandma is not an early riser, however this morning with no grandkid I was up at 7. I did not go see the puppies.

So many of you are so curious about my Male caller. Well, I have not talked or written much about my dating life. I has kind of been a disaster. I am not actively looking, however the thought of being alone is also daunting.  I want to travel and I need a steady companion.  My problem is that I am way too picky.  Or I have way too high of a standard and unrealistic expectations. I feel if I am going to do this again it had better be right and it had better be better. As in I am not going to financially support someone. I want to be supported in all ways.  So unrealistic? You bet!

My first friend was way too eager and pushy, and too old. I never felt comfortable and I ended that very abruptly, to his chagrin. I have very high moral standards and I will uphold them, enough said!

My second attempt was perfect, although older than I would have liked. He ended up with bladder cancer and was quite sick. He wasn't going to saddle me with another dying man. But he was such a nice gentleman.

This man is my daughter, Signe' and Nate's neighbor.  He is a widow of 13 years; his wife died of breast cancer. He is very nice, has a college degree in Agronomy from somewhere in Illinois. We have much in common and he is a gentleman. On Sunday when he was here, he was walking my property and a rattlesnake pulled right out in front of him.  I ran to get the hoe and the little bounder disappeared, so it is out there somewhere. That is snake # 8 so far this year.  Not a record I want to have.

Anyway, we had a nice dinner, lots of laughs.  He brought me a couple of Civil war books as I am a Civil war buff. I don't know where this will go if it goes anywhere, all we can do is wait and see. He does have a good sense of humor which one needs if dealing with me. 

My boob biopsy is today at 1:00 I just want it over with. I feel like I can't think until it is done. 

Sissie is sewing like a mad woman in the shop, I am doing nothing but worry. I have many things to do before I leave on Thursday. As in I need a pedicure and a manicure, and I need to figure out packing and getting the house ready to go. I also have to pay attention to the shop and make sure everything is out that needs to be out. I just don't want to do anything productive right now.

Last week was very busy and I have noticed that when I have a super busy week, I often crash the next week. That is okay with me. 

Anyway, I will keep you abreast of my breast and my love life. I don't think it will be that exciting. But you never know.

Kim goes off singing "Someday my prince will come..."

God is good

Kim

Thursday, Oh My!

 Yesterday was something. Sissie and I were ready to run naked. I am telling you, people!!!!!!

Sissie swears a lot, as in A LOT. I am more reserved, although I can let fly when I want to. If we had a swear jar it would be full after yesterday morning.

I altered the glitter monster to the point that I need the bride to finish. It is stuffed back in its bag and in the spare room lying on the bed. She will be in after I get back from my trip. Then I was able to finish two other easier dresses.  I still need to add bustling cord to which I will do after this blog post.

That leaves another easier dress and one monster. Hopefully I will get the easier one done today.  There are several bridesmaid dresses to do. Sissie just did her first bridesmaid dress.  I want her to get confident on these as they are not that hard. If she can pick that up in addition to the hemming it will be great.  I don't really need her to do this, but at busy times it will be a real blessing.

I went to Home Depot last night and bought everything I need to build a gate in the backyard. I need it to prevent critters from getting into the garden.  I think Nathan will come and help me. I did get a bid from a gentleman, but I thought it was high. So, I decided to try a different way. I will abuse my son in law.

Sissie swept up a huge pile of glitter, but the shop needs a wipe down.  Actually, the house needs a wipe down. I have a gentleman coming for dinner on Sunday (it is our third date) and Sissie said, "What is he going to think with all this glitter all over?" I told her he will think I am Tinkerbell and I might even buy myself some wings.

I have two imaging appointments tomorrow morning, one on my thyroid and one on my pancreas. Nest week is the breast biopsy, and I need to see when I go in for my heart scans.  Crazy with appointments. 

I also have brides picking up dresses tomorrow, but I will be cleaning in between appointments and brides. My closet desperately needs help as in winter and summer shoes switched and not thrown all over the place. The whole house needs a good dusting. I would like to do some cleaning in the garage and some rearranging of tools out there as it is getting out of control.

I have to keep the garage door open for clients and anything laying on the floor can be a place to hide a rattlesnake. I need wide open space and things off the floor. I was trying to place the fencing supplies on the floor and realized just how many nooks and crannies I have created. This needs to be addressed.

Well, I am off to try and get all these dresses ready to go or at least call the client. Wish me luck.

God is good

Kim

Wednesday, This dress needs gone!

 Imagine this dress with a huge petticoat underneath and the bride is a larger gal and she needs some kind of strap added to cover skin excess.  It is taking up 1/4 of the space in the shop when it is unleashed.  Both Sissie and I have to hold it up to iron it and handle the hemming. Plus, we are covered with glitter. This dress is so heavy.  It does look beautiful on the bride.

I still have to hem the under skirt, then the over skirt with horsehair braid of course...... Then I have created a strap for the back that covers skin overhang. The strap needs a lining cut out and sewn and then it has to be attached by hand.  Plus, I need to bustle this monster. 

Also, the dress has a sister, but the sister is not covered with glitter.  She is awaiting me.... I want to run away.

Three more easier dresses are waiting in the wings. My life is so exciting. Kill me now.

It is very windy and overcast today, looks like rain. Went to pull down the umbrella and saw a little tail swishing back and forth in the tall grass.  That is all I could see was the tail.  It looked like my neighbor's beagle, who is always on a leash. I went out and called to her, and she came to the fence.  She should not be in the tall grass with the snakes, and she is always sniffing and looking for something. Because there is a fence separating us, I could not get to her fast enough.

Went running to the neighbors and found him down the street looking for her.  He had been out for two hours. I told him where I had last seen her and we went scaling under trees and brush to get her. Not something I really wanted to do.  But she is home safe now. I felt sorry for my neighbor, he is in his 80's and he was hot, tired and flustered. He thinks she got out when his wife left to go do some shopping.  They just worship that pup.

I went up to Moscow last night to watch Oliver play soccer.  He was cute.  His father Dan coaches he was also cute. I was able to see Dan's parents and visit.  We are all excited about the baby coming. They are such nice talented people.  I am lucky my kids all married great men with great families.

Well, I could just write all day and avoid the dress, but needs must I am going to finish that bugger and get at least one of the easy dresses done today if it kills me and it might. But here is to staying positive.

I can do this and I will!

God is good

Kim

Tuesday, Kim's revenge

 Talked to Slugs and Dan yesterday, she is improving!!!!  Of course, not as fast as she would like, but I could tell she was improving. Prayers need to continue, as I need this friend back on her feet. I don't feel I can go and abuse her in her present condition.  We were having so much fun in this picture even though Slugs was in pain from her leg injury, I am sure this is the face of good pain control. Little did we know Joel would leave us in the morning, still going to address that when I see him next.

I just have to tell you about a txt I received from a bride, and I am not making this stuff up.

"Hello, my fiancé and I are getting married 6/5/26 (this was received on the 7th of May) and we are in need of a tailor. We love your menu style/presentation. Before we book, we'd love to schedule a brief Zoom video call to discuss packages, and get a feel for how you handle our clothing."

After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I started to think of all the hateful texts I could send her way.  First of all, it is less than a month before the busiest month of the year for a bridal tailor. Secondly, to expect a zoom call to check me out is really presumptive and entitled. I thought of so many scenarios to answer this text. Here is my favorite. Kim's planned revenge...

I put on my Billy bob teeth and answer her call, then in the background have kay ratted hair with feathers, with her teeth blacked out running back and forth.  I would be hollering in-between conversation, "Sissie I told you to not let them piglets run the house! Git them there chickens offen that there dress!!!! I would make sure and be sloppin a cup of coffee and hacken into my hands and wipin it on the front of a very dirty apron. 

But all I returned to said caller was, "I am booked through June." Then she txt back, Do you know of anyone else?  My reply NO.  See I can use the word no but I wanted to use so many more words, soooo many more.

I have had 4 more June 5-8 brides call and nicely no.  What is it with these last-minute people? I don't get it. It is not that I don't want to help, it's that I can't.

 Bride came in this morning for a try on and dress was perfect, now she will come back to mark the hem after I cut the 6 layers of Tulle. Sissie had to help me as this dress is so huge and weighs a ton. Such fun!

Now I am off to fight the snowstorm.

God is good

Kim

Monday, Let's get her done!

This is my whole life right now, overreacting.  It is such fun one should always try it first.

Spent the weekend with grandkids, it was tiring but nice. Made a big breakfast Sunday morning with hotcakes, bacon, and eggs. Nate came and did the lawn and found yet another rattlesnake.  They are so bad this year. I have already been out watering, and I carried a hoe the entire time, which is a pain, but I don't see any other way around it. I'm a girl with her hoe.

Sissie had a fabulous Mother's Day dinner for her sister and brother-in-law and me. SO good and rich, steaks and lobster and lime posset. I ate too much.

Today I am going to get the remainder of the bills paid and get tickets for our upcoming trip before I start to sew.  I tore into a wedding dress last Friday and it awaits my magic. There is much to do in the next 8 working days before I leave. But as I am a procrastinator extraordinaire, I am pushing myself to get other things done.

I have two very hard wedding dresses to do and two easy ones.  

So today it is a hard one and then start on the easy ones.  I want at least all 4 started before the weekend. Ball gown dresses are a huge pain; they are hard to work on and take forever. I swear the minute the next one come in I am upping the price. Just looking at them makes me crazy.

Well, I am off to get things done, how about you guys?  Any plans?

God is good

Kim

Thursday, Going nowhere without a hoe!

 Trying very hard not to sit with my own thoughts, they are just not cooperating. Even my dark humor is not working well.

How is it I had one June dress left a couple of weeks ago and I now have 5? Who is taking these dresses in? It can't be me, can it?  I am telling you no more until after I get back from my supposed third trip this spring. 

I plan on going to NC to spend a week in Charlston and do some touring. I am going with my daughter. I am planning to go the last week of May. I am not holding my breath.

Anyway, found my second rattlesnake while weeding my 100-foot perennial bed. It was a baby, but still the small ones are just as dangerous. I realized I needed a hoe and then when I got back, I could not find the little bugger. It took a while but finally located it around a Shasta daisy. Kilt it. So now I am not going out to weed or feed chickens or spray without a hoe within reach.

I am having trouble sleeping, and even though I go to sleep late I am waking early.  It is weird. However, I can fall asleep during the day no problem.  Then the phone rings or the doorbell rings, so no use trying to sleep during the day.  Plus, it is so beautiful out one just wants to enjoy the weather. 

My eldest sent me chocolates for Mother's Day, and I have already eaten 4 of them this morning.  Yum!

I have lots to do today and I am determined to get things out that I have been stalling on all week. I am a terrible procrastinator and when you add stress and the fact that I can't take ADHD meds anymore things can get really, really behind here. I just don't want to get behind.  Who am I kidding, I think I am always behind.

Okay Kim is off, (to get some work done) ( I know what you are thinking all of you...)

God is good

Kim

Wednesday, Extra tired today

 Well doctor called yesterday about 3 and I have to go in for a needle biopsy on the mammogram they redid yesterday morning. I still think it is nothing, but I can't say it is not a little bothersome. Just add this to the long list of medical tests I have yet to complete. I am adding to instead of completing which is discouraging. Say prayers please.

I am super tired today as I slept badly the night before and I did not sleep long enough last night even though Signe' came down and spent the night with me.

I have a lot of sewing to complete today and all I want to do is sleep. Had two more wedding dresses come in yesterday. I really need to get busy in the shop and I am struggling. Have to find a way to motivate myself.

Maybe a short nap and then I get to work? I am not sure how to accomplish this...

God is good

Kim

Tuesday, Another mammogram

 Re did my right boob this morning, (not talking about Sissie).  There were calcifications that needed a better look.  Well, when you have nursed as much as I have, I would think this would be normal. Better safe than sorry.

Picked Sissie up on the way home from the clinic and she is now gone as there was not much for her to do. She is using my car as hers is sad right now and we will take it to the shop this evening.

I had the kids last night while Signe' had rehearsal.  They both had long stuffed snakes they purchased at a Renaissance fair.  Like I need more snakes in my life. Williams was very lifelike so of course it was laced in very realistic poses all over the house. Gotta love that kid or you would be offing him.

I have plenty to keep me busy today and I realized I forgot to water last night.  I have to get into the summer watering schedule. 

I had my nephew come install new lights above the ironing board and in the shop.  They are so bright I swear you could get a suntan.  But both Sis and I love them.  When you age it is harder to see on blacks and navy blues. This is so much better. The cost was FREE! So, I really liked that part.

Paid some of the bills this morning but still have a few others to get out. I can do those on Friday as I have to go pay car registration. Everything is downtown and I can do it all together.

So today I will alter a few regular dresses and hem a couple of others then onto wedding dresses for the week. Such fun.

I really am craving chocolate right now.  I wonder what is causing that?

I see cookies in my future.

Any plans for the day?

God is good

Kim

Monday, Where have I been?

 Well, I have been one busy beaver, and not sewing, but doing yard work and grandkid duty.

I worked at Sissie's all day Friday and then she and Dan gave me several hours on Saturday.

In fact, we were both so tired Saturday we didn't even go out to dinner as planned. We were able to get all of my flowerpots out of the green house and planted. It was so much back breaking work.  I remember loving the day I got to do my flowers, and I don't remember it being really physically hard. This was hard. I also was a little sunburned.

I am telling you owning 3/4 of an acre is just too much for me. I still have not done anything with the garden area. That is for next weekend. 

Here is some very good news! My house is paid off!!!! Part of mom's estate settled, and I received enough to pay off the 12,000 that I received owed on the home equity line.  I     am almost debt free and it feels good. Things will change here soon I think, or I hope.

I made chicken Cordon Blue yesterday and Sissie brought up mashed red potatoes.  It was a lovely dinner with enough leftovers, for tonight. I used chicken breast from the freezer that I bought on sale and thinly sliced ham from the ham we made last week. Trying to use what we have and cook great food.

I still need to get out and spray all the rockery again, and I plan on doing that today. Had two bride dresses come in today and one coming in tomorrow. Things have not slowed down here. My goals this week are to get out two to three more wedding dresses and then two more bridesmaid dresses and a pile of harder alterations. Sissie will do the light stuff.

Went to the cardiologist last week, and my resting heart rate and blood pressure are back to my normal. But with a change of meds, one removed and two added. I still have more tests coming up. The cardiologist thinks that he will be cutting me loose with these changes, but we are still going to do a couple more tests to be sure.

Also had the first rattlesnake of the year, between the shed and the chicken coop. It was slow moving as it had obviously just eaten a couple of mice.  I get mice in the chicken coop, as chickens are sloppy and it is free food, until a snake or a chicken grabs them. Not happy about a snake this early, as I do have to be vigilant and really watch the grandkids.

Still have the garden area to prep and the garage needs a spring clean, and the car need a spring clean and let's not forget the house.  Always so much to do.

Well, I am off to get something done, have you any plans?  What is going on with all of you?

Have a great and productive day

God is good

Kim