Tuesday, More of the same!

 So, Gaylord thought it was smart to take a shot of Dupixent, then have a covid booster and a flu shot in one arm and then go for an MRI which led to a dye injection and wondered why he was not well.

Ran up there last night with a pizza, as his txts were a little off. Bugs Bunny would say what a maroon. I think I brought him back to the land of the living.

I did nothing yesterday so today I am paying for my fun. As in I have to work!

Sissie just repaired a coat, and I gave her the wrong directions, so she is a little miffed at me.  OOPS!  

I keep telling her it was a learning experience, and she is not buying it.

I just ran Roscoe to the groomers, as he is stinky. She just lives a few doors down. He was so excited to get to go down the street until he realized where he was going, then not so much.  But he really needs a bath so no turning back.

I have to go pick up the kids from school today so I will be closing up shop early.  That means I really do need to get things done now.

I am also taking the missionaries out to dinner tonight. They picked a restaurant I have never been to so we will see.

I have a full day!

God is good

Kim

Monday, another week, what can we get done.

 I think both Sissie and I are in a mood.  She came had some breakfast sewed nothing and left. I do have one wedding dress to get done and I have to do it this week. Plus, several sport coats to alter. Now I just have to convince myself to do all of this.

Quite chilly in the house this morning.  The furnace is off and it was 66 degrees.  But by late afternoon it will be hot, so I don't want to turn the heat on yet.  I remember trying not to turn the heat on until it was below 60 in the house, but my old bones will not tolerate that anymore. I will just put on a sweater.

Went to the fair this last weekend and it was fun.  Saw all the animals ate junky fair food that did not set nearly as well with me as it did when I was a kid. 

Gaylord and I had dinner with Kay and Dan at their house Saturday night and it was fun.  Dan is such an entertaining person.

I rested most of the day yesterday and it was nice. Now I have to work. Blah!

I have a workman putting new snake fencing around the bottom storage shed as marmots were crawling under there this summer. The shed has rotting boards that need to be replaced.  Just trying to get some maintenance done. Also trying to remove snake habitat. Then the shed has to be cleaned out, and we need to find out how mice are getting in although an outdoor shed that is going to be very tough.

But this old homestead is starting to look really nice with the extra care.

Now I am off to get something done.  You guys have any plans for the week? I hope it is something more exciting than my plans.

God is good

Kim.

Thursday, Much better!

 

Feeling better today, getting used to the cooler weather although it is still in the high 80's in the afternoon. I have been waking earlier and going to bed earlier which is a good thing, as after Joel died, I was going to bed so late and getting up so late.  I am sure a lot had to do with depression. 

Remember last fall when I had so many deaths in the family and then remembering deaths in the family my holidays were almost ruined.  But I was determined to have Joy in January and I did. 

So much of how we feel can be mental, although I do suffer from physical ailments, I try not to let it affect my mood. However, constant pain is a mood wrecker for sure. I just fight against it as much as I can.

Yesterday a wedding dress was picked up and paid for in almost all 5's and ones.  The girl was a nail tech. Now you all know I save all my 5's for travel. So, the money did not go into the budget. But it was fun, and with that wad of ones I got to feel like a stripper!!!!

I have three zippers to replace today, and I have them all ready to go. I need to alter the shoulder of a dress and call a bride to tell her I will finish her dress next week. Just have to keep myself motivated and stop procrastinating, which I am so very good at. 

We have a run on men's jackets as in altering, I don't know why things run like this.  It is strange. Oh well work is work right?

 Right now, I am very sleepy and really want to take a nap, but I will fight this off and nap later today. I can do this.

God is good

Kim

 

Wednesday, Achey

 Woke at 5:30 this morning with a splitting headache and just general achy all over. All my major joints were not happy.  I ran a very hot bath and soaked for about 20 minutes.  Sissie knocked on the door and asked if I was okay. Well not drowned yet, but it did make me feel better.

Just had a wedding dress picked up and I will be starting on another one.  But first I have two pairs of little person pants to complete and three zippers to replace. Also, at least three more bridesmaid dresses. 

There is plenty to do and that makes me happy. But then again having nothing to do would make me happy,

Have to pick kids up again today and I will stay up in Colton and make dinner for everyone.  I was going to do shrimp pasta but decided on bitesize steak and shrimp with a salad and vegetable. Just don't feel like pasta today.

I am sure it is my arthritis with the change in the weather.  Funny how your body is affected by the seasonal change. I usually make bread or rolls but I am just going to stop and get a baguette. I don't feel like baking today. 

Sissie got a large bunch of sewing done and I am happy about that.  Did you know that you cannot buy patterns anymore?  At least not in this town. Sewing is really a thing of the past.  I think that is scary.

Cheryl, at Cheryl's frugal corner was blogging about saving money on groceries. You can now buy large shrimp or prawns here for less money than ground beef.  That is shocking. But I can still whip up a meal for far less by making a salad myself, buying a beef roast at 50% off and cutting it myself. Broccoli and winter veggies are .99 a lb this week so I will buy quite a bit and make it last. Treats are made from scratch. I will even make my shrimp cocktail sauce from scratch. 

The prices are shocking but if you think ahead and strategize you can eat well for much less.

Anyway, I am off, (more than a little)

God is good

Kim

Tuesday, Chaos muppet!

 In every relationship there is a chaos Muppet and a control Muppet.  Guess which one I am? The control Muppet holds things together, but without the chaos Muppet there would be no more cookies. Cookies are important. 

Thanks for the advice on my dating life. Gaylord's kids live about 6 hours away; he usually visits them. I will likely get to meet his son at Halloween. My children live close except for Jethelyn, and she has been here twice since we started dating.  Mostly because her younger sister had a baby and she has to come see that baby.

My younger sister asked the question, if he has been single for 14 years why the pressure? That is a question I will have to broach.  I will keep you posted. 

Gaylord is out removing the only tree on my property.  It is a corrugated pussy willow. It is also snake habitat. As in at least 5 of the rattlesnakes found this year were by this tree.  It is the perfect hiding and breeding place. So, like the grape vine it has to go.

I was able to get both those little person coats done yesterday. It was all hand work and time consuming. But they are done and I can call.

I will be starting on a wedding dress that needs to be done by tomorrow.  I also have a bridesmaid dress the get hemmed. There are three zippers that I have been putting off, it is fall now so those have to be done this week.  

I have to go pick Will and Kelsa up from school at 2:15 so it will be a short day.  That means I have to get busy and quit having so much fun.

I took a load to the dump in my hatchback yesterday and then I also took a load this morning.  So, I cleaned the big mess all by myself.  I am very proud of me.

Now I have to get to work.

God is good

Kim

Monday, Cleaned the garage!

 Got a wild hair and decided to clean the over cluttered garage. It was grueling. Nathan and Signe came down to help. Gaylord who is a neat nik was teasing me about the garage. Now this is a Felix and Oscar situation.  I am Oscar. I just don't really care.  I mean I like neat and clean, but I am nowhere near fastidious. 

There is a huge pile O'crap that has to go to the dump, and I may do that later today, but it will take two trips at least with my hatch back.  We will see when I get my sewing done. Gaylord would come with his truck, but I can also call my sister or wait for Nate.  Right now, the pile is not bothering me.

Gaylord and I spent most of Saturday together. Went out to breakfast and then to the farmers market and then took a long walk.  Things are getting a little more serious, which makes me very nervous.    I live by a very strict set of moral laws, which I will not deviate from... This may be the straw. Call me old fashioned but I was married for 44 years and deserved to be married in white. I guess that is how I would put it. So much of the world does not have those values. I am also not ready to give up my freedom and cross into the marriage market. Now none of this has been discussed except with you guys.  So, advice is welcome.

What I can tell you is that he makes me happy, but I know so little about him. I have not met his kids although he knows mine. He has been widowed for 14 years, me 4.  He has not really dated at all since his wife's death. I don't know why. I think I had to hit him over the head, or he never would have thought about it. I give him a bad time about this, I mean really?????

Have two suit coats that I am shortening the sleeves on for my little person.  When I finish those, I have a very extensive wedding dress to start and finish by Wednesday, and then another to get started on for Friday. Work is never lacking here.

The real problem is does Kim want to do the work? Not really but does Kim want the money? Why yes!

By the way most of my blogs are back and it is nice to touch base with every one.

So, the world turns.

God is good

Kim

Thursday, Sometimes I wonder

So, I got a call from the sewing machine place last night.  It seems that the thread I used to thread the serger was not the kind of thread it likes. When I bought it, it was threaded with an expensive sewing thread. Well Kim buys the generic thread. You can't do that, that is why it is refusing to thread. Like buying one of the new cars that only takes premium, but you don't know that when you buy it!

As I don't have time to order thread, I just bought three spools at the quilt store. They were $20.00 a piece as opposed to 5.00 thread sold at hobby lobby. Now if I had ordered it I probably would have paid 10.00 a spool, but the small quilt store adds a klondike mark up and I can't blame them.

I have not threaded the serger yet, so I will keep you in suspense. All I know is that I am 62.43 cents poorer.

I keep trying to get caught up on bridesmaid dresses of mothers of the bride dresses, but I think I need to give up as at least 2-3 come in every day. But eventually this has to slow I think...

I want to make sour cream cookies tomorrow and I am making eggplant parm to take up to Gaylords. Tomorrow, I have no clients scheduled and I hope to keep it that way.

I am getting few blogs back but not all, how is it going for you guys?

God is good.

Kim

Wednesday, Busy, busy!

 Started the day with taking Rebecca to a doctor appointment that was for tomorrow.... So, I will be double taking all appointment times.  But she is so dang funny, she just makes me laugh. Then she came out of the office she had a one dollar and a safety pin, don't ask me where she got the pin.  Anyway, she wants to pin it to my shirt to pay me for the wasted trip. What a nut!

My serger still isn't working.  Paid 1400 for a self-threading serger that won't thread. At this point I just want to chuck it and start over. So, we are down to one serger and that is a pain.  I took our other one in for new blades.  If they can fix the expensive one, we will have three 

I get crazy when equipment does not work.  My crazy is not pretty.  I did finish two quite complicated dress alterations yesterday, so I was proud of that, and I plan on doing a couple more today.

Gaylord is out mowing my grass bless his little heart. The lawn is coming in nicely now. We still have spots that need work, but it is so much better.  The yard man sprayed for weeds last week and we are waiting at this time for recovery. Then he will fertilize again, but I think I will have a beautiful lawn by the time we have the first freeze.  It has just taken a lot of patience.

I have eggplant ready to pick in the garden. But I am not going to do that today, as I don't want to deal with them. They will be fine on the vine for a while.

One of my best friends moved down to Utah to be closer to family and I am so happy for her.  But I miss her.  I could call at any time, and we would go to dinner, or just get ice cream and solve all the world's problems. Or at least her and my problems. But she sent pictures of her new place with family sitting around the apartment as she moved in and I was so happy for her.

Well, I am off to try and get something done. I know the serger needs to be rethreaded which is always a treat. Onward and upward my friends.

God is good

Kim

 

Monday, Blogger still not sending me blogs!

 My next-door neighbor, who has many health problems including Parkinsons had a stroke last week on Friday. She does have family coming to stay with her permanently the first week of October, but until then it is Sissie and Dan and I. 

Finally got her home from the hospital yesterday and she insisted on staying at her own house even though she could stay here as I have a bath and a bed for her.  Took her to an appointment this morning as she cannot drive and then picked her up later.  She has many doctors' visits and we have to go to the pharmacy later. So, I am one busy girl.

I picked up my serger that was in the shop on Friday, and it is still not working. So, aggravating and I hate wasting my time. I will have to take it back in tomorrow and I am not leaving until it is working. So, we are down to one serger as the other one went caput last Friday and we thought we were set. 

I am also just not feeling well today. Just headachy and off my feed. I have a wedding dress I need to fix that was ruined by another seamstress in town that did not know what she was doing. That is always a treat! 

Look this whole blog is just a bunch of whining.  Feel free to quit reading any time.

I am sure funny, good-natured Kim will return soon. Just now right now.

Anyway, I am going to fix this dang dress and also alter another bridesmaid dress and call it a day!

I shall return tomorrow with bells on.. I think?

God is good

Kim

Thursday, So no one is blogging?

 

For some reason I am not getting any blogs to read.  Like nothing is showing up.  I am not avoiding you it is just well... nothing.

The window washer is here today, the man fixing the fence is here also and with Sissie here the driveway is already full.

 

I had a nightmare of a wedding dress yesterday.  It took me hours and I finally had to stop as I was getting such a bad back ache. All I have left is the bustle loops.

Sissie has been here since 7:30 trying to make up for lost time. Just a little sewing fool.

Lucy was here for a couple of hours yesterday and we snuggled and took a short nap together. She is up above 7 lbs now. She is having her newborn pictures taken today, so I can fill out my spawning wall.

I am making split pea soup and bread and taking it up to Gaylords for dinner. I just feel like soup for some reason. It is getting a little cooler. 

I need to prepare people for Sluggy not recovering from her illness. She is in a very bad way and end of life measures are in place. It is so sad and I am crushed. Please pray for Dan and her family. At this point I am not sure what to feel.  I want to scream FIGHT! But I am not the one living in her body. She has endured so much. 

I have alot of little chores to do around here, so I want to get my sewing done for the day and attack a few projects. As in put laundry away and do some cooking. I am craving sour cream cookies. Actually, I am craving not sewing.

Sissie is behind me running around like a rooster and demanding that I pay her for her work. Imagine!

God is good

Kim 

  

Wednesday, Lucy is coming!

 Oliver is such a good big brother. Here he is on his first day of first grade.  Can't believe Kelsa and Oliver are in first grade. But I have a Lucy to take their place in the baby category. I am so blessed.

I will be a busy day today as I have a wedding dress to finish and Sissie is not here today as she had her eyes dilated.  We are getting very behind with her not being here much in the last three weeks, so I am going to go on a pants hemming binge after I get this wedding dress done.  I think there are about 25 hems to do right now so I am going to see how many I can get done today.

Lucy is coming about 2:30 and I will just work around all the baby snuggles. That is going to just break my heart having to stop sewing to snuggle a little squish.

I think B is going to spend the night, and I am going to love that. 

I haven't made any firm plans about closing up the shop.  I have been tossing around ideas in my head about doing one more bridal season. I really feel like I need to buy another car sometime and I want to save at least $24,000 dollars in the next season, plus take a couple of trips. I can easily do this if I keep the shop open. I could do it without if I lived very frugally and I don't know if I want to do that anymore. I am frugal by nature, but I don't want to live skint.  Too many years of that.

Anyway, I do know I am going to keep the shop open at least one more year. Maybe a close date of January 2028. It will be the year I turn 70. No one knows what the future holds. But it is nice to dream about just being able to take off when I want.  To have more time to spend with the kids. I foresee many changes in the future. And if you are thinking this has to do with Gaylord you are wrong. Our relationship is just so platonic in so many ways, but I am happy about the companionship. I just have not been able to figure that man out.

So, I had better get busy if I want to get things done today, as I know when that baby gets here I will be totally distracted.

God is good

Kim

Tuesday, Nice weekend!

 I know, I know, I am a proud grandma! Lucy is two weeks old and she has outgrown one of her tiny sleepers. She is already changing.  Kelsa still adores her.  Well, we all do.

Jethelyn and the boys were here all weekend. We had a BBQ and passed the baby around. Lots of laughs and making fun of grandma.  I make it so easy.  Danny mowed my lawn and then helped the neighbor with some chores. Now what 15 year old boy do you know that will help a stranger for two hours? They are doing something right.

William and Oliver and James played hard all weekend. Grandma bought junk food which my girls were quick to point out I never bought for them. 

Sissie is here today and the piles are enormous.  I warned her taking so much time off.

I am going to attack the last September wedding dress which is actually not a wedding dress so it will be easy. Then onto the October dresses. I have 5 mothers of the bride dresses that snuck in last week. Plus, little person alterations.

Sewing is never ending, which might be a good thing, but I really could use a break, and I am afraid I will never get one. Not that I can't take a break, but I think more and more about closing the shop eventually.

It is getting a little cooler here in the mornings and that is nice. But we still have very hot afternoons. 

I put away all the 4th of July and put out all the fall things when Jess was here. Jess did a lot of dusting, bless her heart, and she gave me crap about it. I really need to do a huge declutter again. I mean one of the whole house and let us not even talk about the garage. Where does the stuff come from, I ask you?

Is everyone's house like this? Or is it just me.  Or maybe the change of the seasons brings these feeling out in me.

I am going to get busy, I promise.

God is good

Kim

Thursday, where are these people coming from?

 The cheeks! She really looks like Braunwyn here. Sorry this blog will be baby heavy for a while as this grandma is just a little proud. Don't you just want to nom on those cheeks? I am surprised she has any left.

I have just discovered while I was taking down 4th of July decor that I usually leave up through Labor day, that my house is dirty.  As in is needs a thorough deep clean and I don't want to do it.  I mean I really don't want to period!

The shop has put up some kind of bat signal saying, "BRING THINGS HERE". I mean in the last three days the sluice gates have opened and I am overwhelmed.

Gaylord is coming to take me to lunch, and I have a pile of things to finish today.

1. a wedding dress

2. hem a pair of pants

3. hem three pairs of pants

4. put a zipper in a jacket

5. go to hobby lobby for zippers

I will proceed after lunch. I have a real attitude today, maybe because I skipped my meds yesterday and that makes me irritable. Not that I don't set a timer to help me remember to take the meds. I just ignored it so no one to blame but myself. I don't like it when I have to blame myself.

So, my next question is how long the ironing will stay in the middle of the family room? I sprayed a dirty glass cupboard door and then let the thing dry without wiping it. There are about ten 1/2 to 1/4 done jobs all over the house and I don't care.  I am trying so hard to care, but nothing seems to be moving me.

Jethelyn is coming and believe me she will care.... This is a dilemma.

Tune in tomorrow to see if Kim will get an attitude change, or will she be just as ornery as she is today.

God is good

Kim 

Wednesday, Grandma is back!

 Kelsa is in love. She truly believes that Lucy was born for her 6th birthday present. 

As in Lucy is her very own baby doll.  It is so cute.

I spent a week with the kids and am now home.  Lucy eats every two hours so a lot of interrupted sleep, but Braunwyb seems to be doing well. I hated to come home, and I miss holding her every day.

She is back up to her birthweight and gaining. So far, she has been a really good baby, knock on wood!

The shop is busy as usual. I have a wedding dress due out Friday, that I have not started.  Actually, two left for September then onto October.  I thought the shop was slowing down, actually secretly wishing.  Not the case. Drat!

Jethelyn is coming this weekend to see Lucy, and I am excited to see her and the boys. 

Kay has not been here all week as she is trying to catch up at her place. She will have a lot to do when she gets back.

Does anyone have any plans for Labor Day weekend? The last big hurrah before we all start drinking pumpkin spice and donning sweaters. Well not here as it will still be in the 90's.

There is a fencing guy working on the fence repair here. Still not holding my breath!

Have a great and productive day!

God is good

Kim