Zippy Strippy Bags

About a year and a half ago I saw these very cute bags that Nicole at Sister's Choice Quilts made. I promptly bought the pattern (Zippy Strippy by Terry Atkinson), and put it on the shelf, just waiting for the right fabrics to come along. 

When I recently finished making my bags I had a lot of scraps leftover from my bali pops, and knew this pattern would be a perfect way to use them up. (By the way, my bali pops were not consistently cut at 2 1/2 inches wide. Some were as thin as 2 1/4 inches. The patterns I used them for were very forgiving, but be aware if you are planning on making something with bali pops that needs to be very accurate.)

I got a little carried away. I made seven bags. They were very easy, and very fun to make. These are the medium sized bags. I didn't buy any new fabric to make these, and I only had to buy two zippers. It was a great way to use up some stash.

Sisters 2012

Jennifer, Sally, Ann, Diane, Amy
Orva, Mom, Elna

I just arrived home from my Sisters weekend, and like I told Orva, I'm so tired my head feels like a big pumpkin ready to fall right off my weak little neck. 

The Linford sisters and sisters-in-law and my mother-in-law get together the second week-end in March every year. Thursday evening until Monday morning. We've been doing it since 1991, and we love it. Only nursing babies are allowed, so we have a wonderful weekend just to spend time with one another. There are nine of us when everyone comes, which is usually. This year one could not come. We missed her.

Way back when we first started getting together for our Sisters weekend, Amy began our tradition of what we call party favors. We each bring a gift for everyone. We bring the same gift for everyone, and it is so fun. This year Sally gave us a Turbie-twist, a computer cleaning cloth, a chamois for cleaning, fun reading glasses, and some wonderful bamboo clothes pins. Jennifer gave each of us a ruffly scarf and a book mark that says, "Keep calm and read on." I gave a necklace with forget-me-nots on it, and a digital copy of the Nat King Cole Christmas Album with the Children's Chorus that my husband and four of his siblings sang on. Elna gave us each a small white "pocket" to put in our temple dress pocket to hold mints, or tissues. She also gave us each a necklace that says, "Keep calm and carry on." Ray's mom gave us each a scarf with kanji that says, "No success can compensate for failure in the home," and a pretty purse that she bought when she was in Cambodia. Amy gave us a glass nail file, a Christmas card game that her friend made, and some great hair product. Ann gave us the recipe and makings for home-made laundry detergent. All we have to do is mix it with the correct amount of water and we're ready to go. Orva made corn bags for us. They're bags filled with corn that we can heat up and use as a bed warmer, or put on aching muscles, etc. Altogether we had a wonderful collection of party favors. 

This year we stayed at Ray's parents, and Dad came to my house and spent the weekend with Ray. We all brought projects to work on, and we transformed Mom's lovely living room into a production line. It was delightful to all be gathered in one room, working on fun things, and talking and chatting from early morning to late at night (hence the current pumpkin feeling).

We took time out on Saturday afternoon to have lunch with our daughters who are local and/or are attending BYU. So fun!

I'm home now, and already anticipating the next time we can all get together.

Party Favors

Lunch at Brick Oven. Front row, l-r: Sally, baby David, Elna, Mom, Orva, Beth, Diane, Debra
Back row, l-r: Amy, Nancy, Jennifer, Annie, Christine, Ann, Elna, Charlotte, Jane, Laura, baby Eloise

Outside Brick Oven: l-r: Jane, Jennifer, Anne, Laura, baby Elouise, Orva, Elna, Elna, Annie, Chirstine, baby Housley, Diane, Amy, Debra, Mom, Charlotte, Beth

Dinner time - oh, we had good food! Clockwise from left: Orva, Elna, Amy, Ann, Diane, Sally, Jennifer, Mom

Project beginnings

Me sewing. 

Sally at the computer, scanning photos

Jennifer, sewing

Orva, cutting fabric

Amy, ironing

Elna and Ann, cutting and counting

Mom, the great organizer

Elna, Amy, Orva, Ann, Mom with the results of four days of cutting fabric from old dresses our daughters wore.

Beautiful Cards

Post-a-Quote card by Ken Logsdon

August of 2001 found me at Orchard House, the home of Louisa May Alcott in Concord, Massachusetts. Now, I love all things Louisa May Alcott, and have since I was a young girl. I was browsing in the gift shop and found some beautiful, handmade cards with quotes from Miss Alcott on them. I couldn't resist. I bought several.

When I got home I examined the cards. They were very classy and unique. I discovered they were made by Ken Logsdon. His company is Post-a-Quote: Correspondence Cards for the Literate. All his cards are handmade, handwritten, and handsigned.

In the eleven years since I first discovered Post-a-Quote I've kept myself well stocked with his cards. My favorite is the one with Louisa May Alcott's quote: Life is my college. May I graduate well and earn some honors. I have wedding cards, humorous cards, and literary cards.

I've never really shared this source of great cards before. I liked being exclusive. But when I got the most recent newsletter I thought how silly of me not to share. So I contacted Ken and asked, do you mind if I give you a shout out on my blog? He was happy to have me do so. (I told him I have limited readership, but they are indeed literate.)

So here it is. If you like beautiful, one of a kind cards (he'll do custom images and quotes), check out www.postaquote.com. Louisa May Alcott is actually just a tiny portion of what he offers.

Let me reassure you that I was not asked to promote Ken's cards. I just wanted to share a great product I've come to love.

Zumbalicious

It's all the rage. People Zumba at the gym, people Zumba at home, people Zumba everywhere.

So when a class was offered at a local church, I jumped on the bandwagon. I liked that it was free, I liked that it would be a mix of ages, and I liked that I coincidentally know one of the instructors. What could it hurt to give it a try?

I love it. It's a great change of pace from my treadmill, and it's social. But as I attempt to move in the prescribed manner (rather than the contortions I usually manage), a few things run through my mind:

1. Good thing there's no mirror in here.
2. I'm sweating like a pig.
3. How come everyone else can bend their knees further than I can?
4. Come on, you can keep your arms up. This song can't last forever. Or can it?
5. Good thing my backside is my best side (I stand in the front so I can see the steps better).
6. Just when I caught on to that step, she changed what we're doing.
7. If I imagine that I look and move like the instructor, can that make it be true?
8. Perhaps my job in this class is to make everyone feel great about how well they are doing when they see how I am doing.
9. Perhaps I provide a little comic relief?
10. If I get a C for close-but-not-quite, I at least get an A for effort.
11. Where's my water?

Household Hint

We have a cat. A fluffy, beautiful cat. That fluff gets annoying, though, when he sheds. We have him shaved every six months or so to help combat the cat fur fluff that ends up all over the place.

Last year I heard that Scotch-Brite scrubbers pick up animal fur quickly and thoroughly. I thought it would be worth a try. I heard right. All I have to do is skim the scrubber over the couch, or whatever has the cat fur, and it comes right up. This will save a lot of money on lint rollers. 

It will also save a lot of effort on my part. And perhaps save some mental cursing when I notice cat fur on my black pants. Or black skirt. Or black socks. Or black coat. You get the idea.

Before

After

February Report

I went back to look at the end of January. Some things have improved, some not, but overall I'm pleased with how things are going.

1. First things first: this goal is marching right along. I think I'm at least 90% there on scripture reading and exercise for sure. I'm trying to eat better too.
2. One shelf/drawer per day: I only missed two days in February. That makes only 6 days missed for the year so far. Because of this goal, I've now found one pair of pants that I've been looking for for a few months, and today I found a journal that I didn't remember I had. The first entry was about my wedding day and first week of marriage. A fun treat to find during the month of my anniversary.
3. 30-30-30: wow. This has made the biggest difference of all. I feel like I'm able to accomplish so much more than I have in a very long time, and still have time for myself and the regular things I do in my day to day life. This month alone I have purged all the files for my own family, my husband's business, and my parents. I got all the tax information together and sent it off to our accountant today. I read and edited my dad's autobiography. I finished some sewing projects that have been hanging over my head. It feels great. 
4. Skype/webcam usage: not so great in February. I did it once or twice is all. My camera needs my husband to get it working again, and the two haven't had time to get together yet.
5. Music: I'm enjoying my digital music. I think I can drop this from my list of things to do, because it's done. It feels great.
6. Photos: I'll get to them. They need to work their way up the priority list on my 30-30-30 time. 

My daughter Debra made a to do list and shared it with me. I've modified it to fit my needs, and it makes all the difference for me. I think this is what has made my 30-30-30 work so well, and in truth it's what gives me free time to be able to do 30-30-30. The to-do list has a column for each day of the week, and two columns per page. I print it front to back so it's two pages long. Each day I list my obligations for the day, and anything I'm hoping to get done. If something doesn't get done, I move it to the next day. I have several floating tasks during the week. Sometimes they all get done, sometimes they float to the next week.

The extra column is where I put my list of things of current priority goals (mostly for 30-30-30). I have them divided into three groups: sewing, church, and general. It's been fun to have these lists shrink. Then I get to decide what to add to the pool of tasks. From day to day I look at the lists and decide what I want to work on for that day. I love the flexibility, while still feeling like I'm getting things finished up and done. I'm big on closure.

March will be an interesting month. I have two vacations scheduled, so the shelf/drawer a day goal will automatically have more missing days. That's okay. I'll tell you right now I won't miss for even one second doing that while I'm gone.

No Clever Title

No new books read. 

No new sewing projects completed.

No new thoughts or musings floating in my head.

Here are some old loves: 

Top to bottom: Ray, 1984, Audrey, Debra, Ray, Beth, somewhere in the late 90's. The pictures are in my bedroom, where I can see them all the time. Audrey made a skin for my iPhone (gelaskins.com) so I can look at them anytime, anywhere. I love it.

And I love them.

Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy

I really like these White House Chef mysteries by Julie Hyzy. This is the fifth book in the series, and I think the series is holding up well.

This was a quick read - 2 days, and in my sometimes hectic life, that's pretty fast.