Labor Day this ‘n that
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Today is Labor Day in the U.S. and the last holiday of summer.
It’s also the time of year the millipedes come out in amazing numbers. If they would stay outside, I wouldn’t notice or mind but they’re finding their way into the house, which drives me nuts (I know, short trip!). I have probably killed over 100 of them today alone, making it necessary to sweep the floors AGAIN! I’ve tried spraying them with a mild insecticide to no avail. They don’t even drown easily! My only choice is to continue to step on them and sweep them up. I am thankful they don’t require feeding and don’t sting or bite.
I’ve managed to accomplish several things over the last few days. I finished making Halloween pillowcases. This set is made with black bats on white for the body and bright dancing skeletons on black for the edge separated by a narrow solid orange flange. My homemade pillowcases include French seams so no raw edges will unravel with wear. I hope to find more holiday fabric on sale to make more fun pillowcases for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter. I already have some batik yardage I plan to use too. I love having new pillowcases!
I’ve continued sorting DH’s clothes but have found no 
area charity where I wish to donate. If my donations do not benefit the needy but puts more money into a corporate CEO’s pocket, no thanks! Instead, I am removing and saving the buttons and using the fabric to make dog beds. The 100% cotton fabric will be added to my fabric stash.
As I’ve pulled shirts from the closet and separated them into piles of keepers and cutters, I am amazed at how many there are. I’ve clipped until my back hurts every day and still have a huge stack to go. Pictured is a container of buttons I’ve removed from many of the shirts. There are hundreds of them! Most of these are made of coconut shells with a light side and a dark side from rayon and silk Hawaiian-style shirts. I plan to add a number of these to my own button stash and will share the rest with online friends who also make men’s shirts. I certainly hope to finish this clipping chore SOON as I can think of much ‘funner’ things to do! Honestly though, I’m totally enjoying spreading out into the newly created space in the closet. Yippee! Mine, all mine!!
I’ve continued working on DH’s memorial quilt. The hand 
quilting is finished and a red/black print binding has been machine applied. I’m in the process of hand stitching the binding down. I haven’t designed a label yet and hope to be inspired by the time the binding is complete. Having recently lost my printer to a lightning storm, the task will be more challenging. I’ve included a picture to show how much I tend to mark my quilts as I work. Because I use Crayola® Ultra-Clean Washable Markers, all the marks wash away with simple hand washing using laundry powder and a little OxiClean®.
It’s time to get into the kitchen and make English muffins. I’ve eaten the last of the sliced bread and know I’ll want something for breakfast tomorrow. Ham, egg and cheese McMuffins sound yummy!
Have a terrific week!
Shirl
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Time keeps on tickin’, tickin’…..
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I didn’t realize it has been over a 
month since my last post. I wish I had more to report of things that have kept me busy but I’m either getting incredibly lazy or some activities take a big toll on this aging body. It seems just going to the grocery store or running a few errands wipes me out for an entire day. What is going on with this dropping energy level??!
In the past month, I have continued to reduce the piles of stuff collected by DH. Today, I plan to sort his button-up shirts. He has scores of them sent to him by his Floridian brother. These are all Hawaiian print shirts so few area men are interested in receiving them. I will donate the rayon and silk shirts to charity while de-boning the cotton ones and saving the fabric for quilts. There are many dozens so the task is daunting. A little work each day will finally see the job complete. Bob’s old t-shirts will eventually become bathroom rugs for DS Jacob and myself. They will be so useful, soft, colorful and absorbent and will be a nice keepsakes… remembrance rugs?.
I’ve also managed to do a little sewing this month. First, I made a new cotton knit (interlock) nightgown using McCall’s M5640 pattern. I used the dress length pattern and added 2″ wide gathered lace between the front yoke and skirt and lettuce-edged the sleeves. I also lengthened the pattern as I have noticed some cotton knit fabric continues to shrink a little with each washing. I’ve made this pattern many times and love the fit and comfort of each garment. This has become my favorite and has already received several washings. It’s a keeper!
I have several more cotton knit fabrics in the stash I intend to use to make more of these. I particularly like that with the interfacing in the yoke, the gown doesn’t bunch up at my neck during the night as often 
happens with t-shirt type necklines.
After failing to resist a super sale of cotton fabric from Fabric Mart (my current favorite online fabric store), I received two cotton woven chunks with the intention of making modest lounging clothes for wearing after evening bath time and before bedtime. Now that I’m enjoying more visitors and sitting up late and talking, I needed something comfy and decent to slip into.
Since the McCall’s pattern was still on my cutting table and it fits so well, I used it again, this time radically lengthening the skirt to maxi length, eliminating the lace, adding side inseam pockets and roll hemming the sleeves. I finished it just in time for DS Jacob and his lady’s arrival. I was so happy with the skirt length… it just touches the tops of my feet when I walk. Perfect! The woven cotton fabric is high quality and I expect to get years of use from this garment. I absolutely love it!
In the same Fabric Mart delivery, I received another woven cotton print; this one is an aqua modern print that I plan to make into a similar maxi dress. I will wear them often. I’m waiting for another sale and plan to order heavier fabric to make a warmer version with long sleeves to wear during cooler weather.
Speaking of cooler weather, it has moved into our area. Along with rain each day, we’re enjoying temperatures in the mid to high 80’s. That is so welcome after suffering a dry summer with daily temperatures in the 100’s! Just wish the first rain that moved through had displayed less lightning. It got us good, taking out much wireless Internet equipment, LED light bulbs and a printer! Things could have been so much worse and for that I am grateful. The lower air conditioning costs as resulting from the cooler weather will help make up for the replacement costs… at least that’s what I’m telling myself!
The cooler weather has made me think of upcoming holidays. One of my favorites is Halloween. With enjoying additional overnight guests, I noticed my pillowcases are limp and shabby so I decided to shop through my fabric stash and found some ‘spooky’ fabric for making Halloween pillowcases. I’ve cut two pair and finished sewing one. These are made of two prints
(black and white spiderweb batik and white quilting fabric printed with black bats). I also included a narrow orange flange for a zing of color. I like them so much, they are on my bed (a little early for Halloween!).
That’s about it for now. If I don’t start dealing with Bob’s shirts the job will never get done. Frankly, I’m looking forward to having use of the entire big closet…. mo’ room for mo’ stuff!
Have a great weekend!
Shirl
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Transitioning into a new life
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The last few weeks have been emotionally bumpy but I’ve tried to stay busy. Focusing on individual tasks has been a good distraction and there are MOUNTAINS of tasks needing attention. I’ve also re-discovered the joy of cleaning (!). I love that I can scrub away years of grime and things stay clean. DH was a mindlessly sloppy person and I had given up on cleaning behind him. It was one of those battles I quit fighting.
I’m also enjoying re-discovering my independence. Yes, I can saw lumber, mow grass, change light bulbs, cook on the grill, burn trash, grocery shop and all the other chores DH had normally done. I’m proud to be finding my ‘roar’ after all these years.
I was worried I might fall into poor eating
habits as I’ve witnessed so many of my single peers do. Yes, I’ve eaten a couple of ‘convenience meals’ but still prefer cooking (and eating) from scratch. I’ve learned to make half the quantity and often have enough for multiple meals. Because I enjoy baking, this week (for the first time), I made English muffins. I love them and am thrilled to find they are so cheap and easy to make. They’re freezable too!
Today, I will bake several versions of oatmeal cookies. I don’t care to eat oatmeal for breakfast but this will be a good way to use the new carton of DH’s oatmeal taking up space in the pantry and have sweet treats for Jacob when he visits in the coming days. I will also make pita bread for quick lunches I know we’ll enjoy.
I’ve continued working on the String Pyramids quilt. I was originally making it for DH but now it’s for his empty bed. It’s pretty and keeps my hands busy as I relax in the evenings.
Shirl
Bob
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Bob lost his gallant fight against bladder cancer on 06/30/16 at 2:26 p.m. at age 65. We’ve lost a good husband, father, brother, friend and an excellent artist, auto bodyman, brisket bbq’er, bonfire burner, dish washer and garden tiller. He will be missed more than his humility would allow him to expect. Rest well, dear husband and enjoy the reunion with those who have preceded you.
Categories: Family
More earth rattling times
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What a crazy 2 weeks it has been!
DH Bob became quite ill so DS Jacob decided to come in a little early for Father’s Day to see his dad. We debated whether to take him to the hospital immediately but kept hoping he would improve on his own. He did not.
By Sunday, he was still extremely ill and after talking to the doctors at MD Anderson Emergency Department, I packed his things and dressed him. Jake loaded him into the car and they were on their way. I frankly wasn’t certain Bob would survive the trip.
He was admitted immediately but had to wait for an available room. After evaluation, he was transferred to ICU. He was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia, calcium overload, limited kidney function, and the list goes on and on. He was put on a ventilator and dialysis. Because he was extremely uncomfortable and kept pulling at his breathing tube, the doctors put him into a coma. He has remained knocked out and unaware for a week. Jacob has spent most of his time with Bob or driving back and forth (3 hours each way in infamous Houston traffic) to Grapeland for showers and home cooked meals. Vending machine and fast food get old quick.
In the meantime, I’ve stayed home keeping 
our business afloat, harvesting the garden, canning 21 quarts of tomatoes, tending the critters and generally keeping busy. I went with Jacob for a hospital visit and plan to return this week. Though I hate all the traffic and noise of Houston, I was impressed with MD Anderson’s HUGE campus and how the doctors and nurses are never too rushed to talk to family, respectfully explaining diagnoses, prognoses and the steps of his care. I have absolutely no doubt Bob is getting the very best, most compassionate care possible.
As of yesterday, Bob has improved enough the doctors are lessening his coma and expect to remove the breathing tube in the next day or two. They are taking it extremely slowly as to not shock his system. They still 
feel he can overcome this current illness and receive his first immunotherapy treatment before returning home. We are hopeful it all works out. We’re not quite ready to let him go.
Lately, in taking a more active role in grocery shopping (I used to make the list and Bob would shop), I purchased the few things needed and made kolaches last night. The yeast we had was about to expire so I felt the need to use it and after reading a few recipes, I felt I could do it. I already had cheddar and feta cheeses, jalapenos and home-baked ham. I purchased cocktail sausages and fresh baby spinach. They turned out pretty good but the next time I make them, I’ll use less dough-to-filling ratio. I’ll freeze these, then pull them out and reheat them as we need a quick breakfast, lunch or road food.
Shirl
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Rug Tah-dah #3
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Yippee yea! It’s finally done! 
The denim rug is finished and ready to greet folks entering our kitchen door, or for that matter, bid them adieu as they leave. It’s a tough rug so I’m confident it can stand up to lots of foot traffic… for decades! I love it’s made from our own old jeans though it added much work to ‘de-pocket’, ‘de-seam’ and cut into usable strips. I only used the back section of legs as our old jeans fronts are always worn to rags. I estimate 30+ pairs of jeans were used to make the rug with scraps to spare for future projects.
Between rain storms (and we’ve had PLENTY!), I’ve harvested more garden veggies. Yesterday, DH and I made stuffed bell peppers using not only peppers from the garden, but also home canned tomatoes from last season. We added meaty spaghetti sauce from the freezer (also with home canned tomatoes) that DH made several weeks ago. I have to say these were the very best stuffed bell peppers I’ve ever eaten!!
DH is feeling stronger each day but is still experiencing pain in his upper chest/shoulder area. He’s waiting to hear back from the doctor’s office for his next appointment. Hopefully, they will finally figure out the cause and treat it.
It’s another rainy day here so I think I’ll drag out an unfinished quilt and add some stitches. I have several at different stages so a variety of work from which to choose. String Pyramids is calling for attention.
Happy weekend!!
Shirl
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Categories: Cooking, Rug Making
Crazy time!
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Lately, things have been quiet on the blog but not so here at home. In fact, when considering doctors, hospitals and our nutzoid weather, things have hedged on being crazy!
DH was approved for participating in a study at MD Anderson and was instructed to show up early Sunday, May 15 for pre-treatment tests. He had to leave here at 4 a.m. to arrive on time.
After several tests and during an EKG, DH mentioned experiencing pains in his upper chest near his shoulder. The techs immediately called an ambulance to transport him from the Clinic side of the complex to the Emergency Room. There he stayed for several hours, hooked to a heart monitor and EKG. It was deemed he was not experiencing a heart attack and was released. With traffic backed up for 50+ miles because of a double fatality accident, DH did not arrive back home until after 1 a.m. It was certainly a LONG day for a guy feeling less than 100%.
The next day (Monday) DH’s oncologist got wind of the Emergency Room visit and test results. She contacted DH and insisted he return to the ER as blood clots are not unusual for folks having received large amounts of chemotherapy (as DH has). She had contacted the ER and chewed ass, instructing them of the blood clot possibility and the immediate need for a CAT scan. Unfortunately, this meant Bob had another 3 hour drive in less than optimal conditions. Though I offered to drive him, he was determined to arrive on his own and return home that evening.
As it turns out, Bob’s plans didn’t pan out. He was run through a battery of tests by the ER physicians (amazing what an ass chewing can cause) and Bob was in the hospital until the following Sunday when he insisted on coming home.
On Monday, DH was contacted by an MDA’s heart physician, instructing Bob needed a stent procedure to be performed at Hermann Hospital on Wednesday. Bob was to check in at 7 a.m. to be prepped for the procedure. Yep, you guessed it…. another EARLY morning, 3 hour drive to Houston!!!
Our son and his lady were already planning an extended visit over Memorial Day weekend. They altered their plans a bit, took a few extra days off and arrived late Tuesday night to accompany Bob to the hospital. Bob was to stay overnight so the kids decided to get a room near the hospital to avoid an additional round trip to Houston.
While all of this was going on, I stayed home and held down the fort with our small business, tended the garden and cared for our critters, all during epic rains, round after round of lightning storms, hail and area tornadoes. Thankfully, the worst of the weather skirted us and other than being very soggy, we were unscathed.
While everyone was away, I decided we would need lots of food for the returning troops so I thawed a small turkey and a big brisket. On Saturday, Bob and Jake slow-smoked both and with the addition of garlic mashed potatoes and au jus flavored with diced onions, we ate until we were silly! There was plenty left to share with the kids and freeze for quick, easy meals later.
The kids left for home mid-day yesterday. The house
is now too quiet and I have unspent energy. I decided to harvest the first row of bell peppers and process them for the freezer. I also picked enough zucchini squash for a big side dish for dinner tonight and a few Cubanelle peppers to cook with freshly picked yellow squash tomorrow. I saw many jalapeño peppers to harvest in the next few days. All these peppers will add so much flavor to future meals.
I’ve continued to work on the denim rug and am very close to finishing. I’ve also done a little sewing, making comfy shorts for Jacob and hemming some shorts for myself.
Bob continues to feel better each day and is now spending time out of bed and watching videos. His coloring is better too. As soon as his heart doctor releases him, he will start his new cancer treatment…. more weekly trips to Houston!
Shirl
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Categories: Family, Rug Making, Sewing, veggie gardening, Weather
Slow down
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For the past week, there has been a radical slow down of any production from me. I have a blown disk in my neck causing stiffness and pain radiating into my left shoulder. This has happened before so I’m familiar with the pain, treatment and exercises to perform. Unlike the past, I don’t know
what caused it this time. The only unusual activity I’ve done is pick a few dewberries along with DH, denim rug wrestle and hoe weeds in the garden. Shoot, regardless of the cause… the pain is the same.
DH has managed to pick dewberries twice so I’ve made muffins with fresh berries and froze enough to make four more batches. I love cooking with dewberries and wish I had more. They make the best jelly in the world but because of the late freeze this Spring, our crop is limited and the individual berries aren’t very large. They are still so tasty!
Until my shoulder pain became too severe, I’ve continued to slowly weave the denim rug. As it gets closer to finished, I’ve
gotten more and more excited. I love how it looks and am anxious to use it in our kitchen. The design is made of 10 rows of faded, recycled denim (from our own old jeans), then 5 rows of new midnight blue denim fabric from my stash. I’m not delusional that this design will finish evenly so it remains to be seen how the rug will appear when done. It may have a wider or narrower dark stripe in the center. Either will be attractive and the rug will be so fun to use!
For the next rug, I plan to use the huge stash of rip-stop nylon from my fabric stash. Most of the colors are bright and I will use the rug outside the kitchen door in the carport where it will handily eliminate so much sand from being tracked into the house… at least, that’s my hope! It will be a great way to reduce that space-eating, large collection. It’s time to use it or chunk it and will be so much softer, more pliable and easier to weave than denim! I’m looking forward to it.
The garden continues to flourish with multiple little veggies on most plants. If the weather holds and we have no hail, I will have plenty of tomatoes to can and gobs of bell peppers to chop and freeze. I use ½ – 1 bell pepper nearly every meal I cook so having them chopped and frozen will be very convenient and save much time during meal preparation.
Jacob and Stormy are planning to visit this weekend. There are problems on our Internet network needing Jake’s magic touch. Blasted lightning!! I’m soooo looking forward to seeing them and have begun planning menus, doing a little cleaning and clutter busting.
No matter where you are or plans you’ve made, I hope you have a joyous Mother’s Day weekend!
Shirl
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Categories: Cooking, Family, Rug Making, veggie gardening
More baking and rug making
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Happy Friday!
Between working playing in the garden and quilting, 
I’ve been rug making and baking.
I’d really like to be a better baker and the only way that can be accomplished is PRACTICE! After making three successful batches of cinnamon rolls, today I decided to bake some blueberry muffins. They turned out great!
I know for most cooks, these are mindlessly simple accomplishments but I’m starting from below-scratch with my lifelong aversion to baking and long line of disasters. I’m hoping to build my confidence with a string of successes and develop a love of the craft.
The house smells wonderful and DH definitely enjoys 
treats from the oven accompanying his afternoon and evening coffee. He’s always complimentary and never leaves any to go stale. He even cleans the kitchen after my baking sessions!! Unfortunately, he doesn’t eat them all and doesn’t wrestle me away from them. Willpower has never been my strong suit!
I’m sure baking is only a current trend. During our hot summers, I avoid using the oven so I will bake as long as Spring temperatures continue. I’ll give some thought to developing a new talent for Summer…. maybe I should try exercising! Not likely!!
I’ve been really pleased using my second twined rug but for the third, I decided to try tackling the stack of used jeans we’ve saved through the years. Many of them have holes in the fronts and the leg backs are faded but still usable. 
I spent several days ‘de-boning’ jeans; removing the rear pockets, cutting away the zippers, yokes, waistbands and belt loops. What a chore!! I’ve gone through nearly half of them, cut the legs into strips and began twining a new rug.
For this rug, I’ve used high-quality muslin for the warp. The light, blotchy denim is from the jeans back legs and the mottled areas are where pockets were once located. The super-dark stripes are made using new midnight blue denim I’ve had in the stash for nearly 20 years. The muslin was cut into 2 ¼” strips and the denim is cut into 1 ½” strips. It takes real muscle to manipulate the thick fabric but will result in a tough, heavy duty rug/mat. It’s slow going but I’m enjoying it and plan to continue making dark and light evenly distributed stripes.
Happy weekend!
Shirl
Categories: Cooking, Rug Making, veggie gardening
Springtime activities
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After experiencing a freeze just before Easter, we’ve planted more in the garden. We currently have 30 tomato plants, 18 bell peppers, 12 cayenne and jalapeño plants, a short row of cucumbers, yellow and zucchini squash, cantaloupes and watermelons. We’ve decided against planting peas this year as we still have lots in the freezer from last season. This frees up lots of space. If the garden is as successful as it’s been in previous years, we’ll have plenty of produce to enjoy fresh and to can.
I purchased a new car last week. Kia has brought out its 2016 models and offered irresistible discounts and incentives on the 2015’s still on the lot. I took advantage and bought a Soul. The entire experience was completely painless as I had no trade-in to negotiate and with perfect credit, I wasn’t required to make a down payment and got 0% financing!
I’ve continued to enjoy making rag rugs and finished my second one. I’m now debating whether the next rug will be made with denim from old jeans or the large stash of rip-stop nylon. Either will be fun and very useful.
DH is trying to cram his week with outdoor activities. The weather is beautiful and he wants to thoroughly enjoy it before he starts another round of cancer treatments next week. His hair has grown back wonderfully thick and curly (more so than before) and I hate to see him lose it again. I’m thankful he will have reliable transportation for the long trek to Houston and I’m hoping this round is not as hard as the last. We don’t really know what to expect.
Shirl
Categories: Family, Rug Making, veggie gardening