And She Reappears...

Hi all, once again I space out and don't update my blog. Spending way too much time looking at other people's blogs and not taking care of my own! Not to mention the fact I have been LESS than creative for a long time. My sewing room is still a disaster area, as it had turned into a storage unit for things I didn't know what to do with as my boyfriend and I clear the clutter and junk from our tiny home.

In my blog surfing I have come across several organizing blogs which I will post in a couple days, but I just signed up today for 52 Missions, which is a program that gives you a 30 minute mission a week to organize and streamline your life and stuff. And boy I could use all the help I can get.

My dear boyfriend JD has really helped me re-evaluate the stuff I've held onto for so long, like electronics and computer parts/software that are OLD as the hills, and other things like clothes I never wore and still had the tags. He helped me release these things and slowly our home is getting easier to take care of and clean, which is good for him since I am unable to do most of the housework due to my respiratory problems. Sometimes it seems like he's trying to get rid of all my stuff but I realize that I don't need it and its just taking up valuable real estate (and collecting dust...).

We are saving the sewing room for last since it is the biggest, scariest room in the house. We worked a bit in it last week but I got tired both physically and emotionally. I gave an old sewing machine and serger away to a classmate of his who also sews, and she was super-thrilled. Plus it gave me about nine cubic feet of space back!

I am too embarrassed to show pictures of the sewing room, so I won't. It is better than it was, but there's still stuff on the cutting table, stuff in a pile on the floor, and stuff spread out on the pressing area. Its STUFF STUFF and MORE STUFF! And it will be the hardest to let go of, which is why I'm putting it off.

I want so desperately though to get it in order, so I can get back to what I love, sewing. I recently bought the new Maggie pattern from Lazy Girl Designs, and I'm hoping to make one this century...lol!

Anyway, hope you all have a Merry Christmas if I don't get back on before then...Take care.

Afghans Part Deux

Finito! I finished my beige afghan I started a few weeks ago this weekend. I haven't been able to test it on the couch (protection from Dexter's claws) to see if it is large enough, but if not I can put it on the new wing chair to protect it. Here is a shot of it on my bed. It actually is a bit bigger than I expected!


Of course a new project cannot go with out a look-see by the resident inspector. Not five minutes after the above picture was taken did Dexter jump up and check out the new afghan. He LOVES afghans, especially on a cold night (it's chilly for Florida right now).


I'm a bit disappointed in my crocheting as the border is a little ripply and wavy. But I guess it doesn't matter since it's going to be stretched out of shape anyway with use...lol! I've really enjoyed crocheting these past couple months. But as usual my ADD when it comes to projects has me looking to switch gears and get back in the sewing room. I have three Miranda bags to make and haven't even started them. Hopefully soon I can get in there this week and at least cut the fabrics.

Take care all!

Keep on Rollin!

I had contemplated getting a new desk chair. The one I have is still in good condition but the casters didn't roll well even on my laminate floor. Mom was over this weekend and took a look at them. I'll I can say is YUCK they were packed with hair and cat fur. No wonder they weren't rolling. She tried her best to cut out the hair but it was no use. So while we were out shopping we stopped at Office Depot and bought a package of new casters. Let's just say the chair rolls like marbles on glass. I'm loving it! And for a girl who is a bit of a weakling, the easier the better! LOL

Unfortunately the casters were $38 bucks, but considering a new quality desk chair is over a hundred, I think it's a bargain!

New Floor is almost done!

Well, it took three days but the new laminate flooring in my bedroom is about finished. The flooring itself is in, but there are still a couple of places that need moulding around the baseboard and the thresholds need to be put in. But I am LOVING this oak floor! It is so much fun to roll around on in my computer chair and I enjoy the new layout of my furniture. I moved the desk to the other side of the room by my window and took the bed out of the corner and placed it up against the wall. The dresser used to be where the desk is now but has been moved to the other side of the entrance to the bathroom. The armoir (which houses stamping stuff) has been moved to the corner where the desk used to be. How much fun swapping furniture. The past few days have been crazy, with all the bedroom furniture in the living room, and stuff in boxes all over the place. Thank goodness most everything is back where it belongs, but Mom and I still have a few boxes to sort through and put crap back where it belongs. But it is so worth it.

Reno did a great job, and he worked LONG hours. He and mom came over Thursday morning, and he worked all day until about 11 pm when he left for a hotel. He came back the next morning, and worked until 11:30 pm or so, and drove the 70 miles back to Satellite Beach. Then came back yesterday, and my God he was here until after 1:00 am this morning! I was glad to hear he made it home to Satellite Beach in one piece. He still has a couple of things to finish, but they are not major, and can wait for him to come back later this week.


Dexter is happy as a clam now that everything is sort of back to normal. He has been asleep on my bed all afternoon. And Mom put my old stuffed dog "Drooper" on the bed, and Dexter has made friends with him. And just how cute is this picture?

Weekend in HELL

OMG living in Florida can really bite if you don't have air conditioning. Sometime late last week, my air conditioner decided it would commit suicide and leave me without the cool air it had given me since I moved in to this house in 2002. I noticed Thursday night that something was not right, considering I was sitting in my kitchen sweating, and I was not doing anything but watching tv. When I came home from work Friday afternoon, I looked at Dexter and said "HOLY CRAP is it hot in here!!" Dexter just laid there as if to say, "Shut up Mom and do something about it! You dont have a fur coat on!" The thermostat said it was 88 degrees in there. UGH.

I called American Air and Heat and cried "Oh Im so glad I got a hold of you!" The receptionist heard the desperation in my voice and said "Oh dear it sounds like an emergency!" I replied "yes it is hot as hell in here!" She laughed and said she would get a hold of the tech and see if he could make it out to me that evening. Unfortunately it seems everyone's air conditioning was on the fritz because he had 3 more appointments and wouldn't be able to come to my house until the morning. OH NO! So I asked when he could be here and she said first thing in the morning.

Chuck arrived at 8:30 Saturday morning, and had bad news for me. Apparently the compressor was "grounded" which means there was a short in the wiring, and it was tripping the breaker. I could have the compressor replaced (for around $1700) but since my system was six years old and also a crappy contractor unit (from the initial building), I might want to consider replacing the entire system. Well, this had been suggested to me last year, but I was an idiot and decided to wait.

I told Chuck "I want the new system!" He laughed and said good idea. He was very friendly, even for someone who had been working like a dog for the past few days on very little sleep. He went out to the van to do the paperwork and told me to prepare my self because he hadnt passed CPR yet. I told him as long as it wasnt over $10000 it would be ok. LOL He said oh of course it will be under that! (It was actually under $5000.)

The only bad part was that it couldnt be installed until this morning. So for the rest of Saturday and Sunday I had every fan in my house on high, and sprayed myself (and Dexter) with water. Mom (God bless her) came over despite the heat and kept me company. It could have been worse, it could have been in the upper nineties. Saturday night it came a huge storm, and cooled down to the mid seventies. Sunday was ok, but not as stormy. But it never got oppressive, and I didnt pass out. I did have some trouble breathing, but nothing scary.

This morning around 9:00 two nice young guys came and installed the new system. While they worked I watched MSNBC's rebroadcast of the Today show from 5 years ago of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I was at work on 9/11 five years ago and did not see the news as it happened. My best friend Patsy in Atlanta Georgia called me to tell me the Twin Towers had been hit by planes. I'll never forget being so scared for our country. I think about the families of those people who died, both in the buildings and the planes, as well as those on the ground and the rescue workers who were killed while trying to save lives. Even after all these years, it still is a shock.

The two guys worked quickly and by 12:45 it was installed, and I wrote the big check. I could already feel the cool air filling the house. AHHH. Dexter seems content again. And I am not a sweaty mess anymore! THANK YOU AMERICAN AIR AND HEAT!!!

Labor Day Wknd

Ah yes, a wonderful 3 day weekend. Got to see my friends Rob, Steve and Rich play on Saturday night at Kitty O'shea's, a great little bar near Disney. Had lots of fun. Two of my closest friends who have been estranged for several years actually got along. It was great, because I have felt like I was in the middle, trying to be friends with both of them.

Mom came over as usual, and we got to spend some time planning our trip to Chattanooga, TN and Georgia. She also fed her little muscovy duck family (the third little group of babies in 2 years) and we had two peacocks join in. My back yard is like Wild Kingdom sometimes. There are several older Muscovy ducks who always stop by along with a strange black and white duck we've nicknamed Oreo.


Unfortunately the weekend is almost over and work begins again tomorrow. I have an early morning meeting at the City of Winter Springs with the Development Review Committee for one of our latest townhome projects. I am sittting in for my boss who is on vacation for two weeks. I am so nervous, afraid they will ask me questions and I will look like a dip. But we reviewed the comments before he left, so I am sort of prepared.

I wanted to do some sewing this weekend, but had to take my Designer SE to the dealer because the needle threader is broken. My favorite sales lady Donna tried to fix it for me there but was unable, so she will take it to her husband who is the tech for the dealer. At least she tried. I also dropped off my serger which isnt working right either.

I still have my Designer 1 so I may go in my sewing room and use it, but Im exhausted after washing my hair. Tough being a respiratory patient.

More later...