The Before: Aka...Wednesday and Thursday's Adventure.
It actually all started last Friday when we headed off to the Farmer's Market and I cranked up the A/C--only to have nothing but hot air blown in our faces. A statement similar to this fell from my lips: "I will have to put Freon in this next week..."

Next week came and it got to be Wednesday--I ran into town to mail an Etsy package and stop in at NAPA for coolant. I tripped out gaily with my coolant and then didn't get around to attempting "the deed" til late afternoon as I was busy doing other things. 

Plain and simple, I couldn't get the Freon hose hooked up to the adapter-thingy (I have put coolant in a vehicle once or twice before in my life, just never in Annabelle). After a number of diagnostic phone calls with Daddy we determined that it was probably just a shortness/strength issue so he told me to take it over to NAPA in the morning and get them to help me. So that is what I did.

The kind-hearted men tried--two of them--and informed me that they thought the adapter must be the wrong size. Looking at a service-sticker under the hood, they suggested that I take Annabelle back out Eagles and see if they couldn't fix me up. Okay sure. So I called Daddy--he gave me the green light; called home to explain the extra length on my out-and-about and headed up the road a bit to Eagles.

Well--it was lunch hour--so I decided since I was getting hungry myself that I'd go on home rather than wait and get myself some lunch. I got back, Mr. Steve looked at things...and as it turns out, he ended up pulling Annabelle into a bay to run a UV light on her and see if he could locate where/if there was a leak before he even went about trying to put any Freon it. The end diagnosis was something along these lines--he couldn't see ANY Freon or oil in it at all. No apparent leaks. The condenser is kind of clogged up and he wants to clean it (suspects the leak may be there), but it was more than an afternoon job and we needed Annabelle the very next day. So...the consensus was: Go. Be hot. (Have a good time.) Bring her back in Monday morning for the job to be done. 

And that, y'all was the start of the Turkeyville Adventure.

I finished loading (minus last minute things like the cooler and pillows) that evening and the next day we got out--at least an hour later than I intended:

After a phone call to Miss K to determine a few things, I picked our route (the one that takes us through Miss K's home town) and we ended up having lunch with her at this nice little BBQ place she works at.

We made a brief stop at the K's house also in order to pick up the fly and side wall and poles they were so kind to lend us yet again and managed to get to Turkeyville and set up before dark.

Anyway, I slept kind of lousy that night--not just because there were mosquitoes joyfully nibbling upon me, but when I woke up after only a couple hours of sleep at someplace between 3 and 3:30 am...someone a few tents down was carrying on a lively conversation in a middle of the day tone. I didn't get back to sleep after that, not really. I think I dozed a little between 4:30 and 5...but not much. 

Due to how tired I was and how tired I am...my memories may be a little garbled, so bear with me....I have a feeling I'm going to be dropping stuff out of the narrative because I can't remember it at the time of this writing.

​Josh showed up for breakfast and before eating, he tried on his new pants...and I most definitely needed to hem them up!

I ended up cutting the excess off and simply flipping up the raw edge about an inch before stitching it down (though technically I really could have just cut it and left it--unfinished pants were not unusual and that wool isn't going to ravel). I even got to use a sad iron for the first time in my life! I pressed the hem of Josh's pants and also pressed the collar of Hawk's vest.

Speaking of Hawk--we were camped right next to Hawk and Jill. They had even saved the space for us, so that was great! :)

Josh mosied off after breakfast. As I was getting started on hemming his pants, he shows up again and asked us if we'd like to grab our instruments and come down to where a group where jamming. Well, you know us (I think!) and so we collected guitar and fiddle and headed down the line to meet the 9th Kentucky and enjoy a time of jamming before lunch. Really a nice bunch of guys...more on them later though. ;)

Saturday's battle was set in Missouri and the Confederates were supposed to be militia fighting the Yankees....I forget the town and the exact set-up, but that was the general drift. They did something in this battle I've never seen done before. They encouraged spectators to join them on the field. Not randomly of course  (nor armed), but they took their "volunteers" (mostly kids) and put them in formation and marched them onto the field under supervision. They were only allowed on for part of the battle. What follows is a collection of photos taken from Saturday's battle:

Those last bunch of fellows were actually camped behind us and are they ever good! They were quite lively on the battlefield, yelling and when the "Bushwacker" got hit, he twitched and writhed...if I were man, going onto the field, I would probably be like that...really make a good show out of it.

After the battle I don't remember exactly what went on...until all of a sudden I realized that the band was setting up for the dance and that we probably should start tidying ourselves up a little. (My watch was an entire hour slow...I set it wrong that morning entirely by accident.) 

Josh escorted us to the ball along with another of his friends, Lydia. She seems like a real nice girl--I talked to her some at Coldwater. Four wide we "wheeled left" then "wheeled right" on our way into the dance tent. 

While a little "small" (though certainly not the smallest reenactment ball I've ever been to--Fort Pierce in 2014 gets that honour) it was an enjoyable dance and I had plenty of partners--KT and I only danced with each other once! The band that has played the dances I have been to up here is really very good--though I still don't think anyone can beat 7 LB.S of Bacon as a dance band and Mr. Doug as caller... :) 

The gents from the 9th KY invited us to come back to the big-tent after a bit and jam with them some, so we collected our instruments and a candle holder and joined the fun. I don't know how long we played but it was over an hour for sure! I think this was probably one of the BEST jam sessions I have ever been party too. While these guys are really, really good, they were also easy to jam with because they were encouraging and kind. Put it this way, one wasn't left feeling stupid because they didn't know the song, or even the exact chords. My fingers got sore and I started using my guitar as a drum more than I was strumming or finger-picking, but it went on until nigh on midnight. I heard the next day that the 11th Miss (the ones camped behind us) had really enjoyed the music. I was glad because I had started to worry we were being a nuisance to those who might be trying to sleep. Though we were just "right there" from the big tent, a couple of them escorted us "home" after the jam and we said our good-nights.

I slept terrible. Not because I was wound up but because of those things go "buzz" in the night. Them skeeters were NASTY.  I felt like I was awake half the night knocking my head around slapping at those Insekten. I was trying to keep covered, but I felt like I was boiling (it was humid and not really all that cool). In the end, I may have managed to actually sleep for three hours. So I was a little flat the next day. 

I did get a kick of energy about half-way through my second cup of coffee and that, plus adrenaline, got me through the day. Church was at 10, so we showed up a little early and played a few tunes--then we would play again during the alter call. Josh joined us with his gorgeous 12-string. I would give you the basic outline of Hawk's sermon, but due to the state of my mind, I think I would butcher it. All in all--the Ten Commandments. These are the rule of life and we break them ALL when we break one (which we all do). Jesus is the way of salvation because He paid for our sins. (I will add that He also perfectly fulfilled the law and through in that lofty-sounding "double imputation" phrase.)  

Real shortly after the service, Jill and a smallish number of ladies gathered 'round to discuss the lack of women "doing it right" and how to graciously help and encourage them to make the extra effort to do so. Not sure anything conclusive was landed upon, but in my personal opinion, I think it really comes down to the mind-set of the person reenacting. If they don't care, nothing we can say will make them care and if they do care, they will be already be trying to make headway. 

Pres. Davis was there on hand to give a talk and while Katherine went to prepare lunch (it was her week to cook so she was landed the cooking duties for the weekend) Jill and I stayed. Apparently, Mr. Lincoln was supposed to be there as well, but the poor man fell and hurt both of his wrists the day before (I believe he even went to the hospital) so he wasn't there. So, Pres. Davis spoke of Mr. Lincoln. While I am definitely not a big Lincoln fan, I was able to appreciate the kindness and attempt at level dealing in the way Pres. Davis spoke. (Of course, in real life, these presenters are friends, so I'm sure that helps.)

The battle was quite early (1 o'clock) and so lunch was pushed off until after the battle since it wasn't done yet. Katherine stayed in camp and I went to watch the battle, camera in hand. So, this next collection of photos were taken by me (so...they loaded up kinda of random like...):

This battle was the battle of Corydon, Indiana--which I just so happened to hear of for the first time last Sunday!! The Union were supposed to be militia this time...and the Confederates really should have been cavalry as they were filling in for John Hunt Morgan's men. Corydon, Indiana was one of the few battles fought on Yankee Northern turf. I was really rather unsure who won this...

After this battle, both sides lined up to salute the crowd with their musket volley:

I wandered back to the tent at this point and after a fantabulous lunch, would begin breaking down camp in slo-mo fashion. I picked up speed after a bit because we were supposed to get to the K's by 6 so we could join in their "call-in" to their church's evening service and I didn't want to be late again. Josh helped us break down the tent and pack the truck, which I appreciate. 

As Josh and I were finishing the packing, Katherine took a couple of tent ropes over to Hawk so he could teach her how to splice. I showed up just as he was really getting underway--and even though I haven't done it yet, I think I can say that I too learned how to splice. Grandpa would be proud. :) (Kt is currently sitting in the other room splicing the tent ropes, by the way.)

We did make it to the K's with hardly a minute to spare...I tried very hard to pay attention though I was tired enough that I won't say that my attention was at it's peak. 

This last picture brings me back to the truck--and the end of the story I started this post with. There is a twist to this tale that you probably aren't expecting.

When I cranked Annabelle up in the driveway, I noticed she was a little sluggish, but didn't think anything really about it. We stopped a few miles away in town to get gasoline before going on--and Annabelle wouldn't crank. It was the battery. I could tell by the way the engine faded. I just about panicked. I told Katherine to call Abigail because I knew one of the boys or Mr. K would come and give us a jump. Well, Abigail didn't answer...and the house phone didn't answer...and God works miracles. 

I tried one more time and Annabelle roared to life. That my friends, is nothing short of the gracious mercy of God. 

I was on the phone with Mom at the time and she told me "Do NOT turn the truck off until you get home." I didn't.

To continue, I went to crank Annabelle this morning once I had most of the stuff unloaded, so that I could take the rest of it out and unload it directly into the barn...and she wouldn't crank. Each attempt got weaker. So I called Daddy. Battery or alternator he said...or both. After a few minutes, I followed the advice he gave me, put her in neutral and rolled down the slight driveway incline far enough to get the Red Car out of the garage and turned around. Thankful that I know the proper use of jumper cables, I got the two vehicles battery's hooked up and in a few minutes, Annabelle was purring. 

I didn't turn her off either until Mr. F at NAPA told me to...she needed a new battery as the old was six years old.

From there, I took her on out to Eagles. Far later than my "first thing in the morning" appointment. It was after 1 pm. 

The word on the A/C though, to conclude the tale is this: 
The R134 conversion of this make and model vehicle only lasts 1-2 years before the compressor tears up.  It is the wrong type of compressor for R134 to effectively lubricate and it gets all trashed after awhile and the internal gets all plugged up with metal shavings (from the compressor guts). So, while he could fix it for a hunk of money, we'd still have to do it again in 2 years (or so), etc. Daddy told him to put things back together and he will try to find one he can strip off another vehicle and retrofit to Annabelle. 

Well...I'm now sufficiently tired and it's dark so I think bed calls my name.

Sometime before I completed my new 1860's dress I popped up into our barn loft and had inspiration strike! It's at least 100 years old in that part of the barn and I'm sure barn construction techniques did not vary very much between the 1860's and the early 1900's...and I knew I wanted a barn loft photoshoot for my new dress. We'll ignore the fact that it didn't come out as perfect as I wanted--the dress that is. The photoshoot was I think productive. Brace yourselves for a post full of my new dress, my round mug, an old barn, and an orchard full of white blossoms!!

Last week, while not a perfect week (none ever is), actually saw completion of "things". 

"You mean, follow-through?" 

Exactly. 

I made it my goal to finish, truly finish, a few things I had started weeks or even years ago. And I did. 

First, I finished off my new corset (that was the most recent project):

Then...I finished a pair of socks I had started several months ago. (No pictures)

And I finally got that last side and sleeve sewn up on that sweater I started in 2012; finished knitting the pieces to in 2015 or early 2016 and had mostly assembled in mid-2016. After all that, I'm not even sure how well I like it...

What's more, I finished up the baby dress I had started in February:

Then I scrounged up my blue CW wash-dress and added a few darts so that it now fits properly:

In between times I kept the fire burning, hauled wood, made as many water runs to the basement as necessary (we are looking forward to having the RO water run back upstairs one of these days), tickled the keys on the piano, and even hauled my cello out of the case for the first time in a couple of months. 

By the end of the week, I had also made a new petticoat (I need to put a tuck in it to shorten it up--for the third time. I apparently didn't eyeball that hem to perfection...) and gotten my new CW dress's bodice drafted and the mock-up cut out. I planned on stitching that up today, but I've been running on slow today--what with daylight savings time (what a joke!) and the snowy weather and haven't done much un-computer related besides making lunch, washing dishes, making two water runs, stoking the fire and hauling wood, and writing a letter. AND...now it's time to make supper! ;) 

I have four friends with birthdays this week...somehow that amuses me. :) Three are, or are past, and one still to come. My brother-in-law's birthday is next week (if I'm right on the date), so it's a birthday-ish kind of month, it seems! Naturally, Katherine is our "Sunshine Lady" as Mom puts it, so any mailed out cards have passed through the adorable child's hands.

Speaking of adorable, here's her shop outfit for today. Ain't she just PURDY??

Back to this week so-far though. I can't exactly remember Monday...unless Monday was the day Katherine and I went to Jo-Ann's. If it wasn't Monday, it was Tuesday.

Well, anyway, we went to Jo-Ann's because I have a number of Civil War underpinnings to make for certain persons--preferably before next weekend which is our first reenactment of the season! I, being the entire doof that I am, misread the sale ad and thus was happily expecting the muslin to be 50% off. Oh. It doesn't start until THURSDAY, you say? Well...now that I feel stupid, I'll come back then and get my mass of yardage! (Which I did, this morning, in conjunction with a grocery run. I walked out with an entire bolt of muslin for just over $25.)

I was also pricing for possible other notions for an upcoming project, my "bother's" Confederate general's uniform! Tickles me pink, it does. :) I'm still not entirely settled on what I'm going to use for the "chicken guts" on the sleeves. I don't want anything that looks cheap and "costumy"; it would ruin the effect. But anyway--there will be more on that project in the future.

Yesterday, I cleaned the chicken coop before breakfast. (That 45 minute buffer on the "dirt" detoxer leaves me open time slots sometimes.) The morning was spent doing a little straightening up and the afternoon saw the staggering fact that we organized our yards and yards and yards of material!!!!

You are allowed to die with shock.

That concluded with 1 box (all units are rubbermaid, just so you know) of 1 yard pieces, 1 box of 2 yard pieces, 1 box mostly full of 3 yard pieces, 1 box mostly full of 4 yard pieces, and 1 box crammed full of 5, 6, and 7 yard pieces. Then, of course, is the scrappy stuff which is supposed to be made into quilts, Katherine's box of fabric, my comforter bag of fabric, two small rubbermaids of doll material, one BIG rubbermaid with the material still on bolts in it. So yeah. We still have some material all over the place to join the mess of unfinished projects, un-started projects, and clothing items to be re-purposed. Oh, and perhaps a mending job or two.

We like fabric. Just in case you didn't know.

I was completely wiped out by the end of the day, but surprisingly, don't seem to badly off today. Which brings me to my next subject: a Racheal Health Update.

The week after Savannah got married, the following Wednesday to be exact, I started my new killer/detox regimen. I won't give any dates for the following, because that would be too precise for my taste (or memory)...

Anyway, I have been having, get this, E-N-E-R-G-Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My brain may not still be working at capacity, but I have been able to move, energetically--all day long (or mostly all day long) in a way that I haven't for quite a long time. Gee. ONE DROP of that fungal killer is doing this to me?? (And I'm not kidding, most days it is only one drop, not two.) I had some headaches when I first went on it, but since leveling out on one drop, I haven't. I wonder how it'll do with two drops. Maybe I'll attempt two next week.....maybe. I like feeling good. :D

Evidence that my brain still isn't fully functioning...I forgot what else I was going to say. 

However, I probably should mosey off of here (coffee's gone) and get to my Thursday baking. I have to go get some rhubarb for pies...and I'll double check with Mom on what else she wants or does not want made. Either way, I'll try to get US some bread made. We have enough eggs now that it's not a strain on our breakfast to whip up some breads.

Since the last time I wrote on here, I actually started a post and finked out half way through it. I think part of it was that something needed to happen before I could finish the post and by the time it did...I had completely lost the writing bug. So...here's life this week.

Etsy Store #2 (Rompers by Racheal): I was contacted by a lady who wants three outfits of this style for her not-born-yet triplet grand-babies. That required a sizing down of the 6 month-sized pattern to newborn...which resulted in this as a test run:

I think that I need to take a little fullness out of it yet. At anyrate, she wants them in cream taffeta--so I ordered some off the internet. It got here yesterday and it is closer to khaki (okay, the color is "sand" but it looked cream in the photo!)  I wrote her this morning and have yet to hear back...if it's good with her, I'll order the ivory from the same place (the material feels nice). It won't affect her costs any...BUT as I try to please my costumers, I'm sitting tight until I hear yea or nay from her. And that "Sand" taffeta...I'll find something to use it for! :D

Etsy store #1 (Granddaddy's House): I had negotiated a sale of some C-7 lights...and as it turns out, I had miscounted the number of sockets on the one strand and now I'm really embarrassed and though I contacted her immediately about the mistake yesterday morning, I have not heard hide nor hair from this person yet...so I have lights waiting to be shipped and payment already in my account. 

So, on the Etsy front is has been a rather interesting/embarrassing/slightly frustrating couple of days. Hopefully, I'll hear back from both of them by tomorrow morning so I know what to do!!

I have also been tracing off the six vintage patterns I acquired round about Christmas time. I ended up with carpet burned knees yesterday thanks to that. I finished up today (standing at the ironing board!)

I started the day out in the shop, but was really feeling rather cruddy (partly due to an awful cramp in my upper rib-cage that still isn't completely gone--it sure made breathing painful), but after lunch and two cups of coffee I perked up a little. I've been feeling TIRED all day though too--I'll blame a good half of that on the rain. ;)

All in all though, this week has been full of sewing and sewing related things. Maybe...just maybe...I can finish up the red-check overalls tomorrow!! Now that's an idea...I started them before Christmas!

Oh yes...and before I forget...I started a "sewing blog": Stitchery Dickery Dock. WHY??
Um...partly because I wanted to do something a little different looks-wise and there is NO WAY that I'm going to change the theme of this blog. I'd kick myself from here to the ditch if I did.....I love this theme. (Besides, there might be an odd-ball or two out there who would like to read about my sewing, but not the rest of my fascinating life? ;D)

Well, sort of. This upcoming Saturday, Savannah and I will be doing so in the church choir. Mmhmm. The Mouse Soprano and the Froggy Alto are singing in a choir. But never mind. 

When Mrs. E, our choir director first laid out the guidelines of clothing choices, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to wear. My red Chap's sweater with my black wool skirt. Until a few practices after and I realized how horridly hot I'd be. Particularly as I get sweaty when at all nervous. 

Then I had an idea. A red corduroy vest. Not just any ol' red cord vest, but a double-breasted, militaristic red corduroy vest. 

Problem #1: none of the vest patterns we have hit the spot.

I designed my own.

Problem #2: I had never drafted a pattern for an adult.

Solution? 

I took my own measurements (with just a wee bit of help from Katherine on those really hard to measure spots) and marked them down on the miniature scribbled pattern I'd draw on a piece of college ruled paper. I did end up borrowing one of Katherine's vests to figure out the armhole curvature, since my attempt at it freehand was 100% backwards. (I have this slightly dyslexic thing that happens occasionally and I can't think my way out of it.)

I measured and drew it onto a few sheets of scrap paper taped together and cut it out. Minus the seam allowance, of course. :p So...I had to redraw it and add in the seam allowance.

Well and good...but I wanted a stand up collar. Back to Pintrest I went and found two different tutorials. Between the two of them, I drew up a collar. 

I cut out the mock-up out of fabric that, assuming it worked, I could go ahead and wear. It fit! :)

Then I ran into Problem #3: The pattern wasn't going to fit on the red corduroy dress I was using for material. Removing the pockets from the skirt did nothing to help, since the very obvious markings of where the pockets had been was completely unacceptable. COMPLETELY. 

Then inspiration struck! I'd put a seam down the back of the of the vest (it was supposed to be cut on the fold). I laid the pattern actually over the skirt seams (I had them lined up evenly) so with the center back seam, I actually ended up with a three-seam almost decorative look. I then put three matching seams down the back of the collar. They didn't end up lining up exactly, but I didn't rip it out since it's not overly noticeable and I may have that part covered with my hair anyway.

Due to a mistake in the initial stitching together, I ended up having to sew the armholes by hand. I wasn't going to rip the whole garment out when it's not too much trouble to hand-stitch an armhole....

Then came the next question. Four big brassy/gold buttons or six small black ones? I liked the brass and my sister liked the black. Since I was aiming for an early 19th century military-esque vest, I decided I would go with the brass...only to realize four (I had five total) would not look right. Six would have been perfect...but since I didn't have enough, I returned to digging through the button box and came up with eight black rimmed buttons with a silver lattice/basket-weave like center.

I also put three small shirt buttons on the inside to hold the inner flap shut nicely. (The perk of having hundreds of buttons cut off the men's shirts that we use for aprons and children's clothes.)

While it didn't turn out completely perfect, the sides being a wee longer than I was aiming for and a little extra room in the back about the waist, I like it. I may look slightly wide in it, but I think with a fuller sleeved shirt it will counter-balance some of the extra room. 

(Sorry about the picture quality...the batteries are getting low...and my photographer was probably standing a little too close so the flash was too bright. Oh well. Gives you the general idea.)

All in all, I don't think it's a bad job for the first time ever drafting a pattern completely from scratch!

I was laying on my stomach in bed, half asleep, when I heard my door being opened. I half rolled over, squinting, to see Savannah coming in. "Huh?" I more than likely grunted, wondering if there was something wrong with Grandpa.

The information she imparted was that my new chickens (the hatchery replaced them ALL!!) had arrived. They were in the back seat of the car at that moment. Apparently the Post Office had called at 5:30 and Daddy went and got them. As I crawled out of bed, I saw that it 6:30. I normally get up someplace between 7 and 7:30, so it wasn't drastically early, though I definitely wasn't ready to get up because I hadn't finished my "ease out" as I call the way I wake up.

I scrambled into my "chicken-clothes" and helped Daddy rig up the second brooder box--literally a card-board box. It required a little cutting and taping, but the end result is fine.

I didn't have enough feeders and water-trays, so Daddy and Mama went into town and got them and a couple more heat lamps after a bit. I had already put the chicks into the brooder coop though and split the pre-extant feeders, water trays, and lights between the two boxes.

Because there were so many (102 or 103 depending on if I actually messed up the count that once), I put some of the new ones, Red Rangers (rather than the Black Rangers) in with the Black ones. That was hilarious, because the black ones (a week old--I count from the day I got them rather than the day they were actually hatched--which would probably be Wednesday the 22nd) were all bunched up at one end and when I plopped that first Red in (yes, they are actually yellow at this stage of the game), they all went (figuratively), "Eeee!!! What is that!!"  The Reds just plowed in and made themselves quite at home. 

It is also Market Day (#1), so that flurry was going on this morning too. I made brownies, with a brownie mix, since the other bakers are out of town this weekend and we're doing stop-gap business. ;) Since I cannot eat them, I cannot say whether they turned out well or not. But they smelled good--but since when does chocolate NOT smell good???

Katherine whipped up some Rice Crispy squares (people do like their licky-chewy's you know) all the while saying, "I hate making these..." I don't really see why, but she doesn't enjoy the processes for some reason. :D  I should have said, "Here you make the brownies and let me make the rice crispies..." Oh well...

I managed to puncture the bottom of my heel with a screw this morning. It's inevitable, I must puncture myself at least once a year! It bled a bit, but quit bothering me rather shortly afterwards. 

Well, my coffee is gone and the dishes need washing and I need to get to work on more rompers. I'm trying to get a decent stack made up before Remembering WWII. (We are going as vendors again.) I have a few made, but I'm trying to specialize in ones that actually look authentic...this is my first one using modified modern patterns:

(I finally broke down at some point earlier this year and got a Pinterest account...the thing comes in really handy for this kind of fashion research.)

I have a minor problem which I have decided to go ahead and fix--one of the buttonholes is really quite tight. I'll have to rip it out (or part of it) and redo it. I did all the buttonholes by hand since my machined holes are always rotten and I like doing handwork.

Anyway, I was getting off of here...

And so, it may have taken most of the day to get it completed, along with a little ripping out and rethinking--but I completed that little sailor suit romper! I made it in the largest size--which goes right into toddler size, so I put it on one of our old walking dolls. Sarah, Katherine's doll, modeled it. The little blonde beauty doesn't exactly look like a little boy, but oh well. :)

If I want to make a smaller size, I will have to re-size the collar for each size...and probably the little center piece too. After making this, Mama suggested that I cut the "V" on the bias so it has a little stretch. I think that is a good idea, and so I add that to my mental checklist. 

In addition, I finally got my ironing board cover made--and on!! Sorry, no pictures. I was going into food withdrawal about that time and the idea didn't even cross my mind. Essentially though, it looks like the other one I made back aways for the other ironing board.

Tomorrow's plan is to get my hives painted--because I am really going to need that second hive body as soon as possible next week! Both hives are thinking about busting...

And, just for fun, while Mama was doing some clean up in the living room and sorting through one of the piles (mountains) of books, she ran across one that is almost three inches thick, red in color, and has this fascinating wording along the spine (which feels rather worn): A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. She was considering getting rid of it, but the writer in me screamed "NO! That may come in handy." So...now I just have to find a place to keep it. :D However, I thought it might be fun to randomly pick a word or phrase per day and put up here. I will avoid the profane, of course...

So, here goes:

I suspect that that isn't politically correct. I also promise that I will not call the Norwegian lady in our congregation a "Norsker".

I shall give this blogging stuff a whirl, even though I'm not feeling wonderful. To be quite honest, I feel kind of achy all over (you might have laughed if you had seen me when I fed that cat...I almost couldn't) and I think I'm dealing with a little meningitis. So yes, I am sitting in the house, in JULY, with a light sweater on. 

We got to see Robert and Lessie (and Hannah) again this morning--they were coming through on their way home, so we went out for brunch with them; Bob Evan's again. Katherine did get some pictures, but I haven't scrounged her camera yet, so you'll just have to miss them. 

The last two days I have been working on and off on constructing my new hives--which arrived Monday. It takes so long because you have to glue everything before you nail it. 

As you can see, I didn't set up shop in the living room this time. :) No, the car got thrown out of it's home until I'm done.

I attempted to assemble more than two frames at once (one in each set of clamps) and my first attempt was rather bad. I set four or so up on their top bars and then balanced the clamps on top of them for weight. Hum. I had a few of those fall apart. I decided not to do any more like that. After thinking a bit, I figured out how to get two frames in each set of clamps:

I had to put another bottom bar along the bottom-most frame in order to get it clamped tight enough to do any good. Four at a time--much better than just two. :) 

I finished up all the initial assembly today. Now the frames (all forty of them) need their tacks put in. Daddy did that for me with the first batch...but maybe I can take care of these. I also need to paint the hive body and the supers. Next week I need to get both colonies moved into an actual full-sized hive. 

In addition to that today, I started working on a baby romper. I didn't get finished because I hit a snag (which I think I know how to fix), but I had to quit. If I hadn't I think I would have completely boogered it up. First off, I had to figure out how to make a sailor collar--yes, it's a sailor suit. I just had to make one. :D This one is my prototype essentially; so I am using a rather less than stellar feeling piece of material. For the next one, I want to put white sleeve bands/cuffs on it. I will post pictures once I get this one completed. I think, perhaps with bias, that it's going to be rather cute. Hopefully I will be able to get it done tomorrow. I'm a bit excited about it, if you can't tell. (I love sailor suits...for some illogical reason. I want to make myself another one...or a sailor suit dress. Or at least something with a sailor collar. Okay, so I just want to make myself some CLOTHES--that actually fit. I keep going to get dressed in the morning and stand there staring at my clothes: "That doesn't fit right...nor that. I don't really want to wear a skirt and top. I want to wear a dress. Oh...they're both in the laundry again. Let's see what's in the ironing pile..." Seriously, I think it'll be fall before I get my ironing all done! o.O I need to finish the ironing board cover that has been hanging here on the back of my chair for...months? Then I can just set up in my room [my ironing board's cover is in absolute shambles] and not have to haul stuff down and then back up the stairs.)  

Whoa. That was a serious side track. Well, I'm off...I wonder if my mind can handle reading this evening? I have the feeling that it won't...

It is Spring!! 

You already knew that, though...but still...I can get excited. The weather is warming up around here (more or less)--it was in the high 50's today and I spent a nice hour and a half out of doors this morning, puttering.

First I planted the mustard greens (finally, I might add). I had pulled out the chard, but looking at the package, it seemed like a little bit warmer weather would be better for planting that.

Secondly, I gathered up the lopers and addressed myself to the "orchard". I went through and cut down the little saplings from where the Peonies will come up...from under the Flowering Quince (it gets these beautiful little red flowers) and whatever that other thing is next to it. Then I trimmed the little upstart Lindens and Maples from under that very characterful pine along the front. The top is missing from it and it does have such an interesting shape. From there I moved to the asparagus bed (if I remember correctly, it didn't do so outstanding last year; not that I myself would personally care over much as asparagus is one of those things I just don't like). I left one of the saplings in there...it can always come out later if the Executives (heehee!) don't like the underling's decision. ;) Anyway, I went about and did some "spring cleaning" in just that one area. I also picked up the dead fall. Still, I set myself the task and I completed it. I'm going to ease my way back into work and see how much I can do without coming down with a case of "the M"....

I did one or two piddly other things before coming in to be greeted by the piteous yowls of a cat who just knew it was lunch time...

I am pleased to say that I got everything on my to-do list done today. :) That included washing eggs. I always intend to do them every two days or so, but lately it's been more like every five--so it's no wonder I end up with 9 dozen at a time...

The next thing on my agenda was vacuuming the house. I did that, singing, as usual, songs along the vein of "The Southern Soldier" and "Riding a Raid". Abby dodged me and hid--also as usual.

Ah...satisfaction.... :) I even got this skirt I'm planning on making cut out....which really just entailed cutting the legs off a pair of jeans (the legs simply shredded when washed after I walked through the briers in Florida once) and cutting the one yard swaths of two different green fabrics into strips. I'm going to have a flouncy cotton skirt! :)

I'll leave you with that interesting tidbit of information...