If Mice Would Just Wear Nappies

It was lovely yesterday! Sunny and perfect for rummaging around the garden shed.

We moved lots of things out to make room for gardening activities. Lawn furniture, that sort of thing. I was digging in my cupboard drawers looking for some wettable sulfur when my nose picked up a less than delicate scent. Yuck! Stinky mouse pee in my potions and lotions drawer!

Now pay attention. Stupidity sets in here.

I am grossed out thoroughly but figure I better do the cleaning today as it won't get any better with time. I start to pull things out and set them outside for bleaching and hosing. Most things are in bins so it's easy to do. The bottom drawer has the foam sheets I used for wrapping trees. It's really stinky and I pick it up by both ends so no pee spills out.

I make it to the door before I realize that wasn't what I needed to notice.

Things like:

• the pee smell was fresh - very fresh
• foam is soft and easily chewed
• mice had been there for some time - why?

So at the door the well chewed bottom drops out of the pile of foam and a mass of chewed foam, a mother mouse and a whole bunch of baby mice drop on the doorstep. OMG!

Mother picks up a baby and runs to a plumbing pipe lying handy by the door. She stuffs baby in and then turns to glare at me. I'm horrified! The babies seem too young to move on their own and I figure the best I can do is to put the group back together in a safe and warm spot. DH is fetched from his workshop and brings a milk carton with an old towel. I scoop mice into the carton, push it over the mouth of the pipe, dump seeds next to it, cover it with other bins and insulating layers. I'm still horrified, but recovering. I feel so bad! Poor little family! 

Back to the cleaning. I mix the bleach really strong (I hate to admit I even own bleach,  but there are times when nothing else will do). I spray everything in the bins and let it sit while I go back to the drawers. There are cardboard tubes in the bottom drawer I haven't yet moved and I decide they need to go. As I reach for the first one, it moves.

Add to the 'need to notice' list above:

• the babies seemed to be in two groups - older and younger
• this might indicate more than 1 mother

Mother #2 pops out of the tube, checks me out and scampers over the drawer wall - and then who knows where? I am a home wrecker and a family breaker upper! 

I clean the drawers and the bins. I no longer smell bleach, it's just what the world smells like, I think. I left the door open all day so maybe mouse #2 can come out and find her babies again. 

The mice here are really quite cute. They have round little bodies, they don't bolt and they hop. Really quite adorable! As DH has had them climb his legs on 2 separate occasions, we call them pant mice. 

I can only imagine what they call me. 

And yes, we do figure the baby she grabbed first was her favourite. Every mother has one.

Do Onto Chickens....

I will be 60 in July. I find myself referring to me as already 60. I'm not sure why. Mental rehearsal? I used to think this was going to be hard, and it may yet still be. But feeling good about it right now!

Can't decide to party or not. Any thoughts?

Some events come back to you vividly. Many years ago I was teaching a small group of 8 year olds and we somehow got on the topic of where water goes when you send it down the drain. This led to toilets and where that all goes. At that time our waste water went directly, untreated, into the harbour - not more than 100 metres from where we were at the time. We could see the harbour out the window.

The looks on their faces will never leave me. It was profound. The horror! The knowledge that adults, trusted people who ruled their worlds - would do such a thing! How could this be so? No politician would have left the room alive. They would have shrivelled in the glare.

Notice how I ignore my role in all this. I tried, but it just makes you think. All the time, at the most inopportune moments. What kind of touch am I leaving on this world?

So I see this short video on Facebook. I try not to fall into those rabbit holes, but I was weak.

It showed the life of a chicken, from egg to store. I raised ducklings with my grade 2 classes, so I have a thing for fluffy hatchlings. Mind you, I do find chicks stupid. Ducklings are intelligent, and they like to sit on your feet while you teach. Love that. So cute. And then they poop.

It was not a horror film designed to send you to nightmare city for the next week or two, but it pushed me over that edge. I don't think I can buy regular chicken anymore. I want happy, free range and naturally unengineered chickens. I'm also thinking that way for meat in general, and less of it all.

I'm not militant. I just want to be aware, and able to look those 8 year olds in the eyes. I am currently finishing off the 'bad' freezer contents. Waste not, after all. DH looked at the price tag on the free range chicken I bought and decided his conscience will allow him to eat the factory chicken after all. That's fine. He knows his way to the store. I can only be responsible for me.

I also checked out a Michael Pollan book from the library. It won't be the page turner the Michael Connolly was, but I shall see where it goes.

Working Out in Style

I ate the peeps. They were supposed to make it to Easter. They didn't. I'm not sorry.

Ms. G made me socks! You should all make something for a friend. It makes them feel so good! Just think of the joy you could spread!

On the subject of joy - you know how we all sweat the fact that our stash will more than likely live on well after we are gone? I have found a way to live with this - guilt free! I plan to have my stash bundled by a friend who knows what she's doing (The Great P) and given away as nice gift bags at my wake. That way it goes to people who know what it is, where it came from - and will know just patting it and never making a thing will be just fine. And now, I don't have a 'finish' line! I can stash on comfortably, knowing my stash has a purpose and a plan.

I have also decided to sew that stuff I keep thinking I should keep for good. Maybe someone I don't like will show up at the wake and get that piece. It's hard to plan these things. Who knows who may show up?  I'll want to be a good wake hostess and treat everyone well. I'm going to sew it if I want to!

So I therefore took a lovely piece of thick linen and some wonderful canvas and made a bag for the gym. I joined the local gym. With a great bag I am now obligated to go and work out. I'll also need new workout gear and a swim suit. Love it! More fabric that won't make the wake!

This bag was an amazing make! I was using thicker fabric than the quilt weight cotton called for and that caused problems for me, but first let's just talk bag. The Nora Doctor Bag from Swoon goes together just as she says it will! I love it when complex parts fit together and sew perfectly around curves. These patterns are always well drafted and work. The directions are very complete. Good pictures but you have to read the directions to get all the details. I hate reading directions, but I don't mind for Swoon. She doesn't waste words and chooses her words well.

She calls for several different stabilizers. I matched what she said and it gives the bag wonderful shape. I did remove interfacing from the handles. More info on that below.

I did add another strip of inner pockets. I needed a pocket for my locker lock. Now about the thick fabric! OMG! I had to experiment a lot with thread and needles and even then I had some skipped stitches and absolute refusal. My conclusions. Go slow, let your machine do what it can and don't force it. A jeans needle was best, but go as small as possible so the hole to be 'punched' is as small as possible. I used 30 wt Sulky cotton thread in bobbin and needle. The stitch looks more balanced that way. I didn't know I could do that! Thank you Lori.

I did end up stitching the last thing on my Singer treadle. I had to stitch across the straps - so 8 layers of tightly woven canvas. The treadle did it! No skipped stitches! However, It was a bit akin to drilling holes. I often had to literally punch my way through for some of the stitches. But the treadle was up to the challenge! Mostly, perhaps, because it doesn't have a motor to give you a hard time. It is my Super Hero.

One change I did make to the pattern. She calls for boning for the top bag channels. I tried boning and it wasn't as stiff as I liked, and kept shredding threads and such. In my corset class we used huge (28") zip ties from Home Depot. They were perfect! Very stiff, perfect size and slid into the channel beautifully. Also I moved the closing tab up from its back position to get it to close like the picture shows. However, look at my Actual doctor's bag. The closing edges overlap. Maybe that's what I should be aiming for. I'll ask Swoon.

I'll need a custom locker at the gym so my bag doesn't get crushed. They'll understand.

I'm off to Easter dinner with the sisters, et al. I'm taking frogs (Purl Soho freebie). They're stuffed with lentils or barley and most posable!

Peep Show

It's supposed to be spring, but I'm still cold. My fingers, my toes - all cold. The flannel sheets are still my best friends. I love them. So soft.

I promised pics of my stuffy phase. It seems to be slowing a bit. I haven't stuffed anything in a week. I do have Easter stuffy plans, but that seems a natural. I haven't added facial features. Can't say I miss them. What if you end up with a naughty expression? What then? This way, it's left to the imagination. I think of my stuffies as home dec items. They add a cuddly touch and colourful touch to any room. I need a few sausage dog neck pillows. I fell in the curling club parking lot and have a sore neck. And a bump where my hipbone used to be.

All but the elephants were free patterns from Purl Soho. It is a most generous site with excellent kits and patterns for sale. I used barley and lentils to stuff the frogs.  Makes posing much more fun.

This is a quilt I made to showcase some neat fabrics at the store. The Great P added some wonderful variegated thread for the quilting. She is getting quite particular and accomplished! You should see her pat gently as she guides the machine. Just like a mother duck! 

This a row of bunnies for a 'bed scarf'. It's such a quick project to try out a quilting idea. In this case the pattern came from a book All In A Row. It has a wonderful variety of row patterns and matching filler rows. I wanted to try appliqué with this bunny idea. You cut the bunny in pieces on tagboard and insert paper fasteners. Then you can pose your bunny as you like before tracing it on the appliqué fabric. I also used a fine fusible batting (Soft and Stable?) to back 2 of the appliquéd bunnies. It raised the fabric a bit and the bunny looks much better with the machine blanket edging. I'll do that again!

This is my Mixed Mutts quilt. It's a match to the cat quilt I made previously. I think the best part of this quilt was working with friends to get the blocks started. Sewing should always be social. Especially when puppies are involved.

 I have a few quilts in various states of completion right now, but I'm letting them percolate. I need to sew something for me. I therefore made myself a cozy knit dress. I am waiting for this phase of droopy hems and saggy pockets to pass, but in the meantime I am on that bandwagon. I also signed up for a pant drafting class on Craftsy. So far it looks good and makes sense. The proof will be in the rear end, and we don't get to that for a bit. Fingers crossed!

Yes, Easter is on its way! This calls for a Peep display, and these peepers are in the spotlight on my kitchen windowsill.

Love Your 'Hood

I was out walking in my 'hood and doing my 'once in a blue moon' pick up de crap. I had scouted things out the week before and came armed with a large clear bag. I decided to pre-sort and only collect recycled things today. In the 20 minutes I collected I overfilled that bag. Fortunately the mail carrier took it off in her truck for the Sea Cadets or I'd still be tugging that sucker home. Cheap vodka and Moose Dry are very popular.

If you love your 'hood, give it a try. Spread the love! I also know, from my scouting trip last week - that someone else is loving the 'hood, as several beer can piles were already picked up by today.

Do this on wash day. Beer spills. Strip at the door, clothes to the wash and a hot shower for you. Maybe some of that Moose Dry to follow.

Found an amazing tea house this weekend in Halifax down by the Split Crow. Sawadee Tea. They had an overwhelming selection of teas and adorable tea strainers. I got a deep sea diver with his own alert buoy. I told her what I liked and she made several excellent suggestions. Finally I found a source for Lapsang Souchong tea! Smoky and really amazing! Check them out on FaceBook.

I spent the weekend at NSCAD making a Chinese thread box. Google them. It was a lovely weekend with good people and a relaxed instructor. It's a very doable and repeatable project. I would like to try it out in other materials. I'm wondering about batik and a twin needle to mark the fold lines. I'd also think Tyvek would be interesting. They are holding a Japanese box building workshop soon. They also looked wonderful!

We made a 11 compartment box. About three 22"x30" pieces of heavy paper go into this wallet sized construction. It's like a paper swallowing black hole! I want to make a seed keeper. The twist pockets would work really well for that. The white box is a star box we made at the end. Most of us felt that it would be our first and last star box without very, very close supervision. The blue wallet is what unfolds in the next pictures.

 

The twist pockets fold to hold securely and lay flat.

The twist pockets are each on top of a box that are on top of this box.

A second rectangular box under the first.

I've been finishing up a few projects and I must mention my stuffed phase. I have had an insatiable urge to make stuffed toys. Not for children - for me! As items of decor, so to speak. There was even an emergency run to Walmart for more stuffing on a Sunday afternoon. I find Walmart a scary place. Scary people wearing scary outfits shop there.  

I made myself a curling suit. The fabric has a brushed warm inside and stretches. The men missed my quilted jacket. Those boys need more colour in their lives!

Finally finished the puppy quilt. It has a navy cotton  velvet binding. Another well aged scrap finds its purpose in life!

Lousy picture. I want a new phone. This was my amazing faux leather pants and silk shantung top destined to surprise my little sister on her birthday. The clan planned to fly up for her surprise party in Montreal. We even cleared security before they cancelled the flight. Major disappointment. It was the worst drive home ever, so you could accept the cancellation.  And Porter refunded our money with no fuss at all. The counter clerk even offered to have our picture taken with my hands at her throat! The family vetoed that. They really don't understand me.  But we had such a good plan! It would have been amazing! I'm pretty sure Mamie had made me fudge even. 

Can't find any stuffed pictures and all of them are at the store. I'll remedy this on Thursday when I am back at the salt mine. But if you also feel the urge, go to Purl Soho for patterns and ideas. It's a most generous web site with the freebies and the patterns work.  I love love love the weiner dog!

Fredericks of Hollywood

I fixed that bra with the stretch issue. It was wearable, but I was not adverse to experimentation. So, I flipped it over and stitched the lining (which was stable) to the outer fabric (which was stretchy). I covered the cups with lines about 3/8" apart. It now looks like one of those fab Fredericks of Hollywood bras from the 60's. And it worked! Looks better and lies smoother!

I found a good tutorial for rope bowls. I like the embellishments with fabric and yarn. Opens the door for all kind of fun, methinks! If I notice a lack of clothesline rope at the Home Depot I think we will confirm this as a new trend. Note the problem she has in the tutorial with her sewing direction. She needs to stop and flip as she turns the bowl up on its side. Just avoid that issue by starting the sewing in the right direction in the first place.

My nephew has given me the greatest present! He married a girl who wants to learn to sew! We spent 2 days together this last week and she is amazing! She has an analytical mind and good control over her stitches for a newby. We made a bowtie, the Colette Sorbetto top and a nursing cover for a friend. I am so happy! I'm trying real hard not to totally snow her down with emails and links. They have 3 children (perfect children!) under the age of 5. I think she'll be a perfect candidate for Nancy Zeiman's 10-20-30 minutes to sew approach. Sadly, they live in Calgary. It will be a long distance sewing partnership.

I was asked "Why underwear?". I know. It seems silly to sew undies when they can be bought so easily. Now with bras that doesn't work as easily for me. A good fit is not easy to buy and I enjoy making them. Then you need the matching bottoms, of course.

But more importantly I needed to do some 'me' sewing after Christmas. It seemed too long since I had done some selfish sewing. It felt good.

I hear from many that it's time to control the stash and sew only for the joy. I so agree. I'm trying to weed and bestow excess on others as I go. It seems easier to do that now and releases some of the pressure. Fabric without an immediate and joyous purpose can impose its own kind of pressure. Unfinished projects can also do that. I want to ignore what I think I should do and just do what I want to do.

For instance, today I started to quilt am embroidered puppy quilt I finished some time ago. I worked away all afternoon but took a few breaks as well. When DH came in from his play date in the garage (a friend and a suspension needed suspending) I joined him to vegetate for the evening. Now I had 3 more blocks to stipple, but they get to wait. I will find joy there tomorrow. Tonight it would be an obligation. Fine line? Indeed.

I will be eyeing my other UFO's with a joyous measurement stick. You got joy for me? Then you and I got a date! No joy? Maybe you will give someone else joy. Who knows. Its worth a try.

Hanging Out My Underwear

Finished my first book of the new year. I reread Persuasion by Jane Austen. I wanted to do it with the vision of the Bath locales fresh in my head. The only thing I don't like about Jane is that I have to slow down to milk her complicated speech patterns for what she wants to say. Of course, you can always ignore her wisdom and just whip ahead for the romance and happy endings.

Why do we all get on the bandwagon for new ways of doing things in the 'coming year'? Mind you, all that ruminating can be interesting, and defining.

I have rediscovered the joy of the bath. Small b bath. Got myself some Epson salts and a few bubbles. I think it could be the new jogging. Good for the mind and the pores with none of the joint pain. Excellent when snow is on the ground. We need more happy time to just relax and think happy thoughts.

I have too much stuff. I would like to do a better job of appreciating the things I love and disposing of the things I don't think earn their dusting. Do I love dusting this?That's the question.

I need to get real about my sewing room. There are a lot of things, fabrics, notions, etc not earning their space. I have a large sewing space (2 rooms and an attic), but I think things should earn their right to take up shelf space and management time. As Sewing on the Edge says, let's make room for new ideas and sewing we will love to do. Let's make my sewing more about me and less about guilt that I haven't done or used that yet.

Along that line I spent the last week on 'me' sewing.

First up - Jan Bones' Smoothie panties.  (Thanks to Hop Along for the pattern and fabric!) Now DH says they are grannie panties, and they are. But there are times when that is just what the outfit calls for. These are great panties for a flat bottom like mine. Nice fit, go together well. In answer to the grannie designation, the 'Welcome" glows in the dark.

The  I finally got around to making the Watson bra and panties by Cloth Habit. I am well endowed. This is not a bra for people like me but I can dream. Much to my surprise the fit was excellent! The fact that it isn't supportive is exactly what the pattern says in the first place, so I got just what I knew I would. It's comfy and cute. I love the wide band - just like wearing a hug! The instructions were good, but there is a Sew Along for even more detail. I love it when a designer does a sew along. It shows confidence in the design and you really get all the help anyone could need that way. The panties were not made for my flat bum, but they will do.

Flat bums. The bain of the little old lady. I'm not content with mine. Doing daily butt exercises to combat this scourge. Encouraging remarks welcome.

Also cut out and sewed a new bra. The Shelley Bra from Bra Makers Supply. I've been admiring that pattern for some time and was on a roll. I used a stretchy fabric and didn't get it stabilized well enough. Too bad. I love the bra and the fit wasn't bad at all. I need to move the front strap extension in a bit. TL has helped me do that on a different pattern, so I'll review what that looked like and try again.

After all this undie sewing I went off to check out local sources for fabric and fixings. Don't bother people. Just order online. It seems to be the best solution for a project that has some very specific requirements.

One complaint for all you underwear designers out there. Tell me what measurement to cut the elastic and give me a mark for matching seamlines. Yes, I can just stretch elastic into place but I like my 2 legs or armholes or whatever to match. It's good to have some measurements and lines to start with. It's a little thing, but it's a good thing.

Lucy Neatby has a free Sock Knit Along on Craftsy. I love Lucy! I got so many pearls just from the first session! If any of you locals would like to spend an occasional Monday afternoon knitting socks just let me know. I could knit.