Dog days

The sewing machine sits idle.

There's nothin' crafty for the blog.

I'm sniffling and coughing and feverish.

I'm sick as a dog.

 

I'm finding it quite puzzling;

it's a baffling mystery

how my fuzzy-thinking brain

bursts forth with poetry.

 

The relations have departed;

their Versa stretching its seams.

We're savoring our peaceful surroundings

and running the washing machine.

 

I'll be back to regular blog content

as soon as my brain fog clears

Is it true?  Can it possibly be?

This silliness is approaching seven years.

 



The looney bin

I think the time has arrived

for me to check myself in.

Hangin' with the crazy relations

made me fall and bang my chin.

Well, maybe it wasn't their fault.

I know it wasn't the wine.

But I sure can tell you for certain,

before the holidays I was doing just fine.

So I think I need a good rest,

where I can knit and read and recline.

I'll see if there's room in the looney bin.

I might even have a good time.

A holiday rhyme

It's the second day of winter

but it looks like fall.

I've really hardly noticed;

I've been at the mall.

My gifts are all wrapped,

well, I should say, "bagged."

There's even Chinese take-out

all whimsically tagged.

Mr. Gadget's still nagging.

He can't seem to stop.

I may tape up his mouth

and hand him a mop.

Darling daughter arrives today.
We'll meet her flight.
There will be dancing and singing
if the airport traffic's light.

Here's wishing you all a merry,
and a thanks for reading my blog.
Looking forward to putting my feet up
with reruns of the Yule Log.



A few of my favorite things

Persimmons!

I had forgotten how much I love them.

The farm market had bushels

on Saturday here in SoCal.

I bought four and lined them up

on the table by the window.

It's hard to be patient while they ripen.

But it's well worth the wait.

Mr. Gadget and I arrived last Wednesday.

I should have checked in sooner,

but Mr. G. has kept me busy.

"Let's go see if we can find a little tree."

"We'd better get busy on the cards."

"Feel like taking the car in for an oil change?"

etc. etc. etc.

We left Connecticut two days before

the horror.

I can't get my mind around it.

Can anyone?

It was very close to the Concondo.

10 miles at most.

The school's principal was the wife of

Big City Girl's junior high math teacher.

Last night around midnight,

here at the Calcondo,

I noticed flashing lights outside the window 

when I got up to use the bathroom.

A police car was sitting

in the middle of the road

and a helicopter

was flying circles overhead.

I wonder where we can find a safe spot?

Go give someone a hug today.

Tulips

I wasn't planning to post today, but after I finished the tulip bag I was so pleased I decided to share.  I bought the fabric several years ago with no idea of what I'd use it for.  Sometimes I do that, and if I keep it long enough the right project idea usually presents itself.  The fabric has a little sparkle to it, although you can't see that in the picture.  I lined it with bright orange--also with some sparkle.  I'm not entirely satisfied with how the ends of the zipper look, but each bag seems to be an improvement over its predecessor.

On Saturday I drove up to the old hotel to pick up my unsold items from the craft show the previous weekend. Four of the eight dolls sold.  Here are the ones that went to new homes:

After doing a quick assessment of my sales numbers I decided I'll try a little experiment next year.....that is, if I'm back in a dollmaking mood by then.  I'll make 2 chefs, 2 cats, 2 morning ladies, and 2 santas.  That's a brilliant idea from someone who doesn't even have a marketing degree, don't you think?

So now I'm off to pack......and I'm wondering if my gingerbread cut-out cookies  will make the trip OK in my suitcase.  If the TSA agents get wind of them in my carry-on they very likely won't make it to the gate.

Zip it!

I finished a couple of small zippered bags.  These have 7" zippers so are small enough to stick in a purse to hold lipsticks, mad money, or a little of this-and-that.  They require very little fabric, so it's a good project for using up remnants from other projects.  They are lined with a coordinating fabric...which probably sounds difficult but it's not.  Here is the tutorial if you'd like to make one, or a couple dozen, of your own.

Last Tuesday I took a fun road trip with my knitting friends up to Bernardston, Massachusetts--just south of the Vermont border.  Yes, I left poor Mr. Gadget at home to pine for me and scrounge up his own lunch.  Our destination was The Kringle Candle Company and Christmas Barn and Chocolate Cottage and Farm Table Restaurant--a complex of goodness that promised to infuse us with Christmas spirit.

Other Marcia--who now only blogs on very rare occasions like alternate leap years--dressed for the festivities.

There were Santas-a-plenty.

And gingerbread goodness.

And candles, of course.

I splurged on a snowman tea-light holder and 3 fragrant tea lights--all of which I could have, no doubt, found at the local dollar store for much less.  But I got carried away with the magic of it all and....well....you know how that goes.  He's in good company on the mantel and promises to keep his little feathered friends nice and toasty.

Mr. Gadget and I are getting close to our departure date for the Calcondo.  We're going out early this year.  I think I already mentioned this. Next weekend we'll be getting together with my side of the family, and soon after that we'll be heading up north to spend the holiday with his side.  By New Years we might both be ready for the looney bin.  It's possible.... 

Hair today, gone tomorrow

I don't think I mentioned that I finally made a decision about my hair.  I'm going gray.

Most people agree that it doesn't look too bad so far, but it could be that they're just being nice to me.  After all, I'm the lady who makes the tasty gingersnaps this time of year.

Today I have an appointment with Mr. Gadget's barber, I mean hairdresser.  I'm doing the unthinkable.  I'm trying someone new.  Do most women feel like I do?  We stay with the same one maybe a little longer than we'd like because we don't want to hurt their feelings?  Surely they will assume that we aren't pleased with their haircutting abilities, when really maybe all we want is to have someone else approach our heads from a little different perspective.

Mr. Gadget's guy, Daniel, did a bang trim for me a while back and I was very pleased.  In fact, the bangs still look good but the rest of it is now in need of work.  Daniel didn't look at me askance when I said I was planning to let it go gray.  Instead, he commented that he thought it would look nice when all was said and done because it was growing in with a pretty silvery look.

So in a little while I'll leave for the hair salon.....in the mall where my other hair salon is.....but I should be safe because I don't think she works on Mondays.

Meanwhile, I'm making a few little zippered bags with gift-giving in mind. 

There's not much to show so far, but they're supposed to be easy and quick to make.  I'll show you the finished bags and give you a link to the tutorial soon.