What's Going On Here?

What? How Can this be?

We sold our gas guzzlers and bought bikes and stayed at home, and now look what happens. Gas is cheaper than it has been in years! Go figure!

I got rid of the truck because it cost $75 to fill the tank, now I could go far on $25. Exxon Mobil, eat my shorts! How can you make 20 bizillion dollars a quarter selling gas at this price?

And the bottom line is........



I wonder how long this will last.

ChiCho Saves the Day

My Backyard Pond

Since the early 90's, when water features became things that people liked to add to their outdoor living space, I've lived near water. At first, it was a small pond that took my late husband 2 years to dig and complete. It brought me the most delightful pleasure. I would come home from a difficult day at work, and sit by the pond, watching the fish, frogs and flowers. My tension would just melt away.

Then I moved to the country. Our first home was on a big lake, we were located on the back of a small cove. But watching the water and the ducks and geese and fish were again a source of comfort and a place to really let the cares of the day or week melt away.

Lakeside living really wasn't too much the late Mr.'s cup of tea, he liked the woods. So we found a place in the country that had 160 acres of woods, but a beautiful large pond/small lake as its main feature, not even 50 feet from our back door. That lake will forever remain in my memory as my dream place, I loved going down and sitting by the lake, feeding the fish some extra worms I had lying around, or kayaking across its smooth surface.

When we moved back to the city, and bought a new house, the plans were laid immediately for a water feature in the back yard. Materials were purchased and stacked up for the time when Mr. SewWhat felt up to building, which unfortunately never happened. After he passed away, I tried to fathom myself building a pond, and knew that would never happen. So I found a local company that specializes in water features who bid and got my job of making my water feature come to life.

The picture above is the result of that job. It is beautiful and home to some nice size goldfish. But the one aspect of the pond that was doubtful in my mind was the second side waterfall, coming out of a wooden barrel immersed in the water (barely visible under the blue/violet flowers on the right side of the picture.) I was afraid that this wouldn't last. And it didn't.

The barrel slowly started to spread apart and not support the water container, so things sort of shifted to the side more and more each month. Plus, water would leak out occasionally, and this was a worry.

So I called my favorite pond builders, and they came out today to change things around a bit. Poor ChiCho, his hands froze as he began the job, after all it is November 19, and there was ice shards on various parts of the pond. But later on, it warmed up and things got going a little bit better for him.

The results are very satisfactory. I'll post a picture of the new pond tomorrow. But ChiCho also had some ideas for another water drainage problem I've had in my yard since I moved in, that being a leaky egress window to my basement that leaks water in during heavy rains. In speaking to ChiCho, he is a 20+ year veteran of landscaping businesses, and he sounds like he knows his stuff! I'm going to have ChiCho back again for more chats and some problem solving sessions until I get this backyard drainage issue fixed. He might just be the answer to a lot of prayers and questions I've had trying to get this house to not fall in on me as I try to maintain it!

The Life of a Sloth

When we hear the word "sloth", it either takes us back to our Catholic school upbringing as the name of one of the 7 deadly sins, or it takes us back to biology 101 to remember a very elusive member of the rainforest community.

You get the idea about the deadly sin, I needn't go on about that. But the anatomy of the animal that lives in the rainforest may not be that familiar to you. It is one of an arboreal animal that moves so slowly through the rainforest canopy that it actually grows moss and mold on its fur. So it is a grey tinged-with-green animal that blends in well with the leaves on the trees, making it very difficult to spot as it moves so slowly around its habitat. Word has it that its digestion cycle is also sloth-like, or is that TMI?

I guess my day today could be couched in either definition. After a wild couple of weeks, when every day was filled with frantic running around or activity, today was the let down day. It was cold and rainy outside, the weatherman kept saying there were snow flakes flying, but I never saw any. The doorbell rang around noon with an order from Amazon, three new books came that needed to be looked at.

I had originally thought this day would be dedicated to sewing something for ME! I even made a trip to the fabric store to pick up a pattern (or 10--$1.99 each, limit 10!). But the enthusiasm waned as I tried to warm up after my trip into the chilly elements.

So the book enticed me, the soft bed embraced me, sleep overtook me (many cat naps next to my feline partner who was sharing the same space). I am on p. 71 of a text book on improving reading comprehension, so I was awake for part of the afternoon at least!

And I don't feel like I've committed a deadly sin, just a restful day gearing up for the crazy life that usually surrounds me! And, boy, did it feel great! Maybe that sloth has the right idea!

Return of the Monster Truck

You might remember that back in August, I wrote "Bye Bye, Monster Truck!" This was after I made my decision to trade in my late husband's huge Dodge Ram pick up for something smaller that guzzled less gas and fit into the garage without hogging all the space.

Now, you might remember the details I laid out. The truck was 11 years old, had some mechanical problems, was costing me more money each year to keep it running. It did have many memories of my sweetie, from its rumbling exhaust system, to the many "artifacts" (used toothpicks, napkins, other "to be unnamed" DNA samples, old gas receipts, you get the picture!) that I found under the seat when I cleaned it out to sell it. I traded it with a feeling of losing a cherished part of my past with him, but also with a frustration for having to put up with the pain of maintaining an old truck that I hardly every drove.

When I traded it in, I thought I was lucky to get what money they gave me. The amount was somewhat under the blue book, more like what a "rough" trade in would bring. The truck had under 100,000 miles, which is somewhat odd for a truck that old, but during the last 4 years we/I owned it, it mostly sat unused. I think it accumulated about 5000 miles in those 4 years.

I'll never forget the used car appraiser at the dealership. He was smiling, saying "A little touch up paint, it'll look good as new!" I scoffed at that idea under my breath, thinking, "No way, buddy" Remember that political saying that was going around about putting lipstick on a pig? Certainly applies here!

You never ever see your old trade in again. I've traded in many vehicles in my day, one was deemed "rough, really rough!" by the used car appraiser. You can only hope someone will learn to love your old junker, and take it into their life for a couple hundred bucks. Or if no one rises to the bait, it will be a rectangle of mangled metal, ready to go to the steel mill to become a girder or a tin can. That was what I thought was going to happen to the monster truck. But yesterday I had a brake-applying, heart racing, drive around the neighborhood to make sure moment, I THOUGHT I SAW MY MONSTER TRUCK ON THE FRONT LINE OF THE LOCAL USED CAR DEALER! Or did I?

This was cause for a closer look-see! I did drive around the block to get back to the dealership's lot. The marks of our old truck had to be there. I would look for that dent in the bumper, put there by me as I had a close encounter with one of the 10 million trees on our property in the country. And that dent in the back quarter panel, put there as my sweetie attempted to back up our trailer into our best friends' driveway to help them as they were preparing to move away (sad day indeed!) And the label on that brand new camper shell window that I paid over $500 for last Christmas, after catching the original window in the garage door and smashing it to a million shards of glass in my driveway (still finding some shards every now and then when I move something that hadn't been moved when we cleaned up the mess.) And those distinctive white and red pin stripes down the side of the truck--would this really be the one?

YES IT WAS! The salesman came out and saw me inspecting the truck, asked me if I wanted to buy it back! Buy it back? They were asking over 3 times the amount I got in trade in! What fool would pay that for this truck? And yes, they did put lipstick on a pig--touch up paint on the dent, sprayed over the rusty tail pipes. The salesman asked me a few questions that he thought would help him sell it, were we the original owners, how come it had so few miles on it? He thought it was not a pig in lipstick, but a glam "Miss Piggy", able to turn a head or two. I've got to admit, it did look nice cleaned up. He commented on the cleanness of the inside. Yes, it only usually carried one wanna-be cowboy for most of it's miles, or Mr. Cowboy with his wanna-be cowgirl by his side. I don't think anyone ever sat in the back seat, you usually couldn't get to the back seat because of the junk piled on it!

SO GOOD LUCK, MR. USED CAR SALESMAN. GOOD LUCK CONVINCING SOME GULLIBLE TRUCK DRIVER TO PART WITH THAT MUCH MONEY FOR A VERY OLD TRUCK WITH LOTS OF ISSUES. I'M SURE THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO NEEDS A NICE CLEAN OLD TRUCK, AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GIVE THE MONSTER A GOOD HOME.

I felt compelled to drive by one more time yesterday, just to see it once more in a different perspective. It had gained a place of honor on the front line of the used-car dealership, and it looked as distinguished as its original owner, a proud but aging gent, waiting for a new life with a new family. Brought a tear to me eye, it did. New owner, be good to my Monster Truck, OK? It holds a lot of memories.

Picking up the Pieces

Now that I'm finished costuming one show, I must pick up the pieces in the sewing room. Pins, pattern scraps, threads, pattern pieces that need to be folded and stored, all of that must be done in preparation for THE NEXT SHOW!

I had exactly 2 hours last Saturday morning to speculate on what to do with myself now that this costuming gig for The Unexpected Guest was finished. My friend from the local high school alumni group is doing "The Sound Of Music" in January. Since I helped them last year, they conned me into helping them again this year. So at 10 a.m. last Saturday, she called me and said, "How would you like to come to our practice today to measure the actors and get going on the costumes?" Well, it made perfect sense, I could get going on this project, which I hope to have finished by Christmas.

I am only going to do part of this costuming gig. I will be making 2 sets of clothing for the vonTrapp children, all 7 of them! I'm going to make a nautical outfit for them, and the famous curtain outfits. It was fun planning with them what they wanted and how they were going to stage it.

Funny thing about the leaders of this group. The husband/wife team who are the director/music director have a son going to a university in an adjoining state. This university used to be the training grounds for an order of Sisters. Now it is an open university, but since it is adjoining the large motherhouse, they have close ties with the sisters. So guess where the nun's costumes are coming from? You guessed it! That university! I guess they'll rummage around in the nun's closets to find some old fashioned nun's habits.

Here's another interesting "small world" bit of info. I worked with two wonderful sisters from this order, who happen to be sisters to each other! I've been to visit them several times in their beautiful motherhouse. I was so surprised to find that these people who are directing this show have a tie to that university. In fact, the theatre teacher at that university is an alum of the high school that is putting on the play. IT TRULY IS A SMALL WORLD.

Updates will follow of the progress of the 4 plays I am costuming in January--hope I can keep it all straight in my mind!

The Unexpected Guest

Set for "The Unexpected Guest" by Agatha Christie


Michael, the unexpected guest comes upon grieving Laura, who just found her husband shot to death. Michael decides that beautiful Laura needs an advocate, and so cooks up an idea of how the murder can be explained.


Beautiful Laura tricks Michael into continuing to lie to cover up the real murderer.


Grand Dame Mrs. Warwick discusses with Laura and the house servant Benny details of the murder and investigation.


Crazy son Jan Warwick talks to Benny, saying he wants to follow in his step-brother's footsteps, and "shoot things"!


The entire cast of "The Unexpected Guest", taking their bows! The dead man, Richard Warwick resurrects with his gunshot in his head to take a bow! (Extreme left)

WANNA KNOW WHO DUN IT? I'M NOT GOING TO TELL!

SewWhat? has been busy again, thereby explaining why there haven't been any posts for a while. Anyone involved in tech week for a play knows it is a week filled with lots of last minute details, lots of running around, lots of sewing for the costumer, and luckily, ends up with a nice opening night performance and audience.

The costuming for the play was easier than most, because the sewing part of it was smaller than other plays I have done. Of course, I dressed beautiful Laura, with her darling Barbie Doll shape! That was the most fun of all, especially with her second blue plaid dress! Vintange pattern, Butterick, from 1957. Her other dress was also vintage Butterick, from a few years earlier.

I also made Benny's dress, some nightwear for all, and then the rest was found at various thrift stores, or people's closets. Luckily I found a beautiful vintage dressing gown for the "dead man", fit him perfectly also! I guess the whole thing was a series of lucky finds, because they really all looked good.

Monkeygirl loved Laura's blue and white shoes, and put in her own search for a pair just like them. The fabric for Laura's blue dress and Jacket was found after a frantic search at three fabric stores for the right fabric at the right price. No way was I going to spend $200 on one outfit! Luckily, I found this silk for $4 a yard! And I was very pleased with the results.

Now to the confessional. I sew well, but fit people not so well. I made the purple dress for Laura from some fabric left over from last year's show, and it worked out OK, but the shoulders didn't fit her. So, I decided I had enough fabric to remake the entire dress, and I did, and it fit her perfectly. Then, my usual night chore after the performance was to iron the ladies garments. On Saturday night, the iron got too hot, and I burned a spot in the blue jacket! Luckily I had enough fabric to remake that piece of the jacket. What a dummy I am!

I learn from my mistakes, and lucky for me, nothing is irreversible. I've learned some things about fitting, about not sewing things up too fast without try ons, and about sewing slower and more accurately. My results have been better as I go along with the projects. I get less stressed by the jobs, even though the biggest job I did was my first job as a costumer for a very big cast. I think my reputation as a costumer is getting around, because in January, I am doing 4 shows during the same time frame!

I do love this hobby. People want to know how much I make doing it, and it only comes in satisfaction of a job that is appreciated. I've gotten very high compliments from several people whose talents in theatre I really admire, and the fact that they are complimentary of my work is like getting the Academy Award.

Edith Head, move over!

What If You Threw a Party, and Nobody Came?

Happy Halloween to you all! Do you have guilt pangs about the amount of chocolate you snuck out of the candy basket while waiting for the kiddies? Are there pumpkin shards littering your street as the pumpkin smashers and goblins did their dirty work after the decent folks went to bed? Are the kids and grandkids still buzzing around the house wearing off the sugar high? What about all those candy wrappers scattered around the house?

These are the memories I have of Nov. 1. The hype and anticipation of Halloween is over and that is what is left afterward.

I live on a court of new homes. We've been a neighborhood for under 4 years. For the past three years, we've planned a big court party out on someone's driveway for Halloween. We all bring a dish, bring our candy baskets, make sure our favorite adult beverages are iced up, and wait for the trick or treaters. Someone brings a firepit and we can roast marshmallows and make s'mores. All the candy treats are in one place, so it is ONE STOP SHOPPING for the Trick or Treaters.

Last year, we forgot to plan it, and it ended up being very impromptu, planned about 6 p.m. on Halloween night. This year, our host and hostess planned for weeks. He worked on his home to glam up the front exterior with beautiful night lighting! It turned out absolutely fabulous. HE CLEANED THE GARAGE! She is a baker, so her fabulous Halloween cake set the mood for the event. We were all primed.

This year was a little odd, because at 6 p.m. when we gathered it was still light because Daylight Savings Time was still in effect. We all filtered in, and the table of eats groaned louder and louder as various delicacies of party food loaded it down. Chilies, chips and cheeses, wings of every flavor, and various desserts--we had more than 50 people could eat, and there was probably under 20 at the party!

But the place where the table was groaning was the candy table! The adults ate, drank, waited..... and waited...... and waited......

No kids.

If it weren't for a couple of grandkids who came, there would have been no trick or treaters! Where were they all? Did the news of our suburban area's latest crime statistics keep people from coming around? We all conjected and discussed possible reasons why no kids were coming.

So this is what is left of the trick or treat planning that I have to deal with. If I were smart, I'd put it in the trash can, but you can't do that with chocolate! So I'll have to slowly (I hope slowly) add it to my daily diet plan. And I'm sure it will disappear, maybe from the candy basket, but probably not from the hips!