It's a cat's life

This is Clem, the second of Tessa's cats that we are housing now that she can't have cats in her apartment. During the hot weather earlier this week, he was often found stretched out like this, on the tile in the foyer. Last night I found him lounging in the chair. He's copying me--legs elevated--but he looks a lot "cooler" than I ever did.
I've had a lazy day, copying Clem, I think. Monday I return to work and I want to enjoy every minute from now until then. The knee is feeling better every day--I even forget to take the pain pill, it feels so good. Today, I baked the cakes for German chocolate cake and put them in the freezer. Next weekend, I'll frost them and serve it for dessert for the party we're having. While they were baking and while they were cooling, I had to stay in the house so I worked on knitting that purple sweater. I'm almost finished with the left side of the front and it's going faster than I thought it would. I may be able to actually wear it this fall!

Don was organizing the stuff in the basement the other day and he found the sweater I'd started for Lily last year. I'd done all of the knitting and only had to seam it up when it disappeared. When husband and youngest daughter "clean house" many things go missing, only to resurface months later in some very unlikely spots. I can't criticize since they are helping with the cleaning, right?

More weeding awaits me, and I'll be outside until dark doing that. Does it ever end? Why can't we just stretch out in the cool like Clem and let the weeds do what they want.

Mmmmmmm

Rhubard custard pie for dessert.

A day of leisure?

The horrible hot and humid weather has finally moved on--sorry to those of you in the East :(--and I'm enjoying a quiet morning by myself. Don's at work, Lily's at her mom's and Jo is in her room, busy sorting and repacking her things. I'd forgotten how enjoyeable a cup of coffee can be when sipped and savored in solitude. Mmmmmmmm. When I finally decide I need to get on with the day, I'll start by doing some baking--pie sounds very nice for tonight's dessert.

A few weeks ago Don and I decided that it was finally time for me to have a real sewing center so I've been searching on-line for cabinets that will have the features I want/need. My space is a "nook" in the wall about 6 feet long by 3 feet deep (probably designed to be a closet) and I want a cabinet that will fit in that space. I'm thinking that it should have an extension table in the back that I can fold up when I'm working on a large piece and fold down when I'm not. The whole thing should be on wheels so I can pull it out from the wall in order to raise the extension. I think I should have cabinets and drawers on wheels that will fit under the sewing table on the left and right of my chair. I'll be able to roll them in and out instead of swinging them open out to the sides. I definitely want the option of raising and lowering the machine so the bed is flush with the table top and can be lowered out of sight as well. A power strip where I can reach it would be very nice so I don't have to crawl underneath the table as I do now.

Other than these things, I can't think of what else to have in the piece, so I thought I'd ask you what features you have and/or want to have in your sewing center. There are so many accessories that I can't decide which ones I should have. Please help!

Storage isn't a problem--I have a large closet and 4 hanging sweater bags that I use as shelves to hold my fabric. We saved the 4 small wall cabinets from last summer's bathroom remodel and I'm going to paint them and hang them over the sewing area for more storage. Thought I'd install an under-cabinet light to help light the sewing area. I'm even going to have a design wall area--finally!

Busy birthday weekend

I should just sit around today and simply rest up from all the activity of the past 5 days! I had so much fun with family and we did so much playing--and working! Just a little recap--Friday, picked up Jo at the airport and Tessa came out for supper. Saturday, the niece, nephew and kids came for the afternoon and evening for more partying--in the pool, and with fantastic smoked ribs off the grill for supper. Sunday and Monday, Jo, Lily and I went shopping for a cell phone for her as well as other things she needed. (Now, she's no longer hogging my phone all day!) Both days, I did a lot of sitting with my leg elevated, worked on the knitting I've got going and generally supervised things around the house.
Back to the doc yesterday. Knee is doing fine--the pain I feel is normal after this kind of surgery so I'm relieved.
Yesterday afternoon, Don and I worked together to transplant the azeleas from the west side of the house where they were dying a long, slow death, to the north side of the pool where I hope they will do better.










Today, I hope to move some hostas in there as well as a couple of ferns and some Lily-of-the-Valley. And that bed should be complete--for now. lol
Alas, I won't be sitting around today. I have a huge patch of weeding to do and I hope to make it to the store to order the tile I need to finish the countertop on the new deck. I'll post when I have it finished--next weekend, I hope.
Oh, I almost forgot. I started working on this table runner that I will give to my friend, Elaine, as a thank you for all the times she's let us stay at her house. It's a pattern from a book of runners by "Gathering Friends."

Happy birthday USA!

I'm having a terrific weekend. Yesterday we picked up Jo at the airport and it was very good to see her again. It's been 100 days that she's been gone, but it seems to have flown by. She was traveling for about 72 hours and is struggling with jet lag, but seems to be happy to be home. I know she has to be having mixed feelings--glad to be safe at home, yet missing the PCVs and the Krygyz people she left behind. What she'll do now, it's too soon to decide. I've advised her to simply take all the time she needs to recover from the stress of the past month or more before she makes any decisions. She has decided to stay here for a couple of weeks and then she's flying to Austin TX to be with her friends and to, hopefully, interview and obtain a new job. Already, she's doing some on-line testing for a couple of jobs with the State of Texas. If she gets a job and moves there, I guess I'll just have to take winter vacations in East Texas!

I got off the Vicodin yesteray--I only used 4 of the pills!--and have been doing well on Ibuprofen which doesn't mess with my brain so much. Was able to take off the TED and the bandages today and in the heat we have been having, it feels good to be bare legged again.

My neice and nephew and the 2 kids came over to swim and have dinner--They played in the pool for hours and the kids were almost too exhausted to eat. Don and I did ribs on the grill and I think we finally have mastered this dish. They were perfectly done and soooo good. And the girls helped out with the other dishes. A veritable feast with cornbread, baked beans, coleslaw, tomato and mozarella salad, fruit salad and rootbeer floats for desert.

Tomorrow we have a cookout at Tessa's house with fireworks in the evening. Monday, I think I'll stay home and relax.

Yea for arthroscopy!

Here it is. Don't worry, I won't post pix of the incisions or the scars! Yuck!



I had the arthroscopic surgery yesterday and if this post seems a little goofy, it's the Vicodin! Takes care of the pain and a good part of my brain as well, I think. The procedure went well, I'll be on crutches for a few days but the knee seems to be just fine. Love the white TEDs don't you? Thank goodness it's cool here for a few days.

When I stop the Vicodin, I'll be able to sit and knit or maybe do some sewing--I don't think I should use the rotary cutter while I'm legally stoned on Vicodin, do you? I've never cut myself (seriously) with the cutter and even though I have 9 good fingers left on my quilting gloves, I don't think I need to trim my hand to fit. LOL

Jo's arriving home tomorrow afternoon--Don and Lily and I will be there to meet her. I'll be off the Vicodin by then so I'll be ok. Can't wait to see her--she's traveling with another PCV for the entire trip to Mpls which is nice for her. What she'll do when she gets home, other than sleep for awhile, is anyone's guess. I know she's going to be in Austin TX to visit or maybe to stay, but I've cautioned her on making any decisions until she's recovered from jet lag and acclimated a bit to being back in the US. It will be a bigger adjustment than she imagines, and I want her to take all the time she needs.

Maple Leaf/ l'Unifolié

Happy Canada Day to all of you North of the Border to me. However you choose to celebrate, I hope you enjoy every minute of the day. As for me, I will celebrate having Canada for such a good neighbor--couldn't be one better. I don't think George Bush ever thanked Canada, but I thank you for being there for us on 09/11/01, especially the people of New Brunswick who opened their doors and their hearts to all the grounded passengers who were stranded for a few days. Such kindness and generosity is above and beyond, and I would hope that the US would do the same if ever need be.

So, Happy Canada Day! (And I LOVE hockey!)