Just add water

Nothing really excited going on here, just a bit of this and that.

The weather has been so weird lately, with a 70 degree day followed by a 30 degree day with snow! What the..? My spring bulbs are up, but wearing little mulch sweaters.

Snow on the driveway.

My poor lettuce, covered with a frozen row cover.

The dogs don't seem to notice the snow, especially when they have new squeaky toys to play with. We actually only bought one orange octopus toy (and a new frisbee for Sassy) but major arguments broke out over the octopus, so I had to go to town today to get another one! Nick still spends most of his time chasing Sassy down for her toy. He must think they are all his!

No snow today, just sunshine and new toys!

Hard to photograph running dogs.

Sassy wants someone to throw the toy so she can chase it.

Nick, he just wants to be left alone to squeak his toy (and squeak, and squeak, and...)

I have done the dust buffalo roundup, washed some laundry and hung some on the clothesline, and waded through the dirty dishes. You know, one major drawback to not eating out as much as we used to, is that the freakin' dishes dirty themselves and refuse to load and unload themselves from the magic dishwashing machine!

And then, it was time to work in my studio. There has been some sewing, but I won't bore you with that today (wink, wink.)

My little seedlings are growing like crazy. Just add water (and a bit of worm poop too!) I have been repotting some of the earliest tomatoes and cucumbers, and finally had to set up another rack to hold them.

New rack awaiting more transplants.

Aren't they pretty? There's another shelf that wouldn't fit in the shot, too!

Even the Mexican Sour Gherkins have finally sprouted! I had my doubts about those guys, since not a single seed had sprouted before everything else had. All is well now.

All I need is for the weather to settle down and stick with the warmer sunnier days. Then I can get some of these plants into the ground outside! I am really looking forward to this season, since almost everything I am growing is new to me.

So, I am off to do my sunny weather dance out on the squishy grass, shaking my gardening gloves like pompoms, and making up ridiculous cheers. Have a good afternoon, everyone!

Sundays from Singapore: Feeling like a kid again

Hard to believe that there is only one more of these Sundays from Singapore post after this! I guess life got less strange and there wasn't much to talk about.

12/30/2001

I had a Christmas message all written and ready to send, but decided I didn't really like it. It made me feel like I was back in grade school and was sure that nothing I could write would be good enough for the teacher. This feeling of being a juvenile seems to occupy my thoughts lately.

Take Christmas, for example. I had a great Christmas, and although as a kid I probably wouldn't have been as excited about the large number of books I received, and small amount of candy, they thrilled the older child that I am now. The only mar to the day was the exceptionally recent closure of the only Cinnabon store in the country. I mean, what's wrong with these people? Don't they realize the importance of stuffing yourself silly with a 15,000 calorie bakery item oozing with icing on Christmas morning? Can they really believe that I will go away content with a whole roast piglet complete with festive red lights blinking on and off from the eye sockets? Maybe they think hacking off a hind quarter and gnawing on it while opening your stocking is the high life, but not me! A full-blown tantrum was brewing in my admittedly unchild-like chest.

An operation that would have made the SWAT team proud was launched in search of a suitable replacement by Christmas morning. All the while, I fought the urge to grab each successive taxi driver around the neck and demand, "Where ARE the Cinnabons???" I really wanted to pinch and pull their hair (ugh!) and break all their stupid little dashboard toys too.

A jail sentence, caning and possible hanging was averted by the location of of some pop-and-fresh type canned rolls at a far-flung market. We don't think of this shopping venue often, and so, like a star-struck celebrity gawker, I cruised the aisles marveling at items that would pass for ordinary in any US grocery store. In fact, we all got so caught up in playing, "Oh look! I just found Ragu, can you believe it?" that we very nearly walked out without the required Christmas buns! And they made a more than adequate substitution.

The next day it rained and rained and rained. About 30-40 hours in total. And we were expecting to host 2 US sailors from the USS Carl Vinson, which was in port for the holidays. How excited we all were to entertain these men or women who were to come to dinner at the club and then hang out at the house for the evening. I even did the dust buffalo roundup, so as not to horrify these servicemen who are used to keeping everything so clean. But they never came!! We waited, and waited, and finally slogged our way to dinner by ourselves. Everyone was disappointed, but we realized that any number of things could have prevented their getting away from base. One possibility has been brought to our attention by our good friend Rick.

According to a report forwarded by Rick, the Singapore government recently uncovered and averted a terrorist plot to blow up the nation's Navy port. They caught 10 of the 12 suspects, but can't locate the 2 tons of explosives that were intended for the attack. I bet they are hidden inside those stupid roast pigs!

Neither the Singapore nor the US governments will publicly acknowledge the raid, and let me tell you, nobody has said anything to us sitting ducks over here! Whadda ya think? Could this explain the daily presence of two machine gun toting police officers who stand guard, glaring at everyone entering the American Club? The official word was that this was just something the Singapore government decided to do. I thought it was because, if anything happened to the Club, we Americans would take all our spending power and head for home. It makes me wonder what else they aren't telling me. Am I so immature, that after the raid is over and done with, I can't be trusted with the information? What is next? Are they going to let me find out over the internet that there is no Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, or Tooth Fairy? I, for one, was counting on funding my retirement with my haul when my teeth finally fall out and I resort to dentures.

But, I guess in the end, the events suit my condition. If I am going to pitch a fit over Cinnabons, imagine launching spit balls at uncooperative taxi drivers, and anticipate being spell bound over discussions of life on a really big boat, I probably can't be trusted with information about blowing up a part of this very small country. I might be tempted to write about it on bathroom walls or send it out over the internet to my friends. Oops! There I go again! I suppose I should have a timeout and be sent to my room for an hour... with all of my new books!

Love you all

Shop Update!

I'm tired today. It has been a busy week and I'm feeling it. But I have gotten a few things done around here.

First up was waffles and bacon for breakfast. Since this is one of Stud Muffin's days off, it has become a habit to have this breakfast on Sundays. Then we drive to town for a Sunday newspaper. Then we goof off and perhaps take a nap. I haven't gotten the nap yet, but I did wash both dogs since it is in the 70's here today!

I finished my first pair of knitted socks! These buggers took me a while. I would put them down, then have to remember where I was, blah! The second sock got messed up at the toe end, but I just wanted to be done. Stud Muffin says if anyone was waiting for me to knit them socks, they would die of frostbite before I finished!

Nice dirt disguising brown socks!

And, I have added a few new things to my brand new Etsy shop. More to come!

Clothes pin bag from little boy's suit.

Sunday from Singapore to be written later on today. Like maybe after my nap!

My new shop!

Bowing to pressure and fabulous comments, I have opened an Etsy shop! I only have 2 things in there now, but I will be adding to it in time. Check it out on the left side of my blog.

I'm so nervous! Somebody "heart me," please!!

Good Mail Day and Other Stuff

What an excellent day at the mail box! No bills, a car magazine for Stud Muffin and 4 things for me!! Okay, two things were stuff I got from Ebay, and they're boring, so I won't show you those.

But look what the UPS man brought me from Bari J!

Black and White quilted belt with shiny, shiny buckle!

I won this from her a little while ago during a giveaway on her blog! I just love her stuff. Go over and take a look at her fabulous handbags!! *Drool, drool, slurp!*

Next up, another score from a bloggie friend's giveaway! This one is from Creative Kismet and is a hand-stamped, sewn and embellished Love Angel.

Love Angel, hand-stamped notecards and Chocolate!! How did she know? Probably read my blog header!

I was so excited to win this, I didn't read her post well enough to realize that I was also getting some hand stamped notecards. The dark chocolate bar was probably added so I would slobber on it instead of on the Love Angel. I did promise to take very good care of her!

Here she is in her new home... hanging from the ceiling fan in my studio, watching over me and giving me some crafting good vibes!



You all need to visit these incredibly talented gals at their blogs. They will rev your crafting juices up and make you want to DO SOMETHING!

And so, I did. Do something, that is. I made another apron, this one trimmed out with contrasting pockets and everything!



Of course, it needed a matching shopping bag to complete the set.



As is my way, these were made from thrifted pillowcases, the pockets are from a shirt, and the orange polka dot bias trim is a new product from Michael Miller Fabrics. Esty? Etsy anyone??

I'm on a roll now! So, what do you think I need with stuff like this? Anybody want to guess??





I was going to stop this post here and let you stew on that one for a while, but, well, I not that mean! And no, I'm not "with child!" Been there, done that (hi girls! *waving*)

But, this week, I installed a retractable clothesline in the backyard, and so, I need...



a clothes pin bag!!! And another one.



Okay, I don't really need more than one, but they are so fun and thrifted baby clothes are so cute! I feel an Esty shop coming on soon?!?

Sundays from Singapore: Snow in Singapore

Almost Grown, this is the tidy-whitey story, just for you!

12/15/2001

Well, I wish it was snow, and to the casual observer, it probably looks like snow. But in reality, my reality, it is actually dust. You know, that insidious stuff that finds its way under every door and through every crack in your otherwise hermetically sealed home. Now, what I want to know is how, when I am 17 stories up in the atmosphere, and there isn't a panel of dry wall in the joint, does this grime make its way in?

No matter when I dust, or what magical as-seen-as-on-TV product that I use, the second I turn my back, there it is again. I enter the bathroom (having washed every surface down with a wet cloth an hour before) and it looks clean. But once I lower myself down to the toilet and glance about my just washed loo, it's there! That hazy, gray, "somebody had a spastic fit while using baby powder" dullness.

I also firmly believe that the powder is in cahoots with the dust bunnies, which have a gestational period of about 2 days, after which the roam the marble floors in herds of dust buffaloes. I think in the interest of saving face (a big deal here in Asia) I will simply inform guests that this family is a regular participant in the National Dust Bunnies Soccer League, and that we are rapidly ascending the playoff ladder. Might even make it to the Olympic, World Series, Super Sweep Dust Pan Bowl to be held between the Hot Season and the Wet Season. So, please, do not disturb the athletes as they roll and stampede down the hall. They are training!

This leads me, of course, to the question of getting a maid. Now, I have kicked this idea (and a few dust roly polies) around for a while, but have come to the decision that having a maid just isn't for me. I mean, I can't even order a meal at McDonald's and get what I want. What makes me think I can hire a maid and not have to ride around on her shoulders pointing out exactly how and where to do what, without breaking Fido the vacuum, or spraying the furniture with the wrong "all-purpose, guaranteed to resists spills, smudges and scratches, cures miscellaneous diseases and conditions, and leaves your hair sweet smelling and shining" concoction?

Adding to my discomfort about hiring help are the reports in the daily paper. Everyday, a new article outlines in details the abuses to and by foreign workers. Many maids fall to their deaths while climbing out on narrow ledges to clean the windows. Employer hits maid, maid hits children, children bites parents and the circle begins again.

Photo by Kees & Sarah


But today's report really clinched the no-maid deal. Apparently, on her second day of work, a maid was secretly videotaped making the family's evening soup with laundry water she had previously used to wash out underwear!! Yuucckk!! She had been counseled that this would make her employers "obedient." Well, kiss my grits! I don't put corn chowder in my washing machine, and I don't expect to find tidy-whitey water in my soup!

Photo by Pixeloflight

A maid was just found guilty of "causing grievous hurt" and as a side note, death, to her employer after a brawl involving the telephone. The employer, a Chinese woman, had called her Indonesian maid the equivalent of a prostitute, which is much worse than it sounds to you or I and apparently, insulted the maid's reputation. A slapping session followed, culminating in the trading of blows to the head with a lightweight telephone. The maid, it seems, won the battle to control the phone, and beaned the employer, causing the woman to die. The sentence will be relatively light as no premeditation was found. I guess anyone planning to "off" their boss wouldn't have chosen the cheap phone as a weapon. A crock pot, perhaps.

I don't want you to believe that all maids and employers behave this way. The Morgs had a wonderful amah here in Singapore, Eva, who was a delight to visit with, spoke perfect English, was great with the baby and I bet made very tasty non-sudzing soup. And I know that no fights involving household appliances, big or small, ever occurred in their peaceful abode.

Perhaps, if I had small children that I needed to escape from occasionally, if my cooking skills were limited to Pop Tarts and TV dinners, or if I had trouble discerning the spray end of an aerosol can, I might get a maid. But for now, I think I will stick with attaching a rag to the end of a bull whip, cracking it towards the furniture and yelling at the top of my lungs, "Giddy-up!" At least all of that wind emanating from me ought to keep the stuff airborne until the guests go home.

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Not Quite Grown!! You are no longer a teenager! 20 years old... Woo hoo!

And since you received your package from Mom and Dad, I can show the part that I made!



Your very own Emmeline apron made with fabric from a thrifted duvet cover by Wake Up Frankie . The front is a wild hot pink print that says "Riviera" and "Cafe"


and the back is solid pink. Both fabrics are very soft. I bought the black and white fabric just to go with this project and I think it turned out quite nice! Hope you like it!

In other sewing news, today I made this...

Polka dot purse with bright blue on blue contrast and lining.

I based it on an article in this magazine,

See the clutch bag in the upper right hand corner?

then made my own alterations. Their purse is a clutch, and I don't do well without a handle, so I added my own. That meant that I had to reinvent the way that the contrast band went on the bag to accommodate the handle. It needs a bit more pressing, but my large water tank iron chose that very moment to run out of steam (literally!) and it takes a very long time to cool enough so I can refill it.

You know, I'm starting to think I need to open an Esty shop to get rid of some of these things that I can't keep from making! Like the aprons with the tea towels attached, cloth shopping bags, and endless handbags. What do you all think??