~Feathers~

The zipper on my winter coat went out last year, so this year I got a coat for *only* $4.99 at Goodwill. A great bargain until I discovered that everywhere I go, I leave a trail of feathers...

Today I was out running errands, and I took my coat off. My fleece pullover had down and feathers completely covering it. I was slightly embarrased to be "shedding" feathers all over the place! A lady commented on my feathery situation, to which I replied that the coat keeps me warm, but when I take it off, I look like a goose. We got a good laugh at that. LOL

~So Close!~

For almost a year now, I have been saving my pennies for a new sewing machine. The Husqvarna Viking Emerald, to be exact. I don't even know how to say "Husqvarna" but that's ok. :-P

I was saving for the 203 model, which has a few more features than the 183 model. However, I went in to a machine dealer yesterday to get another look at machines and make sure they were still the same price as last year. The owner told me that Viking had discontinued the 203 model, but he might be able to get it for me. Well, come to find out, the features that I am most interested in on the 203 (walking foot and extension platform) are only an additional $70. The other features that the 203 has are not worth the extra $200 that the machine costs.

So guess what? I have an additional $50-75 to save and then I can waltz into the store and get my new machine. I may not literally waltz while in the store but you can bet I will be waltzing at home when I get my new machine!!!

~Molly Monkey~

I made this stuffed monkey for my daughter for Christmas. I was not going to be working on it in the wee hours of Christmas morning, but that's exactly what happened! I was stuffing arms and legs, and shedding tears out of exhaustion and frustration over everything. Kevin thought I should skip the skirt because it didn't really matter, but it mattered to me. So I stayed up and made that skirt. It's funny because Molly's mommy doesn't think she needs her skirt, so she usually has it off. I was going to make the shoes (you'll see if you click the link), but they would just be pulled off too, and if I sewed them on that would definitely be a point of frustration for my daughter.

As you can see in the picture, Molly Monkey is already well-loved. She got a sloppy kiss on her face shortly after having been opened on Christmas morning.

I had most of the fabric and supplies needed for Molly, so it was a fairly inexpensive project. I had to buy the brown corduroy and a few pieces of felt. I'm really happy with how she turned out. I do think that if I were to make Molly again, I would use something besides felt for the face.

~Irony~

When Kevin and I were opening our wedding presents, we came to a box with no card, which contained a large cast iron skillet filled with unshelled pecans. I took one look at that huge skillet, and thought I would never use such a ginormous skillet. So I gave it to my parents to use. I never did find out who gave that to me!



In the past year, I've been exploring healthy living a little more, and I have come to the conclusion that Teflon probably isn't the healthiest to cook with. Now, I know there are studies citing that if you heat Teflon to 500 degrees the fumes from it will kill pet birds. That's nice and all but 1) I'm not a bird and 2) a draft of air can kill a pet bird too. So that wasn't enough to convince me but still, I know that there are other pans much better and safer than Teflon.



So I turned to cast iron. And guess what? I bought the exact same skillet that I had given to my parents ten years ago. Kevin thought I should ask for the pan back, since it was ours to start with (LOL) but I thought that would be a little on the rude side (Indian giver, much?). So I bought a new one for less than $20, and also a glass lid to go with it.

I'm still getting the hang with cooking on cast iron. Sometimes I forget and put tomato sauce in it, then I have to start the seasoning process all over again. But otherwise, it's been great for cooking in! It's very versatile. I can use it on the stove top or in the oven. It's a great size too!

Images are from Lodge's site and depict the items I bought and am very pleased with. :-)

~Again and Again~

Do you know that feeling you get as a homemaker, that you do the same things over and over again? Some tasks feel like you're on a treadmill or something! Dishes, laundry, sweeping the floor...didn't I just do that? and it's time to do that again?

Well, for one load of towels, I didn't even get a chance to use them and yet I've had to wash them three times over! Wash #1, because they were dirty of course. Wash #2, because *blush* I left them in the washer too long. Wash #3, because when they finally made it up the stairs, my daughter took the basket, dumped the towels on my sparkling clean, er, not-so-very-clean kitchen floor and took off with the basket over her head.

So that's the story of my towels. Yes, enthralling, I know. ;-)

~Right now~

Drinking vanilla chai tea with a splash of cream, while I browse through patterns on Ravelry.

A very relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

~Shop Notes~

Hello, 2011!

I celebrated by going for a long walk. My ears were nice and warm thanks to my new earwarmer:



Now I need to knit a nosewarmer and I'll be all set for my cold weather walks. ;-)

There's one in my shop as well:


And a little pair of socks:


I have several new ideas for my shop, that I am really excited about! I hope to be adding items to my shop on a regular basis, so stay tuned. :-)