Sewing Was My Worst Class

Because my mom was overweight, she sewed a lot of her own clothes and was good at it. I think she knew better than to try to teach me though. I was a Tomboy through and through and had no interest in learning to sew. She was thrilled that I was going to learn at school. I was expected to go to school every day and do my best. Personally, I felt I should have the option of taking woodworking instead. Back then, girls had to take Home Ec and only boys were allowed to take woodworking. It was so unfair!

I absolutely hated 7th grade because of sewing. I’d say it was the second worst year of my education. For the first time in my life, I was introduced to sewing. My sister and I were both in the same grade so we both had clothing at the same time. What you would think would be a very useful class was a joke for me.

Struggling Through

Our first project was to make a simple skirt. Mine was dark brown. I was best at threading the needle. I had steady hands and could easily slip that thread through the eye of the needle. The hardest part was making a knot in the end of the thread and knotting it again when I was done.

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The Planter Hunt

Saturday was sunny and in the 60s so we decided it would be a good day to plant some flowers. We took Abby along and Gerard walked around with her while I picked out flowers for our porch planters. I went with petunias and coleus. I did not choose yellow in the hopes we would get less bees.

We finally threw away our swan planters and while Gerard planted the flower box, I went to look for new animal planters. I was not picky, any animal would do but I did not find any. We checked at the nursery where we bought the flowers, at Target and WalMart. The good news is I was able to get two little plastic pots for just $5.00. I miss our swans. These pots look pathetic. We will be on the lookout for animal planters and hopefully by next spring, we will find some.

Our front circle keeps getting smaller and smaller every year. The grass is taking it over. Our back yard mostly has perennials now so we do not have to plant much back there.

Have you planted flowers yet?  Any suggestions where we can find some animal planters?

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Karen’s Day Off Was Very Unusual by Guest Blogger--Spunky Doodle

Strange things happened on Karen’s day off. First of all, I spent the night before inside the hallway linen closet. When she took out the blanket, Manny jumped in and she left the door open so he could get out. Naturally, I could also get in and did. Somehow though, the door got closed with me inside! I didn’t mind too much because it was nice and dark and I had lots of blankets to lay on, but I wasn’t able to join Karen on the bed. She was very surprised when she opened the door to put away the blanket in the morning and out I walked.

Karen did something very unusual this morning. She dusted! (She NEVER dusts.) She dusted off the CPU unit and when she pulled it out to dust it, I went behind it where all the wires are attached and got to explore this new space. Of course she was telling me to come out of there the whole time, but I didn’t come out until I was good and ready. After all, I’m not a dog, I’m a CAT! She thought perhaps the cord to the speakers on the computer was lose or that perhaps the dust was affecting them. This video shows how she and Gerard have to bang the speaker to get it to work. Do you have to bang yours?

Karen went right on the computer after breakfast as usual, but stayed longer since she took the day off work. When she came to get a banana, she noticed Abby wasn’t in the living room like usual. Abby is very good about coming when called so Karen called, “Abby, come.” Then we hear her running up the basement stairs. Gerard must have not known she went down and closed the kitchen door so she couldn’t get in. Good thing Karen was off and took a break from the computer! Once Abby was out, she went to work on her Father’s Day project with Karen the rest of the day.

It was nice having her home with us all day, even though I didn’t adjust my nap time around her. Manny laid in the computer chair next to her all day! He’s such a brownie. I noticed that she went out for lunch and then took Abby out for a walk in the afternoon. The really strange thing she did though was play the piano! She hasn’t played it in a very long time and she kept playing the same song over and over and over while she was printing something out from the computer.

Once Gerard got home, things all went back to normal—just checked email, Facebook and TV watching. Tonight I stayed out of that linen closet and slept with Karen.

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Happy Gotcha Day, Manny! He's Now 5!

We have had Manny two years now and he is a great man cat. I love him so much! He is quite affectionate and follows me around like a puppy dog. He will lay in the chair next to me and let me pet him while I am on the computer. It wasn't always this way though.  Just as I predicted in this video, Manny has become my buddy and is "Mr. Nice Nice." Be sure to turn up the sound to hear Manny's "remarks."

When we first got him, he was very frightened and unhappy because we took him a a loving home quite abruptly. He was separated in one room away from Spunky Doodle for about two weeks. He used to hiss and growl at me every time I tried to pet him. Gerard didn't think it would ever work out, but I was determined and very patient. I sent a video to my friend who runs Kitten Krazy and she emailed me back with some good suggestions that I followed. Here's the link to the post "How To Make Friends With A New Cat."

Manny would love for you to visit his blog on his special Gotcha Day: Zemeks' Updates.

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4 Things I Learned This Week--#71 (Bears, Twitter, Feet, Maids)

Black Bears

Over at Red Pine Mountain Mountain Woman did some research on black bears after having one visit her on her deck right outside the big windows during the night. Among the things she shared is that they don't like the smell of citronella and ammonia. To read about her visit with Black bear, here is a link to her tale: Mountain Woman Learns She Is a Coward. She kept me on the edge of my seat!

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