Cowgirl Lilly

Here's the DANGER ZONE when it comes to sewing clothes. You can go to a lot of time and trouble to make an outfit, either for yourself or another person...but, when it's done, no matter how perfect the thing turns out -- the person who's supposed to wear it just might not like it...

The real problem is that there is no way of knowing that IN ADVANCE....

AND YOU CANNOT TAKE IT PERSONAL. Clothes are a very individual thing. You know yourself, when you're shopping in a department store for an outfit, it can look wonderful on the hanger, but when you put it on, something isn't right...

Not every outfit is a winner...

Take for example, the new jeans outfit I recently made for Lilly.  Aunt Hannah was getting married in Wyoming. Emily will be the maid-of-honor, and this would be Lilly's first airplane ride. They were both SO EXCITED...

Lillian already had a pair of pink leather cowboy boots (of course!)....and Emily thought a jeans skirt outfit would be the perfect thing. My very next trip to the thrift store, I found a GREAT pair of jeans that had some very fancy pink flower embroidery....

I haven't made a jeans skirt since 1978 -- but this was fun! I added some fringe, too...

The next thing I went looking for was a pink flowered WESTERN shirt. You know the one -- with a yoke, and some snaps??  Ritaluck -- on my next trip out -- I found this....But Lillian wanted it to be sleeveless (no problem)...and she didn't want to tuck it in...

So, I used the fabric from the cut off sleeves to add a ruffle at the bottom of the shirt. Eventually, I cut off another 6 inches from the shirt...so it was almost crop top length...and it was longer in the back than in the front. VERY CUTE...

Because I didn't want to hide the cute embroidery detail...or those stylin' double pockets...

Two hours for the jeans skirt...maybe another three hours to get the fringe right (the first fringe was made out of spandex denim...what was I thinking??)

Modifying the shirt and adding the ruffle was the most time-consuming thing...

You know where this is headed, right???  And the fact that there are no pictures of Lilly's face was probably your FIRST BIG CLUE...

Yep.  She hated it.  Especially the shirt.  She actually went to her room and CRIED...sobbing...like I'd taken away her birthday.

Aarg...

Thrift Stores vs. QVC

When we visit Pennsylvania, we always spend one night with John's sister Maureen. She lives in beautiful Williamsport, Pennsylvania and she is a FABULOUS COOK.

Her daughter Marissa took a day off work so she could visit with us.

Maureen and Marissa put on an ENORMOUS SPREAD of delicious food. Holy Cow. Marinated chicken breasts on the grill, filet mignon, homemade macaroni and cheese, Quinoa salad, fresh fruit, sticky buns, Italian bread, roasted peppers, homemade peach pie. Everything was served in these beautiful bakeware pans...

OH MY GOD. It was enough food for 20 people!! But we gave it our best efforts -- and enjoyed a great visit and some good conversation. It's always fun to hear John and Maureen tell stories of their colorful childhood...

One of the things Maureen and I have in common is our love of thrift store shopping. Many of the beautiful things in her home came from the local rescue mission.

BUT -- many of her things also came via QVC. Which is something we do not have in common. (I bought one patio rug from QVC.) But Maureen is addicted -- and gets daily deliveries. She buys entire sets of their "Temp-tations Bakeware sets" to use, to give as gifts etc.

Maureen's daughters each has her own pattern, so there's never any question of who the pan belongs to after the celebration is over...

Temp-tations comes in many different patterns and colors

Different sizes and configurations...

Really -- I can understand the addiction. QVC comes out with different patterns all the time -- and they have become Maureen's signature gift. They are unique and very elegant. I LOVED THEM....

But, surprisingly, they are not my favorite QVC thing in Maureen's home...

Turns out, I have a new addiction of my own...

Linda's Purse Upgrade!!

So, you remember this purse started with a 95 cent treasure from a thrift store...

Linda loved the graphic orange flower...but the strap was was too short, and it needed an outside key/phone pocket...

I added a long adjustable strap, and a small cosmetic bag made the perfect pocket.

Linda LOVED the purse -- but the white strap was wrong. I made it out of cotton fabric, and it was too lightweight, and kept slipping on the hardware...making it suddenly TOO LONG...and I kept looking for JUST THE RIGHT orange adjustable strap.

OF COURSE, a week later -- RITALUCK!! I found this little zipper cooler deal...with an orange strap.

With the perfect orange hardware -- making the length adjustable!!

I cut off the white strap, and sewed on the orange strap instead.

I left about 6" of the old orange strap (because it was secured to the purse with some very clever fringing)

Yes, it is good to be me....

Life's Blessings

The other day I was looking for a specific picture that I was SURE I would find in the July folder...I was wrong (I have a terrible system for my digital pictures)...

But I was delighted to come across these pictures from the 4th of July Road Trip I took with my friend Marion.  She came to Iowa (she lives in Canada) and we DROVE to Aurora, Minnesota to visit Mary Mulari...

This might be my favorite picture...from inside the Wisconsin Supper Club...

We sat at a lakeside table-- the view was fantastic.

Mary and her husband Doug were terrific hosts -- and their small town TURNS IT OUT for the 4th of July!!

I mean, really, people -- THERE WAS FRY BREAD!!

I haven't talked to Marion lately -- but I know she's getting ready to take her youngest granddaughter to NEW YORK CITY this fall. And we both have such fond memories of New York -- I know when she's there, they will do things and go places where she will think of me and the good times we've had there. Yesterday, I was recommending the Chicago architectural boat tour, which is something I've done with Marion twice and it's a wonderful way to learn about Chicago...

Every single day, I am grateful to have such wonderful women friends.  I just can't express how much they add to my life....Women friends feel your pain, they share your joy -- they GET YOU every step of the way.  You can start a conversation with tears and sobbing, they hear every word, and you hang up the phone, laughing instead of crying.  (this happened to me yesterday).

OF COURSE you enjoy the time you spend with them, but then there is the added benefit of reminiscing about that time you spent many weeks or years ago...AND, if that isn't enough fun, you have the joy of planning your NEXT visit.

PURSES

EVERY WOMAN has a specific "purse criteria".

My well-known perfect purse requirements are:

• More East/West than North/South
• An adjustable cross-body strap
• Outside pockets on both sides for my keys, cellphone, airline tickets and camera.

My favorite zebra purse was a gift from my cousin Jackie. She heard so much about my criteria, she got everything right!

I'm holding my best Franken-purse -- and Linda is holding a purse I modified for her...

Linda P. brought her jeans bag to our TMBC sew and tell...PRE-MADE pockets for the outside. Love it...

My sister Deb is always making these extraordinary bags!  SO COLORFUL...

There never was a more appreciated, well-traveled, well-loved tote bag! (Thanks again, Inspired To sew Jan!)

When I showed you this picture of Linda's new Franken-purse, I said the white strap was not quite right...

And wasn't it too bad I couldn't find just the right adjustable ORANGE strap??  THEN, of course, Ritaluck intervened -- but I forgot to write the follow up blog post...

Coming...Monday....you won't believe it!!

Grandma Potty Boot Camp #101

I got a lot of emails about how Grandma Potty Boot Camp actually works -- and how Warren has been doing. He was 2 1/2 years old, and mostly non-verbal...so we all wondered if it would "take"... It's been a month -- and HE'S DOING GREAT.

Here's how theThree Day Boot Camp works...

DAY ONE: Warren was pretty much going Commando...and this was the day he sat on the potty for long periods of time. I had a bucket of toys next to him...and a make-shift play table. Cars, toys, stickers...anything to KEEP HIM ON THE POTTY...

He did a lot of sitting...

Some actual peeing...(both when he was on and OFF the potty)

But no pooping. None. Whatsoever...

Whenever he DID land a bit of pee in the right place, I did a happy dance, gave him stickers and hugs. He was very pleased with himself...

DAY TWO was a whole different deal. Warren wore loose shorts, and I asked him to sit on the potty every hour or so for ten minutes. He was surprisingly agreeable about doing this -- and he only had one accident the whole day. (But, still no poop)

I still put a diaper on him for naps and overnight -- but when I got him out of bed at 8:00, he was delighted to sit on the potty...

DAY THREE: I still ASKED Warren every hour if he needed to sit on the potty. But the big change on this day was that if he said "NO" -- I accepted that answer. The mission was to get HIM to tell ME he had to go "pee/poop" (for Warren, it's all one word...kinda...and maybe he didn't communicate his wishes so much with the English language as he did by rushing to the potty while pulling down his shorts)...

He had a perfect day -- no accidents. But it was Day Three with no poop!

His usual habit was to go off by himself to do that business, and twice I caught him doing his disappearing act...so I whisked him to the potty. But he was NOT DOING THAT.

I was waking him up from his naps, and early in the morning, so he wouldn't be able to do that business in his Pamper...

At Noon on Day Three, I was watching him like a hawk...when he got this look on his face.  He started to cry...I rushed him on to the potty...and then it happened. 

The next bit is too gross to write about. 

But, as Warren sat on the potty, I was holding his left hand, he had a B in his right hand, and Lilly was standing on his right side, petting his head.  Frankie was sitting at his feet...and he knew we were all on his team. 

Not only did everything come out just fine...(and I DO MEAN EVERYTHING)....BUT I am delighted to report that Warren has not had a single accident.

Summer, Iowa, Weeds and Poison Ivy...

In July, I got a horrible, itchy patch on my neck. It was raw and red and SO ITCHY, it was driving me crazy. I WAS COMPLETELY MISERABLE...

The usual suspects didn't make a dent in the itching...

I went to the doctor. 

Dr. It looks like poison ivy -- have you been outside, near any weeds?
Me: I have a terrible reaction to poison ivy, so I steer clear of anything suspicious. I don't go within 100 feet of any three leaf plant...
Dr: Are you using a different detergent?
Me: Nope
Dr: Wearing a different scarf?
Me: It's July.  Nope
Dr: Anything different in your life?
Me: Well, I did get a new puppy, so I am outside a lot more...

The Doctor got a big smile on his face...and as he pushed his chair back, he said, so, it's a small dog, Rita?

Me: Yes....

And you carry him in and out of the house?

Me: Yes....

Dr: In your right arm -- with his head just under your neck??

OMG...my doctor is a genius..!!

Yep...what you see here is the shape of Frankie's head...

Apparently, altho I AM VERY CAREFUL about touching weeds this time of year, Frankie just runs into and under all kids of questionable growth, and his head rubbed against some poison plant..  When I picked him up to carry him into the house,  his hair rubbed against my neck...

I left the Doctor's office with a prescription for Cortizone cream, and some pills...and my terrible, most horrible rash cleared up in a few days.

He's worth it...

Dogs and Kids

Growing up, we always had a dog. We lived on a farm, it was usually an outside dog, and most always a German Shepard. Once Dad had a barky little Chihuahua. But the dog we all remember was a beautiful, well trained collie we named Lassie. (we were a bunch of original thinkers).

I wonder now where those dogs came from? Did my parents ever actually "buy" a dog? How long was Lassie actually with us? She really was an amazing dog. At night, she would go from room to room, making sure all six of us were in bed. Then, she'd go sleep in my brother's room. But every morning, my parents would wake up with her at the foot of their bed.

Lassie was killed by a car on the road in front of our house. That night was the first time I heard my Dad crying...

But my connection with dogs was NOTHING compared to Lilly's childhood experience. She has ALWAYS had her own personal dog. Sophie. Sophie is always right where Lilly is. Sophie is her best friend. There has never been a doubt in Lilly's mind that Sophie loves her most of all...and unconditionally...

They sleep together...

When Warren was born, Sophie took up her post as baby nurse...But there was never any question about Sophie's true loyalty. Lilly is her person.

Warren has always had dogs in his life. But he was never a dog's main person...

until now...

Warren is really good for Frankie. And vice versa...

Libby Lehman Update

You absolutely NEVER know what's going to happen.

In 2011, Libby Lehman was in Bettendorf, Iowa...

She was excited about the classes she was going to be teaching at the next Sew Expo...

Libby and I had lunch at a little Italian place. We'd met several times before -- and we had many mutual friends. On that day, we had time for an honest-to-God visit, and we couldn't stop laughing. Libby was funny and irreverent...I knew she was my kind of woman...

At the 2013 Sew Expo -- she was in the Bernina booth -- entertaining all passers-by....

Our Libby -- the friendliest, most gracious, smiling quilter EVER...

One month after these pictures were taken Libby suffered an aneurysm, then a stroke...followed by a virulent MRSA infection...
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It was a sudden and shocking near-death experience, and it was touch and go for a long time.  Libby's recovery has been long and difficult -- but she has never given up. Her wonderful husband and sisters do a great job of updating the Caring Bridge site. Every time I go there, I am struck by how quickly everything changes.  In a heartbeat.  For Libby, her husband, son, sisters...

Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring...

Maybe when you woke up this morning, your biggest problem was a leak under the sink.  Or a fight you had with your mother in law.  Maybe the transmission is going out of your car, or your neighbor's barking dog makes it impossible to sleep....

But what if today is the day? The day an aneurysm bursts in your brain, or your child is diagnosed with cancer, or you have an accident that leaves you paralyzed.

How hard is it to enjoy your life?  Right now....right this minute. To be present. To look around and really SEE where you are standing...and who you are with.  How hard is it to APPRECIATE the good things you have, and to be truly grateful...

Libby is home now.  And, with the help of her family and care-givers, she is going out for lunch, enjoying manicures,  and mall walking.  TWO MILES!!  Her recovery is nothing short of miraculous.  But, of course, she is a different Libby.   And her family will always measure their lives from that MOMENT -- the moment BEFORE and AFTER the aneurysm...

Keep up the good work, Libby...

Sippi's and YELP reviewing...

My Yelp Review of Sippi's:

Sippi's Gets it right!

From the outside, it doesn't look like much...

They have a large outdoor seating area...

Usually PACKED...

I've been there many times and have never been disappointed. My fist visit was unplanned. After standing for hours to see the Holiday Parade, I went in to SIT ON A CHAIR IN A WARM PLACE. I was with my 5 year old granddaughter, and we ordered the Cheese Fries. Which were, quite simply -- the BEST I EVER ATE. They do a spectacular job...served on an oblong platter, cheese gravy on the plate, then a mountain of hot, delicious french fries, and a generous cheese sauce on top, with tons of crispy bacon. OH MY GOD.

 Of course it isn't something you should eat every week -- but, Sippi's Cheese Fries are THE FOOD YOU WILL GET HUNGRY FOR weeks or even months from now. So, in the last two years -- I've tried many things on their menu (to go with my Cheese Fries) -- and never been disappointed.

I could rave about their hamburgers, pork tenderloins, their chicken salad... And I can't seem to get out of that place without eating their homemade bread pudding. The serving is big enough to share with friends.

The food is so good, I ALWAYS FORGET TO TAKE PICTURES...

Tarek and Christina el Moussa Are Scumbags

Just in case I wasn't clear about this -- Tarek and Christina el Moussa from Flip or Flop, of HGTV fame -- ARE SCUMBAG CRIMINALS...

Every time I think about the scam they are running all over the country -- my blood just BOILS...

The morning of their Davenport, Iowa "event" -- people are eager to meet Tarek and Christina.

The room was peppered with their pictures, the large poster, the opening video screen...

They had several sessions over the course of two days...

The invitation said they would be there...EAGER to share their secrets, talk about their show...

BUT, as you know -- they never had any intention of actually attending this event. OR ANY OTHER EVENT, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. I've been monitoring some of the other city locations -- and apparently, this was always the plan. They made the cheesy "video", which is played before every event. THEN the heavy lifting-selling-scamming is done by their team of professional scumbags from Success Path.

THEY want you to sign up for the $4000 weekend in Las Vegas -- WHERE they do a heavy, high pressure pitch to  get you to sign up for their $40,000 mentoring/line of credit program.

OH MY GOD -- TAREK AND CHRISTINA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES....

Determined not to waste the day -- Linda and I went to lunch at Sippi's...

tomorrow -- I'll review Sippi's...