ERT: Early Morning Savannah

At my last ERT post -- Marion and I were eating supper at Paula Deen's restaurant, "Lady and Sons".  It was so much fun to be there, and eat Paula's food, and shop in her kitchen store...

She had some great aprons for sale!

The short walk back to our hotel was through a picturesque area of town, with some charming shops...

The next morning -- River Street is chock-full of little shops and all-things-Savannah

At the end of River Street, this statue of a girl with her dog caught my eye...

Such spectacular early morning views....

I tried to do a selfie -- saying goodbye to Savannah...

It was so quiet -- the sky was spectacular...

Warren's First ARCTIC Carseat Blanket

Iowa has been in the deep freeze for two weeks now.  Twenty BELOW ZERO today, folks!!   Warren still travels in one of those carry-along carseats -- but he keeps kicking off his blankets.

If you are a new Grandma -- the first thing you need to know is that living with a five-point harness baby seat is part of your life. It took me several tutorials (including a YouTube video) to actually figure out how to UNHARNESS the baby.

And, as the baby grows, making the straps longer requires a degree in mechanical engineering. It is a complicated process -- and every carseat manufacturer uses a different system.

Which is why, during the winter months, it is so difficult to get a baby in and out -- because if they're wearing coats or snowsuits -- the straps are way too tight. AND, during a long car ride, the baby gets overheated in a hurry.

So -- what's the answer?? MY SISTER DEENA -- Grandma Extraordinnaire -- told me about this swaddling blanket -- that keeps the infant warm while you are transporting them from the house OUT to the cold car. But because the blanket is UNDER the baby, with slits to accommodate the STRAPS...it stays firmly in place, but can easily be opened up once you get the baby all buckled up...

With these frigid temperatures this winter -- I decided THIS would be a very good use of my sewing skills. AND t-shirt mountain...

Black polar fleece for one side.  You can almost see the three slits....and the turq decoration is a snowman...the words say "chillin with my BFF".

You lay it into the carseat -- and pull the harness out through the slits.

Then, you simply buckle the baby in as you normally would...

The warm magic happens when you fold in the sides...

I believe this is the most useful thing I HAVE EVER SEWED.  After this FIRST prototype carseat blanket -- I had a bright idea -- but that will be another post...(YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT...)

The National Anthem

Thank you, Facebook. I go there when I am bored -- it's a great way to see pictures of our nieces and nephews all over the country. And if somebody is sick, or in the hospital, it's a wonderful way to keep everybody informed. But, every now and then -- it can serve a higher purpose. Just when I thought nobody could improve on the Beyonce version of the National Anthem...wow...

Schmetz Sweetstakes

(I can't make the contest LINK work with the picture -- but the link in the last paragraph WILL work...I hope)

Rhonda Pierce, Marketing Director for Schmetz Needles -- writes this:

Sweepstakes! I have cleared my office of tons of sewing goodies. I just can't use all the samples and fabulous sewing goodies collected in my professional sewing stash, so someone like YOU should use these goodies. It's hard to part with... Sandra Betzina's Power Sewing Master DVD Series, Joan Ford's Scrap Therapy books, Grabbit Sewing Tools, Benartex fabric samples, threads of all kinds, books; magazines. All goodies arrive in a handsome SCHMETZ tote bag.

Enter the January 2014 daily SCHMETZneedles Prize-A-Day with BurdaStyle. Great prizes every day . . . Enter now! http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/enter-the-schmetzneedles-prize-a-day-sweepstakesSee More

My Favorite Coat

One of the jobs that always befuddles me is how to MANAGE PHOTOS on my computer. Ugh. I have folders and files -- some with actual titles, like, "Book Club" but more often -- just with dates.

I can spend hours trying to find a particular picture. Something I knew I had, but could not remember what file it ended up living in....

Last week, while looking for some Sew Expo pictures -- I found these two random photos. Originally, when I took them -- three years ago -- I wanted to blog about the clever way I added some bling to my favorite coat....but, then, of course, the pictures got lost in the shuffle....and I'm lucky I ever saw them again!!

I have TWO black boiled wool coats. One is a short swing coat I got at a thrift store -- and the other is a long, classic Geiger coat that I made Sandy buy one day. When she realized it was too big for her, she gave it to me. (yes, I know it sounds like I set a clever trap.)

HEY -- this year, with our temperatures at zero and BELOW -- I wear the long Geiger almost every day. There is nothing warmer than boiled wool. But these two pictures are about my short swing coat. It is a Carole Little -- and has great lines -- a modified swing style. It is lightweight, yet VERY warm. And it's perfect with whatever I'm wearing. But, c'mon -- it IS boring. The buttons are simple...

And, the BEST way to totally change any coat or jacket is to simply change the buttons. But the biggest problem with that idea is that you must find buttons that will work with the existing buttonholes...and that can be an impossible task....

And, if you know me by now -- you know I have NO INTENTION OF MAKING NEW BUTTONHOLES...

However, in the hope that I'd have some exciting buttons, I went to my stash -- and found the perfect thing. These buttons were handmade -- I bought them at a Quilt Market about ten years ago. They were just WAITING for this perfect moment. Because when I laid them down on the coat -- I realized I didn't have to change the old buttons at all....

I simply sewed the fancy buttons on the placket -- in between the working buttons....

Yes, I know...you are having an irresistible urge to applaud, aren't you?? YES, every now and then -- sewing and LIFE -- can be just that easy...

Paula Deen

So -- if we only have ONE NIGHT in Savannah -- where should we go? What should we do? Is there any way we could INCLUDE SOME FRIED CHICKEN???

The chicken was ONLY THE BEGINNING...

There were actually 42 items on this buffet...

YEP -- THAT'S RIGHT -- Savannah's most famous restaurant -- The Lady and Sons!!

Because we had a wonderful late lunch -- it was 7:30 before we were even thinking about dinner. And when I called, I expected to be told it would be two hours before we could get in. But, alas, recent events have probably had an affect on the business. Because when she answered the phone, Paula said, "COME OVER RIGHT NOW...!"

We got immediate seating in the large, beautiful, airy upstairs dining room...

I ordered the famous pot pie. With this STUNNING woven puff pastry

Oh, yes, I am fairly delighted to be here. In this lovely place. With one of my best friends. Eating this delicious food...

THANKS, Paula -- it was a wonderful experience.

The cardboard cutout was actually as close as we got to meeting the REAL Paula. And, for the record, I think SHE GOT SCREWED OVER by the Food Network. I'm not going to get on this soap box, but when you consider the person who made what turned out to be bogus accusations, and Paula's honest reaction -- it is unbelievable to me that the Food Network pulled the plug on her show THAT WEEK. They didn't stand behind her, they didn't support her, they didn't even wait to hear the whole story...

Happy New Year!!

It was a year ago TODAY that Warren John Farro was born. WOW. I cannot believe it's been a whole year!! TIME REALLY DOES FLY WHEN YOU ARE HAVING FUN!!

Warren was the FIRST baby born in Clinton County, Iowa in the year 2013. That honor meant a nice article in the local newspaper -- and an envelope full of goodies provided by local merchants. Some free pizza, etc...

That was then.  Warren on his first day. Lillian was NOT a fan...

This is NOW..!!

Warren had to win Lilly over with the force of his own personality....and he did...

He is the HAPPIEST baby I ever met.  And he is DELIGHTED with all-things-Lillian...

It's been a year full of hugs and kisses...and we have SO ENJOYED his babyhood!!

One of the reasons it has been so special is because at my age....I understand how fleeting these moments are. Of course, if they weren't so fleeting -- they wouldn't be so special...