Gifts From Friends

Robin and I had lunch together on Saturday. I hemmed a pair of pants for her on the coverstitch machine and she gifted me this mini chicken from her travels:

He is tiny—just about 1-1/2” tall. He could be a pincushion, but I suspect he is meant to be a pattern weight. I have him sitting by my computer.

I have been remiss in my other thank-yous. My neighbor Theresa brought me this beautiful wool scarf from her trip to Scotland in April:

I wish it were snowing and I could wear this with my new winter coat. It is so hot right now.

[From the Seattle Weather Blog Twitter account: Seattle is very likely to top 90° this afternoon for the sixth day in a row, making for the longest streak of 90-degree days on record. Records date back to 1891. Current record is 5, set in July 1941, Aug 1981 & July 2015. DD#2 asked for an air conditioner for her apartment for her birthday this year.]

Sarah gifted me a couple of tomatillo plants in the spring. We agonized over whether they would make it, but it appears now that both of us will have plenty for making salsa:

The cukes and melons also have taken off. If it stays this warm, we might get some after all. My sense of garden timing is so messed up this year.

The husband was home all weekend. He spent time doing some cleanup around the house and yard, sweeping up pine needles and clearing away brush. He put out hoses by all the spigots, too, so they are ready if we need them. And the electric fence is up around the apple trees.

*********************

I hemmed my Laundry Day Tee and wore it to church yesterday. I have another one ready to cut out from the blue DBP I bought in Missoula. I hemmed the bengaline Renee pants and I might wear them to class this Friday. It’s supposed to cool off a bit by then, to the high 70s. I like to wear my me-mades when I teach. Or I could wear the black ponte Tessa dress. I hemmed that one, too. I still like the way it looks and fits, and I plan to talk a lot about the importance of making muslins.

I really need to get the projects under control. I know I keep saying that. It’s just so lovely to be able to make clothing that fits me and that I enjoy wearing. I’m not constantly pulling tops down because they are too short or pulling pants up because they are falling off my hips. And the best part is that I get to choose the colors.

I’ve also get one more set of class samples to make for the home dec serger class I am teaching at the end of September. I bought the fabric last week and just need to run them up.

August, though, is traditionally the start of canning season and I’ll be hitting that hard. I also need to do a thorough sweep of the house, especially the basement, and take a couple of loads of stuff to the thrift stores. It’s cool in the basement and a good time to clean.