Grandma went to the fair and all I got was...

Leon and I were GOING to go to the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, but due to conflicting schedules between me and a video game, I went alone.

NOT a big deal!

It was actually quite liberating!  I decided to park at the capitol building and take a city bus ride over to the fair. There and back was only $3!  and how easy was that!  I did get a sales pitch about some health stuff on the bus ride because I asked the person where they worked that they get to travel all over the world.

I have their business card now.

And I chatted with some folks on the ride back.

The bus dropped us off AT the gate and picked us up there.  In the past, I've walked several blocks just to get to the gates and then on the way back to someone's yard where I'd left my car. If I remember which street I parked down.  This way is a WINNER! and I'll do it again next year.

I believe I was in the actual fair grounds for 1 hour.  I  visited the 4H building and got pics of my nieces projects.  Found them SO easy because they have a project locator on one end of the building!!!  Where was THIS all my life?!  You just have to know which county your kid is from. I guessed wrong. I guess she's in the county next to the one I grew up in. oh well.  It was easier than going down every aisle!

Then I walked through a horse barn to get to the adult sewing stuff and GUESS WHAT?!  I got ribbons on both items I submitted this year!

Matthew's jacket got an honorable mention!

And his PJ bottoms got 2nd place!  YAY!

I really need to get back into sewing so I'll have more current entries next year.

I walked through the business booth area and found my obligatory annual yard stick that will be lost or taken before next years fair.  Signed up for a few freebies to increase my spam cell calls and then got some cheese curds.

You know... there are NOT a lot of diabetic friendly food choices at the fair.  I think everything is geared towards steering you TOWARDS diabetes.

I tell you what...  going to the fair without the boy was a WHOLE lot cheaper than taking him with. And he agreed with me when I got home. 

I brought him back a bag of caramel kettle corn on the way out of the fair and he was oh so thankful for it!

Grandma went to the Iowa State Fair and all I got was a lousy bag of kettle corn!

:) He loves that stuff so all was good.

My brother is bringing me his old riding lawn mower today!!!

He is a pretty swell brother!  We're going to try that one more thing on my mower and if it's a failure, we'll roll it to the curb. (after taking out the battery)

I'm not strong enough to take that bolt out so I'm leaving it for him. Something about a possible sheered key, like I'm going to know how to fix it after he leaves.  Well, maybe I will be able to if he explains it to me.

Ok - back to work!  Have a beautiful day!

Cats, Fairs and Babies, oh my!

Cat sitting for Meri and letting each cat get the cuddles they need or will allow me to attempt.

This one, Curry, is the cuddliest.

I brought home my porch goose from the fair yesterday!  I enjoyed the comments and they liked the serged edges and for 20 minutes I couldn't figure out their handwriting for one comment, but realized much later that they said, "Good use of "... "wire".  Looked like woorre.

BUT they liked it.  I'll try something even MORE glam for my goose for next year and I'm taking suggestions.

The kids offered me Agnes today and I'll take her whenever I can get her.  I didn't see her at all yesterday and was having Aggie withdrawal.

Sated.  Now to help them find the pacifiers that have gone missing!

Oh and Taco Tuesday people!  Need to thaw out some hamburger.

Fairly Busy

 Well, I was hoping to start blogging every day but there has been a gap apparently...

When Leon did his online school Iowa Tests of Basic Skills this past spring, he met up with this girl and they have become BEST friends.  Her mom and I arranged play dates for them at their house or ours and Leon is super goofy with her around.

Reminds me of a little red haired girl in kindergarten that he was the same way with.  The teachers had to split them up because Zoe made poor decisions when they hung out too much. :)

So anyway, she is moving to another state day after tomorrow.  Leon was crushed at first but they've got plans to video chat and I guess we'll be planning a trip to see them in the next 6 months or so.

Leon is going to brick and mortar school this fall at his mom's, 45 minutes away.  WE were crushed at first, but we get him for all the fun times on the weekends.  We'll see how this plays out.

Last Wednesday, I met my favorite cousin for our 6 month date at Zombie Burger in Des Moines!  It's not exactly half way between us, closer to me, but it's delicious and we'll do it again in January.

Getting lots of baby time in!  SURELY you two need a little break for an hour or so!!  I'LL take her off your hands!!!  So she's mine until she gets too fussy and starts trying to suck the skin off my arm.  Then BACK to Mommy or Daddy! 

Being a Grandma is the BOMB!

I've only changed her diaper once!!

On Friday night, some church friends and myself went to a bar!  I had my first Long Island iced tea since probably college.  Another church friend that does the church computer stuff, plays the saxophone in a local jazz band and we surprised him by showing up to support them.  It was great!

However I didn't get to sleep until 2 hours or so past my usual bed time.

That Sunday, we all wore black sunglasses into church to pick on him a little.  He was amused!

Also on Sunday, after church, Andrew (FES), Leon, Meri, (bf) Ryan and I went to the State fair!  It was supposed to be an all day rainy event so I stocked up on ponchos and umbrellas for everyone and insisted Leon wear long pants along with me. 

BIG mistake...  The sun came out and it turned out to be a very beautiful day!  Thankfully I was able to pick up a backpack at the Varied Industries building for free and stuck them all in.

My porch goose, corn tuxedo did NOT win a ribbon and I just realized I forgot to snap a pic of either project while we were there!  BUT the quicky little dress that I made, with all the mistakes on it, won 2nd place ribbon in the girl dress section!  Whew!  I thought they would disqualify it!

So much fair food, so much walking.  My step counter was almost to 10k steps and Andrew's was at 14k.  Different brands of watches I guess!

I treated Leon to two carnival rides as well the obligatory Bumper Cars ride on the way out of the fairgrounds.

AND to round out my morning blog, here is Aggie and her buddy, the sloth.

Lots to do, people to see!

Honing Skills

It's been a wild and crazy week...  Let's see...  

Last Saturday, I attended a local town's parade where Robb was marching.  There was NO kettle corn...  Can you believe it?  sigh...  I sat in between a couple buildings in the shade where some nice breezes blew through and did some hand sewing on a couple sewing projects.

And poor Robb...  marching with woolen socks and kilt in 98 degree weather and "feels like" temp was well over 100.

He was exhausted!

I spent the afternoon and evening sewing.  Made a tunic top for me and a pair of sweat pants for Leon out of a pair of sweat pants that I'd actually bought for myself but were too small.  I had to improvise on the sizing to make the pattern fit the fabric so the pants ended up a little tight around the shins...  He LOVES them!  But they're SO "at home" pants...  You know.. when he wears more than just undersnorks around the house...

Sunday, I did some grocery shopping after church and headed home to get more sewing done and a quick visit in with my bestie, but she wasn't at the nursing home!  It had been a surprise trip back home for her, so I just went back home and got to work again.  Good for her, but I needed to get our bestie talks in.  I went on Monday instead for lunch.

Also on Monday, I took all my sewing projects to one of the offshoot sewing meetings that I attend.  Some of the same women as the ASG group, so I know them.  

They are SO creative!  Don't you just love this jacket?

And although Sue didn't SEW these pants, everyone was impressed with the details and I've been inspired for the next pair of capris I make for myself.

They were so helpful as I laid out all ten projects that I'm submitting for the fair.  Even the one that I'd spilled some Fray Check on the dress itself...  YIKES!

I had read on the Google that you can soak it in nail polish remover and I mentioned that to the ASG ladies.  One woman audibly gasped and said that that could dissolve the fibers in the fabric.

It reminded me of the time that I used SunIn in college and took my beautiful lightened hair to the salon to get a perm.  They were hesitant, so they took a bit of my hair and put it in perming solution and it turned to mush.  UGGG...  Needless to say, I cancelled the perm and just went home.  I got a perm after the bleached hair grew out but haven't gotten one in a LONG time.

In this case of the dress, I was desperate.  It doesn't grow out...  It wasn't usable with Fray Check splotching up the front in weird places and it was all over...  The ladies suggested alternatives by bow placement or pulling in the seams so it won't fit me ever anymore.  I'm not really a "bow" type person...  so the dress was wrecked no matter what.

I decided to go for it with the nail polish remover.

What did I have to lose?

Instead of soaking, I decided to just rub it on the fabric with a washcloth.  Front and back of the fabric.  The remover evaporates pretty quickly so within a matter of minutes I knew if it needed a second dose.  It did in some spots.  

But it came out!  And then left a some bigger spots that were the remover itself.  Like water spots...  So I threw it in the washer and hung it up to dry.

It WORKED!!!  I was so glad!!  It just needs a good pressing now and I'll send it to the fair.

8 of the ten things are hanging up ready to go.  Just two ironing projects to do.

OH and I asked for some zipper advice as I had to shorten a zipper for Leon's jacket that I made.  They suggested a few different ideas on how to shorten my plastic zipper and I opted for the hot glue idea as I knew where one was at home.    It WORKED too!!!  

Here is the end product of Leon's jacket.  He has some ideas for the next one, but I've got a pair of new sweat pants in the works right now for him that may or may not fit.  We'll see.

The rest of the week was a blur and I'm shocked that it's Friday already...  I spent a lot of time yesterday helping a friend move.  My legs are death...  2nd move in two weeks and after Monday it will be 4 in two weeks.    Every time I help someone move, I lose a solid pound.  I need to find 20 more friends who need a new view out their front window...

Leon and I went geo-caching this week too.  We only found one.  The other three must have been SO 4 years ago when geo-caching was more popular.  But he's pumped to hide some himself, so we'll get some made up and maybe replenish the ones that had been destroyed.

It was like a treasure hunt.

Taking my things to the fair tomorrow and getting the house ready for loads of company NEXT weekend.  Also, Meri is moving into her new house on Monday.  WOOHOO!!!  

My house, right now, has 4 dogs and 2 cats in it.  Meri dropped off Ellie and Fitz while she's getting her apartment packed up.  And we've also got Jen's cat, Frank, moved in as she'll be moving in next week for a few months.  Frank hates all the other pets.  Just ask Ryan's shoulder and legs where Frank let him know...

My people and pet hoarding skills are getting honed, I tell you...

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Sew Translatable

I was digging in all my sewing things for the FrayCheck glue.  I've got a few things that need it before they go to the fair.  

So while I was digging and putting items where they're SUPPOSED to go, I found a dressy maxi skirt that never got finished!  In my sewing circles, this item would be called a UFO.  Unfinished Object.  

It needs some hand work done on it!  WOOHOO!  This might the replace the purple skirt in my State Fair lineup.  It's more impressive...  BUT maybe I'll find a category where I can send both...

Not sure.  I still want to make a new tunic top and a jacket for Leon and then I'll have 10 things. 

My State Fair tickets haven't shown up yet though either...

Robb is marching in a parade tomorrow!  It's the same one that Sluggy came with me to a few years ago.  And she was my first imaginary bloggy friend that I'd ever met!  

Wow was Leon little!!!

Speaking of Sluggy, go visit her blog!  She is amazing...  I've *virtually* met MOST of my readers from her blog.  She's the lady with the most coupons and can leave a grocery store with a cart load of free food and they gave her $5...  An exaggeration  I'm sure... But not by much.

I pulled Robb's bagpipe uniform out of the closet and I think he just needs to decide which shirt to wear with it.  He is going to be wearing his kilt and wool socks on a day that is over 100 degrees...  I'm going to find a shady spot and do hand sewing on whatever needs it.  A hem and a few other things, while I babysit a kid's wagon loaded with a cooler, which is loaded with lots of cold bottles of water for the band when they get to the end of the parade.  I'll be waiting...

There is a sewing meeting that I'll be spending my lunch at on Monday and will show as many things as I've got done.  And some that I won't have done.  

Who am I kidding!  This will be a PRODUCTIVE weekend and I'll have it ALL done!!!  

Bwahaha!!

again... who am I kidding?

Oh!  My niece's baby was born yesterday!!!  He was supposed to be born on my birthday but decided he didn't want to be a namesake for me...

I'll forgive him. He's a cutie!

I think Dean in some countries translates to McVal.

Just a Ramblin' woMan

The weekend is over.  shucks...

Had a great DUO call with Maddy to kick it all off!

I did complete from start to finish, one project for the State Fair.

Not sure if it was good fabric for this type of project, but oh well.  I did a good job on it.  I think it drapes nicely and it would look great with a little black dress.  That I don't own...  

It needs to be pressed a bit.

Oh well, it was in my stash and free.

I also have these two projects to finish up.

Remember this dress from my nephew's wedding a few years aback?  I hated it.  I felt good in it until I saw this photo.  sigh...  

AND I tried it on last week and it's a bit snug now.  I may have gained some weight since then. 

double sigh...

I'm going to complete the seams with the serger because they are raw at the moment.  AND take the hem up about 5 inches.  

Daring... no?

Meri said to take the slit up about that far too.  Now THAT would  be daring!  I might take it up a couple inches anyways...

I was going to fix the sleeves as they were put in on the wrong arms... SSSHH!!!  Don't tell the judges.  It's not obvious unless I'm wearing it.

I purchased some wide elastic for the purple-ly skirt and will hem it eventually.  It is really difficult to buy thread to match that skirt when you don't have a sample with you...

AND I took a prom dress apart (not any of my girls dresses), seam by seam and made a pair of slacks from them!  That is going to be my biggest challenge for the fair I think.  I'm trying to get a good fit from it so it's basted together.  But I have tried them on several times and keep re-positioning the darts.  

I'm to the point where I've realized the fair judges don't care if it fits me or not.  It just better be done well.  So I'm hoping to just get them done this afternoon.  IF I can find thread around here to match...  

I can always pull them apart and make them fit me exactly after the fair and before the cruise.  That's why I'm making them anyway.  Well, that and a State Fair ribbon.

I've got the skirt and top for this outfit done, but still need to make the tank top work.  

Currently it doesn't fit me and it's in the same boat as my satin blue slacks, which will be skinny pants.

OH!  Since making my own yogurt and eating tons of it with rhubarb sauce, I've lost 7 pounds!  That and trying to eat a salad with my own sugar free poppy seed dressing on it for lunches...  Some days there are chips in the house and then my weight goes the other way.  But now that I'm seeing a bit of progress, yay! It inspires me!

I've got a batch of Lactose-free milk in the fridge at the moment.  I blended up two Lactaid tablets with a cup of milk and poured it into the gallon jug.  The lactose enzyme is doing it's thing until noon today (24 hours) and then I'll make some lactose free yogurt for Meri.

She moves out of her apartment in 3 weeks and the same day signs her life away for her house and moves in.  I suppose I should ask for the day off from work...

Wow is this a ramble!

Leon started his swimming lessons this morning.  I worked from the shaded pool side while the teacher attempted to make him dunk under deliberately.  Leon came up sputtering and then a loud BURAUPPPP!!!!  I overheard him tell his teacher, "heh heh heh... I may have swallowed some water..."  

The other day when Leon and I were at the pool, I jumped off the diving board to show him how easy it is and give him something to look forward to.  

That will be the last time ever for me!  My ears hurt for a while and I felt like my head was in a fog for about six hours afterwards.  I'm sure the lifeguards were poised and ready to save my life when it took forever for me to resurface.  I may or may not have screamed while jumping off the board.

I did scream.

More progress has been made on that Judy Blume book while sitting at the pool drying off.  I don't think I could live in the 50s.  Well, unless I had my parents with me.  The 70s were crazy enough.

Ok.  back to it.  Have a wonderful day and I hope to visit you all later!  I miss you guys!

Stepping up the Game

Robb and I went on a short road trip last night and picked up all my State Fair entries.  I can't believe the fair is all over with already!  Ten days went fast.

It was amusing and a little disconcerting to read some of the judges comments on my entries...  Most of scores landed in the Acceptable or Fair with just one in the Very Good box which ended up as a 3rd place with a comment that said Nice work.

Here are a couple of the gems.

"Good fabric choices but pet hair on inside."  That stupid cat...

For the "sister" shirt, they thought the serging was irregular and I should have used a thread to match the fabric.  It was a dye job and the thread just wouldn't dye.  sigh.  Oh well.

And it looked terrible so I guess they were just being gracious.

On the striped top with skirt, "topstitching is irregular on pockets and hems."  I deliberately did a decorative stitch.  I guess that's what's irregular...

"Strive to improve your sewing skills."  Granted this was on the pink dress for Beauty and the Beast that I cut a few corners on and got it done within 24 hours...  They did like the combination of fabrics.

LOTS of comments on the suit. "Tuxedo jacket should

be lined."  "pants waistband irregular" "no lining" "tie is irregular"  However they did like the fabric and thought it was a clever idea.

On the floral dress, it was marked acceptable and did get a 3rd place ribbon, but the only comment was "great floral knit."  

I guess I need to read up on what constitutes the Excellent or Very Good qualities in the fair guide.

BUT oh well.  I had entered as many things as I could to help build up the sewn garments area.

I need to step up my game.

Jim Gaffigan Tickets

THAT got your attention!

Ahhh, the Iowa State Fair!!!!  I got to the fair grounds on the preview night yesterday afternoon to see all the sewn items for free.  Parking was the big challenge as I had to race someone to the only remaining spot in the lot.  That little old lady very well may have flipped me off.  Not sure, didn't care.

Got into the grounds and while there were a lot of fair booths going up, it seemed dead by comparison to what it probably looks like right now.  It opened this morning for the next 10 days and is most likely a mad house.  I won't be back.  

Unless someone gives us free Jim Gaffigan tickets.  His humor slays me.

BUT it looked like they were ready for the crowds!

And Crab fritters?  Have any of you tried these?  None were open yet, but the booths I love the best contain smoothies or Chinese food.  Or really anything on a stick.  I guess if you stick crab fritters on a stick I'll eat it.  But it's a moot point this year.

Got to the building that houses all the fabrics and thread stuff and saw lots of friends there from my sewing group.  Everyone was taking advantage of a free viewing!  AND after some searching, found all of nine of my things.

1) shirt for Leon, recycled out of a shirt that Robb doesn't wear anymore.  Leon doesn't like it, but oh well.  He'll change his tune when he grows a little more to actually fit it.

2) Briar's suit!  I got an honorable mention on it!  

3) Meri's prom dress.  Third place!!  I'm so glad I fixed the pulled out chiffon!

4) My "Sister" dyed shirt!  On the hangar, it looks disgusting.  Actually it's too tight and looks disgusting on me too, but oh well...  No ribbon, but I really just sent it to fill my tickets.

5) My striped tunic with matching skirt that they hid underneath.  The skirt was the cutest part.  Oh well.  I'm looking forward to wearing that this fall if Meri doesn't claim it.  Oh, it has thumb holes in the sleeves.  LOVE that bit!

6) The flower dress that I made as a copy of Meri's gray dress!  Third place!!  This is definitely Meri's but I am in the middle of making another one for me out of a grayish blue knit.

7) Striped tunic for Meri.  I'm planning on making more of these in my size next.  I love how flowy it is.

 8) Meri's pink Belle dress costume.  No ribbon, but I'm not surprised.  I cut a LOT of corners on this project.  It was done and worn within 24 hours of beginning on it.

9) My capri leggings!  Honorable mention!  That was a surprise because as I was hanging them up to take there, I noticed that the crotch seams didn't line up as well as I'd have liked...  

But a ribbon is a ribbon. 

I'll take it.

I met up with Robb, Leon and his daddy and Jen for a quick dinner before Bible study.  We had to wait at "the house" for just a bit for Jen to get off work, so Leon showed me the bean bag chair he has been torturing all week at "the house".  He and Ryan have had a great time!  Leon goes to his mom's tonight so I won't see him more until Sunday. 

It's been a wild, yet quiet week without him.  And while I am getting a lot of work done around the house, weeding, sewing, cleaning... it's just not the same folding clothes without him trying to sword fight me while tossing Legos at the same time.

A Pattern of Weirdness

On Saturday, I made sure all my sewing projects were ironed and hung up nicely.  I gathered them all up in a huge garment bag and hauled them to the State Fair.  As I was checking them in, I realized I'd left the shark bag on the couch at home...  

REALLY?!!!

Oh well.  The fleece was a bit fuzzy from being loved over the winter time but I'd washed it and got all the cat hair off...  sigh.

Ok.  So I have NINE things entered this year instead of the ten that I'd hoped for...  

The free viewing of the entries and their placings are in another week so I'll take pics of my entries then.  I have to anyway, otherwise Robb won't know which ones to pick up on "take it all home" day.

I got home in time to shower and get ready for a wedding that Meri was singing in.  I didn't know the bride or her mom until a couple weeks ago but I've known the dad as he was the middle school science teacher for many many years.

Meri was pretty nervous.  She sat on a chair at the front of the church next to the piano player.  The bride's mom had me sit in a reserved seat but Meri's two friends that wanted to come along had to sit behind me.  So most of the time when Meri was smiling or mouthing things to me, she was really responding to them.

You talking to ME?!

Since it was a local wedding, we saw lots of people we knew and I even hugged a few.  That'll never happen again, I'm sure.  One was a middle school history teacher that had spearheaded the Washington DC trip that Ryan went on years ago.

She was great!  I think she retired right after Ryan went to high school.  There was a pattern of retirements when Ryan finished a grade... Clear from kindergarten.

Since we didn't think we'd know anyone, we had told the bride that we wouldn't be going to the reception, so we took off.  Robb had a fantastic pork loin in the crock pot and wow did that turn out good!

On Sunday after church, he and I went to the 10:20am showing of the new Mission Impossible movie.  Who knew the movies showed so early?!  Perfect timing!  We might have to do that again before the fall church hours start back up.  We chowed down on a huge tub of buttery/salty popcorn AND it's free refill.  Looking back now, I guess we didn't eat lunch when we got home.  So that was our lunch!  

And I'm ok with that.  However I'm sure the diet needs to start again today after 1pm as I have a lunch date.

Two more days of having Meri home.  Sigh.

It's going to be weirder than this pic.

Chipping Away

Robb marched in a parade on Saturday morning!  I attend this every year with him and since I'm the only bagpipe groupie that shows up to this one, Robb was in charge of the cooler full of water to be served afterwards.  

The weather was perfect for a parade!  Unless of course, you're wearing nine yards of wool and have wool socks and cap on...  I think the band would have preferred a parade in 20 degree weather.

I would be skipping a parade in that kind of weather...

In other news...  I did a lot of sewing this weekend.  Meri has a knit dress that she'd bought that looks adorable on her!  So I used it as a pattern and mimicked it for another dress.  The knit I chose might have been too stretchy, but I just have a little more to do on it and it will be done.  Perhaps another entry for the fair.

And if you remember, I had sewn a white shirt to go along with that striped skirt I made last week and thought it needed SOMETHING as it was just so glaring white! I had envisioned a shirt covered in neat smallish letters with quotes from Pride and Prejudice or Psalms...  But after I bought the glue and practiced on a smallish scrap of fabric, decided to go a different route.

Yep - not very neat...  And I may have just wrecked the shirt...

My sisters and my theme song.

Here's my plan with it.  The blue gel glue is washable.  It's completely dry now.  I will be dying the entire shirt, then wash the heck out of it until the glue all comes out.  It's called resist dying.  Then the letters will be white.

At least that's my plan...

I'm in the process of testing the small fabric bit and it will be washed today.

This may or may not be in the fair...

This weekend, Meri told us that she had been given a large piece of carpet for her apartment that she's moving into in 8 days.  We're on a count down because in 8 days, we'll be able to move a LOT of stuff out of the garage, one dog will be gone and even the cat!  

AND I'll be crying because we'll also be down another daughter.

But anyway, Meri took the carpet to a friend's house and used a power hose on it to get it cleaned up.  In her words, "I got carpet juice all over me!"  

ewww... to THAT thought...

The carpet ended up with a few stubborn stains, but didn't look too bad.

She got a crazy idea to use a dye kit and dye flowers onto it.  "I'll have it done before dinner."

Really??

Yep.  She did!  It looks pretty awesome!  

She's a chip off the old block!