Painting and Panic

Geez what a week!  Hello. Thanks for stopping by.  I have visions of posting everyday in a perfect life I don't have and seem to hardly be able to bang out even 2 posts a week.  Lord knows I'm never lacking words and always have something to say.  The latest is our contractor friend just wasn't able to get to us and do all we needed to have done in our time frame so we hired real painters and they started this past Thursday and when I got home all the main floors; living, dining and entrance way rooms had brown paper and plastic in some places taped to the entire floor.  That's how they protect the hardwood floors and it looked like a different house.  All the window coverings down and numbered, furniture that we didn't move outta there was in the center of the rooms all covered in plastic.  AND MY FAVORITE; SANDING DUST EVERYWHERE!  But it IS getting done faster so living within the perpetual mess will be of shorter duration, yippee!  Here's some pics of the outside I took last week.

I went to see the movie "I Am" that I posted about here.  I really liked it.  It was positive and shows how finally scientists that look at the material world and spiritual people are coming together to figure out what life, other living entities and humans share which turns out to be a very deeply rooted connection.  Go see it if you get the chance.  I'm sure it will come out on dvd and you could rent it soon.

So I went to get a breakfast sandwich and some coffee on my way into work this morning (the house is just too much of a mess to get bkfst or make coffee) and I was shocked to find the credit card I use most often was not in it's place in my wallet.  I tried not to freak out at the checkstand but I was trying to remember what could have happened to it.  Hmm...did big Al take it to get me gas last night, don't jump to conclusions...think girl when did you have it last?  Got in the car and continued my way to work then pulled over to call home.  No answer.  He must be talking with the painting guys.  Start to PANIC as I'm rummaging around in the purse and looking at all pockets in my wallet, not there, s**t!  Think, think.  Used it last at the other grocery store on Thursday morning.  OMG for 2 whole days someone could be enjoying my cc on VISA and my dime.  Damn.  Stopped at that store went in and asked if they have a lost and found and explained I'm missing my cc and used it last at their store.  Sure enough they had it.  RELIEF!  I've never lost a cc ever, thank God!  The clerk told me to make sure nobody used it before it was turned in and to check with the cc company.  So we did that, A-OK.  I went thru my memory of last Thurs. morning and remember now, laying it down on that little counter after swiping it then reached for the darn club card and I NEVER lay it down.  I always put back in it's place.  Must be the discombobulation of the house mess that's making me a mess!  Boy, was I lucky.

Here are some blooms from the front yard.  The white Watsonia are the first to bloom then will come the pink and then the lavender ones.  The Nasturtium and Kalanchoe are blooming nicely.

Since the painters are there working today, my plan was to stay at the shop and complete the insurance project that seems to be taking forever and I even brought my crochet projects that hopefully will be done soon so I can start my next project.  Hope you have a terrific wknd and are enjoying some flowers that are finally poking their heads out for you.  Spring is here!

Who Makes Your Clothes?

Have you ever wondered who makes the clothes you buy/wear?

While I was dismantling a wool jacket several weeks ago to someday make into a braided wool rug or other project and I began to wonder who or how many people were involved in making this garment.  It was time consuming to rip out the stitching and as I went along realized how much skill went into it.  Tailoring.  My maternal Grandmother knew how to tailor.  That was the kind of work a woman could do in her era to make a little extra money.  I've done a ton of sewing but never learned the art of tailoring.  I could tell the shoulder pads were hand made and the marks inside the fabric for the darts and placement of the stabilizer were done by hand.  Then there was the lining, too. 

A Liz Claiborne jacket made in Korea.  I kept finding these little pieces of paper with the numbers 331 on them.  How long did it take for them to make it?  What were their working conditions?  What pay did they receive?

So, Mr. or Ms. 331 you did a fantastic job on the jacket, I'm impressed.  I'm sorry the moths got to it and ruined it.

I did up a gift basket for a customer yesterday that she's donating to the "City of Hope" cancer center fundraiser.  It's one of those Keurig coffee makers, 3 packs of coffee singles and some bottles of different jam.  She brought in the goodies & basket, then I did the rest.  Nice for a change.  Haven't done a gift basket for awhile.

Oh man, it's time to go and a customer just brought in pictures, some china pieces, cups and saucers to ship to 3 different places and I thought I might get outta here on time tonite!   UUggg!

Pluggin' Away!

Hi!
I got to cleaning more last weekend than I planned and didn't do much on the cabinet refinishing.  I did spray the knobs with the clear coat and let 'em dry all week so I'll put 'em on the finished cabinets later today after work.

We've been working away doing paint prep work but the contractors haven't been here for a couple weeks.  So my son went from working in the house to outside paint prep and he fell from the ladder onto the cement but he's ok, thank GOD.  The contractors have some other jobs so hopefully they will be back next week.  I really need to get the plants in the ground soon!

I used my 50% off coupon on guess what?  YARN.  What else is there??  Adding it to my stash.  May use it on my next project.  Only read a little bit as I have been exhausted this week and have enjoyed just thinking about being able to crawl into bed and just SLEEP.

The DH has got me working on a new project (in between customers) of writing down all the furniture that we have room by room and research what it would cost to buy new today and if we sold it, what the fair market value of it would be.  DANG, it's reminding me of how expensive new furniture is, so take care of the stuff you own.  To replace it would be crazy $.  The purpose of this project is to see if we are over or under insured.  I think this will help us to figure out what to keep and what to get rid of before and after we move.  This is not a very FUN project :(                                          

I found this picture while searching images and I loved her artwork; you can find more of her at: Maria Molinari.

This picture shows how I feel right now.  Hand in hand we can make this a better, safer world.  Have a fantastic weekend despite everything.

The Beauty of Japan

To celebrate the people and culture of Japan:  They give us Cute Food, Hello Kitty and Cherry Trees.

Cute amigurumi and

Cute Babies!

Little Weekend Plans

Howdy!  Looookie, I got mail.  From Michaels craft store a coupon, so that's where I'm headed now after work and the mailman brought my book.  Sign up at Michaels.com and every now and then they send you a coupon.  I don't get their mailer for some reason and I don't get the Sunday paper where they advertise.  
 
I also got this book on ebay and it came today.  Yeah, I saw the movie but I have a hunch...the book will be better.  Haven't read a chick book for awhile so this should be nice.  

Still gonna work on the kitchen cupboards and do a little gardening, read some of my new book, crochet a bit and of course CLEAN blah.  

I got going early this morn and already did the grocery shopping before I opened the shop.

Many of my customers were telling me that the Geraniums were so pretty so I took a pic to share them with you, too.

Hope you getta do something relaxing this weekend!
See ya ;)

Almost Spring!

After the rain I took some pix of the garden.  Those are the two garden places that I need to fill in after they are finished with the house painting.  I love how some rose bush leaves are red at first and then turn green. 

Hope it's looking more like spring wherever you are!