My Man Boy

Evan is coasting towards turning 18 on May 1st. He is a handsome young man and his Momma loves him.

How To Make a Tote Bag From A Thrift Store Sweater

Materials:

-Wool Cable Sweater
-Canvas Tote turned
inside out.
-Purse Handles
-Sewing machine
-Leather cord





Cut off the sleeve at six inches from cuff edge. Stitch closed at the cut line. Sew into the inside of the purse just below the top bound edge.


Cut the straps of the canvas bag three inches long and thread the handles through and stitch down to the canvas bag with matching thread.


Cut the sweater to match the length of the canvas tote, usually near the armpits of the sweater. The ribbed bottom edge of the sweater will go around the top of your tote. Sew the raw cut edge seam closed with a zigzag stitch.



Slip the rectangle of sweater over the outside of the canvas tote and pin into place with ease. Using zigzag stitch around the top and then one inch below.


Thread the leather cord onto a large sharp tapestry needle and thread it all around the casing as a drawstring. Gently tighten and tie with a square knot. Fill it up, and enjoy!! Use any old sweater you love.

Teach A Man To Fish

There is an old saying: Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

I went to the beach to contemplate life and here is what I saw. The juxtaposition of two fishermen. One kayaks out into the surf to cast out his line and catch a fish or two to take to his table.

The other combs the sand with his space age tool and fishes for treasures.

One will eat and the other feeds his fantasy of catching the "big one."

What kind of fisherman are you?

I'm Baaack!

Wow- what a week. It was going so well. Restful, peaceful and a real break from school with Spring weather to enjoy. I had a smile on my face from my last minutes in Lab Friday afternoon, all the way to Tuesday afternoon. I took the car in for a noise in the steering and a way over due, oil change. Woe is me, smile turned upside down. The estimate for repair- $500. Well, at least I got the oil changed and away I went to contemplate the needs of my freedom rider (car). I went home to sleep on it and decided to catch up on some bloggin.

I gathered my camera to download photos, made me a little snack, poured myself a little glass of the red, and turned on the computer. I am so glad I was sitting there to watch. I would have always wondered? The screen booted up, my name appeared and I hit the button to log on. The screen blared every color, fragmented from top to bottom. Through the color fog I could see my hotmail attempting to appear. Then, poof! Black screen. I was just a little distraught.

What to do? Go to bed.

The next morning I used my son's ancient computer to check my email and lament my losses via social networking. Facebook to the rescue. Heather and Tom are two brilliant people and good friends to me. First of all they happen to be the King and Queen of DIY projects, including auto repair. Who knew. Brakes- no problem. Steering disorder requires a simple flush and I will do that at the pro's shop. Now the computer. By the time I had driven north to their house, they had researched and found the best prices and qualities I needed. Tom dismantled my old Toshiba. The hard drive lay lifeless on the table with leads and wires connected to all kid of cables. Life support was in place and Dr. Tom diagnosed my blown capacitor oozing out the side o my laptop. So, a new Toshiba was purchased and Tom got busy with the transplant. The donor hard drive gave life to the new recipient hard drive in my second Toshiba, "little Toshie"

We are working together right now and we are bonding slowly. I am not a real champ about changes. Windows 7- I did not invent this. I cannot find my bookmarks and my links to some cool things appear to have disappered? But- it is all good. I will master the machine, cause this old dog has already shown she can learn new tricks! With a little help from her friends...

This Was a Good Day

March madness is finally behind me. Not the basketball- I could care less! I am celebrating a week off of school for Spring Break. It is the time of year when the sunshine and blue skies make me count my blessings. Living in this gorgeous part of the world is enough. Just for today, it is enough.

I drove home from Church with the windows down. The wind whipped through my hair and my senses were overwhelmed by the scents assailing me. The jasmine, the wisteria, the hay and the horses earthy manure were equally sweet. I know, right?

I quickly changed into a bathing suit and took my knitting out to the chaise by the pool. I mastered a new technique. I crocheted a picot edge all around the pristine white lacy thong I had knit Friday.

I wove white silk ribbon through the waistband and wrapped the thong in tissue to add to a set of delicate white tanks from Victoria's Secret. I regret that I did not photograph it, in all of it's bride-like deliciousness, before I dashed off to deliver it to the blushing bride at her bridal shower.

Evan was waiting for me at home, hungry and tired from a snowboard trip at Big Bear. I made a quick dinner and sat down to honor a request from Ruth Godly, the saint from church I sat next to this morning. You see, this morning she said she missed my blog. How sweet. She made me remember that I missed it too. Greetings and salutations. Easter Blessings and Mazel Tov!

I Am So Tired

The Academy awards were on yesterday and I had every intention of ignoring them. I have been slammed with my homework. Turns out that I need to devote approximately four hours of study for every credit I am taking. That is 32 hours a week. I am all A's in Algebra to date. Biology lab is a solid A, so far. Biology is kicking my butt. Micro and genetics is killing me. DNA, RNA, Kreb's cycle, etc. I am weak in the type of memorization required.

I spent all day Sunday and the better part of Saturday hitting the books. I was worn out and done in by 5pm Sunday. One of my craft artists buddies lives just over the hill. She holds an Annual Oscar party, complete with a large gold statue for the guest that has the best score on picking the winners in every category. I decided to take a break, jump in the shower and head on over.

I printed out a ballot and while blow drying I made my guesses. I only saw 3 of the nominated films, this year. A very odd mix. Avatar, District 9 and Inglorious Bastards. Some how, I won! I am now in possession of the big gold statue. I have to keep it until next year, when we meet again. My name is "engraved"(written hastily with a Sharpie) on the base. The first entry is dated 2002. Just when you think you have lost all of your traditions, you inexplicably become part of a new one. What a wonder...

Reflective Pool

"VITALITY SHOWS IN NOT ONLY THE ABILITY TO PERSIST- BUT THE ABILITY TO START OVER."- F. SCOTT FITZGERALD