Finally remembered to take a 'Before' photo !

Didn’t mean to pull a vanishing act on you so soon – appreciate your patience ! While I’ve just had a bad cold / allergies, with no hospitalization this time, they have wiped me out. I haven’t been worth a used Kleenex in a thrifted handbag all week. And I’ve gone through a lot of tissues. Still coughing up gunk, then blowing it out and wiping my eyes. Then I get five or ten minutes of peace before it starts again. About the only time I’ve not had to mess with it is when I’m asleep, and because I’m so tired, I’ve slept every chance I got. Doesn’t give me much energy for much, and isn’t very interesting to hear about.

I even cancelled my Tuesday defibrillator appointment and skipped therapy. Luckily the defib has already been rescheduled, and we were able to use my monitor for a quick check. It’s working perfectly. Aside from therapy, I don’t have another VA med appointment ‘til June !

Felt a little bit better yesterday, and decided to do the prelim work on restoring that Quick Curl Barbie I got from the church-run thrift last month. Her leg’s broken off, which I normally ‘fix’ with an elastic girdle. This time, though, I read some articles, watched a few instructional You Tube videos, and decided to try something new.

Broke a big needle, a seam ripper, and a toothpick trying to get the broken peg out of her leg, but my little screwdriver got it done. Played with it until I matched the break, marked it, and put it all away. I want to get some Plastix glue for the repair, and can’t quite handle Mal-Wart yet. I’d go to Ace Hardware about a mile away, but politics. Cleaned a ton of grime from her - note the shredded bit of Magic Eraser - but I have no ideas yet on restoring her wired hair. Wish me luck on that one. 

Today, however, I could handle Dollar Tree – Dearest Son and I hadn’t been out of the house all week, and we were both getting a little stirry. Found some 4/$1. Easter candy remnants, nothing really good at this late date, but a few little things that’ll be tasty later. Got the last of the specials from the local grocer down the street. We felt a nice little rain shower while carrying the loot inside.

Get this – 82° today. 40mph wind gusts tomorrow, with a pollen advisory. Saturday night, we’re on freeze warning ! Crazy !

Ooooogh.....(grabs tissue)

Still ill. Really ill. 'Not driving to Jo-Ann's even with a 70% Off Coupon' sick. Going back to sleep with my new thrifted Disney Store Dory. Hope your day is a lot more fun !

Coughing up gunk in a C-Pap mask is about as bad as it sounds. . .

Oh, forgot to tell you – during last month’s cardiologist appointment, I said I’d quit taking daily multivitamins, as I’d read articles that most of it gets flushed during the day. She told me it’d be a good idea to take them anyway, to fill in a bit. They wouldn’t hurt me, and it’d take effort to OD on them. In short, it was highly unlikely to harm me, and could help. So when we went to Mal-Wart, I studied the display, juggled some researched numbers, and found the best value ‘gummy’ vitamins, as those actually get taken. I left it to Dearest Son to decide if he preferred Star Wars, Frozen, or Disney Princesses. He ate an Ariel and a Belle this morning. I have to say that the red Ariels are quite tasty !

However, that was pretty much the high point of the day. Awoke feeling like the floor of a taxicab, and after breakfast, that upgraded to feeling like hot garbage. Cancelled my defibrillator appointment, I didn’t feel safe to drive or risk a buncha people if this was a bad cold. Already rescheduled. Not sure if I’m gonna make therapy tomorrow, unless I improve dramatically.

Meanwhile, I pretty much ate my rotisserie-bits chicken soup with potatoes, for lunch and reheated for dinner, and aside from a small bag of Smartfood popcorn, that was all. It’s early for me, but I’m wiped out, so I’m turning in. Hope your day was illness-free !

So true. . .

Ain’t no sewin’ for the lazy ! After successfully whizzing away an entire Saturday, I had the most solid intentions of sewing today. But a chance comment from Dearest Son – that he wanted to take drawing lessons from Beloved Hubby, to improve his art – had us completely redoing the living room, relocating unused computers, finding old hardware, finding the dust rhinos a new preserve in the trash can, and moving furniture. Luckily, we’d had a big bacon, egg, and biscuit/toast breakfast beforehand !

I benefit, too – it cleared enough space to use my Wii Fit again ! You know, like I’ve promised my cardiologists’ and doctors that I’d start up again back in November ? All I need are some batteries and determination, and I can buy the batteries.

It’s true what they say – change your view, improve your outlook ! I really like this new, improved living area. Just need to clean my incredibly cluttered sewing table (that’s had all this new and new-to-me fabric tossed on it !). I’m also hoping to snag an underbed box for Ms. Elsa's growing wardrobe. 

The thrifted fabric and clothes washed out nicely, and I don’t think his ‘Derpy’ shirt shrank. He’s so thrilled with it. ‘We Love Fine’ has some great designs, but I just can’t shell out $30. for a t-shirt, no matter how wonderful the Princess Luna image is.

Proud of me. Dinner tonight – Chicken Alfredo – used most of the remaining markdown rotisserie chicken, the last of some garlic cloves I had to mince or toss out, the bread bits from slicing a 42¢ day-old loaf of Italian bread for Garlic Toast, and the last of an old bottle of red wine vinegar. The last of the rotisserie will go to stock for potato soup lunch tomorrow, including the ‘can juice’ from the green beans for extra flavor. Supper tomorrow is make-your-own Italian Bread Pizzas, featuring my own version of Italian sausage, two kinds of cheese, more garlic butter, pepperoni, and onions. Dearest Son loves any kind of pizza night !

(grin) My therapist asked if I cooked well. I told her I cooked cheap, using a pre-planned menu to use up leftovers and minimize grocery runs, while making the most out of markdown discoveries and sales. After I detailed our last few dinners, the whole group was impressed ! Really, though, Alfredo’s easy, even if you make your own sauce. Even Dollar Tree sells the bottled stuff.

Well, early to bed. Defibrillator appointment at the VA tomorrow. Basically an hour drive, 20 minutes finding a parking space, waiting an hour for a 15 minute consult, then an hour’s drive home. Seriously considering hitting JoAnn’s while fat quarters are just 70¢, but I’m already swimming in fabric !

I love what you do ! Whatever it is !

Ain’t no sewin’ for the lazy ! After successfully whizzing away an entire Saturday, I had the most solid intentions of sewing today. But a chance comment from Dearest Son – that he wanted to take drawing lessons from Beloved Hubby, to improve his art – had us completely redoing the living room, relocating unused computers, finding old hardware, finding the dust rhinos a new preserve in the trash can, and moving furniture. Luckily, we’d had a big bacon, egg, and biscuit/toast breakfast beforehand !

I benefit, too – it cleared enough space to use my Wii Fit again ! You know, like I’ve promised my cardiologists’ and doctors that I’d start up again back in November ? All I need are some batteries and determination, and I can buy the batteries.

It’s true what they say – change your view, improve your outlook ! I really like this new, improved living area. Just need to clean my incredibly cluttered sewing table (that’s had all this new and new-to-me fabric tossed on it !). I’m also hoping to snag an underbed box for Ms. Elsa’s wardrobe sometime this week. I actually measured the gown she came in, to get the right length. I’m insane. . .

Also hoping to soon snag a new bedside table. Mine’s an old, kinda wobbly TV tray, put there by Beloved back when I was nearly bedridden. Measured that too, in case I stumble over something good on my prowls.

Ahh, a new week begins. Hope it’s a good one for all of us !

Yup, finally found AG clones I like !

You won’t believe this, but after staying up ‘til nearly 2am – Beloved Hubby and I had some serious winding down to do, and it’s always fun to watch Far Cry game play and eat pretzels – I slept ‘til 12:30 this afternoon. He and Dearest Son went for sodas, and he brought me back a packet of mixed nuts. We shared it for breakfast.

A while later, I made a late lunch, more ham steaks, eggs, and toast. Added cheese and ‘ham juice’ to the eggs, they were so delicious ! Dearest came back for seconds on the ham.

Promised I’d tell you about the Old Navy infant dress. Well, we have a local church-run thrift that I rarely went to, but this summer, I did. They had a small room full of huge piles of clothing, simply priced – stuff a Mal-Wart sized sack for $5. There were three of us down there, sweating in the heat, working together. One thin lady was looking for clothes to fit her, another was searching for back-to-school kid clothes, I was there for interesting pieces, small prints, and stuff to fit my guys. If we unearthed something we thought the others might like, we tossed it their way.

I left with two super-stuffed bags over an hour later. I can get a LOT in a sack ! The other mom and I were giving the young lady tips on how to get the most in a bag, and she did quite well. Other mom had four bulging sacks to her credit ! My bags included a Cuisinart apron, an Old Navy hoodie (Beloved’s favorite this winter) and a grey sweatshirt, a pair of jeans for him and Dearest, two tees for Dearest, a blouse for me, and a ton of kids’ clothes. I got red velvet, cute prints, and many fabrics I don’t often work with. So worth it !

The starry dress was the Old Navy infant one. I basically made the back the front, and pinch fitted it until it worked. Made machine embroidery shoes from the cutaway. The Belle nightgown was a Disney Store kids’ shirt that was also cut to fit, and there was enough of the rose sleeve fabric left to make panties and shorts. Another black-with-red-hearts print kids’ tee made a blouse and shorts for dolls this same size, plus two ‘Curvy’ Barbie pieces. I make the most out of my upcycling !

As for the dolls, green-eyed brunette Autumn was a Mal-Wart markdown, although for those eyes, I’d have gladly paid full price. I traded the other doll – also a M-W doll on deep discount – for a nearly identical doll from Goodwill. The one I have now is named Summer, as she wore only a flower in her hair when I found her. She reminded me of Donna Summer, with her long wavy hair. Haven’t done a lot of sewing for them, just a few separates and a sofa, but I’m starting to get that urge to create once more. (grin) The sofa is a beanbag idea that I cut wrong, out of flea market 4yds for $1. fabric, and it’s stuffed with collected fabric scraps with some tulle from a neighbor’s wedding. I’ll have to show you that soon, too.

Darn, but I’ve missed this and you !

Poor Unfortunate tire. . .

Sorry to vanish on you, but there was just no way to make yesterday’s  ‘Slept all day and did dishes’ interesting ! Although the markdown ham steaks and mac & cheese with corn muffins for dinner were delicious !

Took Dearest Son out for a prowl – he found two MLP-scale playsets and a ‘We Love Fine’ MLP ‘Derpy’ shirt at Goodwill. Somebody paid $30. for that shirt ! Even if it shrinks – it doesn’t look at all worn – he wanted it, and I said I could always make a pillow out of it. It goes in the washer tomorrow.

As for me, I was quick to snatch up a seven-inch stuffed Ursula I found lurking in the stuffed animal rack. Missing her hang-tag, but otherwise perfect – for 99¢ ! I also found a pretty skirt with the half-off color that actually fit me (lol), and a bag of stretchy lace and other notions like sequins, jingle bells, ribbon, and poinsettia fabric. All the lace and fabric’s on top of the Derpy shirt in the hamper. Ms. Elsa scored a pair of half-off Old Navy pink jelly flats. Wonder what she’ll look like in soft pink. . .

(grin) This is about the third time I’ve found Old Navy second-hand. Only time I’ve ever set foot in the place is when I went to find sneaker-shaped keychains to fit the Tonner ‘Matt’ doll. Made a pretty dress out of an ON infant dress – hafta show you that tomorrow.

From there, we hit Mal-Wart, for soda and look-around fun. I bought two spring fat quarters – also in the hamper – and priced under-bed boxes for Ms. Elsa’s growing wardrobe. Kinda pricey, hoping to find an alternative or a sale soon. Dearest refused to spend any of ‘his’ money. Got a free sample of Mango Crasins from the machine/device, and they’re actually pretty good. Especially considering I don’t like cranberries and I hate mango.

And just a few hours ago, I had my first experience with Uber. Beloved Hubby was home kinda late, so we went out for a snack – and we had a blowout. Not on the tire I have to keep inflating, on the one opposite it. Tried to walk home, but it was 36° out and windy, and I lost breath and strength pretty quickly. We made it about halfway, and he knew I was trying but in trouble. So he arranged it, which was nice and not too expensive. Once home, we retrieved the spare, warmed up a bit (hot cider for the win !) and drove out in the Diesel. Beloved got it replaced and I drove it home. We were both wiped out, but some hot chocolate helped. Brrrrr !

I’m going to bed, to finish warming up ! Check your tires, sweet ones !