sewing blogs...who knew?!

Monday, August 31, 2009

I've found a new obsession...sewing blogs. I had no idea there was such a thing. I guess I'm not really surprised, because there are so many cooking and home decorating blogs. Why not sewing!? This week, I've just been searching and searching these blogs, and you know what the best part is? There are TONS of free patterns and tutorials out there. I love free! I've found some new favorites to add to my google reader and I've even found a pattern for a Christmas gift for someone. {Sorry, that's as much as I'm going to say, I don't want to give away a Christmas surprise!} I'm sure they're going to love it though and I've found the perfect fabric for it. All I have to do is find the fabric at the local store, or I may have to order it online. I've found a couple brands I really like, Moda and Amy Butler.

I finished my harvest table runner! I'm very impressed with myself for doing so in less than a week. There would of been a picture of it here, but Mike took the camera to work today, so I will post a picture of it in the next couple of days. Promise. I know I need to pace myself, so I probably won't start the Christmas table runner for a few weeks.

I think I've decided to go to the quilting guild meeting; the next one is actually tomorrow. I'm pretty nervous about it, but I'm sure I'll have a good time. It's just scary thinking of going somewhere where you know no one and going alone. I'm a pretty quiet person when I first meet people; actually, it's really hard for me to start conversations with strangers.

So we'll see how it goes, I hope it goes well....

sewing stories

Thursday, August 27, 2009

I've had the last couple days off work, so I've been sewing! This past weekend we went to fabric store and I bought some fall/harvesty fabrics. I'm making a table runner, and I'm almost done quilting it. I'm hoping to have the quilting finished and the binding attached today, but we'll see. After I get this runner complete, I'm going to make a Christmas one. Pictures to follow, promise. I'm really getting into the whole sewing/quilting craft. The reason I haven't done more is that this can be an expensive activity.

When I went to the fabric store on Monday to get my backing and binding fabrics, I got talking to the ladies that work there. They invited me to join the local quilting guild. Now, I know there are probably going to be more older women there than younger, but I could learn a lot from them. I'm thinking about going to at least one of the meeting. I'm pretty sure there is a yearly fee, I'm just not sure how much. And if I join, I get 10% off at the fabric store. :)

I'm the kind of person you can't do two activities at once. So it's a good thing I can't always have a sewing project, because it gives me time to read. I'm currently reading Eat Pray Love. I'm really starting to get into it, but I put it on the back burner while I finish my harvest table runner.

Oh, and still no word on the interview last week. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing.....

cold toe season

Monday, August 24, 2009

We had a really good weekend with Mike's mom and her boyfriend. We went to Clarksville on Saturday. They have some really cute stores. I went there when my girlfriends came to town, but I'm glad Mike got to go this time. There is a really neat furniture store that I knew he would like and he found some bar stools he would want if we ever get a bar. There also is a glass blowing studio and we watched the glass blower make a vase. It was really neat - I probably could of sat there all day. We then went to a resort that had wine tasting, beer tasting, lunch and afternoon music. I think it was a pretty good time, but I'm not sure if we will ever take other people there. The music group was a joke, in my opinion. It was a 70+ Elvis look-a-like (complete with black wig that didn't match his sideburns) and a woman. The woman had a really nice voice, but the two people just didn't match each other.

After our adventure in Clarksville, we can back to our place and tried to decide what we wanted to do that evening and Sunday. We decided it would be best to go to the fabric store immediately. :) Oh how I love this store! There's a Better Homes and Gardens Quilting Magazine out now with a article on the top 10 fabric stores in the country.... guess what?!? The Hannibal fabric store is one of them. How lucky am I and my guests? Anyway, Mike's mom and I went shopping while the guys sat outside. We did really good; I found fabrics for a harvest and a christmas table runner, Mike's mom found some ice blue wintery fabrics....beautiful!

Sunday, we took them to Lover's Leap and then we took the tour at the Rockcliffe Mansion. We went on a self guided tour of the mansion at Thanksgiving, but have been wanting to go and have a proper tour. I'm glad we went, there's so much information the guide gave us. Just for all of you who don't know what I'm talking about, Rockcliffe Mansion is a 14,000 sq. ft. home built in 1900 by a lumber baron here is Hannibal. Since he had access to the wood and had the money, the house has beautifully carved fireplaces heavy pocket doors and Tiffany lamps. A little fact: This lumber baron lived in our house while the mansion was being built...kind of neat!

All and all, it was a great visit. We even got our anniversary cake, Mike's mom was nice enough to bring is to us. It's crazy to believe we will be eating it in less than a month!

The weather was amazing all weekend and has continued this morning. We slept with our windows open and it was great! I even got to put my cold toes on Mike. I know it's mean, but it feels so good. :)

Well, I'm off to start my day, I'm headed back to the fabric store to get the backing and binding fabric. I told you it was dangerous....

visitors

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Mike's mom and her boyfriend will be arriving tomorrow evening. It's always nice to have visitors. Another good thing is Mike will actually be here for their visit. There was a chance of Mike going out west for fire duty, but I don't think he'll get the call this week (I probably just jinxed it). I hope he does get that call soon; he's really excited about going.

We don't really have any set plans while they are here, which I really like. I'm glad we have things to do around town, but we can do them on our own time. It makes for a more relaxing weekend. We are definitely going to the fabric store, which will be dangerous. I went in a couple weeks ago, and they have their Christmas fabrics out and I love them! I may have to pick something up to make a table runner or something. The other thing I'm pretty sure we're doing is we want to take them to a new wine shop downtown. It's the only smoke-free place here and it's more like a wine bar. They don't serve food, just drinks. We've never been, so I hope it's good. :)

I had an interview yesterday. I normally don't like putting these things on the internet because I feel it jinxes me. But I didn't get any of the jobs I've kept quiet about, so I don't think it really matters. The interview went really well, and I really feel I would be a good match. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

walk through results

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The guy from the city just left. The walk through went fine, but they did have to go into every room. It was for structural reasons and see if the house was up to code with fire alarms, if the electrical outlets are giving off enough electricity, etc. The only bad thing is he looked in all the places you never clean-under the sinks and in our closets!! I understand why he had to, but still....I didn't clean there!!!

The landlord was there as well and I was hoping to talk to him about our wasp and spider problem, but he didn't stick around after the guy from the city left. I didn't really want to bring it up in front of the guy who was "grading" us. The landlord is going to get back with us with the things he needs so change for the city, so I think that is when will are going to bring up the problems.

Moral of the story....I can't wait to own a house!

blogging on a sunday

Sunday, August 16, 2009

We are still getting adjusted to living in a different state. With moving comes different laws, and so now we have to have our rental house checked out by the city. I guess they are supposed to do it every year, but they don't normally do it every year. I'm used to rentals being checked by the landlords, but the city is a whole different ballgame. So they are coming Tuesday, at some point - they can't even give us a general time. I've talked to my landlord about it and she said they have to walk in and check every single room. I'm not sure if this for structural reasons or if they want to see if anything illegal is going on the the household. Obviously, there is nothing illegal going on in this house, unless you count my laziness on dusting. :)

I'm not sure how this will pan out, but I will definitely have a review afterward.

wasps & spiders & fainting, oh my!

Friday, August 14, 2009

We have wasps again. I really don't know what the deal is. I know we live in a super old house, so there's going to be a hole in a wall somewhere, but still- this is getting ridiculous. I've already killed 2 wasps this morning. We don't have the windows open, so it can't be the screens. I really want to say something to the landlords, but Mike doesn't think it's a big deal.

I have recently found some spiders as well. I really don't understand.... It has to be this old house. In some of our rooms the base board doesn't touch the floor in places and I've seen them come out of that little crack. Again, I don't know what to do about them; I need to go and investigate what kind of sprays are out there I guess. We have a basic spray, but I want to get these guys gone FOREVER!

Sorry to bug you all with this problem (pun intended). It's not really the most exciting thing, but it's what's going on in our lives.

Tonight we are going to 'Down by the River' (remember...I fainted at the last one). I'm a little nervous, just because people are going to be asking about the fainting spell. I'm sure we'll have a good time, and I will be bringing some water along. :)

bagel & coffee

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

I went to Quincy yesterday morning to meet a couple friends from work at Panera for breakfast. Talk about a blast from the past. I haven't been to a Panera since last August or September. I got my usual, Cinnamon Crunch Bagel and coffee. I was so nice to just sit and chat.

I went to Hobby Lobby after, since it is in the same strip mall. It brought back memories of planning our wedding. I haven't been to one since my last trip for paper for the place cards and programs.I LOVE HOBBY LOBBY! It just gets me in the crafting spirit. I walked through all every aisle. They have all their Thanksgiving stuff and most of their Christmas set up. I dream of the day when I have the money to fully decorate our house for both holidays. I actually want to have some form of seasonal/holiday decoration in my house at all times. I'm sure Mike is not going to enjoy this, but oh well - it makes me happy. I started an candy dish "collection" at Borders with clearance dishes. I only have a couple - Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Easter. I hope to complete this soon.

date with the husband

Monday, August 10, 2009

Yesterday was the first day that Mike and I had off together with nothing else planned since the end of May. Yes, I figured it out, and yes, I hope it never takes that long again.

We started the day out great - lazily made our way downstairs to make coffee and breakfast. We always have a homemade breakfast together on the weekends, but this was different. It was so much more relaxing knowing I didn't have to go to work immediately following. We then made our way to a winery in Monroe City. It's just about 20 miles east of us. We had a little trouble finding it, but that's all part of the fun, right? The winery is just in it's beginning stages, this being it's third season open. But it was probably the best winery we've been to. This man knew his stuff, and had a great personality. We tried 11 wines and we both liked all but one (the same one - how cute!) We only bought 2 bottles, but it's sold at our local grocery so I know we will be buying more.

The only con to this winery is what it looks like at the moment. They have this really old farm house that they wanted to sell the wine out of, so they renovated the house. Then Missouri changed their law, and now you are not allowed to sell alcohol out of a residence. So they have a make shift winery in their yard, which is a house trailer. He talked to us about it and they want to build, but in these hard economical time, they are nervous about it and are uncertain about when it will take place. He wants to do it as soon as possible though.

We then went to Quincy to look for an "outdoorsy" store Mike had heard about, but they were closed on Sundays. We had lunch there and then made our way back home. We got to take a nap on the couch together. PERFECT! We even watched the movie we watched on our very first date. I don't think either of us had seen it since then, so that was fun.

It was a great day with my husband and I wish it didn't end.

the 8th day

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Today is my last day of work in my 8-day streak. Wahoo! I'm so ready for a break. I know I don't do laborious work, but it has worn me out. I'm used to working 2 or 3 days in a row and having a day off. It was even that way when I was working at Borders. And it doesn't really help that most of my shifts this week have been mid day shifts, 10-6, 12-5, etc. - and with a half hour commute, it makes it a long day. The day is pretty much over by the time I get home and make dinner.

I have a couple recipes to post on the cooking blog, but just haven't found the time to do it. Hopefully at least one of them makes it up there tomorrow. :)

work & wine

Monday, August 3, 2009

The sheets sleep amazingly. I don't know where they have been all my life. :) We got the sheets I always recommend to bridal couples when registering, so I'm glad I actually have them and I know what I'm recommending.

Last Thursday started a 8 day work streak. EEK! I know I was just complaining about not having enough hours, but this is just going from not enough to too much. The hours are what I want, but you gotta give a girl a break....right?

Since the winery I went to with the girls last weekend was a bust, I really want to find a good one around here to take our visitors. I have this coming Sunday off, so Mike and I are going to try a winery in Monroe City. I'm really getting into the whole winery thing. It's pretty cheap entertainment for an afternoon and we get to kind of explore near by cities. Plus we get to try wine. I'm still getting a taste for wine, and I'm hoping it keeps developing. I'm really into the blushes right now - white zinfandel and such, but I wish I liked more of a variety.
Anniversary