Bits & Pieces

Well, my crazy schedule of summer/early fall is over, phew. I finalized my quarterly statements by my deadline at the end of October, double phew (paperwork is usually a struggle for me)! Early November found me trucking back and forth to the Cape. And now, finally, I have some time to putter around a do what I want to do, which is???

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You would think that I would be glued to my sewing machine and having a great time sewing. Not so - I've been spending most my time - cleaning and organizing! Sigh. But it is nice to have a neat and tidy house, right? And I HAVE gotten some sewing time in too.

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First off, I've spent lots of time re-organizing, purging, paring down. This has actually been something that I've been working on off and on for over a year now. One thing that I am really good about is when new clothes enter the house - a pretty equal amount needs to be packed up to donate. So, the closets are usually pretty easy, just switching the order of clothes because it is getting colder . This week I've organized my sons toy area - getting ready for the approaching holidays, because while we don't give him tons of toys, you can bet that there will be new toys entering the toy box area. So, I have 2 of the boxes emptied out now. He has a great, great toy box and small play area. Basically, his toys (excluding the bigger boxed things and games) fit in there. This week I went through and bagged up a large bag of outgrown toys to donate and then another bag of broken/lost pieces type of toys for the trash. Everything else is all neatly organized, by sets/similarities/etc. Exactly how he likes his toys! I also went through tons of photos and tossed all the bad ones, setting the good ones aside for a 2nd sort, scanning and scrap booking - saving that project for a cold, snowy day! And today I went through another few totes, tossing and shredding away. I have a pile of 4 empty totes upstairs that need to be moved to the basement so I am not tempted to refill them! I am starting to see empty holes in my storage areas! So - sorting projects this week, plus lots of cleaning - because organizing and cleaning go hand in hand!

* OK - well this is what the play area looks like after a RAINY weekend. We still have 1 basket of things to sort/go-through and I think that is the salad spinner lurking under the couch - a favorite toy of SB's! He just loves to spin "stuff" in there. Bigger toys get "parked" under the play table and train set-ups can be left on top. I really love his toy-box set up - the small totes are great for smaller items so they don't get lost at the bottom of the bigger totes. It is from Ikea and he has the same boxes at our house in Austria. The play area fits right behind our couch so it is still in the living room and he can bring his toys around to play - of course kids just love being right under your feet when they play, right?
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DH and I made 4 loaves of sourdough bread yesterday and SB and I made brownies. So, check-off some baking. I really don't like store bought bread so I was happy to have bread in the house again! Yesterday I also I decided on a few simple/new recipes to try this week and DH picked up the ingredients for me. Hopefully we will hit on a few new winners that will become favorites!

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My serger is being tempermental and breaking needles. It is a simple, basic machine and in over 5 years I've never had a bit of trouble with it. I'm sure I can fix it... I got that all cleaned up and have a new package of needles and WILL figure this issue out. SB NEEDS a few essentials, plus I want to make some clothes for myself. So, got to figure out that serger issue - hopefully tomorrow? Probably not likely as I have a pile of filing to do - a result of my sorting project. And of course, the ever present paperwork - at the very least I need to do my October reports! At least I've moved my sewing area - my summer area is too cold this time of year. A warm area (corner of the living room) is a good start.

Since the serger isn't figured out yet... I've spent some time cutting patterns and doing a bit of wardrobe planning. No sense in making a mis-mash of clothing that just doesn't go with anything else. I have a few basics that I will start out with and see where I go from there. Nothing too complex... I like those oh so easy patterns. Because believe me - those skirts that are supposed to take only 2 hours - well, usually take me a bit longer due to many, many interruptions! Probably if I just had 2 straight hours to sew I would get it done, but that isn't how it works around here!
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SB and I hit the Simplicity pattern sale last week. He picked out a few stuffed animal patterns and I made him this purple fuzzy rabbit (his choice of soft fabrics from the Red Tag bin - on sale, plus another 50% off, plus my 15% off coupon for entire purchase!). The pattern is simple and easy, but I was thinking it didn't look too much like a rabbit. I did stitch across the top of the ears, arms and legs to help give it a bit more shape and hold the stuffing in place and I think that might have helped some. I was thinking I would take it apart and add some tucks for more shaping, but gosh, SB was so anxious for me to finish it up - I called it good. But the important thing is - he loves it (and was thrilled to stuff his 1st stuffed animal too). He has named the bunny Funny Bunny. It is nice and soft and good for cuddling. Funny Bunny would be that purple bunny sitting between SB and the ever present Elmo in the top photo!

I keep thinking that I should have gotten more done, but then remember that I only got back on Tuesday night - late! Wednesday I was very tired, needless to say after all that driving, but also there are lots of things going on at home and the trip always makes me a emotionally tired too. And then Thursday is a busy day with my business and then quilt group on top of that. Can't miss quilt group - usually my big social outing of the week! And, I DID finish putting borders on a small quilt - I still need to photo that. And then - a very rainy weekend - driving rains and high winds. I can't really complain about bad weather though - at least I don't have to be out there fishing. Let us not forget our fishermen... lobster season opened this week... Although I must say - I think I am completely Candyland and Sequenced out!

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Nothing too exciting, but somehow life seems to be a bit on fast-forward right now. Where is the time going? I relish the routines and schedules of our normal days right down to the bedtime story (currently we are reading the Little House (Laura Ingalls) series, 1 chapter a night - on book 2 already!). Even though bedtime is earlish - 7:15 - by bedtime I am very tired myself so it is nice to lie down with my feet up and read. Just bits and pieces, like puzzles pieces, but put altogether make a wonderful picture!

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Speaking of pictures - here is a random funny one from this past summer: