Spring Sewing

My sewing machine has been very busy this week. I am tired of wearing blue jeans so much and seeing the whole world wearing blue jeans everywhere. I can't change anyone else, but I want to dress with some more color.
I read on Diane's blog about her plan and progress sewing up 6 pretty spring/summer dresses.
I also get emails from Cath Kidston and just love their floral combinations and how they use red, blue, pink and green together.
So, here is what I came up with to improve my spring wardrobe.....


McCalls 5198 - yes, this bag is as big as it looks!

Polka dot apron

3 finished dresses - the same old Simplicity 5767 pattern, but with 3 different necklines

white eyelet at the sweetheart neckline

scalloped neckline on the white with pink flowers

I had a package of vintage rick rack to trim this mostly red one.

Family is comin'

family will be coming tomorrow and some will stay a day, some a week or so, and one will stay all summer. They all like to eat, and so do Jeff and I, so I spent part of today baking cookies.

4 kinds
Betsy's Coconut Cookies -
Washboard Cookies from an old Taste of Home magazine
Soft Oatmeal Cookies and No Roll Sugar Cookies
Nina needed a sugar cookie pizza crust for a party this evening, so since I was already baking, I made her recipe into one.

I put most all the cookies into the freezer except the big can of oatmeal ones. There are also some freezer biscuits and banana bread in there so we should not need any other sweets for awhile. You can also see some homemade spaghetti sauce and chicken broth.
If you're wondering about this small freezer space, it is small. We have 2 refrigerators, one is a regular size one and we have a smaller, apartment size one and you see the freezer part of that smaller fridge. I can get a lot in these 2 freezer spaces. We don't really have a convenient spot in our house for a deep freezer but I don't mind. If I just stack everything neatly, there is room for plenty of frozen food.

Pyrex and tornados

A number of scary tornadoes went through Oklahoma last night, thankfully we just had wind and rain at our home.
Bobby and Bridgette live where one of the big ones got its start and they have plenty of broken trees to clean up and they lost power for awhile- but no big damage and they are safe.



on to more fun things - like Pyrex.

I did not intend to start a Pyrex collection. I got my big brown and white bowl from my grandparents. Then I added a few pieces from yard sales and Jimmy found a few more pieces at thrift stores. I like using Pyrex so much, that I started hunting it out when we shop.
Yesterday, I decided my Pyrex, and a few pieces of FireKing that look like Pyrex, needed their own cabinet. So I rearranged and ended up with this, minus the few pieces that were in the dishwasher or fridge.

the big aqua bowl on the bottom shelf is my newest Pyrex, it is a Mothers Day gift from Jimmy.

and just so you don't think I have lost my marbles and am wasting too much space on silly dishes that I really do use everyday, Pyrex collecting is popular- here is a Flickr picture of just one of many big-time Pyrex collections.

These pieces all belong to Gracie

I sure hope her shelves are very secure and strong.

More May yard sale finds

There were just a handful of yardsales in my town this weekend. I think with it being Mothers Day and OSU graduation weekend, that caused people to schedule them some other time.
Nina is just 5 weeks away from her delivery date and she wanted to go, so we went.
She did not find much but we found a few things.

2 more Pyrex bowls - $1 each
10 Pyrex custard cups for $2

2 purses and a billfold - brand new, even had the silicon packet still in them - $1 for the batch

2 little chairs for $1 each - but they tip over too easy for Gavin so they will be going into the attic for a few years or in to our giveaway pile

vintage sheets - like new - $1 and $2

2 nice size frames for 25 cents each, the little football is a coin pouch that Jeff picked out

2 hardback books $1 each

free magazines

and remember the outdoor toys we found last week?
Well, Gavin kinda likes them!



linked to Rhoda's Southern Hospitality Thrifty Treasures
Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday
Linda's Coastal Charm Tuesday Treasures

Happy Mothers Day to my children

I found this poem years ago and it always makes me giggle - so happy Mothers Day to all moms, and of course to my children. And here is what you all have to look forward to.


When I'm an old lady

When I’m an old lady, I’ll live with my son.
And make his life happy and filled with such fun,
I want to pay back all the joy he’s provided,
When I’m an old lady and live with my son.

I’ll write on the wall with red, white and blue,
And bounce on the furniture wearing my shoes,
I’ll drink from the carton and then leave it out,
I’ll stuff all the toilets and oh will he shout!
When I’m an old lady and live with my son.

When he’s on the phone and just out of reach,
I’ll get into things like sugar and bleach.
Oh he’ll snap his fingers and then shake his head,
And when he’s all done I’ll hide under the bed.
When I’m an old lady and live with my son.

When my son’s wife cooks dinner and calls me to meals,
I’ll not eat my green beans or salads congealed.
I’ll gag on my brussel sprouts, spill my milk on the table,
And when she gets angry, run fast as I’m able,
When I’m an old lady and live with my son.

I’ll sit close to the T.V., thru the channels I’ll click,
I’ll cross both my eyes and see if they stick,
I’ll take off both my socks and throw one away,
And play in the mud until the end of the day.
When I’m an old lady and live with my son.

And later in bed, I’ll lay back and sigh,
And thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.
And my son will look down and with a smile slowly creeping,
And say with a groan, “she’s so sweet when she’s sleeping.”
When I’m an old lady and live with my son . . . .

By Mary Ann Hopkins