Sewing machine and groceries

That sewing machine was nagging me for repair, so I decided to NOT procrastinate.  I called three places here in town and two of them charged $80 + parts to go over it, and one charged $40.  I decided to try the $40 guy and see how that goes.

He said my machine was about the 10th he had taken in today.  Makes me think there is a good business for someone with excellent mechanical skills.

Conveniently, his place is in the same strip mall as Sunflower Market, a kind of hybrid traditional/organic grocery with a great produce section.  Since I didn't do Bountiful Baskets this morning, I picked up several kinds of fruit, plus some things from their bulk bins.

Did you know you don't have to buy the whole bag when produce is priced by the pound?

I just take out the amount I want to buy and put it in another bag.  Did you know you can even do that with things like celery when it is priced by the pound (vs. by the bunch)?

I bought only about half the package.



Here's one of my helpers:

This is not the quilt top picture I thought I was going to post today

I finished the "medallion" (center) of the patriotic quilt a week or so ago, but needed to add a border of red, then a border of blue to complete the top.

My math skills were atrocious and I sewed pieces onto my border strips I didn't need, then had to tear out the seam or cut them off.  I will say I made all my precision cuts accurately though.  You know the old saying--Measure twice, cut once?  It is true and it works.  :-)

So here is the quilt top:

Why is it folded up for storage instead of being sandwiched with batting and a backing?

Why??

Because my 31 year old workhorse of a sewing machine is on the fritz!  The last time I used it I heard some alarming squeals from the wheel part on the right.  I opened it up and took a look around but you could put what I know about sewing machines in a thimble and still have room for your big toe.  I oiled it and closed it back up and it seemed to be working a little better.

Today it went back to its squeaks and squeals, then finally all but froze up.  I had about 2-1/2 feet left to sew of the final border piece, so I tried turning the wheel by hand, but it was almost impossible, so I gave up.

Tomorrow's duty is to take it to a repair shop. 

Here is the old girl in all her glory:

Good bye, sweet grandsons :-(

When I got up yesterday I didn't know it was my last day with Holly and the boys. Her dh and mother-in-law came to get them in the evening. It's a long drive and I appreciated their taking it on.

Little LJ has spent more than half his life at our house. He was 3.5 weeks when he came and a few days past 2 months when he left.

Zachie got a buzz cut when he arrived (from Holly), so I asked her if I could give him another one before he left. He looked so cute with his little blond head and short short short hair.

The picture above is the best of four I took of the boys with their great-grandmother (my mother).  Lots of action on the baby's part and a slow camera response on mine.  I'm glad to have the picture though.

We miss the three of them already.  We hope they come back soon.

Zoo!

 It's great to have an annual pass to the zoo.  Today we focused on the large animals and didn't worry about trying to see everything or even every area of the zoo.

The wonderful new elephant exhibit is a real hit with our family.  Just two of the five elephants were out where we could see them today.  They have the ability to take themselves off exhibit, so we didn't see the mother or the two babies.

This is a fundraiser mural.  I wish I had made a donation!

This has changed my hair style!

Yes, a YouTube video, a hair product, and a hair appliance.  Simple, huh?

Here is the video I happened to come across:

I noticed she has hair with a texture similar to mine although mine is a little shorter.

She used Aquage root lift foam.  I found some at my salon for about half the price of Aquage and it works the same as hers.

Last, I realized I need to buy a flat iron.  Dd arrived with one in tow, so I didn't actually buy one until hers gave up the ghost a few days ago.

I never knew how to get the lift I wanted, but with the root lift foam and back combing, I can get it just the way I want it.  Not the Texas-size hair she has, but something appropriate for me and my lifestyle.

For only about the second time in my life (now THAT'S sad), I love my hair!

The cause of our misery

This is the motor to our evaporative cooler.  Power runs to it and if you give it a spin with your hand, it runs.  However, since the evaporative cooler is on the roof, it's not too convenient to start that way more than about once.

 Dh took the motor out so he can take it with him to the hardware store and buy an exact replacement.  Once he had it out, he looked at the cord and saw a "chip" is out of it and one of the copper wires is in two pieces. 

That explains a lot!  It must have been the starter that didn't have electricity running to it, but the power was still there to run the motor once it was turning.

Dh thinks all it needs is a new power cord.  Much more cost-dffecient than a new motor! 

Isn't my dh smart?



Meal Plan Sunday

Monday:  Make-your-own nacho bar

Tuesday:  Parmesan Orzo and Meatballs


Wednesday:  Tamale pie, rice (recipe is from the Fry's grocery store mailer in my recipe box)

Thursday:  Crunchy Coconut Chicken

Friday:  Pizza

1940 U.S. Census

Once a week or so I index a page or two of the 1940 U.S. Census.  I found out today my ward (congregation) does 75% of the indexing in our stake (dioses--sp?) and guess who does 75% of the indexing in my ward??  How about MY MOM!  She's the clear champion indexer.

53% of the whole census is indexed now.  Here is a graphic that shows how much is done by state:

Sophia's baptism

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints children can be baptized at age 8 (adults can be baptized any time).  In addition to its being a saving ordinance (or sacrament), it also makes you a church member.  LDS parents and children really look forward to the eighth birthday!

People being baptized can bring their own white clothes for their baptism, but most people wear the white jumpsuits that are provided at the church.  No skirts floating up!  Here she is while we were waiting for the service to begin.

In our church the baptism can be performed by any man who holds the Melchezidek (higher) priesthood.  Bill holds that priesthood, and of course every child wants to be baptized by her father, so Bill also dressed in white to perform the baptism.  This is our last child and he performed the baptism for all three of our little girls.  What a great memory for them--they were baptized by their daddy.

Here they are waiting for the service to begin:

And here Sophia is in her pretty dress afterward.  This dress came from Sophia's cousins, so it has some family history.

After her baptism, she was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This was also performed by Bill.

Great library activity

I misread the poster at the library and thought I was taking the girls to a magic show.  It turned out that was in the morning and the afternoon session was for ages 10+ and was how to DO some of the tricks he had shown the children earlier.  So it's not true that magicians never reveal their tricks. :-)

 

The girls were fascinated as he showed, then taught them how to do card tricks, rubber band tricks, and rope tricks. I learned to do them too.

Jut for a chuckle, I took a picture in the window of the car that was parked next to ours.  Oy vey!