Halloween calls...

 

Current Mood : Re-engaging, if slowly...

 

Don't ask me why, but for some reason, I was obsessed today with Dearest Son's Halloween costume. Last time we hit Target, they already had those listed in the ads as on sale, and with kids, ya just can't wait ‘til the last minute -especially when you prefer to make yers outta scratch ! Learned something very important. If you're looking at designs and specs, never look at adult costuming pages. You'll soon give up, because most costumers are detail-oriented to the nth degree, and many are quite a few dozen degrees beyond.

 

Instead, see how the cheap companies do it. And look at the toys. After shaking free of the Padawan's Guide to Star Wars Costumes website - whew ! - I got a good look at this year's character, Clone Wars- era Anakin Skywalker. Found Dearest's action figure, looked up the $20. version and the $40. one. I soon had it down to a reddish brown karate gi uniform, with a vinyl vest and belt in black, and maybe a matching yoke collar and knee boots. Could go all out with a matching robe, but I think I already have enough ahead of me.

 

A quick spin through Simplicity, McCall's, Vogue, and Butterick sites soon revealed that not only were there no- zero, nada, zilch, goose-egg- Jedi-style patterns available for Halloween '09, but there was only one gi pattern. It looked familiar, so I wasn't too surprised to find it in the pattern stash, but I was relieved ! Lucky, too - as Dearest is already at the largest size in the packet, and there are no teen or adult sizes of gi from any company.

 

But, it's doable. I can free-hand the open-front, open-sided vest and belt easily. Can probably knock together simple boot covers if I don't find any in his size between now and mid-October. There have been Star Wars patterns in the past, both officially licensed and loose look-alike knock-offs, but I was surprised to see none this year. With all the toys and clothes and videos I see, I thought the Clone Wars franchise was stronger than that...

 

Dearest already has a gi, but it's stiff canvas, and not very comfortable. I'd have to dye it, and he wouldn't really enjoy wearing it for long. So I'd rather just make it from scratch. Hoping that I can find a good color of cotton or cotton blend fabric - wonder if I should go with a ‘crinkly' texture, or a smooth broadcloth one - this weekend. Only need four yards of that, and maybe a yard or so of thin black vinyl.

 

Got three loads of laundry done, and I'll probably do another Thursday, when we'll have a full load ready.

Labor Day - and I did nothin'.

 

Current Mood : Relaxed

Current Image Notes : Beloved Hubby drew that ! I'm hoping to use it as an embroidery design soon. Just gotta get back to learning Stitch Era Universal.

 

We just sort of sat around on this Labor Day - I was just glad Beloved Hubby took the day off. He didn't want to go anywhere, so we didn't. Hope you had a sit-around day, too, and that there were many tasty snack foods included !

 

New dolls from Joanne !

 

Current Mood : Indolent

 

Today, I puttered around some in the Lab. I can't remember when I bought it, but at the last flea market, I snagged an ice-cream table and chairs set that'll fit the AG clone dolls. Seat cushions and table top need to be either covered or replaced, but for $3., I'm glad to do it. I need to take some photos.

 

Speaking of the flea market, I'm undergoing serious withdrawal. Yard sales aren't good lately, and the thrifts have been lots of hunt for little find. Too bad the next flea isn't until 9/25...

 

I also played with some of my new dolls. There's part of what was in Joanne's wonder box. (sigh) Once again, I need to go through everybody, and decide on who's going and who's staying. Between the ones I bought for their clothes and the ones I've ended up with, I need to do a culling run. Lab's getting cluttered again, with all the new goodies, and I like it not so crowded in there.

 

And I decided to go ahead and buy the playline ‘Shopping Pink' Barbie, but mostly because I want the dress form that comes with her. Joanne encouraged me - and I thought I could donate the doll and pieces I don't want. So I will be. And I'm looking forward to it !

I got a surprise package today !

 

Current Mood : Doll Heaven ! 

 

Today, when Beloved Hubby took me out for breakfast, I saw a Life Flight helicopter on the hospital's landing pad. Lots of eateries near City Hospital. About two years ago, I had a perfect view of the pad from my hospital bed after surgery. Luckily, no whirly-birds landed while I was there. I would have felt terrible to be a witness of someone's life-and-death struggle, but I would have still watched. Our hospital has three red/black/white Life Flight helicopters in use, and others land there, too. I can't imagine how scary it must be for the family of the person being airlifted to a hospital. Yet I kept watching this one, wondering if it was just taking off or just landing - the blades were still spinning. And praying, in my fashion, that the patient was steadily improving, now that they've arrived.

 

I wanted sooo bad to go shopping today, but it's kinda not a good time. And then, there was a box on the porch ! Joanne, of  InThePink.com, sent me the prize I won last month, the lovely green silk dress from the Tarina Tarantino Barbie - along with a bunch of other dolls ! Shinobu welcomed them to Chez Insanity, and you'll see them soon. DC was very curious about the package, though.

 

Ironically, the main thing I liked about the Tarantino doll's clothes was the pink belt, decorated with a 70s-era Barbie illustration on the buckle. It was the one thing not included in the set. Joanne told me to let me know if anything was missing, she'd give it to me off her doll, but there's no way I can do that. She sent me a magnificent box of goodies, full of treats like the ‘My Melody' doll and sweet pins and decorations. No way am I gonna tell her about the belt.

 

And I love the ‘Melody' doll. Much as I don't favor the ‘Model Muse' swayback body, and I'm not much on the ‘whistling puckered' version of the classic Steffie face, I find myself very happy to have her !

 

Surveys for fun and almost profit...

 

Current Mood : Beginning to show signs of life...

 

Today I realized that I've not gone anywhere this week for one reason - Beloved Hubby's grandmother isn't doing well, and I feel bad for going to shop for even groceries without stopping to see her. Late last night, we learned his much-loved Uncle E has maybe three weeks left on this world, too. So now, I really feel guilty for going anywhere...Heck, I'm starting to feel bad for being in the mixed bag of health I'm in.

 

But I was going a bit stir-crazy, so I pushed m'self out the door today, with the promise that I'd visit and call on Sunday. That way, I could take Dearest Son with me. Ironically, I hit three yard sales, two thrift stores, and Dollar Tree, and spent $8.75. $1.08 of that was for me, the rest was stuff for Dearest. New toothbrushes, bubble bath, shampoo, and four still-bagged kids' meal bobbleheads and a coloring book from Star Wars / Clone Wars. I'm seriously considering a trip to TRU Saturday...and maybe Hobby Lobby, since it's on the way.

 

Did two PineCone surveys yesterday, and got paid today. Whoo-hoo - there's now enough money in PayPal for two months of my websites ! I love it when I support my own hobbies, even when I've been neglecting them.

 

It's also good, because I pretty much drained Checking to get the book and video game Dearest wanted from the first Scholastic book flyer of the '09-‘10 school year. The book is Star Wars, of course, and the Wii game is ‘I Spy', which his therapists play with him all the time. Helps his visual recognition and develops reading skills. Plus, it kinda sounded fun ! The flyer promised free books if I ordered via their website, but the school has to provide various extensions and codes. Which, of course, they didn't. So, it was the ole fashioned way, a filled out paper form with a check paper-clipped to it. Whenever Dearest is interested in a book, we get it. Ya can never go wrong encouraging a kid to read !

 

I think editing this image is the closest to creativity I've come all week...

 

Current Mood : Busy doing not much...

 

Finally got off my rumpus room and got a few minor things done. After they sat around in a laundry basket for a month, the last of Dearest Son's embroidered shirts are finished - nope, haven't stitched anything new. Just covered the backs of what I did last month with the soft stitch-shield stuff. And it turned out that the rest of the basket was shirts gone missing for a few weeks. For some reason, Dearest's embroidered stuff was on top, and I never put the rest away. I'd been wondering where a couple of my guys' clothes items were !

I'm confusing myself about me...

 

Current Mood : Sitting nearly still...and I don't know why.

 

I still sat with Beloved this morning, until he got up and left for work, just after lunch. It meant I had to scramble to get the rent dropped off and the groceries bought. I had about ten minutes between putting the cold stuff away and Dearest Son's bus arriving, and I spent it sittin' on my big butt. Whew !

 

I keep hoping to find some time for my Lab, but I'm still sitting here...

 

Happy September !

 

Current Mood: Happy (Mealed)

 

Poor DC-kitty. It was cool enough last night to turn off the AC and go with open windows - and about 4am, there arose such a stink ! I think it woke me up. I muttered ‘skunk' and Beloved Hubby, probably also awakened by the fresh stench, agreed. Whew !

 

DC likes to come in once Dearest Son has departed for school. He gets more attention that way, even if it delays his breakfast a bit. Today was no exception, but -whew ! Evidently the stink was DC's encounter with that same skunk. Poor kitty. We cleaned him up as best he'd let us, but the scent remained, if blunted somewhat.

 

We had to go pick up Friend again - one of the last times, since he's only got to insure and plate his new-to-him car, and for that he needs another paycheck. Still, hurray ! So we piled in the car and went for dinner on the way. I scored the Felicity paper doll set this time. Colonial America, neat. I think I'll have to yard-sale the Molly set I want.

 

Aand...that was about it for the News of the Day. I've really gotta get off my butt, it's not like TV's keeping it there, I don't even turn it on some days. But I'm still quite lethargic for some reason.

'All About Cars' Monday

 

Current Mood : Slightly whiny

Turned out I had time to finish the latest Mt. Clean Laundry Sunday evening - Beloved Hubby came home with Friend in tow, and they spent the rest of the early evening on Craigslist looking at cars for Friend. About 8pm, they departed to look at a car in a town an hour away - each way - so he was gone ‘til nearly midnight. (sigh) So much for family time. But Friend has a car now, and next week, he'll be driving himself to and from work from now on. Only reason that doesn't start tomorrow is that he can afford insurance or tags, but not both right now. So we still have to give him a couple of lifts, but I will be sooo glad when it's over.

 

Of course, since he spent so much time looking at used cars, now Beloved's thinking of getting another ‘real deal'. Um, we already have a DOA truck of our own in the backyard, another DOA truck that belongs to DFIL keeping it company, and my window and windshield wipers still don't work. You could say I'm being less than encouraging about this latest car-hunt.

 

Since he was so tired, Beloved stayed home today, and watched TV. For some reason, when he does that, I feel compelled to sit with him, so I don't do anything. Yet I know he won't miss me desperately if I'm in another room, either doing dishes or sewing. But no matter how boring a three-hour marathon of Top Gear can get for me, I still sit there. I gotta knock that off !

 

Darn near passed out lazy...

 

Current Mood : Beyond lazy and nearly without a pulse...

 

Sunday. Laundry day. Well, let's face it, I only work when Beloved Hubby does, so laundry day could be any day ! But today it was, so I did four loads - two waiting for later in the week - and got it all sorted. Only have Beloved Hubby's hill and Dearest Son's mountain to put away. I'm taking a break before I tackle Beloved's, and all else fails, Dearest's can wait ‘til he leaves for school. Since I have it sorted enough to find something for him to wear tomorrow, there's no rush. But I really wanna get Beloved's done. Oh, and I have a basketload of socks to pair up. That normally becomes the afternoon bus vigil job. Makes the wait seem less long.