tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56498103592217451662024-03-14T05:24:42.504-07:00Cats Clutter & CraftsA blog about my life and my creations. I love making Wee Folk, fairies, dolls, knit items, pin cushions, recycled material items, ornaments, birds, gnomes, and whatever else I can't think of at this time. I'm an artist not an english major so please excuse the grammar.Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-86389205222576854812009-12-13T17:38:00.001-08:002009-12-13T17:38:46.166-08:00Oh How They Grow<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/4170373920/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4170373920_fd1aa2030c_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/4170373920/">thanksgiving 2</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>Can you believe that my oldest has 4 inches to grow and we will be the same height? We already wear the same shoe size and she can wear my shirts too!? My youngest is wearing her sister's old size 6 clothes and she's only turned 5 in November. I do believe my youngest will be taller than her sister!<br />This was us on Thanksgiving. I insisted we have my husband take a photo of all of us because even in this modern age we rarely remember to take pictures. <br />Business here has been busy!!! I think we are getting out of the recession! Which eases my mind because business money has been tight and I've been having to allocate household funds to pay business bills. If that makes sense then I'm glad someone understands it!!!<br />Work has been eh.... I will be getting a second job to get away from my 1st boss. I love my 2nd boss but she just doesn't have the hours to give me and my 1st boss is totally incompetent. No one and I mean no one wants to work with her. If I plan my available hours right I can whittle down my time to 8-12 hours with her and 16 hours for the department I enjoy. We've just lost too many good workers, it breaks my heart and really makes me angry with the bosses who run the place. It proves you don't have to have brains just big boobs. <br />On a happier notes, my oldest will be in a school play, she has her 1st crush will only last about a month or 2, I predict. I remember my 1st crush in 6th grade. Which didn't last very long. My youngest is painfully shy in school and just last month started talking to the teacher. It turns out we know the teacher's father. He's woodworker we've known for years just never knew one of his kid's taught school. Hoping that she opens up more and participates but she's 5! I'm happy that she's just happy about going to school! <br />Till next time and yes I have pictures of the felted snowmen!!!<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-65426767295418991332009-11-21T06:34:00.001-08:002009-11-21T06:43:29.671-08:00Grow Into Hat<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/4122194952/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2793/4122194952_b400cd12a7_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/4122194952/">Grow Into Hat</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">catscluttercrafts</span></a></span></div>I was all ready to take pictures of my snowmen today and I realized that I couldn't find the camera. Then I couldn't find the orange wool to add a nose on the the other snowman. <br />Instead I have a hat I did for a friend. I have to look up the pattern but you are supposed to be able to use the other side as the opening and tie off this end and it will be bigger. (<a href="http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babyhatreverse.htm">here it is modified since I used different yarn)</a> Right now my little friend has ears. I love his face kind of like what? you want me to what? <br />I have see him recently wearing another hat I made and he's much more smiley! <br />Things here and rainy and chilly but I like it. Makes me want to cuddle up in bed and read. Next week is Thanksgiving and I heard maybe snow. Oh joy!! It's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ok</span>, I know what I'm wearing hopefully it will get here in time from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Anthropologie</span>. I bought the <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES-DRAPED&id=910266&catId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES&pushId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES&popId=CLOTHES&sortProperties=&navCount=15&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=005&colorName=DARK%20GREY&isSubcategory=true&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=">same shirt</a> in two colors <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">cuz</span> the style got 5 stars and was sold out super fast. I'm super happy it was made in the USA and pretty reasonably priced too!<br />I hope everyone is enjoying there time before the holiday season rush. Work has been kind of slow which makes the managers all worried but our sales are up but down from what the projected for right now. If you can grasp what I said then Cheers to you, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it!!!<br />Have a great weekend and next picture, hopefully will have a Christmas theme!!!!!!Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-55863169632363629382009-11-14T07:29:00.001-08:002009-11-14T07:29:45.403-08:00Giggling@Work<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3859766855/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/3859766855_ac2e31ee51_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3859766855/">Pennsylvania</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>I have been around but not much. Driving then work have kept me very busy. Fun time, I don't know what that is. I did get to see the Premiere of the Elbert Hubbard Documentary my husband is in. It was good and lighting does make everything look better!<br />Funny things that have happened to me at work. I thought I would share.<br />I have 5 minutes before I have to leave for work so please forgive the mistakes.<br />The maintentance guys have switched shifts on the weekends and on Saturday's the younger guy works (not) and doesn't replace the toilet seat covers in the employees bathroom. Well the women's bathroom anyways. The one toilet spews water everytime you flush it. Can't help it from happening and so it soaks the toilet. Since the bathroom doesn't get clean, I use that toilet so the little old ladies who work their can have the handicap toilet. If I give them the spewing toilet they hover and miss. Then there is a puddle of pee all over the floor and no one wants to use that toilet then. <br />Well this one weekend there were noooooo toilet covers and I stand 8 hours running around, so when I can sit I do so. I carefully lined the seat with toilet paper and sit down. Finish my business and get back to work. An hour later the Pepsi vendor tells me I have toilet paper stuck to my butt! So I stand up, I had been crouching down to put tags on the bottom shelf. I skim my hands across my pants and thought I don't feel anything. I asked him are you sure? Yes but it's up higher cuz your jacket dropped down. Sure enough sticking our of my waistband and trailing over is toilet paper that had stuck to my butt from the wet toilet! I told him I had a cold and must have missed my back pocket and thank him! Needless to say, I check my rear end when I have to put down toilet paper!<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-41669909415071589792009-10-16T18:35:00.001-07:002009-10-16T18:35:01.164-07:00Driving<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3860550230/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2504/3860550230_e25c54bc00_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3860550230/">Pennsylvania</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>I know I haven't blogged in a longggg time! It's because I have become the family taxi driver. With my new schedule, I drive everyone to school, including my husband. Go to work after dropping everyone off 3 days a week. Work 4 hours those 3 days. Pick up my youngest 5 days, eat lunch, try to get something done in that short amount of time and then pick my oldest and husband up again. 2 of those days I'm waiting for Art Club to end, so we get to hang around the Art rooms and listen to my husband help run the club. The other 2 days I am off and still driving everyone. Then hanging out in the car since my husband has to work at 7:15am, my oldest starts at 7:43am and the youngest doesn't start until 8:45am. Sounds fun and exciting, right?!?!<br />Unfortunately there is nothing open in the town where they go to school. Well unless you look at gas stations, fast food places and where I work at the grocery store as places to go. None of them really appeal to me to spend much time at since we don't eat fast food and who wants to hang out where they work. So I sit in the car and read. While my youngest plays with everything that isn't nailed down in the car!<br />After doing this for a month I realized I cannot do this for another 12 years. So we are fixing up our house, paying off debt and hope to put our house on the market in 2 years. Then pray there is a house in town that we can afford to buy and fits our requirements. For those who are interested they are, the house has to be smaller than the one we are in now! Easy enough this is 2800 sq feet, we would love a ranch. #2 it has to have an out building, either a garage or a barn so the studio can move out of the house! #3 It has to be easily accessible to walk/bike to my place of employment of other things in town. There are lots of playgrounds and they are still redoing the main street. Which has one block of bricked pavement! Super cool to drive over. The taxes are quite high but if we aren't using our car that much then it would make up for all the gas and maintenance we do in a year!<br />Hope to have pictures soon of the felted snowmen I am making for Christmas gifts!<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-35671503712226501922009-09-10T16:21:00.001-07:002009-09-10T16:21:01.179-07:00What Would You Do?<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3860550484/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3860550484_2927f0bdd2_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3860550484/">Pennsylvania</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>Life has been crazy & busy. I'm driving the family to work and picking them up. My life is now being a taxi! woohoo!!<br />My daughter has a friend who is 14. I don't really care for her at all! When my oldest was 7 this girl told so many tall tales about how rich she was, had the all the American Girls Dolls, etc.. I could puke but I did talk to her about the lies because my daughter idolized her since she was 3 years older. Being young she was like why would she lie!!! I made the girl cry because I was honest and told her I don't appreciate lying. She did apologize and things were fine. <br />Now she calls every single day! Since we are all getting up in the 5am hour, I try to go to bed @ 8:30pm. Which means the girls have 6pm & 7pm bedtimes. She always calls right after my youngest goes to bed! <br />This Monday she came over to our house when I was at work. I received a text from my husband telling me she puked in our hallway. Now when I don't feel well I stay home. If I feel like puking I go into the bathroom and wait it out. She waited until it was too late and my husband had to clean it up! Plus send her home since she didn't get the clue that when you puke in someone's house the right thing to do is apologize & then go home!<br />She insisted on coming over the next day with another girl asking my daughter to play. My daughter not wanting to catch whatever she had declined. Gotta love school, she blamed her homework. She's been calling & calling. Giving my daughter grief that she won't play with her.<br />I told my daughter to be honest with her and tell her she doesn't want to play with her right now, after what has occurred. She just told her not to call after 6pm because she's busy the hour before going to bed. The I don't want to take crap from anyone side of me wants to tell her to back off & she's not welcome over here ever again!<br />But I'm biting my tongue. Or at least trying to.<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-39814475742358819582009-09-01T05:11:00.001-07:002009-09-01T05:11:34.564-07:00Zucchini Is Not Supposed To Be This Big!<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3859767385/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2604/3859767385_ddef6861e8_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3859767385/">Zucchini</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>This is the first year that I'm growing zucchini and well this one got lost in the vines and leaves. I haven't had that many flowers become squash because the critter's around here like eating the flowers! So when I found this baby hiding where all the vines twisted out in different directions, I was jumping for joy. Unfortunately if you let them get this big you can't use a knife to cut through it. A chain saw is need and well power tools like that are not allowed in the kitchen. So I cut a quarter of it and sent the rest to the compost.<br />My youngest was not happy that she was having her picture taken with the zucchini! I don't know why, I think at first she thought it was going to be fun. Then after feeling how heavy it was she changed her mind!<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-27824719915530814242009-08-26T15:47:00.001-07:002009-08-26T15:49:12.305-07:00Altoids Tin Repurposed<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3859767283/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2608/3859767283_c510a0dee7_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3859767283/">Altoids Tin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Repurposed</span></a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">catscluttercrafts</span></a></span></div>So my youngest starts <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">kindergarten</span> in less than a week now. One of the items she need was a tin that held her money to use for counting. It had have her name on it. I decided to take it a step further and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">shrinky</span> dink a cover for her. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">shrinky</span> dink plastic was the one that has the sandpapered back. So it wasn't see through until we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">expoxied</span> it onto the tin. Kind of a bummer but I still like it. Next time I will color in in more, so less can be seen! I do like all the bugs too. She wasn't fond of the ants on the bottom but I think they are super cute!<br />Also when it says it shrinks to a third of the size not true. I measured the tin and I figured I needed 10.5" by 6.5" sheet to make it just barely cover the top. Well I had a least a quarter inch all around to cut off. Which I did using a jeweler's saw and then filed. Finally sanding the edge smooth with a fine grade sandpaper. So don't make my mistake. Next time, I'm going 9" by 5" inches.Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-55232197112668154752009-08-19T06:29:00.001-07:002009-08-19T06:32:07.919-07:00Things That Are Finished!<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3836077047/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3836077047_2e81a3b9c2_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3836077047/">elastic waist wrap pants</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>I made these super cute wrap shorts for my girls, unfortunately I couldn't locate my youngest pair to get them both in this shot. My oldest at first hated them! Once she worn them in this bloody hot weather she decided she loves them. Kids!!! They are <a href="http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2008/04/elastic-waist-wrap-pants.html">Blue Prints</a> or Indie Tutes, it says two different things on her blog page. She's my favorite person to check for new ideas and patterns that can easily be figured out. She does an excellent job. I did find this pattern a little hard to follow because I think she used two fabrics together. The material is the vintage hawaiian print my uncle gave me.<br />I also made <a href="http://heyjulie.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/cabled-earflap-hat/">this hat</a> for a friend of mine who's son is now almost 3 months old! Yikes where does time go. I'm going over to her house today to try it on and make the 2nd tie. It was super easy to make! I used cotton so its nice and stretchy!<br />We also got our Drake back from hunt school training and he is anorexic! My SIL thinks he may have a digestion problem since he wasn't like this before but he was doing 10 miles a day of pacing in his pen. Before he went swimming and retrieving. He's going to the vet today. He's been on super calorie dog food. The stuff they feed to sled dogs when they are in training for the race! He inhales his food and he's been eating 3 times a day plus an egg to bulk him up. <br />I'm still running and trying to figure out when we will get running in when school starts. I was really hoping this year to work 4 hours in the morning before I had to pick up my youngest from school. Unfortunately we've run into a little problem and I won't know until Thursday if I can even do it. Since we don't live in the district where the girls go to school, we were told that they could not take a bus from the Boys & Girls Club before school program to get to school when it was time. Over the summer the Elementary school was remodeled and they were starting a program over there as well. I thought I could drop my oldest off at the club and the youngest off at the elementary school program. <br />Now they have moved all the kids to the elementary school program and will bus the kids going to the middle school when it's time for them to start. Since my oldest will have to be bussed I don't think she can participate since we were told for insurance reasons she can't ride. Which is kind ridiculous since she rides the district buses for school events! They won't allow her to walk since it's 3/4 of a mile away. Which I find that hard to believe since the school is 3 maybe for 4 blocks away eachother. <br />I really want to be home for dinner with the girls and my husband as well. I did the calculations for the months ahead and I need to work at least 24 hours a week. 32 would be awesome, so regardless I will be going to work 5 days a week. I'm hoping next year I can whittle it down to 4 days of work. Not much creating is happening around here! Hopefully with the girls in school and Tues plus Weds off I can catch up on things!!!Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-52145932324029212402009-08-04T06:31:00.001-07:002009-08-04T06:31:03.303-07:00Playing and Working<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3766634055/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3766634055_d4a6c12217_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3766634055/">Pirate Child</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>There has been lots of Tom foolary going on around here. My youngest decided she was going to be a pirate. That included robbing and looting all the money she could find. Which wasn't much since change usually goes on tables and doesn't stay in pants pockets. Then there was lots of sword jabbing. Translation tapping someone with flag and running away just in case there were consequences for her actions! It was a good day. <br />I think I may have broken my toe. I tried taking a picture to show you but they pretty greens, purples and yellows were washed out. It happened last Wednesday when I was running around for our surprise guest. Since we opened up the downstairs, There is a floor height difference of about one inch, maybe two. Well I was running from our kitchen to be, to the old kitchen and stubbed my toe. It hurt so bad but I've been abusing my foot all summer long so I thought nothing of it. I also dropped a coffee grinder on that foot too! Well two days later, it still hurt it started turning colors. It's slightly swollen hurts but I have a high pain tolerance, at least that's what I keep telling myself. I go to the doctors on Thursday for a physical, I'm just going to show her my toe too.<br />This morning I went running (walking) with my husband. I didn't make it that far. Half a block and I had to walk, then started running again and I didn't feel good. He said I looked yellow, I sort of felt like throwing up. Probably doesn't help with my toe. Half way through it started bothering me, definitely should get it checked out!<br />The movie quote from before "You are a murderer of love" is from Dan In Real Life. His middle daughter says it to him or should I say screams it at him. I really enjoyed the movie it was really funny!<br />Also watched Righteous Kill last night that was also very good. Love a twist ending may watch it again because it's one of those movies where you don't know the characters. So when you get to the end you wonder did I miss this? Or did that character say that? <br />Lots of chores today. 3 more days before my husband leaves! 8 before the children go.<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-53611997548212827652009-08-01T07:56:00.001-07:002009-08-01T07:58:12.185-07:00Time Flies<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3586763788/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3586763788_6d6c95e926_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3586763788/">Iris</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>Wow it's August and my youngest is done with her pre Kindgergarden program. She's only 4 but will be turning 5 in November. I was afraid she would be a very clingy child when we dropped her off for the program. She's very shy around strangers but she has been opening up and making friends. So I expect no tears from her in September<br />My husband will be leaving for a 10 day trip to Kansas for a class. On his way he's going to visit some clients of ours and take pictures of the hardware he did for their bathroom. So it works out because they couldn't get any good pictures of what they had installed. Then off to Kansas for an engraving class, he's been wanting to take. <br />I have 5 days off from work and them my MIL will pick up the girls and take them to 1,000 islands to visit my SIL. Which means pool time and goofing off with their cousin. Unfortunately that means back to the work place for me! Oh well someone's got to make the money right?!<br />For our anniversary I got my husband Netflix which means I can catch up on all my horror movies. I will also be borrowing my SIL's dog Eli to keep me company when my husband's gone. I don't like being in the house at night without another adult around. It's just a quirk of mine but I figured a huge dog will keep me company. Also alert me if anything goes wrong right? Sound good in theory anyways!<br />We've been playing a game with one of my co-workers, you give a movie line and they guess which movie it's from. It's made me realize I do not listen to movies at all! Seriously unless something catches my interest I forget 3/4 of the lines. Last night we got a good one, can you guess which movie it's from? You are a murderer of love!!!!<br />I'll tell you next week which movie. No cheating. Of course the only down fall of this game is if you haven't seen the movie!Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-55296482401099904762009-07-24T17:26:00.001-07:002009-07-24T17:26:24.090-07:00Don't Let Us Shop For You!<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3586906108/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3586906108_ed65becee4_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3586906108/">Maple</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>I work in a grocery store for those who don't know. I work for 2 departments and the one department is called General Merchandise. When I work there I receive a lot of questions about products we have. Especially in the cold and tylenol section.<br />I had this gentlemen come up to me and ask if we carried migraine patches. Never heard of them and he didn't elaborate so I sent him to the pharmacy. Well the pharmacist comes back and shows him the tylenol section and asks me if I know where the cooling fever patches are. <br />Well if he told me that's what he was looking for I would have called the other lady I work with who works full time. Our department gets reset a lot and I knew we had them at one time but couldn't think of where they were. So I called the other woman and she comes right over.<br />She goes the shelf and pulls a box called Feverall. Explaining to him we had Cool Relief patches at one time and that this is all we had for now. It was the same thing but for babies. He looks at it and says he doesn't think it's going to work and leaves. <br />My co-worker and I start talking about the products they've discontinued. So she grabs the box and wonders why he didn't think it would work for him. She reads the label and gets really bright red. "OH NO" she states. I ask her what's wrong. "I should have read the package before handing it to him" I question her why. "These are infant suppositories!!! NOT fever patches like I thought they should be! No wonder why he couldn't use them! she says! <br />We proceed to laugh our asses off for the next 5 minutes because he never said told us that product wasn't what she thought it should be! Next time she's reading the box before offering it to a customer! That was one of the best days of work I have had in a long time!!!!!<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-89158443849514263562009-07-22T09:33:00.001-07:002009-07-22T09:33:24.165-07:00Layout for house<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3746659516/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/3746659516_b10c616c49_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3746659516/">Layout for house</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>Remember I said a long, long, long time ago we were remodeling? Well here is the layout to just our 1st floor. It doesn't have everything in it. Like the office has a closet in it, right in the upper corner because that was the old apartment's bedroom. Also this is the new design, so some of the walls aren't in the right place. My husband didn't include any windows, I don't know why. He's also missing the old kitchen's back door now that I look closer. Where off of that there is a very small enclosed porch. <br />If you can't read the writing here's the low down. The old kitchen, the blue area will be split into a laundry room and bathroom. Those are the wall that will be in place when he's done<br />The basement stairs which is the wall between the old kitchen and new kitchen pantry will be moved to the white area, under the stairs that go to the 2nd floor. <br />The green section will be our new kitchen with an alcove sitting area. There are windows on all 3 sides and we can see our driveway. We get enough wild life that it will be enjoyable. Also can keep an eye on the road. The fridge may be going into the pantry and there will be a full pull out shelving unit that will block the fridge when opened but when closed won't. That's where the basement stairs are now. We couldn't figure out any other place to put the fridge and pantry so they may move again. The kitchen gets an island and 2 stoves. That's what my husband has been working on lately. Ripping the plaster down, electric and putting in short walls to house the stoves. <br />The red area is our library, which has a woodstove in it already. There will be a back door for the wood some day. Hopefully a deck too, that the wood can sit on. <br />The foyer, we aren't sure what's going on there. Maybe a closet but not sure where or how. <br />Dining room and office not much will happen to them. The opening you are looking at between the two rooms is bigger than what's there right now. <br />We arrived back from Falling Water last night. Well or should I say this morning because it was 1am. It was really cool. I'm not a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright but I can appreciate his incorporating nature into his designs. Of course the last hour maybe half hour it poured! There were small rivers everywhere! Thankfully I wore my sandals. We did go the the point where you see the house and the waterfall. It was worth it. The dirty water flowing down matches the house exactly! Seriously, I wonder if that is why he made it that off color. <br />Unfortunately they do not allow any public posting of photos!!! Which sucks because it would want me to go visit some place more seeing photos. So I don't know what I'm going to do. I would love to show them off but ...<br />On totally off topic news, my husband won a design contest! For a beer label. It's big unveiling is in August but he will be away for it. So he wins bragging rights. Which makes him happy. It's from a local brewery and I'll give you more details when I know more!<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-38784718489405231562009-07-19T13:50:00.001-07:002009-07-19T13:53:00.321-07:00Blackberry Freezer Pops<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3735782689/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2616/3735782689_14f5c5b744_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3735782689/">Blackberry Freezer Pops</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">catscluttercrafts</span></a></span></div>I just love when kids are messy from eating. I know it's probably not normal but how can you not love how she looks with her homemade freezer pop all over her face? You don't get stained in that color from store bought ones!<br />Where is the summer going? My anniversary is this week and I can't believe how it's flown? Of course working 32 hours a week probably helps the time go quickly. I feel like everything is falling way behind. Making clothes for the girls, knitting hats for my friend's new son (who only received one knit hat), Christmas gifts and all that good stuff.<br />I maybe able to play catch on Tuesday when we drive down to PA for Frank <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lloyd</span> Wright's Falling Water. My husband paid extra so we can take pictures! I couldn't believe you have to pay more to take pictures but if I'm going to drive 6 hours, I want something to look back at. On the way we are going to stop at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Anthropologie</span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Woohoo</span>! The first time I will be able to go into to the store and not just look at the catalog. I've heard it's cheaper to go to the store for the sales than shop online. I will let you know what I found out.<br />On health news, my blood pressure is going up. It was getting scary low when I was working nights. When I was super tired it would be 93/57. I took it this weekend it was 112/67. A huge improvement since I've been sleeping nights and trying to go to sleep at 9pm when I have to get up at 5am or earlier!<br />Have I mentioned that I got my husband <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Netflix</span> for our anniversary? I love it! We are catching up on a lot of movies. Well I am. My mother never let me watch movies that were PG-13 or above. Seriously I've never seen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Caddyshack</span>, The Graduate, Top Gun or any of those movies in that time period. I'm slowly catching up and loving it! If you don't have cable (like we do) I recommend it! <br />BTW it's our 13<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> year anniversary. I will be married longer than my parents were after this year. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Woohoo</span>! I'm sure we will be married for another 13 after this!Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-58970579566948172222009-07-11T08:04:00.001-07:002009-07-11T08:04:52.123-07:00Alone In The House<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3614855432/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3557/3614855432_890e2a8182_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3614855432/">Letchworth</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>I am currently alone in the house. No children, husband but 3 cats. My kids went to a family reunion in Maryland. My husband is teaching a class about chasing and I am waiting to start my day. Enjoying my coffee and listening to the thunderstorm roll into town!<br />I have been busy working 5 days a week only 32 hours. Which is fine with me. Trying to keep it to day's but I am working 1:30pm-10pm today because two kids gave their 2 weeks notice. I'm really bummed out because they are guys and I love working with guys. No PMS, nasty little comments or general bitchiness. The one guy and I will definitely stay in touch. Our love for dumb movies and Dane Cook will keep us in touch. Plus he likes a girl and he enjoys talking about her. I think it's interesting getting a guy's point of view on relationships! There's never any drama, just the facts and some goofiness added in to make it funny.<br />My sewing machine is in the shop for a tune up. A tune up that will cost me almost $100! Holy moly! I hope they are doing it with gold tools because I may have to get a job tuning up sewing machines. I can't be forking out $200 a year to have her looked at. <br />My 13 year anniversary is coming up on the 25th. I got my husband Netflix which we both have been enjoying! When we are waiting for movies to arrive, we are able to watch instant downloads. So in 2 weeks we've watched 10 movies. Plus the girls have watched The Muppets! I'm still fascinated with how they did all the puppetery! <br />My gift or should I say our gift from my husband is a trip to PA. Where we will see Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Waters! I'm excited! I would like to see all his buildings one day. <br />Hope everyone has a great weekend!<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-62500679457261289562009-07-01T17:09:00.001-07:002009-07-01T17:14:50.678-07:00Shirt to Dress<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3679267725/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/3679267725_a985a937de_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3679267725/">Shirt to Dress</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>Here's another vintage item I received from my Uncle. A polyester blouse, I loved the pattern but didn't like the cut. It had shoulder pads, uber yuck! On the plus side it's nice and light weight for summer. <br />I cut the sleeves off, took another shirt from my daughter and measured the arm holes. Then guesstimated the length of the sleeve and traced it to the curve of the arm hole. Did a little A line action too. Sewed. Added domino ribbon for a belt with an albalone shell and voila. Cute summer dress in less than 1 hour!Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-7035822006260289872009-06-23T15:06:00.001-07:002009-06-23T15:10:14.679-07:00New Outfit<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3655449504/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3655449504_2234479036_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3655449504/">New Outfit</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>Look at this bright new outfit I made for my youngest. Of course the tutorial said the the top should only take an hour. It took me 3 because I put the quilt squares down the middle. So you have to check <a href="http://indietutes.blogspot.com/">this</a> amazing blog called Indie Tutes? Or Just Tutes which is what my bookmark tells me. Both these patterns are there. The top is the <a href="http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2007/07/peasant-blouse.html">peasant blouse</a> and the skirt is <a href="http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2008/11/tiered-skirt-aka-twirl-skirt.html">twirl skirt</a>. Mine doesn't twirl that much because I goofed and didn't compensate for a big derriere!<br />It's a hot hot day here and soooo green, my daughter looks green too. The sun was just reflecting the grass color everywhere!Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-6798962721713156102009-06-21T16:19:00.001-07:002009-06-22T09:15:17.738-07:00Another Vintage Item<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3647934057/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/3647934057_0239cc6ec2_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3647934057/">Another Vintage Item</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>Here's another really cool vintage item that my oldest loves. A manual typewriter, which she uses everyday! Note if you want reasonably priced typewriter ribbon and do not want to pay $20 for 1 roll. Go to any office supply store and get it there. Note the size (I think we needed a half inch) and you may have to re-roll it but it a heck of a lot cheaper. We only paid $7 and a little bit of work. <div>One more note, we bought the ribbon at Office Max. I don't know if they are only in the US.<br />My schedule will be changing next week because no more school for the kids or the hubby! Woohoo more sleep for me! Maybe fore blogging and other things. This up coming weekend is a local art show that my husband does every year. I got off from work well technically my boss begged me to work Friday and then Sunday. Then my husband (cough lie) volunteered me to help with the show. He sets up the show layout and everyone always goes to him for everything even though the layout is all he does. So I'm sure I will be volunteering to do something sometime!<br />On a sad note one of the kids I work with is leaving. He's the one that showed me who Dane Cook is and how much I love dumb movies! Maybe I should say immature, nothing makes me laugh harder than a good immature movie! We are all kids at heart I believe.<br />The skirt I hoped to have done by now needs another panel. I shouldn't have measured my youngest waist. I should have measured her toosh! She has the biggest butt in the family and now I have to add another panel to get the skirt over her big butt!<br />I'm also trying to learn Spanish. Driving into work at midnight does have it's perks. I get to listen to radio that I wouldn't normally hear. Have you heard of <a href="http://www.lingq.com/">lingq.com</a>? Well I listened to it and I've always wanted to learn a 2nd language and the guy created this website to do so for free. There are parts that you do have to pay for but I think you can pretty much do it for free.</div>Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-77582030958091000602009-06-16T12:17:00.001-07:002009-06-16T12:19:58.812-07:00Vintage Fabulous<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3633442148/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2476/3633442148_f01374e436_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3633442148/">vintage</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>Here's the first of the many vintage items I received from my Uncle. Three leather purses which are in excellent condition. The two black ones have mirrors glued in them, which is really cool. They are big and thick mirrors, it's cool to see how purses were made in those days. The one on the left does have a glue issue. The top separated from the locking enclosure but they can be glued back together. <br />Also check out the gorgeous Hawaiian fabric! I love the colors, my favorite green. I'm guessing it's from the early 70's or late 60's. I'm sure it was probably my mother's because I don't think my grandmother was into sewing. I know a lot of her stuff was packed up and put away when she passed away.<br />I've had enough of the late night shifts. I just can't do it anymore. My sleep debt is sky rocketing like our nation's debt and it has to stop. <br />I've asked to not work Weds overnights. My park jobs at home are getting worse and worse. My husband didn't think it was possible but I can park the car sideways when backing up! Also I've totally messed up paying 2 bills this month. I sent my phone bill check to the student loan billing place and the verizon check went to the ACS billing. Now ACS cashed the Verizon check but Verizon denies receiving payment. I'm guessing they tossed it out because the check should have been cashed a week ago. I've checked my check book and it's not there. I remember giving my husband both envelopes when he went to the post office. So there's a check out there that will expire in less than 60 days. I'm not going to cancel it because I'm not going to pay $50 for a check that no one can cash at this point. Also they have to match my Sharpie marker that I used to alter it. <br />There's my life, woohoo to catching up on my sleep.Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-28507016179797741452009-06-10T12:50:00.001-07:002009-06-10T12:57:34.252-07:00Birthday In The Park<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3614855410/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/3614855410_d4bc42ce1e_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3614855410/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Letchworth</span></a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">catscluttercrafts</span></a></span></div>This past Saturday we were invited to my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SIL's</span> niece's birthday party at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Letchworth</span> State Park. I had gone when I was very young or maybe I hadn't because I had gotten in trouble. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hmmm</span>, anyways, we had a great time. The day was perfectly beautiful. If you've ever been to Buffalo or even certain parts of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">NYS</span>, it can be perfect one minute and then the worst weather hits so quick that it makes you think the world is ending.<br />This picture was taken by the upper falls and this was just one of many rainbows that could be seen. My husband brought his polarizing filter so you can actually see the rainbows. He's so smart sometimes.<br />We walked a very <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3614043661/">small portion</a> of it. We did go to the very top which had a nice bench and view of the road and trees. See this <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3614855424/">bridge</a>? It's for trains not people but as we waited for the rest of the group to make it to the top, four guys rain across it. Just the thought of it is enough to make me nauseous! Plus how dangerous if they didn't time it right and a train had to go over it.<br />My youngest was fine walking all the way <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3614861706/">up</a> but trying to get a her in a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3614855440/">picture smiling</a>, not likely to happen. I think she thought I was going to toss her over the edge. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">LOL</span><br />My oldest after looking at the 7 mile map declared we should walk to the lower falls. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hahaha</span> which was only 5 miles away. Having only had 5 hours of sleep, it was quickly decided that we wouldn't be home in time for me to get any good sleep that night, if we did.<br />I have lots of things to show you. I've been sewing like a mad woman. Have received some great vintage purses, a table, lamp and fabric from my uncle. My family (biological mother's) are going to be putting my grandfather in a home soon. He has <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Parkinson's</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Alzheimer's</span>, his care is becoming more and more difficult for my uncle who is no spring chicken himself. My Aunt and Uncle's are cleaning out his house and repainting it. I wonder if they are going to get rid of the shag carpet. I'm curious but didn't want to ask. It kind of dates how old the house is. Plus the color is enough to make anyone go <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ewww</span>. Seriously what were people thinking when they made orange shag carpet? It's not pretty at all!Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-3499676623245913022009-06-07T16:01:00.001-07:002009-06-07T16:05:37.154-07:00Heat Plus Kitten Equals Misery<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3604565999/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3604565999_2de44cf34e_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3604565999/">Kitten Lion</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>It occurred to me when we had our 1st heat wave that the kitten would be miserable. It was 75 mild and humidity and she was lying on the floor stretched from toe to toe like she was stuck in the Sahara. If she was acting like that and it wasn't officially hot, how would she be when the weather did turn to the unbearable.<br />So we talked to some people who groom their dogs if it's possible to shear a cat. We came to the conclusion that it was depending upon her temperament. Since she's been with 2 children, one dog and 2 other cats we would give it a try. If she didn't like it we would not go through with it.<br />After all that worrying, she was fine with it. Her fur was sooooo thick that when we were done, it was like there was another kitten on the table. It did take longer than we had anticipated so we left her with the lioness look. She's a lot happier now. Her fur grows slow (we found this out when we got her fixed) so by the time the cool weather comes, she'll have a full fur coat to keep her warm.<br />Here's Luna checking out her new look. Smells like kitten, licks like kitten, yep it's a kitten!Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-34435215486655672072009-06-02T07:34:00.001-07:002009-06-02T07:34:36.655-07:00Simply Perfect<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3586907460/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3586907460_c8faa2e9b8_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3586907460/">Iris</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>Yesterday the girls picked the iris's in our backyard. They don't seem to last more than 24 hours once they bloom here. I sat down to eat dinner and I looked up and thought this is so beautiful. Doesn't it look like the flower is doing ballet? I had to take pictures. Flowers always look like they are made out of silk crepe to me. So thin and fine almost if you touched them they would disappear.<br />My life feels like the scene from Alice in Wonderland when they are playing crochet with the queen. Then toss in the insanity of the Mad Hatter and that's how work has been. It's hard to stand by and watch managers flip out on people. Seriously our one manager has MAJOR anger issues and he chooses the weak to prey on. Yesterday it was the 74 year old maintenance guy. Why?! because he took to long to get to the part of the store where he was needed. I think they are just trying to upset him so he quits. I know he can't because his wife has cancer. He only works weekends to get the medical coverage through the store. After he was cussed out (he is deeply religious too) so I'm sure he really didn't appreciate being talked to like that, he was told to go home. <br />Add to that, that my requests for days off have been disappearing and I'm really upset! I know the whole year in advance when I need to get off. Shows and when my husband teaches classes, toss in the occasional party or art opening and that's it. So in January I wrote down requests for the 1st 7 months. Which seems like a lot but it's not. I need those days off. Well someone has been throwing out my requests and other people in our department. Which coincides with when our manager wants off. I am taking those days and I told the other people who it happened to that we gave her months notice and she can and needs to find help. <br />I have a dream of owning my own small grocery store. I see all the dysfunction and know that there has to be a better way to run things. It would have natural lighting, sky lights, a pitched roof because it snow's here, a waterfall inside, an air purification system because grocery stores are filthy and do set off allergies, the employees would own part of the business so they would want it to do well and I would reserve the right to kick people out for bullying, stealing and just inappropriate behavior. Just because people go shopping doesn't mean they have to act like we are torturing them. By the time some customers get up to the registers they take their frustrations out of their cashiers. So many cashier's hate customers because of how they been treated. I've seen a new cashier who is working their first job go and be happy to help the customers, with a happy light in their eyes. Only to leave their shift in a daze because of how they've been treated. So if you are happy with your shopping experience let your cashier know. They will really appreciate it!<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-39596609656085125382009-05-28T10:39:00.001-07:002009-05-28T10:39:56.367-07:00Home Renovations!<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3508196416/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3508196416_cd75385261_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3508196416/">Fern</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>With the weather heating up, our house remodeling is being thought out. Ok, who am I kidding, my husband and I are both artist's it probably thought about 10's a day! <br />Should I start off by telling you that when we first bought our house it was actually a house and an apartment? It would probably make more sense when I talk about the two kitchens. The front 2 rooms and the side room belonged to the apartment. It was okay but we are private people and after our last tenant (who we had to evict) we decided no more. Yes we would miss the money but we weren't getting paid on time anyways so it didn't make a huge dent in our finances. Then we opened up the walls. I will find a layout drawing we have someplace so it will be easier to follow.<br />Anyways we are moving our kitchen into the apartment kitchen. Our kitchen will become the laundry room (yeah), mud room and bathroom. Yes it's that big and awkward since there are no cupboards in our kitchen, not that there are cupboards in the other kitchen but you know we are used to it.<br />In our new kitchen we will have an island. I'm really psyched about it. We are scraping it together with materials we have around the house. Things always sound better in planning but when in use. You sometimes wonder what you were thinking. Can you tell we've done that before?<br />Plus I'm 5'3" and my husband's 6'3" there will be counter height issues no doubt. <br />On sewing news I have all the pieces cut out for my daughter's shorts. Is it me or are patterns becoming less instructive? Seriously, I'm looking at these shorts and they are using this one pattern piece for 3 things. Which is fine if they said 2 of the pieces need to be up and one down when cutting. Then when you put it together it doesn't really say it's piece 14. All of the sudden it jumps to, now that this is done and you have this sewn up already ... this is what you do next. Huh? Wait when did I sew this piece up? Oh wait it magically sews it's self! Awesome! I didn't know it was the magical pattern kit.<br />On Memorial Day I went up to my brother's and planted 3/4 of our shared garden with my sister in law. It took forever. How long is forever? 3 1/2 hours probably closer to over 4. Then we turned on the sprinkler and proceeded to empty their well out faster than it refilled. Opps. Luckily it had refilled by the morning for showers!<br />I hope everyone is having a beautiful and warm day!<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-16678409766073589722009-05-20T16:13:00.001-07:002009-05-20T16:13:11.270-07:00Quilted Rug<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3550174382/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3550174382_0b186331d3_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3550174382/">Quilted Rug</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>Here's my kitchen rug. Nothing super fancy and really put together as quick as I could. It has a polar fleece blanket for the back. It's kind of why it doesn't fit a rectangle properly. The blanket had rounded corners. <br />It's sqooshy and that's what I wanted. Plus it's in the kitchen getting wet and easily dirty.<br />Other things I've been up to is making handmade deodarant. I took angry chicken's recipe (link later, I have to work in 15 minutes) modified it a little bit. I'm going to modify it more because I substituted 1 TBLS shea butter for 1 TBLS coconut oil and they have different melting temperatures. So it's super melty in parts and where the shea butter is not so melty in the beginning. I love the scents though and my oldest got to pick her own. Right now I'm using Rosewood and I can't remember the other scent I made. Maybe sandalwood. I also add tea tree oil because it's anti bacterial, anti viral and anti fungal. I haven't had any problems when I sweat. Thank goodness. Always disliked when my deodarant failed and I was out working or in public!<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-92131669593066349182009-05-19T16:09:00.001-07:002009-05-19T16:18:44.034-07:00So Many Things So Little Time<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3546380402/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3546380402_9e1437068d_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3546380402/">Felt Trees</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">catscluttercrafts</span></a></span></div>Do you ever feel so overwhelmed that you can't figure out if you'll ever have enough time to do everything you want? These trees are something I wanted to work on at Christmas time but it didn't happen. I had to catch up on season finale's of TV, so I decided now was the time. This is probably as far as they will get. <br />Last week when I thought I was sleep deprived (which I was) I also had hurt my back at work. I have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">scoliosis</span> so sometimes I don't know that I did something until it's really painful or I feel really off. Usually when my back it out I have right knee pain and lower chest pain. The way my spine curves it actually makes my right leg longer and pops my rib out of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wack</span>. So it will pinch me. Not comfy at all. This time it's opposite of usually what happens and was in my neck. So I've been having dizzy spells. When I look up or down and sometimes to the left. Yesterday I went to the chiropractor and I go back next Tuesday.<br />The new system at work isn't working. I'm supposed to do signs only and the assistant to my boss is doing my job. Plus on Sunday's she's only giving me order codes for the signs and not what they should say or where they belong in the store. So I'm getting less done and slightly frustrated when I have to ask her where they go. She looks at the list and the sign and points at a UPC # where it belongs. I told her and I'm supposed to figure this out how? She told me I would get used to doing it. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">LOL</span>, I guess I need a chip implanted in my brain so I can read UPC numbers.<br />In my other department corporate has acknowledge that the new warehouse is having issues with packing our merchandise that comes in. They are over packing, over stacking and then putting the super heavy items on top. Which is how I hurt myself. It's going to take them 6 months to solve the problem. That's a long time in my books.<br />So here's the really funny thing that I've been giggling about all weekend. Since the one department has downsized I work closely with this one kid who is 18. He's funny, really funny. Plus we like horrors movies and Dane Cook so we are always quoting lines from his movies. Which makes work a tiny bit more fun. Since he's a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">jokester</span>, he decide about a month ago to dye his hair all blond. He had really dark hair before and he's super tall so he looked like a Q-tip with eyebrows. He then decided to give himself a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">mohawk</span> and dye the blond part green. Well this has upset one of the managers in the store. The one who is in charge of the one department that is falling to pieces. So he gave the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mohawk</span> kid the riot act about his hair at the same time giving him a pep talk about being an individual and expressing his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">individuality. </span> It was the oddest lecture I heard. So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">mohawk</span> tells the manager, the guy who does the hiring and is in charge of dress code, didn't have a problem and told him he didn't have to wear a hat. So the manager kind of shakes his head and walks away. <br />Fast forward to this weekend. He re-dyes his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">mohawk</span> blond and then dyes the blond pink. So the manager again comes into the office and starts flipping on him for doing it pink. My boss and her assistant are there for it . The assistant tells him that his mother has breast cancer and that it's his way of supporting her. He back tracks and is all "well breast cancer", well that's really noble. His mother doesn't have breast cancer, he just did it because he can. So now this manager thinks this kid is really great and etc... If he wasn't such a jerk someone would tell him but we'll let him think that for a while. Life, it's all about perspective!Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649810359221745166.post-23783405378348830062009-05-12T15:24:00.001-07:002009-05-12T15:24:47.794-07:00The Way Things Go<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3508196496/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3508196496_9bf084c978_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21584760@N02/3508196496/">Grape Hyacinth</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/21584760@N02/">catscluttercrafts</a></span></div>I've had 2 nights off from work this week and I cut out early on Mother's Day! I will probably have to work tonight. Our truck has been missing for the one department I work in. It should have arrived Sunday night but as I got ready for work, I received a phone call to not come in. Well since I had taken a nap I couldn't get back to sleep until 1:30am. But I've been reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, so it was time well spent. <br />You don't realize how sleep deprived you are until you actually get sleep! It's amazing. No wonder I never feel 100%! <br />I've also been busy making a quilted kitchen rug for our house. I got the idea from Soul Mama. Since there is tons of fabric around here still and I have rectangles left over from the quilted dress, I thought this will work out great. I like circles, so I'm making lots of circles and using a polar fleece blanket as my backing.<br />I took pictures of the flowers from my neighbors garden. I love the colors and how they look like little balloons or skirts.<br clear="all" />Dawn Elizablethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01322715234347731272noreply@blogger.com1