Busy Labor Day weekend

Well I had to work on Friday and it was a slow day no ambulance calls but I did get two Sock Monkeys done.
 
I had stichted up the body parts and had them ready to go with me Friday morning and so I spent the day stuffing the different parts and sewing on the arms, tail, mouth and ear’s. I then brought them home and Saturday was able to put on the button eyes and stitch the mouths in. They each have a humbug bag to go with them out of sock monkey fabric.  They went to the Fayette Community Library for the Friends of the Library silent auction.  Then after I had them finished up I had cut out some fabric to make three bags. The same pattern just different lay out of fabric stripes.

It is a messenger bag and with a zipper top closer

It did come out pretty well. I do think the curve on the front pocket is a little off but then I guess that makes it hand crafted.
So that was yesterdays busy work I really need to do something today.

Weekend plus

Well I have been going like crazy and the treadmill seems a little worn. Saturday I did Baker then we were on back up ambulance call after that. Well we ended up going up to West Union to be on call. I was on for 911 and Fred had a run to drive to Iowa City.

They no more then got back and we got a 911 call and that was interesting. Sorry no more info allowed then that. Hippa. and all that goes with it. So I though ok we would now come home WRONG. There was a second call and off I and Fred went to Iowa City.

I think we got home at 2:00 in the morning. It does make for a long day. I did get two sewing projects worked on though. As one of two leaders for 4H sewing club we worked on trying out two new bag’s/purses. They both came out really pretty nice even if I do say so.

 

The pink bag is from a pattern Pink Sand Beach Designs. The pattern is not hard to do though I had to concentrate on it when putting it together. The front pocket that you swap the fabrics around is really fun. Plus some cute inside pockets too.

The Denim bag is something someone showed me and then I made one similar. Mine is lined with some denim and it has a pocket on both front and back. If I had been thinking/planning I would of put a pocket on the inside too. Though that would have been different fabric then denim.

Orange button closer is a orange hair tie. 

Tuesday the week of Christmas

Well we got a bunch more snow yesterday at least no freezing rain or sleet that was predicted. I think it quit snowing around 6:00 or so might have been a little earlier then that not sure.  Today is one of my late start days I get two in the week. Unfortunately I got up early and got ready to go in because with the weather I was not sure if my co worker could make it she lives on a gravel road and if the wind got nasty last night it would not of been easy for her to make it in.

I called her around 5:30 and she was in and all was going well so I now have extra time this morning. That I seem to be not using constructively and playing computer games. I have lots of other things I could and probably should be doing. Oh well that is how it goes.

I did get a bunch of the rose blocks and black squares sewn with outside color strips.  So this project is coming along nicely!

Today for lunch I made this recipe.

I found this recipe in a Taste of Home Cooking School issue that was on the newstand at this time. It really sounded good and I had gotten some Bow Tie pasta from food coop and thought ohh I want to make this recipe.

Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta


1 cup bow tie pasta
2 strips bacon
1/3 cup sliced fresh mushrooms ( you could used canned)
2 Tablespoons chopped onions ( I used a lttle more)
1 clove garlic minced (I used 1 teaspoon of grated garlic from a jar)
1 cup diced cooked chicken
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup cream of chicken soup undiluted
1/3 cup 2% milk
1 Tablespoon prepared mustard
2 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/8 salt optional
1/8 pepper
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan I probably used 1/4 cup

Cook pasta; mean while in a large skillet fry the bacon until crispy remove from skillet and drain on paper towel  reserve 1 tablespoon of the grease. In the drippings fry mushrooms and onions until tender add garlic sauté for one min. Stir in chicken, peas, soup, milk, mustard, honey, parsley, salt, pepper, and bacon cook and stir over med heated through drain pasta add to skillet and toss to coat.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese
 
Notes:  Well lunch is over and it was good though I thought the honey would do a little more to sweeten the sauce then it did. The mustard kind of overpowered the rest of it and I was surprised at that since it was only 1 T. It was good and not to complicated though now I need to find something to do with the other half of the can of cream of chicken soup before it spoils in the refrigerator and becomes one of those strange science experiments.
 
I don't know if I had posted on here that I am the main Bakery at our small town grocery store. Well this was my Saturday to get up and make the donuts. I got there and had quite a bit to do. Most of the breads had disappeared over the last 24 hours now that is not really a bad thing that way no mark down and it sure helps keep things fresh. (fresh is always best) 
 
It was a busy morning between all the breads and then making donuts. I think I about sold out of donuts today. It sure makes it feel like it was worth getting up when things are selling.
 

Hmm Friday

Well today went much better then I expected it to go. I really expected to have a very bad day at work and it really went much better then I expected hope that does not mean that Monday is going to go to #*#*ll in a hand basket. I guess time will tell.

Had a friend give me a pin that is a cross with the word trust on it and I did that this week and so far it has been the right theme for the week. So I am going to say that will be my theme for the rest of this week too.

On the sewing front I found a pattern I really want to work on it is a simple design done with a 9 patch and then you put elongated triangles on the four sides and make it a twist and turn block. It has a fun look to it and I just decided it was what I hope to work on in the very near future. Something simple and fun.

New Projects

Well I have been busy learning a new job and there have been some real bumps in the road but but things are slowly working them self out not over the hill yet but it is getting better.

In some down time I did another raw edge applique project.

Grandma's Little Cowgirls. by Mary Stenros Willow Bend Creations this design was one I had to trace out on Steam a Seam the other iron on fusible that I had was not large enough it was in the 17 inch size and the pattern takes an 18 inch width of Steam a Seam.

So this was done on one of the ombre fabric lines where the fabric goes from a light to a dark shaded piece of fabric. It seem to work well I used the dark end of the fabric to do the outline of the design and the lighter shaded are to give it a interesting background.

Then I picked up an batik for around the outside border. I did think about doing a black small border and then use the ombre fabri on the outside going from the darker to the lighter in the opposite direction of the center piece but that just seem to complicated and I did not get enough of the fabric to do that. So this worked just fine.

Job and project back up front and center

Well I am surviving my new job. My head is still spining but I am slowly getting a handle on it. Learning all the different systems that make up what I am trying to learn to do. I deal with 6 computer monitors and 4 mice and LOL finding the right mouse for the right screen is sometimes and interesting challenge. Still it does make sense I just need to practice to learn what to do quickly and that is just going to have to take time.

Today I am going to go check in on my bakery person to see how she is doing. It is her first day on her own and then I also need to check on what needs ordered for the rest of the week's supplies.

Then I am going to try and head off to bed and sleep for a while. Since tonight I go to work at 11:00pm (2300) and will be on 3rd shift for the rest of the week.

Depending on when I wake up today I hope to start working on a purse that is in the Art to Heart book Cider Mill Road. I got the tea towels to make the bag in Aug. Cut off the sides that needed done and then did up the top section but needed some buttons to go on it. Well that kind of put it all to a hault. Found the buttons at a shop last month but the holidays slowed down progress on this.

The other day I found the buttons so decided that I was going to dig out the project and see if I could get it done. So will see how it goes today and when I wake up.

New Job and Coop today

Well today is coop day. The good part about this orde is that it is small so it should not take to long to get it all done. So I can pass off the info to the next coordinator later today.

I am also going for my first day of training at the new job. It will be a new experience I am sure. I do have my username and password so LOL hope I remember it correctly and don't violate myself on the first day.

I been picking up and cleaning up some piles around the house today and organizing and found a Friends of the Library newsletter from last Jan. 2008. As I was glancing thru it they were talking about a friends group that take old books cut out the pages and make purses out of the cover. I am rather intrigued by the idea may have to see if I can find some instructions. It sounds like a really interesting fund raiser idea. May have to haunt the used book shelves at the library to see if there are any likely candidates.

Hmm another new project not sure that this is a good idea.

I also want to pull out the fabric and pattern for Eureka Quilt this fabric has been sitting in the sack for a while now. Time for it to get out and start become something other then a PIG (project in grocery sack).

Hope everyone is having a great day.

2010 Hmm a New Year Wow

Hard to belive we are 10 years into 2000. I remember when we started 2000 and all the worries about the world coming to a stop and all the computers and everything would be such a disaster. Sure glad that was a doomsday prediction that did not happen.

I spent the last two days organizing the work schedule at work so that HA HA everyone is happy I am dreaming about that one I am sure. It had to start somewhere and so I did up a schedule after talking to most people now to deal with the last bits. Will drop it in the bosses hands and he can check on it and see if it fits what he thinks it should be.

Oh well it had to start somewhere and so that is what I did right or wrong. Since I am upseting the apple cart I guess some of how it goes is also on me. LOL

wow were did today go

I sure wish I knew where today went. I did my thing at the grocery store made the bread and the donuts really slow for customers early today hope it picked up later in the day. Then I was about done gave Karen a break and got a phone call from Steve up at Northeast Medical Transport. What am I doing today. Well my plan was to go to West Union and find out what my new work schedule will be for Jan. ( I am training to be a dispatcher for the Sherriff's office here in Fayette County.) So the story is grab your uniform shirt and head on up chances are good that another transport will be going out today and maybe a third or forth time will tell on that.

I did get my work schedule then off I went to Cedar Rapids on a transport.

So nothing I had planned happen today in the way I expected it to happen am I surprised not really. That is kind of how my life goes I make a plan and then immediately it goes in a totaly different direction. That is ok it means I am never board and there is usually tomarrow to work on the project of the day.

:)
Hope your Holiday plan is going well.

New Dishwasher

Well it looks like the rain has stop for a little bit so today we are going to drive to Waterloo and pick up the new dishwasher that was ordered last weekend. Kind of a pain since when we went down to look at them I was in the mode of I want it now. LOL instant gratification I guess.

Oh well just have to learn some patience I guess.

I started yesterday afternoon and did up posters for the Chocolate "An Extravaganza" one of the Library Friends big money makers. We do really well at this it is hosted at the Upper Iowa University's President Home I think that is as big of an attraction as the fact that you get to come and spend the time eating as many chocolate goodies as you can stuff in your month/plate. Talk about and overload.

Yesterday I started a reload on Ray's computer That is the lap top at work I have been fighting with it for the last two weeks. I think it has been the printer that was on the system was a dell 4 in 1 and it was just fine then about 2 weeks ago the scanner/copier/fax part of it quit working. It would still print but the rest of it was a no go.

So Ray and Karla went out and got a new printer 4 in 1 it was a Lexmark not real expensive unit. I suggested a black laser printer but that was a further drive to get it. So this new printer will only default to printing in color mode first you have to at the begining of each copy hit the black button and then copy. So I thought ok I will load the software that goes with this new printer and hopefully change the default. WRONG. The software for the Lexmark took over the printer spool and I could not change any settings on the printer. I did not realize it had taken over the printer spool so I then moved the lap top back to the desk it sits on and rehooked the old printer to it. Now nothing will print on the old Dell printer because the Lexmark has taken over the printer spool and there are like 4 black ink cartrides yet to use up on the Dell. Lets just say that the Dell ink cartrides are not cheap and so goes the saga of the printers.

Lets just say after doing a whole bunch of uninstalls and reinstalls and etc I am reformating the hard drive and starting it over again. This is not a super fast project but it should fix all the problems I HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So as I go back and forth checking to see that all the updates are installed then I take it down and rehook the printer and then put the program in that we use to create labels. So wish me lots of luck.

Monday Monday

Well yesterday we ran to Waterloo and ordered a new dish washer and I have a feeling that a new washer is in the cards for the near future. There is a leak around the tub area it is a slow leak but since the washer is upstairs having it become a big leak would not be a happy surprise. The happy surpise is while looking at dish washers we found that they do make washers that it looks like you can stack a full size dryer on top of the washer. So now to put a little money aside the next few months to make this next purchase with. Seems like there is always something to put money aside for.


Oh well that is how it goes if it is not one thing it is another. Today was a moderately busy day worked Bakery in the morning and then had quilters in the afternoon. This is my small quilt guild with about 12 to 15 members. Two of the ladies there make cards out of bits and peices of fabric and scrap booking papers and rubber stamping. They had some gorgous cards to show of it sure tempting to try but I already have so many different things that I like to do and projects going. Just not sure I have time for one more thing on my plate.


I think I have all the blocks done for the City Park quilt so I do belive that is my project for the rest of the day. I don't think it is going to take a long time to sew that one all together just need to rearrange the blocks a little bit and then put it all together. I think I may need to go to the Opera house and use the floor there one more time. I just don't have enough floor space in any of the rooms here to lay out a king size quilt. A queen I can do on our bed but those extra blocks are just a little bit to much space is required.