Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Sidetracked



I made sure all three cats, who come in at different times for breakfast and try to arrange things so that at least one cat gets to eat twice, had food. I took out a pan to make hot cereal, absently scrubbed it, and put it in the rack to drain. Toast? No. The computer beckoned. On the way to the computer I  noted that the baggies of jewelry completed and jewelry in progress had not put themselves away, and stirred through them once again. A pink and grey glass one beckoned, telling me it only needed the right tiny round bead between the pink glass and it would be happy. A quick rummage through the seed beads produced a bead soup mix which might or might not have the precise bead I needed, but I was dizzy and sat down in front of the computer.

After clearing the spam from 3 accounts and reading gleanings on Facebook, I faced the evil moment: eat or feel worse. Veggie omelet. The saucepan was clean but wet, the olive oil was on the counter instead of the pantry. Onions and green pepper with celery leaves were chopped and dropped in the pan with 1 tsp olive oil. A cat wanted out, and I followed her. The seedlings in the garden had been covered with grass clippings. 

Seedlings cleared,  I thought of searching the garage for the new caulking gun, used only once on a too-strenuous attempt to seal cracks in the driveway. I knew I had three minutes for the veggies to soften. Sanity prevailed and I returned to the kitchen, where I had not turned on the burner. After a minute, the scent of dishwashing soap wafted gently from the pan. Phooey. It hadn't been rinsed  enough. I chopped more onions, this time with more rush than precision. I tossed a handful of shredded cheese in on top. These would overpower the flavor of dishwashing soap, especially if I timed things right.

I did time things right. Omelet consumed, pan loaded into dishwasher, I contemplated the list of abandoned tasks. The table top needs clearing, and the box containing the last table top scrapings is still full. On the table is a box lid containing goodies from a friend. A tiny cellophane bag of sequins has burst, spreading its delights. Naturally, these are the tiny metallic stars that I want to use on a doll costume. They must be picked up with the tip of a pin. Time consuming.

My time would be better spent searching for the caulking gun so I can repair the caulking. Last week I ran out of caulking and there are thin spots where water, if it were so inclined, might slip through and eventually reach the kitchen ceiling and cause a disaster.  I've limited myself to 3-minute showers and mopped the walls and tub, but my hair is dirty. Waist-length hair can't be washed in 3 minutes. Wet, sure. Washing takes 20 minutes, and I'm sure that 20 minutes of wet will spell trouble. Seek caulking gun. The new tube of caulk is upstairs in the bathroom.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Off the Beam


Life is a balancing act and I get the feeling that this week, I've fallen off the beam. I can occasionally use processed food if I add enough fresh produce to it. I thought Sloppy Joe sauce was safe. Sort of like tomato sauce. Just add ground meat and veggies. We all thought it tasted great. And the three of us all had reactions. Mr. Supersweet became cranky and argumentative. I noticed that I was dizzy when I bent over. Then muscles began to ache, the top of my head erupted into a fiery headache and I began to see large copper blobs in the air. I sat down. Ms. Supersweet brought her husband a drink, bent to put it down, and nearly fell over. Wonder what's in that stuff. I'm not digging the can out of the recycle bin to find out.

Not a lot of sewing has gone on, unless you count a Barbie-sized pollera, the woman's national dress of Panama. It is not true to life. I just slammed preruffled eyelet together for the top, and gathered the skirt very full. This is my friend Alicia dancing in a pollera in 1999.
 

There's mending, though. I shortened a man's t-shirt to a length more suitable for a shortie (me), and altered a pair of linen pants. The bits I cut from the bottoms I added to the back waist length because the pants had been designed for flat bottomed women, of which I am not one.  Perhaps I'll even cut out and make shorts. I did manage to get a knit shirt mostly sewn together before deciding once again that the color is putrid on me. Little blue paisley outlines dot a cream colored knit, and on me it has a nauseating greenish cast. I'll finish it and wear it because I lack the will to shop for tshirts.


I've had a bit of luck at Goodwill. Although I am supposedly thinning my pattern collection, I enjoy looking through what other people are getting rid of, and found two patterns for simple and easy to wear shorts and shirts for Ms.  Supersweet. In my fabric stash, I found a jade green linen for shorts and a retro 70's floral print in jade and topaz on white. Ms. Supersweet is inspired. Without saying a word, I've shown her a wonderful trick: use a simple pattern and the best fabric you can afford. The outfit will be stylish and look expensive.