tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59004282494024596812024-02-01T21:27:42.196-08:00Nagle5 NewsThe random musings of an empty nester...Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.comBlogger995125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-80619830034256895912023-03-02T15:32:00.002-08:002023-03-02T15:32:24.479-08:00Homemade Tortilla Chips<p> Have you ever made your own tortilla chips? They're actually so easy to make and so good!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTf4aSdeZMUAK7vLox9ynfCIHqvj0sxs40pduKmuPvcvOsxE0lSAXTRNn77sOP5WHpVnYs-p1l5nfhPgBj_Ka1Ns0demWbCT2efbZqnOjd03fctxh2n3Oz3FJdRMX5UBzkU6SLMSPPacjbrgKx-dKyzWxAY6EYnlqWsheTs_2_jfIonMwh0TUAufd/s2016/finished%20tortilla%20chips%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTf4aSdeZMUAK7vLox9ynfCIHqvj0sxs40pduKmuPvcvOsxE0lSAXTRNn77sOP5WHpVnYs-p1l5nfhPgBj_Ka1Ns0demWbCT2efbZqnOjd03fctxh2n3Oz3FJdRMX5UBzkU6SLMSPPacjbrgKx-dKyzWxAY6EYnlqWsheTs_2_jfIonMwh0TUAufd/s320/finished%20tortilla%20chips%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh tortilla chips resting on paper towels.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>All you need is some kind of oil for deep frying...I use beef tallow...and corn tortillas. After that you'll need a candy thermometer, a pan, and something to get the hot chips out of the hot oil. (If you have a deep fryer, that is even that much easier.)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhJs6zrzCtmfVAbGRJvpTIo_V1s2FtFdDQMMvkL6XWl5LM3vmOJ610AIVBb_ULiNt_Bx_6mrz8Sf_7vOMWOI2eqr_jBCsXmc71uz7ZtvlGSpZQRKuVuZ81tES48odC4NmxHdHXup9dZq9UXhe9fGadiDYDzxcBkoElK57dE5noic736mj03JH9OHV/s2016/tortilla%20chips%20in%20pan%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhJs6zrzCtmfVAbGRJvpTIo_V1s2FtFdDQMMvkL6XWl5LM3vmOJ610AIVBb_ULiNt_Bx_6mrz8Sf_7vOMWOI2eqr_jBCsXmc71uz7ZtvlGSpZQRKuVuZ81tES48odC4NmxHdHXup9dZq9UXhe9fGadiDYDzxcBkoElK57dE5noic736mj03JH9OHV/s320/tortilla%20chips%20in%20pan%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling a batch of tortilla chips out of the oil.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Cut your tortilla chips into six pieces (like a small pizza). Then heat the oil in the pan to the "deep fry" temperature on your candy thermometer and put some tortilla pieces into the oil. Then you let the pieces cook to the desired color and pull them out of the oil, and let them rest on something that will absorb the grease like some paper towels or a brown paper bag. Salt and eat! That's it! So easy and so good!</p><p>(If you use beef tallow, you can reuse the melted tallow--just let it cool a bit and put it in a glass container and store in the refrigerator until the next time!)</p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-40018100153042934232023-03-01T05:00:00.077-08:002023-03-01T05:00:00.244-08:00Love Where You Are Right Now<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">One of the greatest lessons I've learned over the years is to figure out how to love where you are right now, even while acknowledging all of the imperfections in your life. Look, I freely acknowledge that I am wired to be an optimist, but still, it takes practice to see the ways in which your life is good, even as you're wondering how you're going to pay your bills this month or worrying about the decisions your adult child is making or the bigger questions like, will you ever get out of your apartment and buy a house or should you make a career change. (In case you're wondering, for us getting out of an apartment and into a house took a LONG time!) Daily life can beat you down and loving where you are despite the pressure, is challenging at first. It's a muscle you have to flex regularly, so you can default to looking for the positives in life when they're hidden under layers of burden and true concerns.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In my previous life, I had a boss who told me that she always asked herself, "If this is as good as it will get, how good can I make this?" And that question and the sentiment that arises out of it has stuck with me all of these years. I have incorporated that way of thinking into everything I do. This doesn't mean you're not striving to accomplish some big goals, but rather, that you look at your "right now" through a lense of appreciation and with your attention directed towards optimizing your current situation. After years of living this way, I have come to believe that this recognition of the many ways our lives are currently good paves the way for us to see opportunity when it comes our way. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Using our own life as an example. as I stated previously, it took Superman and me a long time to move from our apartment to a house. We had already had two of our three children and we had been together almost ten years. But that didn't mean I wasn't trying to make our apartment home as lovely and warm and welcoming and efficient for a family of four as possible. I wasn't waiting until I "had a house" before I "made a home" for our family. I also wasn't waiting until I could be a SAHM before I did these things. Nope. I was working long days with a brutal commute and I still felt fortunate. I felt fortunate that we had an apartment that opened onto a grassy area for our boys to play, that we had apartment managers who looked out for us, that we had two bathrooms (seriously--so great!!) and two parking spaces. There were so many lovely things about our apartment life and I look back upon that time with great fondness. We weren't waiting for a house to start our real lives. We were making the best of where we were then, even as we were working towards the next big thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Put another way: If you're always looking to tomorrow to start your "good" life, you're never going to see the power you have to make the life you have now a good one. </span><span>You have to look around and be able to say, "I like 'this' about my life." When you've acknowledged all of the aspects of your life that you DO like, then you can turn your attention to the things that you DON'T like from a perspective of opportunity. Y</span><span>ou have to take a moment to stop and appreciate what you have accomplished thus far and really recognize those legitimate accomplishments. Only then, will you be able to turn your attention to those aspects of your life that are next in line for action. There will always be work to be done, improvements that can be made, and that is okay. What's important is to balance that reality with appreciation for the moment you're in right now.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlhYOKRl3IYuAyZ2VZPs9tCO1d6OTXmBT8BlM09gVYdZW0MLxXox1o_OJsAwxzj_uxsTdk7tt8hhbpBoWx1_fD67Kly6GnD7mmq9YdqHxQMVW-nNzQVc-997ohHoRy-hDbcKpJvhdBW5PGATkXxFaD7LJPm2oGhfkqOppzWlmguw3hvGT7QiTXddO/s1757/sunset%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1757" data-original-width="1511" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlhYOKRl3IYuAyZ2VZPs9tCO1d6OTXmBT8BlM09gVYdZW0MLxXox1o_OJsAwxzj_uxsTdk7tt8hhbpBoWx1_fD67Kly6GnD7mmq9YdqHxQMVW-nNzQVc-997ohHoRy-hDbcKpJvhdBW5PGATkXxFaD7LJPm2oGhfkqOppzWlmguw3hvGT7QiTXddO/s320/sunset%20(2).jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Look at this picture...isn't the sunset gorgeous? If I'd stayed focused on the chore of shoveling the driveway yet again, I wouldn't have looked up and seen this gorgeous post-snow sky. Of course, my photo doesn't do it justice, but trust me, it was stunning. We're so lucky that the proposed construction in the field behind us continues to be delayed, keeping our view so beautiful. (It's been proposed for the 17 years we've lived here...I'd say we've been more than lucky!!) But look a little more closely. Do you see it? One of my dogs was so happy to be outside after the snow stopped, he had the zoomies and made an exuberant loop-the-loop pattern in the snow and circled the firepit chairs numerous times. How can you do anything but smile when you see that manifestation of joy so clearly there? Anyway, snow is forecast for the entire week and there is no doubt I'll soon be grumbling about shoveling that driveway AGAIN, but this beautiful moment reminded me of how much I love where I live.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Bottom Line: That saying "life is what you "make" of it" doesn't just refer to what you're doing, it refers to what you're <i>thinking</i> about what you're doing and "life" is right now, not tomorrow.</span></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-21258432634668965582023-02-28T05:00:00.050-08:002023-02-28T05:00:00.218-08:00Still Making This Old Favorite, but I've Updated It...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhho1eMNxpZ6bR5DV2XsLlstNNyb-v5sphnAmmuljfK56-QyoUHMhyweKB1sKrh11Sscbao_w9yFYU2NfRdvVp2GGzDJnt7VLWh5JI2m7XdLYhlPGBY21B0bq_x8d0yzt8Z1NRqk1O-QVcOuNFkWmyKZ4omjrEiBGYwitODYLXu4CnuBk-l0xBw8QOE/s1512/baked%20oatmeal%20piece%20updated%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="1512" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhho1eMNxpZ6bR5DV2XsLlstNNyb-v5sphnAmmuljfK56-QyoUHMhyweKB1sKrh11Sscbao_w9yFYU2NfRdvVp2GGzDJnt7VLWh5JI2m7XdLYhlPGBY21B0bq_x8d0yzt8Z1NRqk1O-QVcOuNFkWmyKZ4omjrEiBGYwitODYLXu4CnuBk-l0xBw8QOE/s320/baked%20oatmeal%20piece%20updated%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Still warm!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When we found out we were gluten intolerant, the joy went out of cooking for quite a while. Basically, everything I used to make for my family was wheat based and finding new options was much harder 12 years ago than it is now. Fast forward 12 years and we're still not fans of most store-bought gluten free options, so we've really upped our baking skills to meet our new reality. Still, there were a few of our favorites that happened to be naturally gluten-free and they have stayed in the rotation to this day. One of these keepers is <a href="http://nagle5.blogspot.com/2010/09/amish-baked-oatmeal.html">Amish Baked Oatmeal</a>. I first blogged about this recipe in 2010, and it is still in my rotation, so there is that!</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2nrwmIQmO97_xslB7q4sQ0ejB2mOxu6UBpsjbGvN_PsFVsw2vJG2SFaceDwCzvz0WRVbxvr2P2JUPI9yLqcGpfFwlHSRwoaN6xOBv-zTagErmbysAg3_0bqegFtbFAroPRnSK6Hzm-4ho2iS93OpxtXlPTXoe_aU5P0YImWWsTc0JVWCMgyumtA8/s1580/baked%20oatmeal%20updated%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1580" data-original-width="1399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2nrwmIQmO97_xslB7q4sQ0ejB2mOxu6UBpsjbGvN_PsFVsw2vJG2SFaceDwCzvz0WRVbxvr2P2JUPI9yLqcGpfFwlHSRwoaN6xOBv-zTagErmbysAg3_0bqegFtbFAroPRnSK6Hzm-4ho2iS93OpxtXlPTXoe_aU5P0YImWWsTc0JVWCMgyumtA8/s320/baked%20oatmeal%20updated%20(2).jpg" width="283" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fresh out of the oven.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Since those first days, however, I've slightly modified the original recipe with the addition of another egg and a teaspoon of cinnamon. This is the version of the recipe I use these days.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amish Baked Oatmeal</span></u></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><u><br style="background-color: white;" /></u></i></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: white;">Ingredients</b><span style="background-color: white;">:<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">1/3 cup packed brown sugar <br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">1/2 cup of milk </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><i>(I've made it with water when I didn't have milk!)</i></span><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">1/4 cup of butter - melted<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">2 egg, beaten<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">1 teaspoon baking powder<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>1 teaspoon cinnamon<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">2 teaspoons vanilla extract<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">Pinch of salt </span><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #e06666;">(I use 1/8 teaspoon)</span><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: white;">Directions</b><span style="background-color: white;">:<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8 x 8 pan.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">2. Mix all together in one bowl and then pour into your greased 8 x 8 pan. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">3. Cover and place in refrigerator overnight (remove cover to bake) or leave uncovered and bake immediately for 30 minutes at 350F. (If you leave the cover on when you bake it, it is too soggy.)</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">4. Top with berries or eat plain (we like it straight out of the pan).</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Honestly, this is a quick and easy addition to your breakfast or dessert rotation. (It's also really great for those afternoons where you just want something sweet, but don't want to each junk and you don't want to make a big mess.) The 8 x 8 pan is a nice amount for a couple or for a small family. Also, this is NOT an expensive treat to make, so if you're on a tight budget, this is definitely something to try.</span></span></p><p><br /></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-26463643426901089002023-02-27T05:00:00.011-08:002023-02-27T05:00:00.216-08:00Never quiet.<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Superman and I have always had animals...even before we had kids, we had cats. We got our first dog when Buttercup was three or four, and since then, we've always had dogs, too. Throughout the years, we have also had birds, hamsters, rats, a chinchilla, and fish. They have always added to the chaos and joy in our home and in our lives.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The past few years have been hard where our animals have been concerned, as well. That was to be expected, if we had ever really thought about it: the animals you get when your kids are little will be old when your kids leave the nest. We didn't think about it, though, and the losses of the past few years made the transition to empty nesters even more bittersweet. We've lost four animals in the past two years. It felt as if we were losing more of our family with each loss.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Beans went first in 2021. She declined quickly and, while not a nice cat (hey, some just aren't nice), I was sad for her decline...she was only 12 and we had gotten her when she was six weeks old. Wasn't she beautiful?</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8IDICHCab4_7WoZaFNX_hQ3PlAZ_HV7T5IIn21b9z4Kc_VB6CDGjJ6kEqr1nlZvz7b87EuvidsD_qp1418W0sUvminHFM-DRzBQGpUxdTOVORu2R166bTVb1X2e-ocs-794tpPlX1uKYEz9QFz16oOo494o-apukidi6Q7nJunul_7DvuvMlWfTP/s4000/IMG_1585.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8IDICHCab4_7WoZaFNX_hQ3PlAZ_HV7T5IIn21b9z4Kc_VB6CDGjJ6kEqr1nlZvz7b87EuvidsD_qp1418W0sUvminHFM-DRzBQGpUxdTOVORu2R166bTVb1X2e-ocs-794tpPlX1uKYEz9QFz16oOo494o-apukidi6Q7nJunul_7DvuvMlWfTP/w320-h240/IMG_1585.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Majestic Beans </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sam-I-Am passed in January of 2022. He was our last link to our lives in So Cal. He was born in the carport of our California home and moved with us the next year. He was just shy of 18 when he died and he lived an amazing life and was cool until the very end.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHbgRkS6j9bqTsFRtIicji0QW5CyzYqrFuvTugmVxwfUw1BcSYohBCOz7mWvz6izDzLCsPDEMOyle-nn7Hr1aZphFM6KAQosI2nHtLbGiFxh0PJdS-lqMkn-OYaVpWL1EIM6fnEt4XhKjV4CLR8unrLBxihKxV3oXxoyKioD-9mmlfk2ysQVVACqw/s4032/VBCF2327.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHbgRkS6j9bqTsFRtIicji0QW5CyzYqrFuvTugmVxwfUw1BcSYohBCOz7mWvz6izDzLCsPDEMOyle-nn7Hr1aZphFM6KAQosI2nHtLbGiFxh0PJdS-lqMkn-OYaVpWL1EIM6fnEt4XhKjV4CLR8unrLBxihKxV3oXxoyKioD-9mmlfk2ysQVVACqw/s320/VBCF2327.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sam-I-Am was always irritated by us.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My sewing room cat Clementine disappeared in May 2022. We suspect strongly she was taken by an owl. My heart broke with this loss because she was just three years old and was the sweetest cat ever. She was definitely my cat...this loss was brutal, to be honest.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1L2oHglOM0BT0oSZSRNIa2_qDBI2jg-kXPqiU6n8LM2jzcUjYZu7U3HRMIvQyMzOvOGY7Wq9n1klHXN9UVdCyq_GeHC3cLu7bHI8coAXi1aZdX6h1vPi0o3Kw4OL4EAZsMa1Se7Ag_8SQZPieTBgU-IKwx6hYm_trt8662OaWRTn2-em5GHuxowXv/s3373/XAVC6760%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3373" data-original-width="3023" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1L2oHglOM0BT0oSZSRNIa2_qDBI2jg-kXPqiU6n8LM2jzcUjYZu7U3HRMIvQyMzOvOGY7Wq9n1klHXN9UVdCyq_GeHC3cLu7bHI8coAXi1aZdX6h1vPi0o3Kw4OL4EAZsMa1Se7Ag_8SQZPieTBgU-IKwx6hYm_trt8662OaWRTn2-em5GHuxowXv/s320/XAVC6760%20(2).JPG" width="287" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My little Clementine--sweetest cat ever.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, our beloved Lucy Lou died in July 2022. She was almost 16 years old and was the most loyal girl ever. She taught me to love dogs. Fortunately, she declined quite quickly...she was still going for walks two weeks before she died...but man, this one was hard. You know they can't live forever, but still...</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnkzChKAeD7Sd2GaC6eRGTwli0t1JO_A2o6gLoHUGcGoNjzdZEKVCa9Piy-1Tg9AD5l2uzl-wMgYkkZ815f7cxR5ptJam9XBLFdIazoWMS7jyjCDXh0Xr9Rh1W5NCk9XetnZkTnEbJbuiKpJB1HSJWAAv57SZl_zy69lTj96jWBegWrkb_y0D3XE0/s2592/Lucy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnkzChKAeD7Sd2GaC6eRGTwli0t1JO_A2o6gLoHUGcGoNjzdZEKVCa9Piy-1Tg9AD5l2uzl-wMgYkkZ815f7cxR5ptJam9XBLFdIazoWMS7jyjCDXh0Xr9Rh1W5NCk9XetnZkTnEbJbuiKpJB1HSJWAAv57SZl_zy69lTj96jWBegWrkb_y0D3XE0/s320/Lucy.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Miss Lucy Lou</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I know a lot of people decide not to get any more pets after the pets they had when their kids were younger pass, but I just couldn't see doing that, despite the fact that we were also dealing with our beloved Honey having terminal bladder cancer. She has far surpassed her six month prognosis and, at 14 months post diagnosis, is still living her best life. The tumor is still growing, though, albeit slowly and we know her time with us is limited. Animals are a source of joy and life in a home, in my humble opinion.</span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0JQCcwV2p9y47EibIBaxMv8QRIWY_wJpu86qkqnURoIP7iNCONm0J7g0LwfYy-yHxUBJU31xd7Cv2g8V2KQW6P9PfjFWcndle_dyOegl_MWW7G11zc9OFNYa3DiR8Cwfu5fZrX8a1K_byheMwagt87MTtIERqr-kzZZG5_jOWrT-dE4Obsw_tEHa/s4032/MNUC8658.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0JQCcwV2p9y47EibIBaxMv8QRIWY_wJpu86qkqnURoIP7iNCONm0J7g0LwfYy-yHxUBJU31xd7Cv2g8V2KQW6P9PfjFWcndle_dyOegl_MWW7G11zc9OFNYa3DiR8Cwfu5fZrX8a1K_byheMwagt87MTtIERqr-kzZZG5_jOWrT-dE4Obsw_tEHa/s320/MNUC8658.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Honey - she has big dog energy and the sweetest girl ever.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">So, in June, while my heart was still hurting over Clementine's loss and I was grappling with Honey's cancer, we rescued Leo-Leo. He's a two and half year-old little mutt who was in an abuse situation and is getting braver by the day.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfZ3SRodjgY_sqpjZiDx36koOCBnEXsdCjeYbtuH8F5lWmi-IX_l48U-w2APrvx7SXkVAbD2x5Jh8NKmymxzqbtRIuPI8tiRz7od81jB7SJzs6vALmzVZu-GiUU-UvR4AZlwaeHhqPkNQEM1KEK50zJ0jWCtVnGJqAUhKurK8wOFkJtrGRphRbDLM/s4032/IMG_7367.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfZ3SRodjgY_sqpjZiDx36koOCBnEXsdCjeYbtuH8F5lWmi-IX_l48U-w2APrvx7SXkVAbD2x5Jh8NKmymxzqbtRIuPI8tiRz7od81jB7SJzs6vALmzVZu-GiUU-UvR4AZlwaeHhqPkNQEM1KEK50zJ0jWCtVnGJqAUhKurK8wOFkJtrGRphRbDLM/s320/IMG_7367.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Leo-Leo--tries so hard to be a brave boy.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">At the end of summer, we adopted Olive and Georgia, a bonded pair of female cats who are about three years old. We needed cats...the mice in the yard were waving to me as they went about their day's work. Really. My daughter started referring to me as Snow While because there were so many bold critters in our backyard.!! Anyway, between our combined efforts, Olive and I have mitigated the mouse problem quite effectively and there is peace in the kingdom again.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwoBgWXo017yOxnoW94241Pl1bvmAcaB8aV73cxCoa3_7Nl9pEzgufr2P7ekz1riBLzuhEV7kdFBgFdL4H-9s5VmdzTluD2AW1jOEXBDBP7k8EuANCk2Wi7NGNn-5QEudsZV0vZvHDjEhutaQj_swJojl2mnelFARdLlnd7Jr8D7kmblznxaPZ80i/s1769/Olive.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1769" data-original-width="1327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwoBgWXo017yOxnoW94241Pl1bvmAcaB8aV73cxCoa3_7Nl9pEzgufr2P7ekz1riBLzuhEV7kdFBgFdL4H-9s5VmdzTluD2AW1jOEXBDBP7k8EuANCk2Wi7NGNn-5QEudsZV0vZvHDjEhutaQj_swJojl2mnelFARdLlnd7Jr8D7kmblznxaPZ80i/s320/Olive.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Olive...Georgia is very shy.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, in November, we adopted Miss Emma, another rescue in need of a forever home. She was a special case and needed a special home and we felt privileged to become her family. She's a fierce little thing who is going to rule the entire house when she's done.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDvT2iqCbly34inLJWpGC51UWUnxI412bYCE8ic63doDvrmMo5gU2UpIC96BM7EKQ-zsQ3BNBGUX7kVWt7S8L1LDw-YhcSWQFjEB79Z8hSPK6K00md-aV0ulPhNzIzdkIe3aawRjsT7X4J58QXqpnzP_qm7_szcBNZiwA_jHVc7zzFJA17BQ0wBpE/s2845/JVFR1316%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2845" data-original-width="2786" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDvT2iqCbly34inLJWpGC51UWUnxI412bYCE8ic63doDvrmMo5gU2UpIC96BM7EKQ-zsQ3BNBGUX7kVWt7S8L1LDw-YhcSWQFjEB79Z8hSPK6K00md-aV0ulPhNzIzdkIe3aawRjsT7X4J58QXqpnzP_qm7_szcBNZiwA_jHVc7zzFJA17BQ0wBpE/s320/JVFR1316%20(2).JPG" width="313" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Miss Emma - a backyard breeder mom dumped in a shelter, this girl is stealing our hearts.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, there you have it. If you're keeping count, we have four dogs (including Jack--not pictured), two cats, two birds (with no names), and possibly two fish (we will know in spring how many survived in the little pond). Housebreaking through a snowy winter has been quite an adventure, but it has been a small inconvenience when contrasted with the happiness these pets bring. The joy our animals bring to our lives is worth the pain of losing them when their time comes. Our home is not very quiet and is never boring, and I wouldn't have it any other way. </span></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-6368148020696759802023-02-26T05:00:00.005-08:002023-02-26T05:00:00.229-08:00Happy Birthday to Charming!!!<p> I don't know how it's possible, but our first born is 32 today! (Which really doesn't make a lot of sense, as I'm holding somewhere between 35 and 40 myself, soooo...) </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><u>Happy Birthday, Charming!!!</u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr0hzk7xbtzckmaTxX8H4Au0bWRufowptADBF9eQg6eOyvcBOEkXneZ7VwItXhWUmQdyEwFS1KEEww3GHBeijzlpfoHhLfuhePQ4Sgm4fndo5foBdSDHYeR-ldtZxtNNOPGKXRGAVhbq0g0p0fduV2ePgGRlmcRk9EpWHe0MRbFL-O43TshfSrUIm/s1464/Jonathan%20Races%20October%2094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1103" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr0hzk7xbtzckmaTxX8H4Au0bWRufowptADBF9eQg6eOyvcBOEkXneZ7VwItXhWUmQdyEwFS1KEEww3GHBeijzlpfoHhLfuhePQ4Sgm4fndo5foBdSDHYeR-ldtZxtNNOPGKXRGAVhbq0g0p0fduV2ePgGRlmcRk9EpWHe0MRbFL-O43TshfSrUIm/s320/Jonathan%20Races%20October%2094.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from 1994...You were 3. <br />Let's not talk about how long you've been running!!!</td></tr></tbody></table></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-61599089057623790012023-02-25T13:02:00.001-08:002023-02-26T13:34:44.174-08:00"Transitions are hard" or "Reflections upon coming out the other side"<p><span style="font-size: medium;">As you might be aware, for a few years now, my family has been in transition. Heck, you might even be bored of the topic, but man, it's a big transition to go from active parenting of younger children to hands-off parenting of adult children. I've mentioned some of it in my very sporadic blog posts, but I didn't even scratch the surface. The last of our children left the nest within six months of each other and both of them are now married. Superman and I became grandparents when Buttercup and her husband had a little boy last summer. Valiant and his wife live across the country and Charming is across the state. Family togetherness, at least for now, is a distant memory.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On top of that, Superman and I decided we couldn't say no to an amazing career opportunity for him, so he's traveling again. When I tell you the nest is empty, the nest is EMPTY. And yet, Superman and I seem to be busier than ever. We have grand plans for our empty nest life and are pursuing them with a single-minded focus and we have a renewed energy as we pursue our goals. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Swedish death cleaning was a huge help to this transition. I know I posted about the ins and outs of Swedish death cleaning before, but I can't stress enough how good this was for us. Letting go of the life that "was" makes room for the life that "will be". We aren't holding on to the past in a way that limits our ability to embrace the future. It has been so liberating to shed the detritus of those years, only holding on to the things that have true meaning. Of course, we did hold on to some things, but only things that have meaning to us and that we think might have meaning to our children. For example, it is lovely to see our grandson in a crib that was used first for my brother, and then for our own children. It has been so sweet to see him in a playpen that has been in our family for more than 50 years. (Seriously, buying quality and being resistant to "new and improved" has served us well.) </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a lovely trip down memory lane and also a loving farewell when I scanned in all of our analog photos (so many photos in boxes...I thought they'd never end!) and then combined them with all of our digital photos and placed them on a thumb drive for the each of the kids. This is their history to keep and maintain as they see fit. I felt lighter and a little buoyant as I shipped off all of their belongings and then gifted them all these photos. But it also really cemented a thought for me: Memories are so personal. All of those baby pictures that bring a smile of remembrance to your face are of a time that the subject of the photo doesn't even remember...those are YOUR memories, not theirs. You can't really know what is a treasured memory or a treasured belonging for your adult child. Anyway, I digress...this project is all done and handed off to the next generation and our home is now more reflective of the journey to come rather than looking back at the life that was.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I read a blurb somewhere that said the majority of your parenting will be done to adult children and that is the stage we're in. I know it sounds as if we've washing our hands of our children, but that is far from the truth...we just truly respect that they are living their lives now and we have confidence in their ability to do just that. We raised them well and they're all very competent, capable individuals in their own right. Our "job" is done and we've happily handed the reins to them and we are enjoying watching the paths they choose for themselves. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, there it is. We've made it through the empty nest transition and come out the other side. We feel energized and excited to see what the future holds, and I think this blog is going to come back to life now that I don't have to worry about infringing on teenagers' privacy. (That was a big consideration for me once they were of an age..,I didn't want post things that could potentially make them feel their privacy had been violated.) Heck, I might even open it up to my adult children to contribute to because, it is, after all, the Nagle5 News and I no longer speak for all of the Nagle5. </span></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-38052362365311673842022-05-21T13:19:00.000-07:002022-05-21T13:19:26.196-07:00"Swedish Death Cleaning" also known as "Your Kids Don't Want It"<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Have you heard of “Swedish Death Cleaning”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t, I urge you to do a quick
search and read up on it, but basically it is the idea that you go through all
the stuff you’ve been holding on to for years so that when you do die, you
haven’t left a mess of stuff for your family to sift through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The process forces you to acknowledge well in
advance of your absence that your children aren’t going to want all of your
stuff and you have the responsibility (burden? chore?) to dispose of it
appropriately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is NOT Marie Kondo’s
“does it spark joy?”…no, this is, “Will it spark joy for the people who have to
deal with it when I’m not here to deal with it myself?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really a game changer and really can be tackled by anyone, at any stage of life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Let me back up, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This journey started BEFORE we became empty nesters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our neighbors moved from a home where they’d
lived for two decades, where they’d raised their family and, while I expected
there to be a lot of stuff, I was actually stunned by the sheer volume of stuff
that came out of their house and it just kept coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was simply stunned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, they’d lived in their house a few years
longer than we had lived in our, but still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did I have that much stuff filling the unseen corners of my home?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the moment I started looking at my
own house and the things that filled it through new eyes and started getting
rid of stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question I posed as I
looked around a room?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would I move this
stuff?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, do I like it enough to
pack it up and lug it to a new home?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
you might imagine, the number of times my honest answer was,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Um, no,” was high.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We all have so much “stuff” these days and it can easily
cross into too much stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take your
kitchen, for example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much stuff do
you have in your kitchen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many
appliances do you have that you NEVER use? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a milk shake maker…I am
lactose-intolerant and I don’t like milk shakes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(My husband loves milk shakes, however, and
won’t let me get rid of it, even though he has never used it…we inherited it
and WE HAVE NEVER USED IT!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bundt pan,
anyone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when, exactly, was the last
time you made a bundt cake?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">
Do you have a springform pan?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When was
the last time you actually made a cheesecake?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, how many cookbooks do you have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do you ever actually open them and look for a new recipe to try?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you see where I’m going with this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we have all of this stuff?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What exactly are we saving it all for?</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Anyway, I digress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The point is, watching (and helping) our neighbors move, I was motivated
to get rid of a bunch of stuff even before the kids moved out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that was only the beginning…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We were one of those families that held on to a lot of stuff
“for when the kids moved out”. They each took what they wanted and left the
rest behind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yep, you read that
correctly: a bunch of stuff “for the kids” was left behind when the kids moved
out BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T ACTUALLY WANT IT. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
they had the option to take it or leave it, they left it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your children aren’t going to value the same
things you do because, wait for it, they aren’t you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They grew up in a different era than you did
and they have different taste and different priorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When was the last time you heard of anyone
wanting the family china?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know of
people who are desperate to get someone to take one of the MULTIPLE sets of the
china they’ve inherited because they can’t bear to sell it or give it away
because it meant so much to Aunt So and So and it was so nice of them to leave
it to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their kids don’t want it,
their siblings don’t want it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is
different now and china doesn’t hold the same significance for this generation
that it did for previous generations and all the hoarding in the world isn’t
going to change that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Combine this with
the fact that modern households already have so much stuff and you can see the
beauty of Swedish Death Cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
this process, you have to get real and you have to make hard decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The questions are:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why do I have this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I use or
do I just want it? Will/do my children want it? If I’m “saving it for them”,
why don’t I just give it to them now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are no wrong answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
the process that matters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">So, how did it work for me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(When in doubt, I did double check with my kids before getting rid of
something I really thought they could use.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The easy stuff first:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firstly, any furniture that the kids didn’t
take with them when they moved out and that we didn’t love or have a use for was
donated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This included art that was not
currently on the walls and various other decorative items I seem to always have
waiting in the wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Then, we got rid of “family with kids stuff” that didn’t get
taken…board games we weren’t fond of, extra bikes, camping equipment, sports
equipment, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband even gave
away his RC car to a kid who was thrilled to have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(During this part of the process, one of my
kids did actually want the camping equipment we were getting rid of, so score
one for Mom.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, all of this was
pretty easy to deal with because we weren’t talking a lot of emotional
attachment to the stuff we were going through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not really attached to “Disney Monopoly”, you know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This part of the cleaning was much more a
process of considering, “does this serve a function in our current phase of
life?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same went for a lot of files I had kept
over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stuff like paperwork for
the purchase of our first house and tax returns for 30 years…why leave those
for anyone to deal with?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, I didn’t
really need my kids pre- and post-orthodontic photos any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor did I need their curriculum paperwork (as
a homeschooler, I did need this stuff until they transitioned to college and
the “official” records would suffice).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
scanned the stuff I wanted to keep and shredded everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(My file drawers have so much room!)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Next, I tackled my sewing room and this is where it got
harder, partly because I still actively sew and partly because, “hey, I might
use it!”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I got rid of patterns I
was never going to sew, because I’ve learned more about sewing what I wear
since I bought them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got rid of sewing
books that had disappointed or just weren’t helpful to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even got rid of some fabric that I just
didn’t like and knew I wasn’t going to use for anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel I made some progress here, but I think
as long as I am sewing, this room will be a work in progress.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Then came the emotional, tug at your heart strings
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The photos and other keepsakes,
like stuff animals, yearbooks and various kids’ keepsakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, I had somehow become the
repository of a bunch of stuff from various family members and I didn’t want
punt it down the road for my kids to deal with, so I dug in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First things first, I taped up empty boxes
for each of the kids and filled them with sentimental items I had saved over
the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mickey Mouse ears,
check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cute baby t-shirt, check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Art that was sent home from school, check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each kid got boxes of varying size, depending
upon whether I’d off-loaded any of their stuff to them earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Charming’s box was pretty small, because as
my oldest, I’ve been handing his stuff off to him for years!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all, this was pretty straight forward
because I’d been pretty organized throughout the years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was time for me to well and truly say
goodbye to this stage of life and by handing these items off to the kids, I was
doing just that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I packed it all up
and shipped it off to the rightful owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My children can decide for themselves if some art something or other is
still special to them or it isn’t and if it isn’t, then they can get rid of it.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Additionally, I have a cousin who does genealogy and I sent
stuff to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(She was thrilled.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a half-brother who should have all of
the stuff associated with his father’s family that had somehow ended up in my
house. (Bet he’s not so thrilled, but I’m sure his wife is, so there is that.) This
stuff was sent to the people who should be the keepers of their heritage,
rather than having it tucked away in boxes in my closet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt so good to send it on its way,
knowing it was going where it belonged.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Then came the photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So many photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many
pre-digital camera photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boxes of
photos and boxes of negatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a
painful truth for you:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know how
you’re absolutely in love with your child and you just take photo after photo
after photo of the child being absolutely adorable while its sleeping or
sitting or eating?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, actually, no one is going to want to
sift through 600 photos of the same child at the same age doing the same thing
(which we know is just sitting there being adorable) in slightly different
positions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man, I was in love with my
kids and when I went through the photos, I was immediately transported back to
that time and my heart swelled with the love I have for those children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them were still crappy photos and we
didn’t need 600 of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sooo, I set
about the task of curating the photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was brutal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t give a photo a
second chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it went in the toss
pile, it stayed in the toss pile. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
hard-hearted and I THREW AWAY PHOTOS OF MY PRECIOUS CHILDREN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, I said it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I threw them away!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the ones I kept were the good photos, the
ones my children will be able to show their children someday, the ones that
will make THEM smile in remembrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am also doing the hard work of scanning the photos I’ve retained into the
computer and labeling them with names and dates so the details won’t be lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m doing the same with the photos I’ve
inherited, while I still remember who the people in them are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’m all done scanning everything into
the computer, I will send each child a drive with the complete collection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Photos of them, their siblings, their
ancestors, their previous homes, their fun vacations, the works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ll each have them all and again, they
won’t have to try to sort through this stuff on their own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I still have work to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have tackled the kitchen a few
times already…I still have that darned milk shake maker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have some children’s books I need to pass
along to my youngest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have
holiday decorations to go through (seriously…I’m not creating a winter
wonderland for my kids at Christmas any longer, so I don’t actually want this
many decorations.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My goal is to make it
so that there are no closets full of stuff I haven’t looked at in years, no
surprises in trunks or bins, no cupboards I’m afraid to open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really want to know exactly what we have
and why we have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The way I see it, this is not really about preparing for
dying, it’s about living deliberately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There you have it:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my take on “Swedish
Death Cleaning” or as I think of it, “Your Kids Really Don’t Want It”.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-92021348368766251882022-05-13T13:01:00.003-07:002022-05-13T14:20:56.054-07:00Where Everything Has Changed...<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">After almost two years, our empty nest life has become our
new normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest, it took a
while to settle in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many aspects of
all of our lives have changed over the past two years and, frankly, it has been
a challenge for all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hard
to find steady ground at times during this period and what we ended up with at
the other end doesn’t look anything like what we would have imagined, if we’d actually
slowed down enough during the child-raising years to imagine the empty nest
years at all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you’re in the throes
of active parenting, all of your decisions are filtered through the lens of “what
do the kids need?” and when that time comes to an end, it is startling and
uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your role in the world
has suddenly been redefined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
found ourselves at a bit of a loss at times, as we try to figure out what we “want”
to do, rather than being driven by what we feel we “need” to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a muscle we haven’t flexed in more than
30 years and it took us a while to get comfortable using it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, two years in, we are definitely getting
the hang of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve spent money on the
house doing projects we had put off for years…we’ve spent money on ourselves,
because, hey, we can! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve even
travelled a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But those are the
external representations of the shift our lives have taken and those are the
easy parts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In my opinion, no one is really talking about for the
internal changes that come along with your empty nest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Trust me, I’ve searched!) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conversations with many friends at the same
stage of life confirm this—no one talks about this transition in any meaningful
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s always “Oh, I can hardly wait
for these kids to get out of the house” or “Oh, I never want them to leave me!”
or my favorite, the “I can hardly wait to be a grandma so I can babysit”…none
of these were me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems as if the
middle ground of your children actually growing up and leaving the way they’re
supposed to and how that will make you feel isn’t really talked about. It’s
loss and guilt all wrapped up in one tidy package. Let me explain:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first year all of my kids were gone from
my daily life, I missed them. I missed them terribly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I missed their friendship, I missed knowing
what was going on with them, I missed the frenetic energy they brought to my
days, I missed knowing what I was supposed to be doing with my time…I missed it
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’d go visit them, I’d be sad
to leave…still feeling an active sense of loss for what had been and where I
fit in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as time passed
and my life settled into new routines and patterns, I found I didn’t feel that
active sense of loss any longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
worry constantly about their relationship woes or their finances or whether
they were “safe”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to trust in
the parenting job we’d done, knowing that we had raised perfectly capable
individuals who knew how to reach me if they needed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that they didn’t NEED me was a testament
to the job we did as parents and that was a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, it was liberating to be free of all
of that responsibility, until the guilt hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why didn’t I miss them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why wasn’t
I worried about them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was something
wrong with me because I had cheerfully moved along?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why didn’t I want to just “help them out”
when they faced a challenge?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was I just
a selfish person now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as for the “grandma
babysitting part”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it terrible that I
feel when my children have children of their own, those will be their children,
not mine? That I will help out as I see appropriate, but that it is NOT my
responsibility to provide for the child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That I don’t want to be a daycare
provider?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See what I mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one talks about all of this stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No one prepares you for this part, but it is part of the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, I concluded that it was what it
was. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That there are no “right” answers…that
empty nesting is as varied as families and that I didn’t need to feel guilt for
what my relationship with my adult children evolved into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Letting
go, for me, is going to look different than it does for other empty
nesters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really truly feel as if I’ve
handed the reins of their lives to my adult children and I’m charting a new
course. I’m still married to their faither, so for me, that means rekindling an
established relationship and letting in grow in new directions and that is where
a lot of my energy goes these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other
empty nesters might remain fully engaged in their adult children’s daily lives,
but that’s not me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I’m aware of the
interests they have, the milestones they’re chasing, and, I like to think, some
of the challenges they’re facing. Other empty nesters might love the feeling of
racing to their adult children’s rescue at the hint of a hardship coming their
way, renewing their sense that they’re needed, but I’m not that parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like knowing that they’re on their way and
that they’ve got this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t actually
want them counting on me to live their daily lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other empty nesters might long for the day when
they can immerse themselves in their grandchildren’s lives, but that’s not
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I want to be part of my
grandchildren’s lives, but I don’t want to be a daycare provider…I want to visit
and play and then give them back to their parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parenting small children is hard work and,
honestly, while I absolutely adored that time of my life, I’m also very much
done with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">As it stands now, Superman and I are looking towards our
future together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our children are
scattered across the country these days, and really aren’t close to each other as
they navigate their adult lives, something we didn’t really see coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re each very different (which we did know)
and their paths reflect this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charming
is living in Seattle and is an author who has published two YA novels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Valiant is married and working in CyberSecurity
on the East Coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buttercup is also
married and busy preparing for the birth of her first child this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The grandparent questions were definitely relevant.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the short run, at least, there will not
be the big family vacations we kind of/sort of envisioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of them is forging their own path and I
am proud to say they are all thriving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we part from them after a visit, we are ready to head to our home and leave
them to theirs, having the glow of a lovely trip to hold us over until the next
time we get together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this is
how it is supposed to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are now
looking to our lives, just as they look to theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This whole empty nest thing has been a journey of a few
years, full of missteps and heart aches, as well as happy and fulfilling
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve gotten to know our children
as the adults they have become and we have gotten to know the people we have
come to be, after 30+ years of marriage and parenting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your life is a novel and your childhood
chapters make up Part One, the chapters</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>where you are the main character and
everything is about your journey to adulthood, then the pairing up with someone
and raising children chapters make up Part Two, where your focus is on your home
and your children and helping them grow up and that is good, but it is not the
end of the story.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>It’s a big part, but it
is not all there is.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>What we’re looking
towards now is our Part Three, where we look back fondly at Parts One and Two,
but look eagerly ahead to the first few chapters of Part Three.</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-19733652549004826822020-12-30T17:18:00.002-08:002020-12-30T17:21:26.614-08:00Let the Journey Begin!!<p>I decided to dust off this little blog because my searches for empty nester-focused blogs yielded pretty much zilch. I want to know how other people handle this cataclysmic shift in our way of life, especially if they're not in any hurry for grandchildren. What does life look like when your children and their needs aren't always at the forefront of your concerns? </p><p>Before we try to answer those questions and the many more that will come along, let me get you caught up on the Nagle5 News that is fit to be shared!</p><p>Superman was home as scheduled for his Christmas 2019 trip when we got the news his entire company had evacuated from Iraq the first week of 2020. (Remember the assassination of that Iranian general while he was in Iraq when people were afraid we'd go to war? That's what I'm talking about.) Well, a pandemic cooled the talk of war it became clear he wasn't going back any time soon. At that time, we still had Valiant and Buttercup living at home, as well as Buttercup's boyfriend, and Valiant's girlfriend was a steady presence in our home, so the first lockdown here in Washington State meant that, in the course of a month and a half, I went from really feeding no one because the kids were adults and doing their own thing to feeding six adults a couple times a day. Our grocery bill sky rocketed and the kitchen was never closed. It was a shock to the system for me, let me tell you. </p><p>Fortunately, only Valiant's job was affected by the lockdown policies (RIP events industry) and life in our household could go on as normal. Superman continued to work from home and, as the pandemic continued and it became clear his job overseas was going to be unstable at best, he changed firms, so his travel is now limited to domestic travel only for the foreseeable future. (That 14-hour Emirates flight from Seattle to Dubai is already a slog...I can't imagine doing it in a mask!!)</p><p>In April, Buttercup and her boyfriend moved into their own place in town and in September, Valiant and his girlfriend moved across country to start their new lives in Virginia. After having six adults in the house non-stop for a number of months, I confess I was thrilled to become an empty nester (sorry, kids!). The second the last of the kids moved out, I converted one bedroom to a bona fide office for Superman, who finds himself working from home more than he'd anticipated, and I turned the other bedroom in a nice guest room (anybody want to come visit?). </p><p>The empty nest fun took a pause when both Superman and I got the 'rona in early November, but two weeks of feeling like crap later, and we were back at it.</p><p>After that, I started purging a ton of stuff. You know the stuff: the stuff you hold on to because "the kids might want it". Yeah, no. If they didn't take it and it's not a keepsake, it's gone! Thank goodness Goodwill opened up again, or I'd have a mound of stuff in limbo. As the holiday stuff came out, I even sorted through that to get rid of a bunch of stuff. Superman and I like to decorate, but not in an over-the-top kind of way, so with no kids at home, I was free to sort through the seasonal decor items, too. (I put the bulk of the purging on pause to get ready for the holidays, but I'm itching to get back to it now.)</p><p>Fortunately for our transition to empty nesters, our kids were all able to come home for Christmas, so we didn't have the shock of no kids at the holidays, but I'm already anticipating the changes we will need to make for next year. </p><p>I'm not going to lie, this empty nest thing is new and weird and bittersweet. My children are some of my favorite people to have in my daily life and losing that has definitely felt like a "loss". That said, at some point it occurred to me that Superman and I threw ourselves wholeheartedly into trying to be the best parents we could be, beginning when we were pregnant with Charming, and that we'd lived that way for the past 30 years. There is an exciting freedom, in fact that we no longer have to make decisions based upon "what would be best for the kids" or "what do the kids need right now" and we're both bouncing around a bit with all of this freedom as we explore what WE want.</p><p>Cliff Notes on 2020 recap: Evacuation, Pandemic, Lockdown, Child 3 moves out, Child 2 moves out, everyone come home for Christmas and goes back to their own homes and we're on our own again!</p><p>As I've written before, this blog began its life as a way for me to share our lives with family and friends across the country. As the children reached a certain age, I concluded that to continue to share in such a way was compromising their privacy and my blog faded away. But life continues, and our journey continues, and my blog will be reinvented again, this time as a way to share life not only with family and friends, but as a way to share this next stage of life for other people looking for answers to "what now?" So, feel free to come along if you'd like, but if the tales of fledgling empty nesters are not your thing, that's okay, too.</p><p><br /></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-47078148630061615312017-01-06T18:52:00.001-08:002017-01-06T18:55:16.697-08:00Year End Recap -- Change was in the Air2016 is already a memory. I can hardly believe it. This blog has evolved from a chronicle of life in a house with kids at home to a blog designed to keep family and friends up to date as our family has grown and spread its wings! 2016 seemed to personify this evolution in a way I could never have anticipated at the beginning of the year. <br />
<br />
<br />
The complexity of a maintaining a family blog when everyone in the family is now an adult is a delicate dance between sharing news and progress and protecting the privacy of the family members...fewer pictures, fewer funny anecdotes which might embarrass, but still trying to sharing important events.<br />
<br />
<br />
Last things first. Christmas came off without a hitch and everyone had a terrific time. Santa did a terrific job of picking gifts for the kids and I managed to meet my goal of making hand made gifts for friends and family (on time - which means packages got mailed early, not at the 11th hour). Christmas cards were mailed in middle December (!), all of the presents were wrapped by the 23rd, and I managed to pull off Christmas breakfast for the kids and some friends and Christmas dinner (for 11!). I was actually pretty impressed with myself.<br />
<br />
<br />
Superman went from working locally in the beginning of the year to working overseas by mid-summer...this time, however, he's not a contractor, he's an employee of a multinational corporation. For us, that simply means that his doesn't find a new job every year and, as long as he likes this company, he can move within the company. His current assignment runs through August 2018, so we know where he'll be until then. Superman loves his job and this is old hat to the rest of the family, so while it is not your typical set up, it works for us.<br />
<br />
<br />
Charming has been running, and running, and running...and when he's not running, he's plotting and planning a move to the west side of the state for sometime this spring. After being at the same company for five years, he's looking to make a change both professionally and geographically. Truthfully, I can't decide what to hope for: Should I hope he finds a fantastic job here in town or should I hope he finds a fabulous job on the west side? So, I just hope he finds something he likes and have faith it will be the right next step for him.<br />
<br />
<br />
In December, Valiant moved out and into a place with his girlfriend, taking over the reigns of his life. It is so exciting watching him make his way out of the family home. He's bought a truck and sold the same truck (all in 2016) and he bought himself a project car which is his 2017 project. (That car, he left behind our fence...not exactly room for a project car in apartment parking!) Valiant's life has moved beyond the family home...now it is consumed by his relationship, his job, his apartment, and his project car. His girlfriend and her family are lovely...they joined us for Christmas dinner and it was a blast. We figure any girl who can just roll with the weirdness that is the Nagle5 is a good girl to have around.<br />
<br />
<br />
Buttercup is halfway through her senior year in high school...and is also well into her second year at the local junior college through the Running Start program. She has been throwing javelin for her high school and is looking forward to doing it for one more season. Her favorite class is ceramics and this spring she's decided to master throwing on the wheel.<br />
<br />
<br />
And then there is me...with the kids almost all grown up, you'd think I'd have plenty of free time, but with Superman overseas and both boys moved out and Buttercup busy with two schools and a job, the house maintenance and pet maintenance is left for me. (Pro tip: don't let your second son move out of the family home until spring, otherwise you're the one left doing the shoveling when it snows...just saying!) So, when I'm not shoveling, cleaning, worrying about cars, or heading to the gym, I'm sewing or embroidering. In addition to helping out my friend at Piping and Pleats, this fall I really dug in and learned all about the embroidery side of my sewing machine and it made me love my machine even more. If you want to follow my sewing adventures, I've started a separate blog: <a href="http://www.seamsbyerin.com/">www.seamsbyerin.com</a> to chronicle my journey. In addition to sharing many of my fall sewing projects (now that the recipients have opened their gifts), I've committed 2017 to be the year I sew clothes I actually WANT to wear.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, time keeps marching on and, while the story is ever changing, it continues. Coming up next: The Nagle5 (plus 1 - the girlfriend!) will be together again when Superman comes home on leave this spring and we will be heading to California and, before you know it, June will be here and Buttercup will be graduating from high school. <br />
<br />
<br />
In the meantime, the frigid temperatures are supposed to give way to snow tomorrow night, so I'll be back manning the shovel! <br />
<br />
<br />
Happy 2017!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-27730941417265495782016-11-03T18:49:00.002-07:002016-11-03T18:49:34.488-07:00October Recap...Where does the time go???November? Already!? Where did October go? I know I felt pretty busy in October, but it wasn't until November arrived that I realized just how busy we'd all been. The weather changed, cars got repairs (heck, a car got stolen and found - Valiant's girlfriend's car, to be specific!), a room got painted, I made it to book club for the first time in months(!), dogs got sick, dogs got better, sprinklers got blown out in anticipation of the freeze, I even covered for a friend at her work so she could get some much needed time off. Obviously, I didn't take pictures of it all, but I did take some random photos:<br />
<br /><br />
I put up a few of my favorite Halloween decorations, but with no little kids at home, I didn't feel like going all out. I have three of these wrought iron spiders in various sizes and just love them...this is the smallest one:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNTxAqcietFFOqdldhqH8bXUlbV5W_997twg8EEH6qIbaPWbj4VNCL0RrkEzj68sa8-zGnLI_sFcnkho998VHB-GazrdsvYrMtEKNy6dQ-zQ9kURuApnCoOkv-CSjM-kGqDIESHHWcgI/s1600/wrought+iron+bat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNTxAqcietFFOqdldhqH8bXUlbV5W_997twg8EEH6qIbaPWbj4VNCL0RrkEzj68sa8-zGnLI_sFcnkho998VHB-GazrdsvYrMtEKNy6dQ-zQ9kURuApnCoOkv-CSjM-kGqDIESHHWcgI/s320/wrought+iron+bat.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
I also put up our ping pong ball bats...they just make me smile whenever I see them.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XkKu0nydJkh2_7pQy6ievseVcTVmlINEO7v-IwIGPjDqkSUeGs7R76ssJY0-z6lU7k9cvD5SplUojqvssONz2y5HTI9esOZvEx4xkrH73RkKW_b77hgxxiI43nUibfdEFMUYQO8Iya4/s1600/batty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XkKu0nydJkh2_7pQy6ievseVcTVmlINEO7v-IwIGPjDqkSUeGs7R76ssJY0-z6lU7k9cvD5SplUojqvssONz2y5HTI9esOZvEx4xkrH73RkKW_b77hgxxiI43nUibfdEFMUYQO8Iya4/s400/batty.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not bad for a ping pong ball and googly eyes!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I got some awesome bird feeders to replace the generic plastic ones I've had forever...and, as you can see by the picture I just took, the birds are fans and empty them quickly as they prepare for winter. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTpfi3zuHz-4iZHyr-hkCtJWizNySFRvVwLnp660eGeG3MVHKbqcWae0NGb7WVrE0ieQGtLnaChpfWpqPWGTSxWQfCGWXh3GyU_313gM0TvL_0a_HK0g8TB0c610HK4IOlRFYewyYx0g/s1600/bird+feeders.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTpfi3zuHz-4iZHyr-hkCtJWizNySFRvVwLnp660eGeG3MVHKbqcWae0NGb7WVrE0ieQGtLnaChpfWpqPWGTSxWQfCGWXh3GyU_313gM0TvL_0a_HK0g8TB0c610HK4IOlRFYewyYx0g/s400/bird+feeders.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So pretty when they're being swarmed by birds...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I even managed to get a new barbecue cover on Superman's barbecue before the three weeks of rain came...the leaves? They have to wait until tomorrow...I did the front yard today.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENJKMwWiZRv9vRk4lc6h8VEeINLtkRYTM185nPx14iDzAFbDLx6oxMdoV77xqYYBkNSlMoC6Kx4wqUWjhd9lzXzGP1jx5ERW7OzLyppd249q5olc9SWzjD6Ucln6m1WQMEYFTHrftug4/s1600/barbecue+cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENJKMwWiZRv9vRk4lc6h8VEeINLtkRYTM185nPx14iDzAFbDLx6oxMdoV77xqYYBkNSlMoC6Kx4wqUWjhd9lzXzGP1jx5ERW7OzLyppd249q5olc9SWzjD6Ucln6m1WQMEYFTHrftug4/s400/barbecue+cover.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for winter!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I did a lot of sewing. Some of it was sewing for my friend Cassi at <a href="http://www.pipingandpleats.com/">Piping and Pleats</a>...and a c couple of the projects were incredibly large cushions. Seriously large. I had my sister in stitches on Skype watching me stuff the cushion below into its slipcover...to say it was stiff would be an understatement. I was wrestling the sucker into submission! Check out this before and after:</div>
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqX_QhPYFcNLQUkGKPkE04ZvcUSDa8kEUSOKPtUrJEc1N0R34FJS6occzQJksVzxF4HMm0JMyd5vy1MjWa9j9YFcqtlIkUaacphexK8XSHIlxhMfsCwOBdx11hGzJDHzbmIk9TtKo2Kl0/s1600/LARGE+CUSHION+COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqX_QhPYFcNLQUkGKPkE04ZvcUSDa8kEUSOKPtUrJEc1N0R34FJS6occzQJksVzxF4HMm0JMyd5vy1MjWa9j9YFcqtlIkUaacphexK8XSHIlxhMfsCwOBdx11hGzJDHzbmIk9TtKo2Kl0/s400/LARGE+CUSHION+COLLAGE.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just to give you an idea of how large this is: That cushion is lying across a couch and each of the<br />
floor tiles visible in the before picture are 13x13" tiles. The cushion was large!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I finally pulled the trigger and bought some embroidery software to enable me to do more with the embroidery functions on the Brother SE400 my family bought me four years ago. I went with Sew What Pro for $65 because I don't even know what I don't know, so I couldn't see a reason to spend more on Embrilliance. At some point, I might switch over, but for now, I'll see how it goes.<br />
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4l5AFfyJpCOKS4ghAXDDMgVKbeU6IHtf1ATHwYRoUssThxGAYeHMJJx3iBi0bWgFbdWENJJso7yjzyvGa1BC9P3xMrRARD4YWJiPcM6NzY9tWDtNIFC0fKJjWlfCIduo2uW8sKG8xGE/s1600/manual.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4l5AFfyJpCOKS4ghAXDDMgVKbeU6IHtf1ATHwYRoUssThxGAYeHMJJx3iBi0bWgFbdWENJJso7yjzyvGa1BC9P3xMrRARD4YWJiPcM6NzY9tWDtNIFC0fKJjWlfCIduo2uW8sKG8xGE/s400/manual.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love binding PDF documents - software instructions, pattern instructions...binding <br />
makes them so easy to use. They lay flat when they're open for reference during a project.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After quite a bit of trial and error, I decided to go for it and embellished a couple of toddler sized Halloween t-shirts for Aunt S's baby boys...my first time embroidering something other than names on anything and my first time embroidering on clothing. It wasn't easy, but I was pretty pleased with the results. (Plus, toddlers aren't perfectionists!!)<br />
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7Pe_JQILTzi8Ci6VSjlO0c4bl-bI1f-0uFqB5i_SsFB_b_MYS_GadLiyZpcr6kwRWzHPp3lrT4NcZBvDtS17mbZ5k1R2OmHCF_XTmI_kaACDKzjFWbulhr2b6e_acI1QfB6CLrpts0A/s1600/toddler+tees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7Pe_JQILTzi8Ci6VSjlO0c4bl-bI1f-0uFqB5i_SsFB_b_MYS_GadLiyZpcr6kwRWzHPp3lrT4NcZBvDtS17mbZ5k1R2OmHCF_XTmI_kaACDKzjFWbulhr2b6e_acI1QfB6CLrpts0A/s400/toddler+tees.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruined Cash's first shirt, otherwise both would have been grey...live and learn...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the middle of it all, I had a birthday and Superman and Charming got together to get me these:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3dAA6NmettT1rIwUgV4x5Koh4bOr7SG-f2R9l-Hyo6euOOBR4r62YqPOLEOEXBAVagS96P5iX0OeJKoxwZek9YBkCQpJ0zS_NttgrxyGAbbl1KUzUdQiqPZsDYfba6qwDD_2x8aZrMs/s1600/Erins+Vans.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3dAA6NmettT1rIwUgV4x5Koh4bOr7SG-f2R9l-Hyo6euOOBR4r62YqPOLEOEXBAVagS96P5iX0OeJKoxwZek9YBkCQpJ0zS_NttgrxyGAbbl1KUzUdQiqPZsDYfba6qwDD_2x8aZrMs/s400/Erins+Vans.JPG" width="341" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't love red Vans?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Oh, and my sister requested some Halloween pillowcases made from some of the most fabulous fabric...the pictures she sent me didn't do it justice...as soon as the fabric arrived, I was itching to get the pillowcases made and shipped off to her. They were such a fun project! (And it's really awesome when your family likes what you sew enough to ask for more!)<br />
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3rG9pf1v4Ol6TE3LUK64Gs-5AK5lSFm1D32bUMDLPTj1Haqy4w6bEKTk2ziiiTM4I3OEzJCOPkDeI9lvBys9lsLaKGgNw_Jag5IMe5ZtQrYql0h2NmvMAASC7kJAlwCZS7PFlwUeR44/s1600/Kates+Pillowcases.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3rG9pf1v4Ol6TE3LUK64Gs-5AK5lSFm1D32bUMDLPTj1Haqy4w6bEKTk2ziiiTM4I3OEzJCOPkDeI9lvBys9lsLaKGgNw_Jag5IMe5ZtQrYql0h2NmvMAASC7kJAlwCZS7PFlwUeR44/s400/Kates+Pillowcases.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best fabric ever!! (It reminds me of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And, as October wound down, Buttercup and I helped close down our beloved CrossFit 509. It has been our gym home for five and a half years and I was heartbroken when the owner had to make the difficult decision to close it down. Still, when you're lucky enough to have your gym become part of your family, you help with even the sad stuff. When all the equipment is gone, you're just left with just a sad shell of a building...very sad and weird and all of that...even Honey was bummed...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mGG4O5UAqRtU6Nd3Q9Ad0OTNA9f6mZ_ziMliMk71ArPBAxmMkomKJSZMpUSGUGJA4ucBfk0ZgReMn0y1IFptydIsLsoM0Jgw229eOX3smc7J0CTY651F0S1YmtZNhLeZtzAY2y0KGKs/s1600/cf509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mGG4O5UAqRtU6Nd3Q9Ad0OTNA9f6mZ_ziMliMk71ArPBAxmMkomKJSZMpUSGUGJA4ucBfk0ZgReMn0y1IFptydIsLsoM0Jgw229eOX3smc7J0CTY651F0S1YmtZNhLeZtzAY2y0KGKs/s400/cf509.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to chuckle at the scuff marks above the blue stripe...wall ball marks! Bahaha!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We finished off October by going to dinner on Halloween...as the kids got too old for trick or treating, we started a new tradition...this is our 6th year doing it...PF Changs was pretty tasty.<br />
<br /><br />
There you go...some of the stuff that went on in the Nagle5 world in October. Now I'm ready...let November roll on in!!<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-32647609908495939142016-09-27T20:43:00.001-07:002016-09-27T20:43:52.362-07:00When You're Depending on the Internet for Pretty Much Everything......and your internet starts having a problem the day before your IT professional husband takes off for far off places, it quickly becomes a problem. We use the internet for television, we use the internet for music, we use the internet for shopping, we use the internet for getting library books (because we're lazy that way), we use the internet for banking and paying bills, we use the internet for our landline, and we use the internet for, well, surfing the internet...seriously, we use the internet for everything. When I say "internet problem", I actually mean the internet keeps going down completely, as in, completely not there!! I tell you, we've become so spoiled, I was looking at my Roku-hooked-up television and asking it, "what do you mean, "Not Connected"? We were just watching Defying the Nazis on PBS!!!" (Or, the finale of American Ninja Warrior!!, or that new show The Good Place!! -- it really depends upon which night we're talking about here...) Trust me, though, it was a PROBLEM.<br />
<br /><br />
So, in addition to not whining myself when I discovered we had a big internet problem, I had to be mature and parental when confronted with a teenage daughter who WAS NOT HAPPY about the internet problems. (The internet problem required her to use a lot more data on her phone and her speed was throttled back!!!!) Interestingly, your son doesn't care--he just uses the internet at his girlfriend's apartment - problem solved. Sigh. Anyway, when you discover the problem is, in fact, at your end and NOT at the CenturyLink end, it becomes an annoying problem which YOU have to solve.<br />
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnihGAqTtKRbFPUiYp214kBMC8GZEg2UloL8z83uNcNCTPgYpEvvFD1NrTub5EpU7USxYK7ku20h94iiMmrJoudUM9KMKDSE2Yvz1kuGUF6j_5h5dclWUX9fxNILyHv-96Rb80iBSBy4/s1600/IMG_3807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnihGAqTtKRbFPUiYp214kBMC8GZEg2UloL8z83uNcNCTPgYpEvvFD1NrTub5EpU7USxYK7ku20h94iiMmrJoudUM9KMKDSE2Yvz1kuGUF6j_5h5dclWUX9fxNILyHv-96Rb80iBSBy4/s400/IMG_3807.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh out of the Amazon box--still in cellophane--waiting for Superman.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Actually, you just tell your husband who is off adventuring in far off lands that there is a BIG INTERNET PROBLEM and he has to fix it...it was in the marriage vows he said all those years ago and adventuring doesn't absolve him of that responsibility. (No, seriously, it was in the vows...check the fine print. Never mind that we were married long before the internet was a thing. The "handle the internet problems" vow is right that after the "fix all the car problems" vow. Check it out...you'll see that I'm right.)<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWAkZfNvYDVrPA5mXQ2BO-f-EFzu1laq9WiKLHHS_uOaKiEQ-W1G2foA5K9HnDXOtqkVLfxZOTHP-Q0vQSwwcy74A4uBR4YxMdVdMHMkdFIy7aAoJT3W7IEhzGLHSwR9Xx4GNSKBpMgw/s1600/IMG_3808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWAkZfNvYDVrPA5mXQ2BO-f-EFzu1laq9WiKLHHS_uOaKiEQ-W1G2foA5K9HnDXOtqkVLfxZOTHP-Q0vQSwwcy74A4uBR4YxMdVdMHMkdFIy7aAoJT3W7IEhzGLHSwR9Xx4GNSKBpMgw/s400/IMG_3808.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cellophane is off and, if you look carefully, you can see my cell phone in the background off to the right and you can see there is an active call on the screen. This was the part where Superman was starting to tell me what to do.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
When you tell your IT professional husband that you're having a problem with the internet, he does magical things from those previously mentioned far off lands, logs into your home modem, verifies the problem is, in fact, on your end (because he's pretty sure you don't really know what is going on with your home network and its three different wifi networks--yes, three!), and jumps onto Amazon and orders you a whiz bang router to solve your problems. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwK1uXDc31siCWaMgVAMSpkDuaQKrLD2DUPxhinBMiOYr3WkenYFGTfdMcAo5BMHksP2_b097jUS7ahyphenhyphendGRDJzl1Jrsk9EkOsrU-H6M84a3PUx5L1Toby0on-fkdNj2GjXC-tHEonkflM/s1600/IMG_3809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwK1uXDc31siCWaMgVAMSpkDuaQKrLD2DUPxhinBMiOYr3WkenYFGTfdMcAo5BMHksP2_b097jUS7ahyphenhyphendGRDJzl1Jrsk9EkOsrU-H6M84a3PUx5L1Toby0on-fkdNj2GjXC-tHEonkflM/s400/IMG_3809.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently this lovely router will have four channels (upgrading from our current three) and will solve the bandwidth hog problems we'd been having before we had the "real" internet problem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
This huge thing arrived on my front porch this morning. Doesn't it look impressive? After a brief phone call this evening, it is now powered up and plugged into our modem. That doesn't mean it is busily solving my internet problem. That will require Superman to log in and configure it to his liking in the wee hours of my morning, so I will have another night of internet problems, but this, my friends, is the light at the end of the tunnel (or so I'm told!)</div>
Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-14184389780815783122016-09-26T21:41:00.000-07:002016-09-26T21:41:08.470-07:00I'm Reading a Terrific Book Right Now......but you might not want to read it if you're easily offended by the use of the f-word. Just giving you fair warning. This book is fabulous, but it is not for those who can't get past that particular curse word because it is liberally sprinkled throughout the entire book. (There! That is my disclaimer, but I truly hope you won't let the word put you off because the book is terrific.)<br />
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHx32_IXr6-NR1EsZBzXDSqTANjtM412jnDASIl1j8huKMjzCW4tVwq7i0UAcoc7Hry9UB7d3mV7K24ulShVaq2CEgE_TmBZTEQN0Mu1He-b2-KOlSdx-4R0QOedUYw8wJzYnbmk-hu5I/s1600/book+cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHx32_IXr6-NR1EsZBzXDSqTANjtM412jnDASIl1j8huKMjzCW4tVwq7i0UAcoc7Hry9UB7d3mV7K24ulShVaq2CEgE_TmBZTEQN0Mu1He-b2-KOlSdx-4R0QOedUYw8wJzYnbmk-hu5I/s400/book+cover.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitive/dp/0062457713/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474690342&sr=1-1&keywords=the+subtle+art+of+not+giving+a+f---+mark+manson">The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k - A Counterintuitive Approach to Living the Good Life</a></u> by Mark Manson is a brand new self-help book which doesn't really fit into the mold of traditional self-help books. The author's premise is that the pursuit of anything really just makes you focus on the lack or inadequacy of that thing in your life and because we don't understand that fundamental idea, we're not carefully choosing on what we expend our energy and emotions. The first chapter is called titled "Don't Try". (Not very rainbows and unicorns, is it?)<br />
<br /><br />
"<strong>The desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one's negative experience is itself a positive experience"</strong> - Mark Manson<br />
<br /><br />
He writes: "...Our crisis is no longer material; it's existential, it's spiritual. We have so much f**king stuff and so many opportunities that we don't even know what to give a f**k about anymore." [I warned you about his love of the f-word.]<br />
<br /><br />
He sites British philosopher <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Watts">Alan Watts</a> "backwards law" -" the idea that the more you pursue feeling better all the time, the less satisfied you become, as pursuing something only reinforces the fact that you lack it in the first place" regardless of how much of that something you might already have. "... The more you desperately want to be happy and loved, the lonelier and more afraid you become, regardless of those who surround you. The more you want to be spiritually enlightened, the more self-centered and shallow you become trying to get there."<br />
<br /><br />
Anyway, all of the above is in the first chapter...the author also uses Buddha, Megadeath and Metallica, and the Beatles to make his points. He makes so much sense both about how we got here and how to get out of here...especially for those of us who are looking around and wondering what the heck is going on with people...his language might be crude, but his clarity is refreshing. Be brave and just substitute a word of your own choosing for "f**k" and read the book. Seriously, if you're the least bit interested and can get past the liberal use of the f-word, this a fabulous book and I highly recommend it. (Oh, and Superman says the guy who reads the audiobook version does a fabulous job, if that's your chosen medium.) <br />
<br /><br />
Oh, and if you do read the book and love it, or if you're not sure you can stomach his writing style, he writes a successful blog at <a href="https://markmanson.net/">Mark Manson.net</a> where you can read more.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-9622471981728889152016-09-24T16:51:00.000-07:002016-09-24T16:51:24.372-07:00Food for Thought<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6srTPIUxgr_T8zyC5Sjt4XqywORl0UW4xrbjHKE33llFP-2pTQpjK-xheG66RBNte3C2_6199EBd3B50Aj3Hg5CBrB2xxYUmu2aPhQHQmNqAFeAxT0ENpWQ1iExW6ywU3cjzxB5hqcs/s1600/If-you-do-not-change__quotes-by-Lao-Tzu-60.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6srTPIUxgr_T8zyC5Sjt4XqywORl0UW4xrbjHKE33llFP-2pTQpjK-xheG66RBNte3C2_6199EBd3B50Aj3Hg5CBrB2xxYUmu2aPhQHQmNqAFeAxT0ENpWQ1iExW6ywU3cjzxB5hqcs/s400/If-you-do-not-change__quotes-by-Lao-Tzu-60.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-14016550535950209952016-09-22T12:54:00.001-07:002016-09-22T13:18:00.492-07:00When the winner of "Who is your favorite human?" leaves the country...When he wasn't travelling, Superman loved to begin his days at home playing "Who's your favorite human?" as he would dole out treats to the dogs...<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyztvpF_muN9ZeIrCHOESbPB57Au_WoDzYP_qShPtmp8Tvw_i3vdJK2DZm6tuqQ-qz_hZLwQ7l_zCQ5AhmYWfexR6srwt8ISjYYOUq4-rVtDFzP0WvK86Evu4GEe5dqS4jrjRmyiVSbQ/s1600/Happy+Jack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyztvpF_muN9ZeIrCHOESbPB57Au_WoDzYP_qShPtmp8Tvw_i3vdJK2DZm6tuqQ-qz_hZLwQ7l_zCQ5AhmYWfexR6srwt8ISjYYOUq4-rVtDFzP0WvK86Evu4GEe5dqS4jrjRmyiVSbQ/s400/Happy+Jack.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack is a pretty boy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Jack, our youngest at only three, has taken the end of the game hard...despite the fact that Superman was, in fact, really just a close second to Jack's true favorite: Buttercup. Jack loves Buttercup the most, but the same day Superman left was the day classes started at the college for Buttercup, so she's gone all day this week, too.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYXaTVAkjTTkCmcFbj4zCEviqDqhjYsGwVg76Tjq8ELBODJkZUOLb0jgm61NxyMYr8LFKGdrEbaCDgfjcBXgKuvX3aJyEmlDj4ynjBgIKkAXaXLCzCaYchA7R2Soj3DckNenaJAwY3iQ/s1600/jack+depressed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYXaTVAkjTTkCmcFbj4zCEviqDqhjYsGwVg76Tjq8ELBODJkZUOLb0jgm61NxyMYr8LFKGdrEbaCDgfjcBXgKuvX3aJyEmlDj4ynjBgIKkAXaXLCzCaYchA7R2Soj3DckNenaJAwY3iQ/s400/jack+depressed.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buried in his Minion blanket...Jack is sad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Even his Minion blanket isn't cheering Jack up...</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeIyyi7forFU6jKSsyDzUW3m25XDfGNcZQpj2tqk_emXwp4L0isSsl8mP0NgmlPpJnGVO0Wgg0qYgkvfNkVfQp8Rs72UZFGKFCoLulaSX5N1ytNuGB8CnTy7LLo-oYuhVHvjRBJ1jbCA/s1600/Poor+Jack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeIyyi7forFU6jKSsyDzUW3m25XDfGNcZQpj2tqk_emXwp4L0isSsl8mP0NgmlPpJnGVO0Wgg0qYgkvfNkVfQp8Rs72UZFGKFCoLulaSX5N1ytNuGB8CnTy7LLo-oYuhVHvjRBJ1jbCA/s400/Poor+Jack.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Jack!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Poor Jack.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-86387053746802648742016-09-20T13:10:00.000-07:002016-09-20T13:15:58.194-07:00The Adventure Continues...Well, after a bit of a false start earlier this year, I really am dusting off this blog...and here's why:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYasjTDYfTysuWWSi4xjC-r9cqiIZ89FRDtEmLtfEacVlZDXX8ZcCLvo8_Q4xP4FrAnHE-QmB4uc6urwG8R4lJ_YNziWAyC2NNq50Eo6p_Y6bsFxP8gBgJIXjgqNrsrn3DWIDKioLd1w/s1600/leaving+1+cropped.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYasjTDYfTysuWWSi4xjC-r9cqiIZ89FRDtEmLtfEacVlZDXX8ZcCLvo8_Q4xP4FrAnHE-QmB4uc6urwG8R4lJ_YNziWAyC2NNq50Eo6p_Y6bsFxP8gBgJIXjgqNrsrn3DWIDKioLd1w/s320/leaving+1+cropped.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, this happened yesterday!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<div style="border-image: none;">
After four years stateside, the itch grew too powerful and Superman has headed off into the wild blue yonder again! My blogging is a great way for him to feel like he knows what's going on back here in the wilds of Eastern Washington. So, to catch you up...my kids aren't "kids" any more: Charming is 25, Valiant is 20, and Buttercup is fast approaching 18...it will be a bit of a balancing act for me, sharing the fun bits without compromising any of the kids' privacy, but, hey, it should be a piece of cake, right? </div>
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi314uchTVWJrYNvq8ezwGTvoAMT8yn1qgg7Q-o_ghHw9NbvRerBWVq5lde11YfE_BYbWXU2asZUCN4WUBvMW3ANEOwEPr8IAYTQVu0mPyRGBizPGCbH93G64z27jt5GclsAnnnUMaiw/s1600/leaving+cropped.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi314uchTVWJrYNvq8ezwGTvoAMT8yn1qgg7Q-o_ghHw9NbvRerBWVq5lde11YfE_BYbWXU2asZUCN4WUBvMW3ANEOwEPr8IAYTQVu0mPyRGBizPGCbH93G64z27jt5GclsAnnnUMaiw/s320/leaving+cropped.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 Gorilla boxes and 2 huge bags...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
A question: If you knew you had to pack everything you'd possibly need for the next four and half months (minimum!) before you'd be able to restock anything, would you be able to fit it into these boxes and suitcases? Where he is going is pretty remote...no FPO/APO service, so anything he wanted had to come with him. We're talking clothes, gym clothes, toiletries, bug spray, sheets, blankets, towels, five months of nutrition shakes, shoes...even a shower curtain. Frankly, I was amazed how little Superman took...I've been trying to figure out how little I could get away with...I'm pretty certain I'd need another Gorilla box at least.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qYWDjI5HJnsxBctQWL6WgB68mYFFIVywPFCzxK7gm-VKyJ7OLrtZyVu17G-4AzOvADf3BkePhw6jCJ18iksFzLDB4yEoKk6uygACEIY9lCF1YZBgTZbJV4HAPrLjMITmJZnC8rjtIoM/s1600/closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qYWDjI5HJnsxBctQWL6WgB68mYFFIVywPFCzxK7gm-VKyJ7OLrtZyVu17G-4AzOvADf3BkePhw6jCJ18iksFzLDB4yEoKk6uygACEIY9lCF1YZBgTZbJV4HAPrLjMITmJZnC8rjtIoM/s320/closeup.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your entire life in two boxes 32" x 14" x 12"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
The Gorilla boxes are a terrific way to get a lot of stuff safely from here to there--a friend of our ordered them from the PX at Fairchild for us, as they're standard in the military--hard-sided, but light...I found the suitcases on QVC, of all places, and they collapse down to the size of a college textbook (with the wheels inside), so they will require little to no space to store. This isn't our first time doing this, so a lot of thought went into how to get all this stuff packed. Still, you're looking at $1200+ in luggage fees. <br />
<br />
<br />
The best part, though? I just got word from Superman that all of his luggage joined him at his final destination!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway, there you have it...this is what is new this week in the Nagle5 world... stay tuned...it's never dull around here...</div>
Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-3499048114540541132016-04-06T03:00:00.000-07:002016-04-06T03:00:08.492-07:00Aberdeen - A Tale of Two SleevesOne of my goals in 2016 is to sew clothes I'll truly wear...in public...in daylight...with pride.<br />
<br />
<br />
A tall order indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, with that goal in mind, in February I got brave and made myself an Aberdeen tunic out of French terry fabric. It was NOT a 100% success, but I learned a lot and it turned out well enough that I wore it IN PUBLIC a number of times, so it definitely counts. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30YOgx1ov6nMsfqUdk9naGzY3vSWkYw-8k4TjNFov8Rp0943HizQ3khyphenhyphenye6760pZpbuUQq7MwUKlQWntxSZ5DjmceCYaNDMF4H8S1gDNtTnt7PenhwLGtS926sTnnd5eWVbrazvY6yQg/s1600/finished.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30YOgx1ov6nMsfqUdk9naGzY3vSWkYw-8k4TjNFov8Rp0943HizQ3khyphenhyphenye6760pZpbuUQq7MwUKlQWntxSZ5DjmceCYaNDMF4H8S1gDNtTnt7PenhwLGtS926sTnnd5eWVbrazvY6yQg/s400/finished.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I added 6" to the length of this tunic and cut it in a 2x to get the look I wanted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
First things first: <a href="https://www.colettepatterns.com/catalog/aberdeen">Aberdeen</a> is a pattern from <a href="https://www.colettepatterns.com/">Colette Patterns</a>. It is a downloadable PDF with almost terrific instructions for even the most beginner of us. It t-shirt tunic pattern, designed for knits...lightweight to sweater weight. (Honestly, my French terry didn't have enough stretch, but that was ignorance on my part and nothing to do with the instructions.)</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
Going for an oversized tunic, I decided to make the pattern in 2x. I wanted a sweatshirt tunic that would skim over my hips and fall below my butt. The only adjustment I made initially was to add 6" to take into account my height of 5'10" and the slightly longer than normal length. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
All in all the construction went well. The only struggle was adding the neckline band. I think the instructions for inserting the band could be clearer...I really wasn't happy with the smoothness of the point of the v neck and the instructions really weren't clear to someone who had never done one before. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamsR3khZB2p1bSQGPCTzT5a9joPs8SEHQdKxZ5QIauJ4tz7i8vyu_YIQYUMoTzaq5bGEN3V6Bp93zkalTSGeNsuvAwphalLv5RleDUqn06neOgp0arbpDxucr6SZFRp3dSKLdv5pkoXE/s1600/wonky+vee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamsR3khZB2p1bSQGPCTzT5a9joPs8SEHQdKxZ5QIauJ4tz7i8vyu_YIQYUMoTzaq5bGEN3V6Bp93zkalTSGeNsuvAwphalLv5RleDUqn06neOgp0arbpDxucr6SZFRp3dSKLdv5pkoXE/s320/wonky+vee.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See that weird rumple? I couldn't resolve it...it bugs me!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
A quick internet search did NOT net any clarification, either, so I just muddled through. Overall, though, my first Aberdeen came together beautifully and I did some things pretty well, if I do say so myself. The overall neck band turned out well, with the exception already noted. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFURh52kyaAHSzPp77ELUmN5DKsGkUrXAayT3ieP04uqB6nagODm6GiuvmdTPUAv15GVvi5ue2opOzvaFP5IV8yo7_spWYaplxz6HPK41sxLGuoYnBus6XotGTR5POjnB7wkCw4-Uy4s/s1600/collar+detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFURh52kyaAHSzPp77ELUmN5DKsGkUrXAayT3ieP04uqB6nagODm6GiuvmdTPUAv15GVvi5ue2opOzvaFP5IV8yo7_spWYaplxz6HPK41sxLGuoYnBus6XotGTR5POjnB7wkCw4-Uy4s/s400/collar+detail.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at how clean that looks...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Look at this collar band finish...so neat. The band met in back just perfectly!</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAX4zYIH9yH9LORFfvlPjS-4EiajIPutDOmNMpc9vBoJNb_HrPh7CYowIttz14sWmVmHzNeUpKmAyefEnFy8bf47wnRo46OYYS0wN4VbTncqG3NH6yQO322TK5msDBoKZdK-uvsF1LEq8/s1600/collar+back+detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAX4zYIH9yH9LORFfvlPjS-4EiajIPutDOmNMpc9vBoJNb_HrPh7CYowIttz14sWmVmHzNeUpKmAyefEnFy8bf47wnRo46OYYS0wN4VbTncqG3NH6yQO322TK5msDBoKZdK-uvsF1LEq8/s400/collar+back+detail.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at those bands meeting perfectly in the back...just gorgeous!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
...those points line up perfectly. The double stitched hem (a necessity with fabric that wants to roll!) also came out wonderfully.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUSRfCVUkt7jLw7ue6LqhAGse3R5GgyzzE_wfEEk724JHl2_AkJN0HiSVqoSOk42we6Xw-myYNBn02_d3f7fRjTHLE7DuylMBkb-NrRkL-4Zvo6tf-4FS2cvCgz3vaaEdLTBUCQ3NyL8/s1600/hem+detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUSRfCVUkt7jLw7ue6LqhAGse3R5GgyzzE_wfEEk724JHl2_AkJN0HiSVqoSOk42we6Xw-myYNBn02_d3f7fRjTHLE7DuylMBkb-NrRkL-4Zvo6tf-4FS2cvCgz3vaaEdLTBUCQ3NyL8/s400/hem+detail.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A steady hand sewed those parallel lines!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
...it looks like the work of a twin needle, but it wasn't. It was my mad skills at the sewing machine!</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I confess, I was pretty pleased with myself when my Aberdeen was completed...</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
...right up until I tried it on. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
The sleeves narrowed too quickly for my long arms and were just too tight on my forearms (and I don't have big arms!). I was so disappointed. Ignorance fail, definitely. I should have known the arm length would need to be modified. Duh. So, I seam ripped the forearm seams and wore it around the house to see if it worked in other ways. One day of wearing and I decided the tunic was worth trying to save. French terry is sooo comfortable and I had just enough fabric left to take a chance on trying to modify the sleeves to redeem my project. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdLS2EobFPGgg-h2jKil93ZCorEi94kf1_Jfa6unAT_bONX9-Qk2JFp6-Q2iGr8aSiH9pufKSumKxC9rmwhPWUjWYuo8pJfB_SpGJL1UWy1hLLsDigWU552TVAryPuveh8QpZxUBgQb4/s1600/new+sleeve.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdLS2EobFPGgg-h2jKil93ZCorEi94kf1_Jfa6unAT_bONX9-Qk2JFp6-Q2iGr8aSiH9pufKSumKxC9rmwhPWUjWYuo8pJfB_SpGJL1UWy1hLLsDigWU552TVAryPuveh8QpZxUBgQb4/s400/new+sleeve.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New sleeve...3" added.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I calculated that I needed at least three more inches in sleeve length, as the sleeves narrowed too soon on my long arms and barely fell below my elbow. That meant changing the angle of the line of descent from the dropped shoulder to the forearm hem. So, I took the existing sleeve pattern, added a three inch strip of paper to the forearm hem and redrew the lines from the shoulder to the hem. That way the shoulder wasn't altered in any way and the ending sleeve opening wasn't bigger...it just took longer to get there. Since the tunic is batwing construction, I then just sliced off the sleeves at the dropped shoulder seam and attached my new sleeves.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNyXMsqgdoI3NYvIjH59H5mctB2CPEe6sG1GIZIfe7z4JGxdshRcJrVu-XhM5IkgobTMh4D2E7x26LGKqdLM__NPV95Bn9xM7b0bvouAMmP2JrewYqsqSWOkJQKucPGSFR0nMhZSft8U/s1600/fixed+it.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNyXMsqgdoI3NYvIjH59H5mctB2CPEe6sG1GIZIfe7z4JGxdshRcJrVu-XhM5IkgobTMh4D2E7x26LGKqdLM__NPV95Bn9xM7b0bvouAMmP2JrewYqsqSWOkJQKucPGSFR0nMhZSft8U/s400/fixed+it.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completed (again!) with longer sleeves.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Success! It worked beautifully and gave me an eminently wearable tunic for the cold winter months. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
In the grandest of compliments, the tunic has since moved to my teenaged daughter's closet. For the win!</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-41750030901098995262016-04-01T09:47:00.004-07:002016-04-05T15:58:21.145-07:00Gluten Free Cornbread - Quick and Easy (Updated!!)Sorry for inadvertently posting of a draft post... probably not a good read, was it? Anyway, this is the complete post with the recipe details.<br />
*************************************************************************<br />
<br /><br />
In a wheat-free world, it is a struggle to find recipes for "old favorites" which don't just leave you longing for the original. There are some really terrific gluten-free flour mixes out there, but as most of them contain tapioca starch/flour, we can't use those, either, so our baking possibilities are narrowed even further. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Krusteaz Cornbread mix. It is quick, easy, and contains nothing my family can't eat.<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
Still, I'm not a fan of buying box mixes if I don't have to, so when I saw how well the cornbread turned out using Krusteaz convenient mix, I went searching for a wheat-free recipe which was still quick and easy. With a quick search, I found <a href="http://glutenfreemommy.com/gluten-free-cornbread/">this terrific recipe</a> from "<a href="http://glutenfreemommy.com/">Gluten Free Mommy</a>". (Have I mentioned I love the internet?)<br />
<br /><br />
GLUTEN FREE CORNBREAD<br />
from <a href="http://glutenfreemommy.com/gluten-free-cornbread/">Gluten Free Mommy</a><br />
<br /><br />
1 cup white rice flour<br />
3/4 cup stone-ground cornmeal<br />
2 to 3 Tablespoons of sugar<br />
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder<br />
3/4 teaspoon salt<br />
1 Tablespoon butter<br />
2 beaten eggs<br />
1 cup milk<br />
1/4 cup melted butter<br />
<br /><br />
Directions:<br />
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. <br />
<br /><br />
Mix the dry ingredients (flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt) together in a med. bowl and set aside.<br />
<br /><br />
Melt the one tablespoon of butter in a 10 inch cast-iron skillet or 8/9 inch round baking pan in the oven. This takes about three minutes. (Note: I just used an 8 x 8 pyrex pan.)<br />
<br /><br />
Swirl the butter around the pan coating the bottom and sides.<br />
<br /><br />
In a small bowl, combine the eggs, milk, and 1/4 cup butter. Add this mixture all at once to the flour mixture and stir until just moistened. <br />
<br /><br />
Pour batter into the hot skillet or baking pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm.<br />
<br /><br />
Nothing weird, fancy, or hard to source. In fact, I ground my own rice flour in the Vitamix, so I only had to buy cornmeal. Both my husband and my son were amazed how quickly this came together and how easy it was. That said, the next time I make it, they've requested I alter the ratio of rice to cornmeal...they want more corn flavor. With a recipe this simple, I'm more than willing to play around a little to give them just what they want.<br />
<br /><br />
Now, back to Spring Cleaning...<br />
<br /><br />
Have a great day!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-15135304629607777722016-02-18T17:26:00.000-08:002016-02-18T17:26:07.261-08:00Tote Bag - Success (with a little big of failure!)Erin Gilbey of Dog Under My Desk has written some of the best patterns for purses and tote bags. Her instructions are terrific and the photos accompanying each step demystify the process. As I've mentioned before, one of my favorite aspects of her patterns is her insistence that no exposed raw edges be left in the finish product. The resulting bags are just so much nicer and so much less "home made" looking. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzuQrKHcE5ycfyG-zWStozzINHvufROnDC3D3-4cet8C6k6Ro6zdnCLQEEScDoSqtZ0-JATIr2alvH5wB5b0ejXGbuFvc0qT7jy_lMxhyUOgevV1QHzMD4byajv8xDzmcWYqY_1lt22M/s1600/instructionsa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzuQrKHcE5ycfyG-zWStozzINHvufROnDC3D3-4cet8C6k6Ro6zdnCLQEEScDoSqtZ0-JATIr2alvH5wB5b0ejXGbuFvc0qT7jy_lMxhyUOgevV1QHzMD4byajv8xDzmcWYqY_1lt22M/s400/instructionsa.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As always, spiral bound for ease of use during the project and storage later. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Last week, I tackled the Outta Time Tote for the third time, this time sticking exactly to the dimensions stated in the instructions. I've made it twice before, both times modifying the size to suit my purposes. (Did I mention her patterns are easily modified for size and, in this case, dimension?) Anyway, for this one, I stuck exactly to the pattern for the dimensions, creating a bag which is taller than it is wide. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBqJv37WoyiD6igy7e1bwRIbUNlHW9Qbf8l1BhrPU30yl9z8JT8MPdhb2T9GODi88vHugE_mOv0tPO2xTcoiPM5DN9KXoNvZPHI0ABzq717kCL6qW6rA8s55zOlzbqxNsHm5kmhVLFhg/s1600/finished+bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBqJv37WoyiD6igy7e1bwRIbUNlHW9Qbf8l1BhrPU30yl9z8JT8MPdhb2T9GODi88vHugE_mOv0tPO2xTcoiPM5DN9KXoNvZPHI0ABzq717kCL6qW6rA8s55zOlzbqxNsHm5kmhVLFhg/s400/finished+bag.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished dimensions: 14" tall, 12" wide, and 3" deep. Really nice size.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
As you can see, the bag came together beautifully. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMXTiYcsE3XLRPCHg44NfJuAzI_QBWLvrONKvqX0T8ujzhx54FUF3iptpfNLL5aro1tGwp44l4k19b4ezx0jsFBmkr_103JwFeQTOpNEmI4RbK4n5NGId7fbLLJTuP_eN1Wcps8ydiq8/s1600/color+corrected.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMXTiYcsE3XLRPCHg44NfJuAzI_QBWLvrONKvqX0T8ujzhx54FUF3iptpfNLL5aro1tGwp44l4k19b4ezx0jsFBmkr_103JwFeQTOpNEmI4RbK4n5NGId7fbLLJTuP_eN1Wcps8ydiq8/s400/color+corrected.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Structured enough to stand on its own when empty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
For structure, I followed Erin's instructions and used SF101 woven interfacing, but instead of batting, I used Bosal Fusible Foam. Pellon makes a fusible foam, too, which is nice for when I run out of my Bosal, as my source for the Bosal has been exclusively Amazon and running out is annoying. The floral fabric is a Mary Engelbreit fabric, the straps are black webbing (instead of fabric), and the lining is just inexpensive cotton. The zippers are #5 zippers of my spool of zippers by the yard.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pfFwN4aZay1GD_f7ikuQpLZdkbGBJtWDkZIRcL3IkJw1aBAAsiqD4uLd_MzjlC0IvjUhBGVr0pkI5tXCDh2mbr1z9ZbcHAxyOwm-KzRwlchMq3lOcnI4rdi01dqRcJ8Hlon0cZCHw68/s1600/zipper+closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pfFwN4aZay1GD_f7ikuQpLZdkbGBJtWDkZIRcL3IkJw1aBAAsiqD4uLd_MzjlC0IvjUhBGVr0pkI5tXCDh2mbr1z9ZbcHAxyOwm-KzRwlchMq3lOcnI4rdi01dqRcJ8Hlon0cZCHw68/s400/zipper+closeup.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite part: Black piping running up the panels and added to the zipper as well. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I fell in love with this fabric, but my favorite part of this bag is the addition of the black piping. I am especially glad I decided to add it to the zipper installation on the front pocket. The piping just frames everything so elegantly.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGWi0FgW5fj5BC-qQIqmaq7sIl3vA-9vUaE15Y28ECAOK3P1SfQc1gcjVE8dt3TPReDBQZhd6fFmtLX4df2GWKANAKeEBqZumQY06ab-LDWx6Og0-1RWO-1EoblzI2OA2kDtdkrOBg0Y/s1600/embroidery+closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGWi0FgW5fj5BC-qQIqmaq7sIl3vA-9vUaE15Y28ECAOK3P1SfQc1gcjVE8dt3TPReDBQZhd6fFmtLX4df2GWKANAKeEBqZumQY06ab-LDWx6Og0-1RWO-1EoblzI2OA2kDtdkrOBg0Y/s400/embroidery+closeup.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Embroidery fail: poor color selection ruined the whole thing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
What I didn't love and actually deemed a fail was the embroidery I added to the front pocket. I picked the wrong color and the embroidery doesn't really show at all. I should have gone with black instead of picking a color which matched the lining and coordinated with the outer fabric. Unfortunately, until the bag was completely together, I couldn't see the problem. Next time, I must remember: Contrast, NOT coordinate! So, while the embroidery is technically well done, I deem it a fail.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOcflhVKJscU1Byjt9wcNID3uIRzT89e0271JuXzpw6jaEM2_clcfPYDdNO6l8j1ikG00VLJ0FH3quQSZ2Mm0PCZ2odlplgJ2Rw86IQq4j-xAkFedotu4yvMRQI4tVQtVfGStCzTlOI/s1600/hanging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOcflhVKJscU1Byjt9wcNID3uIRzT89e0271JuXzpw6jaEM2_clcfPYDdNO6l8j1ikG00VLJ0FH3quQSZ2Mm0PCZ2odlplgJ2Rw86IQq4j-xAkFedotu4yvMRQI4tVQtVfGStCzTlOI/s400/hanging.JPG" width="379" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrific overall bag, but the embroidery disappears...sigh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
On to the next project...Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-83610773407341075692016-02-08T05:00:00.000-08:002016-02-08T15:38:42.156-08:00Pink Camouflage WristletsI have a dear friend who loves pink camouflage. Seriously loves it. For Christmas, I surprised her with a tote bag (which I forgot to photograph) out of pink camouflage and, as anticipated, she loved it. Really, really loved it. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOvpMmxKFORW9j_nbeM3tjTu2VV6OhWaMddUjFLA-PicjOuRHLQrdxS_BnQOtVrCXKHyGW-gRY3yCcFGZM6DSNiBMFsQLL2y_1FA1ojlnyMVlNsRDpxT6M5O11UZmxxu4fO3WX-8foPs/s1600/pink+camo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOvpMmxKFORW9j_nbeM3tjTu2VV6OhWaMddUjFLA-PicjOuRHLQrdxS_BnQOtVrCXKHyGW-gRY3yCcFGZM6DSNiBMFsQLL2y_1FA1ojlnyMVlNsRDpxT6M5O11UZmxxu4fO3WX-8foPs/s400/pink+camo.JPG" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink camo - who knew??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Now, personally, I'm not a huge fan of pink camo (really, of any camo); I don't understand it. Are you hiding in the Barbie aisle at Toys R Us? I just don't get it. Still, it was a labor of love and she truly loved her Christmas present, which was my goal, after all. I decided to use the leftover fabric to surprise her with another gift and I ended up having enough fabric to make a little something for her daughter (another fan of pink camo), too. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYq6mnjAzVTB0TXr4HDGsRmD3N_Qymo9itwKTFj0Xv_zE-oIk8rTRnGM4eEiL1563SosJ5LROIqFqk_YFk2JN0O5Q5LHNjxA4Rndl4pYnvJNuiCkFAi94vcaJvQk7TsBgGc7SBsttcnw/s1600/sheri+and+loni.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYq6mnjAzVTB0TXr4HDGsRmD3N_Qymo9itwKTFj0Xv_zE-oIk8rTRnGM4eEiL1563SosJ5LROIqFqk_YFk2JN0O5Q5LHNjxA4Rndl4pYnvJNuiCkFAi94vcaJvQk7TsBgGc7SBsttcnw/s400/sheri+and+loni.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother - Daughter gifts...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
(I always by extra fabric when I'm making something specific...I'm terrified to run out of fabric.) Anyway, it turned out that I had just enough fabric to make two of <a href="http://www.dogundermydesk.com/">Dog Under My Desk's</a> "<a href="http://www.dogundermydesk.com/store/patterns/the-essential-wristlet-pdf-pattern/">The Essential Wristlet</a>". <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnKzflfVCg04WBHRFsS2URomYDAdS0G6uTB0eTFBt3IuWxQc7eSeTPCluBghKhVhTXyhgyNDF4J0A8NsKwAVZByatFepScX6iJFSLPeWUURfq3FQCohYsknA5ZTeOpeKafeNPSOWqkFc/s1600/The+Essential+Wristlet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnKzflfVCg04WBHRFsS2URomYDAdS0G6uTB0eTFBt3IuWxQc7eSeTPCluBghKhVhTXyhgyNDF4J0A8NsKwAVZByatFepScX6iJFSLPeWUURfq3FQCohYsknA5ZTeOpeKafeNPSOWqkFc/s400/The+Essential+Wristlet.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiral bound from my local copy shop. Lays flat for me to flip<br />
through the instructions as I sew along, one step at a time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you haven't discovered Erin's patterns, you're in for a treat. Her instructions are so detailed, and her photos so clear, you just can't go wrong. Since I've been making her stuff, my skills and my confidence have increased tremendously. Plus, I love that her "thing" is that she loathes exposed unfinished seams, so you always have a nice, polished result when you make her patterns.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1o-q9nnt3k0N8PHXYRoovmiLMOz51_EnI2A-25X7iLNOvsRj-Jcb4laAzDvRkqHh_AJzU-fJwbse9eo2D3T9MP8QJIbKAATPDT4adXji5HLDulvTb3RdoA34MJ5CiBff2feMJW-eBRE/s1600/inside+essential.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1o-q9nnt3k0N8PHXYRoovmiLMOz51_EnI2A-25X7iLNOvsRj-Jcb4laAzDvRkqHh_AJzU-fJwbse9eo2D3T9MP8QJIbKAATPDT4adXji5HLDulvTb3RdoA34MJ5CiBff2feMJW-eBRE/s400/inside+essential.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pocket detail on the inside of each.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
So, back to my project. Two Essential Wristlets with boxed corners. I also decided to embroider each woman's name on them, for a little added touch. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5JW5u3N43_EFGcTdjCJJa67gG5_yUgyODzCUMxObcg9xMOG-0ZFJ0sNUzezCMJ3LLdtqhAgfjXT4EgAKZpz8M2v31dznynaRdUUuvriR_FO7mLVXkaR-Fko2tS93-pbplzJD5_Ub6eU/s1600/Sheri+Gifts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5JW5u3N43_EFGcTdjCJJa67gG5_yUgyODzCUMxObcg9xMOG-0ZFJ0sNUzezCMJ3LLdtqhAgfjXT4EgAKZpz8M2v31dznynaRdUUuvriR_FO7mLVXkaR-Fko2tS93-pbplzJD5_Ub6eU/s400/Sheri+Gifts.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome pattern nets awesome results!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I think they turned out really well. The wrist strap is detachable and the bag measures 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches, so its a really nice size. I think my friend and her daughter will be pleased. Best of all, no more pink camo in my fabric stash...it has all found its rightful home.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-13888372408969864662016-02-07T05:00:00.000-08:002016-02-07T05:00:16.289-08:00Food for Thought<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIoO4mGdscUL9zwsbwerU1aeUxRkahenST24Aqi2iQ4tbf20pbozAOGL0OtWx4EA_YLyMHmCuzDGIWg7Pdjx660-nkEG7n5h8S0mLwL24nG9XZnyjTQfBbZJTnGIZetSWyALJCv1yoww/s1600/stepping-stones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIoO4mGdscUL9zwsbwerU1aeUxRkahenST24Aqi2iQ4tbf20pbozAOGL0OtWx4EA_YLyMHmCuzDGIWg7Pdjx660-nkEG7n5h8S0mLwL24nG9XZnyjTQfBbZJTnGIZetSWyALJCv1yoww/s400/stepping-stones.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <a href="http://charmsalonaurora.com/">charmsalonaurora.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"It seems to me that no matter what religion you subscribe to, acts of kindness are the stepping-stones to making the world a better place--because we become better people in it."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> -Jodi Picoult</span></div>
Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-28692786262333051112016-02-06T05:00:00.000-08:002016-02-06T05:00:10.373-08:00Adorable Baby CoatMy son's friends had a baby last summer...it's a strange thing when you realize your kids are legitimately old enough to have friends who are married with children...I guess that means it is highly unlikely that I am still only 27. Reality might be setting in...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
Anyway, my son's friends had a baby girl last summer and I just made her the most adorable coat. (I'm a terrible photographer, but trust me, this coat is truly adorable.) I got the pattern from Etsy. I really like the indie patterns available for download. The ones I've found have tended to be terrific and the instructions make them oh so doable, even for a novice.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RAPM5Dpbi51eIHWl6HlUGbg0B7IWLUH71pXIMuj9EucASPiR2C9k2x3t_OWilf1tt-sbzMoUChVn6DXt100uyoNkzggOnBPcvHfxQ4F4l1Or3XJarSqRFBSXQ-k-A3lCrU8tzioMHlM/s1600/Thea%2527s+Coat+-+Jan+2016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RAPM5Dpbi51eIHWl6HlUGbg0B7IWLUH71pXIMuj9EucASPiR2C9k2x3t_OWilf1tt-sbzMoUChVn6DXt100uyoNkzggOnBPcvHfxQ4F4l1Or3XJarSqRFBSXQ-k-A3lCrU8tzioMHlM/s400/Thea%2527s+Coat+-+Jan+2016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too cute for words...I love the texture of the outer fabric.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
The outside of the coat is a polyester suiting fabric...the texture makes it substantial without being heavy.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckK3y4XcG-8ZBQkcHkjpoql-qyYx-RGfJL49hlLChum9Ta3TDYt0ZAtkNA19xqUmnaz2KUivuvQ_4gzuTBXXWZ4HTk5GosZrU48hieNewlYMOqIIZHzvXB-4nGocVH9LXTxh4vsTSS9s/s1600/Lining.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckK3y4XcG-8ZBQkcHkjpoql-qyYx-RGfJL49hlLChum9Ta3TDYt0ZAtkNA19xqUmnaz2KUivuvQ_4gzuTBXXWZ4HTk5GosZrU48hieNewlYMOqIIZHzvXB-4nGocVH9LXTxh4vsTSS9s/s400/Lining.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this bright, happy cotton print.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
The lining is a lightweight quilting cotton.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT3NVFm3jQbFWFaCuVsCGCcJKZclzyOp2o23-6fh28UsuptvbUpqJYSUPO06HYTJXX9YJaEHAyI3e8fnnBv40PPesbdR_zEaLu8V7xWPQPo7XyNrQ5IjQIZOLJh4T5zbu06ouSoxMNvY/s1600/Matching+Buttons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT3NVFm3jQbFWFaCuVsCGCcJKZclzyOp2o23-6fh28UsuptvbUpqJYSUPO06HYTJXX9YJaEHAyI3e8fnnBv40PPesbdR_zEaLu8V7xWPQPo7XyNrQ5IjQIZOLJh4T5zbu06ouSoxMNvY/s400/Matching+Buttons.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matching buttons...too cute!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKNuzy2dFBVix8MNsXVAplJ8wDy4ejj0Yv78NeX0JPUOk5v5LEgeEaM-MT5euMUGHsnMfEAtmiTSOyZ5jDmewDccrIkeGUWnaAP6_cJkWBfUZkTK5I8qOiMCY9VQOj34gvRjABFNmjTg/s1600/Hood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKNuzy2dFBVix8MNsXVAplJ8wDy4ejj0Yv78NeX0JPUOk5v5LEgeEaM-MT5euMUGHsnMfEAtmiTSOyZ5jDmewDccrIkeGUWnaAP6_cJkWBfUZkTK5I8qOiMCY9VQOj34gvRjABFNmjTg/s400/Hood.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hood is designed to be folded back to show the lining.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I used the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/118350511/hearts-hoodie-baby-girl-boy-jacket?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=puperita baby coat pdf&ref=sr_gallery_2">Hearts Hoodie pattern</a> from Puperita. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZSIZ0TML9tuN6C-VMCGecKF6kXAoDAoiiu8VNI5aeeZWxQ_fpThcEyNqUedHvXLf5G8de5cFJ00a0o61Xibx1eoPKRS7ynxGywAhNkW8y6UwsoVtALsuyFwtTdwhsEIsoj_d-sP-HqE/s1600/Hearts+Jacket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZSIZ0TML9tuN6C-VMCGecKF6kXAoDAoiiu8VNI5aeeZWxQ_fpThcEyNqUedHvXLf5G8de5cFJ00a0o61Xibx1eoPKRS7ynxGywAhNkW8y6UwsoVtALsuyFwtTdwhsEIsoj_d-sP-HqE/s400/Hearts+Jacket.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My local copy shop binds my PDF patterns for me. Love the ease of this format!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It generously includes sizes from newborn to 5 years old. Now that I've finished the coat, I can recommend the pattern with confidence. It really was a breeze to make. The directions were quite clear and easy to follow and the results were gratifying.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAUt4PLpCEdjuw2kcQlpTvfbxQvgLyU1QhoagsGepXmQ8GiQ59WGPD4Q-wFwy30hZ-P0mbj2uM1AGa-abwYA_iaIyvpUeKH8NOaLpQ3gOahwAQwZIVsfHnQ7z-mxlOG-hW09gawbgWFk/s1600/Most+Adorable+Finished%2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAUt4PLpCEdjuw2kcQlpTvfbxQvgLyU1QhoagsGepXmQ8GiQ59WGPD4Q-wFwy30hZ-P0mbj2uM1AGa-abwYA_iaIyvpUeKH8NOaLpQ3gOahwAQwZIVsfHnQ7z-mxlOG-hW09gawbgWFk/s400/Most+Adorable+Finished%2521.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just what a well-dressed baby needs for spring!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Will a 6-month old baby girl appreciate it? Nah. But her mom sure loves it! Definitely a win.</div>
Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-7320351673140786932016-02-05T16:47:00.000-08:002016-02-05T16:47:03.053-08:00You know you have a good life when......you realize that you are fortunate enough to catch 99.9% of the pens that go through your washer BEFORE they end up in the dryer. (We just won't talk about those sneaky lip balms.)<br />
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6Zr766am2YRmRwBnuzYFKplNJFgtG7G-DtrJIGZ1flivMn7U4zT2EtDEdn_QhfJkcrk1134CdLh8D5X8ToaeJnx7sS0tOGPTIImra-8xC9UW-Brjf15lH0EH_doxnfJ4KQonyX2qSo4/s1600/IMG_3616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bx-oK7cT0PknPNuaHPKZfSzDSNcM4kck9UzdOm2ZdTH6p2x0d8jx6kp1Rc8wFFLIpyQJvU9ep7Opabe4OldggLxmcjyIC16WsWGZCXumaobz77Vv4a49Ryymrmw9s5h4K3VZXakLrSk/s1600/coloring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bx-oK7cT0PknPNuaHPKZfSzDSNcM4kck9UzdOm2ZdTH6p2x0d8jx6kp1Rc8wFFLIpyQJvU9ep7Opabe4OldggLxmcjyIC16WsWGZCXumaobz77Vv4a49Ryymrmw9s5h4K3VZXakLrSk/s400/coloring.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
...and a 9-year old girl invites herself to your house to color with you (and she's not even related to you!!)...<br />
<br /><br />
Yes, my life is pretty good.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-31261080788439735312016-01-28T14:39:00.001-08:002016-01-28T14:39:33.705-08:00It Really Is Enough...Over the past few years, I've watched as my children chart their adult courses, trying to determine what they'll want their adult lives to look like. It's fascinating. One dreams of wealth and one secretly dreams of writing the "Great American Novel"...pretty typical stuff. But one of my kids wonders why modest dreams are discouraged. Why is it that we can't aim to have a job that allows us to provide well enough? Are dreams only worth pursuing if they're flashy? Do we really have to "go big or go home"?<br />
<br /><br />
<a href="http://www.alifeinprogress.ca/?p=1065">This blog post</a> by <a href="http://www.alifeinprogress.ca/">A Life In Progress</a> is bouncing around FB right now and this blogger tackles the same issue, far more eloquently than I. "<strong>What if I all I want is a small, slow, simple life? What if I am most happy in the space of in between. Where calm lives. What if I am mediocre and choose to be at peace with that? </strong><strong>But what if I just don’t have it in me. <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">What if all the striving for excellence leaves me sad, worn out, depleted. Drained of joy. Am I simply not enough</span>?" </strong>Interestingly, the comments on the post are as powerful as the post itself. She is not alone. There are a lot of us asking the same questions about life. <br />
<br /><br />
It seems to me that we need to start asking ourselves what definition of excellence we're using? What definition of successful are we measuring ourselves against? What value judgment are we placing the adjectives we use to define our lives? Why are words such as "small", "simple", "plain", and "humble" deemed negative? When we flip a coin, one side is not inherently better than the other, so why are we judging our lives in such a manner? <br />
<br /><br />
I have loved being a stay-at-home mom. Seriously. I love this simple, unexciting-to-many life. I don't dream of huge purchases (although the carpet is pretty bad!) or a lavish lifestyle. I can't even imagine myself living that way. I love my old car, it does the job for me. I love CrossFit, even though I suck at it. I love sewing, even though I still haven't made my own wardrobe. I love having all these animals (four dogs, two cats, three birds, and one hamster, at last count!), even though it feels chaotic at times. I love having time for my family and friends (although my sister and I really need to live in the same time zone!) and for learning new things and making friends where I live and being part of the community. I especially love my family, even though they're crazy making at times. I love myself, even though I'm not young or beautiful or skinny or cellulite-free. <br />
<br /><br />
Before I lived this life, I was a secretary. I loved that job, too...I love being behind the scenes, helping everyone stay on track. I never wanted to be the Big Boss...I just liked making the Big Boss's life easier. I've always been this way, as far back as I can remember. I liked working at McDonald's when I was 16, I liked being a receptionist when I was 17, I liked being a hostess at a restaurant when I was 19, and I liked being a dispatcher for small company when I was 22. I like When I was a very little girl, I wanted to be a nurse, never a doctor, because doctor's rushed in and rushed out, while nurses stayed to take care of the patients. I've always wanted to be the caretaker. It's just who I am and it is good. <br />
<br /><br />
When I remember I like who I am, and ignore the messages of "not enough" the world sends, life falls into place. My family is happy, my household hums, my spirit sings, and I have joy and friendship to share. <br />
<br /><br />
So, as I counsel my child who is going to be rich, I say, "May I have a small guest house on your estate?". <br />
<br /><br />
When I talk with the one who is secretly dreams of writing something that will be received with worldwide acclaim, I say, "Keep writing...you've always loved it." <br />
<br /><br />
And, as I counsel a child who wonders if modest is enough, I have to say, "Yes, it really is enough". <br />
<br /><br />
We need the modest and we need the flashy. We need the quiet and we need the loud. We need the chaos and we need the calm. And we need everything in between. There is a place for each of us, if we're brave enough to fight for it.<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900428249402459681.post-32519572703122840352016-01-27T20:34:00.001-08:002016-02-08T15:38:59.808-08:00 Sleeve Garters-- Perfect for Your Baggy SweatersI'm sure we've all seen the images of a bygone era where men wore sleeve garters which looked something like this:<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9gkZ-T7hOBKVo-rH06P3cKfOApuzLSdYwufSxkn-ccFESIvtEf2nkltRtFUhJ68lErwGN0yrblFxjG0XZtA4NFfsu14eu-d9fyHOfbiUxMbDwnqUWREAu0S1xrg2jj2oWlns03qHM5Y/s1600/sleeve+garter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9gkZ-T7hOBKVo-rH06P3cKfOApuzLSdYwufSxkn-ccFESIvtEf2nkltRtFUhJ68lErwGN0yrblFxjG0XZtA4NFfsu14eu-d9fyHOfbiUxMbDwnqUWREAu0S1xrg2jj2oWlns03qHM5Y/s320/sleeve+garter.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.westernemporium.com/store/003017W.php?eesc=cat">Western Emporium</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
These were functional staples of a man's wardrobe, designed to customize the fit of his shirt and protect it from the grime of the day. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKhyphenhyphenUvJxj8uSiXs0dfBxPe4fxt9Xu8u73SR-9oOP5BXlBGVcMfc3l8W4GDziJm4h3BoJlk_EnqCmCGMfGxdcXcKMMOsyoXI57E4iwsbmrbNYs4aWF19I4iuK8pnCWlTHKFVyEC4jHfko/s1600/daydreaming+bookkeeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKhyphenhyphenUvJxj8uSiXs0dfBxPe4fxt9Xu8u73SR-9oOP5BXlBGVcMfc3l8W4GDziJm4h3BoJlk_EnqCmCGMfGxdcXcKMMOsyoXI57E4iwsbmrbNYs4aWF19I4iuK8pnCWlTHKFVyEC4jHfko/s320/daydreaming+bookkeeper.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://store.nrm.org/browse.cfm/cpa-(daydreaming-bookkeeper)-giclee-print/4,2549.html">Norman Rockwell Museum Store</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="left">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We don't see them often today, although even <a href="http://fashionista.com/2014/02/sleeve-garters-the-19th-century-menswear-trend-resurrected-by-david-beckham">David Beckham</a> gave them a try. (Who knew?) Having said that, this is NOT a post advocating you encourage your husband to adopt them. Not even close.<br />
<br />
<br />
It's sweater weather and I love oversized sweaters, but I don't like baggy cuffs and dangling sleeves. From getting in the way to being a danger when I'm cooking, my sweater sleeves need to be kept off my hands. Using a pony-tail holder has worked to keep my sleeves up and out of my way in a pinch, but cutting off the circulation in my arms really isn't fun, so I really needed a better alternative . I headed to my computer for inspiration.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGTtt4zmc31eJrWiH1Yk1uyTDw-1IKaVzllG3GEYe8TUxbfkmGD4CdMX8YNtqKYAwRDwrSY4zeXOGsLVk03iZL9diIo44cuKHuuBDYIB_8UVcgocJTlpN8EE3wUGb4aYK5gcmdgODkJQ/s1600/sleeve+bands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGTtt4zmc31eJrWiH1Yk1uyTDw-1IKaVzllG3GEYe8TUxbfkmGD4CdMX8YNtqKYAwRDwrSY4zeXOGsLVk03iZL9diIo44cuKHuuBDYIB_8UVcgocJTlpN8EE3wUGb4aYK5gcmdgODkJQ/s1600/sleeve+bands.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-2-Pairs-Sleeve-Bands-Arm-Garters-Holders-Push-Up-Sleeves-Gold-Silver-/150830888585">Quaint Street- Ebay</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I remembered these bands...my mom had a pair or two in the 80s, and, while I loved the idea, they were too small for my forearms way back then, so they definitely might be a problem now (that whole circulation issue). Still, I pulled up Amazon and gave them a quick search and you can still buy them <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Topro-Sleeve-Holders-Elasticated-Gold/dp/B00W8V9QQS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453954202&sr=8-2&keywords=sleeve+garters+for+women">here</a>, if you're interested. When I pulled up those bands, though, the sleeve garters for men came up, too, and an idea was born.<br />
<br />
<br />
I decided to make my own sleeve garters out of ruffled elastic. I could customize the length and the color to suit my needs, plus I could do this project really, really inexpensively. Ruffled elastic comes in many colors at your local Hancock Fabric or any other fabric store. It runs about $3.00 a package (use a 50% off coupon and it will be even better). I have a lot of black sweaters, so I made my sleeve garters black to blend in.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UYhuJ-OYdcWokIh1syYwNruKnLDotgMi7bU5dloVXgtVOAVgj5m0_NKiXLzj9s2AS6-LxOvwdVPT7kYazeDFNJNclxmJcG6fSOsFsRiqYD27vPltuxIA3YkNFVzySR83cJwpIVdY8c0/s1600/Ruffled+Elastic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UYhuJ-OYdcWokIh1syYwNruKnLDotgMi7bU5dloVXgtVOAVgj5m0_NKiXLzj9s2AS6-LxOvwdVPT7kYazeDFNJNclxmJcG6fSOsFsRiqYD27vPltuxIA3YkNFVzySR83cJwpIVdY8c0/s320/Ruffled+Elastic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
I cut two lengths of elastic each half an inch larger than the circumference of my forearm (where I wanted my sweater cuffs to rest). Then I sewed the ends together to make a circle and a sleeve garter was born. (Be careful not to twist your elastic...you want your bands to lay flat.)</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo7xEnf6WCtKdLcxMQc2kQwU2VM2dvYHoHvfemUgCmQ1GKCukNhFIf2Z6WnywySDo74JwGsjJesMYS_Y53xWAHzgQ48kvJGU-jzIduLJvrI4wwXNOJUBC2uDa_88OFTMYCmecFbxWvaE/s1600/Sleeve+Garter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo7xEnf6WCtKdLcxMQc2kQwU2VM2dvYHoHvfemUgCmQ1GKCukNhFIf2Z6WnywySDo74JwGsjJesMYS_Y53xWAHzgQ48kvJGU-jzIduLJvrI4wwXNOJUBC2uDa_88OFTMYCmecFbxWvaE/s320/Sleeve+Garter.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
After that, it was a five minute sewing project (no machine needed if you don't have one!) and I had sleeve garters.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_niG62VKY80EM-2HhDykCjqpoYChnAPh4U82pgO3O-5AumuDe8OYC-UkS1vmPzQrrz6c3naNOcU-Gt0AmCScHoyywRcoZMaTfot6v5rh7wWlsNkVxWF3v9LPMWakgdJAmAsdQY_iqfro/s1600/On+Sweater.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_niG62VKY80EM-2HhDykCjqpoYChnAPh4U82pgO3O-5AumuDe8OYC-UkS1vmPzQrrz6c3naNOcU-Gt0AmCScHoyywRcoZMaTfot6v5rh7wWlsNkVxWF3v9LPMWakgdJAmAsdQY_iqfro/s320/On+Sweater.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Just slip the garter on the outside of your sweater sleeve and roll it into the cuff as you roll (or one fold and then push!) your sleeves up. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3iY9o0mJq3RVL_EBnalSCsUbAjniJeLv511-5aQD0aOzrMJ56F0N8WCDuf6UMW_M5BouPq1_fV6hFw6iN8EU23l-MMJ6c01HLCsnq_k0pf51ImGcEb80FfwIzJ_BXnZI-0gm5khPFeE/s1600/In+Sweater+but+Neater.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3iY9o0mJq3RVL_EBnalSCsUbAjniJeLv511-5aQD0aOzrMJ56F0N8WCDuf6UMW_M5BouPq1_fV6hFw6iN8EU23l-MMJ6c01HLCsnq_k0pf51ImGcEb80FfwIzJ_BXnZI-0gm5khPFeE/s320/In+Sweater+but+Neater.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
They stay up all day without cutting off your circulation as long as you measured your elastic correctly. (Honestly, it was much more difficult to take a picture of my own arm than it was to make the sleeve garters.)</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
You can use them for any kind of sleeve that you want to keep higher up on your arm...blazers, blouses, sweatshirts. Super simple problem solver!</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10624220090240391921noreply@blogger.com0