Car Trouble 2

Okay, the CRV went to J & J this morning. I picked her up this evening. One trip to the chiropractic center and the engine light was back on. The hesitation was back too, but not as bad as yesterday. Jack says that he will have to replace the wires. He put in all new spark plugs today and a new distributor cap, but he could not get a new set of wires. So, back tomorrow morning. Sigh....

I really would like to keep this car a bit longer. It's fun to be loan-free!

Car Trouble

OH NO!!! My reliable, never a problem, CRV is sick! The engine light is on. It is trembling. It is Sunday and no mechanics are available. I drove slowly (like slowing down will make it go farther) to my corner gas station and asked the attendant to check the oil, etc. while he topped off the 1/4 full tank. I knew this was not going to help when he asked me for the manual. He said that my overflow tank had no antifreeze, but the radiator was fine. He could not find the cap for the holder of transmission fluid and recommended that I take it to a mechanic. Nevertheless, I was impressed because he used the index to the manual to find the information about the transmission. It was just the picture that confused him. He said the fill cap was not where it was supposed to be. So he did not want to just start unscrewing things. Anxiety caused me to thank him and just pull out of the station and get home via the shortest route (wrong way on my one way street) to my garage. I will deal with this tomorrow. In the interim, I have to come up with a new plan for today.

Halloween

What a great job Judy did creating costumes for Kyle and Grace. My grandkids were the best-costumed kids, no kidding!

The weather was beautiful, the kids were excited, and I managed to get around one block with them before my legs gave out. I am adding these photos to my favorites.

Little Outfits

Last week I completed the pink series of coordinated outfits for Grace from Butterick pattern number B5017. Here are some pictures of Grace's new outfits...the coordinated Disney World travel collection.

I was really pleased with the result. I gave them to her last night. She spotted the Mickey Mouse appliqued to the top and dress right away. I will probably applique that Mickey on everything I make for her...even when she is in her teens ;-).

It was so cute to watch her as we all said "pretty, how pretty" and she smiled very big. She loved the hangars that were included in the bag with the outfits!

Now I have my own label? I created labels for this and future projects that say "Nana," the letters embroidered by machine on 1/4" wide white grosgrain ribbon. They are helpful in marking which is the back of pants.

The 18 months size of this pattern will also fit the Annie doll that I made 27 years ago for Jackie. She asked to have it recently and I was so pleased. I think she was too young for it at 2 years old. She had no interest in it then. Annie had been sitting on my bed and I would mend and wash her as needed and provide new outfits. Jackie has been learning to sew. She can appreciate Annie now for the time and attention to detail that it took to make her. She wrote about her in "The Orange Room," her blog.

Well, I am off to shampoo the rugs now. Can't wait to see them brightened up.

Duck Hats

• Thursdays are Rotary lunch days. This last Thursday, July 17th, president Betty gifted us with duck hats. Wearing these hats will accomplish two things:

1. make people ask us why we are wearing them, thus providing an opportunity to promote the (Almost) Famous Nutley Rotary Annual Duck Race and
2. making us smile when we put them on (and hope that others smile when they see us and don't rush to have us arrested or committed).

New Adventure in the Works

Well, Jackie Gould has talked me into an ocean adventure, so, today I explored the Royal Caribbean web site to get my feet wet. We will be cruising to Bermuda next July aboard the "Explorer of the Seas."

Searching the web site to learn more about the documents required, what to pack, how to make reservations for excursions, etc., I lingered on the spa and fitness facilities. Perhaps this will also be a good time to take advantage of a facial and a massage. While captive on this floating resort, I might as well do everything that my pocket book and physical condition will allow! http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do;jsessionid=0000mE7vvKsF5pRqEzXtzbZtdBz:12hbiocak?br=R&shipClassCode=VY&shipCode=EX

I will also have to check out Bayonne, NJ in the near future. It is accessible, parking is reasonable at Cape Liberty and the city seems to be in the midst of a makeover. I recall purchasing our first family artificial Christmas tree at a recommended store in Bayonne. (That was the tree that I decided needed to be freshened up after a couple of years. Showering it with the hose in the back yard, I discovered that the trunk was made of cardboard. What was I thinking?) http://www.cruiseliberty.com/

Every now and then, I think about moving to a manageable city. "Manageable" is the key word here. Park-like city blocks, reliable elevators, interesting cultural activities, a good library system, nearby groceries, hospital, office store and movie theater, secure parking, access to the airport, parkway and turnpike - I don't want much. Thinking about it, do I have that here? http://www.bayonnenj.org/

Full Heart

Today is the Fourth of July. After checking Jackie's blog postings and visiting with Bobby this week, I realize that I am content and my heart is full. It's a great place to be.

Garage

Memorial Day weekend was beautiful, and, I was very motivated to clean up and spruce up for Spring. A great "ah-ha" moment occurred at 7 a.m. when the garage clean-up beckoned, but I had not borrowed the shop vac from my friend. The leaf blower came to mind. Not only did I put the holiday decorations away properly and throw out a ton of "stuff," but I also used the leaf blower to dust everything and then blow all of the dirt on the floor out of the door! The garage is a vision of cleanliness and organization :-)

BBQ Spring 2008

The Spring and Fall Bed, Breakfast and Quilts have me hooked. The anchors for my year, I sign up for the next one before I leave the previous. This year, "Raggedy Circles" was my class choice. In soft, rose and green florals and checks, I realize that I have a preferred color palette. Perhaps I should experiment more. This project is easy, quick and refreshing - no squares and triangles, no points to match. Another one is cut out in my sewing room. Organized before traveling to Wildwood Crest's Adventurer Inn this year, it is a combination of two juvenile flannels featuring baby animals. Hoping that it will be Grace's "drag around" blanket, I plan to finish it for Christmas and make a matching flannel rabbit to go with it.
On a lark, Merry May's basket applique project occupied my time on Sunday. Entirely from mill samples found on the giveaway table, Merry cut enough fabrics for me to attempt this little piece. It is adorable! Now, will it be a pillow or wall hanging? Will it be quilted by Linda Hahn or will I attempt to quilt it by hand? Decisions, decisions....

New author (for me) discovered!

Rainy Sunday morning, puttered through many little loose ends, all are now tied up. After reading an interview with Augustyn Burroughs on Good Reads, I decided it was time to read Running With Scissors. To my delight, it was available on the library site as a download, so I am listening now. Burroughs referred in the interview to his book Dry, based on his experience as an alcoholic. Maybe I will read that one next.