Ann The Gran Community

Hi Everyone!

Well the laundry is done,and out away and I think I am caught up a little any way. I had to go food shopping yesterday,Yuck! I hate food shopping! Such a waste of time and money,LOL! Seems everything had gone up yet again,our food expense is getting higher and higher,as I am sure most of you have noticed as well. The money we thought would be enough when we retired is guess what,not enough. Hubby is fretting over the stock market,so makes things even worse,as I am also sure most of you have realized as well.Oh well,what can you do?! You have to eat and have some left for play!

We are so glad to be home! It is nice to see everyone,but there is no place like home! I really had a tough time leaving my daughter this time,as she has had a very rough year and being a Mom ,just want to make it better for her. No matter how old they get,they never quit being your kid!

I think today's mission is to work in the sewing room and clean up some projects that were left un-done. It is hard for me to get back into the swing of things now. I am still looking forward to meeting and greeting you all on the 19th. I am hoping to get most of my projects done by then,but can't promise now,time is so short! Today is the day i typically fall apart,LOL. After the long trip,anxiety and let down from all the energy, I generally crash one day,I think today is it ! I slept like a brick last night and find it hard to get motivated today. Hubby is out washing the car to get all the gunk off after the trip,so he will be busy for a while,lol. Yesterday he mowed(his least favorite thing) and today will finish up with trimming and such. It is too darn hot out there to do it all in one day. We had three Monarch butterfly births yesterday, and watched them for a while, drying their wings,then slowly moving into the world. Our butterfly garden is really taking off and love to sit and watch them all fly in and out . we are starting to see more and more butterflies now,as well as many different types. they are so interesting and beautiful to watch.

Kath, I finally had a chance to look at the photo's, and Oh my! What beautiful work you do!! You should be very proud of the accomplishments there! It is simply the most beautiful I have seen! Do you lend out the kids? the all look like little models !!You are a very lucky lady!!!!

I am looking forward to seeing all the wonderful ideas you have come up with for the name tags, I have to do mine over(thank goodness I saved it) as the cat decided to take it while we were gone and is now a cat toy! I have one cat that likes to take things and claim them as his! So will do that today ,then I can start my projects . I think today is going to be mostly R & R day for me. Another good nights sleep and I will be ready to get back into everything!

Well, bye for now, and again I would like to Thank everyone for all the well wishes and condolences. I can hardly wait to meet all of you wonderful people!!! Til later.......................

Judy,

Welcome home...we're glad to see you back in print. :o)  As far as loaning the grand kids out...I am certain that if they keep acting like brother and sisters...we will be considering that very soon!! Boy...I think something was sprayed on S. Florida, as they have not been able to have a nice word for each other for two days!! Enough of the sugar, I think!! Anyway...they are amusing themselves w/ some outdoor activity now, so everything is quiet for a few minutes.

Kath :o)

Hi Kath, it is marciaelaine,

We just had the grandkids for 5 days with their mother and i think they were trying to kill each other all day long.  When we were young if we had spoken to our mother the way these two do, my mouth would have enbe very sore.  Made me grow up with the motto, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it.  But like Judy says they (my daughter) will always be my kid.

LOL...you are sooooo correct!! The children went outside for some quiet entertainment...next thing I knew my son was calling out for the kids to close the gate as two horses had gotten outside...so that was what they were entertaining themselves with! Good grief! My grand children are not disrespectful of adults...just seems like they are always on each other's case lately...and they are just 6,7 and 8 years old. One of those, "she's sitting on my square" things...just annoying each other!!! Just enough to grate on your nerves come the end of the day...however, I wouldn't trade it for anything. :o)

I know what you mean by the smart mouths too....as I hear children all the time making quick come-backs to their parents that would have launched my body into the nearest wall if I had done that!!!

Kath :o)

Ok now I have really goofed up I think I am going to resign from my computer   I ws trying to rate the forum and give it 5 stars but it went up as 4   I am very stressed because I don't want anyone to think we are anything but a 5    So anyhow Judy I figured you and Kath are the ones who might know how to fix my goof

I am getting up the courage to try my name tag and am eagerly and anxiously looking forward to the 19th

Please know I think we are all 5s

Marsha

Hi Marsha,

Well you did it ! You stumped me,LOL ! No really I don't know how to do that either,and I am not sure we can or not, that is defiantly a question for BB(beamishboy).

I think we are all 5's as well ! So how is everyone today? I have been busy as heck here trying to get things done before the 19th. I redid my name tag,(darn cat !) and I put it away where he cannot get it this time,LOL. so now I am working on some other projects to get them finished up and outta here ! I am tired of looking at them !! LOL Just kidding! It will be nice to get them finished though and on to some new ones. I just feel like I cannot accomplish the things I used to,I guess I am slowing down,bummer.

Today was one of those days that no matter what you try to do ,some how you manage to mess it up. I was ready to toss everything out the door by noon today ! It just doesn't pay to get out of bed some days ,lol!Today was it ! So I quit the machine and went to the computer,guess what, I gave that up as well ! By the time I messed something up for the 6th time,I said to heck with it and went to dropping some more of my stuff into Catalog Xpress instead,it was safer,LOL. I have bought some new designs and had not had time to get to them so did them today and also bought some new ones,and dropped them in right Way so I don't have to go back and do it later. I didn't realize how many I have picked up in the last few months that just simply got put into the folder but didn't get put away,won't let that happen again ! Need to open a new folder for the new stuff so I don't get it in with the other stuff or I will lose track,lol. ( I obviously have some catching up to do huh,lol) the Cat X program is wonderful,but only if you actually put the  stuff in it,LOL !

I am so looking forward to meeting you all on the 19th,Wow it is really getting close now ! I sure hope I get some things done by then! I have one almost complete and the other things won't take that long,hopefully,as long as things go better than they did today,lol.I have 4 sets of flour sack towels to do before August,for my step-daughter and my daughter too. they love them and they both spent two days hinting for me to make them some more,LOL. So will get them run off in a jiffy. they look great with some red work on them. the simpler the better for them. I have come across some 50's Ladies designs that are a real hoot. I thought they would get a kick out of them. They always tease me about riding a dinosaur to school,(ha ha).

I finished up the lettering for my currant project,so will get that on tomorrow,and it will be done,woohoo. Guess I had better get back at this Cat X stuff or it won't get done ,then I will wonder what happened to those designs I got?

Later .......................

Happy Stitching !

Oh, Marsha...I don't know how to fix it either. I'm sorry...hopefully someone out there is a computer whiz and can figure that out for Marsha....

Kath :o)

Judy,

I finished my name tag and my friend, Eleanor, did another one for me too...too cute! I have to make one for my husband now and I will be all set. If we are only supposed to bring one or two items, can I hide some in my car trunk to take out for someone who would like to see the smocking in the hoop?? Embroideried girls dresses w/ matching dolly dresses? Hand smocked dresses and heirloom sewing? I'm beginning to think I might need a U-Haul!!!

I feel the same way you do, Judy. Today just was not my day to be at the sewing machine. I was finishing up my DGD's crinolines and I scorched a hem area! So I had to rehem it and put some lace onto it to extend the length. Of course I had to make them match, as they are sisters and that would NEVER do to have one w/ lace and one without! So double the work. then after doing that, the scratchy part of the crinoline was too long for the outer and inner layers, so I had to go all the way around that entire thing cutting off 1 1/2 inches...on both of them of course. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

I just told my hubby that I needed a trip to the Ocean to realign my "ions"...he just laughed, but is now getting ready to drive me there! Whew...what a day!

Hugs to all.....Kath :o)

This is a good point, Marsha, and we've been struggling with what to do with the whole rating system. We can't actually go in and fix ratings. The problem we're facing is that the situation of users giving mistaken ratings is happening quite a lot, which tends to make both the raters and the ratees feel badly.

As a result, I've actually been considering getting rid of the star system altogether. As you yourself said, everyone in the community is a 5. What do you folks think if we get rid of it? Do any of you use it to find posts or topics, or is it something we could do without?

BB

I personally don't check topics by what they are rated, but by the subject of the topic. So, as far as I am concerned, please do away w/ the "star" system!  Any other thoughts, Ladies???

Kath :o)

I have tried to use it and it never works for me either,LOL. I think we should just get rid of it as well,it is more confusing than anything,not really sure how many folks actually use it.

Kath,glad you got your name tag done ! My hubby took one look at them and said "I am not wearing that"! So I told him he didn't have to,so if you all see a cute guy walking around with no name tag he's mine !He is actually talking about going back to work,with things so expensive and wall street going into the pitts,he is really worried. When he looked at the grocery bill from the other day he just about had heart failure! So sis I ! I did not get anything we didn't really need and it was 264.00 Ouch! Seems it goes up every time I shop,not sure how some make it anymore. My daughter is a single Mom and can't imagine how hard it is for her.Especially with two teens to feed!

One more day gone ,and closer to the luncheon!! I hope I can get some things done today,and hope I don't have a repeat performance of yesterday ! Days like that just make your whole day a mess. I was having problems with everything yesterday,kept dropping things all day,I hate days like that.Unfortunately they are getting more and more often these days.I guess the fingers are still cold from being in Michigan. I actually had on a sweatshirt on the fourth for fireworks,lol and long pants.Oh my,I can't remember the last time I had on long pants,lol. I was freezing and my daughter thought I was crazy! I don't think my feet thawed out until we got back here. That is what I remember about Michigan,My Dad always used to say, 9 months of winter and 3 months of poor sledding ! He was right !

It is back to the sewing room for me ! I have to get these things done and out the door ! I have only one more design to put on the one, and have some quickie things to do so hope I can get at least half done today.(as long as hubby doesn't bug me too much,lol)

Received an e-mail from a friend in Michigan,and she was in a car wreck,so she has no car and got a bunch of bruises and stuff but is ok and so is all involved.She was trying to get through a red light(hmmmm imagine that ) and wham! I can't imagine her doing that as she is usually so over cautious when driving. She is afraid they(insurance co) won't give her enough for another car,but sounds like it is totaled. Didn't have time to run and see her this time,just not enough time while we were there and wished we could have stayed longer,but understand why hubby wanted to come back. He doesn't like staying with someone,he is always afraid he is imposing,I told him not to worry with my daughter as she was so happy to see us that she wouldn't let go of us !She thinks of Tom as her Dad,as she never knew her own, as he died before she was born. so to her Tom is her dad, She has Had a really rough year this past year and really needed hugs from us. She clung so tight to me that she was choking me. I told her she needed to move here with us ! She may do that after my grandson graduates. We would love that !

Well enough for me, back to the sewing room and to work with me!!

Later .......................................... Happy Stitching

I willl have to use the "ions" one ! I am always trying to get hubby to take me to the ocean,I love it there and him, not so much.

correct me if I am wrong but the ratings are there to let us know if something works really well and user friendly or if it is not so good.  I think it is a positive thing if used right.

Boy Friday must have been can't do ME day or projects.  We went and looked at a 6 needle Brother/Baby Lock machine and came home and we were going to do projects.  We saw some really nice ones in the shop.  When we started in it just didn't seem to work for Bob and I and we gave up and watched a movie.  We have looked at 3 multiple needle macines and really like the brother one.  I am sure Bob will have one within the week probably by the time we go to the luncheon.  I can see the Futon in the den going away and it will be our den/sewing room.  It is a good room for it has two big windows for lights.  Kath, have you made any of the American girl doll clothes.  I am not too happy with the packet I chose, they seem a little skimpy for the dolls and those 1/4 inch seams are always trying to get into my plate.  When you make doll clothes do you use a pattern?  Also, do they call for the small seams.  I used to sew for my now 44 years old daughter's Barbie dolls and don't remember having this problem.  Of course I wasn't using a ME/ sewing machine either.  I too would like to go to the ocean and it is only a few miles away but I developed a rash out in the garden, spent the am being worked in the dr appts.  Of course, the salt water might do me good, don't you think?  Later

You are correct Elaine but the problem is most folks cannot get the darn things to work,LOL. Well, I am glad to know that I am not the only one who had a rough day!! I guess it's contagious!

Kudo's to you if you get the 6 needle machine! I am looking but hubby keeps saying NO! I am not sure where I would put it either,lol. My space is pretty much used up(and of course I need everything in the sewing room lol). I made doll clothes for my grand daughter's AG doll and they are a pain ! With my arthritis it made it extremely difficult to sew them. I was glad when she grew out of it,LOL . I too was not happy with the packet I chose either,they were difficult to put together and a real pain!

Oh My Elaine! Sorry to hear that. gosh it has been a long time since I have been to the ocean,I miss it a lot and would go more often but is a bit of a drive for us and with gas at $4.00 a gallon makes it even more difficult to convince hubby that I need to go. I love just sitting and listening to the waves and looking for shells and stuff.We generally take a picnic with us too,so makes it a nice day. Looks like we have rain in the forecast for the next week so guess that is out until the end of rainy season at least. By the time we get there now it is raining ,lol. sort of defeats the purpose.Yes Elaine, the salt water would do you good! Tell hubby Dr. Judy says so,LOL !

Guess I had better get back into the sewing room,no more goofing off for me ! Later all, Have a great day !

Happy Stitching

As far as I'm concerned, you can get rid of the stars!  I find that I don't use them. 

Thanks for helping us! 

Glenda

Judy,

We started using the "ions" excuse a long time ago when it seemed like all six daughters had their "special time" of the month on the same week. Our son's cought on quickly and started to put signs on the girl's bedroom doors. "Take her to the ocean!" Too funny!

Kath :o)

Elaine,

Other than the party dress, the only other outfit I have made for the AGD is the nightgown from the Samantha pattern. I agree w/ you...seams are too small. I usually push my machine needle into the fabric, and then bring it partially up, so it raises the fabric a little from the bed of the machine, and then sew. Seems to keep the fabric from pushing itself into the feed-dogs of the machine. However; now that I know they are so tight fitting (the gown was large to begin with) I will be making the seams at 1/2" instead of 1/4". I will soon be making some Amercian Girl clothes for our SAGA group "fund raiser" event, so thanks for the heads up on the other clothes.  Did you find the online source for the FREE American Girl Doll patterns??? If not, I will be happy to share that site with you so you can download any of the patterns, with instructions, free of charge. :o)

I hear that salt water is good for rashes!! LOL

Hugs...Kath :o)

Elaine,

Just another quick thought too...I usually use a shishkabob (sc?) stick to hold and push through those tiny ends on my heirloom sewing clothing, maybe it would work for those narrow AG doll patterns too. Just a thought. :o)

Kath

I used Martha Pullen patterns, they seem to work better, ALSO if you do like quilters do, start a scrap piece of fabric under the needle first then start sewing then on to the seams it won't get caught up in the throat plate as quick.

I made a whole wardrobe of Barbie clothes about 4 years ago... didn't remember it being that difficult when I was 8.  LOL  I even used the velcro instead of sewing on snaps. I think the snaps would have been easier.

My granddaughter isn't into the Ameirican Girl Dolls so I don't have to sew those but would love to make some anyway (heirloom type) just for the heck of it so looking forward to seeing your site Kath.  I quit sewing seams even heirloom seam with 1/4-3/8" seams, I cut generous seams and then trim them away with the serger or just before I french seam then as well.

Getting anxious like the rest of you for next Sat. It's only a week away now, happy sewing y'all