weekend report
False Spring Is Still Nice
Long Weekend Things
My family came over for belated birthday pear-almond tart; Toby was so brave when they were here and then he passed out. I finally got some sewing in, we went for a walk, and the paperwhites are starting to bloom–a lovely January weekend.
Peak December
This midpoint of December is always the busiest–my sister-in-law and Doc have birthdays four days apart, I’m usually sewing things for birthdays and Christmas, clients want things done by the end of the year, there are decorations to put up, seasonal foods to make, so many things.
That’s all true this year, too, but I’m doing it: I made a cake for Altair and jam for Doc’s parents over the weekend and the Christmas lights twinkled. I even found old Millennium of Music playlists to listen to. (In my youth orchestra days, I’d listen to that with just the tree lights on and think deep thoughts about music; I think this played a part in a music history degree later.)
Anyway, it was a productive weekend. And if people end up getting parts of clothes in a box versus the actual sewn item, well, so be it.
Kitchen Weekend
I spent Friday afternoon and the first half of Saturday grouting and sealing and cleaning up, and now that project is put to bed. It rained here all weekend so the light was terrible (plus the light in the kitchen in general isn’t great) so I’m not sure when I’ll get better shots, but hooray for a little remodeling.
We socialized (!) on Sunday (no hike because of the rain/snow) and I pretty much spent the rest of the weekend panic-prepping all the projects I need to get done for December that I pushed because I was doing the kitchen.
Mostly Tile
Two out of the four days of the long weekend were tile days–it took a lot longer than I thought it would, but it’s looking really good–snd it’s staying on the wall, even better! (I had my doubts about that accent tile.)
I’m so pleased with myself that I remembered most of the tips Dad taught me when we did the bathroom together–this was my first big project without him physically there helping/doing most of it. He was definitely consulted beforehand and I have a feeling he was waiting by the phone Friday in case of trouble, but Doc and I got it done on our own. I even ran the tile saw and remembered how to make cutouts for outlets! (Still have a lot of practice before I can cut curves like Dad, though.)
I might have been pleased with my retained knowledge and how everything looks, but Toby was VERY UPSET we were doing something out of the routine:
But we got it all put back together and had a normal Sunday with a hike, so Prince Toby could relax.
I have to grout this week but the hardest part is over! Now to move on to Xmas decorating and gift sewing and birthday cake making.
Books, Butts, Beans
We used the good weather this weekend to wash windows and do yard work vs. getting into the mountains. A tough choice, but the windows are so clean, it’s like the restoration of the Sistine Chapel.
I did sneak some crafty time in to embellish and bind a ready-made text block and to sew some fancy sweatpants (and take a picture to check the fit). Toby supervised with one eye and showed off his toe beans.
Wildflower Season
Mostly Inside Things
It’s finally reached scorching-hot summer temperatures here so we mostly stayed inside for the weekend. (I’m just glad it took us until mid-July to get so hot; last year it was 100 degrees in early June.)
I did go practice my skate turns early-ish Sunday morning, and apparently it was so hot someone’s fake eyelashes melted off the night before:
I also tried bookbinding and wow, what a nostalgia trip–filling an afternoon with random crafts, just like we did before the internet.
And no matter the weather there are tigers, whether in a sewing project or just sticking their tongues out around the house: