Caught on the horns of a D——

Will you please humor me and answer this poll? Please do not look up the correct spelling of this word. If you do, answer the quiz accordingly. Once I get the results, I would like to have a discussion…

I’m so honored that you’re here!

I guess I can’t attribute it ALL to my presence on the blog. After all, folks still land on the site, looking for how to make bird seed bells and things about Holly Hobbie even when I’m not here.

However, I did notice that more of you came around when I had something new to say, and for that, I thank you.

So, what have I been doing while away? Since it’s been too long to give you a really clear account, let me just start with the most recent…

James and I were looking for a new vehicle, since we just can’t keep up with repair costs on our present station wagons. We both love wagons–Volvo wagons to be precise. We own a 1991 240 wagon (Volvo’s best wagon ever–300 something thousand miles on it) and a 1999 XC–not quite the most stellar model around. Sure, it’s a beautiful car and, when it’s running, it runs well. Unfortunately, its favorite past-time is sitting in our driveway as we can no longer afford to send it to its friend the imports mechanic.   Its newest trick is not to go into reverse.  Sweet, hunh?

Anyway, our near classic model Volvo has no A/C so trips to Louisiana have been very few and far between.  My parents very graciously bought a new vehicle for us–with the stipulation that it be a newer year model with low mileage.  After searching and searching, we narrowed the field down to the Honda Odyssey.  Surprise to us–the Odysseys are a valuable commodity on the used car market–but that’s a good sign, right?  In Pensacola, they seem to be even more valuable!  So, after several weeks of scouring cars.com, craigslist and eBay, we found the perfect vehicle–in Tenaha, Texas!

Now, I know that some of you reading this will know where Tenaha is and wonder why we went so far afield.  We have contacts there, thank you very much.  My brother and his family live nearby so Jonathan graciously took some of his time and checked out this vehicle for us.  He wasn’t impressed.  I don’t think he’s the sporty mini-van type.

Anyway, to wrap up this story, the van passed his inspection and through several relays, we managed to get the Odyssey home.  It’s truly a nice vehicle.  2004–under 60,000 miles.  Great condition.  James put the bike rack on top.  It’s better than a station wagon ’cause there’s even more head room!

Did I mention the TWO side doors open automatically?  I could entertain myself for hours with those doors.  It doesn’t take much…

Guilt and Avoidance

Does anyone else do that? Do you feel guilty about something and so you avoid it? Man, I surely do! I can’t remember the last meaningful post I put up on this blog but it certainly hasn’t been recent. I even spent a week in Louisiana, where I usually just am overcome with words and writing. This week–zilch. Nothing. Nada.
I have been tired. And cranky. I suppose that counts for something. Nobody wants to hear about someone being tired and cranky.
I haven’t even been reading YOUR blogs because I didn’t want to feel even more guilty!! Tracy asked me to write, Micah started her own blog at Finding Crowns. Surely I can find at least a little bit to say?
I am feeling better these days and so I’m hoping to share words of wit and wisdom and recipes and creations and thrift shopping with you all. Not today though. This will have to suffice for today!

The Sacredness of God’s Handiwork

How do we live in creation? Do we relate to it as a place full of “things” we can use for whatever need we want to fulfill and whatever goal we wish to accomplish? Or do we see creation first of all as a sacramental reality, a sacred space where God reveals to us the immense beauty of the Divine?

As long as we only use creation, we cannot recognise its sacredness because we are approaching it as if we are its owners. But when we relate to all that surrounds us as created by the same God who created us and as the place where God appears to us and calls us to worship and adoration, then we are able to recognise the sacred quality of all God’s handiwork.

–Henri Nouwen

Venturing into upholstery by way of ripping apart an old couch

So, my newest project is figuring out the kinks in this couch that we recently bought. We’ll be hosting a microchurch here at BrightHaven, so we thought extra seating would be nice. Plus, I’ve had my eye on this lovely couch for several months now (at a local thrift store, watching the price drop steadily). When it finally hit an acceptable price for us, we snapped it up! Plus, it goes so well with our other couch that it was a perfect fit for our home.

Sure, I realize that this new project requires more effort than merely blogging about it. That’s where you, my lovely readers, tag surfers, friends and craftspeople come in.

I’m not really sure what I’m doing.

Okay, I don’t know what I’m doing at all. What I do know is that the couch troubles me a bit. So, I took apart one of the cushions to see if I could do anything about it. Seems the cushions are supplied with nice stainless steel springs (possibly something new as I took the seam apart where I could find it had already been taken apart??) Basically, these springs had compressed to give the cushion just a totally weird look and feel. The back of the seat was fairly elevated, meaning that if you sat, the incline tried to force the body downwards.

fig a: springs removed from cushion

fig b: tag inside cushion

Have I made it sound sufficiently awful?

Just wait, it gets worse. I mean…better. I mean…there’s more…

Not certain that the springs were my problem, I took a good long look at the actual horizontal body of the couch and decided some work there was in order as well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a seam that had already been removed…so I made a new hole. Yes, I did. Don’t you know this is how geniuses get their start? Come on…

Once the hole was large enough to accommodate my arm, I began to feel around inside. Found some burlap, cotton stuffing, more upholstery cloth, springs and…grass? I found grass inside my couch? Does anyone know enough about early 20th century furniture construction to tell me the meaning of this?

fig. c: grass in the couch??

What I’ve done now i shift around the stuffing and repositioned some type of burlap rope sort of thing so that the cushions will have better support. I’m about to go ahead and restitch everything. Does anyone have any further advice for me? I’m certainly willing to take it all apart again. Nothing ventured, nothing gained I say.

By the way, if you can help us date this couch, that would be super awesome as well.

Thanks!

Slip-Sliding away…

To whom it may concern: FB cannot and never will be an acceptable substitute to real relationships.

I think that’s all I had to say…

A rainy day…

Yesterday was nice.  I am so glad to have my blog connected in to FB now, so that the posts will automatically come up.  That way, if I don’t sign in to FB for a while, then my friends can still keep in touch.  Now, we just have to get you guys blogging so that we know what you all are really doing!!

James and I headed out early because he had a couple of Saturday appointments–which was totally welcomed.  While he went to his appointments, I parked the car and headed off to the market.  The drizzle was very slight so I assumed the market would be in full swing.  Wow!  We haven’t been to the Saturday market in over a year.  I certainly hope the lack of presence was attributable to the rain.  I had a chance to talk to the gracious and green-thumbed ladies of Grow it Native, the multi-talented xoelle and I met a few vendors that I had not as yet had the pleasure of meeting.  I even bought what I hope will be delicious squash.  Of course, it was a toss-up as to whether I wanted smaller ones for eating or larger ones for gathering seeds.   Does that officially make me a seed nerd?

During the brief walk back to the car, I learned that umbrellas do in truth turn inside out.  I rather thought it was just a cute little thing that happened to girls in the movies.

Nope.

It happens.

Happened to me twice.  Maybe three times.  I’m pretty sure that little umbrella is toast.

After James’ appointments, we took care of some business matters (more on that later…) and were able to find a few bargains to boot!  Take a look at some of our finds today…

Red Samsonite

oh yeah, that's ugly. we're gonna make it cute...

amazing barkcloth yardage--about 4 yds--mint condition!

Of course, the suit and the yardage and the train case will be available at the home gnome.  I’m not so sure about the remaining pieces of the luggage set.  I hate to break up such a nice combination, but have you shipped luggage recently?  Wait, maybe you have…I hear folks are shipping it b/c it’s cheaper by post than on the flight!

Well, enough for now.  I suppose I must go to sleep sooner or later!

Nothing pithy to say

Or wise, or clever. Just wanted to stop in and say hello.

We got such a great rain last night that all seems new and fresh and cool. I suppose here in Florida we treasure our rains–because the times in between can be so hot and humid! I say here in Florida because that’s where I am right now but I know that Texas and Louisiana and Missouri and every other state in the Union has hot muggy weather. So, to all of you who understand how blessed a rain can be after a hot dry spell, I salute you.

And I hope you’re having a great day.

We’re off to the market. Maybe we’ll see xoelle. Have you voted for her video today?

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo from our stroll downtown last night.

Red Robin embroidery

Alice in Apron

and how about these two photos of my latest project?  If you caught my pink-polka dotted apron, this is the same pattern with the addition of the embroidered detail.  Of course, I’ll be adding pockets!

I guess I didn’t have anything succinct to say either…

In the garden this morning…

What happened during my survey of the garden this morning?  Visit Little Green Bees to find out…

Wordless Wednesday: Entertainment at BrightHaven