Family Reunion, etc

Still raining, off and on. Today was a hot, sticky mess. Seriously, the high today was around 84F and the humidity hovered in the 90s.

Friday night, CD made his tasty honey barbecue sauce and baked chicken. However, there was just a little too much spicy heat so we went to the grocery store to get more ingredients, and a foil pan. Our usual cookware is stoneware and those suckers are heavy.

Saturday morning, I woke up late. I ran around getting stuff together. I found a 3rd snowflake pattern and directions to the family reunion.

Finally, I got on the road to Mom's. We went shopping and found some taper candles and candle holders. We got silver and white candles, so I can see which ones work better.

We spent the evening relaxing and watching tv. CD had also made chocolate chip cookies and I brought those to share with Mom. I made an origami box to hold the trio of snowflakes I'd made for the family reunion door prizes.

snowflakes, from Sharon's blog, Palmetto Tat Days 2015, and Be-Stitched

waterfall calendar page

origami box

The next morning, we baked the chicken and used the insulated bag as a hot bag. I used one of my microwave hot bags to get it hot, then used aluminum foil to cover the chicken, wrapped it in a towel, and into the bag.

We ran a trifle late getting on the road to the family reunion. And my directions were...not optimal. As a result, we arrived after everyone had started eating. Mom sat next to her uncle (my grandfather's remaining sibling) while I was seated near his son and daughter-in-law.

After we finished eating, they had the drawing for the door prizes. Mom got a picture of G-grandpa Claude E. and G-grandma Suzy. The first two drawings were for turned wood bowls made from a pecan tree that died on the old family farm. After the 1st two, people got to pick. Until someone opened the box, no one picked the snowflakes.

Afterward, we went to Mom's and I dropped her off. I headed home. I got tired enough, I had to take a break to wake up on the drive home.

Monday morning, my alarm clock did not go off. I woke up a trifle late. I checked on it before I went to bed and it still didn't go off Tuesday morning. It has two alarm settings and I realized the weekend alarm didn't go off either. Tuesday night, I set both of them to weekday am (one at 6 and one at 6:01) and then set my travel alarm clock. Guess which alarm didn't go off this morning.

I've finished my 1st bobeche. I still need to do the third round of the other one.

My niece wrote me. I've written her a reply and plan to include some photographs. 

Update: I updated to OS 9 last weekend and now there's been two more minor updates. 

Late But Not Forgotten

Friday night, I submitted my State Fair submission forms. I'm entering my scarf edging, a pair of beanile earrigs, and a pair of bobeches. 

Spark Con was Saturday and it was loads of fun. I kind of wish I'd gotten out more to see the chalk drawings, etc. But we (AS, CK, and I) tatted and had fun. I got a good start on my bobeches and we were entertained by music. There was an instrumental guitarist, then shape note singers, and then a musical group. Weavers and spinners sat across from us. Other activities were also in the City of Raleigh museum, like Mordecai House.

You can hear the shape note singers

Sunday, I tried to rest some. We went to see R and went out to eat.

I found my navy blue thread and worked on finishing my bobeches. They have a red core, white round, and then a round of navy blue.

Went out to eat Chinese Tuesday night with JJ. It looks like the end is in sight for settling his mother's estate. it's been a long, hard row to hoe.

There's some drama going on at work. I don't want to talk about it.

Sunday is the family reunion. CD generously agreed to make some of his honey barbecue sauce for me to use on some chicken to take for the potluck. 

Oh, here's a fun exercise, from a friend on G+
You are a dragon.
What color are your scales?
What weapon is your breath?
Are you feathered?
Where is your lair?
What is your hoard?
Who can kill you, and how?*

Signs of Autumn

We've actually had some jacket weather these past couple mornings. Afternoons have still been warm, though.

Our Sunday game of Mermaid Adventures was interrupted  by the furry lad in the picture. He was friendly and ready to enter the house as soon as the door was opened. We gave him some water
and kept him the shade, on a strong leash.

He had his rabies tag so we called Animal Control, who contacted the dog's owner. She thought he was still in the backyard. Apparently, he dug his way out.  She was so happy to get him back.

Speaking of Mermaid Adventures, RW and family were hosting a couple of other kids for the weekend. The older girl played with us, too. The kids' father plays a home game with RW. The girl loved the game and wants to know next time we play so she can play, too.

This is where I went after work tonight. It was interesting. I just wish I hadn't missed part one back in April.

I've decided to make a couple bobeches for my 3rd State Fair entry. I'm trying out one pattern and I've figured out how to climb out instead of cutting and tying between rounds. It's three rounds but pretty quick. Given what I know of the competition, I'm unlikely to get blue, but at least I'll have an entry.

CD has decided to enter the State Fair, too. He's going for the honey recipes category. He made a bbq sauce on chicken last night. And it's so good! I will be having leftovers for lunch tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it.

I am working on a second wave bracelet, since the beads were already loaded. But I messed up my variation and I've put it aside so I can work on the bobeches and bracelets for sale.

I have downloaded pages from Passion Planner and I'm playing with them. I know two people who have one and rave about them. By the way, if you decide to get one of your very own, would you use me as a reference? If three people buy one based on my reference (using my email), I get one for free.

By the way, coloring mandalas is very peaceful and soothing. This is just pulling crayons form the bag at random.

Out of curiosity, does anyone have any questions to ask me? Anything you'd like to know?

Another Palmetto Tat Days over

As usual it was a lot of fun. I did not take nearly enough pictures. I only got pictures of my projects (& one scenery), no people. Bummer, huh?

I still have 2 (okay, 3 kind of) projects left to finish. One is Karey Solomon's prayer pouch and her early birds' class, leaping lambie. I had five classes but one was not a project class, it was about reading vintage patterns, with Georgia Seitz. The other class I had with Georgia, I was her assistant so I had the project done before class started. I have another iteration on the shuttles, but the one I'm counting as kind of a third is Marie Smith's angel. It was the evening activity Thursday night and I completely missed it. I'll need to load a shuttle, find a bead, and give it a try.

Finished projects: wave bracelet with Donna Thompson

in progress

completed

 

Daisy Mae bracelet with Carol Lowe

and Sandra E teaching Nina Libin earrings

still need finishing

The only drama on the drive down was dealing with Raleigh/Cary rush hour on the way to get Vivian. Other than that, there was some heavy traffic now and again but nothing major. Once again, online maps gave very odd directions, so we relied on Anitra and my memories of the more straightforward route. We've noted it in the Triptik which now resides in my glove compartment.

We managed to get everyone and their luggage into my car. Vivian and Martha had to cope with my purse in the backseat. It stayed on the floorboard between them so it was not egregious. I did figure out what to do with my hair. If I leave it loose,  it catches between seat and shirt to tangle into rats' nests. If I braid it into a single braid, it's a lump down my spine. So I braided it into two braids. Pigtail braids aren't my best look, but it worked.

We made the trip in good time, mostly by combining pit, food, and gas into one stop. We didn't run into any really bad weather. There was a ladder in the road in SC but we dodged it and reported it to the highway patrol when we could.

We arrived with time to register, drop off our bags, and the teachers to get to the teacher briefing. The goodie bags were again fabulous. They are zippered shoulder totes with good pockets. The color this year was lime green. Not my fave, but still a good bag. The badges matches this year, being badge wallets instead of the plastic badge holders. Very nice.

Instead of playing with Marie Smith's angel pattern, I ended up talking to folks. That was a lot of fun so I don't regret it at all. Friday, we were up bright and early to get started. The first class was a 10:30 am, enough time to visit the vendor room, and do class homework/supplies if you hadn't already. I got this year's t-shirt and pattern cd. I forgot to pick up last year's cd (which disappeared). Hopefully, I'll remember next year.

I had three classes on Friday and three on Saturday. I don't think I've ever taken a class with Donna before. I can see variations to do on her wave bracelet that will be loads of fun. I need to do the finishing on the earrings and they'll be ready.

My edging is a version of this vintage one

In the Demystifying vintage patterns, Georgia handed out cd's of public domain patterns for us to play around with. In class, she had a handout with some old patterns with modern notes on them. She had us try to decode the ones without modern notes and try tatting them.

Practicing the vintage pattern, once we've deciphered it

I do enjoy being an assistant. I get to officially help people (I do it unofficially in the other classes if I can). I also used the star from Georgia's weird joins class on the poncho. Monica B got the poncho.

weird joins class with Georgia

As a break from thread, Dawn Tucker taught origami boxes Saturday night

Did these at lunch. to practice

Look what showed up during the white elephant game....

Freudian slippers

We made these cards for Palmetto Tatters' Guild, to sell for money for the scholarship. One of the members made the cards, printed or stamped, and we added flowers and butterflies, etc.

Karey Solomon's prayer pouch on right, my start on left

fog coming in, view from dining hall

I volunteered to help with the live auction, to make sure someone got the poncho. Monica got it. Bwahahaha. I took some of the items around the room so people could get a closer look before bidding.

I managed to stay within my budget, even with the silent auction (I was outbid a lot). I bought a couple books, and a few balls of thread. 

As usual, it was over too soon. We packed up Sunday morning and were on the road again. I did the pigtail braids again. We stopped for lunch a little early to miss post-church crowds. I made it home in time for supper.

Almost time....

Map of NC/SC has been acquired. Triptik from AAA has arrived. Car is empty. Clothes are packed. I did my tatting homework (loading shuttles and beads) as almost the last thing. I am missing 2 things; a button and some felt.

With four people in the car, I'm having to choose what to take instead of just dumping an assortment of tatting thread and beads into a bag. However, I have 3 bags (plus) instead of two. One bag is clothes, one is for tatting and one is my purse. It's a good sized purse and I could carry it on my lap. Except I'm driving. The plus is a couple bags of tins, plus a bag for "The Poncho" and decoy. Oh, I just remembered, my item for the white elephant swap. I have it wrapped (yay, gift bags), but I need to make sure it makes it to the car.

I modeled it after I won last year

It was pouring down rain last night so I waited until this morning to pack my car. I packed in the basement (more room to spread out my threads and supplies) and I went out the back door. Shockingly, after the rain last night, the grass is very wet. My sandals have no traction. Fwump! Full face plant. My hands and knees are a little sore and my jeans are damp. I'm waiting for my sandals to dry before I put them back into my suitcase (as secondary shoes).

I went to the dentist last week and to give myself something to take my mind off my mouth, I tatted. I pulled out size 10 thread, loaded 3 bobbins, and tatted flowers. Here's one bundle of the ones I made.

I mailed my Dad's birthday present and it arrived the same day they got home. He didn't have that DVD (marines in WWII) so he seemed please. His birthday is not until this weekend but he opened it early.

I have Anitra's present. I found another "lace" covered journal for her. Actually, I found a small sketchbook and a journal. I also found the tiny beads my Aunt Dot gave me. They're smaller than what I commonly use, but Anitra uses that size.

I painted my nails. My throat was a little sore last night, so I was sucking on a cough drop. I wanted to wait until I finished it before I went to sleep. My finger and toenails are now silver glittery. Too bad one thumb nail decided to tear off, almost to the quick. My nails were decent before that. Oh well.