A Garage no More

Our truck won't fit in our garage - even if it is empty!.The garage was built almost 30 years ago, and today's trucks are just a tad bit bigger. The garage wasn't really useful for vehicles, but I loved the idea of this space becoming a studio, or craft room, for my sewing and quilting. (Especially since we didn't have an extra bedroom I could use.)

Here's the garage before the movers brought more boxes and furniture!

We stored a lot of things that didn't fit in the house in the garage. We had already cleared a lot out when I thought to take a picture. We also have more stuff in the barn...and now, we've added to those piles!

We would not need the screen, so I put it out on local sale feeds and had several inquiries. The screen was gone the next day.

We have cleaned almost everything out. We need a bit of help with some of the larger pieces, but otherwise we are finished. 

Day 1

July 22, 2025

The guy on the floor is OK, he's marking the wall for the top of the concrete

A form is put up to hold the concrete to the designated level

Day 2

The concrete arrives. This sure looks like grueling work!

The floor is almost finished and it will be level with the floor in the rest of the house. 

After the concrete dried a bit, the men smoothed it off some more. 

(I asked if this was the time to let the dogs out!)

Day 3

A shelf is removed to allow the installation of a mini split AC

The garage door and controller are removed. 

The mini split is installed, and functional. It will keep me cool when it is warm, and has heat for when it turns chilly. The window for the new wall leans against the wall. 

The cinder block has been delivered.

Day 4

The wall is going in!

Day 5

The utilities are now behind bars, and will be walled in when the electrician has run wiring!

We have a window....

... and we have a door!

Day 6

We have electric wiring, partially completed,

and we have flooring waiting for installation when the time is right.

Day 7 & 8

More electrical. 

I have to give the electrician a lot of credit for hanging in there. He was in a car accident four months ago and shattered both ankles. He has pins and plates holding his ankles together, and it is evident that walking isn't very comfortable. Yet, he worked three short days (Saturday and Sunday too) to get the job far enough along that the contractor could move on with the next step. 

Day 9

We have walls. We have a utility closet! 

Day 10

August 7, 2025

The stucco guys came and textured the cinderblock walls, in and out.

The sheetrock guy played with his mud and tape. He wasn't feeling well and the contractor told him to go home to rest, and seek medical care. 

We are 10 working days into our project. I am thrilled and I'm counting the days until I can move my sewing things into the room and become truly settled in our house. Unless there are huge delays, I'm thinking that will happen in 10-14 days. Hooray!

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Energizer Bunny

It took a few weeks for me to recover from the "gift" I received from my wonderful grandchildren - like the little Drummer Boy they had nothing to give... so they gave us their colds! Recovery was slow; it came day by day. My ears continue to be clogged. They snap and crackle and I feel like I have water in my ears from swimming. But, most importantly, I have my energy back!! Hooray!

My days are very, very busy! A typical day goes something like this:

7:45-ish: Walk the dogs. If I walk the perimeter of the RV resort it is just over 1.1 miles. Some days I don't have the wherewithal do go all the way around, but other days I take twists and turns to add steps to my walk. Gypsy is thriving on our new regimen. She has lost a few pounds and is keeping them off. Wish I could do the same! I know that Tucker has had enough of a walk when he stops pulling on the leash!

9:00-ish: Ride my bike down to the Nature Center (our craft center) to participate in some sort of craft class. I am either the student or the teacher. I have already taught the "Mystery Quilt" classes, and a cloth basket class. When no class is scheduled I might be working on one of my quilting projects.

This is the beginning of Week 3 of the Mystery Quilt.

No one knows why the "Nature Center" was originally constructed,  but over the years it has become the crafting area. Sadly, it has screen windows covered in plastic and no heat or A/C. Some days this winter it has been darn right cold!

11:00-ish: Head to the Pickleball courts and teach a beginner class. I have experienced twinges of tennis elbow, so I am taking it easy. I have only played a few games since before Christmas, and those that I have played, I have played with my off hand. Sometimes after pickle ball I head back to the motorhome; I squeeze into my bathing suit and head to the pool for a few laps... and a shower.

Afterwards, I head to the motorhome to take the dogs out. Some days I tie them outside, which they dearly love, and enjoy my lunch while reading a magazine or a book.

12:45: If it is a Monday, Wednesday or Friday I hop on my bike and head to the club house to play Mahjong. I am just learning but I love the game. This week I won three games in a row; it had nothing to do with skill and everything to do with luck!

4:00: Take the dogs to "Yappy Hour" at the dog park. Sometimes most days Tucker gets in trouble for chasing the other dogs. Or, Gypsy gets in trouble for defending her "little" brother. We have begun to take the dogs before everyone arrives, or later, after most of the dogs are tired. Tucker's herding instincts just can't be curbed!

One of the puppy dads had treats to give out at Yappy Hour.
It was amazing how well behaved the dogs were as they waited a turn to get their treats.

Other days bring other activities:

• The Bocce ball courts have just been redone. Bocce is on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
• I have played water volley ball. That's on Thursday afternoons.
• Line dancing is on Tuesday mornings. We also have the opportunity to do yoga or Zumba in the mornings. 
• Mr. Dreamy races RC (Radio Controlled) cars on an amazing race track. He also participates in a garden railroad club.
• Tuesday nights are movie nights.
• We often have entertainment on Friday or Saturday evenings. 
• Ping-Pong will begin next week on Monday and Wednesday at 10:00 AM
• BINGO is played every Monday evening. I am probably not going to participate this year. I get too tense as I'm waiting for someone to yell out "BINGO"! and I didn't win once last year.
• Bunco is played every other week on Thursday evenings.
• Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings mean pizza, burgers or wings, respectively.
• .... and the list goes on!

This year Mr. Dreamy decided to get a boat. The resort is on the Caloosahatchee River and has slips for mooring boats. The boat was purchased before Christmas but because of a monumental goof-up by the dealer we didn't get it registered until this week. Now we can enjoy going out on the river,... but we will have to find the time to do that!

Cricket

This post is about a cricket.

No, not this cricket,

although it was one of my favorite books

to read aloud to my third grade students eons ago.

No, not this Cricket.

This was the first dog I had on my own.

I found her at an animal shelter

and adopted her because I could.

Perhaps there was a bit of late teen revolt

behind my acquisition!

Cricket loved swimming.

Cricket enjoyed making a splash!

She would even dive under water 

and collect interesting items.

But, back to the cricket.

It is actually spelled "Cricut"

and it is a "personal cutter".

source

I have toyed with the idea of purchasing a Cricut, or similar machine, for years. I like making cards and a Cricut can cut amazingly intricate shapes in a snap. But... I can cut shapes, too, or.... I can do without. But, I kept thinking about it... wouldn't it be nice?

Today I stopped by a local scrapbooking shop. They were having their monthly yard sale. The owners invite customers to bring in items they no longer want. They sell the items and take a bit of the proceeds for their troubles. I picked up a few stamps and wandered down the line. There was a huge pack of scrapbooking paper. I nabbed that. Then my eyes lit on the Cricut. (Cue some sort of mystical music.) No way! There, sitting on the table, (was there some sort of aura around it?) was the machine of my dreams. And, according to the store owners, it worked. In fact, it looked basically unused. I have my Cricut! The machine I wasn't sure I really needed, or wanted, but it might be nice...

...and, it is nice!

The machine came with a basic cartridge and another cartridge of Christmas shapes is on its way. The cartridges are expensive, but can be found on sale and online a bit more reasonably. Cricut also has an online 'Craft Room' with accompanying software that allows users to create projects on the computer and cut them on their machines. 

Apparently there are a few free items each week. This week featured Halloween items - oops, a bit too late - and a Christmas gift tag:

Well, would you expect anything less of me?

Of course I had to try using the program and testing the machine!

Driving Tucker......... Crazy

It all began when we stopped at PetCo. While hubby was looking at aquaria, I perused the open bins of dog biscuits. As I looked at the green dog bones a vision flashed through my old feeble brain. I saw a doggie treat wreath! I bought a pound of green dog bone biscuits and two pressed rawhide red bells. On the trip home, and for the next few days, I let the idea percolate. Then I began to drive Tucker crazy!


I found a large cardboard box and laid the dog
bones out in a circle to get an idea of size.

I sat by my mom's elbow looking really cute. 

I was hoping she'd give me a dog treat. 
I didn't even drool....much!

I used my nesting mixing bowls to trace circles 

to create two wreath shapes, and cut them out.

I stayed near the table. Staring at  the dog

treats. I tried practicing levitation.....

Sadly, it didn't work.

I glued the cardboard circles together to make a

sturdier form. After the glue was dry I hand 

stitched burlap on either side of the wreath form 

using green DMC floss. 

I kept sticking my nose into mom's work.

She didn't like it... but that thing she

was holding smelled like dog biscuits....

even though I couldn't find them no 

matter where I put my nose!

I cut the burlap about 1 1/2" around the outside

and inside of the 'wreath'. Then I pulled the 

threads of the burlap apart to 'ravel' the edges. 

My mom got the dog biscuits out again 

and placed them around that thing.

I scored! She couldn't stand the

plaintive, pitiful, poor, pathetic

look on my sweet, little, fuzzy face!!

That's me... balancing a dog biscuit

on my nose. Don't cha love my 
red eyes? They aren't really red. 
Mom thought they looked Christmassy 
with the green dog treat!

I fired up the hot glue gun and made loops

with green grosgrain ribbon. I tried to make 
the loops tight enough to hold the bones, 
but loose enough so the bones could be 
removed to give to good dogs!

I'm a good dog!!

I drilled holes in the top of the rawhide

bells and tied them on the wreath with

red ribbon.

Picture me smiling. 

I got to eat the crumbs!

The wreath was cute, but lacked something.

I made a trip to the craft store and bought a

spray of glittery 'berries' which I pulled off

and glued between each dog biscuit.

Are they edible?

They don't smell very good!

Ta daaaaaa! 

Now can I eat it?

The wreath will be a gift for Tucker to 

take to his dog sitter over Christmas.
She can pull dog bones out of the loops
to reward dogs for being good.

Why don't cha just give them to me now?!

I'll give you the leftover dog treats.

If you are good, that is.

I'm always good!

A Sticky Situation

As Halloween approaches I am reminded of an art project I conducted with my very first third grade class. It was the only first time that I had over half my class in tears. I taught in a small school and it was my responsibility to teach everything: reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic as well as art, music and PE!

I decided that we were going to make pumpkins for Halloween! Pumpkins of bright orange yarn with yellow eyes and green stems. Boys and girls, this will be a lot of fun! We will make these pumpkins and hang them up in the classroom for decorations. Then each of you will be able to take your pumpkin home for Halloween.

To make the pumpkins you use an inflated balloon and pieces of orange yarn. Dip the pieces of yarn in craft glue that dries clear. Pull a piece of yarn through your fingers to wipe off excess glue and then wrap it around the balloon. Continue doing this until you have a lacy orange ball. Add glued yarn features using other yarn colors, or use a pipe cleaner, as in this illustration, to create the stem. When the glue dries, pop the balloon and pull it out.

Source

Back to that day, long ago, in my third grade classroom: 

We had waxed paper on the desks. Each group of students had a bowl with some watered down school glue and there were piles of yarn cut in about two foot lengths. I demonstrated how to wet the yarn in the glue, squeeze it out and wrap it around the balloon. The students began working. At first they were having a lot of fun. Then, Jimmy's elbow touched his pumpkin-in-progress. The glued yarn stuck to his elbow and came off the balloon. Then, Susie reached across to get a piece of yarn and the whole darn pile stuck to her hand. Mary's balloon fell in her lap with a gooey-gluey plop. Mark's pumpkin got stuck to his hand. Jen started crying because she didn't like gooey things. Jeremy's pumpkin rolled into the pile of yarn and sported a mop-top of lovely orange hair. Jimmy started crying because the yarn that had been stuck to his elbow was now stuck to his shirt. Christy's balloon popped. She bawled. Cameron and Dana's balloons rolled into each other and were mated... like dogs.... they were stuck together. Mark decided to run around the classroom bopping children on the head with the balloon that was stuck to his hand. That meant that some kids had some sticky patches of glue in their hair. My art project had gone to Hell. It was chaos. I had no control. I had kids running around. I had kids crying. I had a few industrious kids still trying to make their pumpkins! Finally, I got the kids attention screamed and got them all back into their seats. I took the garbage can from desk to desk and scraped the gooey-gluey projects into the trash. We washed up, as best we could. I gave each child a piece of paper and everyone got to draw and color a pumpkin. This was not a proud moment in my teaching career!

This weekend I was thinking about doing something crafty and wondered what glue might be best to use.

Source

I found the perfect Internet site (what did I do without the world at my fingertips?!) to help me. It's called This to That and gives glue advice.

3-M also has a guide to their own products which may be helpful as well.

If you have some projects where you need to stick it to something.... you may want to try either one of these sites. (Or you can try making Halloween pumpkins out of yarn!)

Do you know of other helpful sites like this?

Beans, Beans....

I found this in our garage.

So, what does one do with 4 gallons of beans?

(And why, do you suppose, someone would have had

this item in their garage?!)

In the mode of 'simplify' I tossed them.

Oh, darn, a missed opportunity.

I could have made bunches of batches 

of Cowboy Bubble Bath!

What is Cowboy Bubble Bath, you ask? Cowboy bubble bath is a small bag of dried beans with a tag that says Cowboy Bubble Bath illustrated with some sort of cute cowboy type picture, perhaps a pot of beans cooking over a camp fire. The instructions are written on the other side of the tag. They say: Cook and eat one hour before bathing!! I also added, Eat more for more abundant bubbles...

This makes a cute gag gift. I made them one year for a craft fair and gave them to my friends.

To make them simply buy a bag of beans - any variety will do (oh, and you don't need 4 gallons of beans unless you want to make lots and lots of packages!). Use some snack size ziplock bags, or something similar. Craft a label and print it on card stock. The one I used is shown below. Put some beans in the baggie, fold and staple the tag on the top, and you have a cute stocking stuffer for family and friends.

What does the small print say, you ask? 

The original version had a copyright symbol with the universal 'not' slash over it. (This did not 'translate' from MS Word to Mac Pages.)

The text says: Ripped-off idea from another crafter who attempted to create a juvenile, inane, impractical, inexpensive gift. My apologies to the original artist(?) for reproducing this no-so-original craft. But what the heck...someone out there may think this is cute and others have likely never received Cowboy Bubble Bath as a gift before! I also included the source for the artwork.  

So, in the spirit with which I created this, if you'd like to use my label, go ahead. I'll even send you a more word-friendly version if you email me and ask for it!