Christmas Dress

Sometime in October Emily and I started talking about what Graysen would wear to a dress-up Christmas Eve party given by friends that she and Ryan have gone to for a couple of years.  She already had a red coat, so from all the discussion, it was decided that I would make a simple ivory bishop smocked in the same color with a few little pearls added to dress it up.

I got all the supplies together.

And procrastinated.

I did get started at some point and did the sleeves first. They turned out like they were supposed to.

The actual pattern was not that hard, but I had allowed myself to get rushed and didn't do as good a job as I could have.

All of it was perfectly fine until I got to the bias binding on the neck.  For some reason, I just have a hangup on those neck bands, and I was so disappointed in how it wrinkled that I didn't even post a picture when I finished.  The 12-month size was so big that I had to overlap the button loops, but I thought they turned out nicely - another learning experience.

I was so late that we ended up overnighting it, and it got there just in time for the party, wrinkled neck band and all.  I was running around before mailing it getting a slip and hemming that and finding an ivory headband to try.  I did find these shoes that Emily and I both agreed were perfect for the night - even though she didn't keep them on long.  

These next pictures are so precious to me - the dressing part.  Unfortunately, Emily had to work Christmas Eve, and I'm sure it was a rush getting them all dressed.  To top it all off, Graysen had a cold and terrible runny nose, but she was a trooper and let Emily get her all dressed up.

There are a LOT of pictures.  Her dad is a good photographer.  It takes so long to download them and edit on this blog that it was easier to just include them at random, and there may be some duplicates. 

Taken at the party with Griffie after the shoes were abandoned.  It didn't take much longer to end up just wearing the slip.  Comfort is the main thing, after all, when you're 10 months old.

We have hundreds of Christmas pictures and videos.  I'll work on making an album, but I love the latest adventure with this little riding toy.  

We have gotten so many laughs from seeing her sitting on it the first day looking so puzzled

To having her parents race around the house pushing her (and grandparents holding their breath)

To pushing her friends around and being pushed by them (videos once I learn how to get them off my phone)

To finally mastering it by herself this week.




Now that forbidden plant can be reached in a matter of seconds.

Cold Weather Coming

Or that's the promise anyway.  It feels quite nice outside now, but the prediction is 12 degrees in the morning.  We have to have the cat at the vet's office by 7:30 and then go get flu shots and stuff, so that should be interesting.  As long as there is no ice, it will be fine.

It was a nice quiet afternoon after having the nursery at church this morning.  Leftovers I heard about from Christmas included a black eye for Sarah (bed jumping with cousin accident, I think) and a small goose egg for Bronner from falling off a table, and then just 30 minutes before I got there, Bronner got his second one, falling out of a chair.  Doctor's visit showed no fracture but an ear infection.  Stress for parents and not fun for the little ones, but all part of it, I guess.  

Stella and Murray almost played together this afternoon.

 But when it's over, it's over.

I think a paper bag or a box will capture their interest in the next day or so.

Saturday Job

Wallpaper stripping has been started again.  This time, it's the foyer.  It's small and should not be a lot of trouble.  The wallpaper in there is not awful but a little dark and outdated, so we plan to paint it and go on to do the adjoining living room and dining room.

Oops.  Too late to turn back now.

I totally love stripping wallpaper, especially the under layer that peels off nicely.  Hanging it though.  I can't think what might convince me to ever do that again.

Once I got a few patches of both layers off, I found that the wall is in great shape and painted the same color as the living room (the middle tone in the picture).  It's still too dark though, so it'll get a fresh coat.

It already looks brighter .

 You can tell here how high I could get without using the ladder.  I'm hoping to interest someone else in doing that.

 

New little cat stayed with me the whole time and I think is still there 2 hours later.

We just got these pictures this afternoon.  Graysen and Jack kind of look alike here.

 .

Another Inside Day

I was lucky enough to not have to go anywhere today, but I'll make up for it Monday.  Mike was home to take Mama to the beauty shop, buy her Friday paper, and get her double fish sandwich from McDonald's.  I put her off her Wal-Mart trip until Monday since I have to be out already, not that putting it off will make it any more fun.

New cat has to go in for his neutering and shots at 7:30 Monday morning, so I'll get to arise early.  He has fit in pretty well today.  I opened doors and let Stella and Darby notice him and him notice them.  They're not all best friends yet, but they can sleep and sit in the same room without growling or barking or lunging.  Really better than I expected.  I'm still not sold on the name Murray, but I might keep it if nothing better comes to mind.  He doesn't care.  It's not like either cat pays the least bit of attention to his or her name.

Looking pretty relaxed considering the other two were in the same room.

I had to make up my Wednesday's work today.  Nothing of note happened today except for it being really cold.  I hear that some north and central GA folks are looking for snow - or already had some.

I've found another old friend (or young since she's younger than me), and it's so much fun "talking" by email and seeing what we remember all those years ago when we were young with no children and not many obligations.  It will be interesting to piece together certain adventures with the things each of us remembers.

I guess I'll go catch the end of the bowl games, although I don't really care who wins them.

I have to make a list of what projects I want to do in January and get my act together.  Right now, things are all jumbled up in my brain, and I end up not even going in my sewing room.

Cozy Day

I'm so thrilled not to have had to leave this house since Sunday.  So nice!  It's rained for 2 days, and now the temperature is dropping.  I'll take any stay-inside time these next 2 months.

Last night I logged on to work and got a message there were no dictations available.  Just terrible! Yeah, right.  I guess I'll have to make up those 4 hours today and tomorrow, but I was in the mood to scan photographs and did just that.  I love scanning and cropping and working with the color a little sometimes, but it gets tedious going back and forth from the printer to the computer for every one I do.  It was worth it though, and Mama got 20 or so pictures of Daddy and my grandmothers to add to her picture display.

I got a message just now from Amanda that Bible Study doesn't meet tomorrow, and that was also good news.  I was looking forward to seeing the little kiddos, but I won't turn down a free morning for - more scanning.  20 down - 5000 to go!
         
I've been trying to organize my files on the computer for about a month now - all my embroidery designs and projects I want to do, Pinterest boards, and, of course, photographs.

I saw that a friend on FB had shared this link:  (Thanks a LOT, Kari!)  52 Meticulous Organizing Tips for the OCD Person in You.  I didn't expect to see anything I didn't already know, but I was surprised.  About half of them I want to do - NOW.  Taking a week-and-a-half to make cardboard lipstick and blush holders is not one of them!  If I had 176 tubes of lipstick, I might be desperate enough to do it, but I'm fine with the storage for the 10 or so lipsticks and 3 blushes I have (of which I actually use on half).  I also am 99% sure I won't fold plastic bags into tiny triangles and put them in a plastic storage container.  Mike is not going to want to know about these ideas - except that it might allow him to visit Home Depot a few more times.

As of about an hour ago, we have a new member of the family.  His name is already Murray, but I'm thinking about changing it.  I don't have any good ideas though.

He rode all the way from W. Texas without saying a word, and neither did the driver.  Perfect traveling companions.  He showed up at Elise's house, and she couldn't turn him away, but she already has 3 cats, so we said we would try and see if he likes it here.

I'm keeping him in the bathroom for now until he gets used to things and we figure out how to introduce him to Stella and Darby.  Actually Darby has already spotted him through the blinds in the French doors and is anxious to "meet" him, but we'll wait a few days.

The catnip won him over right away.

I had him some Fancy Feast soft cat food for his homecoming, but he sniffed it a few times and tried to bury it.

I think he is enjoying exploring and getting used to his new home.

This is the one who may not welcome him with open paws.  

That's the dog's bed she's under.  Darby knows that she can stay inside only if she stays on her bed, and it's kind of hard to do when a cat with sharp claws is under it and ready to challenge her.

 

These came today, and I love every one of them. They're a little wrinkled from the packages but so cute.  I know I smock and sew, but I've never tried picture smocking, and I'm not sure I could make them cheaper than the prices I paid.  It's a FB group called Smocks Rock, and people can buy and sell smocked items (and nice unsmocked clothing - shoes too). 

 

I think Graysen's all fixed up for next fall and winter.  Those 2T dresses look pretty big, but she's already wearing a 12 month, so I feel like they'll be fine.  I'll still make her some more clothes, but I'm slow, and she's growing too fast for me to keep up.  It will be nice to have these hanging in the closet waiting.