Seven

Seven things about re-covering dining room chairs:

1. Martha Stewart made it look quick and easy. Martha lied.

2. The electric staple gun is wicked cool even if it's a right handed tool. The safety switch was under my left index finger so when I went to squeeze the trigger, the safety would engage.

3. Deciding to cover 6 chairs 4 days before a holiday is a stupid idea.

4. The hardest part of the job is removing the million and two staples from the seat frame to remove the old material.

5. Advil is a good friend.

6. The job goes easier with two pair of hands but can be managed by one.

7. Don't let anyone sit on the chairs after the job is completed so you never have to re-cover chairs ever again.

Wednesday Weigh-In

Up down, up down. Just like a yo-yo. One down this week from last week, but it's more of a maintain weight than an actual loss. Meetings with contractors, covering dining room chairs, cleaning and preparing for the holiday, I haven't done much walking. Discovering Triscuit Rosemary and Olive Oil crackers didn't help either. OMG, they are soooo good and six crackers just don't cut it.

Hope your progress was better than mine.

Sketchbook

While picking stuff up, I came across The Young One's sketchbook. It was filled with wonderful pictures. Still life, mythical creatures, people in the anime style. I envied The Young One. There was obvious joy in the the pictures she created. I've wanted to fill a sketchbook for a long time. I've even started a couple, but end up being unhappy with what I've done. I wonder where the spontaneity has gone. As a kid, I used to draw and doodle all the time.

I've bought books on how to keep an art journal and I flip through the pages of the beautiful drawings and watercolor. But I hear a voice saying "you're not good", "you sux", "what an abortion you drew", "you're not good enough" so I abandon the sketchbook.

Not long ago, Erica shared with me an exercise she did at a writer's workshop. The participants where told to draw a picture of their inner editor and then seal the picture in an envelope. Then they were to write.

The idea made so much sense so today, I began the sketchbook with a picture of my inner critic. And just to be sure I can't hear her negative comments through the envelope, I sealed her mouth with a strip of duct tape.

Silence is golden. On the way to pick The Young One up at school, I thought of a song by the late Harry Chapin. Flowers Are Red. I added the chorus and the verse to my page as a reminder. You can listen to the song here.

The Latest Project

I've been wanting to recover the dining room chairs for a very long time. My cousin's grandmother had a beautiful dining room set and all the chairs had a needlepoint seat. Six different floral patterns. Ideally this is what I'd like to do. The reality is I can't afford to as the price for each needlepoint kit is out of my reach, unless of course, Auntie Rose comes through with that windfall she's been promising.

I thought it would be fun to paint illuminated initials on the fabric. Did it, but the concept looked much better in my head than on the fabric.

Still the idea of the needlepoint seats was banging in my head. Himself suggested I buy fabric I could live with and then could find the needlepoint kits at a more reasonable price some other time.

Jo-Ann had fabric on sale today for 40% off so Himself and I went to buy fabric for the chairs. I got the selection down to two patterns that I liked. One was a very muted floral like a watercolor. The other a bolder floral pattern. Himself liked the bolder pattern better so that's what we got.

Neither of us has ever recovered a chair, but we managed to get one done.

Seven

Seven more things about me. After all, it's all about me.

1. My favorite childhood book is Green Eggs And Ham. It's the first book I could read all by myself.

2. I've been bitten by a spider. Nope, no super powers, but a trip to the ER for an allergic reaction.

3. I took an honorable mention in the archdiocesan art fair when I was in 5th grade. I did an ink print of St. Michael the Archangel. The art show was broadcast on the archdiocesan channnel and we got to watch in school. Michael was printed in red ink so didn't show up on the tube very well.

4. I had a crush on a German tour guide when I took a trip over there while in high school. I was seventeen. Met him in Salzburg, Austria and had to say goodbye in Heidelberg.

5. Since I was the shortest girl in the 2nd grade class, I got to sit in the first row, first seat closest to the door. I got to be the errand girl and had to collect the hot lunch and attendance slips for Sister and bring them to the office.

6. I rarely use salt at the dinner table.

7. I use mechanical pencils. I like always having a sharp point. Have 'em scattered all over the house so I can jot notes or doodle.

Christmas Cards

It's that time of year again. The elves are in the middle of Christmas card production. As usual there was a design change at the last minute. Himself just shook his head. No sympathy. "You do this to yourself every year." Deep sigh. What can I say? It's tradition.

Wednesday Weigh-In

A day late, a dollar short, and a two pound gain this week. I'd love to place the blame on the Bavarian Creme doughnut I had yesterday. My problem is I haven't been walking or drinking much water. With the cold weather, the last thing I reach for is water. It seems so, well, cold. I drink several cups of tea per day, but as I recall from WW meetings from several years ago, the caffeine negates the water and doesn't count towards a daily total. Is that rule still part of the WW plan? They suggested drinking decaf or herbal tea and each cup would count 1/2 of a water. I like a real robust cup of black tea. Decaf tastes very weak no matter how long it's steeped. I don't care for the fruit herbal teas or green tea, same complaint weak, though I do like cinnamon apple.

How was your progress and do you manage to drink all the water?

So this week I'll have to concentrate on walking more and drinking more water. Too bad WW doesn't make a one point Bavarian Creme doughnut.

Wednesday Weigh-In

I completely forgot today was weigh in day! We had an early morning meeting with the new contractor to go over the contract and plans for the bathroom. Between getting the Young One off to school, getting dressed and last minute tidy, I didn't even think about stepping on the scale.

Since it is so cold today, I dragged out the flannel-lined jeans, mock turtleneck and polartec half zip. No way am I getting on the scale while wearing a ton of clothes not to mention having a donut at the meeting.

Tomorrow's another day.

Seven

This taken from Erica's blog. Seven random facts about me.

1. I wear my wristwatch on my right wrist with face on my inner wrist.

2. Though lefthanded, I crochet right handed.

3. I don't like coffee, but I love the smell of fresh ground coffee beans.

4. My second favorite color is red.

5. I don't like to go barefoot.

6. I had a talking Casper the Ghost doll when I was little. Pull the string and he'd say a few phrases. Things like a ghostie Ooooo and "I'll play with you." Casper fell out of bed some many times the record in his head became scratched so he said "OOOOOOOOOoooo play with youoooooooo"

7. I love Croc/Croc knock offs. The rubber clogs. I own three pair. Light blue, black and my latest cobalt blue winter "crocs" with a sherpa lining. Comfy and toasty. The Eldest hates my crocs and calls them fugly for umm very ugly. This morning I had on the new pair and she said: You're not wearing those to work, are you? Lol. Shoe's on the other foot.

Wanna play?

What Breed of Horse Are You?

The majestic Andalusian, a brilliant white equine with kind eyes and a flowing mane. Your nature is very gentle and willing, and you are likely to perform movements in the haute ecole. You are generous and classical, your love of romance brings you to many places, especially in Europe. Your old-fashioned tastes are refreshing in this all-to-tacky modern world. A famous andalusian is Shadowfax, who appears in the second book (and movie) of Lord of the RingsYou will likely live in Spain or France and have a wealthy, possibly Royal, owner.Your coat colour is most likely: White, grey, or dapple

What breed of horse are you? Find out!

Wednesday Weigh-In

Today marks the 20th week. I lost the pounds I had gained last week and finally am down a total of 15 pounds. I wish I was pound for week, but still the down turn is good. 15 down and 23 left to go.

Wind Turbine

A blustery day on the second highest hill and the wind turbine happily spinning. The Young One's school has gone green and off the power grid with their own wind turbine. What a pleasant surprise on Sat. night while attending the drama club performance to have heat in the auditorium! Course I was dying of the heat because I had dressed in heavy layers expecting the auditorium to be like the inside of a freezer.

Wrapped or All Tied Up

This month's ATC exchange theme is Wrapped or All Tied Up. Here's Ink with his tail tied up in Celtic knots. Gouache, Sharpie marker, Schminke Gold watercolor on Diploma Parchment.

Seven

Seven things I accomplished this week

1. Met with contractor #1 to talk about bathroom remodel

2. Planned the color theory exercise

3. Met with contractor #2 to talk about bathroom remodel

4. Planned the 3 hole pamphlet stitch book exercise

5. Thumbnailed a new project

6. Drew and scanned in design for this month's ATC

7. Studied the Golden Mean concept and finally got it!

What was your week like? What did you accomplish?

Wednesday Weigh-In

Almost forgot today is weigh in day. I'm up 2 pounds. The cheesecake I had last week caught up with me as did a bit of Halloween candy and those darn Cheeze-Its. It was a busy stressful week and the Cheeze-Its were too handy so I stress ate and ate. It didn't help that I didn't do much walking on the treadmill either. Back to the grind.

Did You?

Say It Ain't So

I am abostively heartsick. I saw a trailer for a movie. My favorite movie of all time. The Day the Earth Stood Still. It's been remade. That is so wrong! Like remaking Gone with the Wind. The trailer looks horrible. Gratuitous special effects.

The movie made in 1951 was based on a short story by Harry Bates,and directed by Robert Wise starring Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal. Looks like the new producer/director didn't bother to read the story or watch the film or to understand the significance of the film at the time it was made.

Made in 1951 at the height of the Cold War, this movie certainly touched the raw nerve of fears, invasion, the bomb and annihilation. Though a science fiction film, it's also an allegory with a message of hope. So important for the times and our own time too. Though the special effects are hokey by today's standards, the original story line still holds up.

A visitor to the planet brings a message, but he's shot, captured and held hostage. He escapes to get a sense of the people of planet Earth and relies on the help of an ordinary woman for an extradordinary task. To help him bring a message to the people of Earth.

The new trailer showed a leather-clad, government agent type Mary Sue amid explosions and special effects. Will I go see it? 'Spect I'll pass.

I have the real version on DVD.