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.