Dresses and Snakes

Wow, that’s an unusual title isn’t it?  I thought I would pop in and show you a picture of the dresses I made this week before I forget. Now mind you, I am not the seamstress that most of you are. These are very, very simple dresses. Shoulder and side seams and interfacing around the neck and little sleeves. A quick hem and it’s done. If I were able to sit at my machine and do it all in one sitting I could probably make dress in 1 1/2 to 2 hours. But since I have to take frequent breaks from my machine, it takes me quite a bit longer. I couldn’t find a place to hang them up, so here they are hanging on a curtain rod! See, they don’t look like much, other than sacks of potatoes hanging here!

I add a couple of tucks on the front because the necklines gape otherwise.

Waving hello!  Please ignore the box on the floor behind me. It’s the “camp box” where I put things as I think about them that I need to take to the trailer.

These are such comfortable dresses. I much prefer dresses over pants. I know a lot of people can’t understand that, but to me they’re cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. I have dresses made from the same pattern that have no sleeves, that I wear all summer long.

Another project that I had was my clothes pin bag that I’ve had for 41 years. It was completely falling apart. I looked on Amazon at new ones but I didn’t see any I liked and the prices were higher than I wanted to pay. And then it struck me. I have lots of scrap fabric and I still have the frame from the old one. It took me about five minutes to make a new bag and attach it to the frame.  That blue hanger on the left was purchased at the ¥100 store in Tokyo. It’s like the dollar store. It is the handiest little gadget and even though it’s plastic it holds more than you would think it would without breaking.

Some of these clothes pins are also 41 years old! Has anyone else noticed the old ones are a lot sturdier than the ones you buy now?

And now for the story of the snake.  Last weekend our friends Kevin and Lana, were hiking in Riverside State Park which is on the outskirts of Spokane. Lana had walked ahead about 20 feet further on the path to read a sign while waiting for Kevin to catch up. All of the sudden he heard something and he looked down and there was a rattlesnake that was approximately 8 to 10 feet long!  That was a shocker! Lana had just walked past it and since she’s hard of hearing she didn’t hear the rattle.  He sent us photos but do you think I can find them on my phone? Nope. Suffice it to say that they had one scary encounter. It took them about 20 minutes to figure out a way to maneuver around the snake. That’s the first I’ve heard of rattlers in the park. I wonder if it’s because there are so few humans out and about now. It seems that the wildlife is getting much braver.

This was a meme that our son Jamie sent to our family chat group.  It cracked me up because it’s so true.

Yesterday I made my first trip to Costco since all of this isolation stuff began.  I had to pick up Chloe‘s prescription or I never would have ventured in. I thought as long as I was there I would buy a package of paper towels and toilet paper and Clorox wipes so I wouldn’t have to go back again anytime soon. Nope. They were completely out of stock! I couldn’t believe it. After over two months people are still buying everything up as quick as it hits the floor? It’s insanity. I was able to buy laundry detergent and dishwasher tabs and that was it. People were loading their carts up with meat while I was there. I didn’t even go in that department. If people would just buy what they needed, as they needed it, there would be plenty for everyone. At least I would hope so. I know they’re saying there will be shortages of meat, but when people go in and buy everything on the shelves and leave nothing for anyone else it seems so selfish to me. End of rant!

On that note I will close my mouth, stop complaining, and say goodbye for now.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend with no snow!  

Blessings,

Betsy