Showers and Sharks

August 19, 2016August 19, 2016 Sewtropolis1 Comment

The temps last weekend reached into the 90s – which is hot by Seattle standards, so I planned on staying out of the heat as much as possible! In fact, that was my plan all along after being on the go for the last few weeks, but it was nice that the weather cooperated with my plan.

Athena has a A/C unit which is 35+ years old – but still works! Once it awhile it would trip the circuit so I’d have to go to the back and flip the switch. Honestly thought I was counting my blessing that I was flipping a switch in my 35+ year old trailer than going without A/C in my “high efficiency” apartment!

This past weekend I also put sealant on the cracks in my tub so that I can take a shower in my trailer and not worry about water seeping down to the sub-floor. (Not something you want at all)

The shower is a little small, but it works and beats hiking over to the KOA showers! I have one of those shower heads where you can switch the water on or off. My water heater does not hold a lot of hot water – so being able to switch it off is important if I want hot water for the full shower! On my list of upgrades is to replace it with a tankless water heater. Then I can shower without turning the water on & off OR going outside to light the water heater! Ahhhh the luxuries!

So now that the shower is up and running I started working on a shower curtain to match the rest of the curtains in the trailer – and was promptly side tracked with starting a Fusion quilt! This is just the first block – I only have 48 moe to go.

I had seen these on Pinterest and thought they were so pretty. Then, when I was out in Minneapolis my friends mom mentioned she had started one – and really that’s all it took to get me motivated. The fact that I just so happened to be cutting 5″ squares for the curtain also helped.
I have been on a roll with crocheting lately – that super secret project I mentioned here, are these Shark Slippers!

I get a kick out of these things!

I have to admit there was a lot of frustration in making these – mainly because I am not a proficient crocheter. I have to look up the abbreviations over and over, but I got it and if they fit my hella big foot they are sure to fit the recipients size 7 foot! The pattern is from Penelope vt on Ravelry. If you make them follow the directions no matter how crazy they seem and save yourself a lot of frustration at the end!

Till next week!

Adventures · Projects · RV Living

My Succulent Garden

August 13, 2016August 12, 2016 Sewtropolis2 Comments

I’m exhausted!!! For the past 2 1/2 weeks I have been living out of my suitcase – literally! Long story but the lesson is to ALWAYS talk to the KOA manager if you want to confirm your reservation! There was no room at the Inn for the first part of August so I had to leave the KOA for a couple of weeks until a spot opened up. I took the opportunity to have some work done on Athena and managed to stay with my sister in Spokane, my brother and a friend of mine… and of course a vacation in Minneapolis. It was kind of fun until the last day – and then I was just anxious to be settled again and surrounded by my own things.

So, I’m back now and I will give the KOA kudos for putting me in a much better spot! I have huge shade trees on both sides of me and I’m even closer to the walking trail!! All is good in my world.

I have to talk about my latest obsession: succulents! Yes, those little cacti looking plants! I saw some starter succulents at the farmers market not too long ago and regretted not picking up a few. I don’t know what triggered it, but I just thought they were the coolest looking plants! I guess I didn’t pick them up because I’m really not a plant person and was afraid I would kill them. But after reading about how easy they are to care for I started to give them a second thought.

My sister has a bird bath in her back yard which is filled with Hens & chicks. A friend had given her one a few years ago and she said she “stuck it in the bird bath” and forgot about it. I wish I had a picture because the bird bath is now overflowing with Hens and chicks succulents I mentioned my obsession to my brother-in-law while I was staying at his house and even he has a succulent garden!

To start my succulent garden I took a few hens & chicks and planted them, along with some other succulents I found at a local nursery in these orphaned sugar and creamer holders that I’ve been unintentionally collecting. I pick them up for their color (I love all things aqua) and use them to hold various things like paperclips, etc. Then the other day I found this orange teapot at the Goodwill store and voila – instant succulent garden for Athena!

I got a little carried away and bought too many succulents for my little containers, so I put the rest in a bigger pot and, if I can keep them alive, I’ll try to swap a few with my brother-in-law and sister. (the blooming looking plant on the far left is the Hens & Chicks from my sister’s bird bath).

If you are curious about these plants I have started a Succulent Garden Pinterest Board here. I dare you to scroll through and not think these plants are gorgeous!

Adventures · Projects

Floating Down the River

August 5, 2016August 5, 2016 SewtropolisLeave a comment

This past weekend I flew out to Minneapolis to spend a few days glamping with my friends. I won’t get into the fiasco with the missed flight because it all ended well and I was able to get to where I needed to be – just a few hours later.

I arrived in Minneapolis early Friday morning and had breakfast with son #2. We ended up going to Waffles and Black Coffee in the U-District. I highly recommend this place for the waffles! I ordered the Strawberry Shortcake Waffle and OMG it was so freaking good! I didn’t think I would be able to eat the whole thing – but I was wrong! I ate the WHOLE thing and didn’t regret a single morsel of it! Sorry no pictures of the waffle – but I took one of the Chai Lattee they gave me! How cute it that?

Glamping was in Lanesboro which is about 2 hours south of the Twin Cities. It’s a cute little town, rolls up during the winter, but during the summer there is people all over the place enjoying tubing on the Root River, biking along the trails, camping, shopping and even a theater group that is actually really good!

The picture below is of son #2, my BFF, her daughter and her mom and step-dad! When I talk about my Minnesota family – this is who I’m talking about!

One of the gals in our Glamping groups lent me a trailer for the weekend and let me just say – if I ever sell Athena, I might just consider getting a trailer with a pop-out! Wow! There was SO MUCH room – it was like staying in a mobile home! I love how she made it all homey for us! She even put out a scency candle and linens!

We drove back into Minneapolis early on Sunday so I could have lunch with both my boys before I had to catch my flight back to Seattle (I wasn’t about to miss another flight!). I won’t get into the slobbery cry session when I left or how much I miss them – if you are a mom – you get it! Even though they are men now, they will always be my boys.

I can’t yet show you the hand project I took with me to work on. It is a ‘commissioned’ piece and because it’s not finished I don’t want to ruin the surprise for anyone. I will say though that it is a crochet piece – and was super easy to tuck in my bag and work on during the flight to and from Minneapolis. I’m curious, if you are a quilter what type of projects to you bring to work on when you can’t bring a sewing machine?