What's Her Name?

School is definitely well under way. I'm doing well so far—except for never doing my reading for Advanced Sewing. (Unlike Intermediate Sewing, where we were graded solely on our projects, now we are having quizzes every week on info. from the textbook. Fortunately, I know most of this stuff anyway.)

In Adv. Sewing I will have two projects: a fitted ladies vest—which I'm making for Lindsey who is definitely shaped like a lady—and a ladies jacket (or something else that is lined, has sleeves and lapels; I'm thinking that sounds just like a jacket).

In Tailoring I am making myself a full-length dress coat. This is to be made of wool (pricey!), and be perfectly fitted, and have lots of hand-sewing in it. In fact, last week we made our shoulder-pads—all by hand. I hope to have a really nice, heavy, warm coat some time in late May.

In both Adv. Sew and Tailoring we have to make up the patterns in muslin and do the alterations there before we cut into our nice, expensive "fashion fabrics." It always has been the fitting that gives me fits.

In Patterns 2 we have each been assigned our own dress-form. We had to measure our girls, and now we are drafting slopers (patterns with no seam allowances) to fit them. When the slopers are done we will be making different patterns from them. And, again, we are sewing

everything up in muslin.

Between three classes, I've already used 6 1/2 yards of muslin in three days. I expect to go through at least one entire bolt of muslin before the end of the semester, all for a bunch of very ugly clothing with lots of markings (in Sharpie marker) all over it; and most of it will only fit my size-eight dress-form. I wonder what I'll do with it all when the semester's over? :-/

And Pattern by Measurement is the exciting class! In this class we are getting our own measurements and drafting slopers and patterns that will be a perfect fit. Signe (say Sig-nee), our teacher, is a little 80-year-old lady who says she can "run rings round all of you." And she probably can. She invented this pattern-making system and she says that when you use it to make your patterns you will only ever have to have one fitting—maybe two if you're doing bridal wear. It is always sizing/fitting that escapes me, so I'm pretty excited about this class. And already I can see places where Signe's method is an improvement over the traditional method I'm learning in Patterns 2.

Cardio Fitness is no great thrill. It forces me to go to the gym twice a week and work out—which is good. But not too exciting. Of course, if I lose a pound or two a month, that would be exciting!

So, I'm well into it all now. But the question is: What should I name my dress-form? She needs a name, don't you think?

Betty-Lou? Bobbie-Jo? Georgianna? What is her name?

Cousins

My dad's brother married my mom's sister, so my Johnson cousins are double-cousins. We used to see each other all the time when we were little; sleep-overs, shopping with our moms, or just family visits.

My oldest brothers: Peter, Gregory and Wendell,
and my oldest double-cousins: Debora and Julie

Me, and Wendy

Me, and Wendy again—reading the Christmas story together at a party. Gotta love the double-knit, red gingham pants!

front: Nolan, Wendy (my cousins), Me and Paul

back: Peter, Melanie, Denise, Julie (cousin), and Mark

Just visiting at my house

front: Denise, Me, Wendy, Melanie, Julie,
Wendell and Debora;
Aunt Helena is between Melanie and Julie;
you can't quite see her, but Vovis is behind Wendell;
Mom's cousin Christina is visiting
from Brasil—she's behind Debora;
Mom and Dad are sitting next to Christina
back: Peter (in his bicentennial costume);
Nolan (sitting); Mark and Paul are on the ladder
July 4, 1976

See? We were always together. But now that we're all grown up we don't see each other so often. Last summer, at a baby shower for my cousin Julie's daughter, we were talking about that—what a shame it is that we never see each other. And then someone, I think Melanie or Debora, came up with the idea of having Cousin Get-Togethers every three months. So Melanie hosted the first one at her house in April or May; we got together and made strawberry freezer jam.

Wendy (next youngest after Melanie) hosted the second: a hike near Big Cottonwood Canyon. I was supposed to take my turn in October, but I skipped it because of mid-terms. Instead I scheduled it for after the holidays—last Friday night.

Debora, Julie and Wendy—my cousins—came, and Heidi—my sister-in-law—came, and Melanie came. We played a new board game (an invention that is still partially under wraps), and had lots of fun. We stayed up until midnight, gabbing about our kids, our family, life in general. And we told stories from when we were growing up. We laughed and laughed and laughed until my voice was sore (it still hasn't quite recovered).

Well, it's hard to write and really convey what a good time we had. But we did. It was lots of fun! And I wonder what we will do three months from now?

Debora

Julie

Wendy

Heidi

Melanie

Me!

This is Kind of . . . Funny

Go do a Google search. Type in: foods that start with U.
No, really. Do it—see if you get what I got.

Tonight I was looking through the newly revised index of my very cool, newly revised cookbook. And as I looked it seemed as if I actually had a recipe listed under every letter of the alphabet.
I was so impressed with myself! I had J, and Z, and Y, and even Q recipes! So I decided to look through the whole index to admire my alphabetical thoroughness and coolness. But, alas! I have no recipes listed under "U" or "X." Awww. What a bummer!

I thought, I'll have to do something about that. So I started to type in a Google search for "foods that start with . . ."

I got that far before Google's autocomplete filled in the rest, and here's what it said: "foods that start with U or X."

Huh! Really! Well I guess it's not just that I have a deficient cookbook, then.

The search didn't turn up much. So, do you know of any good foods or recipes that start with U or X? If you do, tell me about them. And if it's a great recipe—or even if it's a creative name for a great recipe— I can propel your U or X recipe to culinary fame by entering it into my cookbook. ;-)

Hunger

I miss having babies. Can you believe that? I mean, really believe it?

If I really stop and think about it, I remember that I hated being pregnant. Being sick non-stop for several months; gagging every time I brushed my teeth; and enduring a pinched nerve that would stop me dead in my tracks several times a day—if I was able to get started at all (and that problem has never completely gone away from me). Joints so loose that I thought I was falling apart; an emotional wreck; feeling heavy; thinking I looked awful all the time. Yeah. I did not like that. Labor was no picnic either—especially my intense dread of labor and delivery; and not just with the first one or two—I was afraid to the point of tears every time. And then a baby that keeps you up all hours of the night; huge, swollen (and leaky) breasts; dirty clothes all the time—not the just baby's, mine too.

Really, it sounds like no fun at all.

But lately I see women with new babies and have a twinge of envy; a little bit of, "Oh, I want one!" And I even see pregnant women and think they look lovely, and miss it—being pregnant. Not the being sick, of course. But the growing of a new life inside me. Feeling a baby move within me; having a little someone to talk to (so I don't just look like I'm talking to myself). And then that sweet, amazing someone who is mine and more incredible than any other being in existence.

It is kind of sad that I didn't appreciate it more when I was going through it. Well, I always appreciated the babies; just not the being pregnant. I don't really blame myself for feeling that way—not at all. I was sick and miserable, and my babies all came in quick succession: eight kids in eleven years—and the last three of those eight (Kaylie, Rachel and Jessica) were born in three years (2001, 2002, 2003). I was pretty worn out, and it really did take years for the pinched nerve to not bother me daily; sometimes it still does sneak up on me.

I do think that now—after a long break—I would appreciate it more. But having a new baby of my own is in my past; I am not having any more. This doesn't really make me feel sad because I can remember all the busy, hard stuff about those little babies, and I don't think I really want to tackle it now, in my dotage. ;-)

But most of all, I love my family; all my kids are amazing and it is so fun to see them grow up. And whoever spread that nasty rumor about teenagers—I don't know what their problem was. Teenagers are terrific! A little willful sometimes, yes; but lots of fun.

So, no; no more babies for me. Just delighting in the family I have. And, I hear that grandchildren are even better than your own kids. Just a few more years from now—like five to eight. Now there's something to look forward to!

December's Good News!

Here's what happened this month:

December 1
I turned in my Patterns project today and got rave reviews. I'll post about it later when I have more time. I also worked on my jeans for Int. Sew and they are a perfect fit!

December 2
I turned in my swatch-book for Textiles today—249 points out of 250! And Janet (my teacher) said the book was beautiful—which it is!

December 3
My bedroom is clean—really clean—again.

December 4
This morning Bruce and I took the train up-town and looked around at stuff. I enjoy spending time with my sweetheart!

December 5
I spent most of the day at home with my family. I enjoy being with them, too!

December 6
Intro to Fashion is done!! And I think I'll probably get an A—unless I totally blew the final. I think I'll be all right.

December 7
Belly Dance is all finished! I liked the class but not the time, so I'm glad it's done. And . . . I went to see my youngest—Ryan, Kaylie, Rachel and Jessica—sing in a school concert tonight. One of the more enjoyable concerts they've done at Entheos.

December 8
I finished my final project for Textiles—although not until 3:30 a.m. Does it still count for Dec. 8?

December 9
Presented my Textiles project to the class—I'll fill you in on that later. And I think I did very well on the final exam. And I'm out of school for a whole month! :-)

December 10
Tonight we had our "often-annual" Christmas party with friends. It was a good time.

December 11
This afternoon we started baking our gingerbread house. It's going to be a big one—I'll need to mix more gingerbread dough!

December 12
Tonight Bruce and I snuggled up with a blanket on the couch and watched "His Girl Friday." Which was a weird movie. But the snuggling up was good.

December 13
We put the windows into our gingerbread house tonight—it will be finished soon!

December 14
The family all went to see Jason's band concert tonight—even Abbi followed us almost all the way there (the high school's only two blocks away so we walked). But Abbi changed her mind at the last minute, and just the kids and I went. The concert was pretty good! And the people behind us complimented me on how well-behaved our kids are. :-) "We only have two," they said, "and we'd never bring them to something like this." I have awesome kids!

December 15
It's none of your business what made me feel happy today!

December 16
Got some Christmas shopping done today!

December 17
The Entheos kids' last day of school for 2010!

December 18
Got started on a big, fuzzy Christmas project today. Will I be able to finish it? On time?

December 19
Tonight we all wrote letters to my brother, Wendell. And we went to a stake Christmas fireside, and we made some fudge that is actually good. And we made home-made smokehouse almonds. Bruce says my hair smells like ham now.

December 20
I didn't have to drive any kids to school today! Winter break is official now.

December 21
This morning I was very naughty and stayed in my bed, reading until almost noon. And my nice little girls—Kaylie, Rachel and Jessica—cooked and brought me breakfast in bed!

December 22
Today we got the house very clean, and I washed and folded half of the laundry pile.

December 23
Tonight I conquered fudge. Not mastered it, but I think perhaps I've figured it out.

December 24
Christmas Eve! And Santa has already left some goodies at our door.

December 25
Merry Christmas!

December 26
I slept in clear until 8:12 this morning—without waking up several times during the night. Aaaahhhh.

December 27
We took the kids to use up some gift cards that they got. Half of my children are wearing fedoras now. :-) And I got a couple of much-needed bookshelves for my room.

December 28-29
Christmas-ing! Sleeping in, playing with new games and toys, hanging out at home. :-)

December 30
Tonight we got the Christmas decorations down, cleaned the garage and got the living room back to normal—except that it is spotless and beautiful. I love my house when it's clean!

December 31
We had a fabulous dinner, lots of treats and some games—all to share with Brad and Becky and their family. Staying up until midnight was a bit much, but we all did it. Happy New Year!