Shade Tree Mechanics

I came back from Sew Day to find that these two had volunteered to help DH fix the truck. The three decided that the fuel pump was the problem. So they pulled the fuel pump out of the gas tank. It was some kind of ugly mess with rust in the tank and a second clogged filter. No wonder the truck wouldn't work!

  Getting the tank down wasn't that much of a problem but now they have to put it back on. Trouble with a capital T!
 I am beginning to wonder if I will be driving this truck any time soon...after all the mechanics aren't as old as the truck.




  Watching the three stoogies couldn't have been better than listening to the banter between these two, DH, and DSS..These two were just kids when DH and I became a couple. They were the neighborhood trouble makers and haven't changed much. Love them! All 4 are just big kids!
UPDATE: The truck is running like a clock and they washed it too.
Lator, Gators! May the fabric you desire appear in your stash. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE!

Coming of Age

Goodbye Ellie

Today is the day!
   Today, I turn over my Honda Element (Ellie) to my DGD#2 Samantha. DGD#2 is a senior this year and 7 years ago Ellie was promised to her on her 18th b-day which is October 5th. Insurance has been acquired and DGD#2 has had 2 years of practice in every kind of situation except driving Ellie in BR. (My heart couldn't take it!)
   So why is she getting it  at least 2 months early? Well, her mom got a teaching job in Opelousas getting off at 3:30 and DGD#2 gets off of school at 12:10. The school is definitely not in walking or hiking distance being over 10 miles away and school starts Monday. So DGD#2 needs the vehicle early.  
   Now what am I going to drive? That is the 30 thousand dollar question. I used my down payment for a truck on vet and doctor bills over the summer so can't get a new truck just yet. I have to wait for the stock market to settle before that happens. So there just happens to be in our yard this 30 year old truck, Smithy, that DH is having fixed for me. 

Hello Smithy

   Why haven't we been using it? Well, Smithy has been known to stop in the middle of a trip (not necessarily in a convenient area)  - take a 3 hour nap and then start again as if nothing was wrong. The mechanic has been stumped and has changed everything that can be changed except what I think is wrong - a short in the wiring harness and when wires gets hot, the truck stops. 
   All our cars have names: The element is Ellie; the crown vic is Lady Vic; the motor home is Vernalee (after my mom who loved to travel as long as you stopped by 6pm and ate at Cracker Barrel); and the two vehicles that old man Smith gave us -the car is Mr. Smith b/c it still smells like him after 15 yrs. and the truck is Smithy.
  I have to be strong b/c it is necessary but am wishing I were the kind of person who didn't keep promises. This is one promise that is very hard to keep. But honestly except to have in case DH and I are going in different directions which is happening less and less these days, Smithy is all we really need as a second car. 
   After Smithy is running properly, maybe DSIL will paint Smithy Candy Apple Red  or Metallic Teal as a Christmas present. One can only hope and wish!
  Lator Gators! Putting my Big Girl Panties on (as my daughters all say) and handing over keys. May all the fabric you desire find its way into your stash. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE!

Leeapaul Update 2

   We drove to BR today to bring Leeapaul and Lorenzo to the vets at LSU. Dr. Upchurch and Dr. Matt are wonderful vets and have done wonders.
   They were amazed at the progress that Lorenzo has made in 10 days ago. He has been released  and only needs to come back if something develops. 


Leeapaul had his bandaged removed and we got a short reprimand. Dr. Matt did share part of the blame since he forgot to give me the gloves to cover the bandage last time. Everytime I would cover the bandage with peel & stick, Lee would peel it off also Pape doesn't take him out with the leash and Leeapaul hops quickly around the yard. This caused his bandage to slip down and become soiled with urine. He goes back next Thursday so hopefully we will do better. Otherwise he is doing fine!

While we were in BR, Glen came meet us and we went eat lunch at a local place. Between Glen and Pape(Stelly), I laughed constantly. I realized that one of the reasons that I like her so very much is that she is exactly like Pape in personality. Frank, Glen's husband, came meet us for lunch and the 4 of us hit it off, I think. I know Glen and Pape hit it off. It made an unpleasant experience much more pleasant. But as Dr. Upchurch says, "We can't keep meeting under these circumstances!" I wish that Glen & Frank & Dutch weren't going thru what they are going thru and I wish we weren't either. But life is as it is so no complaining. 
  Kristin, DGD#1, was waiting for us when we got home. She fussed at us b/c pape wasn't clear last night when he told her we were going to bring boys to vets today. She woke up thinking we were bringing only Lorenzo and when to take Leeapaul for a potty break and he wasn't there! I think my 'self proclaimed dog hater' has developed a crush on Leeapaul and Lorenzo. LOL   

  As for the exercise routine, it is getting done but the results aren't happening either from the diet or exercise. Although Glen said that my face is thinner, the scale is not saying the same. Oh, well, the elliptical was a whole lot easier this morning. I have another session with the trainer tomorrow and then again on Monday. UGH! 
  Next week is filling up fast....Monday:exercise in morning and bowling in evening; Tuesday: prep for DH; Wednesday: DH has procedure; Thursday: Exercise in early morning &Vet visit for Leeapaul & guild meeting; Friday & Saturday: Shop Hop; Sunday: Cut fabric for my turn in Bee. Think I will go sew to relax...maybe even work on DJ's quilt.
Lator Gators! May the fabric you desire find its way into your stash before you need it. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE!

Design Wall August 8, 2011

KSG Lotto 2

KSG Lotto 1

June Bee 

July Swap

My design wall still has my March UFO on it. That bothers me (since it is my DGS#5's quilt-as-you-go graduation quilt) but not enough to drop all my other projects. Quilting it means cleaning my table so I can maneuver it on my machine.  He will get it  
before Sammie DGD#2 gets her spider web one in May.

August Bee Ready to be made

August Swap

I am proud of myself since I finished the June Bee block, July Swap block, August Swap block, KSG lotto blocks, and practice blocks while caring for my 'sick boys' and visiting doctors, vets, and trainers. LOL My DGS#10 came back today to help cut tumblers -3 days in a row. Still wondering what he wants!
Lator Gators! May all the fabric you desire appear in your stash before you need it. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE 1>0)

Stash Report

Fabric Added this week: 0 yards 

Fabric Added in August: 0 yards

Fabric Added YTD: 72.685 yards (about 9 yards a month)Ugh!    

Fabric Used This Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used in August: 0 yards I'm sewing but not finishing.

Fabric Used YTD: 114.18 yards

Stash Enhancement/ Busted: 41.495 yards   ( down to 5 yards a month ugh!)


I have been sewing scraps and blocks but no finishes. I gave another top and backing to quilter but nothing is back yet. DD#1 has slowed down to a crawl but that is ok.
Due to all the vet bills and hospital bills, my fabric budget is down to nill so I have been shopping from my stash. Now on 8/20 that should all change since I am going on a shop hop and have money put away for that. On the hop, I plan to buy the fabric for my swap block turn. 
Well, everyone has there meds so off to the sewing room I go.
Lator Gators. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE. May all the fabric you desire appear in your stash before you need it.