Sewing

I am trying to make changes in my wardrobe. I am a jeans gal. Unfortunately, jeans don't fit me so well anymore since it "seems" like my circumference is the same as my height! Physically, I am a mess, so needless to say, exercise is out of the question and everything I eat or drink changes to that horrific three letter word F...T.

Anyway, for some time now, I have been under conviction to get rid of the pants and go strictly to dresses and skirts. I know. How can I possibly stand to wear something like that full time? I don't know. But I'm willing to give it a try. Unfortunately, skirts and dresses are very difficult to find unless I want to spend a fortune or go to the mall. Since it's too difficult to walk, the mall is out of the question. What I have managed to do is find a couple of patterns and bought some fabric to make some skirts. Now, normally, I love to sew, but the older I have gotten, the lazier I have gotten and it's just so much easier to buy stuff ready made. Plus, it's actually cheaper! I look at myself in a skirt and top, or a jumper and think, my goodness, I am as round as I am tall! Oh well. At my age, I can say, if you don't like what you see, then look somewhere else. Last weekend, I had planned on sewing three denim skirts. Fat chance. Went to a church breakfast for the ladies, afterwards a baby shower, and supper with my Dad. I then plopped my fanny in the recliner when I got home and did nothing. I did manage on Friday night to cut off a jumper that was too small on top and turn it into a skirt though. Worked perfectly! So, I have two denim skirts now - and three more to make. Right now, one of the fabric stores is having a great sale and they have several pieces of that microfiber stuff that I want to make into skirts and jumpers. At 53% off, it would bring each yard down to a little over $6. Since I need about 3 yards for a skirt, it could get a little spendy even at that low price. So, I just sat and drooled over the fabric and gave a little sigh...... I ended up spending almost $3 for a spool of thread to fix my daughter's sweater.

Changes

I need a new name for my blog. The reason it has been Has Anyone Seen My Identity is because for years, I have felt my identity was wrapped up in my grandchildren. For some reason, they validated me, my existence, my reason for living. But, they are growing up - the oldest is 12, the youngest is 4. All are in school except for the youngest and he and I are working on the pre-school routine until he actually starts pre-school in January of next year (only 3 months away). When that day comes, I shall probably lie in bed and cry all day. He is the last grandchild. There won't be anymore.

So, I need a new blog name. But, being who I am, I am totally unimaginative so I need some help. It's probably going to take me awhile before I can come up with something new so have patience with me. If you happen to read any of my blog and get some kind of clue about me, and through all of that, you can think of a good name, please feel free to post a comment and I will definitely consider your ideas!

Meanderings

How long do sea monkeys live? I have heard that they can live for years but I have gone through one batch and they died. Started a second batch and I only have 3 left. I think they must be survivors. I used to have a LOT of them but they all died off. I have this little container that they live in, up on top of my computer desk. I am sick of looking at it but I can't bear to flush them down the drain. So, I guess I will just keep feeding them once or twice a week and wait til they kick the bucket.

Today, I spent a long time dicing about 25 pounds of onions for the dehydrator. My house smells so bad. I can even smell them when I go outside! The dehydrator is drying away and I can hardly wait til they are nothing but little squares so I can bag them up and store them for long term storage - that consists of vacuum sealing with them with an oxygen absorber, wrapping the bag in several layers of plastic wrap and then stuffing it all into a mylar bag with another oxygen absorber and putting the entire thing into a dark plastic tote. They will last about 30 years.

I didn't do any canning this year. What a relief! I still have stuff in my pantry from the last two years - except I do need green beans, carrots, and beets. However, I have been dehydrating for over a year now. Long term storage. I have 3 black plastic totes full of dehydrated food. All of it will last 30 years. But......I know we won't be here on this earth that long. Not with what is going on in our world and knowing the signs of the times - biblically speaking - I don't believe we have much time left. So, you ask, why am I storing up food? Well, I may never get back to canning for physical reasons. Hubby could lose his job, or a family member could lose theirs and they would need some help. Who knows? I have to say that even though it's a lot of work (far less than canning though), it's really satisfying to see silver bags full of food. I think it is every bit as satisfying as looking at rows and rows of canned food - although the home canned is far prettier since you can see what is in the jar. And guess what - I have made homemade pot pie with some of my dehydrated veggies. I just reconstitute them first. You would never know they had been dehydrated. I can store dehydrated stuff in canning jars with an oxygen absorber for short term. Still have to keep the jars in a dark room - which I have a pantry in the basement which is just fine. I can say this - once you start dehydrating, you become OBSESSED and want to dehydrate everything!