Flypaper thoughts, random Sunday night edition

Miss Scarlett, seated, and the neighbour from next door figuring out a project

Mr. Billy surrounded by sewing girls wanted a job. We disengaged the clutch and took out the needle and let him clean the machine with Q tips. He did very well but got whiny at the end "I want to oil the machine. Why can't I oil the machine? Heidi was allowed to oil a machine." etc.

• So this was the weekend
• Son-in-law turned 40 and they celebrated with an East Coast party
• Which means all kids had a sleepover at Babsie's
• Folks elected to sleep on air mattresses on the floor beside the beds ready for them
• Because it was a sleepover
• And ate Poppa Leo's "the good chicken" for dinner
• And dug out their own ice cream
• Arguing over portions so long
• That it melted on the counter
• But only one cried about that
• Not me
• Next morning we sewed and brought in the girl from next door too
• Taking over the entire basement with tables and sewing machines has been helpful
• Random week
• I am in Jalie's pattern testing group 
• Been working on the set that is to be released shortly
• What I can tell you now is that these are technically very clever patterns
• I am seeing ways of putting things together that are totally new to me
• I enjoy new construction ideas pretty much more than anything else in this world
• Just under the pleasure of a long talk on the phone with a far away child
• Or watching little people who love to sew
• Back to the patterns
• Very wearable and different garments than last year's releases
• Fun to work on something in advance
• Got to get my skates on this week though
• Silk arriving for those 7 ties for one son's company
• Been a hold up at the printer getting the fabric
• Sometimes I really shouldn't say how hard can it be
• Because sometimes it is
• Miss Daisy has only 5 weeks of "cage rest" to go
• She is feeling better 
• This means she is trying to vault out of the cage
• Or get me to spring her with dirty looks aimed at my direction
• It hurts me more than it hurts you makes about as much sense to a dog and it did to kids
• Which is zilch
• Have you been to Portland?
• I am going there the later part of May to Quilt Market
• The publisher wants the new authors there to present
• And sit on a chair as scheduled and sign books
• I think I am going to have to practice my signature
• Like you used to in high school testing out boy's last names with yours
• Did you ever do that?
• Completely meaningless activity
• Anyway no one can read my writing
• And that would include me
• How many times have I been called from the grocery store
• "It says 'toes' do you really mean that?"
• "Tomatoes"
• "sedw"?
• "Shredded Wheat"
• "Ll"
• Lemons and limes"
• Question for you
• When was the last time anyone was taught shorthand?
• Or took a class in it?
• Or even said the word out loud?
• Or knew what it meant?
• Now there was a skill
• Not one I ever had
• When I saw it reminded me of the feeling
• Of finding something in the back of your mother's drawer
• That made no sense to you 
• But gave you a definite feeling that adults understood what it meant
• Vet has given us a consult to a dog acupuncturist/physio
• I am hiding this from my daughter who is a human medical person
• And who says strange things like
• It's a dog mom
• And rolls her eyes
• When I say I would do the same for you
• Listen if they didn't want me to treat the dog like my child then they should never have left home
• Let's be clear about this
• Do you think I am too old to wear a yellow bathing suit?
• How about a yellow bathing suit with turquoise parrots on it?
• I am asking you so I don't need to ask my daughter
• Not sure about her judgement right now