I’m seriously thinking of applying for my chauffer’s license. I’ve been acting like a chauffeur so I might as well have the certification.
My hubby now has physical therapy 3 times a week and I find myself meeting myself on the road!!! :o)
This morning I had to drive him to pick up something for our car. When we got there, the place was closed. It must be a new Covid thing because it’s always been open on Fridays before.
But…there was a thrift place just down the road, so I asked if we could stop there for a few minutes. He used his cane and managed to go in and hobble around. I wandered in the media room and glanced around at the books. For some reason this one caught my eye…
I picked it up and it opened to this page…”Sewing Supplies.” I obviously know I have way more sewing stuff than the average person, but it was kind of fun to read what they had to say about paring down your supplies. I thought you all might get a kick out of the 2 pages below.
I do have things that won’t be making it in my “new and improved” sewing room, but for the most part, I’ll probably always have more supplies than your average person who sews. :o)
Now for an update on Simon…
My neighbor texted me asking how my hubby was and just casually mentioned I should come over and see the 3 baby raccoons they had rescued out by the edge of their road. I quicky texted her back and told her the rest of the story…they HAD to be Simon’s siblings and we were trying to help single Simon get a little bigger before he decided to leave.
They had their 3 in a cage and wondered if we wanted to bring Simon over to join them. As much as Simon might like that, Rebecca said. “No!” She has grown QUITE fond of going out and feeding him…he comes out when he sees or hears us and has a few favorites!!! He LOVES bananas the best, then marshmallows, next Circus Peanuts candy, fish, chicken and salmon.
Our neighbors say theirs will only eat eggs, fish, strawberries and sweetened condensed milk. They don’t like bananas at all and Simon won’t eat strawberries. I guess it’s what they were given as a baby.
There are 3 young girls tending to Simon’s siblings and they give them baths and treat them like kittens. We aren’t doing that, but Simon will take a piece of banana out of Rebecca’s fingers.
My hubby put a couple pieces of wood on some brackets and screwed them to the tree so Simon can get his food there instead of coming down to the ground…
It’s kind of hard to tell if a baby raccoon is a girl or boy…and we’ve been wondering if Simon is really a Simon? Perhaps she’s a Simone!
Rebecca suggested “Marsha” because she loves marshmallows, but I tried going out there and calling…”Marsha” up at the tree hole and it wasn’t quite the same as calling out…”Simon!”
Then Rebecca suggested “Roxy” so sometimes we go out there and call that name out.
Poor thing…he/she doesn’t know which name to answer to. Here’s a picture from today…
I was exhausted when we got home from therapy today…and I wasn’t the one doing the exercises! I never made it into my sewing room today, but hope to Saturday!!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
See you Monday,
Blessings, Jeanne
I had to laugh. It’s quite obvious that Stephanie Culp (the author of that book you spotted) is Not a sewer! The very idea of only keeping what you will use up within a year….why, if I did that….well, Ron would probably be happy, but I wouldn’t!! I find my sewing stash (collection of fabrics, patterns, etc.) is really my inspiration, and gets the creative juices flowing, so to speak. Most of the time I am doing my planning After the fabric stores close. (I’ve tried to convince them that staying open till midnight was quite reasonable, but somehow, they didn’t agree!! LOL) These past few months, I’ve been so thankful to have all the fabrics, elastics, etc. that I do, because it enabled me to make masks for friends and families without having to go out shopping! (And many places were running out of things like elastic, so I wouldn’t have been able o buy it, anyway!)
As to the raccoons–well, what a relief that Simon’s siblings are safe and sound at the neighbor’s house!! I suppose young animals are like young children–they all have their food preferences. Thanks for the update!
Glad George is doing okay with his PT and all. It really does put a certain amount of stress on you when, in addition to all the other things you do, you also have to do all the driving.
I started PT today myself, and she did some things/had me do some things, and managed to get my hips back into better alignment. I’m still hurting (and will for a while yet), but I think I’m walking a little better after her work today.
Hi Charlotte,
I realized Stephanie wasn’t a seamstress either…after about 3 sentences!
I guess it’s up to us die hard sewers to “buy” all the fabrics we can!!
I hope your PT goes well…you’ve been hurting much too long!!!
Blessings, Jeanne
I guess I should copy that cover book clip and hang it over my sewing machine. How apropos as I too am considering where to go with the sewing/doll mess. I seem to have fabric is many sizes. So sorting by the smaller amounts for dolls and larger amounts for whatever may be the key. Definitely not going under a local bed as they are already occupied with card tables/chairs or a sliding box of wrapping paper. 🙂
Very interesting that Simon’s siblings didn’t abandon him at all, but were rescued by another good samaritan. Hope your neighbor supervises her kids while with the fury youngsters. I believe I told you about my friend who also had one from the time it was a baby until it matured and bit her. They are wild animals. Does Simon wash his food before eating it? The ones around here use the bird water bath for that chore. Rebecca should put out a big pan of water and see if Simon uses it. 🙂
Have a great weekend.
Hi Joy
You sound like I’m feeling today…”where am I going to put all this stuff???” I guess I’ll figure it out by process of elimination!!
Rebecca was just mentioning today that we should get the pans out that my hubby uses for his birds to splash around in, and see if Simon would like that.
We arent planning to keep Simon for a pet…when he leaves….he leaves… I don’t know what our neighbors are planning with theirs…
Also, as far as the fabrics go on that bookshelf, they will have to stay put for now. Instead of figuring out things like that, I have to concentrate on getting things mostly in order right now.
Thanks Joy
Blessings, Jeanne
Interesting article…if I followed that I’d probably empty my whole basement! 🤪It has me thinking though…and we are having a Garage Sale in mid July because my daughter is moving today and has purged and purged…. I guess I better get busy going through my supplies too.
Have fun putting all the important things away in your pretty new sewing room😉
That book. I almost have no words. As Charlotte says, the author is not a sewist. OR even a crafter.
The baby raccoons are adorable. Turning them into pets seems like a recipe for trouble. I look forward to the continuing saga because I’m observing from a distance!
Happy George is making a good recovery. Keep it up!
Hi Julia,
We don’t plan on turning Simon/Roxy into a pet…just helping him or her survive until it leaves. When we wake up some day and it’s not there anymore, we know we will have done our part!
We realize it going to be a long slow recovery for my hubby. The therapist said his case was quite complex, with all his lymph nodes in his lower abdomen removed…she said they were there to gather up the blood in his legs and keep them from swelling…with no lymph nodes the are trying to massage and reroute the swelling to the lymph nodes under his arm pit.
Thanks Julia
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Kathie,
I’m trying to go through my stuff and ask myself, is this something you REALLY need? And. Is this doll related? But it’s hard to let go of things. I always tell myself I’ll use it someday…just like in the book!!!
Is there hope for us seamstresses?
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
I didn’t get to comment yesterday so I have to include today that I was wowed by your new sewing studio. I would love to have the amount of space and storage that you do. If I had my way I would sleep in what is my sewing room and use my master bedroom for my sewing/crafting room. It’s large and the lighting is beyond fabulous, but I don’t think hubby would be okay with that.
Really glad you found out what happened to Simon’s siblings. They are so cute and tiny. For now!
I read the two pages and have to agree with others that this person does not sew or craft. My reaction to her suggestions: NO! I’m not getting rid of any of my stuff. Soon as I do that I’d be looking for it. I may be overcrowded in my sewing room but it inspires me. Okay, so sometimes it overwhelms me, but it’s a joyful overwhelming. I have a friend who has a friend come in every couple years and go through her closet and get rid of things. She pretty much clears out most of it. I can’t do that. I find it hard to get rid of anything. That probably comes from my childhood where things were hard to come by and things that broke or wore out were rarely replaced. So, my closets are as overcrowded as my sewing room, but I can tell you that if I give away an item of clothing I find myself looking for it and wishing I hadn’t. My hubby says I’m the only one he knows who has so much stuff but still knows everything they have. It’s a blessing and a curse.
Looks like your getting closer to dolly creativity. Can’t wait. Your new room is going to be a total joy to create in. You and your hubby did an absolutely beautiful job.
Hi Barbara,
I was kidding my hubby telling him if I had a small frig and a bed, I could live in my sewing room!! Guess not!!!
When my sister Deb was here helping me sort through things in my room, she was laughing at her small stash of sewing supplies. When I read the 2 pages from Stephanie’s book, I immediately thought of Deb and her little shoe box full of stuff.
On the other hand, I could put my music supplies in a small box and Deb’s would be in a room my size!! To each his own!!
Thank you for your kind compliments on my new room. I am completely overwhelmed at what has been done and how pretty it looks in there. I love it!!
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, your space is beautiful! And I laughed at that clutter book–I have supplies that are a decade or more old, and they’re staying put. My mom and I used to joke that we were fabric & supply “collectors,” so we would feel better about our messy rooms. And now that I inherited all of my mother’s supplies and fabric, my “clutter” has doubled, even though I tried to sort some of it out as I was bringing it into the house. Ah, well.
Glad Simon’s siblings are well, and I hope your neighbor is cautious about letting the kids play with them–as they grow they might get more like the wild animals they are. Or maybe I simply live in an area that is not so fond of the “trash pandas,” as my grown daughters call them because of the mischief they cause! Enjoy them, carefully.
Glad George seems to be recuperating well! Keep up that PT–it will be the difference between improved mobility and not so improved.
I so enjoy your posts–they are a highlight of my day!
Hi Beth,
People who don’t sew have no idea how much you need and it’s just easier to have more in inventory than run to the store everytime you need a button or a new color of thread…
I’m guessing I’ll always have plenty in my sewing room…sounds like you too!!
I’m surprised my hubby has gone along with us nursing Simon like he has. He pretty much feels the same way about raccoons as your daughters. But I guess because we found them as babies with no mom made him have a little softer heart.
I’m glad you are enjoying my blog posts each day. It’s nice to have you as a reader.
Blessings, Jeanne
I had to laugh at the book as well. I have sewing patterns and supplies that I had when I was a teen.I know that the Marie Kondo de-cluttering is a rage now, but definitely not for me. Houses with that minimalist look look cold and unlived in IMO. Ifr your things are neat and organized and you can find them , that’s what counts, and I can. I’m like you, Barbara. I know what I have and where it is. I started a thread once on PT if you would know if you had a certain piece of doll clothing or accessory if shown a picture and I definitely would or could tell you I had deliberately only chosen pieces of a set.
So glad to know that Simon’s siblings are safe and well cared for. They might never want to leave, but they are wild creatures and will have to be someday.
Everyone have a great weekend.
Hi Laura,
Stephanie would “croak” if she knew you were holding onto patterns you had when you were a teenager!! What does she really know???? :o)
We know Simon will leave some day and that’s okay with us…it’s just been a few months of memory making for us.
Thanks Laura
Blessings, Jeanne
Organizing is a must I think. I like even my junk drawers to be organized. However, now that I think of it, I don’t have junk drawers anymore- likes are with likes in all drawers or at least the drawers have section bins.
The raccoons are so cute and adorable. My husband and I are partial to raccoons and during our camping seasons, would feed them when they visited our campsites.
We took care of a rescued raccoon ourselves. Eventually a man who lived on a farm took him as he got bigger and told us “Oily”waddled around his farm. Oily was named because he squeaked a lot.
Simon is just adorable peeking out of his hole. I hope he grows up strong and smart about his surroundings. ( road traffic).
It is kind of you and your neighbors to watch out for them.
Hi Paula,
I’m trying to organize somewhat as I’m putting my room back together. But I’m trying to do it sort of quickly and just get my room functionig again.
I’m hoping we have helped Simon get a little stronger while he lives in the tree. When he leaves I hope he makes it okay…
Thanks Paula
Blessings, Jeanne
I had to laugh at all the comments about the book. I am extremely lucky, when I had my garage built after we lost our previous house in the Feb 2011 earthquake I made the garage big enough for my car (a very small one) and added a toilet and storage room and a work room that is 8mx4m and includes a kitchen as I am a cake decorator as well . It is a wonderful space but an equation I read about housework I believe fits crafters as well. Craft supplies expand to fill the space available plus one cupboard lol. My mother died in 1984 and I inherited her supplies as well, Many have been used but still use some of her threads for tacking, and she had lots of tiny hooks and eyes. I also still have button tin though I ‘ve used most of her buttons now.
I might join you Jeanne, applying for a chauffeurs licence, my daughter has breast cancer and I have been her driver to her appointments. During Lockdown her husband took her but now we are back to normal it is me again. On Tuesday she starts radio therapy which is everyday for 15 mins for 3 weeks but a twenty minute drive there and back and still no parking at the hospital so have no idea what I will do for 15 mins I will probably have enough time to find a park then have to turn around and go back to pick her up.
Hi Anne,
Yep, let’s start chauffer’s club! We can report each day where we went and how many miles we drove!! :o)
We can all be praying for your daughter as she goes for treatments…you too as you drive around looking a parking spot!!
Your sewing space sounds nice! Packed with stuff…like the rest of us, but nice!!
Thank you Anne,
Blessings ,Jeanne
I was just thinking about Simon. As winter approaches and he’s still around, perhaps George will have to make him a raccoon house aka dog house. It will be too cold for him to remain in the tree. Hee hee. 🙂
Hi Joy,
I’m hoping he is long gone by then!!!
Blessings, Jeanne
Sorry I am late to reply. I just returned home from yet another hospital stay. I’ve been passing out for no know reason and 100 tests later and no answer. No good as I have bilateral balance issues due to Chiari Malformation so I lose my balance or fall at leas a dozen times a day. Think I might need to move into a bubble. Haha! Wasn’t thrilled about going as New Jersey is still having high cases of COVID. It was strange as no visitors, everybody in protective gear, plastic walls everywhere and only 1 person in a room. All curtains and privacy curtains taken down and no showering. But I looked at as a mini vacation…rest in bed, meals served, room cleaned (4x’s a day)…so all was good.
Well I showed my grandson you sweet Simon. He said if you lived closer he would take him as he has always wanted to have one for a pet that was taken right after birth. Me on there other, will admit they are cute but I don’t like them. Garbage Vandals getting into everything and tossing food out of the trash and then comes along 10 of their best friends and a opossum or two. (Which I hate even more).
I am loving your room and amazed at how far you and George have came even with his surgery and therapy. Therapy is the pits as it’s like a interruption of your day. The only time it works for me is if I can the first appointment of the day. Remember to take time for yourself during all this as that is just as important as taking care of George and being his chauffeur. Though side trips to thrift stores are always fun.
I will not confess to the amount of supplies I have in my studio. I moved 8 weeks ago and just found the floor. My studio is my sewing room, my doll room, my mixed media art room and where I create cards. So I have an abundance of all kinds of supplies. People walk in and it is a visual overload…lol! Oh, and it is where I show my collection of antiques and prints by my favorite artist Bill Bell. The lady who wrote that book is disillusion. I can’t wait to see your room when it is finished and everything in place where you visioned it.
Blessings.
Hi Sandra,
Oh my goodness..please do take care of yourself. I can’t imagine passing out that many times a day! Yikes!!!
If your grandson lived closer, we would gladly give Simon/Roxy to him. I’m only taking care of him, until helesves. I might miss him for a few days, but we’ll be fine.
Yes, side trips to thrift shops are certainly fun to make the day a little more enjoyable.
I’m glad you found the floor in your sewing studio…I’ve moved most of the stuff from my living room back in my room, so I’m looking for my floor now!!!
Thanks Sandra,
Be safe,
Blessings, Jeanne