Weekend Scrapping

Beth and I participated in a Scrapbooking Weekend. Normally, we trekked to Grayling for the Goosebump Patch Scrapbooking Weekend. At the Grayling event, there are usually several hundred women in attendance. This group did not offer a fall event this year, so scrappers from Sparrow created their own--much closer to home! We rented space at the Holiday Inn Express on Okemos Road. The hotel gave us great discounts on rooms. The banquet/meeting room was a perfect setup for the 25+ who attended. The hotel was much cleaner and more modern than the Grayling building and the hot tub, heated pool and free breakfast just made it perfect. On Sunday, it was a five minute drive home. I started by Christmas cards and worked on a retirement scrapbook for a colleague. Life is good.

Happy Birthday

Noel celebrated his 4th birthday last Saturday with a party at Mason Lanes. There were six children, 3 of them cousins, in attendance. It took at least 6 adults to manage the party and the bowling! Even using gutter bumpers and a launching ramp, the bowling balls were agonally slow in moving down the lanes! We were even blowing, hoping a little breeze would keep them going. They all seemed to have a great time. It doesn't seem possible that he's four years old already.

The Software

My new sewing machine is an embroiderer. The computer screen on the front of the machine is about 6 in x 6 in. When Noel first saw the screen, he yelled, "Grammy, there's a TV on it!" The software, loaded on my computer, is used to create designs to download to the sewing machine for embroidering. It is the most protected software I have ever used. The software, after the first ten times of access, cannot be used unless the dongle is inserted in a USB port of the computer. Each software package has a dongle specific to that software package. The dongles are not interchangeable. No dongle, no software. If you loose it, no problem - just re-buy the software ($700 - $2100 depending on the options you choose.) If you travel across the country with your machine but forget your dongle, you'll have extra time on your hands. You won't be sewing using your software. So, why cave in and buy it in the first place? Because it's the best.

The sample redwork snow[wo]man is one of the simpler patterns. (The "F" stands for Frosty!)

Along the road

We found these cat-tails growing along the road near the cottage.

Husqvarna-Viking

This is my new Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machine! I've had my eye on it for about a year. It has taken time to weigh the expense of the machine and my "need" to have an embroidery machine. The has two USB ports on the left side. The compute screen on the front fascinated Noel who thought I had a TV on the sewing machine! The opportunities that nudged be into purchasing the dang thing were two design software packages--one to stitch beautiful Hummel designs and one for machine applique/embroidery of wildflowers. Mettler threads are used in the Hummel designs. It's remarkable how close the tones and colors are to the actual figurines.

I bought my machine through the local Viking dealer at Joann's Superstore. I purchased one used as a demonstrator at the Novi Sewing Expo. The machine had been used for a few hours but it allowed for a substantial discount. I really wanted to have the machine to take on our sewing retreat, but the machine needed to be shipped to Lansing from the Detroit area. We were leaving early Thursday morning and they thought it would probably be delivered mid-day on Thursday. On Monday, Beth called me at work to say that the software for my machine was ready to be picked up at Joann's in Lansing---but the machine was not there. I stopped into Joann's very late on Monday to pick it up, asking again if there might be a possibility the machine would be there by Wednesday afternoon. The sales clerk was very elusive about the delivery date, so much so that I was wondering if I should have purchased it somewhere else. She was evasive about the machine but very open about the software I was picking up.

I got home about 9:30pm to an empty house. Beth, Billy and Noel came home about 10pm. As they entered the house, Noel was yelling, "Grammy, you got a new TV!" They knew how much I wanted the machine for the weekend, so they piled in the Tahoe on Monday afternoon and drove to Allen Park, MI to pick it up for me. I was wonderfully surprised and grateful.

Tomorrow--the software!

Quiet & Serene

The view from the cottage was of the Lake Huron shoreline-very quiet and serene. It reminded me of the summers we spent with Grandpa Wood at Orpha's cottage in Grindstone City. I have interesting memories of that place. I remember the fireplace and the warm fires on cold evenings. I remember an old oak dining room table that had been cut down to create a huge coffee table. Once I had my own house, I looked a long time to find a similar round oak coffee table.

More About the Weekend Retreat

Three women, FIVE sewing machines and a kitty! Cyan, the kitty, was contraband. The only "rule" about the cottage for the weekend was "no pets." The kitty was well-behaved and potty-trained and too small to be left behind.

We set up our work area so that we had a great view of the lake. Carol drove her Chrysler Pacifica--and we were amazed that the equipment we hauled fit nicely into it. In addition to the tables required to hold the sewing machines and for work space, we hauled up an ironing board and iron, cutting boards and scads of fabric. Carol and Van each used two sewing machines-one for machine embroidery - which pretty much self-operates, and one for regular sewing. I took only one machine---but more about that tomorrow!

Up North

For four days, three of us enjoyed a sewing retreat weekend at a cottage near Oscoda, Michigan. The weather was very crisp at night but glorious during the day. We had a beautiful view of the lake and enjoyed the eagles, the deer and the squirrels. We planned the four hour drive (which took seven hours because of our itinerary) to be able to stop at quilt shops along the way. The best of the lot was the Cotton Patch Shop. For a smaller town, we were amazed at how well stocked the store was with a variety of fabrics and patterns. We learned from the owner that the bulk of her business is internet/mail order. It allows her to carry a larger variety. The day we were there, she had six women working in the store, cutting fabric for the quilts she supplies to quilters around the world. We spent more time talking than shopping. Tune in this week for more on the Sewing Weekend!

Cooler Weather???

I noticed today I haven't added a blog since late August. I could argue that I was waiting for cooler weather ---! Who would believe that we would be complaining of high 80 degree temperatures and humidity in the middle of October--in the middle of Michigan.

The trees are starting to turn brilliantly beautiful. This one, along the west side of Hagadorn Road near Holt Road, is deeply into the fall color change.

Fall has brought some interesting new things to our household. Noel started pre-school. There was a lot of concern about him starting pre-school without being "potty-trained." Peer pressure must have been the key--he was wearing undies and using the toilet within four hours of starting pre-school. He loves his teacher, Miss Christy, and to the surprise of his mother, he's actually been behaving at school. (He saves his VERY best stuff for home.)