We went a-visiting...

I spent this afternoon out driving with my mother in law. We went to take her sister home, who had gone up to the cottage with her last week. After we dropped her off, in a small town about 20 minutes or so from us, we went the the next little town and visited her other sister for an hour or so. When we got there, we noticed they had a "For Sale" sign on their front lawn, so she filled us in on their news of listing their house for sale. They've decided it's time to down-size. Their house is one of those nice old and big two story brick homes that was built around the start of the last century. They have a walk up attic space too, so it really could be a three story. They've lived there for years and years, and she was saying when they first bought the house, she was so worried that they wouldn't be able to make ends meet with having a 25 year mortgage for $19,000!! Oh my God! You can't even buy a car for that now! Well, a new one anyway! But then again, we're talking about 40 years ago when they first bought this house.

So their realtor has their house listed at $289,900! Not a bad return on that $19,000 investment, huh? But here's the kicker... they're planning on buying a condo now. Not a new luxury condo or anything, but just a nice place for the two of them. I think she said it was eight years old. The price tag on that is $177,900, and they'll have to pay condo fees too. So there goes most of that almost three hundred grand profit they'll make on their house. But her and her husband are looking forward to moving and having less work to do around the house. Makes me wonder what our own house is worth, and what it will be worth when the time comes that we decide to sell it.

After we left there, we stopped in at my sister in law's house, who lives in this same small town. We had a short visit with her, and checked out all the ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) she's been getting in the mail through swaps. She belongs to some craft swap site online, and has got these cool cards from all over the world. Some of them are really pretty and very detailed. And then some are pretty plain and simple. I think I may join in on these swaps come this fall. I wouldn't mind making a few of them myself, but I'm too busy right now to think about doing anything until after the summer.

Then we came back home, and I was dreaming about dinner all the way, hoping that my husband had the BBQ warming up to grill our steaks we are having. We get back home only to find out that my husband isn't home. He's got the bag of charcoal sitting outside, but he's nowhere to be found. If he doesn't get home soon, I'm going to start that BBQ and eat myself! I'm starving!

Olivia

The end of an awesome day

Just got home from the first outdoor BBQ of the season, and I'm still full! Nothing beats an outdoor meal of BBQ'd t-bone and baked potato -- nothing! It was so nice to sit outside and eat too, after a miserable winter.

I had a busy day until dinner today. I worked out in the yard cleaning up my flower beds this morning, and this afternoon I had to go to Wally World and get my usual Walmart items, you know the daily essentials. I was also looking for a pattern for a little sleeveless blouse for this beautiful sheer fabric I picked up the other day to go with a skirt suit I'm making. I couldn't decide between three different patterns, so I grabbed them all! I have quite a huge stash of fabric, so I figure I'll make a few of them. They're nice to wear under a jacket at work. That way I can take off my jacket when I go outside for a break and catch a few rays on my arms. Here are the three patterns I chose...


I love this little sleeveless blouse pattern. It's got a flirty look to it. I think I may add some beading to the neckline edge. The pants pattern is nice. I like the wider waist band, but I'm hoping it's more of a low cut waist. I don't like pants that come up so high. I also liked the jacket with the peter pan collar on this one.




For this one, I'm liking the one without the straps. I don't care for the long sleeve one at all, and I'm not keen on the skirt. But that little blouse on the right hand side is sweet with the wispy little cap sleeves!

I like the print blouse at the top of this one, which is very similar to the previous pattern, but this one has more of a squarish scoop neck and has buttons. I don't like the long sleeved versions at all, but the one in the middle with the little puff sleeves is cute too. I made a blouse once with little puff sleeves like this before, but I found it a little binding. Then again, that blouse had a little bit longer sleeves and wasn't as open under the arms as this one, so there could be a possibility this one wouldn't be binding. Of course if I'd lose some more weight that may help with that problem too, but that's another blog entry!

Then I stopped at the liquor store as well to pick up a bottle of wine to take to dinner at our friends. I love the Merlot that Jackson Triggs puts out. It's a really nice wine that goes great with BBQ'd beef. They're one of our many local wineries, and I like to support our local vineyards. The liquor store was celebrating earth day today, so I scored a cool re-usuable bag that holds a six pack of bottles. Don't know how much I'll be using it, but it was free and free is good!

So tomorrow I have the usual laundry duty and I plan on cutting out and hopefully starting to sew my new outfit.

Olivia

TGIF and I mean it!

Today just seemed to drag on and on and on at work. I didn't think we'd ever hit 5 o-clock to close those damn doors! We were really busy and it was so sad when people kept coming in and saying how gorgeous it was outside and too bad we were stuck in there. Got that right people, so why don't you rub it in a little more! Well we finally managed to break free from what seemed like jail and head out into the glorious sunny day to start our weekend. A friend of mine has invited my husband and myself over for a BBQ tomorrow... the first BBQ gathering of the year! That's always the best one too! We're looking forward to feasting on some tasty steaks, baked taters and some salad. And of course enjoying a few cold ones outside in the sunshine! Hooray for Spring!

Olivia