susuwatari

So I’m pretty excited about something that most people might think is no big deal. I found out today that there is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program here in St. Louis. That’s a crop share for those of you who aren’t familiar. So basically we could get tons of fresh veggies, fruit, herbs, and flowers all summer long for a super price! It’s like having the farmer’s market delivered to you. (Actually I’d have to drive 5 miles to go pick it up but close enough!) I’m loving this idea. I just sent info in to be added to the 2009 waiting list, so this isn’t even something that would happen soon, but I’m just excited to find out it’s available. Here’s a link to the farm: http://www.threeriverscommunityfarm.com/index.html.

I’m thinking we’ll sign up for the 13 week program for our first year and see how much we are consuming. This is the cheapest way possible to get a ton of locally produced, sustainable-grown, organic vegetables. This works so well for us. Wes is a vegetarian, and that’s pretty much all I cook at home, so when we go grocery shopping the bulk of our money is spent on getting fresh produce. Honestly, I’m not an organic freak at all. I do however, love the idea of buying local to both support our local economy and to cut back on our carbon footprint. I promise I’m not going all hippie or yuppie consumer on people. I am a lazy person and I know it. God bless America. But if I can be lazy, save money AND do something good for our environment sign me up! The farm also sends out recipes and newsletters for farm members so that when you get your big bucket of chard you’re not left wondering what the hell to do with it. Yay! I’m thinking this may have the side benefit of getting me to cook more healthy meals at home and try some new foods. I also think it will be fun to be able to go to the farm and do some pick-you-own activities. Yay for free flowers!! I hope we make it on the list for next year!

Apparently I’m not the kind of girl who can bake home-made cakes. My first clue should have been when both my sister and my friend Kristin each said “You? You are going to bake a cake? Really?” once told of my plans. My second clue perhaps was that my only cake making experience to date is a failed attempt at cake from a box. Ah well it’s fun to make messes, especially when you have a puppy to help clean them up.

I am no longer going to be homeless. Now I just have a week to pack up everything and transfer all of my utilities and accounts to my new address. Then the day after I move it’s down to Sweet Home Alabama where the skies are so blue.

This has been a morning of frights. I knew that my landlords wanted me to leave my side door unlocked for an air-conditioning man but I thought it was for an appointment later in the morning. Just when I was about to step in the shower I got a knock on my side door. I raced to put my nightgown and robe back on to open the door for them. Awkward. The air-conditioning guy came in with a ladder which scared the bejeezus out of my cat Sano. It took a long while to coax him out from behind my trunk after they left my apartment. I finally got to take a shower and when I got out I saw this weird lump on my bed. Turns out it was Sano cowering under my bed covers. He has maybe crept under the covers once or twice before but he has never really liked the feeling of being trapped there so it’s really odd that he was there. Apparently he has decided he really likes it now and was a happy little lump shedding all over my sheets. I got a picture of him peeking his nose out from under the covers, so cute! Then Boo noticed a moving lump on my bed and started whacking at it. Hilarious. A very disgruntled Sano tried to sneak out with some dignity, but he got trapped in the blanket and sorta fell out of the bed. I’ll see tonight if his pride can handle such abuse and if he’s back under those covers. Not sure I want to encourage this behavior…can you imagine waking up to cold kitty noses on your legs at night or kitty whiskers tickling your legs. I much prefer them on top of the covers thank you very much!

My brother in law loves the Transformers, specifically Optimus Prime who he calls Dad. He collects all the toys, and I do mean ALL the toys. My sister, while thinking he’s cute for liking Transformers, does NOT like his giant and “hideous” collection of them. She has banned his collection from the first floor of her house though she will allow (after much pouting on his part) ONE transformer to be left in the computer room. The rest are to be kept in the basement with all the rest of his “junk”. Last night one brave little transformer left the sanctity of the computer room to survey the living room from the top of Wes’s video game shelves. I had actually been looking at him for quite some time while my sister was talking about a situation at her work. Suddenly in mid story she screams “WES what is THAT doing in my house! Get it OUT of here!” Wes was like huh, what’s wrong? “Transformers are NOT allowed in here. If you want this one upstairs you’ll have to change it with the one in the computer room.” Wes sheepishly took his new little transformer which he had just bought that day off the top of the shelf while I cackled. For some reason I just thought this whole situation was funny. You really just had to hear the rage in my sister’s voice and see Wes’s sheepish expression. I wonder if this will turn into a game for them, with Wes trying to sneak Transfomers in various areas and seeing how long it will take Christina to notice. The danger of this game is that Christina tends to throw things not caring if they break.

BTW STILL HOMELESS!

Ack…I’m about to be homeless. I do not fee any panic about this at all. Calm cool collected that’s me.

OH MY GOD I’M ABOUT TO BE HOMELESS!!

So I’m going to my “lady doctor” this afternoon.  She’s going to teach me about the birds and the bees.  That is all that will be said on that topic.

So yeah, the whole getting a house thing? Apparently not going to happen, at least not this year. I had a ding on my credit score from a totally STUPID situation, I mean if they had actually sent me the bill in the first place I would have paid it. Instead I don’t find out that there even was a bill, which now I am apparently a year late paying, until someone pulls my credit score. The ironic thing is that originally I didn’t even want to get a house, but I felt that it was the responsible thing to do. Then during the search for houses I started getting really excited about it and thinking it’s ok that I’m putting off the horse dream for the house because I can have fun with this. Now I have to find a new apartment before the end of the month because my lease ends at the end of June. I could stay at the place I’m in now but the only problem is that I can’t fit my couch into it, and also I would like to have a fenced in backyard for Freya. I need to find time to do this on top of having to continually work overtime at work. Before I start, I’m giving myself one day of tantrums. I’m mad because I felt like I’ve put everything on hold in my life for the past six months to be told just kidding. After I get the whole where am I going to live situation resolved I need to stop and have some serious life analysis. I’m working my ass off but for what? I’ve been feeling lost and off kilter for awhile, maybe the rude awakening of today was a message to shove me into action at actually fixing this problem. But first tantrums because damnit I deserve them!

I won the Busy Bee Award at work. Ironically I was too busy to attend the award ceremony where they surprised me with this award.

I told myself this would be partly a crafting blog when Patience and I started this project but so far I don’t think the topic has come up. I am working on a few sewing projects right now but since I don’t have any pictures to make that interesting, I’m going to post some pictures of my “studio” instead. Let me preface this by saying that I was totally thrilled when we bought our house a year ago to get my own sewing room. Of course, it comes with the understanding that someday when we have a kid that I will need to sacrifice this space and probably move my stuff into the office or set up a space in the basement. BUT for now, it’s all mine!

First of all, I’m no Pioneer Woman so please forgive the crappy quality of the following photos.

This first photo shows my sewing machine, a Kenmore that I received from my Grandma. This was her travel machine that she took to quilting classes. The bobbin likes to jam and make my life hell but I love this machine even though I spend more time cussing at it than anything else. This photo also shows the antique chair I stole from my mom. I love it and she can never have it back. Sorry Mom. My sewing table was a $7 find at Goodwill that my dad rigged up to hold my Kenmore. He is crafty too, but with power tools instead of thread and needle. (I believe these strange people are called engineers.)

This photo shows off my crooked style of photography. Please pretend this is artsy or something. I picked up this dining hutch at the Eureka Antique Mall and I love-love it. It has pretty detailed carving and this is the only wall in the room it can sit against without the doors flying open because our floors are slanted or possibly caving in, who knew? I like to put my overly expensive designer fabric in here so I can see it through the little windows. Hello my Heather Bailey Fresh Cut! Nice to see you peeking at me! No, I have not thought of a project for you yet, but look, I bought another yard! I also put my quilting and craft books in here so they are within reach at all times.

This photo highlights my inspiration wall and shelves that hang over my sewing table and also the fact that I must have been drunk when I took it. I mean seriously, how blurry can you get?! The blue bird art hanger is from Land of Nod and I love it because I’m obsessed with blue birds right now, the clips are little green clovers. So cute! The pink quilt on the upper shelf was made by my Grandma and Wes has only recently earned the privilege of using it (we’ve been together over 7 years and we’re married now so I’m trying to be nice.) I made the elephant on the top right, the two monsters on the lower left, and the little zoo animals on the lower right. Also those birds, I made those too. SEE I MAKE THINGS! But don’t ask me to make things for you. Unless you’re paying me. Then we can talk. See, I’m reasonable.

So there you have it people. The lighting is terrible on the rest of my pictures so I’m not going to show them off unless you go to my flickr account. Just know that there are more exciting things. Like an ironing board with a Martha Stewart ironing board cover (oooooh), and a dresser, with clutter on it (aaaaah). I’ll highlight some of the projects I’ve made another time. LUCKY YOU!