six bibs, a coat and a couch

Working full time again has certainly done one thing for me...it's made me look forward to weekends. The long months of unemployment were a confusing study of time...I had time on my hands, but it seemed, not much time to do anything because I had to look for a job...and any time I wasn't looking for a job, I was worrying about the many repercussions of not having a job.

In other words, I had time, time, time, but couldn't enjoy it.

This weekend, I was supposed to go work on my stupid investment property to get it ready for the potential renter that I suspect is going to back out of the contract. Long story...anyway, the helpers who were coming to show me how to do the job crapped out on me. Well, I can't exactly say crapped out, they got an offer for a paying job, and knowing what it's like to have pressing bills and limited income, I recognize their need to go make money when they can

In the unemployed state, I would have felt like this was the end of the world, one of the many ends of the world that seemed to arrive daily. I have one week to complete this. I can't do the repairs on my own. My helpers are not available. I can't yet pay anyone to do this.

It's not the end of the world.

We'll get it done in the evenings, or do a marathon next weekend and just work nonstop til it's all in place or I'll get some home repair books from the library and patch it together in time for the move in or I'll do something that I haven't thought of yet, but in the end, I'll get it done.

Funny how having a job has made me able to see options again. I felt so trapped, so completely without ideas when I was out of work.

Since the helpers crapped out, I had the morning to make things. So I made coffee. Then I made baking powder biscuits from scratch. High Schooler came out of her lair long enough to devour several, slathered with butter and molasses.

The making didn't stop there. Since Rat Pup has launched into teething, she goes through a bib an hour. Store bought bibs are cute with pretty patterns on them, but they tend to be wimpy against moisture. We try to be vigilant, but she's usually soaked through into her outfit by the time we change the bib. Well, no more of that! I made a half-dozen ugly, sturdy, absorbent super-bibs by putting crew necks into three cloth diapers and three washcloths.
I tried putting some machine embroidery around the edges to make them look better, but nothing much helps in this case. That's perfectly fine, though. Those things can slurp up spills (and worse) like some kind of wetness SWAT-team.

That coat I've been talking about? I've been working on it for three weeks now, but as of today, it's DONE! Hemmed, buttons on, button holes made, and boo-boos camouflaged, it's hanging in the closet all ready to wear. It's not a tailored coat, more like a wrap with sleeves and a hood. I must say, it's pretty cool looking with its deep cuffs and asymetrical hemline.
It's made in a heavy grey cotton terry knit, and has a lining. I wish I could have gotten a better pic.
Oh, and my couch project is also finished. I made two twin beds into studio couches when we moved into this apartment. I vowed never again to have a couch that I could not move by myself if I had to, so I put twin mattresses onto plywood platforms on a bedframe. I made bolsters out of foam and slip covered the whole thing in some $2/yard remnant fabric. All I had left to do was to put the velcro closures on the bolsters, but I always seemed to have something else that needed to be done first, so the bolsters remained closed with pins...well, that's out of the way. Velcro attached, bolsters complete. It looks better in person. Next time I move, I can dismantle them and cram them into my car to take to the next destination, solo. They also work great when friends spend the night. Yank off the bolsters and presto...comfortable twin bed.

It really feels good to look around and see things that are complete. I hope to see more of that, more often.