Vacation time

I'm off for a few days of fun in the sun, people.

S is doing the DALMAC bicycle ride (over 320 miles in four days) and I am going along to be an athletic supporter! (Which movie is that line from? I'm too tired to place it.)

We'll be camping out at various places between Lansing and Mackinaw City. When he finishes on Sunday, we're getting the hell outta Dodge because Monday is the one day a year the Mackinaw Bridge is open to pedestrians. And there are always a TON of pedestrians.

So. Until Monday.

Cheers!

A recommendation. A product plug, if you please.

Normally I despise green tea. I just can't get past the taste of it. I liken it to chewing on grass - which I would never do - so why would I drink tea that tastes like what I think grass would taste like?

I went to a party recently and the only non-soda, non-lemonade (because citrus fruit sucks and citrus drinks suck even more. Well. Except for margaritas. But that's different and entirely its own post.), non-water drink they had was Cranberry Pomegranate Green Tea iced tea by Lipton.

And can I just say here that it is ICED TEA. NOT ice tea. People forget the "d" all the time and it drives me nuts. Especially on menus.

Anyway!

The Lipton CPGT was quite yummy. The cranberry and pomegranate disguised the yucky green tea taste quite nicely - I can taste hints of it, but it is not over-powering. I've already gone through a box and it's on my grocery list - but I may make a special trip because it is that good.

There is just enough summer left for you to try this tea!

I can't imagine drinking it hot, though. Eew.


(Also, filming scenes from Whip It! in Ypsilanti today. I can't wait to see how they make Ypsilanti, MI, look like Austin, TX. We have no Bell Tower - just a spectacular water tower.)

A bit of craft, a bit of Britain, and a bit of fun

A bit of craft.

But first a bit of a back-story. My parents are always willing to lend a hand. Recently S has needed the Volvo Wagon I usually drive. This left me vehicleless. So my folks lent me their seldom-used minivan. (Not a Badass Minivan like Badger's, though.) Which, once in my possession, promptly showed the engine light. So they lent me their little truck while they got the minivan fixed. I wanted to do something nice for them since they helped me out with a vehicle. They buy everything they need for themselves but my parents have a dog. A dog they spoil and love and cherish and dote upon. People, meet Angie:

I knew this would be the way I could do something nice for them and they wouldn't say "oh, you shouldn't have." Because what I ended up doing cost me time and little bit of electricity.

And some thread.

Friday evening, I sat down at my borrowed sewing machine with a few of these:

...scraps from the quilt-top I'm attempting to make. (GAH! Sucky camera!)

I made this:

...for my parent's dog. The folks recently bought her a booster seat for the car so she can see out the windows when traveling. The quilt is for her booster seat. I guessed on the size and did a fine darn job of it. It's just right.

Wasn't sure what to back it with so I used a bit of a Black Watch tartan flannel nightgown that was given to me ages ago:


Should be warm and cozy for her when she's riding in the air conditioned car. Or when they travel in winter.

All tied up and ready to go:


They loved it.

A bit of Britain.

I've had Cranford on reserve at the library for months. When I joined the queue, I was the 56th person in line for it. It was FINALLY my turn and I picked the film up on Saturday morning.

Watched three of the five hours between 11:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. last night. Finished it up just before I started this post.

I am a huge fan of British costume dramas. This one did not disappoint. I adore Judy Dench and she was fantastic in her role.

I watched the "making of" feature they had on the DVD and evidently there's enough substance left in the characters to make a sequel. Can you say WOO HOO!?! I can. And I did. Very loudly. Scared the dogs, actually.

A bit of fun.

Thrifty Thursday

Once again, inspired by Martha MacGuyver, here's my Thrifty Thursday find:

Not sure if this apron itself is vintage or not, but I think the pattern is. Anyone know? The lapels and the front piece are what lead me to think it's an older pattern.

Don't know why this came out so dark. Regardless, if you look closely, you can see the pocket.

Here are some other thrift finds:

(left to right: white knotty bedspread, vintage pillowcases, linen curtain panel, vintage sheet. On the back of the couch is a double-layer lap blanket and a 'barbeque' apron. Don't think the apron is vintage but thought it would be great to wear at the cottage.)

That's it. Lots of good stuff for cheap. Love the thrift stores!

WW - Havasu Dreaming

Since Havasu Canyon has been in the news this week, I thought I'd show one of the pics S took when we were there last September. It is a beautiful place. For a desert.


For more wordless Wednesday, go here.

Buzzin' around Hertitage Fest

.
Buzzin' around all weekend long, like a fly in my ear, has been the Goodyear blimp.

Buzz. Buzz, buzz. Buzzbuzzbuzz.

Buzz.

Also happening this weekend is the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival. Vendors, fair food, a Rubber Duck Race, Ancestors Gathering, and old machines.

This machine, the "New Badger",

gave me this....

a bag of ground-before-mine-own-eyes corn meal! The lady that handed it to me and said, "refrigerate or freeze it...fresh ground = no preservatives."

Anyone have a good corn bread recipe? I'd love to have 'em!

This is Me: The meme

Jumping on the bandwagon and doing the "this is me" meme. (Which I think was written by a 14 year old girl, but what the hell! It's fun!)

THIS IS ME:
Eye Color: Blue or green depending on the light.
Hair Color: brown with some grey
--Dyed or Natural: au natural
--Curly or Straight: slight bend but mostly straight
Right- or Left-handed: right but can do left in a pinch
Tan or Pale: Freckled.
Jeans or Khakis: jeans, much to S's dismay
Country, Rap, or Rock: Anything but rap or jazz
Car: Volvo wagon
Place in order of preference--T.V., book, movie, music: book, tv, movie, music
Your heritage: English and Irish, I think
Shoes you're wearing today: really uncomfortable asics (I hate these sneaks!)
Your weakness(es): dogs; cute bags; books
Your perfect pizza: Mediterranean Feta Bread from Aubree's (...feta infused cheese bread with sun-dried tomatoes, ripe olives, red onion & artichokes with garlic butter and parmesan. Served with marinara sauce or ranch dressing.) I like it with ranch.
Favorite color: green
Favorite place: the sleeping porch of S's cottage on a cool Sunday morning - snuggled in bed and watching the sun rise over the lake
Goal you'd like to achieve: graduation, time living in Europe
Your most overused phrase(s): Oh, for fuck's sake (FFS)
Your thoughts first waking up: Is it Saturday?
Your best physical feature(s): don't know
Your bedtime: usually around 11:30
Your most missed memory: Not sure.
Pepsi or Coke: Iced tea or water. No soda. Ever.
McDonald's or Burger King: Wendy's
Single or group dates: what's a date?
Adidas or Nike: Doc Marten's
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Luzianne
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or coffee: Just give me a cup of coffee, FFS!

DO YOU:
Smoke: not any more.
Cuss: as much as I can and with enthusiasm.
Have a boyfriend/girlfriend: boyfriend S
Take a shower: yes
Have a crush(es): Oh, yeah.
Think you've been in love: I hope so.
Want to get married: not at the moment
Believe in yourself: probably not as much as I could.
Believe in God: believe in a higher power
Believe in your government: not at the moment
Get motion sickness: nope, touch wood
Think you're attractive: I don't scare small children.
Think you're a health freak: nope.
Get along with your parents: aye
Like thunderstorms: Bring 'em on!

IN THE PAST MONTH, HAVE YOU:
Drank alcohol: yes
Gone on a date: no
Gone to the mall: no
Been on stage: no
Eaten an entire box of Oreos: FFS! No.
Eaten sushi: no
Been dumped: no
Gone skating: no
Gone skinny dipping: no
Stolen anything: there was that one paperclip I brought home from work.

HAVE YOU EVER:
Played a game that required removal of clothing: no
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: FFS. Yes.
Been caught "doing something": no
Been called a tease: not to my knowledge.
Gotten beaten up: in third grade a boy punched me in the stomach. I still hate him.
Age you hope to be married: 70
Number of children you'd like: zip, zero, zilch
Describe your dream wedding: Let me say this: NOT THE ONE I HAD. I don't have a "dream wedding".
What do you want to be when you grow up: a college graduate.

WHAT YOU LIKE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX:
Best eye color?: brown
Best hair color?: none.
Short or long hair: none
Height: as long as he's taller than me, don't care. (I went on a couple of dates with a man shorter than me and it was bizarre.)
Best first date location: picnic, volunteer somewhere (walk dogs at the shelter, maybe), ice cream, home
Best first kiss location: on a blanket in my yard watching a total lunar eclipse. (and I think I bit his lip!)

IN THE NUMBERS:
Number of people I could trust with my life: 4
Number of CD's: ffs. I don't know and I'm not counting.
Number of piercings: three total
Number of tattoos: two
Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: three maybe?
Number of scars on my body: a few.

Supporting all quitters!

So Britt and Karl are quitting smoking.

As a former smoker (almost five years since I gave up the ciggies!), I thought I'd show my support for their quitting efforts by mentioning it here on Defective Typewriter.

P.S. I Love You - a brief movie review

Recently, I borrowed PS I Love You from the library based solely on Hilary Swank's presence in the film. I'd not heard anything about it, nor do I remember seeing any previews for it when it was in the theater. (I haven't seen Million Dollar Baby, but I loved Hilary in Boys Don't Cry.)

As fellow Michigander Ree The Hotfessional says:

OH MAH HOLY HELL Y'ALL.

I started crying at the beginning of PSILY and didn't stop until it was over. Thank God S wasn't there for most of it. (He arrived towards the end of the film and teased me mercilessly about bawling like a baby.)

I just adored this film.

Every once in a while, when I'm in the mood for a total tearjerker, I pull out The Color Purple.

Now I've got a second choice. (AND a wee crush on Gerard Butler.)

WW: Our '70s finest for a fund-raising 'Prom'

S and I don't own formal wear. So when this fund-raising Prom was held in February, 2007, we dudded up in our finest polyester and hit the dance floor.

For more Wordless Wednesday, go here.

Friday night dinner...in which I am the main course.

Friday evening, while I was in the car, down for the count after two gin martinis on an empty stomach, the mosquitoes had a feast on all the exposed bits of my flesh.

This pic was taken Sunday night and shows the worst of the carnage:

Except for the bites on the bottom of my feet.

I'm in agony, people. I am so highly allergic to mosquito bites that I'll be itching for a week. At least.

But I take consolation in the fact that maybe the mosquitoes that did this to me died from alcohol poisoning. How'd you like the gin, fuckers?!?

Antiques Roadshow #2, yard sale, and birthday party

Oh, people. It has been a crazy few days.

Friday and Saturday we had a yard sale. I spent most of the day Friday tending it with my mom and my SIL.

Friday evening, S and I went to a surprise birthday party. I made the REALLY BAD mistake of not eating before we went. I had two gin martinis and was down for the count. It caused us to leave late on Saturday morning for...

The Antiques Roadshow in Grand Rapids, MI. This was my second time to have items appraised. The first time was last summer. My best friend K and I went to Louisville, KY, for a girl's weekend and had a blast. This year, S and I went and it took ALL DAY. (Needless to say, my SIL - who was tending the yard sale - was quite pissed because we were gone all day. I asked her why she didn't just shut down instead of keeping it open and getting pissed.) I took my dad's violin. Which he doesn't know how to play - none of us do. Found out that it would cost more to fix it up than to buy a new one. Not wholly unexpected, but a bit disappointing. I also took a small hand-made wooden box I got at the thrift store. It smells very much like smoke inside. The running joke was that it was an urn and the smell was left-over charred person. Luckily, I found out it's a humidor. So no more worries that it's dust of someone's favorite great aunt causing my little box to always carry a smoke smell.

This little box? That is a humidor? Which holds tobacco one smokes? Which implies that they INHALED THE SMOKE INTO THEIR LUNGS? Has a LEAD LINING. Yeah. Lead.

It's heavy as hell, this little box.

It was hand-made in the 30s or 40s and I find it utterly charming.


But I can't help but wonder what kind of health problems the person who used this humidor had.

On a happy note:

Take the Quiz here!

You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.

It just so happens that Elinor is one of my favorite Austen heroines!

Thrifty Thursday (totally stolen from Martha MacGyver)

Yeah, I'm totally unoriginal today. So much so that I got the idea for this post straight from Wendy over at Martha MacGyver. I was wondering how I was going to work this into a blog post and when I saw her post, I knew this was it!

So, without further ado...

My apron:
I found this cutie at the local Value World. Was looking for tea towels, but found this gem instead.
With one pocket generous enough to hold a hot pad, I'm envisioning heavy use of this apron at Christmas time. So festive!

Not bad for 60¢.

WW: Russ shows us that he really is a free spirit

Russ jumped (if you knew this dog, you'd realize what a feat this was) from the dock to the boat to try to get to the swans swimming just out of frame. He hates the water, hates to swim. I guess he thought he could jump from the boat onto the swans. I had to put a plank between the boat and the dock to get him back on solid ground.

What a goof.

For more Wordless Wednesday, go here.

Saturday Sewing

Saturday evening, I spent a couple of hours in a very enjoyable manner. I spent those couple of hours at a sewing machine MAKING BAGS. Both of which I gave away the next day, but hey...I had a ton of fun making them!

First up is an Artsy Clutch (Amy Karol, Bend-The-Rules Sewing). This was made as a gift for R, S's mom. I had so much fun making this bag! It sewed up quickly (about an hour...but speed will increase the more I make) and quite easily.


Project cost: I picked two fat-quarters which were $1.49 each but I only used half of each one, the cotton flannel facing was purchased at a church rummage sale in a huge bag of fabric - the amount I used was about 10¢ worth. The button was $4.99. The elastic loop was a hair band (!!!) - one of 32 I got for a buck. So I spent just over $8.00 for materials for this bag. (I am now obsessed with finding a large button collection that I can buy for cheap!)


I LOVE the lining of this bag. LOVE. IT. (Gah, these pictures suck!)


Secondly, I made a "My Leetle Bag" (Beth Roberts at YarnEnvy). Another quick, easy, and fun bag to make. I made this as a gift bag for baby J's welcoming ceremony. (I tucked a little elephant inside a small antique box for her.)


Project cost: I used one fat quarter ($1.49) and it was the perfect amount for the outside and the lining of this bag. The ribbon was part of a ribbon-assortment bag I bought for $1.00 - I used about 3¢ worth of ribbon. Materials for this bag cost me $1.61 - including tax. Took about an hour to make. (I'm assuming that sewing time will decrease once I've made more than one. This was my first.) People, you can't buy paper gift bags for this cheap!


I attribute the crappiness of these photos to the glass of wine I drank to celebrate my craftiness. So here's one that's pretty clear, in focus, and bright enough:

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Next step is to make patterns that will help in the cutting of the materials - especially if I choose a fabric that is NOT a fat quarter. But fat quarters? RAWK.

What is a FAT Quarter? It is such a useful cut of fabric...take one 1/2 yd off the bolt, which is 18" by 44". You cut that in half and you have a cut 18" x 22". That is a FAT. (from Fat Quarter Quilters)

I've tried to change the font above 4 times but each time I preview it, that darned comic sans font shows up. I'm hoping this is just a preview fluke and it goes away. I HATE that font.

Test post through email

Am trying to post to my blog through email. Am hoping this works!

Going canoeing tomorrow. It'll be a long day on a chain of lakes near the town where I grew up.

Hopefully we won't tip over!