Pantliner assembly

After Scott was laid off from Nortel Networks, he got hired by another company and took a $35,000 cut in pay.  This kind of hurt our budget, to say the least.  I started looking for ways to save money and I came across the idea of making cloth pantiliners.  I got a pattern from some lady who was making them.  I didn’t like the way she put them together, so I took her pattern and made it do what I wanted it to do.  I took pictures of each step and have the link posted at the bottom of this blog.  Taking the pictures made this one take a little longer than the 20 minutes it usually takes to put them together.  I’ve made a bunch for myself and have started making them for my girls.  I also started making cotton hankies, but they aren’t interesting enough to take pictures of each step, so I won’t bore you with that.

I’m doing better with the thyroid medicine.  I quit caffeine a little over a week ago and that has been another adjustment in my life.  I am used to feeling all this pressure to get things done and now I don’t have that.  I am going to have to learn how to keep myself going without a drug!  It is nice not feeling stressed and jittery, so I tell myself that every time I want a caffeinated drink.

I’ll be heading to Florida on Monday.  My mom is having knee surgery and I’m going down to be a help for that.  It will be nice to see her and Ray again. 

A hurricane (Earl) is heading to North Carolina but it seems like it is going to keep to the coast, so we should be okay here in Raleigh.  We could use some rain from the outskirts of it though. 

My eczema is doing better.  Last week it about tripled in size, so I got fed up with it and called the dermatologist.  She gave me a prescription cream that wasn’t as strong because the other bothered me so badly.  It is working nicely.  I no longer have raw skin everywhere, but it is all purple now and hopefully that will go away soon.  If you’ve never had severe itching, you don’t know what you are missing.  I don’t recommend trying it though!

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/PantlinerAssembly#

September1.2010

I tried to write a blog the other day and it sounded like I was complaining, so I deleted it.  I’ve got two pictures for you, from my little canon.  One is from a ladies luncheon we had at the end of our summer bible study.  Elijah was being held by a friend, Lorrie Taylor, so his babysitter (Coreen Gray) could eat some of her food.  He was very tired and he gets giggly when he’s tired.  Mine would usually just get cranky!  I pulled out my camera which I now take everywhere with me.  You never know when a Kodak moment will occur!

The other is of Bear and Chloe sitting with me on the deck.  If they aren’t off chasing squirrels, they are laying down somewhere near me.  I was hoping a bird would land at the feeder right next to me so I could get a good picture, but that didn’t happen so I took a picture of the dogs!

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/September12010#

August 20.2010

I just got a DVD on how to operate Scott’s Nikon camera.  It was a blast to watch and to figure out all the features.  I’m sure I’ll need to watch it again because some of it is a blur.  I took a few pictures of my favorite subjects.  Duncan became very irritated with me till I figured out how to keep the flash off.  Bear came over and sat in front of me waiting for me to take his picture.  Chloe was a little irritated with me, but I did get a pretty good picture of her.  I was hoping on figuring out which lens I would want next.  The photographer used the 18 – 55 mm one which we have and he also used the 55 – 200 one which I will start looking for.  There was a longer one but I think I’ll be able to live without that one.

I haven’t gotten much accomplished this week because of my thyroid adjusting.  I am getting tired of being tired! 

Playing with a camera pictures below!

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/August202010#

August 17.2010 - Elaine - Picasa Web Albums

Scott and I went to Murrells Inlet, SC again this last weekend.  It was Scott’s birthday while we were there.  We were so grateful for the time away.  Scott didn’t have too much work to do so it was more relaxing this time.

There were thunderstorms on Saturday but we were still able to get to the beach.  I got some awesome pictures of the ocean and the dark skies.

I was also so excited when I noticed a flock of pelicans coming from the distance.  I was able to get quite a few good pictures of them. 

I took 200 pictures while we were gone, so I pared them down to 18 so I didn’t bore you too bad with the usual ocean wave and moon pictures.  We didn’t see any crabs at all this time.  We did see about five dolphins, but my camera wasn’t ready so I didn’t get any of them. 

It was cooler here this morning than in Florida.  It has been warmer here most of the summer.  It was still a very humid walk.  Bear had a little trouble with the heat.  Chloe was unaffected as usual.

Chloe caught and ate a baby rabbit yesterday morning.  I didn’t see that she had it fast enough.  When I noticed, the poor thing was already dead.  She still can’t figure out why I wasn’t happy with her prize.  I’m usually thrilled when she catches a mole, or a mouse.  Bear was afraid of it, so he didn’t make Chloe share.

Hope you enjoy the pictures, I had a blast taking them.  I’m thinking of borrowing Scott’s good camera and try my hand at the more expensive camera. Scott has two guitars that he is almost done with.  He’s been working on them for quite awhile but work has been stressful and that keeps him from doing the intricate work that is necessary for guitar building. 

I’ve been reading about couponing and how you can save money doing that.  I am finding some coupons I can use, but not many.  With all my food allergies, I don’t use processed food items so that is limiting me.  I also have to make my own body products or buy organic unscented products.  I have discovered getting my meats when it is on clearance.  I’ve been able to fill up the freezer with good meat at a good price.  I started getting the Sunday paper for the coupons and then watching for the grocery papers during the week to see what items are on sale.  I also have gotten my food inventory sheet more up to date so that I know what we have in the house.  It would be more helpful if I remembered to take that with me when I am shopping!

Well, I guess that is it for this posting.  I can’t remember anything else that is new or exciting.

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/August172010#

July 26 - Elaine - Picasa Web Albums

Scott and I just returned from a weekend away.  We had a great time.  I’ll call this the trip of the moon because I had so many pictures of the moon.  The last trip was the trip of the crabs.  We didn’t see many of them this time.  The moon was something else.  I had 92 pictures on my camera, but I only picked a couple to show you.

It is nice to be alone, just the two of us.  We have two adult children in the home, so we still enjoy our time away. 

We were greeted lavishly by Bear and Chloe. 

We got a new toy before we left, so now we can have internet away from the house.  It was great to be able to check e-mail and the weather as well.  The weather was HOT!  It was 80 degrees this morning at 5:30!  I think we will have a few days of the low 90’s instead of the 100 degree stuff we’ve had this last week.  It’s bad when your daughter says, it’ll only be 90!

Well, I’m running slow this morning, so I’d better get to my work!  Enjoy the pictures!

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/July26#

 

alright already! again!!!

It’s only the end of June and we are experiencing late August weather.  I just looked at my weather page.  Raleigh is at 97 and feels like 102!  Port Orange is next and she is at 88 and feels like 94,  Clackamas, Or is at 77 and feels like 77, Brookville, PA is at 76 and looking for a thunderstorm,  Binghamton, NY is at 75 with light rain!  I think I would rather be anywhere with my family than here in Raleigh!  I am saying alright already just like I was this winter.  Extreme seems to be the weather word for this year!

Joel and I went to get some groceries this morning.  I needed to go to another store, but it was way too hot for me to go anywhere else.  I’ll try to get the rest of the groceries early tomorrow morning.

I walked Bear and Chloe this morning when it was only 75.  A few mornings we left at 5:30 instead of 6:30 because it was already close to 80 at 5:30!  We come back with our tongues hanging out.

Tonight is homegroup night.  It has been a full day for me.  I realized I hadn’t written for awhile again, so I thought you might like a little update. 

I made three cards in the last few days.  Rachel’s birthday is Wednesday so I wanted to make a special card for her.  I had two others that came out of trying to get hers the right size. 

I got three baby quilts cut out and ready to sew.  The one I was making for a little fellow that was just born in our church (8 weeks old now), didn’t turn out well.  It collects fluff!  I picked it all off four times, washing it in between and it looked like I hadn’t done anything!  I brought it downstairs to use to wrap in while watching tv.  The cats seem to have adopted it.  When I sit down in the family room, I claim it as my own. The cats get ticked when I take it from them!   It is made of flannel which is my favorite fabric. 

Joel made his famous chili for supper, and I can smell its aroma calling my name so I will close for now.

 

June 9, 2010

I realized today that I hadn’t written in my blog since May 26^th, our 32^nd anniversary.  A day after our anniversary we went down to Dad’s place that I call Winter Haven.  Winter Haven waits for our visits as she gets lonely at times.  Dad leaves his pets there, but it isn’t the same as having humans.  Dad likes the Mac so I spent a few minutes teaching the pets the PC which is much easier to use than the Mac (my opinion, not my Dad’s or my Mom’s)  They were intent on learning and they laughed with glee at their newfound learning!

Scott and I spent a bit of time at the beach.  We take our umbrella to sit in the shade during the day.  This time we saw a lot of crabs working on their holes.  I only posted two pictures to spare you the boredom of “they all look the same”!

The weather was mostly perfect.  We got sprinkled on for a few minutes, but the storms usually went around us. 

I love the ocean.  When I need “refreshed” this is where I long to go.  Scott usually takes a couple of guitar making magazines and he reads while I refresh.  I usually hear him say “I’m going to make that for much cheaper!”

Under our squirrel feeder, sunflowers pop up.  That’s the only way I can keep things alive in my back yard.  Bear and Chloe like to dig up anything we plant.  They looked so beautiful this morning that I couldn’t resist taking their picture.  The weather this last few mornings has been wonderful, so I’ve spent a lot of time out there, with Spot (my netbook).  I got my grocery list started yesterday morning while sitting on the deck.  I got several mosquito bites this morning, so I ended up coming in.  I’ve got enough itching problems without adding mosquitoes to them.

I made three nighties and a couple of baby quilts since I last posted.  I think I forgot to post the lavender rose one.  I’ll try to get a good picture of it for you soon.  It is for a friend of Rachel’s. 

I’ve cut out quite a few squares for more baby quilts this week.  I’ve take a few days off from that, but I need to get back to it. 

This week I’ll be getting groceries, which is always a hard job.  I try to buy for two weeks, so it is challenging to try to make sure everything is on the list for all the meals.  Most times I goof, but fortunately stores aren’t too far away for the major goofs. 

Well hopefully, that makes up for the lack of postings!  Enjoy the pictures!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/June92010#