the end of an era, Michael's bag, Hawaiian rolls

Michael left at 8 AM for golf at Lancaster on Monday morning (4/27).  It was very cold and rainy over the weekend, and I think he was really glad to see the sun in the morning.  I was at my sewing machine by 10, determined to get the top zipper done.  This pattern really has been very well written…it’s just that 2 pages of cutting directions and 14 pages of sewing instructions are a bit intimidating :~).  I made really good progress before it was time to leave to get my hair done.  Hmmm, “ get my hair done” sounds so innocuous right?   It is the end of an era…. I haven’t done anything but trim my hair for 10 years….

looking rather windblown from the ride in the golf cart!

 but it’s time for a change.   

 I ran a few errands on the way home, and finished Michael’s bag before dinner….YAYAYAY!  That means I have all day Tuesday to make a detachable shoulder strap (I already sewed the necessary “D” rings onto the side of the bag….

I took this pic THREE times and each time was blurry  :-(

 and then it will truly be as versatile as he wants.  The nice thing about the way the top zipper was put on, 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 is that the bag can be 2 inches taller if needed.   

 I made the second pan of rolls to go with our dinner (and of course forgot to take a picture until after they were eaten!)   

 I had soup for dinner and Michael finished up the leftover pork.  

I started Monday morning with a sore throat :~(, so I just kind of sat like a dead thing, drinking warm drinks and dozing on and off while we watched TV and then went to bed early.

So, my friend Ginny has WAY too much fun with her Amazon Prime Membership…what does this mean for me?  I get surprise packages now and again from her.  The latest is a paperback book that I am going to take on vacation: BEING DEAD IS NO EXCUSE (The official southern ladies guide to hosting the perfect funeral).  She said I need it to further my education in being southern….I can’t wait!

Ethel's quilt, charity hats

I was up early to head for Joann’s Sunday morning (4/26) to pick up a zipper for Michael’s bag.  I also scored batting for BG’s wall hanging…hopefully we will be mounting it when she is down visiting.    After that, it was a stop at the Dorchester to drop off Ethel’s quilt, (and to pick up a new one for the women's shelter that I told her I would do for free)

you can see a lavender charity dress on the door that she also finished

 and then on to the Lake House to set up boxes for sorting.  By the time I got home I really didn’t feel like doing anything, so I read my book for quite a bit.  So on Sunday’s,  King Arthur Flour sends me an email which lists the round up of new recipes for last week.  In the email I got today…they had a knock off of King’s Hawaiian Rolls.  I’ve tried to make these rolls twice before….with no success at all….when Michael tried the second batch, he urged me to GIVE UP!  He was right…they were not good.  But….many people like these rolls, so I thought I’d give it one more try…..OMword!!!!  Am I ever glad I persevered….they were INCREDIBLE!!!  Light, tender, fabulous flavor…..we definitely have a new favorite roll.  And the best news?  I only made 9 for dinner because there were only 4 of us….that means another 9 tomorrow night  :~)  Anyway, other than the rolls, when Gale & Phil arrived for dinner I had a pork loin roast, baked potatoes, sautéed asparagus and a salad.  Gale brought Italian cookies for dessert and they were yummy.  We sat at the kitchen table and talked for several hours after dinner, which was very pleasant.  Michael and I got to watch a bit of TV before bed and I finally made the pompoms for 2 charity hats I’ve recently finished

 

 

Michael's bag, new illusions blocks

It’s a good thing Michael got in some unscheduled golf on Friday, because Saturday (4/25) dawned gloomy and rainy…a good day to stay home and sew.  Unfortunately, I had a couple more hours of work for Volunteers (will I be glad not to be co-president anymore at the end of this year?  you betcha!)  It had stopped raining by 1 PM, so Michael did leave for his tee time…but they were home after 6 holes as it started to pour.  I got the lining of his bag finished and secured inside the denim outside.   

one side inside...places for pencils/pens

other side inside, 3 big pockets

looking down into bag, center zipper pocket

 I also put a locking latch sewn into the bottom seam to clip onto your keys.  I need an 18 inch zipper to complete the bag (which I didn’t have) so I dropped back to making blocks for a new quilt.  I finished up another color for my new illusions quilt:  

look familiar?  leftover backing fabric from last quilt

 before heading upstairs to watch TV and rip out a few things :~( with my honey.

garden, Elsie & cookie, Michael's bag

Michael took Cookie for a walk first thing Friday morning (4/24) while I wrote up and sent out the minutes for the quilting group.  We both had a quick breakfast, then headed out to the back garden to get it weeded.  Michael had already made a good start from this:

 to this: 

 

doesn't he just scream American Gothic

 but we had another whole section to do.  When we were done weeding, Michael checked the sprinkler system and found 2 heads that he has to fix or replace.  He headed inside to get caught up on emails, and I continued my work on the Volunteer Drive which starts this coming Monday.  We had the usual furry company:

 My work took several hours and I didn’t get back to sewing until after lunch.  I finally have the outside of Michael’s bag all together…

 and a good bit of the inside as well.  Michael and Phil got to play 9 holes of golf in the afternoon, and he just had time to take a quick shower and change before we were off to MAMA RICOTTA’s to meet up with Lisa & Dean for dinner and the theatre.  They had a special menu and I ended up ordering the sautéed shrimp, roasted red peppers, carmelized onion and asparagus, with asparagus ravioli…..HEAVEN ON A PLATE!!!  It was so good….I’m glad I didn’t get my usual ravioli with sage/butter sauce.  Michael got their eggplant parmesan…something he never gets at home  :~).  Then it was off to Actor’s Theatre to see DETROIT, about 2 neighbor couples, one young and one old….very interesting.  The play ran with out an intermission, so we were home by 10:30 and finally fell into bed after a glass of wine and some reading, at 11:30.

chocolate rice krispy treats, Jerry M, twisted log cabin, zentangles

I hopped up early on Thursday morning (4/23) to cut up the chocolate rice krispy treats I made Wednesday night right before I hopped into bed.   

 I was just so tired Wednesday night, but when Michael got up to take the dog out for the last time he said “I thought you wanted to make something for quilting tomorrow?”  I started at 10:33 and was done by 10:47 (what a fast, easy recipe!)  Jerry is leaving for a year and I wanted to have a little treat for a going away party.  Jerry does beautiful quilts (many with purple and teal :~) and also does phenomenal x-stitch pieces.  

You might remember Jerry, I recently completed quilting a Santa quilt for her.  She is leaving to spend 6 months with one daughter in Florida, and another 6 months with her daughter in Charleston.  Finally, after a year away, she’ll be back with us in Fort Mill for 6 months.  That is WAY too long for her to be gone (according to those of us who quilt with her :~)  Anyway, I finally got all of the ends sewn in on Ethel’s quilt and got it trimmed, and got my latest charity quilt trimmed and ends woven in before coming home around 2.  I stopped at the insurance office on the way home, because someone wanted a picture of one of my old wall hangings and that's where it is right now...this used to hang in our kitchen:

 Michael had been artistically busy while I was gone:

I spent the rest of the afternoon reading.  We had leftover pizza for dinner (I’ve certainly had an easy dinner week…Chinese that we ate for 3 meals and pizza that we ate for 2….Friday night we are going out for dinner before the theatre!!) and I cut out the latest set of my butterflies while we watched TV before bed.