Zombies Begone

The concert last night could not have gone better. The kids played very well and the pianist nailed all of her solos. I did have a moment of panic when I walked in, because the chairs and stands were set up completely differently than they had been for practice. The piano was way in the back, and the conductor and I had to have a quick conversation about whether I had sufficient line of sight to her. (Two of the songs started with piano only before the other musicians came in.) Everything worked out, though.

I bugged out after the concert and before the reception. The reception is for the kids to receive their accolades. Also, during the concert, the conductor introduced me as “the pianist at the Mennonite Church in Creston” and added, “And I have discovered that she is also an accomplished seamstress!” I appreciated that bit of hyperbole, but I didn’t want to go to the reception and give people an opportunity to ask me to hem their pants, LOL.

This latest storm off the Pacific brought snow to Seattle. I-90 over Snoqualmie was closed again yesterday because of accidents. (Some people are slow learners.) Spokane got hammered. We’ve had almost-continuous light snow, but I think we’ve only gotten about 6” so far. I think this will be what my mother-in-law used to refer to as a “snow globe” winter.

And now my overscheduled marathon month is over. Whew.

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Visiting the younger child (DD#2) is always a humbling experience. She does not let her father and me get away with anything, nor is she shy about sharing her opinion of our activities. She did say, as we were driving around last week, that if she still lived at home or nearby, she would start a YouTube channel and monetize the two of us.

[That made me laugh, because I remembered an early Sewing Out Loud podcast where Zede told her daughter, Mallory, that she should write a guide on “How to Monetize Your Mother.”]

I’m not sure if DD#2 thinks that we’re comedy gold or what, but don’t hold your breath. The husband says he has no interest in becoming famous.

The girls have been campaigning for me to get a new recliner for their father. This is his current recliner:

I bought it 22 years ago from a local furniture store. The first night it was here, he fell asleep and spent the whole night in it. This recliner is falling apart. Seams have split and the stuffing is showing. He has had to weld the frame back together in places. Various dogs have chewed on it. The little boys always want to sit in “Tom’s chair” when they come over.

He is adamant that he doesn’t want a new recliner, but I went shopping yesterday before the concert. I went to the same furniture store and tried out all of the recliners until I found one that feels like this one. He’s getting a new recliner as soon as I can arrange for delivery. The store says they will haul the old one away, but I need to check with WS, first, because he told me one time that if the husband ever got a new recliner, he would like the old one.

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Seamwork came out with a very timely article this week: “How to Sew Without Overflowing Your Closet.” This is a conundrum I have been wrestling with in my head. I like sewing. I like making clothes. I love the challenge of fitting patterns. I like seeing garments hanging in my closet that I know will fit me well, flatter my coloring, and last more than one season. I love textiles and fabric. At some point, though, I am going to have enough—although “enough” is relative depending on one’s point of view—and won’t need to make anything else.

I promised to be disciplined, though, and I will hold myself to that. I will cut out a few patterns today and tomorrow, but starting Monday, it’s back to quilting. I enjoy quilting, too. That won’t be a hardship.