A Day of Basketball in Still Listening to Spirit

Friday, NCAA basketball. Beginning at noon, I watched Kansas win. They played in St. Louis. The next game in St. Louis was Wichita State, who also won. Their game was delayed because the 20,000+ inside for the Kansas game had to leave so the ticketholders for the Wichita State game could get to their seats. Wichita State won too.

After the Wichita State game, was the KU Wildcats against the UK Wildcats (Kentucky Wildcats, that is). So the Wildcats played the Wildcats and Kentucky won. Just as well as the winner of the Wildcats' game next played Wichita State. What idiot (or devilish fiend) set the brackets up so 3 Kansas teams couldn't advance to the Sweet 16?!!

So about 8 hours of basketball, listened to more than watched because I was out in the quilt trailer beginning to modify my very old blouses into new stuff. I believed I had thought through the process I was going to use. I was wrong, Or at least I am pretty sure I was wrong.

I began by ironing on a very light weight almost web-like fusible web to the collar and a wee bit below. I then began laying scraps onto this, trying to make a pleasing pattern. I succeeded in the pleasing pattern and had the scraps pinned one pin each onto the collar.

Before ironing it on, though, I decided since the scraps overlapped, I would have raw edges, so I decided to sew them each to the collar. Sew on first scrap, take second scrap with right sides together with 1st scrap, sew, turn 2nd scrap over and no raw edge. (Those of you who do pattern piecing for quilting will understand). Anyway I was pleased with the result, so I took the blouse to the ironing board and ironed it all down. I left enough of each scrap overlapping the bottom of the collar so I could fold it under and top stitch.

I top stitched and became very concerned with the weight of the collar. I went to the end, however, only to find I was concentrating so hard on getting the folded over scraps right and the line straight that I ran out of bobbin thread and didn't realize until I was almost at the end... Sigh.

I used my little bobbin rewinding thingie to wind 3 bobbins then decided I was at a perfect stopping place....both with the blouse and the Wichita State game. I truly don't know if I screwed up bad or if I am a sewing genius.

Either way, this blouse is at least 10 years old, more likely 11 or 12 years old. So, with the clothes I have added through Madame's closet purge, I have enough clothes to wear if I have to throw this one in the scrap bag.

I have been reading my Kindle, a Dana Stabenow. It is a collection of her articles for Alaska Magazine and is very fascinating reading. Course, Dana is one of my favorite Alaskan mystery writers and she has a way with words that is both simple and eloquent. I highly recommend it. I can't remember the name and don't want to disturb my Kindle to find it. I am sure amazon.com search of her work will turn it up.

We have had sunshine and more sunshine. I had to hang a quilt on the east deck bannister to block the intermittent light breeze sneaking around the corner of the house in order to sit in the sunshine comfortably. So comfortable and warm I napped for an hour out there and read for another 2 hours. The dogs were happy to share their space with me, although they were a bit disgruntled that they had to give up parts of their sunny sleeping space to me. They coped well.

All is well here. Blessed be