SEWING ALONG

Inquiring minds want to know: did the mercury reach 114 today? My weather app says it’s 107 in Clarkston, but our digital weather station says it’s 114. It registers high because of its location -- and because it IS hot here in this gulch. Regardless of the official high, it's hot today. Nellie and I got our exer-walk in early -- the first exer-walk we've taken in weeks, but she wanted to go. And this afternoon Mike and I took both dogs to the river for a swim. Tomorrow it's supposed to be hot again and then cooler on the weekend. We'll see.

When I was staycating back in June, I purchased a newly-published book of doll clothes patterns for 18-inch dolls, My Doll My Style, written by Anna Allen, one of my favorite doll clothes bloggers. The book did not disappoint – and I should know. I am a collector of doll clothes patterns.

Then Anna provided an invitation for book owners to participate in a “sew-along.” I’m not much into that sort of thing. You know what I mean – you make your sample, post a photo of it on social media, and then all the other participants rush over to offer essentially the same words of praise – or else they don’t and then – well, your feelings are hurt. I usually protect myself from that sort of thing, but this time I decided to opt in. For one thing, sometimes I need a push to get started, and maybe if I “sewed along,” I would actually use the book and make some doll clothes. And for another, Anna’s designs call for knit fabrics, and she also offers tips. I’ve never sewn much with knits, so I decided this “sew-along” might be a good starting point.

Last week was Week One. This photo is my sample of the “Fringe Swimsuit,” The first one (on left) was okay, but I believed I could do better with a second, so I made another. I even got a little creative and trimmed with decorative elastic. You’d never put that scratchy stuff on a swimsuit for a human, but Molly says it doesn’t bother her a bit.

This is Week 2 – the “swimsuit cover-up.” My first sample, made of a lightweight knit, would be too heavy for these hot days, though a doll never complains. (Dolls are just the greatest that way – always smiling and appreciative.) Nevertheless, I decided to make another out of netting from my stash. I had to feel my way along in order to stitch the seams with reinforcement. After all, I don't know how to sew with netting either.

 

You can’t tell from the photos, but Shirley Anne (Kit) is quite a bit fatter than Molly, especially across the back. Shirley Anne is an old doll, while Molly is newer. The designs fit Molly better than Shirley Anne. KW

HOT AND HAZY

Three disappointing tomato plants

Thursday’s high in our valley is supposed to hit 114!! An “excessive heat watch” is in effect for Wednesday through Friday. The record high in Lewiston was 115 set on August 4, 1961. We might be tempted to escape to the farmhouse at higher elevation if it weren’t torn up, but it will be hot there, too, so maybe we’re better off here in town with the air conditioner.

So, it's hot and also hazy due to the wildfires near and far. I suppose we all have that haze.

One "Rutgers" tomato

Since we’re spending the summer in town, I decided to set out three tomato plants, but they aren’t bearing much fruit. Is it the heat? Did I not set them deep enough? I bought my plants at Walmart when they were rather picked over. The one labeled as “Heirloom Beefsteak” has shown itself to be a cherry tomato. Perhaps it’s just as well. I think they stand the heat better than regular tomatoes. This morning I picked ten little tomatoes to serve with our taco salad tonight. The second plant is supposedly an “Heirloom Rutgers,” whatever that is, and it’s been sitting there for several weeks with just one green tomato that refuses to ripen. The other plant looks good but has just one small tomato. I dutifully water the plants every morning nevertheless.

Mike prepares to fish this afternoon

Even though it’s summertime right now, fall is coming. Yes, it is. I know because it’s been autumn and Halloween at Joann Fabrics for about a month. And surely you’ve seen all the “Back to School” supplies at the marts. And this relates to tomato plants because the days are getting shorter, and tomatoes don’t like that. The window of opportunity for ripening tomatoes draws slowly to a close. KW

A BUSY FRIDAY

'93 Ford Ranger

Mike and I were up early Friday morning in order to be at the park in Orofino by 7:30. That meant leaving the town house before 6:30, and as I’ve said before, I like to get up early, but I don’t like to get up and hurry. I was mostly ready Thursday afternoon, but we still left some things behind – like cold drinks and Mike’s phone. (We did have water.)

A northerly view over unharvested grain fields

And just why did we have to be at the Orofino park at 7:30 a.m.? Well, one of our sons asked Mike to help him find an old Ford Ranger. Small pick-ups have become scarce, and in fact, Mike was about to give up the search and look for some other type of vehicle when he noticed one on Craigslist. So, he rode his motorcycle to Orofino on Tuesday to meet the owner, was pleased with the pick-up and the deal, and bought it with the agreement that we would pick it up early Friday morning so that the owner (just a kid) could make it to work on time.

Everything went smoothly according to plan, BUT – we failed to remember that in Idaho the license plates stay with the owner. So, the kid relinquished the pick-up to Mike, taking his plates with him. Our plan was to leave the pick-up in the park, go on to the farm (10 miles out of Orofino), and retrieve the pick-up in the afternoon, but we agreed it wasn’t a good idea to leave a vehicle without tags in the park.

 

“Who do you know in Orofino?” asked Mike.

“No one,” I said. It’s a sad fact that time changes all things – even me, even the little town in which I grew up.

In the end, we came to a happy solution and left the pick-up by permission at a parking lot near a local business. Of course, I obsessed over the drive back to town for the rest of the day, but Mike said he thought we’d be all right, and after all, he was going to drive it. (And late in the afternoon, Mike and the little pick-up did make it all the way to the town house.)

Meanwhile, Mike and I were at the farm by 8:00. I set about taking care of the raised beds while Mike read the paper. (The grass didn’t need mowing.) About 9:30, the plumber arrived as pre-arranged. He repaired the leak that damaged our home and also installed the new shower shell in the master bath. And when he left, the house again had water. It felt like real progress, even though we have a long way to go. 

We ate a picnic lunch in the shade of the maple tree

Still mid-morning, brother Chuck and Joanne arrived. We sat on yard chairs under the maple tree and had a good visit. The day was not as hot as earlier this week, and the breeze was cool. Our picnic lunch was problematic, though, because of the yellowjackets. I’m just grateful no one got stung, with the possible exception of Bess. Joanne took her plate and ate in their car.

We were back in town before 5:00. Mike spent the next couple of hours washing a motorcycle and two cars. KW