1878 Bathing Suit
Jan. 25th, 2026 05:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
atherleisureI made a lot of progress on my 1878 bathing suit on Friday and Saturday. Now it's up to the point where I need to make buttonholes or cover buttons or try it on. I don't feel like doing any of those things just at present so it can sit for a bit. I hung the dress part so any bias can hang out.
Here's a picture of the sleeves before I set them.
And now back to books and cross-stitching. When it's quite cold out, reading under a blanket is very attractive. I've finished three books in the last three days.
Here's a picture of the sleeves before I set them.
And now back to books and cross-stitching. When it's quite cold out, reading under a blanket is very attractive. I've finished three books in the last three days.
Bathing Suit
Jan. 24th, 2026 09:35 amatherleisureI cut out an 1878 bathing suit last weekend, but it took until last night for me to start sewing it. I just couldn't get excited about it during the week. Then my husband and kids went to the movies, and I was alone in the house so I finally set to work on it. I made a good amount of progress. The Jane Austen tea at the library was rescheduled due to the threat of winter weather today so hopefully I'll work on it some more this afternoon.
Vacation-ish!
Jan. 22nd, 2026 05:18 pmkoshka_the_catI took a half day at work because I was on prep and caught up and why stay when there's nothing to do? Monday is staff development day so an easy day to come back to. I'm excited for a mini vacation! I'll only be gone one full day, but it feels like I packed for a month.
It's done!
Jan. 21st, 2026 06:01 pmkoshka_the_cat
With a night to spare! I'm very happy with it! As usual, floor pictures require imagination...
*sobs*
Jan. 20th, 2026 03:42 pmkoshka_the_catHigh schools are starting an hour and a half later next year.
Elementary schools are starting about the same time.
Middle schools are starting half an hour earlier. We're going to have to get there at 6 something.
I almost cried when I heard. I feel like crying now. I can barely get there at 7:10. My body clock just can't. Ever since we switched back to 7:10 from 8:10 I've been so tired it hurts every day. Getting enough sleep, which I usually do, doesn't help because it's the wrong hours.
They said it was supported by science and adolescents need more sleep. Which makes zero sense because middle school students are adolescents.
*sobs*
Elementary schools are starting about the same time.
Middle schools are starting half an hour earlier. We're going to have to get there at 6 something.
I almost cried when I heard. I feel like crying now. I can barely get there at 7:10. My body clock just can't. Ever since we switched back to 7:10 from 8:10 I've been so tired it hurts every day. Getting enough sleep, which I usually do, doesn't help because it's the wrong hours.
They said it was supported by science and adolescents need more sleep. Which makes zero sense because middle school students are adolescents.
*sobs*
(no subject)
Jan. 20th, 2026 08:32 amtotchipandaThe 100 day project starts on February 22, and heck yeah I'm fired up about it! (As fired up as I can be, more than a month out lol) I saw the email this morning and immediately started thinking about what I could do. First thought was sewing: finish up the silk sack dress I started however many years ago (fabric purchased 2017). Whatever else. Maybe a whole wardrobe from the skin out, all by hand? Then I thought, I have cross-stitch projects wot need finishing. The purpose is just to make time for creativity. One needle of thread at a time eventually creates a whole project, you know?
I have only finished my journal up to the week that I'm gone. I'm trying to decide if my "cover page" (which spans the opened book) should be the whole trip, including daily journaling, or if it should be the overview and then spread the rest of it out on the next pages. I don't plan to take it with me (extra weight and space that I could use to bring back souvenirs!) so it would all be post-trip anyway. I've already stuck down some stickers and written some lists in pen, and boxed out the spaces in pencil. I think I can keep it simple enough for the two pages.
Then I'm back for one week and the project begins! Doing cross-stitch also means I can have everything prepared and ready to go (who am I kidding, it's already prepared and ready to go). One page will be enough, and then I can bump weeks back a little, which would be perfect for setting up March. Alright, I think I have a plan!
Dance class tonight or else I'd start on all this right the heck now!
I have only finished my journal up to the week that I'm gone. I'm trying to decide if my "cover page" (which spans the opened book) should be the whole trip, including daily journaling, or if it should be the overview and then spread the rest of it out on the next pages. I don't plan to take it with me (extra weight and space that I could use to bring back souvenirs!) so it would all be post-trip anyway. I've already stuck down some stickers and written some lists in pen, and boxed out the spaces in pencil. I think I can keep it simple enough for the two pages.
Then I'm back for one week and the project begins! Doing cross-stitch also means I can have everything prepared and ready to go (who am I kidding, it's already prepared and ready to go). One page will be enough, and then I can bump weeks back a little, which would be perfect for setting up March. Alright, I think I have a plan!
Dance class tonight or else I'd start on all this right the heck now!
Getting there...
Jan. 19th, 2026 05:42 pmkoshka_the_catThe dress is close to done. I'll hopefully get everything but the flowers and skirt drapery done tonight.
Week 2
Jan. 19th, 2026 06:01 pmatherleisureI spent some of my free time on my cross-stitching this week.
Here's where I left off last week:
And here's where I left off this week:
Here's where I left off last week:
And here's where I left off this week:
(no subject)
Jan. 19th, 2026 09:27 amtotchipandaEnded up not recording my virtual interview responses until Sunday evening. Friday I woke up at 3-something AM and was just too dang tired. I crawled into bed at 8pm. Watched the last ep of Canada's Drag Race and the new ep of regular Drag Race, then lights out and played a game for a bit. I was asleep before midnight and I STAYED asleep until nearly 8 am. Who am i?!
Saturday M and I went to IKEA, where we had lunch and then bypassed the showroom and half of the market hall until we got to the spot where we'd left off browsing upon realizing that the store was closed. M bought a table for her front door area, and I bought a whisk. Then we went to Michaels and called it a day.
Yesterday, we had a show, Moulin Rouge! and it was fun to be there in our usual seats and think about how our next shows are going to be in NEW YORK CITY on ACTUAL BROADWAY. We forewent our usual habit of dinner after as A: we ate out at IKEA the day before and B: NYC!
On my way to pick her up, the radio station I listen to was giving away tickets to the home renovation show at the end of the month. They used a clip from a movie to enter. The clip was "Nah, I'm just a worm" which I knew immediately and didn't need to hear it again. I pulled up to a red light, quickly texted in my answer, put the phone down and drove away. At the next red light I stopped at, I checked my phone again and I had won! I have no idea what I'm going to do at the home renovation show, but! I won a thing!
Not confident about my video interview, but regardless, I'm on my way out. Whether its before my trip or after, it's happening.
Saturday M and I went to IKEA, where we had lunch and then bypassed the showroom and half of the market hall until we got to the spot where we'd left off browsing upon realizing that the store was closed. M bought a table for her front door area, and I bought a whisk. Then we went to Michaels and called it a day.
Yesterday, we had a show, Moulin Rouge! and it was fun to be there in our usual seats and think about how our next shows are going to be in NEW YORK CITY on ACTUAL BROADWAY. We forewent our usual habit of dinner after as A: we ate out at IKEA the day before and B: NYC!
On my way to pick her up, the radio station I listen to was giving away tickets to the home renovation show at the end of the month. They used a clip from a movie to enter. The clip was "Nah, I'm just a worm" which I knew immediately and didn't need to hear it again. I pulled up to a red light, quickly texted in my answer, put the phone down and drove away. At the next red light I stopped at, I checked my phone again and I had won! I have no idea what I'm going to do at the home renovation show, but! I won a thing!
Not confident about my video interview, but regardless, I'm on my way out. Whether its before my trip or after, it's happening.
Bad picture!
Jan. 18th, 2026 05:19 pmkoshka_the_cat
I tried it on with my springed corset, which needs a longer tie as my under bust has grown, which is a good thing, and I like it!
I promise it looks better than the picture. Imaginations needed!
Sleeves
Jan. 17th, 2026 06:44 pmkoshka_the_catOne sleeve is mostly done. The cutouts are hemmed and the slightly fuller lining is basted in. It just needs the seam and hem. I'm going to put a drawstring in the hem to draw it up slightly. The second sleeve has the cutouts ironed open so they'll be easier to hem. As easy as what's basically a slit ever is. I'm glad I like normal hems because I didn't want the weight of binding. I'll hopefully finish the sleeves and start the skirt tomorrow.
Taking a break until at least after dinner because today's work was the type that makes you fizz. Breaks are important too!
Taking a break until at least after dinner because today's work was the type that makes you fizz. Breaks are important too!
Updates!
Jan. 16th, 2026 08:02 pmm_of_disguiseHaven't had much of a chance to update since the birth, but here's a quick rundown of, well, as much as I can remember, anyway. XD
- Went to see the green house in Cleburne, and it was in terrible, terrible shape. The house was sunken by about 6 inches in the back. Breaker box that was 9,000 years old, whole house needed rewiring. Crumbling sheet rock, crumbling ceilings, no heat or AC, water damage, just a wreck. Since we've seen it, it's gone Under Contract, then came back on the market, then had a price drop down to $175k, then another down to $169k, so I'm guessing an inspection turned up even more damage than was just immediately visible.
- I have a new baby! The C-section went very smoothly, and I was in the hospital for 3 days total before going home. Completely different experience from Kate's birth. WAY more post-op pain this time. Last time I didn't even use the pain pills after I went home. This time I was doubled over with the wind knocked out of me because of pain.
- Our babysitter flaked out on us just 3 hours after Clementine was born, and M had to go home to stay with Kate while I was in the hospital, so I was on my own with her for 2 days before I got to go home. -_- M is extremely upset about it, and feels very hurt that his best friend let us down so hard.
- Clementine was a big baby! 8lbs 10oz. Very glad to have had the C-section.
- Newborn checkup went well, but Kate caught something while we were at the doctor's office and the entire house ended up coming down with it, save for myself. Poor Clementine with her little cold just after being born, rough way to start out life.
- Since then things have been pretty routine. Clementine is entirely nocturnal, so very little sleep is happening. She's most active from midnight - 4AM, because of course she is.
- We are now actively house hunting. Found a house we all loved, was perfect in every way, but the schools in the area were TERRIBLE (like, only a 25% literacy rate terrible), and while we discussed our options for getting the kids into better schools, someone else bought it. -_-
- We currently have an offer in on a house that we also all love! The seller accepted our initial offer, then the inspection turned up some potentially major problems. We did two more inspections - one for the foundation, one for the plumbing. Foundation is fine, but the plumbing is a complete catastrophe, like...cast iron pipes with large sections missing because they've rotted away. Estimate to replumb the house is $20k. The electrical also needs replacing because it's too old to handle current voltage requirements, as well as the water heater which is fairly new but somehow also dying, and the roof, which is ancient but should be covered at 100% by the seller's insurance. We've given our list of demands to the seller and are currently waiting for a reply.
- After a month at home, M has realized that yes, I absolutely need to stay home full-time in order for him to be able to do his job effectively. So, I am no longer with the sheriff's department as of this past Monday. Sort of sad to leave a place that I've been with for nearly a decade (would have been 9 years in April), but I'm also excited for this next chapter.
So that's it, I think. It's been a very busy and exhausting month since Clem's birth, and I'm generally running on about 5 hours of sleep every day. I'll try and post a bit more regularly now that we've sort of got our new household routine down.
- Went to see the green house in Cleburne, and it was in terrible, terrible shape. The house was sunken by about 6 inches in the back. Breaker box that was 9,000 years old, whole house needed rewiring. Crumbling sheet rock, crumbling ceilings, no heat or AC, water damage, just a wreck. Since we've seen it, it's gone Under Contract, then came back on the market, then had a price drop down to $175k, then another down to $169k, so I'm guessing an inspection turned up even more damage than was just immediately visible.
- I have a new baby! The C-section went very smoothly, and I was in the hospital for 3 days total before going home. Completely different experience from Kate's birth. WAY more post-op pain this time. Last time I didn't even use the pain pills after I went home. This time I was doubled over with the wind knocked out of me because of pain.
- Our babysitter flaked out on us just 3 hours after Clementine was born, and M had to go home to stay with Kate while I was in the hospital, so I was on my own with her for 2 days before I got to go home. -_- M is extremely upset about it, and feels very hurt that his best friend let us down so hard.
- Clementine was a big baby! 8lbs 10oz. Very glad to have had the C-section.
- Newborn checkup went well, but Kate caught something while we were at the doctor's office and the entire house ended up coming down with it, save for myself. Poor Clementine with her little cold just after being born, rough way to start out life.
- Since then things have been pretty routine. Clementine is entirely nocturnal, so very little sleep is happening. She's most active from midnight - 4AM, because of course she is.
- We are now actively house hunting. Found a house we all loved, was perfect in every way, but the schools in the area were TERRIBLE (like, only a 25% literacy rate terrible), and while we discussed our options for getting the kids into better schools, someone else bought it. -_-
- We currently have an offer in on a house that we also all love! The seller accepted our initial offer, then the inspection turned up some potentially major problems. We did two more inspections - one for the foundation, one for the plumbing. Foundation is fine, but the plumbing is a complete catastrophe, like...cast iron pipes with large sections missing because they've rotted away. Estimate to replumb the house is $20k. The electrical also needs replacing because it's too old to handle current voltage requirements, as well as the water heater which is fairly new but somehow also dying, and the roof, which is ancient but should be covered at 100% by the seller's insurance. We've given our list of demands to the seller and are currently waiting for a reply.
- After a month at home, M has realized that yes, I absolutely need to stay home full-time in order for him to be able to do his job effectively. So, I am no longer with the sheriff's department as of this past Monday. Sort of sad to leave a place that I've been with for nearly a decade (would have been 9 years in April), but I'm also excited for this next chapter.
So that's it, I think. It's been a very busy and exhausting month since Clem's birth, and I'm generally running on about 5 hours of sleep every day. I'll try and post a bit more regularly now that we've sort of got our new household routine down.
Two Inches
Jan. 15th, 2026 07:23 pmatherleisureI’m two inches into the foot of my stocking! I ended up knitting a whole inch today. The shorter rows are faster, of course, but the new ball of yarn is actually a little softer/more flexible.
First flat!
Jan. 15th, 2026 04:11 pmkoshka_the_catThis morning when I turned on the street near my school, it sounded like I ran over something. There was a kind of flappy sound. I looked when I parked but couldn't see anything. I forgot about it.
When I left work, flappy sound. I needed gas anyway, so decided to stop and look. The flappy sound stopped halfway to the gas station, so I thought whatever lodged itself there unlodged itself. I checked the tire pressure and it was fine.
(The tap to pay at the gas station didn't work and then I accidentally chose the 91 gas the Fiat needed instead of the 87 the Subaru likes, so that was fun).
I looked under the car. I didn't see anything stray and it looked like a car. I know nothing.
Then about halfway home, beep! Tire pressure! I turned to the tire pressure screen. Three 30 something tires, one 25. Then 24. All the way down to 20 by the time I got to the tire store.
The tire guy saw the razor right away and said they usually can't fix razors. Noooooo. All wheel drive cars need four tires at once because the treads have to match.
It was also going to be at least a 45 minute wait. I called my mom and she came for me. Tire guy two said don't leave quite yet, we need to talk about tires. So I went in, and tire guy one gave me the good news. And only about 15 minutes to fix it! So I sent my mom home. We live five minutes away if you hit the light wrong.
And it was free! Fortunately I had a $10 bill for a tip. I trust that it actually was repairable because they wouldn't lose a good sale for a free repair. It still felt delicate driving home though!
Thankfully it's over! 🤞
Home now with a latte and I just finished some croissants. And am soooo relieved!
When I left work, flappy sound. I needed gas anyway, so decided to stop and look. The flappy sound stopped halfway to the gas station, so I thought whatever lodged itself there unlodged itself. I checked the tire pressure and it was fine.
(The tap to pay at the gas station didn't work and then I accidentally chose the 91 gas the Fiat needed instead of the 87 the Subaru likes, so that was fun).
I looked under the car. I didn't see anything stray and it looked like a car. I know nothing.
Then about halfway home, beep! Tire pressure! I turned to the tire pressure screen. Three 30 something tires, one 25. Then 24. All the way down to 20 by the time I got to the tire store.
The tire guy saw the razor right away and said they usually can't fix razors. Noooooo. All wheel drive cars need four tires at once because the treads have to match.
It was also going to be at least a 45 minute wait. I called my mom and she came for me. Tire guy two said don't leave quite yet, we need to talk about tires. So I went in, and tire guy one gave me the good news. And only about 15 minutes to fix it! So I sent my mom home. We live five minutes away if you hit the light wrong.
And it was free! Fortunately I had a $10 bill for a tip. I trust that it actually was repairable because they wouldn't lose a good sale for a free repair. It still felt delicate driving home though!
Thankfully it's over! 🤞
Home now with a latte and I just finished some croissants. And am soooo relieved!
Better?
Jan. 14th, 2026 06:10 pmkoshka_the_catToday I feel much better than yesterday, mentally and physically. Work went fine, the temperature was fine, I think I've hit a turning point in covid recovery. So I'm cautiously optimistic.
I finished the bottom hem of my bodice and it looks promising. I don't know why I'm nervous about it. It's a pattern I've used and liked. The seamlines are slightly changed, I found a mockup I had forgotten about, but that doesn't really change anything. The straps are a little lower in back and the side seams wrap a little further back. Pretty normal changes.
Anyway, hopefully I'll finish the top hem tonight. Then sleeves tomorrow. I leave a week from tomorrow, unless I change plans and leave Friday. Leaving after work is rough, and I want to be sure I'm really ready for that. I'm wearing a mask to work because I always get sick at work in January. I do don't need the flu or w cold!
I finished the bottom hem of my bodice and it looks promising. I don't know why I'm nervous about it. It's a pattern I've used and liked. The seamlines are slightly changed, I found a mockup I had forgotten about, but that doesn't really change anything. The straps are a little lower in back and the side seams wrap a little further back. Pretty normal changes.
Anyway, hopefully I'll finish the top hem tonight. Then sleeves tomorrow. I leave a week from tomorrow, unless I change plans and leave Friday. Leaving after work is rough, and I want to be sure I'm really ready for that. I'm wearing a mask to work because I always get sick at work in January. I do don't need the flu or w cold!
Heat
Jan. 13th, 2026 05:37 pmkoshka_the_catThe heat was blasting in school today and my classroom was 100 degrees, so I went home. I think I actually had a little bit of a panic attack because I don't deal with heat well at all. When our rooms were heated in the low 80s I couldn't handle it. The air conditioning didn't work right in my old classroom and now that I'm out of it, I realize how much it affected my teaching. I can't think straight when I'm hot.
I didn't need much convincing, but my friend told me to go home. And I did. I really didn't want to after missing last week, but I'm still getting better and that would make dealing with 100 degrees even worse. My friend's room actually got up to 107.
Even worse, I didn't enjoy or feel relaxed today. I thought maybe I'd work on my dress or just take an extra day to feel better, but I've just been tense. Welcome to the hellscape that's 2026, I suppose. Sigh.
I didn't need much convincing, but my friend told me to go home. And I did. I really didn't want to after missing last week, but I'm still getting better and that would make dealing with 100 degrees even worse. My friend's room actually got up to 107.
Even worse, I didn't enjoy or feel relaxed today. I thought maybe I'd work on my dress or just take an extra day to feel better, but I've just been tense. Welcome to the hellscape that's 2026, I suppose. Sigh.