I'm pretty sure...

...that my co-worker thought I was kidding when I informed him that today (July 4th), I wanted to....sleep-in, go to the gym, sew, and read.  I was sooo NOT kidding!!!

Sleeping-in:
I slept-in mostly because last night, I disrespected today by staying up way too late reading and then some time around circa 1 a.m. my nonsensical neighbors (the ones that are kitty-corner in the back and to my right) shot off 3 single firecrackers.  [Is firecrackers one word?  I feel like when I make it two words that it represents "FIRE" and "CRACKERS."  Flame and snacks?  Ummmm...NO!]  Pow! Pow! Pow!  And of course, it was just as I was turning off my e-reader and ready to doze off to the happy land of slumber.  (Sigh.)  Thankfully the thrice pops were the only noises I heard for the remainder of the night and yes, I did drift off to sleep. 

The feline decided that 7 a.m. was plenty late enough for her human to sleep.  Some mornings I want to open the door and kick her out.  I mean seriously, does Maggie even know how good she has it here?  I think not!!!  Any-who...I threatened her very life and she stopped meowing.  I'm pretty sure my teacher voice works on her...lest she get a slipper heaved in her direction.

The Gym
Went to the gym.  45 minutes of cardio.  While working-out, The Price is Right was on.  I don't like the new version of this show.  When I was a kid, they had Plinko!  Does anyone else remember that???  Plinko - the good ol' days.  There was a board with a gazillion nails (or nail-ish looking things) and the contestants would stand at the top of the board and drop what appeared to be hockey pucks.  The pucks would travel down the board to the bottom where they would stop on a prize.  It was soo cool!  Today they had racetrack (again, is this one word or two?) with faux rats.  The military couple had to pre-determine which rat would win.  It was kind of lame.  Bring back Plinko!!! 

Inbetween segments, there was a ridiculous commercial for some new reality t.v. show coming in the fall.  I hate reality t.v.  Ok - wait.  The only reality t.v. that I tolerate and enjoy is the OLYMPICS.  Seriously - I really, really, really do not like reality t.v.  No, I hate it.  Loathe.  Despise.  Reality should be reality.  Reality t.v. shows are NOT reality.  They are hyped-up versions of YUCK that Hollywood thinks everyone wants to see.  We don't.  News flash:  Most people I know, and let's face it - I know some amazingly fabulous people, do not like reality t.v. either.  Where are these crazies that like that stuff???  Ick.  I'd rather watch all the Star Wars DVD on repeat for a week than watch reality t.v.  Do you know there are 6 Star Wars DVDs?  Do you know that would be 12 hours of one viewing...2 times through per day times 7 days.  I'd rather watch football than watch reality t.v.  Strong words, I know.  But seriously - reality t.v.  Bleh!

Any-who...

Sewing
Rhonda bought a cute Merona dress when we were thrifting on Monday.  The dress has a drawstring waist.  The top stitching was compromised.  The dress was brand new but it had the messed-up stitching.  I volunteered to fix the dress. 

After fixing the dress, I ironed and pressed fabric to make two super-cute pillowcases.  One is for Jackson (sock monkeys) and one is for Reagan (girlie-fru-fru).  I did learn a valuable lesson...

The original YouTube tutorial calls for 3/4 of a yard of main fabric, 1/4 of a yard for the pillowcase opening, and then 2 inches of fabric for the edge between the opening fabric and the main fabric.  I used ribbon for both pillowcases but learned (after the fact, of course!) that I had purchased too narrow (1-1/2") of ribbon of Reagan's pillowcase...so PLAN B - I used the top stitch feature and just attached the ribbon over the top of the quasi-missing ribbon from the first go around of stitching. 

If you need a cute, quick children's birthday/Christmas present - search YouTube for Magic Pillowcase Sewing Tutorial.  Honestly - I've made probably a dozen of these!!!  My goal:  too rid the world of blaz-ay pillowcases.  Well, too be honest, that's just one of my goals in life. 

Reading:  I downloaded a free Nook book titled, Ready or Not.  It's delightful.  I'm hoping to finish reading it today.  I must've selected LARGE PRINT because it says there are 896 pages and somehow I am already on page 599...which doesn't seem like I've read 598 other pages.  According to Goodreads, it should be about circa 290-300 which sounds reasonable.

Next week I am house-sitting for the first half of the week.  Off to Cherry Valley I go!!!  I'm actually quite excited about house-sitting...  There is a Keurig coffeemaker!!!  AND THEY HAVE A HUGE BATHTUB!!!!  I know the last thing probably sounds ridiculous, but my cottage only has a stand-up shower and I miss luxurious baths. 

I cannot believe it's July 4th.  My co-worker informed me that before we know it, it will be fall!  Goodness.  Let's not wish the summer away.  I mean, FOR REAL!!!!!  I want to embrace summer - similarly how a small child picks up a kitten.  By the neck and squeeeeeeze!!!  Don't get me wrong - I heart fall.  Infact the other morning, it was 50 degrees here and I daydreamed about hot apple cider.  YUM!  After 0.3 seconds, I stopped that nonsense and thought about fresh strawberries and raspberries.  In season fruit...my fave!!!

Hope you had a wonderful,

delightful, happy 4th of July!!!