BRRR!

Just in case you can't make it out, it is 28 deg here this evening. It's VERY late, I can't sleep so I'm surfing the Internet and working on my lesson plan for next week. I'm also looking for a new serger so the search web box says Juki Janome. I like the Juki's and Janome's. Models 644D and 634D respectively. They both cost about the same as the estimated repair on the old Elna. The Elna is on craigslist in case someone wants it for parts or to try and trade in on a higher end model..

More weather photos and a story:

This is our little barrel pond where two fishes live. They were here at the house when I moved here in 2002. They were living in a different pond on the side of the house, the previous owners left them but took the pump from the pond. They weren't even an inch long. I rescued them and kept them inside in a bowl for a few years. Then our good friends took them, spoiled them and gave them an aquarium. When they moved to Ohio they gave the fishes back and had named them Finnegan and Beau. We kept them inside for awhile but they kept growing and growing. We had the aquarium right by the TV and it was just too noisy and apparent they were outgrowing their home. I found this pond at Home Depot on clearance and thought they might like to move back outdoors. I'd guess they're now between 4 and 5 inches long. They've enjoyed their new home since late summer. Well, I moved all our citrus trees in pots to the garage where our non existant Winter Car should be. I thought our fishes would be okay because I read they can survive freezing weather. The last few mornings the pond has looked like these photos. There's a piece of screen over it and when I pulled it back Saturday morning I thought a leaf in the top part of the pond was a fishy :-(.
Today we realized it was a leaf! The fish were taking it easy hanging out at the bottom, just as I had read they would do in cold (even freezing) weather. Still, we propped plastic over it and have a few incandescent spotlights near it to keep it a bit warmer (the lights can't fall in the water). They've made it half way through the predicted freakishly cold (For California) so I hope they can last a few more days. I debated on taking them out at night and putting them in a bucket. My hubby thinks that might be harder on them.

I am actually knitting in case anyone is wondering if I ever do that anymore. A friend is having twins (one boy, one girl) so I'm making two little jackets. I'll show you my progress soon! I've also knitted Barbie a pair of pants and a skirt. Before the serger died I was sewing for Esther's preschool and made Barbie a Cinderella dress. .

Yikes! Now Weather.com says it's 27 degrees but feels like 21 degrees! What does that mean anyway! Quite a few of our neighbors are using their fireplaces, so it kind of smells like camping around here. Just as our hot spell last summer this is a minor inconvenience for us, it means a conversation starter amoung friends, pushing potted trees back and forth, covering a fishpond, an uncomfortably high but manageable heating bill due next month. I know there are citrus growers in the Central Valley that are really losing a lot! Fortunatley our bird freinds seem to be weathering the cold. The hummingbirds that visit our feeder and the finches that visit the bird bag I recently hung from our cherry tree have been out every day this week.

Take care all!

I'll Trade ya!

I really want this! http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3358&mfrcode=HOP&mfrpartnumber=13013 You would think I could go to Walmart or Target to get such an item. Right? Guess not in California! Crazy! Our temperatures were well below freezing last night and are predicted to be the same through the weekend. Our garage is full of an unfinished woodworking project (my husbands). The plants have their lights and covering but on the advice of local nurseries I think they will be wheeled into the garage in the evenings. BRRRR. So what am I trading you for? Hmm, what do I have worthy of such a trade....I KNOW how about this! Yes it will be this (Elna 644) Well, one like it...sorta

For This

Before you get too excited, you should wait for the picture of my actual machine. The needle assembly broke off the needle rod. Repair requires a trip to Elna and with measly $350 Estimate, my response was PHPPPH! Much better response than the hopefully unintelligible cuss words I yelled when it happened. So I'm sorta in the market for a new or used serger. I've toyed with the idea of getting an inexpensive one and save my money for one with more options. Any ideas on what I should do? Anybody have a machine they love that I should look for new or used. There are SO many options! I figure I'll just wait and see what looks best. Truth be told I could do most of the sewing I do on my regular sewing machine. The speed and secured seams on the serger is fun along with some of the other features you get.

Later I may post a picture of the broken parts of my machine and I will definitely post a picture of the "gown" I made before it died. I don't need it for more of these but I'll still show you what I've been up to.

Lastly, I have to tell you how nice my husband is. We really shouldn't buy a serger right now. Even waiting a few months would be better. He said, "But you use it quite a bit don't you?" Also, he never complains about the things I buy or crafts I get into. One day he jokingly told me I couldn't get another Hobby because I only have 24 hours in a day. And you know, his attitude is so nice it makes it easy to wait for things.

How Hot is it?

Too Darn Hot!

My challenge to you is to leave a comment telling me the date, time, temperature my blog says it is here and also what the temperature is where you are. It's hot here and from what we've heard, pretty much all over! Hope Everyone's Electricity keeps cranking!

Ugh, just realize I have to do wash today, don't think I can wait as I've been waiting for cooler days for about a week now? Better sooner than later and we have a clothesline which I'll use. Rumor has it it is against the law in Pleasanton to use a clothesline. I never wanted to really know that for sure because I'd have to move out of principal and we can't afford too. Maybe I'll get one of those umbrella ones that move up and down and make sure it's high enough for everyone in the public park next door can see. My own little protest! :-)

Take care and stay cool!