Sew on Monday

I woke up to the sound of "Monday, Monday" by The Mamas and The Papas on the clock radio and I thought, how appropriate!  For the first time, in a long time, today felt exactly like a Monday.  I haven't been sleeping well, lately, and last night (or should I say, this morning?) was no different.  I fell asleep after 4:30 a.m. and it wasn't a very restful sleep, either, so I woke up feeling rather tired.  I was glad that I didn't have any appointments or any place I had to go, today.  Even though I had meant to go grocery shopping, I decided to postpone it.

The doctor's office called to confirm Wednesday's appointment and I confirmed it with them.  Aunt C called, too; I had told her about the meditation sessions at them temple and she wants to go with me, the next time I go.  Cousin N and I will work out the logistics - she'll drop aunt off at my house on a Friday morning before she starts teaching piano, I will take aunt to the temple in the evening, aunt will stay the night with me and either cousin will come to pick her up on Saturday evening after she finishes teaching piano, or, I will drop aunt off sometime on Saturday.  But probably not this Friday, since I have my eye appointment and I am not sure if I'd be up to going to the temple, later in the evening.

One of my cousins emailed some pictures of an almsgiving that was held at my oldest half-brother in remembrance of our brother who died a year ago.  Another cousin emailed a link to some photographs taken on 9/11 by a photographer, which included a picture of him as he left the scene, all covered in ashes (he had worked in the first tower of the World Trade Center). 

I put away the laundry from yesterday and took the opportunity to declutter a few more items of clothing from the closet:

Clothes to Donate

3 pairs of pants (brown, wine, and white), 2 red skirts, 2 blouses (purple and white), a black pin striped suit (pants and jacket) and a purple/green plaid suit (belted skirt and jacket).  There are 2 more skirts that I am considering giving away, but I haven't decided on them, yet.

While putting away the laundry, I noticed that one of my newer blouses had a tiny tear on the sleeve, so I decided to mend it:

The mending is just above my finger nail 

Today, I spent the afternoon and part of the evening, sewing.  I made pillowcases for my daughter, using fabric I had bought for her, several years ago, because she loved the cherry prints, and fabric I had in the stash.  I think I bought the fabric with the intention of making cushion covers for her, so, I had bought only 1/2 yard of each and I believe I used part of one fabric for something else that I made for her.  However, daughter has several cushion covers and doesn't need any more.  She has several pillowcases, as well, but these will replace some of her old ones:

White Cherry Print Pillowcases

I made two pillowcases with the cherry print on one side and plain white fabric on the other side.  Then, I made a third pillowcase with the white fabric, with a border from the strip of cherry print fabric that was leftover.  These pillowcases have an inside flap that will cover the opening once the pillow has been inserted.

Pink Cherry Pillowcases

There was less than 1/2 yard of this pink cherry print.  But I was able to cut three strips of the fabric which I used as borders on pillowcases I sewed with pink fabric that was in the stash (leftover from the mountain quilt).  Even so, I didn't have enough of one color for all three pillowcases, so, two are made with light pink and one with medium pink!  I am left with two strips of the pink fabric for a future patchwork project! 

I have used up two pieces of fabric from the stash (the two cherry prints), most of the two pink fabrics and most of the white fabric, as well!  Pillowcases are good "stash busters"!   I still have an abundance of fabric in my stash, though!

For brunch, today, I boiled two eggs and made egg salad for sandwiches.  Later, I put dried garbanzos (chick peas) to soak and boiled them.  I froze some of the boiled garbanzos and I sauteed the rest with onions, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and dried chilies:

Garbanzo/Chick Peas

This is a popular snack in Sri Lanka, but I ate a bowl of it for dinner.  I had also put a salmon steak I had cooked and frozen earlier, to thaw, thinking I'll have that for dinner, but I didn't feel like having it.  I will have it, tomorrow, instead.

Later in the evening, I video chatted with daughter and knitted.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being on vacation and being able to take it easy because I felt like it!
- Being able to declutter a few things from the closet
- Being able to mend the tear on my blouse
- The fabric stash!
- A working sewing machine


Monday's To Do List:
- Grocery shop
- Laundry (sofa dust covers)
- Put new dust covers
- Put away the laundry - DONE
- Do dishes - DONE
- Take the trash cans to the curb - DONE
- Clean the litter box - DONE
- Paperwork/filing
- Call DMV to make an appointment to renew my driver's license
- Sew - DONE

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Grocery shop
- Launder the sofa dust covers
- Put new dust covers on
- Paperwork/filing
- Call the DMV
- Water the new plants
- Tidy the house a bit

How was your Monday?  What are your plans for Tuesday?