Kohl's

Lorissa and Renee wanted some flannel sheets on their beds last week when the temperatures dipped a bit.  So yesterday, when the temperatures were up to a hot 92 degrees we decided to get some.  I had a 15% off coupon for Kohl's so we decided that was the place to shop.  Before we left I saw a $10 off of $20 coupon in my inbox so I brought that too.

Twin sized flannel sheet sets were on sale for $19.99 originally $44.99.  Then there was an additional 10% coldweather sale making the sets $17.99, so for two sets I was to pay $35.98.  Then $10 in Kohl's cash was deducted bringing the total to$25.98.  Then my 15% off coupon was used to subtract another $3.90, bringing the total to$22.08 which was raised by 9% sales tax to $24.07.  So I saved $67.90 on two sets of twin sized flannel sheets.

So what is the deal with Kohl's?  What are the real prices there?  Would you ever pay full price for anything when shopping at Kohl's or are you signed up to get their emails for the coupons?

I Dreamed My Whole House Was Clean

But it often looks like this.

 

Oh, the joys of homeschooling!  Our home is lived in!

Reformation Day Celebration

My brother Ed and his wife Jennifer hosted a Reformation Day celebration on Saturday evening.  This was held in their shed, which was lit by torches and lanterns.  The meal consisted of a roasted pig and turkey, cabbage and potatoes, bread, and desserts.  We had speakers informing us about the Reformation and several reformers.  There was a huge bonfire and the 95 Thesis posted on a door.  We had a wonderful evening of fellowship with people of all ages and good food, while increasing our knowledge of church history.

I was in charge of setting up some replicas of relics.  I gathered some information from this site, which states:

"In Christianity, relics are the material remains of a deceased saint or martyr and objects closely associated with those remains. Relics can be entire skeletons, but more usually they consist of a part such as a bone, hair or tooth. Pieces of clothing worn by the deceased saint or even an object that has come in contact with a relic is also considered a relic.

Relics have played an important role in Christian ritual since the earliest centuries of the church and were a major part of popular religion in the Middle Ages. Until 1969, relics were placed under the altar stones of all Roman Catholic churches. The veneration of relics was rejected by most of the Protestant Reformers and most Protestants today, but relics continue to play an important part in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity."

The relic display.

Eddie and Lorissa discussing the display.

The following relic replicas were on display: 

I. The Axe Head that Elisha Made to Float

II. A Piece of the Cross of Our Lord
III. Forbidden Fruit That Eve Ate 
 IV. A Portion of Jesus’s Burial Cloth  
V. Manna from the Ark of the Covenant  
VI. The Nail That Pierced Our Lord’s Hand  
VII. The Brain of Saint Peter  
VIII. Leg Bone of the Cock That Crowed After Peter Denied Our Lord
IX. Crumbs from Feeding the Five Thousand  
X. Flies from the Plagues of Egypt  
XI. A Piece of Lot’s Wife 
 XII. The Stone that Killed Goliath

Tulare-Kings Right to Life Dinner with Bristol Palin

            Nathan, Renee, Bristol Palin, and Lorissa

             Margaret, Bristol Palin, and Keith

We went to the Tulare-Kings Right to Life dinner on September 30.  Bristol Palin was the main speaker and she did a good job for a 19 year old.  This article is a good summary of her speech and the event.

And they are leaving for...

the weekend.  That's what it looks like with the amount of baggage they are carrying.  But no, they are going for a day of classes at The College of the Sequoias.  Nathan is taking mostly computer classes, so he has his books and laptop.  Lorissa is taking a drawing fundamentals class, so she needs her pencils, sketch pads, and drawing board.  They both take a lunch and snacks.  Plus they have an extra long day, because they need to get there early to find a parking space.

More Sewing

I made this tote for Renee.

It has webbed handles and an outer pocket.

On the inside it has two key loops and a divided pocket.

I also made three seat belt covers.  The padded fabric folds in half and velcroes around the shoulder belt to keep in from digging into your neck.

Slipcovering the "Sick" Couch

Awhile back I wrote that I wanted to slipcover the sick couch.  When the kids get sick they like to hang out on this couch.  It was looking pretty "sick"

I finally did it in mid July.  I first bought two 12' by 9' drop cloths from Lowe's.

I bought the extra heavyweight ones and washed them in hot water.  I air dried them, but they both shrunk at from 1-3 inches on the length and 8-9 inches on the width. A lot of fuzz also came off in the washer and the texture seemed a little rougher.  I made tons of measurements of the couch and then drew the pattern pieces on graph paper.

 This was helpful for the cutting layout, especially since each drop cloth was three sections of fabric sewn together.  I over estimated with large seam allowances, but I probably was too liberal in that area.  Sticking to the grain was also difficult.  I would also advise using pins with large heads so you can handle and see them easier.  Your sewing machine has to be able to handle thick seams.

It took me a week to get this completed.    You need lots of patience to remeasure, recheck, and refit.  I first pinned one side all together but took it out again because it was easier to sew and fit and pin each seam one at a time.

 Doing this in the winter when the house is cooler would also be helpful.  You have to ignore some folds, wrinkles, unevenness,  and imperfections.  I like how it turned out, but I am not ready to tackle a big piece like this again.  I would also never do this with a pattern that would need matching or centering.  I did use one of the original drop cloth seams centered down the love seat and it doesn't look bad.  I like the neutral color of the couch, that won't compete with the pillows on it.

I would encourage you to look at blogs and websites that give tutorials and discussions on this if you are planning on tackling a slip cover.

Heading Home

We walked from the cruise ship terminal to the train station in San Diego.  I returned home by train and then the bus again.

A Cruise Dinner

 Salmon Dinner

We enjoyed the good meals that were served to us throughout the cruise, especially since there was no cooking, dish washing, or grocery shopping involved on our part.  Just make a selection and it was brought to you.

Dawn, Barbara, and myself at dinner.

The pleasant ladies, a mom and her two daughters, whom we shared a table with each evening.

Ensanada, Mexico

Items for sale in a shop.  They are really in to skeletons from celebrating "Day of the Dead"

This shop had quite a variety of colorful items.  Most of the shops offered silver jewelry, leather goods, pottery, blankets, and all the typical Mexican junk.

Ensanada.

Avalon on Catalina Island, California

Avalon.

The exit from the ship to the tender that took us to Avalon.

A tender next to the Elation.  These little boats could transport 40 passengers.

A view from the tender of the Elation.

Avalon.

 The old casino in Avalon.

Barbara and Dawn.

The central square in Avalon with a group of tourists on segways.

Avalon.

The Ship's Route and Some of the Decor

A map of the route we took.  The first full day was "A Day at Sea" and we were just anchored out in the ocean somewhere between San Diego and Catalina Island.

We were on the 4 day cruise.

 Some art right by the elevators.

 This was on the walls close to the elevators.