Question! What do I do with my wedding dress?

Right now, it’s hanging in my daughter’s closet because there’s no room for it in mine. My daughter is nine years old and already up to my shoulders, so she’s going to outstrip me soon. There’s no way she’s going to be able to fit into this, assuming she wanted to wear it. I would never assume she would want to, mind you, but the option isn’t going to be there even if she did.

Also, I don’t think butt-bow poofy sleeves is going to come back into style – assuming it ever actually was in style. Hey, I was a Southern bride. That’s what we do. I looked like a giant marshmallow, but I was a stunningly beautiful giant marshmallow, so nyah.

On the up side, I’m pleased to see that my skin actually has cleared up a lot since my mid-20’s.

Anyway, I’m cleaning my stuff out of my daughter’s closet to make more room for her toys, currently scattered all over the house. There are business suits in there I haven’t worn in ten years. Even if I could fit into a size 8 again, I’d want new business clothes more suitable for someone – holy moly – 40 years old, which I’ll be next year. Those clothes, I’ve given to Goodwill. The wedding dress has been hanging in that closet for almost 15 years now, and I’m not sure Goodwill is the best use of it. Then again, maybe it is. I’m clueless.

The places that I’ve checked that want donated wedding dresses don’t take ones more than ten years old because they’re out of style or otherwise timeworn. Sooo… now what?

ETA: My mother would like me to clarify. Even if my DRESS looked large and poofy (although I loved it and loved wearing it), I myself looked absolutely beautiful. I know she thinks so, and yes, I do too.

“Have you ever sat, inches from death, not daring to move a muscle, while Zeros zoomed overhead — looking for you — personally?

“Well — that’s my act out here. And it might be a whole lot worse, ’cause, you see, in between Tojo and me there’s a magic veil that even those dirty little squint-eyes can’t penetrate — a couple of yards of lace net that remind me of —

“Say, isn’t it the darndest thing what a fellow thinks of out here? Lace Curtains! Female stuff!

“Maybe. But, to me, Mom’s lace net curtains always spell home. Whenever it was curtain-washing time, round our house, it was like being caught with your camouflage down!

“And Mom loved her net curtains, too. Never forget her working on Pop for new ones for the living room. She, allowing that hers were five years old and completely out of style … and Pop telling her they were as good as new! That made her boil! She’d claim she’d never buy Scranton Craftspun ones again — they lasted too long, with their tied-in-place weave.

“I don’t guess Mom’s think much of my new net ‘curtains’ — and I’m sure she’d never go for swapping her window screens for my Scranton mosquito netting. But I have a hunch that this year she’ll be humming as she washes those old Scranton jobs — happy she’s helping keep that little extra something between Tojo and me.”

Right now, the great looms that gave you exquisite Scranton Craftspun* Curtains and Lace Dinner Cloths are weaving weapons of war for the boys out there … camouflage nets and mosquito netting. Skilled workers, who sewed in hems and headings, are building parachutes. For, Scranton’s new line is the front line. So why not hang up a couple of Bonds instead — just between Tojo and you.

Last night I did a wash and, since it was night, set it to go in the dryer instead of hanging clothes on the line. Mr. Tvini gets up early and gets some clothes out and happens to leave the dryer door open, not thinking anything of it. I wouldn’t have either. The cat, on the other hand, seizes the moment.

Sigh.

You know, in addition to her ear infections, she’s also losing some hair on her back. The vet’s looking into it. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear the cat had deliberately taken the opportunity to spread her fur over the maximum possible number of clean clothes with the least effort. I guess it would be wrong to shut the lid with her in there,eh?

Oh, very well.

I need my energy, so I’ll be taking my daily vitamin. Looks like in 1943, large dose daily vitamins were fairly new. Behold an Oct 1943 ad for One-A-Day vitamins. Made by the makers of Alka Seltzer, the A&D supplement is equal to 1 1/2 teaspoons of cod liver oil. Buy yours today!

I just got a note saying that I’m up for jury duty. That’s not so bad, but according to Mecklenburg County’s jury duty security site, ” Knives, scissors, or any other sharp objects (including knitting needles longer than 3 inches) are not allowed into the building.” As my husband pointed out, 3″ = totally harmless. 5″ = unbelievable killing machine.

I’ll never make it a day without my knitting. I’ll snap. SNAP, I TELL YOU! So watch the news for reports of a deranged woman being hauled away, screaming, “YOU’LL NEVER TAKE MY NEEDLES! KNIT FREE OR DIE!!”

Oct 1943 Better Homes and Gardens. The gist: there’s a paper shortage on so we may not be able to send you a catalog. Borrow your neighbor’s.

In wartime, I guess we big gals have to stick together.

I didn’t realize Lane Bryant was this old, but according to Wikipedia (article looks like it was written by the company) it’s been around since the turn of the last century, when founder Lena Bryant created the first commercially sold maternity dress. You learn something new every day!

I’m tired this morning, but happy. I joined a play-by-chat-room D&D campaign and our first session started at 9pm last night. About midnight, I was fading, but the DM encouraged me to stay 25 more minutes, so I did. Unfortunately, as always happens in these games, 25 minutes stretched and I didn’t log off until about 1am. D’oh!

It’s a very good DM. If I didn’t know that he was so scrupulous, though, I’d suspect that perhaps me getting attacked so often last night was some kind of revenge, what with me accidentally getting our entire party, including him, killed by mind flayers last time we played. Hey, these things happen. However, he is scrupulous, and entertaining, and as I say, a very good DM.

It’s a good group, too. Sample dialogue from last night: we were entering a mine and came to a lift that could take us down into the depths. My Dwarf, Palin (what, it’s a good Dwarven name!), was concerned that it might be too loud and alert any creatures that we were coming.

Palin: I hope the winch is oiled up.
Val, our rogue: That’s what she said.

This is the level of discourse, my friends. Just the way I like it. However, from now on, I can’t stay up until 1am. I feel fine now, but I have a feeling that around 2pm I’m going to be hurtin’. Hopefully I’ll still be bright eyed for the Pushing Daisies premiere tonight.

In spite of the late night, I WILL go running this morning, once it warms up a little. Until then, I’m stamping boxes and getting Jayne hats ready to ship out. I’m also doing some laundry, which seems to call for this little gem from the Oct 1943 Better Homes and Gardens. If, like me, your eyes are going, you can click on “all sizes” and “original” on the flickr page to read the text the most clearly.

Okay, time to put some drops in the cat’s ears, hang out some clothes, and stamp some boxes!

Got a headache, am a little stressed out, and this month’s unexpected expense (there’s always an unexpected expense) was a double ear infection for the cat. So I get to pour drops in the cat’s ears twice daily. I hate that cat.

Obviously I need a little kick start to get myself back to my usual sunny demeanor. I wonder if I could sub pureed frozen raspberries for some of the butter in my favorite brownie recipe. Hmmm…

Emily wants to sew her own dress, like Giselle did when she cut up Robert’s curtains and made a beautiful gown in Enchanted. Picture is at right. She’s mentioned it several times over several days, so I don’t think it’s entirely a whim, so I’m willing to pursue this.

We’re not cutting up my curtains, and I’m not capable of making a dress that doesn’t look like it was stitched by a drunken seal. Therefore, I’m looking for very basic patterns suitable for a child’s first sewing project. Clothing would be preferable, but that’s not critical. I have a sewing machine, fabric, thread, pins, needles, scissors, chalk, and assorted other tools already. Anything she can learn a little about sewing from would be good. Ideas for projects, anyone?

After staying up too late Sunday night, I decided not to run on Monday. I figured I’d get back on the horse this morning, but I forgot that today is a teacher workday. So no running this morning. And tonight’s the night Mr. Tvini does his regular 30 mile ride on the bike, so if I do go tonight, it’ll be late. I guess it won’t kill me to wait until tomorrow morning.
The rest is a LONG post about Em’s schoolwork.