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The weather has finally changed from the oppressive heat we have suffered all summer, to the cooler fall weather we all love. The temperature hovers around 85 during the day, but dips into the 60's at night. It feels so good to need a sweater!
I have a Red Hat Thanksgiving dinner this week, and since I don't cook much, I volunteered to bring rolls and butter. I thought about baking homemade rolls, but it is usually disastrous when I try something like that for the first time and serve it to other people. So I will be taking my favorite Hawaiian rolls from the store. I wanted to dress them up a little though, so I made three bread baskets with matching bread cloths. These are just the perfect size for the packages of rolls, and have stiff sides and bottoms with cardboard built in. Since they can't be washed, the bread cloths will go under and around the rolls to absorb any oils or moisture, and can be tossed in the washer and dryer.
I have a Red Hat Thanksgiving dinner this week, and since I don't cook much, I volunteered to bring rolls and butter. I thought about baking homemade rolls, but it is usually disastrous when I try something like that for the first time and serve it to other people. So I will be taking my favorite Hawaiian rolls from the store. I wanted to dress them up a little though, so I made three bread baskets with matching bread cloths. These are just the perfect size for the packages of rolls, and have stiff sides and bottoms with cardboard built in. Since they can't be washed, the bread cloths will go under and around the rolls to absorb any oils or moisture, and can be tossed in the washer and dryer.
I picked up a cute pattern on eBay for this scarecrow doll, which I wanted to make for fall decorating purposes. I decided for time's sake to use a purchased doll form. What complicated matters was that the doll form was 18" tall and the pattern was for a 20" doll. I had to do some resizing of the clothing pieces on the fly, but other than that and embroidering the face, the most difficult thing was getting the "straw" on the doll. I used eyelash yarn, and at first was trying to sew it on, but that darn eyelash kept going every which way! I finally wrapped it around the wrist, ankles, and throat of the doll three times, and tied it in the back. Then I hot-glued three rounds of it to the inside of the hat. It turned out pretty well, I think. The doll has a smile embroidered on, but the camera didn't show it except for the "bow" in the middle.
If I ever make another one, I will stick to the pattern, and will use raffia for the straw. But I am pleased with it.
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I am still dubbing tapes to DVDs, and hope to have them all done by Christmas. Today it is "Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance" along with a couple of historical programs on Ireland.
I am finding several tapes that have degraded so much that I couldn't use them. I especially am mourning the loss of 6 "Thin Man" movies with William Powell and Myrna Loy. I may break down and buy them on DVD one of these days. I really enjoy them, especially Asta, their dog.
I also couldn't use my VCR tape of "Bill and Coo," a 1948 film starring trained birds. I was happy to find that it is in the public domain, and was able to download it to my computer. I will burn it to a DVD sometime this week. It was still a little dark in places, but much better than my old degraded copy.
I had previously mentioned that I didn't have "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" or "Life of Brian" on video. I will be taping them off the IFC channel this weekend. The "Monty Python at the Hollywood Bowl" special is also playing there this month. I don't mind the commercials. Sometimes in watching these old VHS tapes, the commercials from years ago are interesting to revisit--such as the old "Where's the Beef?" Wendy's commercials.
I'm just too cheap to buy all new DVDs, I guess. So many of these programs would be very difficult to find anyway. So dubbing is the way to go.
Have a great fall weekend, everyone!
I am finding several tapes that have degraded so much that I couldn't use them. I especially am mourning the loss of 6 "Thin Man" movies with William Powell and Myrna Loy. I may break down and buy them on DVD one of these days. I really enjoy them, especially Asta, their dog.
I also couldn't use my VCR tape of "Bill and Coo," a 1948 film starring trained birds. I was happy to find that it is in the public domain, and was able to download it to my computer. I will burn it to a DVD sometime this week. It was still a little dark in places, but much better than my old degraded copy.
I had previously mentioned that I didn't have "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" or "Life of Brian" on video. I will be taping them off the IFC channel this weekend. The "Monty Python at the Hollywood Bowl" special is also playing there this month. I don't mind the commercials. Sometimes in watching these old VHS tapes, the commercials from years ago are interesting to revisit--such as the old "Where's the Beef?" Wendy's commercials.
I'm just too cheap to buy all new DVDs, I guess. So many of these programs would be very difficult to find anyway. So dubbing is the way to go.
Have a great fall weekend, everyone!
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