Tired Tuesday--Back to School edition!

So this is the first week of school with my students. I am always totally exhausted during this week. Being a musician--I'm a night owl. I think it goes with being a musician. Every musician I know wakes up after dark and I am no exception! If I could, I would go to bed at 3 a.m. and get up at 10 or 11 a.m. but, alas, it is not meant to be! I'm trying to go to bed earlier. Sunday night, I wasn't so good as I went to bed after midnight (as usual), but last night I was in bed at 11:30 so I am making progress!

I haven't done much knitting. I really need to finish Fifi. I don't know why I've been slacking. My goal is to do at least one pattern repeat a night --that's 8 measley rows! Eight! I think I can handle that! I bought some fabric for a new sewing project. I have a Vogue jacket pattern that I simply love:

I love everything about this design with a couple of exceptions: I think the sleeve needs some type of detail and I don't like the fact that the jacket is not fully lined. I found some striped denim to make this. In fact I am making a suit with this skirt:

I am making view B--the skirt with the godets. I will be making some modifications. For the jacket I will line the entire thing and I think I will do a lace inset at the back of the cuff like that on the back of the jacket only using the narrower lace edging that is at the neckline. For the lace inset in the back of the jacket, I am using two rows of lace--one that is the full 5 inches in width and one that is about half the width. For the skirt, which is a jean style skirt, I will eliminate the belt loops and the pockets as I want a plain yoke so that it doesn't detract from the jacket. I will also line the skirt. Here is what I have gotten so far:

The fabric is really bluer than in the photo. My biggest frustration with sewing is that there are no good local fabric stores. I'm really disappointed with Joann Fabrics. The emphasis there is on crafts. They no longer carry any really high quality fabrics--no 100% wools, linens or silks. I couldn't even get woven sew in interfacing. I have had to face the fact that I have to drive 30 - 45 minutes to G-Street fabrics for anything good. I need rayon lining and Joanns only carries 4 colors--none of which is navy. I won't use polyester linings. I guess my extreme fiber-snobbery applies to anything fiber related--not just yarn!

The high point of my week so far is that I got my first package from my secret pal! Wow! We just started Secret Pall 11 and she's already sent me a goody box! I seem to get the best secret pals! Look at all the goodies:

See how pretty they are?

Romantic Knits by Annie Modessit! I wanted that one and it didn't disapppoint! Also an espresso truffle dark chocolate bar! That one is going to school with me for some much needed mid afternoon caffeine jolts !

Handmade catnip kitty toys! Four of them! One for each kitty! My secret pal knows the way to my heart!
Thanks for your thoughtfulness! The kitties thank you to!

I need to go get ready for bed so I can watch my last TV show then attempt to go to bed a little earlier!

Bushism of the day:
"I will have a foreign-handed foreign policy." --George W. Bush, Redwood, Calif., Sept. 27, 2000

Kitty cam:
The kitties love the new toys that my secret pal sent!

Mikey was the first one to go for the toys. He is not known for sharing either as can be seen in the next photo.


Greg finally got a turn!

Mikey still managed to hang on to 2 of the toys.

Harley finally got a chance to play! Samantha was observing this whole ordeal. She's such a little lady. She chose to separate herself from the boys' impulsive behavior. I'm sorry I didn't have the video camera. A few minutes after these were taken, Harley went nuts and was throwing one of the toys in the air, jumping and turning somersaults! Simple minds, simple pleasures!