Still working

Here I am looking tired, still setting up the new computer and running the old computer on the cutting table.  It is taking longer than I had hoped, not that I should be surprised at this point in my life, although the task is not so much difficult as time consuming, especially as I want to sort through stuff as I transfer.  Computers, like houses tend to fill with stuff.

The old computer keeps shutting down on me, one of the frustrating issues that prompted me to get a new computer in the first place, and that prolongs the process.  Today also we have had several thunderstorms and about 3 inches of rain.  It hasn't broken the heat any but the power has flickered on and off and I have lost the internet connection a couple of times.

Linking directly to the old computer was becoming too problematic so I am transferring the data from an internet back-up but the last batch of data hasn't arrived.  I don't remember if I actually sent it, or just got everything lined up and meant to click send but didn't either due to an interruption or absent-mindedness. It is also possible that I accidently clicked on the restore to CD option rather than the "restore to download" option.  Silly me.    I also did not think to order a copy of Adobe photoshop until after I set up the computer so I am waiting for that as well, but things are progressing.  Of course some data requires manual conversion from PC to Mac format as well. Actually I am enjoying this enough that I wonder why I didn't do it sooner.  Of course, for a long time Apple was pretty much a dirty word in this community which revolved around IBM.

I haven't spent all my spare time at the computer.  I did shorten three new pairs of pants for DH and it was so nice to just sit in a chair and lose myself in the rhythm of the hand stitches.  Even though I might prefer to make something new for myself, I can really enjoy just sitting down and listening to a piece of music and hemming.  Frankly it made me happy to see that my newly serged edges and hand hems looked much better than the original ones that came on the pants -- not that it is at all important, or that anyone will ever know but me.  

Since I am also interruptible when hemming, I was able to get all three pieces done, whereas I don't think I would have had such a long stretch of time in the sewing room.  Don't think that means I am going to get better at doing the mending though:  there is still a huge stack, and I would rather just make new, unless it is a favorite garment.

I've been thinking about clothes and summer shoes, and not just because Materfamilias happened to post about sandals today.  I have been thinking about the occasional post about shoes or what I am wearing or just what I am thinking about clothes and style as that also all channels into what I sew (and knit) as well. I find that I am have been getting more and more interested in clothes again, perhaps partly because I am either more confident (ha!) or just more willing to experiment with what I like with less concern about what other people think about my choices.   I have been collecting more and more inspiration photos, and in doing so, and looking at clothing websites, I am also realizing that I am just not interested in making all my own clothes.  I will still shop. People do things that I would never think of, and if I can find something that I like and looks good on me and fits (a lot of ifs, I know) I have no problem buying.  And of course shoes are easy, because I am not going to make them anyway.

So today, even though I was home all day, I am just the kind of person who has to feel a little pulled together and ready to answer the door when FedEx comes or I need to run out to the Post Office.  But since it was a casual day, I am just wearing  a white tee and periwinkle cotton knit pants.  

I actually made these pants in 2005 and this is an old photo.  I don't have Photoshop up on the computer and can't figure out how to crop out the part of the picture I don't want, and things are too piled up to get a decent new picture, so this will just have to do.  They have held up really well, look practically like new, except for perhaps a little fraying at the bottom of the hem.  So I guess it does pay to buy or make clothes out of good quality fabrics.  Even though these are cotton kni they don't sag or bag and look just as nice as they did in that photo.

But of course, I had on accessories as well. The scarf is one of the first scarves I ever bought myself.  I picked it up at a craft fair soon after I graduated from college.  The silk is rather light and delicate and it has been hand painted,  The colors seem perfect for so many summer things, and the weight is just right for the warm weather, so it remains a favorite.  I actually don't wear it all that often anymore, but when it do wear it, nothing else seems to quite work as well.

And yes there were shoes.  I wore one of my current favorite pairs of casual, flat sandals.  I bought these last summer from Thierry Rabotin.

I actually had qualms about white sandals.  I hadn't owned a pair for several years.  But DH thought the shoes were very graceful, and they are.  Since they are also very comfortable  and go with so much, I am glad that he encouraged me to buy them. As you can see, they have had their share of wear.

Comments

[Grace]

I am happy to read that you, too, made the switch to Apple.
http://badmomgoodmom.blogspot.com/2006/09/apple-sure-doesnt-look-dead.html

I dumped my creaky PC at work for a MacBookPro and 24" external monitor. I still use a Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard, though. The MacBookPro slices and dices satellite data as fast as a (shared) Sun workstation in the lab. I love it.

Mark has played around with it and covets one now, too. See, husbands can be brought around.

Are you familiar with Unix? If so, the switch won't be traumatic. When I can't remember the GUI Apple way to do things, I fire up a terminal window and do it old school Unix command line.

[materfamilias]

Thanks for the mention. I'm pleased to find someone else of a similar maturity who's occasionally willing to stand in front of the camera. Your DH is right: those shoes are very graceful. And I have to say,as a knitter who still happily buys sweaters, I can see why you'd want to shop for clothes as well as sew them.

[Gigi]

I think I have that knit in my stash - Nancy Erickson? I should pull that out and make some lounging pants. LOVE the shoes. Sorry about your computer frustrations!