Assimilation

While my parents were here last week we took a drive up to Hattiesburg, MS, thinking it would be a nice day trip (not so much). As we were heading up Highway 49, and exiting the Gulfport city limits, I made an almost horrifying realization, that it was the furthest north I had been in over nine months. Since moving here last August I have not strayed from the Gulf Coast region, a 150 mile stretch between New Orleans and Mobile.

This realization was reinforced while hanging out with some friends last weekend, one of which is a Mississippi native. We were hanging out at the pool with the kids and deciding where to go for dinner. My suggestion was Chik Fila. I am a bit sheepish about patronizing them and before moving here I hadn't even stepped foot in a Chik Fila. For one, I don't agree with the right wing political issues the company has supported and it is, after all, fast food. But as a reluctant single parent living in a place where it is blazing hot and there just aren't a lot of options for kid entertainment, I appreciate the indoor play area, the great customer service they offer and "squeaky clean" employees. So after my initial hesitation I now crave it constantly and am addicted to the Chik Fila Sauce, a mysterious combination of BBQ, mustard and who knows what. I'm convinced I'm shortening my life by eating it but I just can't stop. I even made my parents eat there last week.

On Saturday, while while we were chowing down on our Chik Fila and I was slathering my fries in the mystery sauce and sipping down a huge sweet tea (in my defense I do order the grilled sandwich), my friends commented I had come a long way at accepting my fate since moving here and appeared to be assimilated. That produced a big laugh on my part but after regaining my composure I begrudgingly realized I am perhaps becoming just a little southern. Besides my cravings for sweet tea and greasy food, I have noticed I've slowed down a bit and have become a little more tolerant of slow, yet friendly, service at businesses (that most northerners would describe as "bad service") as well as the slower way of talking and overall casual way of doing things. I've also adapted to the local dialect and now know when people say, "I'm fixin to..." it is the same as "I'm going to...". Or if someone tells you they "keep" a child it means they babysit them. I also cringe a little less at poor grammar, such as "she don't", or "I seen". OK, maybe those still bother me! 

Believe it our not (hah) I was sick this week with strep throat and we did not get out much. I'm convinced that is what Grayden had the week prior, he just tested negative to the rapid test. On Thursday my first attemtp at leaving the house in five days resulted in a monumental, out of nowhere, tantrum from Grayden that started at the mall and ended 20 minutes after arriving home. I was beyond frazzled and exhausted and appreciated the dessert and wine that was delivered to my door by Joe's out going CO and wife after the kids were in bed.We did manage to go to Darwell's, one of our favorite local eating joints, multiple times over the last two weeks. Grayden loves it for the live music and I of course love the food and the fact that is is BYOB.  I got some photos of the kids getting sweaty dancing to the oldies one of the nights we were there. I also am posting a couple of photos left over from my parents' visit since I didn't take too many pictures this week.


The Project

• Fabric: 1/2 yard each of two vinyl laminated quilting cottons, $14; 1/2 yard fusible fleece, $3; 1,2 yard clear vinyl, $1.50.
• Pattern: Creative Comforts Studio, Tool and Toiletry Tote by Thelma Atkinson, $12 retail (gift from Mom)
• Notions: Dritz Wonder Tape
• Total cost: about $20
• Total time: 5 hours

Being sick this week really stole my sewing mojo and I could barely muster the motivation to finish the project I started when my parents were here. My mom has developed a pattern for a very clever toiletry bag and had intended on giving a class for a few of my friends while she was here. Unfortunately, because the kids were sick, we didn't host the class but I did cut out my project. I decided to use a laminated fabric for my version so it could be used for cosmetics without getting too grimy. It proved to be a bit challenging to sew with, especially as the layers starting building on each other and the machine had to go through some thick spots. The final seams had to be sewed on a machine at the shop where I'm taking my classes as my machine would not go through it without skipping stitches.

Velcro mistake. It can't close!

Off-center flap.

The instructions my mom put together are very clear and the project is fairly easy, though time consuming. There is a lot of measuring and cutting and without a rotary cutter and cutting mat would probably be even more difficult. Overall I'm not completely thrilled with my construction skills on this bag. All of the flaps are a bit off center and I also realized, after sewing the entire thing up, that I used the wrong side of the velcro on one of the flaps and I have two "soft" pieces of velcro for the outside closure. I"ll need to go back and open up the flap to switch out the piece. I think I'll try it again in a regular cotton or lightweight canvas and see if my results improve. My mom introduced me to the Wonder Tape, a two sided tape that was very helpful in keeping the velcro in place before stitching as well as the pleats and seams that needed to be top-stiched closed. I've been trying to encourage my mom to get the pattern up on Etsy to sell as there doesn't seem to be anyone else marketing a similar pattern on the website. She did leave some for sale at the fabric shop here along with a sample bag and when I was in there on Friday a lot of ladies were interested in it.