Ok, so if Osiris is my husband, Ra would be his father, right? Damn, now I gotta go check my Egyptian mythology. I was always more into Sumerian, personally. Ereshkigal FTW.
ANYWAY.
Kids at the zoo
My brother-in-law, crafty sister-in-law, their fourteen-year-old daughter, and my father in law, pulled one on us (this time) and showed up Thursday night unanounced to visit for easter (they live a good 7-hr drive away). Since one of Osiris’s favourite things in the world is to do the same thing to them, I can’t complain about this, despite the fact that I try very hard to keep my in-laws from seeing my house in its natural state (I probably needn’t bother, I think after this long they’ve figured out I’m not Martha Stewart). So we had a great, busy, albeit largely sewing-free Easter weekend, complete with creek-visiting, baseball, Bass Pro shop, zoo, Value Village, and snow.
Yes, snow. I don’t want to talk about it.
Moving on.
The White, which was not sewing.
Possibly best of all, my father-in-law—let’s go with Ra—is a machine guy (Well, technically he’s a retired auto mechanic, so something like a sewing machine is probably beneath him, but I batted my eyelashes), so I got him to look at my poor, no-zoom-go White.
He turned the fly wheel, and all of a sudden it worked fine again. This is, unfortunately for my pride, typical of the little mechanical problems I’ve brought to his attention over the years.
However, he explained to me that the source of the problem was apparently not within the foot pedal, but within the electric motor itself. And then proceeded to pull the works apart, show me the offending bit (a copper thingy that spins between two little brushes). We polished that up as there was some black gunk going on that might be interfering with the connection and put everything back together.. and still every once in a while it mysteriously won’t go, but a little twitch to the wheel gets it started again. And now I know that little bit more about the insides of my sewing machine. Unfortunately I was a little too wrapped up in remembering which teeny-weeny screw went where that I didn’t think to take pictures, and I’m not desperate enough to pull it apart again on my own just for photos.
There has been a little slip progress. I can’t go into specifics quite yet, but here’s a wee smidge of eye candy:
Teaser
And, since I haven’t much more to show, further zoo photos:
Syo, with plants.
She seemed considerably more enthralled with the plants than the animals.
Lemurs.
Notice how my photos are all of the green inside bits? SO DONE with winter…
Ok, here’s what outside really looks like right now.
ZOMG it's a giant kangaroo!
Hope you all had a great long weekend, and got to spend some time with family, if that’s your thing!
Tanit-Isis Sews 
Nah nah nah It’s greener here in Winnipeg than there. š š š
AND NOW THAT I’VE MADE FUN OF YOU, WHAT IS THAT FOOT IN THAT 3RD PHOTO?! I have it and am baffled by it. WHAT DOES IT DOOOOO???
Also, I think I spy a botanist there!
Okay, I’m done with the cap locks. That was really annoying. My only defense is the over abundance of tea and sewing today. I’m a bit excitable. lol
LMAO.
It’s just a rolled-hem foot. Pretty standard, and probably more of a pain in the butt than it’s worth. I’ll talk a bit more about it when I do the post. š
Rolled hem feet are the bane of my existence. Every time I try to use one it just goes THBTBTHBTBHTHHHTTBBBB at me. I would have been better off just pressing the ever living F*** out of the hem. Twice.
Yup! That’s why I don’t use mine, either!
Ditto! Mine always takes twice as long and looks half as good as if I had just pressed and hemmed in the first place!
they are evil little %$*&s aren’t they? I won’t say I’ve mastered mine, but I have come up with some things that *help*… And I don’t think I could have gotten a hem that narrow folding manually…
Oh hmm, judging from the impassioned responses here, I’d say it’s not that big of a favourite… lol. I thought it was for something like that, but I could never figure out how to weave the fabric through it, and gave it up as one of lifes mysteries. I’m looking forward to your post on it!
Have you ever both tried to surprise the other part of the family at once? I can only imagine the hilarity which would ensue.
That would be bad, wouldn’t it? š Usually someone makes an “innocent” phone call a few days before to find out what the plans are…
Hehe, the flywheel story made me smile! But how fab that it was so easily fixed!!
I’m really digging your sea green fabric. I would make a trench coat from it š
I’m so impressed that you have mastered the rolled hem foot on the sewing machine. That is the one part of sewing that brings on the urge to throw the whole kit and kaboodle in the bin.
Oh, I like that idea! I wouldn’t say “mastered”… š
How handy to have a mechanic on hand to help out..l.makes those op shop machines all the more appealing!
Yeah… which could be dangerous. š
You say it’s a giant kangaroo, but did you know male kangaroos can grow over 2 m tall here in Aus? Of course unless your kids are tiny then it seems that kangaroo statue is *intentionally* ginormous.
Also those plaid pants are pretty awesome. Zoos are great, and it seems like you had a good long weekend š !
That’s a good point! I “know” that but I don’t necessary *know* it, y’know? The roos in zoos over here always seem to be the cute little wallaby type. Of course (though you can’t really see it) the kids are sitting in the kangaroo’s pouch, so I think for a female she is a bit oversized…
Tyo adores those plaid pants. She is even willing to wear them despite the Jonas Brothers logo—which says a LOT.
Oooh, I have a handy FIL, too. They are very good to bat eyelashes at and buy nice birthday presents for! LOL
Yeah, I will have to come up with something nice for his birthday…
oh Ra! come fix my kenny!!!
i have the same dealio with my featherweight at times, once a repairman pulled a piece of cloth out of the motor (behind closed doors, unfortunately, i SO wanted to see that) and now she stops every once in a while.
you extended family sounds awesome. and i love your green pictures…. just focus on a distant mountaintop and think green…
hehe! Amazing what gets stuck in there…
I have pretty decent in-laws. It was really great to have them come up.
And today it is supposed to reach 10C!!!! š
I never expected to see a ref to Erishkigal here! Way to go! And I’m also very over crappy weather, bring on spring!
Happy belated Easter – your kids are gorgeous and starting to look so grown up!
That looks like a Ruby Slip š
Pingback: A Silkier Slip | Tanit-Isis Sews