so i've been trying to do my boxes like i would tackle a few dozen decorated cookies or maybe more like filled petit fours -- like a lady windermere cake with forty thousand satellites --
and maybe after i get this down to a science i can operate more like that -- i have over thirty boxes in the pipeline and i wanted to have ten new ones complete by end of january -- didn't happen -- two a week -- february will be better 
so i mean i have all kinds of components ready -- it's just finding a rhythm (isn't rhythm a cool word the way it's spelled) anyhow -- but i have to handle these puppies as one offs -
and you're wondering a) she thinks i needed to know that ^^^ because? and b) what about the roller skates?
ok so did you know that saks 5th avenue -- which i've never been to one but they always just seemed the epitome chicest of the chic -- sells roller skates -- that cost over $2,000 -- they have a lot of roller skates! the $2,000 ones are ugly imho -- i like the more affordable (by comparison) blingy ones
Shop Bottega Veneta Wardrobe 02 Quilt High-Top Sneaker Roller Skates | Saks Fifth Avenue
Shop C7skates Icon Donna Quad Holographic Roller Skates | Saks Fifth Avenue
so all that to say if the box thing doesn't work out -- i'll be the best dressed roller derby apprentice!!!
what are you up to?
i like the black & white checked ones too
Shop C7skates Rare Gems Duchess Quad Roller Skates | Saks Fifth Avenue
i mean you already look like you crossed the finish line!
Boss, are you all right...? It must have been the ice storm, I know! Get yourself a warm and cozy cup of chamomile... you have my permission to put honey and ginger, drink it slowly, that will calm your nerves down. We will talk again tomorrow. Try to sleep the rest of the day, and please, unplug the internet!
Eehhh, me? Nope! The rascal maybe, in that case, you please baby sit him!
I need some grandkids -- that sounds like a plan!
i raised a boy with adhd, he might has gotten it from his daddy so that's where all my patience went/goes --
forget the shipping, we'll be right there... and you'd be sending your husband out on another 24 hour round trip to pick him up before we ever arrive here!!! or before we got around the block!
(i got up at 5 am here to do this spine strengthening stretching thing on a tv show and there's no signal on that channel -- le sigh)
that boxing up and shipping of rascal reminds me of a beautiful poem in a very old book -- when we had been married seven months, my husband got me this really cool book called, Golden Thoughts on Mother, Home and Heaven -- it was a compendium full of poems, stories, sermons, lectures of those three subjects copyright 1878-1882 -- i discovered it had come with a red satin embroidered bookmark with my initials on it -- it had just been stuck in there maybe by the original owner -- a little spine tingling --
there's this beautifully written poem, based on a true story, by Mrs Ethel L Beers tells of a family who received a letter one day, -- the footnote distills it better than i could:
"A father and mother in straightened circumstances, with seven children, were offered by a wealthy but childless neighbor a comfortable provision, on condition they would give him one of their children."
she says read me the letter again, john -- so the dad reads it and she notices his threadbare coat and together they one by one consider each child and easily dismiss the idea of it being that one for whatever swee thoughtful loving reasons -- then at the end, the last bit says,
"... And so we wrote in courteous way,
We could not drive one child away;
And afterward toil lighter seemed,
Thinking of that of which we dreamed.
Happy in truth that not one face
Was missed from its accustomed place:
Thankful to work for all the seven,
Trusting the rest to One in heaven."
we'd never make it around the block with rascal!
then there's the other side of that coin,
Mark Twain once said: “When a boy turns 13, put him in a barrel and feed him through a knot hole. When he turns 16, plug up the hole.”
Well, I have another boy almost 13...You can take both for the price of one... They fight and punch each other lovingly! You will certainly stretch picking all those Legos!
You are right Boss, even when daddy takes them to play in the park...I'm missing their noises... their loving punching and wrestling... The rascal, and the rest of them are the joy of my life! I need a copy of that book of yours, that is the kind of wisdom a mother needs!
By the way, I was asking for UPS or FEDEX just to send you a sample of the "rascal catalog" ;) And maybe some pink skate rollers for Valentines!
A blessed day to you Boss... gather some wood, there is another chill on the way!
Quote by @-K8memphis on 11 hours ago
then there's the other side of that coin,
Mark Twain once said: “When a boy turns 13, put him in a barrel and feed him through a knot hole. When he turns 16, plug up the hole.”
OMG.......... that's funny K8 !!
I'm very concerned then... I just have a few months to find a barrel! Uuugggh!
I am Really excited — I’ve finally gotten a premium grade of felt for the bottom of the boxes — I had been using craft grade felt and I feel so good now! so all I have to do is replace it in the so called ‘completed’ boxes — and I have the little dooeys you put on the underside of lamps & things to protect the surfaces — y’know the little felt or clear sticky dots —
surprisingly I like the clear plastic ones a lot because all you see is the bottom of the box — they just disappear —
I got a veteran woodworker to affirm that my saw blade will just about cut eighth inch basswood forever — sucha relief — because my little baby saw makes some scary sounds —
now as far as making my last supply of components, I’m home free with my table saw — so happy — just gotta make ‘em — then it’s gonna be assembly line heaven after some sanding 
— there’s a little known ‘verse’ it goes, “ the sanding you have with you always” gaghhh :)
but I’ve been learning So Much aka screwing up left & right — that my confidence is actually beginning to bud that I can pretty soon start to make a consistently nice product — only alongside our Most Faithful Friend without Whom I don-even-wanna-know — praise HisName and Friendship —
that reminds me, actually it’s never far from my mind — I mentioned my gratitude to the Friend-That-sticketh-closer-than-a-brother in a text to family about how we were spared miraculously in the ice storm — we have two huge oak trees over the house, a story for another time — and my grateful comment did not bring out the best in one of my family members — wheww
but anyway my latest box — if I already told you, just put it on my tab with all the other things I retell — it’s a box covered in camouflage, matching seams of course, with a grenade pin for the pull tab — I humbly confess it is a brilliant idea — And, this camo one that has been eating my brain is done in cloth camo — but I have a camo leatherette I can use next —
hope you all are having the loveliest sunday ever
or whatever day it is when anyone might read this
Wow, Kate! I want to see those boxes! Since you can't post here, put them on Keep Calm or messenger. I know they are beautiful and I am happy you are having fun.
I made another neighbor's birthday cake today, red velvet with white buttercream piped trim with a bi-color red and white rose on top. This is the second one this week. The other was the Magnolia cake.
The newest thing for me is that I finished a pastel painting today, the first one in about 25 years, and I had forgotten how much I loved pastels. It is of one of my older kitties (of course, it is a kitty).
sandra, red velvet with white ice tugs at my 
for valentine/s -- so cool -- i bet your picture is lovely! thank you for the encourboxment or should it be boxcouragement -- ha!
I'm nervous about trying this new product to suede line the little trays in the top of the boxes -- I've tried using real velvet and four different glues -- it is not easy to get it right -- the glue will invariably bleed through or I'll get a dit dot of glue from my fingers onto the nap -- grrr
so this new product will work out fine I'm sure but it's just trying something different...again --
listen to this -- the directions literally say, "the application of suede tex is a simple process used in jr high wood shops -- it's simplicity is one of the beauties of the finish...professional looking suede like finish with no previous experience -- if you are concerned -- find a Jr high school student to help you "
REGGIE, I NEED SOME RASCAL!!!
That is funny, but you will do great! It is good to know the Rascal can help you in a pinch!
I tried it on a scrap -- so far I've developed a few bubbles and ribbles...I actually made a mini- tray just to test on -- not using that yet!
I think my glue was too thick atlhough I tried two different depths and the idea of holding the applicator eight to twelve inches high just seems like the stuff will puff away -- idk --
test #2 coming up....
Ooops, sorry, the rascal is in elementary... you can have him any time, he has not finished his last book report yet... get him to work on that during break time! Thanks! By the way, you are in charge of his health insurance starting now! Ah, and do not forget to add a couple of prunes on his food ration to make the following day a happy one!
Oh, and the other one... the almost teenager remember? You can have him as well. I recommend one at a time. This one is a genius in the making, he will install temperature sensors and solar panels in your boxes... You can fetch a better pricing on them. Other than technology, keep any books away from him. He will not stop reading until the last page. Do not add prunes, he will devour the whole bag... and the following day will definitely not be a happy one!
Do you have a clue on how complicated life is?
I got the prune thing down — maybe we can upcycle the prune pits into box decor — they’ll bring home some saw dusted souvenirs —
I agree about how complicated life is — the difference is at your time of life it’s all whirling by so fast with all the complications stacked up like high rise buildings in the city — you’re just hoping to get the right prunes to the right address — then at my time of life you can saunter through the maze of hallways and rooms stumbling over the piles of prune pits while sorting some of the mess — with one hand on the next door knob opening a new adventure, moving forward — or trying to ~
hope your mom and dad are doing well —
k8
ps — geez I’m in a funny mood this morning 
Oh Boss, I love chatting with you ladies, you give me wisdom and joy...couple of things that I'm very much in need in this stage in live... and that you cannot find in the grocery store!
Mom and dad barely survived covid...It was a very stressful beginning of the year. They are now as mended as can be for an elderly couple in their seventies...in a communist country.... Mercy oh Lord!
I think carpentry is the noblest of all trades...Our Lord was a carpenter!
I'm ordering 20lb of prunes online...with pits of course...Have fun!
A blessed weekend to you Boss,
Reggis
I'm glad to hear that covid is behind them -- what a very strong constitution they do have although I'm sure they suffered greatly -- what a scare for you and what a great relief!
Jesus was indeed the son of carpenter yes probably also a carpenter — to me most importantly he made wedding refreshments!!!! yay!!
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