7QT: Clean Week Edition

--1--

I'm sort of noticing a Clean Week trend; the past few years, it has tried to kill me.  Last year there was the epic stomach flu that put me in the hospital with dehydration and a pretty severe gastroparesis flare.  This year, it was influenza and pneumonia together.  I spent last Saturday in the ER, as I mentioned earlier in the week, and have spent most of this week shuffling around in yoga pants and a sloppy old maternity cardigan, barely able to get off the couch, my head splitting in pain, struggling to breathe, ribs aching, and coughing like an old man.  Yesterday, finally, the pain in my head lifted, and I started to feel that this thing might not kill me after all.  I'm still not up to snuff, as they say, but I think I'm on the mend anyway.  Thank God for small mercies, as I'm on solo parenting duty for a few days.

--2--

More small mercies: on Wednesday, one of our occasional sitters e-mailed me to say she was unexpectedly free on Thursday, and would I like her to come over and help out?  A resounding yes!  I had her come from 3:30 to bedtime, and it was such a blessing to have another pair of hands during the witching hours, especially since Miss Birdie didn't nap and is sort of sick and kind of awful right now.  Of course, that could just be because she is two.  Let the toy stealing from the almost-mobile baby begin.  Oh, the drama. 

--3--

Even better?  My mom is finally coming!  For realz.  She's had to postpone her trip twice due to unavoidable circumstances, and it looked like she might have to postpone again because of new health crisis with my sister, but things settled down as much as they are going to right now, and she is coming!  (She is on the plane as I write this, so no backing out now!)  I'm so excited.  

--4--

I'm also looking forward to the costumes of Downton Abbey exhibit that is at Winterthur now--I bought our tickets several weeks ago, and we are going on Wednesday.  I was hoping to leave Birdie with a sitter, but it was not to be, so all us chickens will head out during the morning rush to feast on 1910s and 1920s costumes.  Everything I'm reading and seeing about the exhibit says it is fab.

--5--

There is nothing quite like realizing that your 3 year old is outgrowing all his 5T pants.  

--6--

I think I just need to own up to the fact that I am just a leetle bit of a clothes horse.  I sort of shudder to apply that label to myself, as I really do purge my closet regularly, and don't hang on to anything I'm not wearing regularly, or doesn't fit after a season, but I'm such a magpie when it comes to thrifted clothing. (ThredUp is both wonderful and dangerous in this way for me!)  I went on ThredUp this morning to search for pants for Boo (see #5), plus a new pair of church pants for Piglet, who managed to bust the knees of the last pair, that were, admittedly, getting a little short.  While I was there, I was sort of idly browsing for pants, as occasionally a high-waisted pair does turn up.  And lo, and behold, the Holy Grail: Pendleton jeans, in my size, high-rise, perfection--at least on the screen.  And listed for about the amount of the credit I had burning a hole in my pocket sitting in my account from my last bag clean out.  I also found a pair of high-waisted wheat-colored cords for less than $5 that I think I can alter to suit a look I want to try.  If not, it was still less than the price to buy fabric to make them.  I will say, my luck hasn't been great lately--I've only kept two pieces I got lately and returned the rest.  Although, what I did keep is fabulous.  The skirt especially has gotten a lot of wear with all this cold weather.

--7--

And because I'm out of ideas, you get a (Lenten) meme:

Via

Oh, wait, one more thing.  I just realized that the 4th anniversary of my gram's passing was yesterday.  I miss her a lot, and I'm so glad to have inherited some lovely things from her, including her sewing machine.

Wasn't she gorgeous?

Go see Jen for more Quick Takes!