We woke to the sound of rain this morning. Very nice. Discovering that the books under the dining room window were soaked was not as nice. Sitting on the sopping wet seat of my husband’s car was not nice. If I ever looked at weather reports, I would know when to close the windows.
Never mind. As you see, I finished the jacket yesterday. I had been thinking of it as kimono-like, but Smarticus’s comment opened my eyes to the bit of ’40s vibe it has, and I bravely topstitched it and turned up the cuffs.
Topstitching is brave. There you are with a nice garment, you do some bad topstitching, and it is ruined.
Fortunately, the operation was successful. I love this jacket. What you would not know from reading this blog is that my eyes are this color, though a little lighter, so it is a good color for me, too.
Smarticus asked what shoes I intended to wear with this suit. I sort of feel that that question should be reserved for the graduate seminar, but I will give it a try.
My first thought was of the pointy bronze witch-toe shoes. You see them here with the print skirt which is still unfinished while I think of how to solve the whole twining and clinging issue.
I realize that flats with a suit are geeky, but these shoes ought to be good when I wear the jacket with a long skirt or with pants.
Then, below, there are the burgundy pumps, with the top of the two-piece dress from SWAP part I. I could perhaps wear them with the suit. The people on What Not to Wear frequently say that shoes can be a complete contrast to the outfit.
It seems to me that a gray shoe with a comma heel, whatever that may be, would be perfect. If I still have the suit 
when #1 son graduates, I’ll buy some.
I hadn’t thought about shoes, though. I probably should have.
It is kitchen week on the HGP, so I put in some scrubbing time yesterday. I also put a King Ranch Chicken casserole into the freezer. The HGP has you put some meal into the freezer each week, so that when the holidays come and you are very busy, you will have something handy.
Since I am currently away from home at dinner time at least two nights out of each week, it’s hard to believe that I will be busier come the holidays, but I am dutifully following directions.
This is also the point at which we are supposed to look honestly at our handmade gifts and consider whether or 
not we are really going to finish them.
Since I never did come up with an inspiration for needlework gifts this year, #2 son and I plan to give all kitchen gifts, a plan which is less time-consuming but also dooms me to lots of last-minute stuff. Perhaps I will be glad to have meals in the freezer.
I didn’t get any Hallowe’en decorating done yesterday, but I do have a creepy candle on the table.
I have rehearsal tonight, and must get to the gym, and of course it is a work day, but I hope to sneak in a bit of sewing at some point. Once I finish the skirt, I will have my autumn suit ready and will only have to think of shoes for it., Or chance looking geeky in flats. Those witch-toe shoes have a half-inch heel. Does that count?
The jacket is gorgeous; very impressive, no matter what you have on your feet when you wear it.
Suggestion: At some point, you are going to be of an age at which not closing the windows before predicted rains ceases to be appropriate. It would be a good idea to bookmark http://www.wunderground.com on your computer; you could then go there just before you shut down your computer every day and see what the predicted weather is for your zip code — not only for that day and the coming night, but for half a dozen days at a time. There’s a radar image there that will show you exactly where the rainclouds [and storm clouds] are with reference to the icon that means “you are here.” It would simplify your life, and would preserve your books and the upholstery in your husband’s car and who know how many other things.
PS: What the heck does “Say it with Minis! (?)” mean? [Question mark in the original.]
True, ignorance about saveloys is definitely an American trait
Do you know what marmite is?
Ok I’m back to bed – with a bit of luck no more earthquakes will wake me up – have a good night, day, whatever (at 2.17 am on a Tuesday morning my brain is not fully functional , earthquake + 3 feet above sea level + living close to harbour = visions of tsunamis)
Oh, kudos to you for trusting your skill with the needle and top stitching! I think the jacket looks *grand*.
Those brunch squares also look good. Can you link them please? Actually I will look at the front of your Xanga for a link, but if there isn’t one there, can you link them?
–Michelle
The jacket turned out lovely! I am duly impressed! I’ve been trying to follow along with you as you HGP, but so far I’ve cleaned off the front porch (wiped away the cobwebs) and then got kind of stymied in our bedroom. (Lots of things going on in there…..)
beautiful jacket, I vote for the pumps.
What’s an HGP?
It’s amazing how lighting can change how a suit looks. It looked like a darker blue with a hint of grape on your last post and this post it’s a very light blue. Completely different but still very pretty.
Both shoes look nice to me. I keep meaning to do the HGP but I keep not doing it. Maybe next week. 
Kitchen gifts sound like a winner, I think I’m going to do the same. I have some lotions and such from the last Bath & Body Works sale so I think those coupled with cookies or something will work just fine. 
I hope you are able to finish the rest of your suit today. 
Nice jacket! I hate heels, but I vote for pumps, too. Just because I can’t wear them doesn’t mean you can’t.
RYC: We have both but no one in my family likes vegemite.
If you like quakes you should have been over here today. We are having a swarm of aftershocks. I don’t have a problem with earthquakes themselves (as long as houses don’t fall down and there are no tidal waves) but, as I tend to get motion sickness I always end up feeling nauseous when we have rolling quakes (don’t have the same problem with shaking quakes)
….. 9 quakes betweem 4.1 and 6.7 richter have been recorded in the same area so far today and I think there have been smaller aftershocks that don’t make the reporting grade.