What Happened?

There was a time when I could do so much with less time. I was divorced, had three children, worked and I was going to school. There was enough time to care for the children, keep up with the housework, do homework, laundry and go to work. Organization was the key. I'd drop off the kids at school and daycare and head for work. My lunch hour gave me the time to get in a load of laundry, vacuum a room and get the evening meal started. I'd eat an apple on the way back to work. After work, I'd pick up the kids, put dinner in the oven and start homework. Dinner dishes waited until the kids were bathed and in bed. Then it was my time to prepare for the next day, finish housework or laundry and study.

As the kids grew I added an extra job to make sure that their social needs were met. Movies with friends, football games, dances and of course proms and money for dates. Not to mention the extras: cheerleading uniforms, clothes, shoes and hair products. Still there was time to get it all done.

Retirement should be a carefree time. With time to do all the things you missed out on. Well that is not happening in my home. I still have laundry and housework that takes me longer to do. There just never seems to any time to spend in my sewing room. What a crying shame. Where did the time go and how do I get it back.  It would be so nice to leave the housework or laundry but I love a clean, sparkling home so I spend the time cleaning. Am I cleaning more than I need?

Perhaps tomorrow will yield the time for me to play. There is a little dress in my head that I'd like to make. A little pink one is calling. I need to sew. Shall I go play in my room?

Beautiful dress

Every once in a great while something will stop me dead in my tracks. Such was the dress in the window of Lily Lu. Incredible, I just had to go in and look at the details of this little dress. Imagine what Scarlet O'Hara might have worn as a little girl. Creamy, off white fabric, with 7 rows of pleats 3" above the hem line, above these were the sweetest ribbon roses, embroidered stems, creating a bouquet. At the waist was the finest ribbon tie, to make the most beautiful of bows. The bodice had an oval frame with a cameo stitched in pale varigated pink thread, such dainty stitches made her almost life like. The puff sleeves had the civil war touch, big puffs with a tight band and ecru lace along the edge of the cuff. As for the back of the dress, the bow was exqusite with 10 perfect pearl buttons going up the back. I could not tear myself away from the detail of the dress. If only I had a little girl in my life, she would be wearing this for Christmas. This is one little dress that will never be erased from my memory.

Lily Lu is the boutique that I have dreamed of owning all my life. Dainty baby gowns, little silk booties, embroidered and smocked dresses, little day gowns for infants. Nothing was above a size 6. Every item was unique, perfect and meant for some little girl to own. The shoes alone would start a little girl on a shoe fettish once she is grown. Everything in the store was different and classy, right down to the way dresses were displayed. It was like walking into my dream.

The two with me were not into this so I literally had to tear myself away from the beauties within and walk away. Had I been alone, there is no telling how long I could have spent looking at all the treasures within the walls of this one perfect boutique for little girls. I will return to see what else I missed only next time I'll be on my own.

Is it possible to dream of something and then walk right into it? Yes, it is.