Toyota Sewing Machines?

When I was scouting to buy my own sewing machine, I'd check out fabric/craft stores whenever I travel. The default for me would be Singer or Brother. My Mama Lola taught me how to sew on her traditional Singer sewing machine. I always thought it would end up with me, but Mom gave it away, huhu.

To be fair, I didn't show much interest in sewing after high school and I moved on to beading. It was many years later when I took up quilting and many more years before I decided to buy a sewing machine.

Anyway, I was surprised to find Toyota branded sewing machines in Sydney. They were really expensive, so I just took photos, haha. I don't even know anyone who owns a Toyota sewing machine...

Anyway, I got my Mom a new sewing machine for Christmas in 2018 while she was in Singapore. It was a Brother sewing machine, something she was used to. Her old one was also a Brother sewing machine, but from the US (c1980s). 

Sweetie got exasperated with me since I couldn't pin down a choice. He got me one in April 2019 during a book fair in Singapore (they strangely sold sewing machines during the event). It was a good thing he got me one because it became very useful during the pandemic.

I'm still using Sweetie's gift. It's really sturdy and useful for my projects. I'm now on a gardening phase and will get back to sewing once the heat starts biting!

Rearranged How I Store My Shirts

I have been trying to find the best solution so I could wear all the shirts I own. I have always arranged them by color, but I usually end up just wearing whatever's in top.

I was reading Threads when I saw a post about how her dad arranged his towels by day. He did this so he can use the towels in order. 

Aha! So I did the unthinkable (for me). I brought out all my shirts and split them for outdoor use and home use. I have more home use shirts, so I mixed the colors up and split them into 3 containers. 

I just finished the first batch and I was able to use some shorts I haven't gotten to in a long time. It's a good way to get to everything in my closet, plus it saves me time from thinking about what to wear. I just get what's in front of the container. 

Maybe I'll do it for my tops too.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Meredith

I spent the afternoon in between Pikachu and Meredith. My gardening table is flanked by two cat quarters, the bench and the cat cot area. 

I wasn't planning to do any gardening, but the cool weather once again lured me to do some re-potting, hehe. One thing led to another and I had already spent almost 3 hours outside, haha.

I seriously need to do some ironing tomorrow!!!

Happy Sunday everyone!

#BeKind #StaySafe

A Very Productive Gardening Week

I did a boatload of gardening this week. The weather was great and the cool breeze encouraged me to check off my gardening tasks including the ones I've been procrastinating.

I re-potted the cucumbers, tomatoes, mustasa and a couple of my calamansi plants. I didn't stop there, I re-potted a few of my ornamental plants and trimmed Jack the Philodendron. I still have a lot to do.

Today my body forced me to rest. I conked out as soon as we got home, hehe. I got up from my nap and watered the plants. 

Happy gardening!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Brimsley Judging Me

I wasn't supposed to re-pot any plants today, but the weather was so good I couldn't help but tinker around a corner I've been meaning to work on for sometime now.

Brimsley accompanied me for awhile and gave me a knowing look. I think she knows once I start working on one plant it quickly multiplies to whatever is beside it, haha. I took a quick snap of her judging me.

I ended up re-potting my nerve plants and putting some in ICU. After that I cleaned up a few more plants and wrestled with the OG Jack the Philodendron. I let it grow like crazy for over a year, so I gave it a mega trim and topped up the soil with fertilizer. 

I probably cut over 20 feet of philodendron. Maybe I should re-pot and sell it? We'll see...

#BeKind #StaySafe

Baked Ikea Meatballs?

We finally got some Ikea Meatballs a few weeks ago. It was out of stock last January and the restaurant didn't have it either. Sweetie dropped by before the end of February and managed to buy a pack of meatballs, gravy and lingon berry.

One pack is good for two servings for us. We used to brown it in olive oil first and then cook it fully in water. Miggy surprised me when he said the pack said to bake it. Bake Ikea meatballs? 

We tried it since baking is healthier than frying and it was actually easier. The meatballs cooked evenly and we enjoyed it with gravy and some lingon berry on the side. We still have half a pack and will cook it in a few weeks. It's in the freezer for now. 

Here's how to bake it :)

#BeKind #StaySafe

Cat Therapy and Grounding

I have been enjoying the afternoon breeze everyday. I go out to water the plants and rest in the garden after. The cats, usually Grogu and Pikachu or Anakin, hang out with me while I rest. They also hang out when I do some re-potting of plants. The activity calms me a lot. 

What's wrong with the cat? LOL

I listened a bit to an interview with Dinah Salonga and she mentioned grounding. She said we spend so much time indoors, we miss out on spending time with mother nature. My Mom used to nag me growing up every afternoon. She'd be doing some gardening and she'd persuade me to hang out with her. The activity usually includes merienda, some fried banana and juice, and that's irresistible. 

I always complained before about watering my Mom's plants. It took 3 hours to water everything because her garden was huge and she had a gazillion plants. I spend at least 90 minutes everyday in the garden. It used to be just 30 to 45 minutes, but we moved Mom's plants so my chore time doubled, haha. 

The cats always keep me company. I've been rewarding them with some treats. Sometimes Meredith comes. She likes watching the plants. I guess she's looking for lizards. It makes me feel protected even though I know they just want treats or a huge bowl of water. They help calm and ground me. 

When was the last time you just spent time outside just feeling the breeze?

#BeKind #StaySafe