I totally forgot to put pics. of my FINISHED(!!) dress. Done 99.9 % on my own, which is extremely exciting!

Also, here's a better picture of Finn. Too cute, in my opinion.

Some big changes have happened here. First, both Jack and Smudge have been adopted to loving homes. Although I'll miss them, I'm happy that they both found houses that were good fits.

In not so happy news, we had to put my dog Bailee to sleep after she suffered a sudden kidney failure. Definitely very sad for our whole family. Luckily we got to spend one last day at home with her. And she got to "chase" squirrels and eat meatloaf- something she usually is never allowed. She will be missed.

Now some of you may be saying, "Who the heck is that kitten?" Well, that is the third big change to hit the Welch house. A few weeks ago, while on a hike in the foothills, a friend and I came across this little guy. He was all alone, and according to the vet, nearly dead. Well, obviously he made it through and is doing great! His name is Finn and he is truly a joy to have in the house. He's super loving and really funny, and definitely picks you up when you are down. It's also gotten very cold here, so nights are spent with lots of naps by (and dangerous walks near/in) the fire.


I've been continuing to work on some projects. Mostly, I've been thinking, "What on earth am I going to do with this table?!?!"

To be continued...

Because I am a sucker...

I haven't updated in a bit because a couple of weeks ago we took in a new foster kitten, and have been busy. Her name is Smudge and she is adorable! They found her in a canal, and she was filthy when we got her. But after a few baths she's a great cuddler. She also loves to play, and her and Jack (our only kitten left from our original litter) are getting along pretty well. Luckily, my friend Jenny is going to adopt her when she's old enough. I'm sure she will be a great addition to Jenny's salon, since she loves to snuggle on everyone's laps! I also helped out with See Spot Splash, a fundraiser for dog parks put on by the Humane Society. All the dogs got to swim in the Natatorium, a public pool in Boise. Miles and James stopped by and a good time was had by all.

The most exciting thing that has happened is that I spent Labor Day in Phoenix with Maddie. It was a total blast. The weather was totally bearable and it was very cool to see a new part of the country. I also got to just see what Maddie's life down there was all about. Even just running errands was fun! I also got to see her classroom (she teaches Biology for Teach for America). And my first palm tree! I'm already planning my next visit...

Wow, how time flies! I've been super busy, but not quite sure with what. I spent a week volunteering at the Kid's Camp at the Humane Society. It was super fun and I learned more than enough about animals. At the end of the week I got to meet one of my favorite TV personalities, Adam Richman, who came to Flying Pie for his show Man V. Food. I'll keep everyone posted on when the episode will air. I've also been doing a lot of sewing. I finally finished my dress!

It was definitely hard work, but I am so glad I started with a difficult project. I'm now working on a dress all by myself. I will also be continuing classes to work on my first blouse. Here are some previews:

I've also been continuing my cooking skills. I got a new brunch book that yielded a delicious brunch for me and James (and roommates). My salsa garden has also flourished, and mom and I made some truly awesome salsa.

I've also had the biggest craving for a BLT so I tried my hand at tempeh bacon. YUMMM!

If you like tempeh and delicious sandwiches (Emily), I'd definitely recommend trying it out.
Finally, I've been continuing my furniture collections. I finished painting my hope chest. The fabric on top will (hopefully) be made into a cushion for the top of the chest. I also found the most beautiful writing desk at an antique store. I've been searching for a desk for a while, and as soon as I saw this one I knew it was perfect. It's been a great sewing place, and I'm sure will be great for all kinds of things in the future.

I've also still been looking for jobs. I think there could be some big changes in store... I'm just keeping "the world is my oyster" attitude, and we'll see where it takes me. Oh, and for those of you wondering about the kittens, it was a whirlwind yesterday with Jack and Jill both getting adopted (to separate homes). That leaves us with just Twiggy and Mama. Updates to come...

Furniturepalooza!

So even though I don't have a physical house to move in to, I have been really enjoying collecting and working on furniture for my future room. I already posted my dresser, but mom and I added several pieces in the past couple of weeks. First, mom said I could take an old oak chair of Uncle Doug's. Unfortunately, it had a pretty gross old stain.
So, with the help of the fabulous women where I take sewing lessons, I reupholstered the cushion. I found this gorgeous fabric at the shop and instantly knew it was perfect for my chair.

Now I just need to get a table or desk to sew at. Also, I wanted to make sure I had a chair to read, hang out, think in. Mom and I went to Renewal, an awesome used furniture store in Old Boise, and found an amazing little chair, clearly from the 60s.

They priced it so you could reupholster it, but I'm actually really in love with the fabric, so for now, it's staying. Also at Renewal, we found a gorgeous oak-lined hope chest. It caught my eye because it was the same color of the dresser I did in May. I bought it, but in the interest of not having a super matchy matchy room, I've decided to paint it. Any votes on what color it should be are much appreciated!


Finally, I've been making some earrings and definitely needed a new jewelry organization system. I've been seeing these awesome frame earring holders around for $50 minimum. Here is my version...

Made for a grand total of $12.50. Thanks to Claire for the old screen. Now if I could only find an apartment, job, etc. Cross your fingers for good updates soon!

Growing Fast

As you can see from "Tubby," the kittens are growing quite rapidly. Their little bellies seem to get bigger by the minute. They have also gotten friskier and more fearless. Sometimes they can be a little too rough with one another, but generally they are just down right hilarious when playing together. They are also becoming little escape artists, and soon it seems even the baby gate won't be enough to hold them in!



Luckily, the kittens don't play all of the time... and even make us laugh when they're asleep!

Oh, and speaking of growth... check out the latest in the salsa garden!

"New" Bike!!

I know many of you have heard about the updates I've been making on my beloved bike. In May, James and I spent several days painting it. I had no idea it would take so long, but it was well worth it. I really enjoyed hanging out with James and Miles, and also learning more of the ins and outs of my bike. For those of you who never saw my bike in its original form, here it is:
Essentially, the job was a lot of sanding between coats. It's pretty hard getting in all the little spots, but by doing a little by hand and a lot with the electric sander, we got it done. We also put on a new bell and nice new sparkly handlebar tape (and new handlebars from Elizabeth). You can see Miles was trying to help, although he kind of ended up getting in the way! But I love him anyway. I also think James' mullet added an extra special touch to the effort.




With his new color James and Dano renamed the bike Purple Rain. The new name suits him well, and so far it's been really great just riding around Boise exploring new and old places, and seeing all the incredible growth!

New Additions

I mentioned in my last post that I have been volunteering at the Humane Society. I've enjoyed it so much that I wanted to do something extra so I applied to be a foster mom. Much to my parent's chagrin, we are now housing a family of cats. We have five kittens and a mama. They are super adorable, even though they pretty much cry constantly. The kittens are two weeks old, and even the mom is only somewhere between six and twelve months old. So the office has become the busiest room in the house, but in a very good way. Here are some pictures, which should put a smile on anyone's face. I will be sure to keep everyone updated on their growth and adoption progress!

I took my first sewing class today! I was so excited and it did not disappoint. I got off to a slow start (my grandma's old machine definitely needs a tune-up), but once I got going, I was hooked. My teacher is actually a girl from my graduating class at Boise, and it really helps to have someone I know helping me along. We're starting with a pretty difficult project ( a dress... requiring a stretchy stitch... with stripes!), but I'm in no hurry and want to take the class all summer. I'm not worried. These are some pictures of the cutting I brought home as homework. The weird zig zags are my practice runs on the machine and there's a picture of how the dress will (hopefully) look when I'm finished. I will be sure to update everyone as I progress.



Other than that, I have been busy starting my new volunteer job at the Idaho Humane Society. I really love playing with the dogs and just helping out with everything they need. It's definitely helping with my puppy craving! Oh, and James and I made some DELICIOUS granola bars...