Sunday Ramblings & V8351

This was a terrific weekend. Nothing monumental happened. I barely even left my house. But many things went right and sometimes that's all you need for a "terrific" day / weekend instead of just an ordinary day / weekend.

• I finished all the work I brought home from the office in the time I budgeted (that NEVER happens).
• I got a lot of baking and cooking done - something I've been neglecting and missing. I posted recipes for Potato Soup and Italian Pineapple Cream Cake on my recipe blog. I also baked the Pecan Wedding Cookies that I've been craving for weeks and a batch of chocolate chip cookies (see photo.)
• 
• Not new to this weekend, but DAMN, I have incredible kids! Not the reason I'm stating this but when I arrived home at 9:30 Thursday night (Valentine's Day) from a business trip, I was greeted with the pretty flower arrangement shown in the cookie photo as well as other gifts. This has been a rough year for me and my kids are so in tune! I have tried to shield them from my personal feelings but they continue to amaze me with their thoughtfulness and kindness.
  
• I made it to Mass two weeks in a row (after a year hiatus.) Sometimes, all it takes is a reminder to look at the glass half full to turn things around - that's what I get from Mass and what I have missed.
  
• I finished V8351. I look... ahem... large in these photos but I don't think that when I look in the mirror. What's up with that? (see more below)
  
• I finished a pair of sweatpants that have been sitting for weeks in my sewing room for no good reason. They only needed a hem.
  
• I finished all the cleaning I intended to do for the week (another thing that NEVER happens.) That includes putting all the laundry away!
  
• Middle daughter and I were only ones home today and had a very nice day. (She's 17. "Nice" days tend to be fleeting. We're at that extreme high / extreme low stage of mom / teenager relationships.)
• My good friend and co-worker is celebrating his birthday this week (hence the Italian Pineapple Cream Cake.) We have been through a lot over the last twelve years and are looking forward to developing good things with our segment of the company. (More to come on this....)
• Dogs did not poop on the floor one time. Yes, they are two years old. Do you have a point?
• The sun came out (ever so briefly) this afternoon.
  

The negatives are that I didn't get my taxes done and I didn't finish my dishcloth to accompany the apron - I had hoped to mail tomorrow morning. I also thought I would get another piece sewn but DANG! I can't decide what I want to do next! I have WAY too many projects on my to do list.

So V8351.....

I posted a poll to question whether the hem length I was considering was appropriate and whether this would look better with pumps or boots. The results were inconclusive so I decide to stick with the hem length I originally considered and wear it with either boots or pumps depending on my mood. After closing the poll, I received three emails saying boots are best. I do like both looks but my daughter and I decided the pumps (shown on the right) should be worn with tan tights or neutral panty hose.

I hope you all had a great weekend.