Monday Meanderings a Day Late and A Plug for MDA

I was making a collage for my P365 post, when I had the bright idea to throw together a "Through the Year" collage. I decided to do one of me with friends and family, but it turns out I'm usually behind the camera, not in front of it, so there weren't very many of me, period. I was sad to realize I missed getting my photo taken with a lot of my buddies :(  But I was able to do the following:

I'd like to be a little more purposeful about getting photos with, and not just of, my family and friends. Might make putting together a collage like this more challenging but I'd really like to look back and remember times together with the special people in my life.

Speaking of special people, my daughter is currently raising money for MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) and she came up with a really cute poster:

I guess that degree in communications is paying off in more ways than one. Her husband has been a volunteer at an MDA camp for years, and a strong supporter in other ways as well. It's wonderful to see the two of them competing working together for this worthy cause. If you want to read more about what they're doing, click on the photo.

Last night Julio and Magdalena stopped by. We'd paid them a short visit on Sunday and I'd mentioned I had made a top using a pattern bought in the U.S. and it didn't fit quite right. Magdalena said she'd make me a pattern that would fit me perfectly. So last night she came prepared with her tape measure and she not only made me a pattern, but also helped me make diagrams with formulas so I understand how to do exact measurements myself. In the future she's going to show me how to do patterns for other items of clothing as well. I'm so psyched!

When I made the first little girl's dress not long ago, I'd shown it to her and she explained how I could do a ruffle without having to do gathers. Such a simple technique (which I haven't tried yet but plan to!) and I'm sure she has lots of other tips and tricks up her sleeve.

Yesterday the man stopped by the lot with a list of materials needed to do the foundation. Ivan took the list to a store that sells that kind of stuff, to get a quote. UGH. I'm trying not to freak out, but WOW! The foundation alone is going to take over 30% of our original budget. Makes me even MORE grateful that the bulk of the construction will be done by friends volunteering their labor!!! We have to pay a crew to do the foundation and later the cement floor, but I think everything else we + friends will be handling.

The rain has been wonderful for cooling things down a bit. It was in the mid-to-high 80s yesterday which felt quite nice after so many days of 100+ temps. But the rain also brought high humidity which we are just not used to. Reminds us of being back in Michigan in July or August!

I've been trying to sort out health insurance stuff. It would be easier if we had a functioning printer, but both of ours are on the fritz. Ivan's been trying to get one working and it did for a bit, then quit again. It has issues with the toner cartridges and the head or something. Ivan doesn't even try to explain it to me because he knows I still wouldn't understand. Mechanical and me don't mix. Anyway, he's had to put the things I need on a pin drive and take them to a place that can then print them for us. So far he's had to make two trips just on the insurance stuff. But I think I have all I need now and can finish it up. I do believe most forms are written to confuse on purpose. Maybe they think we'll get so frustrated we'll just give up and then they won't have to pay anything. As it is, I fully expect to get an e-mail back saying I left something out, or put something in the wrong place... 

And then there's the tax questionnaire. *sigh* Not hard to understand at all, but tallying up all the info is time consuming. BUT you have NO IDEA how THANKFUL I am that I don't have to do our taxes any more! The mission we are with handles that for us. Hallelujah! I just have to finish filling out this questionnaire.

And that's what I need to go do now...