Diary ~ July 2007
 

July 7th, 2007
"Live Earth"

Well, Hello! What better day to start a diary than today? Today was the day that my husband and I wanted to get married...it being 07/07/07 (the number of total completion), instead we got married last year on 06/24/06...figuring it was better to tie the knot sooner rather than later (since it had already been 7 years). But, that's o-Kay it still meant just as much to us then as it would have today. And rather than getting married today we are planning our future together by working on a large first time vegetable garden. I know it's pretty late in the season here in upstate New York, but we have been busy with so many other things and it takes a bit of time (and hard work) to till an area that is 54 feet wide by 92 feet long. I figure it's better late than never since we do still have 2 or 3 months of growing season. Besides it's perfect timing because today is "Live Earth" concert day (in all 7 Continents reaching global audience of over 2 Billion) organized by Al Gore (producer of an Inconvenient Truth). So what better way to help climate change and global warming than to plant an organic Garden...walking 300 hundred feet from my front door doesn't require any thing but my feet...no vehicles...no gas...no oil! As well as no slave labor (other than mine) or chemicals.

Well, That's it for now...I have lots of planting to do today! ~ Katrina Marie


July 8th, 2007
"My Garden"

Oh...after a weekend of planting I'm ready for a break. So far I have only got 2 rows out of the 9 planted. That would be the "Potato" row which still needs the two 50 foot rows of bush beans on both sides of the 100 seed potatoes and the "Tomato/Eggplant" row which still needs the 40 pepper plants, petunias, basil and marigolds (if I can fit them) on both sides of the 32 tomato plants and 24 eggplants. So maybe that will get finished this week and I can move on to the "Broccoli/Brussels" row or the "Cabbage" row or maybe even the Carrot/Beet row...oh and did I mention the "Squash" patch that is an entirely separate garden. Little did I know how much work a garden would be (never really gardening before this spring). I'm not one to start a project and then not finish it, though...so I will get it done even if I'm planting and harvesting right into fall/winter this year and hopefully I get a better start next year!

And, hopefully this year I have lots of yummy organic veggies! ~ Katrina Marie
 

July 9th, 2007
"Pet Peeves"

As I sit sewing 45 yards of gold trim onto lace edging for several dresses I am working on this month I was thinking about all the times I have been asked change something about my dresses. The three top ones that stick in my mind are: 1) A potential client contacts me to let me know she "loves my dresses" or "loves a certain dress style" and then asks if she can change the entire design and/or make it in a completely different fabric. 2) A customer orders a design with a flounce sleeve (such as "Evelyn", "Victoria" or "Marianna") and then wants the dress made without the lower part of the sleeve...which is the flounce. 3) A bride orders her dress and all of her bridesmaids and about half way through the ordering process or appointment asks if the dresses can be made without the lace edging.

Every time I'm a little confused to why someone decides they really like something and then want to change it. I mean we can't expect to "fall in love" with a partner and then ask for them to change the way they look, walk and talk. So, I'm really not sure why I'm asked so often to eliminate a major part of a design such as the sleeve or change an important detail such as the lace edging...which is not only decorative, but a functional part of the garment construction. I can totally understand if it's an exclusive design and a client and I are creating a gown specific to her desires, but there are still going to be certain things that make a Katrina Marie Design what it is and that certainly includes the lace edging!

I'm not mad...just a little frustrated sometimes!  ~ Katrina Marie

P.s. I really don't plan on writing everyday...I'm sure it will be less when the novelty of an online diary wears off, but who knows it's kind of a nice break from everything else.

July 11th, 2007
"Domesticated"

Okay...so maybe its my daily therapy to sit down and write a bit each day. It does make sense that this could be true...just a little break to think about how you feel and maybe share your thought with others or not. I know I have been increasingly writing and reading more since I have turned 30 (which was this year in February). As well I am seemingly becoming more domesticated. I am actually enjoying cooking, sewing and gardening. It may just be a phase since I got married last year and maybe being a wife came with responsibilities, but then you would have thought that becoming a mother 7 years sooner would have brought out some of those characteristics. I think it's probably just a matter of timing...maybe it hits some people sooner and others never at all. For now I think it's a good thing!

Eggplant Asiago
1-Organic Eggplant
1-28oz Can of Organic Tomato Sauce
1-Large Onion
2-TBSP Natural Honey
Asiago Cheese
Oregano

Slice Eggplant and Onion horizontally. Place in pan one layer think with tomato sauce on bottom and top. Squeeze honey over top. Sprinkle with Oregano and grated Asiago Cheese. Bake 45 minutes.

P.s. I just heard on the radio that the cost for a loaf of bread in Zimbabwe soared from Z$7,500 to Z$80,000 (in the US that would be like going from $4 to $44).

I think I'm going to start making my own bread! ~ Katrina Marie