"Out, I Say!"

You'll enjoy this tale of my abject frustration over this latest incident. On Saturday afternoon I walked around the longarm and saw this horrible, offensive spot on the area rug in the sewing room (circled in white). Immediately thinking that Hannes had either an "accident" or had been sick to his stomach, I ran to the cupboard for rags and the Resolve carpet cleaner. I scrubbed and scrubbed to no avail. The stain was dry, odorless and just as bright (and offensive looking) on the pad underneath when I pulled the rug back. I was stymied. I searched in the cabinet under the kitchen sink for something stronger, all I could manage to find was an old, half-full, can of Woolite foaming carpet cleaner.  I re-attacked the stain with the same vigor and had absolutely no luck at all. Losing at the stain-removal game is not something that I take lightly; completely at a loss, I stood up and walked around the rug. When I passed between the end of the rug and the sun streaming in through the window, the stain disappeared! Looking up, I spied the fluorescent green straight-edge quilting tool behind me shooting a reflection onto the rug from the sun's rays (circled in red). Sigh. I'd been defeated by an illusion!

Two days later the rug is still damp from all of my aggressive cleaning! I've apologized to poor Hannes who was quietly napping in his little bed in the family room by the fireplace while all of this was occurring; he's always a very good boy. 

You can believe that I was quoting Shakespeare as I scrubbed away on Saturday, 

Lady McBeth's line ran over and over through my mind: "Out ------ spot; out, I say!"

Things aren't always what they seem; and, this time, that was a good thing!

Life is Good!

Coming Clean

Last year I completed this quilted table topper for our kitchen table. I had prewashed the binding fabric, as well as the backing fabric and used my favorite go-to product with that laundry, Shout Color Catcher sheets.  As far as I was concerned we were all set (pun!) in that department from here on in.  Was I ever wrong! The table quilt needed washing the other day and it emerged, after its bath and quick tumble in the dryer(!) with ugly green stains leaching into the white from the binding. I was horrified. Yesterday, having little to lose at this point, I summoned up my nerve and soaked it for a few hours in a warm water and Biz solution; then washed it, again, along with three Color Catchers this time. The quilt has been restored to its original pristine beauty. It looks like I have yet one more go-to laundry product; this one-two punch worked like a charm! Lesson learned... those Color Catchers are going in the wash with all of my quilts from now on, it doesn't matter if its their first wash or their twenty first, it's inexpensive insurance and I'm not taking any more chances.

Life is Good!

A Public Service Announcement

You're all familiar with these machines; let me warn you, however, about what to look for before you stick your cup underneath to dispense your beverage of choice. Make sure that the spout (black tube apparatus pointed out here) is, indeed, present and accounted for before you proceed to fill up!  How do I know? After choosing strawberry lemonade last week I was showered with red food coloring spraying out in all directions covering my arm and white pants (glad I wore those for the occasion!).  I looked like I had been through a massacre for the rest of my errands that evening. The manager, upon being informed of the machine malfunction, indicated that those spouts sometimes blow off, being under pressure, and can end up in an unsuspecting diner's cup! He did canvas those eating there at the time, all cups were clear except for drinks and ice; a "to go" customer likely carried away the prize!  The good news is that my pants did come clean! I soaked them overnight after treating them with Carbona's Stain Devils for coffee, tea and juice; I have a full complement of these specific stain removers and can whole-heartedly vouch for their performance; no laundry area should be without them, especially if you like strawberry lemonade!

Life is Good!