How to Clean an Air Filter

Last night I finally remembered that I'd been meaning to check my car's air filter. My car has a reusable filter. Here's how it went:

Me: (in the garage, opening the hood, removing the clasps that enclose the air filter, reading the LARGE, EASILY SEEN sticker on top of the enclosure that clearly explains how to clean the filter.)

Monte: (previously minding his own business at an unknown location, suddenly appears over my shoulder) "What are you doing??"

Me: "Checking the air filter."

Monte: "I told you, I just cleaned it when you went to Portland."

Me: (Thinking that Portland was almost 6 months ago) "Yeah, but I'm getting bad gas mileage."

Monte: (annoyed) "Mindi, I just changed it! You're going to need a nut driver to get that......" (As I remove the cover, easily, WITHOUT a nut driver, and remove a VERY filthy, black filter.)

Monte: "Oh......., that is dirty......"

Me: "Where's the cleaner?"

Monte: "What? You don't need cleaner, just use soap and water."

Me: "It says right here (on the EASILY SEEN sticker) to use K&N cleaner."

Monte: "Just use dish soap and water."

Me: (annoyed) "It says to only use filter cleaner, right here, see???"

Monte: (walks over to the shelf, removes a box) "Soap and water works the same, then you have to re-oil.....Oh, here's some cleaner right here."

Me: "See?"

Monte: (Exits garage, finally leaving me to clean my filter in peace)

Moda University Civil War Quilt

I've been number crunching all morning, trying to figure out how to make the new Moda University project as affordable as possible. Here's what I'm coming up with so far:

Monthly cost for 12 months will be $10.00/month.

This will include patterns and fabrics for that month's featured block, an alternate nine-patch block each month, and setting triangles and borders to finish the quilt to 76x89. Month 12 will include finishing instructions.

I would suggest purchasing binding and backing at the beginning of the year, you make sure the yardage is still available. Also, this quilt would look great with another border, so if you would like yours larger you should plan ahead for that as well.

I would love to have as many people as possible making this quilt. It's a great opportunity to incorporate something a little different that most projects today into your quilting repertoires! History lessons, reproduction fabrics, and a variety of skills to practice your piecing.

For each completed Moda-U quilt, you will receive an entry into a drawing. One Moda U member will win Barbara Brackman's newest book, Making History: Quilts and Fabrics from 1890-1970!

This program starts at September's meeting. I will asking for everyone to sign up prior to September 15th in order to allow time to prepare kits to be handed out at the September meeting.

Weekly Update & What I Learned at the Beach

Here it is, the post you've all been waiting for, the one where I resort to giving a report of all the boring things I've been up to lately, because I can't think of anything exciting to write about. Here goes, pop a "No-Doz" and read on!

I recently finished installing the zipper into my Cabo Halter, only to realize that despite measuring before choosing my (supposed) size from the pattern, it doesn't fit! The experience was so demoralizing that I have yet to finish hemming the shirt. Furthermore, I'm pretty sure if I give it to my sister, me being the loving, caring, generous person that I am, even if I do hate her a little for being skinnier, it will fit her. The worst part is that it's super cute, because I used this Kaffe Fassett fabric. By the time I manage to find motivation to make another, slightly larger, halter, Summer will likely be over.

This coming weekend is the Crazy 8 Poker Shop Hop. It promises to be seriously confusing, since I don't play poker. Hopefully quilters are having more luck getting motivated for this hop than I am!

My Bernina is back in new condition again after a trip to the Bernina doctor. I didn't even get a lecture about proper machine care! Now if I could only find my 1/4" foot, I might actually get something made! (besides one slightly too small shirt)

The kids and I made another trip to the beach yesterday, which was crowded since the temperature hovered around the 100 degree mark. Here is a recap of our beach experience:

Those really annoying kids who keep throwing sand on your things and splashing you? Sometimes they're mine.

Creepy old man at the picnic table, there is no possible way you have a good explanation for using those binoculars at the beach.

Why is the one person smoking on the beach always upwind?

Some people just aren't smart enough to figure out a crowded beach IS NOT a prime fishing locale.

A monokini, while helpful for camouflaging some body flaws, is NOT meant to transform 100 extra pounds. (My eyes, ahhhhhhhh, my eyes!)

Smooching teens is one thing, but if you're 40ish years old surely you can find a better place to make out than the beach full of young children. If you don't own a house, don't you at least have a car?

I mentioned in an earlier post that the beach is free, but maybe now I know why?

Deary Day Highlights

This past Saturday was Deary's Community Day, and being the unimaginative business owner that I am, I didn't prepare a parade float. Our friends that just took over the local saw shop did, however, and it featured a group of kids, including my own. That bug eyed creature in the middle? That would be my son. It seems that for the promise of his very own Stihl chain saw, complete with sound effects, he will do (or wear) anything!
Later that afternoon, the town held a "burn off" contest, right up the highway through town, of course right in front of the bar. It was a classic hillbilly, small town scene, with everything from show cars to mini-vans squealing their tires up the street. I must admit, I totally don't get it. As an observer, once you've seen one you've seen them all, and who wants to breath exhaust fumes and burning rubber that long anyways? As a driver, who wants to use up half the life or more of your tires in a few minutes. Have you seen the price of tires lately? I almost never like "silly" things, and this looks like the very definition of "silly" to me. I know, I'm a spoil sport and a party pooper, but nothing about this looks fun to me.

Will asked me,"Mom, what are they doing?"

"They're spinning their tires," I replied.

"Can we go home, now?" was his response to that, and I have to say, I think a tear of pride rolled down my cheek as we headed home.