because it would be absolutely INSANE
to talk about AUTUMN now that it’s broiling
here in the Midwest I decided not to…

NOT!

Above you see what the ColorPicken industry people project as the Fall Colors for the coming season:

from left to right:
– Rattan
– Gloxinia
– Ruby Wine
– Burnt Orange
– American Beauty
– Glazed Ginger
– Morrocan Blue
– Moss
– Burnt Olive
– Atmosphere

Now, personally, I think I could eliminate about 20% of the colors out of this group as being not my *season* (teeheehee…) (Maybe I should just give Ginger a try?) BUT the other 80% hold some real promise! What do I especially SPY in there? Something they’ve called *MOSS* which of course is just another variation of my very own favorite, KIWI, b.Lime, Chartruese, etc, etc, etc. I’M THERE! So empowering to know one can still be in fashion even while possessing a dyed-in-the-wool obsession…

Speaking of someone who is not only in fashion but appears to be ahead of the curve, I found this color card while looking for DK weight yarns – pretty much covers most of it, non? (These colors were offered this spring.) Also, anybody know where the yarn classifications come from? I see reading the yarn info it’s listed as “classic” and “precious”.

  Monday Morning Mirth  

. . . From The Washington Post Style Invitational

Planertia: When you stick with a bad idea long after it’s clear you have no exit strategy. (Mike Cisneros, Centreville)

Sosa-nervosa: The midseason anxiety suffered by Orioles fans as they sense they’ve just obtained another over-the-hill slugger. (Peter Metrinko, Chantilly)

Arenotdeetwo: R2D2’s argumentative twin. (Kyle Hendrickson, Frederick)

Rearendearment: A loving pat on the tush. (Chris Doyle)

Earnigma: An IRS form. (Herb Greene, Catonsville)

Yearner’s-permit: A credit card. (Jesse Frankovich, Lansing, Mich.)

Menarchy: The view that the male is always in charge, period. (Mark Eckenwiler, Washington)

Kenarbie: Mattel’s new hermaphroditic doll. (Dan Seidman, Watertown, Mass.)

Sevenarse: Standard minivan capacity. (Walt Johnston)

Chickenracing: Poultry in motion. (Chris Doyle)

Serpentolerance: Sympathy for the Devil. (Chris Doyle)

Eaternaty: Dinner with the in-laws. (Marty McCullen, Gettysburg, Pa.)

Jabbernacle: A two-hour sermon. (Dave Prevar, Annapolis)

Internapping: Web browsing with a dial-up. (Mike Cisneros)

Juggernaught: Flat-chested. (Chris Doyle)

a Girl’s Gotta BUILD…

Since our favorite Diva with a Glue Gun is under House Arrest, nothing seemed more fitting to me last weekend than to join Her! Temps in the ginormous zone reduced me to a sticky frizzy mess anytime I stuck my head out the condo door so it only made sense to stay inside bathed in cool air-conditioned jetstreams and BUILD something!

A trip to the neighborhood Super Kmart for a thermos yielded this discovery: the new Matha Stewart/Everyday Furniture line! Cursed by being an early adopter, I was magnetized by a glass-doored bookcase and a store manager helped me load ‘er up in the back of my little Jeep. I unloaded it piece by piece (still in the back of the car because I couldn’t lift that heavy box by myself) and took it upstairs to my house (2.5 floors above street level).

Now even though I’m a veteran of a couple of IKEA romps, nothing prepares you for the sheer weight of your purchase. I learned early on that, like most things in life, small bites, one mouthful at a time, carefully chewed, was going to do the trick here as well.

VOILA! THAT is the essence of Chick Engineering…

Here is what I’ve found to be the second most important factor in building solo: a rug! You need something slippery that will let you move that heavy sucker wherever it’s going to finally land without tearing up your floor.

The base of the Bookcase was HEAVY and seemed to be solid wood. It’s on the rug, ready for its ride…

Now the FUN starts! MS’s instructions recommend “2 people for easier assembly and safety.” And, as always, SHE’s RIGHT! But Here I AM, a woman for the afternoon without a HandyMan! So how to carry on without HIM? Grab a couple of supports from elsewhere in your house, that’s how. Here you see enlisted for duty my weight-lifting bench and a dining room chair. The first side wall (made from what appears to be composite wood with a veneer) of the Bookcase is up, attached to the base with wood glue (included), dowels and a lock-down screw assembly. Damn Solid.

More Girl Engineering ensues as the Bookcase takes shape and its back support and another side piece are added. Not wanting to break the new bonds of the structure, I call other special tools into play.

Using a stack of books that is the EXACT HEIGHT needed, I support the cross bar of the bookcase. Here you see my other score of the weekend (from hitting an apartment sale down the street) – Starkey’s book on Elizabeth R; Nicole Mones – “Lost in Translation”; Stendahl – ” the Charterhouse of Parma”; Tracy Chevalier – “Falling Angels”; and that all time favorite – “the Oxford History of Medieval Europe”. $5.00 bucks for these reusable shims and more…

One must step back and be SUDDENLY Amazed at just how LARGE this thing is – 47″ wide and 16″ deep and 52″ high!

One hour and 15 minutes later, I’ve already started to fill the gap! The doors were the most impressive thing about this Bookcase – they are on wheels that fit into a track while snapping locks secure them to the top of the opening. Most difficult moment? Using 40 wood screws to attach the cheap (but well-stained) matching facing to the back of the piece. Why didn’t I cheat and only screw in, uh, maybe 20 screws?

Please, what would Martha do…