Amazing shrinking tablecloth

With all the leaves in to fit the gaming group, our dining room table is longer than most table cloths. And I've been having issues with tablecloths shrinking, as well (despite not putting them in the dryer). I got a very pretty but very cheap cloth in San Gimignano that just touched the far edges of the table when I got it. It has subsequently lost at least four inches.

I also have some fabric that my grandmother had bought without a project in mind, tried to foist off on my mom (who refused it), and then dumped on me. Her taste runs more yellow than mine (always has, going by the house decorations, her favorite jewelry, etc.) Large gold flowers on a yellowy green. Brocade. The 70s called and want their fabric back.

The green is exactly the color of the border of the table cloth, though. And in small enough doses, the fabric doesn't look so bad. So I've extended the tablecloth. Brilliant!

I did, however, get a painful reminder to plan out the orientation of my pins better. One section ended up with the pins in backwards (heads facing the needle instead of away). I went to pull a pin out and managed to stab the side of my right pointer finger with the machine needle. Oww. Oww, oww, oww. It's a day later and it still hurts.

Stuff and nonsense

Pork chops are so much better with the cast iron pan. The surfaces get a nice browning and the inside stays so juicy.

Attempts to write my husband's grandmother into a comic Lovecraft parody have gone poorly. I think the concept for the story has a lot of potential, but I just cannot nail the tone. Feh.

We are buying a new computer. We have been checking out specs using the old computer. It feels a little like making the HR guy process his own pink slip paperwork.

I am about to attempt the first watercolor painting I've done in about three years. I have so many amazing photos from Italy, but they all intimidate the hell out of me.