Sunday morning

[ksmith]

Went to sleep around 1am. Up at 7am. Fed pups. Put on load of laundry. Shoved veggies in the oven for roasting--beets first, then butternut squash. The plan is to roast a mess o' veg on the weekend and use it throughout the week. This past week, the choices were broccoli and brussels sprouts--OK, say what you will, I *like* sprouts, especially roasted. This week, as I said, beets and squash. Squash is just finishing up now. Peeled the beets and tossed them with a little salt, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. It's the first time I've roasted fresh beets--I usually get them canned. But these came out good, so I think I will be buying fresh beets from now on.

I don't know where the week went. I needed to return a jacket to Coldwater Creek, and decided to turn it in at the local outlet in order to save the $6.95 return shipping fee.

You know where this is going.

Well, truth be told, I knew where it would go as well. I like CC's shirts, and wound up buying two for work. No iron, one in a lovely dark amethyst and the other what I can only describe as dark French blue. Add to that a dark green scarf and a dark green sweatshirt jacket, and that was that.

Then I made the mistake of dropping by the Coach outlet. Most of the bags they sell are the trendy ones with the busy designs and weird colors. I tend to stick with the basics when it comes to pricier bags, boring as it is. Black or brown, or a mix of the two if it's available. So. I would up getting a chestnut brown "business tote," essentially a large bag with adjustable straps that I can pull over the shoulder even if I'm wearing a coat. Big enough for the iPad and accessories. Big enough for the laptop, even though the weight might not be good for the bag. 66% off retail for something I will be able to use for the rest of my life--I still have my first Coach handbag, a black "legacy" shoulder bag, which I bought almost 30 years ago. If I get 30 years' use out of this one, we'll both be doing well.

Oh well. Squash is out of the oven. Work done--time to get to work.

Comments

[galeni.livejournal.com]

Yes, I love the Coach legacy bags -- have two of the dark brown. Last -forever-. Good to look spiffy for work.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Have you ever cleaned the brass hardware? The fittings on mine have tarnished over time, and when I tried to use paste brass polish, I had a devil of a time keeping it off the leather. I wondered if there was anything else I could use?

[galeni.livejournal.com]

I haven't cleaned mine yet, although I probably should.

This is what I found on the 'net:

Brasso may leave a whitish residue that does not come off. I use Tarn-x on purses that only need the brass cleaned. It is clear and does not damage the leather. It also works on the brass zippers without leaving residue on the fabric tape. The brass does have a coating on it. You can remove it with very fine steel wool (000). Use that also where you do have scratches that you want to remove. Yes the hardware is solid brass. If you find a Coach bag that seems to have the "gold" finish rubbing off to where you see silver, then it is plated and probably not genuine Coach. (I restore Coach bags for resale)

Someone else suggested (who has to shine uniform buttons):
To clean dull brass, use metallic brightening polish, such as “Never Dull". It is a great metal polish. You can buy it in the automotive department at various chain stores. It comes in a small silver and black can.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I may have gotten some of the white-stuff-that-doesn't-come-off on the black bag. It was, iirc, standard brass polish. I only tried it on one ring, and it didn't do a very good job. Plus, it was hard to apply.

I need to try Tarn-X, or the Never Dull.

Thanks for the info.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

The white stuff may come off with saddlesoap or Dawn, and then recondition the leather. Same theory as using peanut butter to take gum out of hair: it's also bad but it's a step in getting to Good.