Anticipating fall

This is the second little Halloween quilty. The third one is in process, and I'm having so much fun with these funny little things.
The high here yesterday was 89! Now that is late-fall weather here our neck of the woods, and once you combine the low temperature with the low humidity, the result is a perfect day. After weeks of 98-102 (and of course even that was better than the highs of 105+ earlier this summer), yesterday was as refreshing and as welcome as a dip in a mountain stream--invigorating , stimulating, galvanizing. Talk about weather being the topic of conversation!

I managed to get some weeding done, long neglected, this chore was a pleasure even if it didn't put much of a dent into the overall project.

It will be warmer today, and we will still possibly get more 100 degree weather, but for the moment, our area is luxuriating in this marvelous break in the summer.

Halloween quilt

This is my first Halloween attempt. I have another one in the works right now.

Last year I saw this over at Lazy Gal Quilting and knew I wanted to do some little Halloween quilts. Still want to do a banner or a table runner with Halloween theme.

I've accomplished some of the things on my August list: made sleeves, made labels, finished more baby quilt blocks, one Halloween quilty, but the most important one - the geometric quilt top is still sitting on the batting in the spare bedroom. Hmmm... what does that tell me?

Death of an historian...

Saturday was Miss Doris Gardener's funeral, and of all of the funerals I've ever attended, it was far and away the funniest. Please believe that I'm not being disrespectful.

First, some background on Miss Doris, an almost mythic figure, both literally and figuratively: At least six feet tall, she lived a relatively small life in a small town in a remarkably large way. She made a physical impression because of her size and personality, and at 94 was still a striking and vital figure.

This is a picture I took in April at the Providence Cemetery Service. Does she look 94?

A nurse, election commissioner for Bienville Parish for 70 years, and member of the Providence Cemetery Board for 75 years, her knowledge of the small town of Ringgold and its inhabitants was exceptional. Everyone knew Doris, and she knew everyone and their kin. A repository of local history, her loss is a loss of compiled knowledge and information, but she will continue to loom large in her own right as people recall the "unofficial Mayor of Ringgold."

Appropriately, the funeral consisted largely of stories told about her by relatives and friends, and almost all of them were laugh-aloud funny... She was dearly loved (with good reason), and the funeral reflected much about the kind of person she was --an individual who approached life head-on, with humor and a strong sense of community and family. I think she influenced everyone she met, but her strong family ties are most outstanding.

just a few more pictures

O.K. these will be the last of the wedding pictures.

This is my favorite, and I wish I could have gotten it from a better angle. Amelia is really celebrating!










Proud father, beloved daughter.

Wedding, family, and friends

Well, I've taken a break from blogging and keeping up with my favorite blogs. So tired when we got back from Key West and so many things to tend to--good, bad, and indifferent--as is often the case when you've been gone awhile.

The wedding was beautiful, Amelia was a lovely bride, Key West was hot and hectic.

The collage has pictures from various goings on before and during the wedding. The red shoes, Deb, traveled from the feet of niece Katie to niece Megan during the course of several parties, and I loved them. Pictures of friends, cousins, parents, siblings, etc. at different points along the way. Here are nieces Katie and Megan and nephew Cody with Amelia. McDowells and Mullen cousins.

I wish I'd gotten at least one picture of Chris and all of his cousins together.

Chris's parents gave a party on Friday night before the wedding that was so much fun. The young people wore themselves out dancing. Here are Amelia, Rachal, and Edna. Edna is an absolute live wire who has never met a stranger and has more

energy than any two of the "twenty-somethings" rolled together. She is a tiny thing, but don't let that fool you...dynamite in a small package.




Chris's family: brother Stefan, Dad Bill and Mom Linda, with Chris.

Blogger won't cooperate, so more later.

Graffiti and Key West

I found this wonderful graffiti door at Gobstruck's blog.

Amelia, Chris, Fee, and I will be on our way to Key West in the morning.
The wedding will be Saturday, and I just hope that no one is sunburned by then! And that nothing has been forgotten...

Julia Cameron and Blogging Pleasure

I've been reading Julia Cameron's Letters to a Young Artist and am trying to decide if I'm disappointed, irritated, or dismayed. Certainly find it distasteful. More about it in A Garden Carried in My Pocket.

Do you enjoy optical illusions? Here are some interesting ones.

I love visiting blogs; they are truly a window to the world. From the quilting blogs I regularly read, to the book blogs I visit, and all of those that fit no particular category, blogs provide me with wonderful visual images and plenty of food for thought.

Of course, I love comments and appreciate all of you who take the time, but there is also the pleasure of looking at the map at the bottom of the sidebar and seeing the places all over the world where other bloggers live. Answering by email and/or on the blog those who actually comment feels like a conversation and an invitation to visit your blog...so I usually do. And when visiting your blogs, I learn more, see similar experiences and interests, see experiences and interests that are new and different, learn all kinds of things. Isn't the internet wonderful?

Oooh, Blogger Buzz

Change is in the air and Blogger is adding new features, although it may take awhile since transitioning will be gradual.

I'm still working on my list--slowly, I admit, but working. Have finished the handstitching on two sleeves, made a few more blocks, etc.

We will be leaving Thursday for Key West and Amelia's wedding. Excited, nervous.

Love this. If you are a Calvin and Hobbes fan, you will, too.

I really enjoy wasting time on jigsaw puzzles and for those who are interested in Harry Potter, here is one you might enjoy. Actually, here is a list of HP jigsaw puzzles and a recipe for Butterbeer. Enjoy.

Beowulf redux

Brandywine Books hand a link to this article about some of the new movies based on the epic poem Beowulf. I realize that not everyone will have a great interest in this fact alone, but Angelina Jolie will be playing Grendel's mother in one of the several new adaptations. In 1998, Joseph Fiennes played Beowulf in an animated version.




The poster for the Canadian art film starring Gerard Butler.

According to Michael Drout an English professor at Wheaton College in Massachusetts: "Even the people teaching it didn't like it." I may be one of the few exceptions to that rule...

More about this on my book blog for those few who are interested in Beowulfania. All two of you.

Ticking off items on list

This is Lady Carolina Belle, whose weight keeps increasing. Amelia really should put her on a diet. Just kidding, Amelia. Carolina is a stocky little English bulldog with a Princess Personality.

I've 4 sleeves made and pinned onto their respective quilts and will do the hand stitching when watching television. Doing the sleeves takes no time at all...so why don't I do them before putting on the bindings? Well, from now on that is my intention.

Trying to attend to "unfinished business" in several areas right now and am pleased to note that I'm making progress:

• Made a couple of small blocks for the baby quilt.
• Spread the batting out to relax with intentions of getting to the geometric quilt sandwich soon (not sure just when as things are pretty busy around here at the moment).
• Quilt sleeves - in progress
• Labels - mostly done; found 4 more that need labels

unfinished business

For the topic of "unfinished business," I decided to repost this poem that I posted in January. Life is unfinished business and sometimes I need to recite this poem to myself to keep my priorities straight. The dichotomy, the contradictions, the polar opposites of life are reflected in this poem which has been a favorite for so many years.

Advice to my Son
by Peter Meinke

The trick is, to live your days
as if each one may be your last
(for they go fast, and young men lose their lives
in strange and unimaginable ways)
but at the same time, plan long range
(for they go slow: if you survive
the shattered windshield and the bursting shell
you will arrive
at our approximation here below
of heaven or hell).

To be specific, between the peony and the rose
plant squash and spinach, turnips and tomatoes;
beauty is nectar
and nectar, in a desert, saves -
but the stomach craves stronger sustenance
than the honied vine.

Therefore, marry a pretty girl
after seeing her mother;
show your soul to one man,
work with another,
and always serve bread with your wine.

But son,
always serve wine.
-------
And my own poem...

Unfinished Business

I will perform the daily chores
and rejoice in the sunflowers.
I will unclench my teeth,
Slip into poetry and release
The anxiety for the living and the dead.
Practice "open the window to the moon,"
but continue "push hands"
and daily penances.

Thanks, January (Poet Mom, not the month as above)for the inspiration. The two quoted phrases are Tai Chi references.

To Do

I'm posting this as a form of commitment.

August To Do List:

• finish Peony Pavilion - done
• make labels - done
• make sleeves - next project
• make 2 more blocks for baby quilt (have no purpose yet for this, so there is no hurry); also I'm using the Collaborative Quilting "parts" idea of just making blocks of various sizes and assembling later by adding to or cutting down or adding borders, etc.
• make some hot pads (mine look pretty awful)
• make quilt sandwich for geometric block quilt top
• quilt the above
• make something with Halloween fabric fabrics, I've picked up in the last couple of years (a few fat quarters and half yard pieces)

Now, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the Halloween fabrics. I haven't made a doll in a LONG time, so that is a possibility.

Knowing myself, if I don't make this a priority, Halloween will pass with nothing done.

Suggestions are more than welcome! There are 4 fat quarters and 2 half yard pieces here. Maybe a banner? What would be fun?

Now, I'm off to pick up some pictures, pick up Laddie, go to lunch, and then to Minden to see Aunt Mary. Whew!

This and that...

*I followed this little fella all over the garden, but he really loved the Homestead Verbena. He was not particularly impressed or frightened by my presence and moved from flower to flower at his own pace.


Click on any picture to enlarge.








*Since Fran and I have both commented on sunflowers and critters, I want to share "the squirrel and sunflower" event from yesterday. Sitting on the porch, minding my own business, some unusual movement among the sunflowers caught my eye. A squirrel was climbing around in the sunflowers (mine are obviously sturdy enough to support squirrel). As I watched, the little bugger got very still, so turning my head slightly, I pretended not to see him. He detached an entire flower head and made off with it in his mouth. The petals were mostly gone, but it was still vastly amusing to watch him scamper along the fence with the flower in his mouth.

*I've completed and applied ten labels. Admittedly this chore didn't take long, but it is something that I've avoided doing for so long that pride in my accomplishment is somewhat justified. Most of the quilts that have gone on to other homes had labels, but if there was no real reason, I just didn't bother.

*Next on my list is making sleeves. Quite a few are missing sleeves as well. This a dreaded chore that I don't enjoy at all, but I'm determined to follow through.

*Erin and Eric are moving back to Baton Rouge tomorrow. A huge upheavel, but well worth it for both of them and for various reasons. I will miss my visits to the Fondren community, but missed some of the places in B.R. I enjoyed when visiting there.

*Amelia's wedding is the 19th. This seemed so far away just a month ago, but is awfully close now.

Finally...

I took Shelina as an example and wrote down some of my goals and have begun working on them. The first goal was to go ahead and finish quilting the current project. Although it was almost done, I kept putting it aside and delaying. Yesterday, I sat down and finished the quilting, last night I made and began applying the binding, and today, I finished up. Still needs a sleeve (which I never think about until the quilt is finished) and a label. In fact, sleeves and labels are on my "August To Do List," as I have a number of pieces that are missing one or both.

This one is called Peony Pavilion and is 17" x 30" and hand quilted.

Feel better to have completed this and to have it out of the way. Tomorrow, I'll think about the label and sleeve.

Yesterday, I also cleaned up my desk area. Hmmm...that took quite a long time. I have a bad habit of stacking papers that will never be overcome, but every once in a while I try to fight the good fight. Feels so good to sit down here now and know everything is clean and neat and organized again.

This morning was my 6 month appt. for getting my teeth cleaned. Next Monday, I have to get started on replacement crowns. Not much fun, but necessary.

Oh, and I finally mailed Deb H.'s ATC. I'm ashamed to admit I've had it in the car for at least 3 days, stamped and ready to mail.

In addition to Collaborative Quilting, I'm reading this. Full of good tips, instructions, and examples, this one should be very useful.

I Love Chaucer...

I'm up way too early and hope to be able to go back to sleep soon, but am now grinning at poor Chaucer's troubles with the current heat wave.

ATC from Deb Hardaman

Deb sent this lovely ATC from Anchorage, AK. I love it and thanks so much, Deb. Yours goes into the mail today.

I'm reading the new Marston and Moran book Collaborative Quilting--I'm using a two-pronged approach to reading it. First I skimmed through the entire thing, then I went back and started at the beginning...reading word for word. However, as soon as I stop reading, I replace my bookmark and skim again, looking at all of the marvelous quilts. Yesterday, I made a couple more blocks for the baby quilt using some of the sample blocks in the book.

Still quilting on the Asian looking piece, and I'm finally able to see that it will soon be finished. Have not been terribly consistent with any quilting lately. Can't seem to focus for any length of time...some attention deficit in action here.

Amelia's wedding is approaching rapidly. August 19th! Can scarcely believe that in addition to my handsome new grandson, I'm going to have another handsome son-in-law.

Erin and Eric (and Mila and Max) are getting to move back to Baton Rouge. Eric will be teaching at Southern, with a substantial increase in salary and more research opportunities. They have found a house to rent and are considering options on their house in Jackson. Sell, rent, lease?

Quilting thoughts

Read a really interesting post at Nancy Quilts. She discusses her decision not to buy any fabric in August. She plans to save money by not buying fabric and to use up as much of her stash as possible.

I liked her comments on hoarding, as well. We all know the feeling of not wanting to cut a particularly lovely fabric as well as the feeling of "why the heck did I buy that" -- two reasons for a growing stash are hoarding and faulty purchases. What good is a large stash that consists of fabrics you won't use for one reason or another? I hope thinking about this will make me more cautious in my purchases and less miserly with the stuff I like.

And I absolutely love her "quilting 401K" plan! She is saving money for quilting purchases when she retires. Not hoarding fabric now, but saving money to use when needed.

Yesterday, I cut down most of the sunflowers. This picture is after some wind and rain that caused the plants to lean and then grow horizontally. They just take up too much space that way, and they were blocking or covering several paths. The ones in this area covered 2 paths.