Tornado Alley

Yesterday afternoon, (Thursday) tornados touched down everywhere.  About 4:30, they said one had touched down in our area and to take cover.  I got in the bathtub in the center of the house seconds before it hit. Wham, Bam!

Back yard, former garden...house across the drainage ditch.

Opening the front door was a bit of a surprise.

Another view of back.

Front.

B. E. the bee

Bryce Eleanor is in the midst of her first competition--for best Halloween Costume. The contestants are all adorable, but my vote went to #13. You check it out here (and vote, of course.)

Shanghai & a Patchwork Scarf

Our friend Thomas recently returned from his month long stay in Shanghai where he and another friend went to study Tai Chi with Master Wu. These are pictures of The Listening Garden where they did their twice daily instruction and practice.

What a lovely place to practice Tai Chi!
Monday, we all met for lunch--Thomas, Beth, Nina, and myself--to hear all about the trip. Of course, we didn't have enough time. Will have to schedule another lunch to hear the rest!

A week or so ago, I began this patchwork scarf.
All of the white patches ended up looking a bit Christmas-y...
so I'm embroidering some of the white space.

After another absence...

I have been a negligent blogger...again. Feeling rushed much of the time lately with more to do than time in which to do it. Excuses, excuses.

I'm over a week late in getting these pictures up. We had a nice time in Natchez, but it was cold and windy! In fact they canceled the balloon flights on Friday and Saturday, although they did get off on Sunday. Natchez is a lovely little town.

Fat Mama's tamales are well known...and so are her margaritas. Bryce Eleanor found the bath tub and crawled in.

Mila and her pink cowboy boots. We had to buy her a coat at K-Mart because it was too cold for her cowboy shirt alone.Chris, Amelia, and Erin.Bryce Eleanor loves foot wear. My boots were great fun.
Max and Mila enjoyed the rides. Before we bought her a coat, Mila was wearing my jacket.
View from our balcony.Max wore his shirt on Sunday, but I failed to get a picture of him wearing it. The color looked so good on him, I hate that I didn't get a picture.

I have begun teaching yoga at Lotus Studio and have 2 afternoon classes a week, but this week I'll be subbing for Marcia, whose son is ill. That means a 10:00, 4:00, and 6:00 class today, 10:00 classes on Friday and Saturday. I can use the experience! I'll have to get there early to warm up the studio this morning.

Doll Quilt, Dolls, Hot Air Balloons

Another WIP retrieved from the dead letter box, a doll quilt that is finally getting basted. I'm trying to spend a little time each day in the studio doing something, and this neglected project finally got some attention.

Amelia has some wonderful dolls among her Halloween decorations--muslin dolls, painted and varnished, charming little pumpkin heads with raggedy clothing, old-fashioned postcard style. I thought (as I do each October) that I should make some. Haven't made any dolls in a while.

Then quite by accident, I stumbled on The Cart Before the Horse and was enchanted. Visit the Gallery to get an idea of the creative flair this couple have. I love these dolls--the Halloween creatures and Fairy Tale characters are my favorites...or the Circus Folk.

A little hanger cover how-to here at NeedleCrafter.

The weather here this morning is deliciously cool! And the rain has ended! We are especially appreciative of the cooler weather because we're headed to Natchez, MS today. Amelia, Chris, and Bryce Eleanor will drive down later, after work. Erin, Mila, and Max will be driving up from Baton Rouge. The Hot Air Balloon Festival is this weekend, and in addition to the balloon races, there will be some great music. Among the scheduled performances will be Better Than Ezra and Leon Russell.

Gotta' pack.

A Little Cowboy Love

I did this little embroidery several months ago from a free pattern on Andrea Zuill's blog, Bad Birds. I think I showed it to you, oh, back in May, and it has been hanging around ever since.

Now it is going on a tee shirt for Max, that busy little cherub, who has his own boots, cowboy shirt, and hat. A well-turned out 3 year old cowboy if ever there was one.

Love this:

Wellness

Knitting lowers blood pressure and so does crocheting; since my blood pressure is always low that doesn't matter much to me, but the process relaxes me and induces a bit of serenity, so I consider it a Wellness Exercise.

Here are some links that support the Knitting/BP/Wellness Connection:

Knitting Could Alleviate Major Trauma Effects,

KFLBP (knitting for lower blood pressure,

and I LOVE this one - A Novel Prescription for Knitted Brows, an MSNBC.com article with a picture of a man who had been laid off taking a knitting lesson as a coping mechanism.

Maybe these activities that should be covered by health insurance. Knitting needles and yarn could be written off.

Brief Return to Signatures

A little more work on the signatures which have been sorely neglected. It is unfortunate that I've lost my enthusiasm for this project, but I hope to continue to make a little time for it occasionally. Maybe my enthusiasm will return. It happens.
Here is one of my favorite new places to visit: Hand Embroidery Network!

I love reading about the subtle nature of the mind. This article says that studies indicate that nature can make us more caring.

In one way, it seems like common sense -- being in the garden, in the woods, by the lake relaxes us and therefore, the peaceful feelings would influence our thinking and behavior. Most of us have experienced this first-hand. Images in bio-feedback or guided imagery have the same effect.

The studies indicate that nature nurtures the best in us. Nothing really new here, except the way the concept was studied, but it is another example of how our minds respond to stimuli.

Scrappy Stuff, Soup, and Casseroles

Hanging things up...

I've had making covered hangers on my list of "to make" for a long time. In my sorting and organizing frenzy, I found a bunch of strips I'd pieced together for a purpose that now escapes me. Three infant-size plastic hangers discovered in the closet... and thus began the hanger project.

After quilting the pieced strips to a scrap piece of batting (just the top and the batting, only two layers), I traced the plastic hanger shape onto the quilted piece, cut it out, added a pleated strip to the bottom, sewed it up, and Voila!

Digging more scraps from the pile, I quilted and sewed another version. Now, are they worth the time involved? Only if you enjoy the process! But I enjoyed using up some scraps and plan to make a few more.This is really the perfect time of year for sewing. It has been rainy and chilly for the last few days, and staying in becomes a bit of a treat.

I have beans soaking for bean soup right now. This weather makes me crave the comfort of soups, which I love anyway.

Connie posted this recipe for a hashbrown casserole (how could this recipe have eluded me? it looks scrumptious) that seems like a great fall dish. Of course, I can't serve it to Fee who is having to watch his cholesterol, but it would make a great casserole for a fall get-together.

What recipes are fall-comfort-food for you?

I did cut up and re-purpose the tee shirt. I used a quilted flower from several years ago to patch the hole in the back, cut the front open to eliminate a stain, shortened and shaped the back to make ties, and did a lettuce hem. The original idea was to use it over sleeveless tops, but it turned a little chilly and I had on a long sleeve shirt.It would have worked better, perhaps, if the tee hadn't been a small, but maybe I'll play with a medium next time. I know I have a medium tee that I put in a bag for Goodwill, but I'm not sure if it was in the bag I delivered, or the bag that is STILL sitting in the garage.

The top works well either tied or untied, but I wanted to be able to tie it, because sometimes at yoga the room is chilly until you get warmed up. Being able to tie it makes it easy to practice in.

There is some strange sort of satisfaction in taking an item that is stained or just tired out (as tee shirts are prone to become) and doing something with them. I had a lot of fun embroidering old tees this summer.

What items have you re-purposed? I know a lot of people transform tee shirts in many ways! I need more ideas!

Friday

Getting back to a project that is never completed...cleaning/organizing the studio.

I keep finding items that I've forgotten about: WIPs, completed projects that have just been "filed" away, items that I've never used. You know, all of those things that are "out of sight, out of mind."


I clean and straighten a bit, then find something and begin playing and messing up again.

This little crochet(ed?) cloche is something I did several years ago. I attached one of the flowers I made from Calamity Kim's tutorial to a hair clip and then to the hat, which is child size, and will, I suspect, be going to Bryce Eleanor.

Today...I'm going to re-purpose an old tee shirt. I hung it in here for just that reason, oh, two months ago. Time to do something with it.

I love this use of a pumpkin! I'd never have thought of turning a pumpkin into a pirate ship for Halloween (Cinderella's pumpkin coach has nothing on this)!

It was 79 degrees when I got up before 5:00 this morning. The rains came a few minutes ago, and the WIND, and the temperature has dropped at least 10 degrees. Flash flood warnings are in effect. I have a yoga class at 10:00, but will have to wait and see about that.

The vagaries of life...

keep overtaking me. Some small, some large, some serious, some almost comical--but it has been one thing after another in the last two months. Things are looking up, however!

The worst: Amelia has been quite ill with meningitis, a very scary time. Released from the hospital a week ago, she has still not fully recovered, but in comparison to where she was, she is in great health.

The best: She went to her doctor's appointment yesterday and got the OK to go back to work for half a day, then come home and take a nap. She is still dealing with joint pain and fatigue, but is doing quite well. I wrote a little about it here on my book blog last week.

I have failed to acknowledge the package I received from Debby (...Pieces, Too...); I'm sorry not to have done so earlier, Debby. Thanks, so much for the goodies!Aren't these lovely threads? Can't wait to use them!