My Sunday Seven

I skipped doing My Friday Five or Saturday Six, so I'm doing Sunday Seven, just for kicks and jollies.

1. It's Palm Sunday and is spring according to the calendar. We had snow this morning! But isn't it beautiful? I actually liked it. Later the sun came out, and it all melted.

2. For the last week or so I have been attempting to improve my eating habits a little. Mainly I'm being more conscious of eating fruits and vegetables. As a result, I already feel better, and I'm proud of myself!

3. My sister-in-law is recovering, but still needs prayers. She was in rougher shape than I realized! She will be in the rehab place for another week or so. Her liver is in bad shape and there is talk of an eventual transplant. She is at least able to walk around a little bit now but still uses a walker or cane. I'm thankful she is better and hope she continues to improve.

4. I had a wonderful spring break! It was great to visit my sister in NY. Then I came home and had some relaxing time at home before going back to work. I still think every employee should get a spring break. When I'm the boss of the world.........

5. I loved the book, Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrup. I lent it to a friend, and she loved it, too. I'm so glad!

6. Hubby and I had a super-fun date Saturday night. We went out to eat, had great food, and enjoyed our conversation. To top off the night we went shopping for wooden dowels and printer paper. We know how to have a romantic evening!

7. Yesterday was my 500th post! Please read about my give-away that I explained yesterday.

Post #500!!!!!

Wow, this one sneaked up on me. I knew #500 was coming, but didn't know it was coming up so quickly! To celebrate reaching my 500th post, and still having readers (thank you one and all!), I am going to do a double give-away. If you leave a comment, you will have your name put into a hat for a prize drawing. One person will win something. I don't know what yet! You'll just have to wonder. I'll try to make it nice, though not too spendy. It'll be kind of a grab-bag gift of thanks to my readers, though I'm sorry to say I can only gift one of you.

AND, for every comment I receive, a certain amount of money will go into a collection. $1 per comment, 10 cents per comment... whatever amount I can afford when the comments have all arrived (deadline for counting the total number of comments is Monday April 6 at 6:00 p.m. Minnesota time). I would like to do $1 per comment.. let's test it and see how high it goes.

The money will go to: TA-DA - Ampersand Families! They are a new non-profit in Minneapolis whose goal is to find permanent homes for the double digit foster kids - kids aged 10 and up who often end up with no permanent family of their own. I love what they are doing, and I am trying to support their work. You can read about them here: Ampersand Families.

I have been telling Charles that he is taking me out for dinner tonight, though I couldn't think of a good "excuse" (if being with me isn't good enough, I don't know what is... but sometimes I need even more persuasion powers than that!) Celebrating my Post #500 will be an ideal reason for going out on a date tonight with my favorite husband.

Let's see those comments pile up! 1...2...3...4.............

Sewing and Ranting

I spent most of today at church, sewing. I go there to use the large tables, but today I didn't feel like working on my large projects. So I was there with all that space, working on small things. Silly me. I could have stayed home, but at least I had uninterrupted work time, and I got lots done. I would have distracted myself at home.

This is a charms pattern from Moda. I started it on Super Bowl Sunday and finally got it all put together today.

Most of my other projects are still unfinished. I made some burial blankets, and I put together some other quilt rows that had been sitting around for too long. I even started a gift for someone who reads my blog, so I can't say any more about it. That was fun as it was very spontaneous; it just popped into my head as I sat sewing at church. I only have this picture to show you.. the pile contains some of the stuff I finished and some things on which I made progress and other things that I started but that are still just beginnings.

Then I came home and started reading blogs. Now I know people have a variety of opinions. I'm fine with that. If someone says they really admire Laura Bush... OK. They can admire her if they want. I don't understand why they do, but... fine. I'm willing to let that one go. But when they say disparaging things about people they obviously have never spoken with, that gets my goat. Take this, for example -- this was actually posted at a blog, in a discussion about Michelle Obama:

"the average person who voted for the Obamas' (sic) doesn't care about the veggie garden she started at the White House or her interest in supporting our troops and their families, they are more interested in what she will wear to the next public outing"

Now that comment brings out the ranter in me. I voted for Barack Obama - not the Obamas. As for Michelle Obama, I am thrilled that she is doing so much for our culture (e.g., the vegetable garden) and spotlighting various educational and social issues, including working with members of the military and their families. I don't care what she wears. I am not a person who pays the least bit of attention to fashion. I find the above comment very offensive.

Can someone please explain to me why so many non-Democrats believe that we Democrats don't care about the military families? And about the lives and well-being of the soldiers themselves? We care A LOT which is why we are opposed to war! And why we believe they deserve decent pay and health benefits and educational, housing, and psychological support when they return home!

I could go on and on, but I'd rather not. I am just continually perplexed by this view of liberals which is so wrong. The writer of that comment should actually speak with a few people who voted for Obama before making such a scathing generalization.

That's More Like It!

After my shameless begging for comments yesterday, I should probably apologize for being such a whiner. Thank you for humoring me and leaving comments! You are all fabulous friends.

Today I finally got something worthwhile done. (That's more like it!) I took my sewing stuff over to church and had fun getting a lot accomplished. I quilted a top, but I don't have a picture of it yet. Maybe tomorrow. (I'm going back tomorrow for more sewing.)

I also finished getting these selvage edges together. This will eventually turn into a pillow.

The main thing I started on (thanks to a nudge from Pastor Penny) was the altar cloths I was asked to make for church. They asked me a zillion years ago. I don't know why I kept procrastinating! Once I started, it was fun to work on them.

I bought these fabrics to make a prototype. Now the store where I bought them is closed, but I'm hoping I can still find similar enough fabrics so I can use the prototype as a final piece. I have to make two for the small lecterns and one for the altar. Which orientation do you prefer? These are lumpy-looking because they are pinned together to make the various options. There are 3 versions of the "cross" in the middle, so you get to pick which size cross you like best. On the altar options, I didn't experiment with every single cross-size. I was getting tired of pinning and un-pinning. So just remember the altar cloth and the lectern pieces can have their choice of large, medium, or small cross-shape.

#1 - lectern with wave pattern going down

#2 - lectern with wave pattern going up

#3 lectern with large cross

#4 - lectern with medium cross

#5 - lectern with small cross

#1A - altar with cross pattern (large, medium, or small). These will repeat across the horizontal length of the existing purple cloth (which will, of course, not be present when mine are there).

#2A - altar with wave pattern which will repeat across entire cloth length

What's your preference? (And thanks for your vote - your opinions help me decide. Of course, Pastor and others will get votes that carry a lot of weight.. I hope they vote for what I like best! haha)

It's Been a Quiet Day..

... in Lake Wobegon. I thought I would get so much done! I'm on spring break and have all this time on my hands! Somehow I spent 90% of my day on the computer. I have been organizing some of my photos and albums, reading blogs, and surfing for fun and profit. (The checks should start pouring in very soon.)

I managed to make one quilt block.


The day flew by, and I barely accomplished anything noticeable. Couldn't even complete the one errand I tried to do. I went to the post office to mail two packages... this particular post office is a tiny, one-person operation. It closes every day for an ungodly-long time, around the noon hour. I always forget what those times are. I thought, "well, it must be closed about noon to 1:30. Surely by now it will be open again." I arrived there at 2:20 p.m., and it was closed! Not to open until 2:30. Grrrrr. I gave up and went home. I'll mail them from a more normal post office tomorrow. Like maybe the 24-hour one at the airport. At least that one doesn't have weird hours that I have to try to memorize.

My pal over at Tubaville posted a message saying she had not much to say, and she got ten comments. So since I have just said a bunch of stuff about nothing, I'm hoping I get at least ten comments as well. Make my day and leave a comment!

I'm Home (Brrrr) Sweet Home!

There seems to be a COLD theme going in my life. When I was with my sister in NY we almost froze our derierres off. Today I came back to Minnesota, and it's raining and in the mid-30's. Brrrr! Worse than yesterday in NY!

Here's my picture of the place where we had lunch. Yesterday's post was a picture I found at Google; it obviously was taken on a nice, warm day. My picture shows the grayness and the waves (sort of), but it is hard to show how biting the wind was. My sister tried to sit in the chair, but what you see here is about as long as she stayed seated. It was just too cold to sit still.

I got to see my nephew in the lead role of "Kiss Me, Kate." His real-life GF played the female lead. They were both fabulous as were many of the other actors... a talented group!

My sister and I had one Play Day. We were deeply engrossed in very serious conversations the whole time:

We ate well, shopped, and just about solved all the world's problems, except that my visit wasn't quite long enough to accomplish it all.

Here's my sis showing me the house she is about to buy. I already know which bedroom I want the next time I visit!

I had a great time with "sis;" I'm glad I went. Next time, maybe it will be warmer, and we can take some time to hunt down a quilt shop!

I Heart NY

I am in the state of NY visiting my sister. Today we had lunch at this very spot in Canandaigua! But instead of clear blue waters and a warm day, we braved a brisk, freezing wind. The lake was quite wavy and gray due to the clouds. We stayed in this spot all of 45 seconds. I took a few pictures, and then we ran inside screaming because we were so cold. And you know it was cold, because I am from Minnesota, and I screamed, too.

Tomorrow I will be home and will share more pictures and stories with you! Brrrrr.

Quilt by S.

Isn't this pretty? A woman in my guild made this, then decided it wasn't what she wanted, so she made another one. She gave this "reject" to me, and I am donating it to Sunshine. Thank you, S! It's lovely, just like you! Some lucky child will love this quilt.

I'm on spring break now, and happy as a clam!

Ahhhhhhh.... that's the sound of me relaxing.

My Super Giddy Friday Fives

1. It's Friday! Charles has a friend who calls all Fridays "giddy." Then, if it is a pay day and Friday, it's "double giddy." If it is Friday, pay day, and the beginning of a long weekend, it's "triple giddy." So this is my day: Friday, pay day, beginning of a week off (spring break)!! and I get to visit my sister in NY.

SUPER LALAPALOOZA GIDDY FRIDAY! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

2. Sister-in-law, "Anita," is not healthy. She is in the hospital and needs 24-hour attention. I am praying for Anita and for my brother, "James."

3. It's fun making up fictitious names for my family members. hahaha!

4. Today at work, when it was almost time to go home, co-worker brought in her cutie pie little son. He wears a helmet to help his flat head get re-shaped. It's working very well. The picture above is so cute! He was trying to grab at my camera. Below I am posting a short movie of him. He loves to kick and flap and screech!

5. I am just so happy that we have a fabulous president, Mr. Obama. I love how smart he is, and responsive to problems, and totally unflappable. He's just who we need in the White House these days. I am going to send him a fan letter. I used to send angry letters to Mr. Bush. It feels so much better to be happy than to be angry!

Change

I have not spoken much about the changes going on in my program at work. Tonight during dinner, for some odd reason, I started spewing to Charles (new, fictitious name for my hubby) about all the changes going on at work. There was nothing new today that spurred my volcanic discussion. It just erupted. One reason I have not said much about it is because it has been pretty confusing, and the changes are on-going. We really don't know how everything will look in the end. The bitter end. I don't think it'll be a happy ending... although I am proud to say we have been making the best of it so far.

This has been a difficult year, with overloaded case loads, and because our program is getting a major overhaul. It would be OK if we knew exactly what was going on, but we still don't have answers to many of our questions. One thing we do know: we get to stay in our current location at least for one more year. I am happy about that. It is very convenient to my home, and it is air-conditioned, unlike most of the school buildings!

Anyway, I am not going to bore my readers with all the details. It just started getting on my nerves tonight, and I spewed. This unrest is being felt all through the district. Many big changes are being made. Programs are being eliminated, others vastly re-organized, people are being moved around (mostly involuntarily). So we are not alone in feeling disgruntled. (Have you ever felt gruntled?)

To top off my disgruntled state, I made muffins for dinner, and they turned out crappy! Stupid muffins!

I'm ready for spring break!!!

P.S. My sister-in-law is in the hospital, and we're not sure what's wrong. My brother is probably beside himself (another odd expression). They live in another state; that's why it's hard to know exactly what is going on. We have to wait for sporadic news.

Ampersand Families - an event

Hubby and I decided to sponsor a table at this event. Doesn't it sound fun? It is a fundraising event for Ampersand Families. Read about Ampersand and order tickets for this event here.

	Please join us on May 7th for an evening of food, music and friends with all proceeds going towards helping find adoptive families for teenagers in foster care.
	Time: May 7th, 2009 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Music and silent auction bidding begin at 6:00pm Program and dinner begin at 7:00pm Silent auction bidding ends at 8:30pm Place: Trocaderos Nightclub and Restaurant 107 3rd Avenue North Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 Reservations Required Your ticket buys a full dinner (cash bar) and an evening of great reggae sounds with Dred I Dread

Street Art and a Toy

Here is some fun street art at two different corners in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Below is the quilt I hung up at work. It was time to take down the Snow quilt and advertise spring! Isn't this one gorgeous? I bought it at a sample sale when Colorful Quilts was going out of business. I love it!

Yesterday my new toy came in the mail! I was so excited!

It came in this cool box that has a handle... I'll use this for quilty projects. It's great for carrying a project to a retreat, for example.

Here it is! Can you see what it is?

It's my new digital picture frame! I played with it a little, but I need more time to really figure out how to make great little movies on it. I'm excited!! Splurging on new toys is fun!

Thoughts on a Sunday

Thought #1:

I have learned that it is impossible to see into another person's heart and mind just from looking at the person's face. Too many of us, me included, will see someone with what we perceive to be a grumpy face, and jump to conclusions about what that person is communicating. It happened again today, to someone who is the nicest person - smart, caring, and thoughtful - but has a natural scowly face. Another person thought Scowly was giving her the "evil eye." When I figured out who she meant, I just had to laugh. No way! This happens to my sister a lot, too. She is an intense person and "listens very hard" when people are speaking to her. It makes her appear angry, and people get the wrong impression. She gets tired of people asking her "what's wrong?" when she feels perfectly fine. Moral of the story: don't judge a book by its cover.

Thought #2:

It's so funny to me that I am still learning about myself. I mean, basic stuff that has been apparent since I was a little kid! I'm 56 now and just figuring it out. "Duh!" everyone else must be thinking. For example, recently I asked my mom something about what I was like as a kid. I remember being very shy and, of course, nearly perfect. She said "well you always needed to be with friends and doing something." Really?? Huh... that surprises me, but makes sense. Wow. I didn't remember myself as being that way, but come to think of it, YES!

It explains some of the friction my husband and I experienced early in our marriage. He is a home-body to the nth degree. I am somewhat, but really.. maybe I'm not!

Today I went to church, came home, and just felt trapped! I thought about my husband: mostly he goes to work, and he comes home. He's happy with that routine. He socializes with colleagues while at work, and with friends he knew and has made on the bus, and with me at home. For him, that is enough. Not for me! After church I felt like I needed MORE. I wanted to be with people, and not just come home to the quiet. So, after I finished some chores, I went out for "lunch" by myself. (Does lunch happen at 3:30 p.m.?) I thought about how over the years I have kept myself busy with friends, just going out for fun, joining groups like quilt guild and lots of involvement at church. I have been satisfying that need I have to GO and DO and be with people. Husband has been happy to let me go and not have to accompany me. We did get this figured out after a while, and it ceased to be a bump in our marriage.

So anyway, I went out for "lunch," ate a yummy meal, enjoyed watching people and listening in on some of the conversations, and then I did a tiny bit of shopping. That was enough for me to satisfy my need to be with people. Now I am home and satisfied.

Moral of the story (if there is one): don't let silly problems cause undue friction in your marriage... they can be worked out and solved and understood if you have patience and if you work at it, and if you are willing to take a look inside yourself for better understanding.

Thought #3:

Parenting is hard work!!! It ain't for sissies. I'm thinking I might be of the sissy variety. Hubby and I are mulling over our decision to go for foster/adoption training. My honest gut feeling is, I don't think we are the right types for this kind of commitment. I want to be that kind of person, but I know I'm really not. So I'm fessing up that it may not happen as I announced a while back. I am hoping we/I can figure out a meaningful way to be involved without taking that enormous step. We see the need and want to respond, but how we respond is still up in the air. Stay tuned for the developing story. If you are a parent of any kind (bio, foster, adoptive, unofficial) stop what you are doing and give yourself a big hug and pat on the back for your hard work, love, and commitment you have poured into your child/children.

Thought #4:

I'm doing the Humble Dance over the blocks I made today - pictures above. ("I rock, I rule, I'm really really cool") I love how they turned out.

Thought #5:

Are you still here, still reading? Thank you for visiting my blog and letting me jabber at you!

Bawling My Eyes Out

Wow! I watched a Netflix movie tonight: "Dear Zachary." It's a documentary. True story, and very, very sad. I bawled my eyes out. But I recommend it, even though it is sad. It's the story of a man who is murdered by his ex-girlfriend. His friend made the movie, "Dear Zachary," for the man's son, so he would know as much as he could about his wonderfuly daddy. Watch it!

Then, by following blog links to links to links, I found a FUNNY letter written to Oprah. It's kind of what I have been thinking, but I couldn't have written such a great letter. Wish I had, though! Here's the link. Scroll down to page two and read "Letter."

http://theprintedblog.com/pdf/ThePrintedBlogVol1No7.pdf

two burial blankets made from Found Squares; the second one still needs a star attached

an I Spy quilt made from Found Squares of mysterious origin

I have been doing a little sewing, but nothing very exciting. I'm still making burial blankets to take to Crow Creek Reservation when I go this summer. Everything I have made lately is made from squares I have found while cleaning my sewing room. Who knew cleaning could be so beneficial?! Some of the squares I have found are complete mysteries. I have no memory of where they came from. I know some of them were not ever my own fabrics, so someone must have sent them to me. I wonder who? Anyway, it has been nice to make a bunch of "free quilts" from Found Objects.

Look at this last picture! What do you think it is? Well, I was sprawled out on the stairs, looking toward upstairs, and liked the view from underneath this quilt. Just don't notice how wobbly it is! Some would say it's a "friendly" quilt.. it's waving at you!

My Friday Five

1. A gentle, afternoon rain sounded so pleasing on my car top - reminded me of cuddling inside a tent, warm and snug, during a soft rain.

2. Good books - love 'em!! I'm finishing a good one that I can hardly put down, and I bought several more today that I can hardly wait to pick up*... why I bought more is a good question as I already have a gigantic pile of books to read. I hope I can continue to read and sew in Heaven, because I'll surely never finish all I have in mind during this lifetime.

3. Son and future DIL left on a service trip today which happens during their spring break. I'm proud of them for giving up their leisure time to help others.

4. Hubby is too smart about computers and programming and software! He works hard on stuff that I don't understand, and when he talks excitedly about it, I have a hard time paying attention. Since it's gobbledy-gook to me, my eyes glaze over, and then it's hard to fake that I'm interested. (I don't have him fooled for a minute.)

5. Today I met a Gentle Giant: very tall, very strong, very soft-spoken, gentle, young but determined, and very goal-oriented. Made my day!!

-------

*the books:

sleep toward heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward (almost done- hard to put it down)

Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien (I read this previously and just bought this one for a gift)

True Love, a Practice for Awakening the Heart by Thich Nhat Hanh

90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper

Here if You Need Me by Kate Braestrup

A Day in the Life of the American Woman, How We See Ourselves (a coffee table book of photographs, marked down to only $2.99!)

Crow Creek!

Last year I went on a work/mission trip to Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. This year we are going again, but to Crow Creek Reservation, also in South Dakota. Volunteers at both sites are coordinated through Tree of Life. This is the Tree of Life logo that you see above.

Last night our work team had its first planning meeting. So now I'm feeling excited about the trip! There is nothing quite like a group of people working together to form friendship bonds, and to get something good accomplished as well. Last year's trip was a blessing to my life, so I am hoping it will be another great experience this year.... for everyone concerned. Can't wait to go again!

Shoulda Been Me

Thanks for the photo. Betty!

Look at this! I was just thinking that with such an Irish last name, my relatives and I should make a banner and march in the St Paul parade. Someone else beat us to it. I don't know who they are! Shirttail relies, perhaps?

Sew Much Fun

This is some of the sewing I did while trying to clean my sewing room. These little squares were in baggies, apparently cut by hand. That's why they don't match perfectly. But I liked leaving them wonky (too lazy to square them up). And the pink/pastel theme continues on the others.

These are two more burial blankies... a sad need, but I hope they comfort the mommies.

two more Lotto blocks for April

Watching TV

another picture from the Old Days... we were newlyweds - 1976

Since yesterday I have been working on organizing my sewing room. I think this is going to be a very long-term project. First, it's a mess. Second, when I re-discover fabrics and projects I had forgotten about, I can barely keep from sitting right down and sewing on them! In fact, I have not been so successful at resisting that temptation. It is so inspiring to find projects I had forgotten about!

Tonight, though, I'm having a lazy evening. There are a couple of reality TV shows I like. One is Amazing Race on Sunday nights (I'm rooting for Luke, the Deaf guy!), and another is Dancing With the Stars which I'm watching tonight. My younger, skinny self would like to prance around in some of those outfits they dance in. I can almost remember what it would feel like to be that moveable, and those swishy skirts - fun! (I'd have to put a sweatshirt on top, though, to hide my modest self.)