Toy and Quilt Highlights

Names in this message are fictitious.

These pictures from my work week in South Dakota show you some of the highlights of my non-work moments. I gave Holly the turtle toy and also gave her a quilt. It was very rewarding for me to see how much she liked that quilt! She hugged it and wrapped up in it; later she cuddled under it while the adults talked, and she quickly fell asleep. Though I didn't require a thank-you, it was very gratifying to see her enjoying the quilt -- better than a giant Thank You.

I gave away all the toys I had taken along. Most of them I was not able to photograph, either because I did not have my camera at hand, or the child to whom I gave the toy dashed off too quickly for me to snap a photo.

One day Jada sat down with us while we ate lunch on the grass. We gave her a banana, and I gave her the little one-eyed monster toy. She was carrying a pole around with her. She inserted a found pair of scissors into the pole, and then the toy's little "foot/antenna" thingy fit through the scissors handle. Voila! A fun, shakey pole decoration!

The very last toy I gave away was a baby toy. On our way home we stopped for breakfast at McDonalds in Chamberlain, SD. A family came in with an 8-month old boy. I gave him the toy, and he grabbed on to it, shook it around, and grinned a big cutie-pie smile. Fun, fun, fun!

One more toy photo: I did a toy-drop for the Toy Society while we were in Pierre, SD on our day off. It was almost found -- I saw a woman walking around inside the museum with it -- but I think she misunderstood something about it, because when we left the museum, the toy was back hanging where I had dropped it.

Goodnight for now! Tomorrow I'll share more trip tidbits and photos.

Crow Creek, Days 2 Through 6

I never got more internet opportunities while at Crow Creek. After the wall-washing day, we abandoned the painting project and ended up working at the "pole barn." An empty room contained several random pieces of stuff and nothing that we needed. We moved things around, hauled things in and out as necessary. The room was gradually transformed into a Thrift Shop. They hope to open the shop some time next week. It was almost a miracle to see what we could do with an empty room. It looks beautiful, and ready for some shoppers.

It was hot and sometimes heavy work, but fun and very rewarding. We met some wonderful people and had amazing experiences.

I'm home now and will upload my 500+ photos and get to work sorting them and preparing them for sharing.

Mitakuye oyasin!

Crow Creek, Day One

We're here! We made it safely. We are living in a dorm at Crow Creek Tribal High School in Stephan, South Dakota. Today we helped wash walls in preparation for painting. We met a little girl named Holly. She has been hanging around with us and is quite the cutie. I gave her one of my toys, and I also gave her a quilt I brought along. She seemed quite pleased.

We are taking an afternoon break and resting our legs. Amazing how tiring it has been to wash walls all day long. Having a blast and already learning LOTS. I'm so glad I came.

More later, if I can squeeze in some internet time.

Off We Go

Friday night the local marching band debuted their season's performance.. a fun show. We haven't attended opening night since Steven was in this band five years ago.

Tomorrow morning I am leaving with my church mission team for a week in South Dakota. For my last day before departure, I had umpteen plans in mind: clean the house, finish more laundry, double check my packing. I did almost none of that! Instead I had a very lovely, very lazy day.

Marjorie and Greg stopped over briefly. It was so fun to see them! They were both so cheerful and in great moods. I talked to Steven on the phone. He and Melody are rolling along with wedding plans, and that's so exciting, too. He has been very good about letting me in on what they are doing.

Charles and I sat out on our new patio in the shade and just soaked up the gorgeous day. I even almost fell asleep there. Later we both took little snoring snoozey naps in the living room. Then we went to Panera for dinner.

Our house would have appreciated a cleaning today, but I super appreciated the lazy, lovely, enjoyment of a beautiful summer day.

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we are off to SD, to a week of unknowns. We are trusting that it'll be a rewarding week and that we will learn a lot! I hope to do some personal give-aways of some of the toys I have made. Don't know if I'll have any computer access, so it may be a week or so before I get to report in. Have a super week, dear readers!

Friday Five

Five thoughts percolating in my brain on this Friday, the 12th day of June, 2009:

1) I'm continuing to have fun making toys. I made these two yesterday and today.

side A

side B

2) Today I took some time to make blocks for Tammy at Sunshine. This month's colors are pink and green. I'd like to make more, but I just don't have any more time to devote to this project.

3) Last year my church sent five of us on a mission trip to Rosebud Reservation in SD. We worked through Tree of Life. This year we almost doubled our group. We are taking 9. Still working through Tree of Life, but this time we're going to Crow Creek Reservation. I'm looking forward to spending time with the other 8 people and having some new, rewarding experiences at Crow Creek. Last year's trip was great; I'm hoping for greatness again this year!

4) I started packing for the trip. I'm getting lots of laundry done while deciding what to pack. I decided to take these toys along for kids at Crow Creek, along with the clothespin dolls which I forgot to add to this collection before photographing them.

5) About one month from now our son is getting married in our back yard! I'm really being pretty good about staying calm. Having the wedding take place at our house could induce some panic (esp when I look around and see all the cleaning that needs to be done, not to mention the stuff I would like done such as painting and getting new furniture - hahaha!). I'm doing a pretty good job of keeping the panic at bay, at least for now.

My First Day of Summer

Today, Thursday, was my first day of summer vacation, even though yesterday was supposed to be. Yesterday I had to go back into the office for a couple things and to clean off my desk. All the rooms are being rearranged and everything was in chaos. I didn't want to come back to a big mess in the fall. Plus, I had TWO trainings to go to... one in the morning, and one in the evening. So it was quite a full day with very little free time to do as I chose.

Here is what I did today:

1) It was the first day for Bea et moi to teach our Beginning Quilting Class. We had three students and two spectators. (You didn't know quilting was a spectator sport, didya?!) We had a good time, and I hope the students enjoyed what they learned. They are all doing a great job!

2) Ran some errands, e.g. post office (thrilling, I know).

3) Watched two movies! One was by accident. I happened to turn on public television at exactly the right time to watch Independent Lens. The program was called "A Lion in the House" and documents three families who have children with cancer. Fascinating, sad, hopeful, thought-provoking - a big Wow. Second movie was from Netflix: "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." Another Wow.. very well done! I've read the book, too, which was also great. It deals with the atrocities of war as seen through two 8-year-old boys' eyes... innocent, confused, naive, trusting, scared... I highly recommend this movie (and/or the book).

4) I'm suddenly remembering a bumper sticker I saw recently: "I'm already against the next war." Amen. May the current wars be immediately resolved, and may there never be a next war!

5) We are enjoying a pleasant evening with windows open and the fading sun lighting up our front hallway in lacey patterns as it shines through tree leaves. Very pretty.

Toys

My first-ever clothespin dolls! Really fun to make......... but they left me with a glue mess on my fingertips.

I'm Freeeeeeee!

My last day at work until late August. Yippeeeeeeee! We had a picnic for/with our students, and it was really fun. They seldom all get together, and they had a blast playing volleyball, football, basketball, eating lots of food, and some of them were given their diplomas and made little speeches. What a great way to end the year! And I had a much better day today after a yucko yesterday.

I'm thankful for:

1) dedicated, caring professionals who work in Special Ed

2) students who blossom when given appropriate opportunities

3) seeing students with difficult social skills manage to make some good friends

4) supportive families

5) a very diverse group of teens having fun together - this always give me happy goosebumps

Bad Day/Good Day

I had a crappy day at work. But even while I was feeling horrible, a work friend helped me laugh and feel better. (She had no idea she was doing this for me.) I felt quietly thankful for the healing laughter.

Friends and hubby have been my rocks today.

**********************

Today I'm thankful for:

1) even though I had to move my desk today and lose my glorious windows, I love the little cozy spot I moved to, and I think it's a better desk. So I'm thankful for happy surprises.

2) friends who help knowingly and unknowingly

3) moving away from the glorious windows on a cloudy day, so it didn't seem like such a big loss

4) some great, friendly letters in the mail at home. Fabulous!

5) every day is a new beginning

Almost Done!

I have TWO - count 'em - TWO days of work left! Hooray!!! I am quite excited. Summer! Yippee! Summer! I feel like Tigger, doing a Happy Dance.

I had a nice Sunday... some socializing, some quiet, watched a movie, did some sewing... all in all a fun day.

These are little baby blankies another woman and I made. I will take them with me to Crow Creek Reservation when we go on our mission trip next week.

These 4 were made by Other Woman.

These 6 were made by me.

The blankies and our mission team received a special blessing this morning in church.

We had harp music at church today! I love it!

This is the face of Tommy Turtle. I showed you his picture yesterday, but he wanted a closer, face-to-face meeting, to wish you a happy week.

I'm thankful for:

1) the way this list of thankfulness really helps me focus on the happiness in life and not so much on negativity - and a blog reader told me it helps her, too! That is super cool!

2) music

3) wedding-planning meetings with our son and future DIL. Such exciting times!

4) warm sweatshirts

5) excitement about our upcoming mission trip.... and the chance to hang out with some nice people from my church.

Cold and Warm Events of the Day

1) Son, future DDIL, and her father ('G'), who will perform their wedding ceremony later this summer, all came to our back yard to get a look at where the wedding will take place. 'G' wanted to be able to visualize and begin planning the choreography, see where the sun will be, what the sounds might be. They weren't here long, and it was fun to see them. It was just a little drizzly and wet - so far not too bad.

2) Second event: I was one of several volunteers from church to help run a moon-walk bouncy house at an outdoor community event. The forecast was for all-day rain, and they were right-on with the forecast. By the time we got all set up (with an alternate game because of the rain), it was raining a true soaker, with gusts of wind, and it was C-O-L-D! We knew there would be very few kids outdoors on a day like this. We volunteers sat shivering in quilts and jackets and waited for time to pass. Amazing how tiring it can be to sit outside on a freezing-cold day.

These little boys were in the shelter, teeth chattering after having played baseball in the rain. I let them warm up in one of my quilts. So cute!

A very enjoyable band, Century Brass, performed in the shelter. There was one lone woman under an umbrella watching them, in addition to me moving in and out, taking pictures. Good music! Music in the cold! Yum!

A couple of brave children getting rained on while they play our game, Plinko.

3) A third option of the day - attend a retirement party of a long-time friend - held in a city park. Today? After being out in the rain already for so long? No, thanks. I don't know if the park she was in even has a shelter. It was too cold to think about going to another outdoor event. She'll understand why we missed it. Brrrrr!

4) I came home, lit a fire in the fireplace, put on dry, wool socks and slippers, a dry sweatshirt, cuddled under a quilt, and took a LONG nap. I had turned on the TV during the first inning of the Twins-Mariners baseball game; I woke up during the 8th inning! What a power nap! Very refreshing!

I did the hand sewing to finish off these two toys, and now I think I'll go back under that quilt and read a good book. Hard to believe it's June 6th today! It feels like December 6th!

I'm thankful for:

1) badly needed rain

2) the friendship and admiration that flow between my son and his fiancee

3) baby goats, lambs, a calf, ducks, geese, bunnies, a turkey and all the other cute animals at the petting zoo in the rain. They didn't like the rain, either! But they cheered us up with their cuteness.

4) fireplace to make us cozy on a cold day

5) quilts!

Friday Five

What a whirlwind of a week! I'm just trying to keep my head above water as I fly from activity to activity. Whew! I have at least 3 or 4 events to attend and keep track of even this weekend. I am longing for a weekend with zero commitments!

1) I helped plan and organize two retirement parties. They both occurred this week. Both fun events. I'm relieved! And I found out I dislike being the person who collects the money. Uffda. It was a challenge keeping track of it all, especially because I had two funds going at once. Next time someone else can do the money part. One of the retirees gave me some of her flowers, as thanks for the work I did. The photo above is part of that. Gorgeous, eh?

2) Enjoyed listening to one of the Ampersand Families co-founders speak again this week. She is awesome. She inspires me. I was thankful that everyone in our group seemed so tuned in and impressed.

3) I stayed up late last night putting together a video slide-show for one of the retirees. I am tired today, but she appreciated it a lot, so that was fun for me.

4) I just have to gush about the Obamas. I love them so much! Michelle rocks! And the President has restored hope, happiness, and I feel refreshed. They are EXACTLY what our world needs. They put a big smile on my face.

5) Two days of work left! Hooray!!! I just barely have time to fit work into my schedule these days. I'm glad it's coming to a temporary end. Summer is the bomb!

Blogger is ignoring my attempts to create separate paragraphs. What's up with that?!

Spoiling Myself

I'm ruined. Totally spoiled. Today after work I stopped at a fabric shop that I had not been in for quite some time. Now I'm remembering why I try to avoid it. They have such gorgeous stuff! It always ends up being too expensive to step foot inside! I was tempted with millions of things, but only got a few. Still, I managed to do some damage to the bank account. Here is a picture of four of my new fabs.

This store is so nice, you even get a pretty shopping bag! I should make a quilt that looks like this bag. And you can see the other way I treated myself in this same picture: new sandals! It's the second pair of new sandals I have purchased this season. Talk about spoiled... I'm rotten to the core.

Things I'm thankful for:

1) spoiling myself occasionally (as long as it's only occasionally)

2) volunteer daisies in our side yard

3) the new landscaping we did last fall is growing nicely, filling out, and this little tree is working on flowering... I don't even know what kind of tree it is, and didn't know it would flower. We're making fun discoveries in our yard!

4) wonderful speakers who inspire me.

5) my friend, Beth, who will understand why I took this photo for her:

Random Photos

I got these photos from the City of St Paul website. I just thought I'd share some random views of this wonderful city.

First is a tanker fire on the freeway. Wow! Can you imagine being anywhere near this? Makes me hot just to look at the picture.

This is a neighborhood fire. Another wow! I really heart fire-fighters. I would not have the courage to be one!

Here are some fire fighters getting trained in cold water rescue. Another wow. They have to know so many things!
Here's a pretty picture.. in the background is the St. Paul Hotel. That top part is the penthouse where President Clinton once stayed. It is also the hotel where my dad took my mom for dinner on Valentine's Day, 1941 or '42, and proposed to her.

There was a section in the photos folder called Search Warrant, accompanied by pictures of a few residences. Hmmm.... makes me curious. What went down at this place?

Here are some people enjoying summer in Rice Park, downtown St. Paul.

Every winter St. Paul hosts a Winter Carnival (the coolest celebration on earth)! Here is part of the Winter Carnival parade. I love marching bands!

Isn't this beautiful? This is downtown St Paul with Christmas lights. The dark space beyond the lights is the Mississippi River. The building on the right is condos where I once fantasized about living. Just think -- I might have ended up with this as my "front yard" view.

So that is your small glimpse of St Paul and some of the activities that go on here. What activities take place in your town?