Blackberry Creek Home Arts

Holes

This morning, Ramey came by for a while and we sat on the back porch trying to talk. Meanwhile Skipper was in the backyard digging holes and barking loudly at them, making conversation difficult. Ramey said I should write a horror story about Skipper and his holes and some awful things that come up out of them. We decided I could call it "Holes," even though there is already a book or movie or something called that.

"I don't get it," says Sophie.

I got up this morning thinking this is the day that I start to do some much needed yard work, especially in the holey backyard. Wayne's Environmental Services and my grandson Jesse keep the front looking pretty good.

After Ramey left, I worked for approximately an hour. I got most of one hedge trimmed, the walkway swept of leaves, a few weeds pulled, and two wheelbarrows full of limbs carted to the limb pile where the city picks up. That was all I could do. I barely made it inside before I flopped. I downed three ibuprofen, planted a wet washcloth on top of my head and sat for a spell. I now feel like I might survive. I also now have friends and family looking for someone to do my backyard work. I've thrown in the towel--the dirty sweaty towel.

Kitty Corner

I saw this on Facebook and couldn't wait to share it with you all. I think it's one of the most stunning quilts I've ever seen.

This art quilt, "Kitty Corner," was created by Janet Fogg. She says it "is a literal interpretation of the traditional quilt block Puss In The Corner.  By setting the colorful blocks on point with alternating black squares a dark stage is set for the kitty to appear from the corner ready to pounce on the spiralling quilted feathers.  This quilt is almost entirely machine pieced with some minimal applique for the floating squares in the border."

Some of you might have seen it before at some of the shows where it was awarded the following prizes:

2006 MQS 1st Place Art/Pictorial and Viewer's Choice
2006 APNQ Best of Show
2006 Houston Quilt Festival 1st Place Innovative Pieced and Viewer's Choice
2007 Road to California Viewer's Choice
2007 MQX 3rd Place Art/Pictorial
2007 AQS Nashville 1st Place Quilter's Choice
2008 MAQF 1st Place Innovative

I had never seen it and just had to share.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone

Not a QuiltPro Pro--Yet

Fully aware of the fact that I'm severely technologically challenged, I recently ordered a copy of QuiltPro software. I opened it yesterday and started playing with it. This is what I have to show for half a day of fiddling with the program--one simple charm square block. I did manage to create instructions and diagrams for another block that was only a little more complicated than the charm square. I saved the instructions; I know I did. But now I can't find where I saved them to.

Why did I think I needed this? My frustration factor was off the charts when I finished playing with it yesterday afternoon. But I'm not giving up yet. When I'm finished with all my UFOs, it might be fun to create virtual quilts for a while--if I ever learn to use the darn program.

e

All the Pink Saturday gang is celebrating the blog party's third birthday over at Beverly's blog. All are invited, so stop in and wish Beverly a happy birthday. There are some birthday goodies, including an awesome giveaway.

UFO Progress Report: Week 21

I finally knuckled down yesterday and got some UFO progress done, so I have a wee bit to report this morning. I got the bindings sewn on two quilts, "Sugar & Spice" (previously known as "Pink Pinwheel Quilt," #2 on the UFO list) and "The Jungle Quilt." I hand stitched the binding to the back of "Sugar & Spice" and attached the label. I still have to sew on the hanging sleeve for the quilt show, and the S&S will be busted. I hope to finish it and "The Jungle Quilt" today.

I got off to a rocky start this morning. First I had to lug three boxes out onto the front porch for the thrift store truck to pick up today. They were heavier than I thought, but I got them out. 

And I almost got them out without mishap. But while I was going back in the front door after taking out the last box, Skipper escaped and headed straight for neighbor John's cat door. So I had to run back into the house, put on my robe and outdoor shoes, and chase him down.

Of course, Sophie had followed her nutty little brother, and they were both now sending out the alarm to the whole neighborhood. Every dog for miles around was barking when I got back outside.

And Skipper? Well it seems Mr. Skipper Lou Blue is a dog treat or two over the line. The cat door into John's garage, which previously Skipper could jump into on the run, now had him trapped. He was half in with his hind legs and hind quarters hanging out. He was kicking his feet and barking at the top of his little lungs, but he was stuck. Tickled me, it did. But I guess that's a message to me to stop giving my doggies so many treats.

Below is Mr. Linky. All you UFO Busters sign in please. Even if you haven't made any progress this week, you're still invited to add you link so we can see what has grabbed your attention and kept you away from busting.

 

What? Another UFO?

I've been trying really hard this year to avoid buying not only any more fabric, but also quilting magazines, which make me want to buy more fabric and start more quilts.

But last week I fell off the magazine wagon and bought this one. And, naturally, there's a quilt inside it's pages that I want so much to make. And here it is.

(Don't click on this photo unless you want to see Skipper hair all over my pink chair cushion. )

I even went into my sewing room and pulled fabrics from my stash that would look great for this quilt. I also cut four background squares for the chicken blocks. I know I should have been spending that time on a UFO or on binding and getting my last quilt-show quilt ready for the June 4-5 quilt show. But I didn't. So now I have one more UFO.

Speaking of UFOs, remember that tomorrow is UFO Progress Report Day. And if I don't get up and go do something, I won't have any progress to report. So I'm heading to the sewing room NOW!

A Book Report

I don't usually review books in the main body of my blog. I mostly just relegate book reviews to the left sidebar, over there under the title of "Books Read in 2011," or whatever year it happens to be.

But I have just finished a book that was one of the most entertaining reads of the year for me. The Silent Land by British novelist Graham Joyce, caught my attention when I read a blurb that said, "Stephen King says, 'This book scared me.'" Well, I'm a complete sucker for any book that King says that about, so I promptly downloaded this one to my Kindle.

The book didn't scare me a lot; it's not really a horror novel as such. It's a suspense thriller, yeah, but also a love story. The chilling physical setting of The Silent Land combines with the chilling, mysterious atmosphere of the narration to completely captivate a reader's attention and keep you on the edge of your seat. It's not fear that permeates Joyce's storytelling but dread, cold, bone-chilling dread. All the while I was reading it, I kept pulling my blanket closer to me and craving a cup of hot tea.

In the opening scene, a young married couple, Zoe and Jake, are on a ski vacation at a resort in the French Alps. They survive a sudden avalanche only to find that the village has been evacuated. There's nobody anywhere, not one soul. While all the utilities and machinery continue to operate, except for telephones and compasses, the couple is unable to contact anyone on the outside or leave the village. Each time they try to leave, whether by auto or on skis or foot, they return to the same village they leave behind.

In some ways, time seems to be either standing still or progressing very slowly here. Candles continue to burn for days without melting. Logs in the fireplace burn on without turning to ash. Fresh meat and vegetables left out on the kitchen counter never go bad.

The couple is trapped in the village for many days of snow and mist before time starts to speed up--faster and faster.  Zoe begins "seeing things" and is conflicted about sharing with her husband a secret that she carries. Slowly but surely Jake comes to believe that time is running out for them unless they find a way out of the village.

I don't think any reader of this book will fail to realize that it is not merely a suspense novel but also a love story. True love can conquer all, the reader learns. At least for a while.

Several times, I thought I had figured out the mystery of The Silent Land. But it was only near the end that I came to know what was actually happening to Jake and Zoe. And after Jake explains it to Zoe, she still doesn't understand.

This is the first of Joyce's books that I have read. It will not be the last.

Treasures from the Mailman

Just look what I got yesterday from my sweet Amy. She attended a tulip festival in Portland recently. She said that when she saw the cardinal plaque, she thought of me. She also sent me a beautiful handmade necklace, a postcard, and a stamped brown bag. A box full of treasures on a day when I really needed cheering.

Some personal issues have me worried and anxious about some family members that I love and at complete odds and angry with other family members that I love. Don't you just hate when that happens. All of this worry, anger, oddness, and stress have caused physical issues. Headache all night. Headache remains this morning, along with nausea. All these physical issues cause more stress. I've been caught in this cycle before, and I don't like it.

I have to go give myself a good talking to now--something about dwelling on the blessings and pushing the stresses to the back of my mind.

A Dunkard's Path

A Dunkard's Path
by Emily Dickenson

I taste a liquor never brewed,
From tankards scooped in pearl;
Not all the vats upon the Rhine
Yield such an alcohol!

Inebriate of air am I,
And debauchee of dew,
Reeling, through endless summer days,
From inns of molten blue.

When landlords turn the drunken bee
Out of the foxglove's door,
When butterflies renounce their drams,
I shall but drink the more!

Till seraphs swing their snowy hats,
And saints to windows run,
To see the little tippler
Leaning against the sun!

Lost

I have never been a fan of the tv show "Lost." Not that I think it was a bad show or anything. Upon the advice of my sister Ramey, a big fan, I watched it one time. It was already in its second season, I think, and I couldn't tell what the heck was going on. So I never watched again. But that's not what this post is about.

You'll all be thrilled to know (she says with her tongue firmly planted within her cheek) that you're going to be treated to a recounting of another of my weird dreams. This one was the reason that I had a very unrestful night last night.

I dreamed that I was back in my days of working for Progressive Farmer magazine as a farm writer/editor. Instead of being based in Birmingham, where we actually were, our division of the company had been moved to another city. We had all returned to the Birmingham home office for a conference.

The home office building was now a humongous complex with restaurants, golf course, swimming pool, and a huge hotel. Of course we were all housed in the hotel. We were all shown to our rooms, spent the night, then woke up the next morning to begin our conference. The next morning, I left my room to attend our first meeting but quickly realized that I had not changed out of my pajamas. So I tried to get back to my room to get dressed.

The rest of my dream (and it felt like most of the night) was spent trying to get back to my room. I traversed dozens of narrow corridors, I rode elevators to various floors where I couldn't find my room; but I did find many, many, many people--hundreds of people. I had a key in my pocket with the number "5" on it, so I thought that was my floor, so that's the first floor I visited. That floor was filled with African American people who had come for a tour of the Southern Living Test Kitchen. My room was not there. While trying again to find my floor, I met one of the editors on his way to the meeting. I told him my problem and showed him my key with the number 5. He informed me that 5 was my room number, and that we were all on the 16th floor. I went outside and looked up at the building; it didn't have 16 floors, but only four.

All during the night, I was directed to different elevators in various areas of the complex. I think everyone whom I ever knew at the company appeared in my dream at one time or another to try to help me find my way back to my room--as well as friends from other areas of my life and total strangers.

I walked and walked and walked and was exhausted. Totally exhausted; I felt like each step was going to be the last I could take. Once, I had even walked completely to another area of town and had to walk back. At one time I was in an elevator that was swinging back and forth and I was frightened. At another point, I found myself in a taxi cab, driving through residential areas around the Southern Progress complex. And all the time, all through the dream, I was uncomfortably aware that I was in my pajamas while everyone else (all those hundreds of people) had on their daytime clothes.

I never did find my room, never got out of my pajamas or made it to the meeting. I was worried the entire time that my boss would be very upset that I had missed our first meeting of the conference. I think I was still dreaming when Skipper crawled out from under his covers and started doing his wake-up shake, waking me and Sophie up as well. Strangely enough, my legs are sore this morning and my feet hurt, like I've been walking and walking and walking and...

But now, I'm going to get out of my pajamas and get ready for church, before I end up there still dressed inappropriately. Have a great Sunday, everyone.

UFO Progress Report: Week 19 & 20

I just realized that I caught Skipper in this photo. Can you see him? Click to enlarge.

My get-up is having a hard time going this morning. I had a busy day (for me) yesterday, and I'm feeling a little sluggish today.

The past two weeks have been a productive time for me in the UFO department. Two of my three quilts that are going in the Birmingham Quilters Guild's Quiltfest 2011 in June are completely finished (photo above). I have one more to bind, label, and sew a hanging sleeve, then I'll be done with show quilts.

"Bunnies in the Cabin" label

 

"Flutterbugs" label

I picked up The Jungle Quilt  from Lena (the quilter) yesterday. It's wonderful. She used the Animal Crackers quilting design that I found online. I'm going to bind and label it before I show it here. Then Andy and I have to deliver it to our friend for her baby boy Luke. I'm only three or four months late getting it to him.

***

Our Little Green Quilter Blogless Barbara filed a great update this week. She received her Single Irish Chain back from the quilter, and also finished the awesomely beautiful top in the photo below.

 

"My progress this week is finishing the Roses in Winter quilt with a single sage green border," reports Barbara. "Yesterday I used the sage fabric as a 44" square, added a 5" border of the red star-center print, and added a 13" border of the same print in the green colorway (both are Concord Country Floral and who didn't have that fabric 16 years ago??).  It nearly killed me, but that 80" square "quilt" is the backing for Roses in Winter."

I for one can wait to see that backing when the quilting is done, Barbara.

Below is Mr. Linky. I hope all you UFO busters will add your links so that we can see what you've been doing for the past couple of weeks or whatever.

 

Humdrum Hump Day

I have been sitting here at the computer for a while now, and can't come up with anything interesting to write about--which should mean that I'll skip blogging today. But if I skip blogging, that means I have to get up right now and start doing something else--and I'm not ready to get up. So I'll share a treasure I found while organizing the storage room (which task is still not finished).

There were still several boxes of Vann's stuff, mostly work related, in there, and I've been going through it. I found this beautiful gold signet ring.

You might not be able to make out Vann's initials, DVC, engraved on this ring, but they're there. I don't think I ever saw this before. I can't remember it.

Sometimes it feels strange to remember that we each had lives completely apart from each other before we made a life together. In many ways, we felt like we'd always been together. 

Vann and I met in late 1979 when I started working for Progressive Farmer magazine as an editorial assistant. Vann was working there as a photographer and later photo editor. A few years later when I became first a writer and then an editor, we had the chance to work together from time to time and became good friends. Later when both our marriages fell apart, our friendship was a sturdy stepping stone to our love for each other.

It was a long journey from our meeting in 1979 until our marriage in 1994. In fact, we were good friends almost as long as we were married. I think that's maybe a big reason why our marriage was a success. We liked each other enough to become good friends before we fell in love. We had a strong foundation to build on. So, as a married couple, whenever we had disagreements or arguments, we had that firm foundation to keep us grounded till we could get our emotions back in order.

It's fun to remember those early days of our friendship when just working together was fun and interesting. In fact, all the guys at PF were so good to work with. I was the only female farm editor for a long time there. The guys were so good to me that I felt like I had a great big family of brothers.

I don't really remember just when Vann and I fell in love. When it became evident that both our marriages were doomed, I think we relied on each other as sounding boards maybe more than other family and friends. Since our situations were very similar, we understood what each other was going through.

There are all kinds of ways to fall in love, and I don't discount for a minute love at first sight. That can work too. But I believe that our foundation of friendship and respect made it possible for us to weather the bad times and value the good times, knowing that we were together for the duration.The duration turned out to be much shorter than either of us wanted. But we packed those 15 years with enough love, fun, and friendship to have filled a lifetime.

Tuesday Twitters

If you didn't watch this powerful and important documentary, "Freedom Riders," on PBS last night, you'll have more chances either on TV or online. I highly recommend it. A well done look at some true American heros.

Much of this struggle for freedom took place in my own backyard. And even though I was a teenager at the time, I still remember the horror that I felt in knowing that so many people could place so little value on the lives of fellow human beings. This documentary really illustrates the cliche that "Freedom isn't free."

This also brings to mind the often misquoted quote by Spanish American philosopher George Santayana: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

***

I think I've figured out why I've been hit with debilitating fatigue and weakness every afternoon for the past few days, although my other fibromyalgia symptoms have improved. It's those darned muscles relaxers. I have been taking one at midday every day; that's when I begin to feel the pain in my lower back and hips. Those things are knocking me out. So now I have to decide which is more important, to be pain free or to be conscious. 

At least for now, I've decided to remain conscious and make and sew on the label and hanging sleeve for the "Flutterbugs" quilt. It's that or work some more straightening up and organizing the storage room. I think I'm going with the sewing projects first, then if all is going well, I'll give the storage room 15 minutes or so.

Here in central Alabama we're going through our second Blackberry Winter of this May. I don't remember ever having two of them before. But I love it. Lows in the low 40s, with cool dry days. I haven't turned the heat back on, but I have gone back to long sleeves. My Mama always said that years that had no Blackberry Winter would not have good blackberry yields. We should have a flood of blackberries this year. I love picking blackberries; do you?

***

I found this link to a great pattern company, Abbey Lane,  on Nicole's blog. So now I have a whole bunch more quilt designs that I want to make--and I have plenty of fabric to make them.

All the designs on this site have fun names that come from Beatles' songs. Here's are just a few.

Octopus's Garden


 Matchbox

A Girl's Best Friend

 

Penny Lane

Back & Busy

I was finally able to get back online this morning--only to find that my email account has been hacked again. So I have to work on getting that fixed today.

I've had a busy, busy weekend. I decided that I would finally tackle the storage room next door to my office and get it straightened up and organized. I didn't get finished, but I got a good start--threw away four big boxes of junk and filled another four boxes with donations.

 

I also found two more UFOS! This is one of them (photo above). I can't even remember when I started this one or why. But all the blocks are cut out and some of them are sewn. And with several baby-quilt obligations coming up, I'm glad to have found it. The other one is a whole-cloth, hand-quilted baby quilt. It's about half quilted. It's going in the stack of UFOs, but it might remain there for a while.

As I said, when I logged on this morning I learned that my email account has been hacked again and the hacker is sending out sexually-related links. I'm going to work on this today. Please, if you receive an email from me with a link that you don't know what it is, delete the message. Don't click on the links.

My fibro remission is holding pretty good. I did have a bout of severe fatigue yesterday afternoon after church. But an afternoon on the couch and a good night's sleep seems to have put me back in pretty good sorts. So let's see what I can accomplish today.

 

We Are Currently Experiencing Technical Difficulties

Just wanted to let everyone know that my Internet service is out. Tech support says it will be Monday before they can have a service person out see what the problem is.

I am currently on the computer at the library, which is also giving me a little trouble. So here's the deal: No UFO Progress Report this week. We'll start back reports next Friday, May 20.

I'll be back at Blackberry Creek on Monday or just as soon as I have Internet service again.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Bound & Determined

I finished stitching down the binding on "Bunnies in the Cabin" last night and made a couple more hexie flowers while I watched "Criminal Minds" and "Criminal Minds SB." Today my plan is to attach a hanging sleeve and lable to the bunny quilt and start binding "Flutterbugs." 

The photo above shows the stack of binding that Deborah McLaughlin made for me to help out with my UFO busting. She's still open for business: $8.99/10 yds. And she does good work.

"Flutterbugs" ready for binding

I had some disturbing news last night. Our dear friend and Sophie's groomer Diane telephone me to say that she wasn't going to be able to groom Sophie for a while. She was having some problems, went to the doctor, and he discovered spots on her lungs. He told her it could be a bacteria, a fungus, or lung cancer. A preliminary check of the lymph nodes was clear, but the doctor told Diane that they still couldn't rule out cancer. She's going into surgery today to find out for sure. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Like me, Diane is a firm believer in the power of prayer.

"Please pray for my friend Diane." --Sophie

My remission from fibro symptoms and back problems continues. I'm doing my best to take it as easy as possible to make it last. Dr. M. didn't think much of my idea of Lyme Disease. But he did a lot of blood letting anyway and will test for it. Meanwhile, he told me to take my muscle relaxers and ibuprofen BEFORE the symptoms get debilitating, wear my back brace, rest when I need to, light exercise like walking as I can tolerate it, and watch my posture. "We tend to slump when we have pain," he said, (no kidding?), "and that causes back pain to be worse, which causes the posture to worsen--a vicious cycle."

Tomorrow is UFO Progress Report Day. Please look for Mr. Linky first thing in the morning and log in to let us know what you've been doing.

A Good Day Dawns

You know how it goes: You make an appointment with your dentist and when you get there, your tooth has stopped hurting. 

I didn't make an appointment with my dentist, but I did arrange to see my doctor today. And what d'ya think? I woke up feeling unusually good this morning. But it will be nice to see Dr. M. anyway. He's a very funny man. 

Look at that beautiful packet of fat quarters (photo above). My friend Maria (Gene's widow) brought it down to me yesterday afternoon, along with the gorgeous Hawaiian prints (photo below). I didn't do anything to deserve them; she's just a good friend. 

I think the fat quarters will be great for a tornado victim quilt maybe. Something easy and quick to stitch up. Don't know about the Hawaiian fabrics. Maybe a quilt to take to the beach

I worked on binding "Bunnies in the Cabin" last night. Almost finished, just a few more inches to go.

I need so much to straighten up my office and the storage room adjoining my office. I brought my kitchen timer upstairs an plan to use The Fly Lady's 15-minute technique to get these two rooms organized.

Thanks for all your comments on "Bunnies in the Cabin." It is definitely one of my favorite quilts that I've ever made. And Elayne's quilting has a lot to do with that.

The Bunnies Are Back

Had Elayne not been bringing The Bunny Quilt ("Bunnies in he Cabin") to me all the way from Crossville, Tennessee, I probably would have not gone to guild meeting yesterday. But I went, and I'm glad I did. I can't even put into words what a beautiful job of quilting Elayne did. I wish you could see the actual quilt because I have not been able to show the quilting at its best in the photos. No digitized or computerized quilting here, folks. This is all original hand-produced quilting, done with Elayne's longarm.

My goals for the immediate future will be to bind this and the other two quilts I have registered to go in Birmingham Quilters Guild's 2011 Quiltfest quilt show. I also have to sew on hanging sleeves and labels.

 

This beautiful thing, also on our show-and-tell clothesline yesterday,  is Alabama Quilt Symposium's donation quilt, which will be given away at the organization's show this summer at St. Bernard College at Cullman, Alabama.

 I was surprised to learn that the floral details on this quilt are hand painted, not appliqued. Even as I was doing close-up shots of the quilt, I didn't realize that.

If you'd like to purchase a chance to win this quilt, go to Alabama Quilt Symposium's website.

Below are a few photos of other show-and-tell from yesterday's guild meeting that you might enjoy.

 

 

My friend Gerry made this beautiful beaded necklace to sell in our quilt show boutique. We decided at this meeting that half the profits from the quilt show, including the boutique, will go to Alabama Power's Project Share, a program that provides emergency assistance to our elderly and disabled neighbors who need help with their energy bills. 

***

I can no longer ignore the fact that my physical condition is deteriorating. I now walk like one of those little old ladies you see going down the street taking half-inch steps at a time. In addition, my balance is off. I don't mean I'm dizzy. It isn't that. I just feel like I'm walking on stilts or something and that I might tip over at any time. I think that's because my legs (well, my entire body) has become so stiff.

Andy has made me promise I will make an appointment with the doctor right away for a Lymes Disease test. So that's what I'm going to do.

Can you guess which one of the people in the video is me? Hint: I'm not on a skateboard and I'm not in a car.

You have probably seen this popular YouTube video, but maybe like me, you never get tired of watching it.

Blankets/Quilts for Our Little Tornado Survivors

For those of you who don't wish to get into the whole Facebook thing, here are the details you need to know to donate blankets/quilts for the babies in Alabama affected by the tornadoes.

What kind of Blankets/Quilts? No restrictions, just so they're made with love. Crocheted, knitted, tied fleece, minky, quilts.

And if you don't have time to make a quilt or blanket, the group is also accepting yard. They want cotton or cotton blend.

Send your finished blankets and quilts to:

Amber Lee
4807 Melissa Way
Birmingham, AL 35243 
USA

email Amber with any questions: blanketmadewithlove@gmail.com

The Littlest Tornado Victims

Some of you have asked how you can help tornado victims in Alabama. I have discovered a Facebook group that needs help and they're right up many of your alley's, skillwise.

This group is asking for handmade baby blankets and quilts. Any kind: crocheted, knitted, quilted, fleece, etc. 

If you're interested in helping go to the link below to learn more:

Made With Love

They also want Minky fabrics if you don't have time to make a blanket or quilt.

Now I have a place for some of those UFO baby quilts that Debra quilted for me. Thanks, Debra.

 

The Shoe Conspiracy

What else could it be? For some time now, women have been expected to walk around in shoes that are not only ugly, but dangerous as well. For the past couple of fashion seasons, the shoes have become not just merely ugly, but really quite sincerely ugly. Take a gander at the following cases in point.

Looks like circus wear to me.

Purple pain

Shoes? or Flower Pots?


The shoe above would go quite well with the hat that Princess Beatrice wore to the Royal Wedding.





This shoe (photo above) takes the wearer from a trendy party straight to the basketball court without changing footwear.

 

I think all that strapping was meant to hold the wearer upright. I doubt it works.

Huh?

Does this one light up?

 

Now 'fess up. These shoes are UGLY! Not only are women being controlled by the whims (and I think sometimes the outright jokes) of the fashion industry, but they're putting their lives and health in danger doing it.

Aside from the obvious risks of breaking an ankle, rupturing a knee, or falling off the darn things and breaking a neck, look below at what bad shoes can do to your feet.

This (photo above) sort of puts one in mind of ancient Chinese practice of foot wrapping (photo below).

 Gives new meaning to the term, "Oh my aching feet."

 

So let's start a movement. No more ugly shoes that warp our feet and put our lives in danger. Let's vow to go with comfortable shoes instead. After all, comfortable shoes are the new cute shoes.

I'm linking to Beverly's Pink Saturday celebration to spread the shoe revolt.

UFO Progress Report: Week 18

I finished handstitching the blocks together and got the borders sewn by sewing machine on this quilt, which I have tentatively decided to call "Twisters." As you can probably see from the photo, it still is a far cry from flat. But as my friends and I are apt to say whenever presented with patchwork imperfection, "It will quilt out." Let us hope so.

After I finished stressing over the scamming, spamming, hacking issue from yesterday, I went to work in my bedroom. I got it all straightened up, dusted and vacuumed. And I got my new set of Ralph Lauren sheets on the bed. Got them at Home Goods half off. They needed ironing after they came out of the dryer, but my back had had enough with the dusting and straightening and vacuuming. They just had to go on the bed wrinkled.

After I finished, I left the bedroom for a few minutes and when I came back Sophie and Skipper had had a good session of rough-housing on the bed and it was all a mess, so I had to straighten it up again. I told them they were never never never ever ever to get on my bed again. I have confidence that they will adhere to that rule. Um hmmm.

 

I haven't given up my plan to clean one room at a time and consider letting Linda go. There were tons of dust in my bedroom when I cleaned it. I could tell she hadn't dusted thoroughly since the room was painted. It's very frustrating to pay someone to do a job that the someone isn't doing. And the ceiling fan still has to be cleaned. I just "gave out," as my daddy would say.

Now, all you UFO Busters, post your links below and let us all know what you've been up to this week.

 

What a Mess!

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone!

Now that's the last happy thing I'm going to post today. After waking up this morning with a great attitude and lots of plans to get things accomplished around here, a big old fly flew into The Yellow House and plopped itself right smack down in the middle of my ointment. 

I had a great lunch yesterday with my friend Stuart. We enjoyed falafel, taboulleh, and sweet tea (sort of a Southern Mediterranean lunch), then returned to Stuart's office to complete our visit. I was tired but very upbeat when I got home. 

I decided that I was going to take over all of my own housecleaning work and let my cleaning lady go. She hasn't been doing a very good job for quite some time, and I felt that by concentrating on one room a day, I could get most of the work done myself. Maybe get help with heavy stuff like window cleaning.

So still smiling, and enjoying my coffee, I came upstairs and logged onto the internet only to find that my email account has been thoroughly hacked and that everyone with whom I've ever shared an email message is receiving spam from me. And why, I ask you, do hackers and spammer have to send your friends the very most inappropriate and embarrassing subject matter? Cialis? Viagra? Penile implants? What's up with that? And why do they have to hack to advertise their wares? Don't they have any emails addresses of their own? They gotta steal mine? 

Anyway, if you have or do received any emails from me that you aren't sure I sent, I probably didn't. So don't open them, and for sure don't click on any links. I'm working on getting this fixed.

 

Beeing at Sally's

We had a great bee meeting at Sally's house yesterday. Almost everyone, including me, was late; but we jumped right into the festivities with no time wasted.

Sally had great refreshments, including a cheese ball to die for from Edgar's and some great pinwheel thingies. She also served a great green tea that she claims goes well with vodka, but she did not bring out the vodka to prove her claim. The tea was good anyway.

As usual, Doris had plenty of show and tell. The pretty little fan quilt at the top of the page is one that Doris found on our guild's giveaway table and finished up as a charity cuddle quilt. The photos below show two more cuddle quilts that Doris made from scratch.

I sat, quietly for the most part (if you can believe it), and stitched a hexie flower. I have 51 of them made now. I think the stresses of last week's storms have thrown my fibro into overdrive. I'm trying to ignore the harsh symptoms because I have much that needs doing. 

I started the laundry as soon as I got out of bed this morning. I hope to get it all done before I crash. And I have to deliver a coconut cream pie up to the church for a luncheon of some sort. I've already forgot what Aunt Evelyn said it was all about. I wrote "cream pie for church" on my calendar, so at least I remembered that much.

I saw this cartoon on Facebook yesterday and immediately recognized me.

Sometimes I make a mental note and then forget where I put it. ;-)

It's tough when you can't get those synapses to fire correctly.

Happy Tuesday, everyone.

That Hat

Not since Aretha Franklin sang "America" at President Obama's inauguration has there been so much ado about a hat. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you see it, that chapeau sported by Princess Beatrice at the royal wedding of William and Kate? 

The second I saw it, I was reminded of an old-fashioned tv with a curly antenna, a picture of which I've seen somewhere at sometime. I've been all over the internet this morning looking for that picture but couldn't find it. It was something like this tv and antenna, but not quite.

        

 

 

 

 

 

Actually, Beatrice's hat could be compared to many things--just not a hat. Here are a few images that bring to mind the lady's bonnet.

A 50s hairstyle

A pretzel

Female reproductive system

 

A new Teletubbie

A robot's head

What do you think that pink thing that Princess Beatrice wore on her head looks like?

By the way, the electricity is back on in my neighborhood. Things are beginning to settle back into normal routine around here. Unfortunately there are many thousands here in Alabama and in the south who won't be able to enjoy a normal routine for a long time to come. Please keep them in your prayers. And if you want to help, The Red Cross is a good place to go.

Some of you asked about replacing my quilt guild friend's fabric stash. Her house was completely destroyed, and she and her husband will have to rebuild. When they are again settled into a home, I'm sure the guild will address the matter. I will let everyone here know when that happens.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and concerns for my state and its people.

***

Thanks, Barbara. How could I have forgot Ribbon Candy!

 

And Joan suggests that Beatrice's hat resembles and octopus. Can't argue with that, Joan.