Thursday, October 2, 2008
I was out doing my walk, today, knitting the whole way. On this particular day, I met another walker. She saw me knitting/walking and said, "Wow, aren't
you afraid of stepping on a snake?" Now, how long could I have gone without hearing that????
I have lived in this location for 30 years. I have walked up and down these streets for all that time. Did it ever occur to me that I might step on a snake?
NO. Dumb me. I was concerned with the irregularities in the road, with the traffic, the sun, bugs, dogs.....wow, now I can put this all in perspective, add
snakes to the top of my list, and prepare for that nice relaxing, worry-free walk, tomorrow......where would I be without friends and neighbors?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Goodbye September. I know I am old when I keep being awed at how quickly time flashes by me. Sigh. October is already so planned out that it even
seems like it is already used up.
My whole body is feeling used up. Every part is telling me, "Hey, Dianne, I am hurting here, and here, and here!" I'll show them. I am not going to listen.
If I actually do listen, I might not get this walking done.... However, I did find something out today. I can knit while I walk. Of course, it will not surprise me if I
take a nose dive onto the pavement if I continue with that, but, in the meantime, I am loving it. Did I mention anywhere that one of my favorite things to do
is multi-task?
I mentioned to a friend one day that I loved washing clothes because it was truly the closest I came to doing two things at the same time. She thought I
was kidding but I am perfectly serious. I feel I am defeating time, at least a tiny bit. Now, if I could just do something about the wrinkles and dimples in the
body -- I just have not found the right washer/dryer combo to help with that....I wonder if I can get inside one of the extra sized dryers at the local
laundromat????
Sunday, September 28, 2008
I am having serious doubts about either my intellect or my sanity, or both. I mean, what on earth was I thinking when I signed up for this 60 mile Breast
Cancer Walk??? I walked 17 miles today with my daughter, and I am wiped OUT. Now I cannot stop thinking that I have to increase that to 23 miles, do it
for two days straight, then walk "only" 14 miles the third day??? OHMYGOD...it seemed so do-able, such a great idea at the time. To make matters
worse, I seem to have developed an allergy to my socks. ARGH.
Yesterday was definitely a better day--remember I wished for a more gorgeous day? Well, wishes can come true. I participated in the Dubach Chicken
Festival and Quilt Show. Before you start giggling, let me say that it was such an incredible setting. The Show was set in a restored grocery store. It was
restored so beautifully with its exposed brick walls and amazing wood floors--quilts displayed beautifully on wooden stands. Everyone was delightful. It did
not hurt that I also won first place in the "Contemporary Quilt" category, heh heh. Nice to be appreciated, that is for sure. Maybe I can focus on that when
I walk tomorrow.....
Friday, September 26, 2008
O.K., this is tardy, even for me. I do have a legit reason. I have been in Houston checking out the housing market for our son, Chris. The first deal was a
"bust" so we are having to begin all over again. More looking, more decisions, more driving....
Is it just I, or do others have the issue I have with the ignition on the car? I mean, the second the key goes in, it signals, "EAT SOMETHING" to my stomach
and I head straight for the nearest food source. Wow, when even the dried up wieners in the gas station start looking appealing, I know I have a problem.
Scary. All I can say is I am very glad I am not a travelling salesperson or I would weigh 300 pounds!! it doesn't help that in Houston there are even more
places to eat and good food is definitely not an issue.
The Houston area is finally starting to get back on track. It was hit fairly hard by the hurricane. Trees and limbs line the streets waiting to be picked up,
many are still without power, entire neighborhoods need new roofs... It is a little more difficult for me to appreciate the problems, however, after dealing on
a very personal level with the aftermath of Katrina on the coast of Mississippi and Louisiana, but the problems are there. I definitely do not want to belittle
what they are enduring. Galveston and below, that is another issue altogether. My heart goes out to all who were affected.
My heart does NOT go out to the folks who robbed us. We were in the Great Indoors on I-10 when someone decided they wanted our belongings badly
enough to steal them. The thieves broke my husband's passenger window out of his 4 week old car and proceeded to take my purse, my I-Phone that was
less than a month old (my birthday present), and everything else I had in my purse. Such nerve. I feel so violated, so angry. Mostly I am angry because I
don't think this type of person has any remorse, any feelings for anyone else other than themselves. I am also angry at the trouble it takes to replace the
replaceable, and at the frustration of not being able to replace the irreplaceable. Da#*#*n them.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a gorgeous day.....
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Am I ever impressed. Check out this
Quilt in a Clock. Barbara Gaskins of
Camden, TN, was the creative gal who
took my kit to a new level. She won this
Kit by entering, and winning, the
Quilt in a Cup contest that I mentioned
earlier in my Threads. You go Barbara!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I know I am feeling guilty about not writing for several days when I even consider putting up the wrong date as I begin this. I wonder if taking an extra bath
would wash away some of my guilt because I certainly have an excess of it. Even as a child, if I did something, like chewed a new brand of gum and then
thought, "I don't like this flavor," I would then start to feel guilty about not liking the gum. My next thought would be, "Gosh, the company is trying
something new and hoped I would like it. They did not intentionally make an icky gum. Perhaps if I give it a second try..."
Well, you get the idea. I felt badly, like it was my fault for not liking the gum...Yikes, I had better stop while I am this behind or folks might never return to
read anything else. You will not just be guessing, hmmm, that gal seems a bit off because you will then KNOW that gal is a lot off.
Let's regroup. I have made a fun new email friend. Her name is Vicki and I am loving talking to her. The subject of art and taking art classes came up. I
encourage any of you who are thinking about taking classes, especially art classes, to get up off your booties and go, take the class. It will be the best
thing you have done for yourself in a long time. For me, it was the start of my Master's of Fine Arts degree. I took a class...what a journey. Should I
mention that I was probably the oldest living graduate student? I did not care. I was taking these classes during a time that was one of the roughest times
in my life and it saved me, retaining what little sanity I do have. It turned out to be the best years of my life. I am including here a photo of one of my small
sculptures from my Master's Show. Whatcha think? By the way, the name of this one is:
Come On, Give Us a Hug
.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Happy Birthday to ME, Happy Birthday to ME, Happy
Birthday to ME-E-E-E, Happy Birthday to ME
Did I mention that today is my birthday???
Whew, the weather is finally calming down around here. I have not been able to write a Thread since we have been out of "juice." Of course, from the
Texas coast to here in northern Louisiana, power outages run amok. Somewhere I saw where 90% of Houston was without power. I am getting a little
paranoid, however. Every time my husband plans a surprise birthday party for me lately, a hurricane comes. The first "surprise" was planned for a bash
in New Orleans three years ago---need I remind anyone of KATRINA??? now, Gustav.....Of course, sometimes birthdays attack like a hurricane, each
one a bit more deadly, more damage than the previous one, more costly to repair. Wow, on a more upbeat note, I have asked to go on a movie marathon
and my husband is ready to depart. So, without further ado, I begin my birthday party....
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Today is a day for remembering. This is such an important day for millions of Americans. I keep wondering why Peace is such an impossible concept for
so much of the world.
Right now, I am also wondering why we live in the South. Of course, I have a lot of issues with living here but right now the biggest one is the weather. It
is certainly keeping our household entertained. We are glued to the weather channel, again. My son moved to Houston less than two weeks ago. Now he
is evacuating. The way I usually deal with icky stuff is to try to put problems in perspective. The old adage about the person feeling sorry for himself
because he had no shoes until he saw a man with no feet, is pretty much my mantra. So, I am thinking, "Thank goodness we don't have earthquakes."
Sorry, California. Does it help to say that both my brothers lived in San Francisco for years, including when the interstate fell:? Reality is, there is
probably no place one could go that nature would not have opportunities to prove her power over us. I do love that part, the part where Man gets
reminded that he is not God. Let's hope Houston and the other areas that are in the line of fire, have minimal damage and no loss of lives. I need to
check on the weather. Later folks, and again, thanks for stopping by.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
It is amazing how one's perspective can change. I mean, if someone had told me 6 months ago that I would think today's practice walk of 4 miles was a
"short walk," I would have thought they were crazy. But, when I consider that I walked 12 miles on Saturday and 10 miles on Sunday, then this weekend I
walk 14 miles on Saturday, and.....well, you get the idea, 4 miles, a short walk. I am still looking for the lost pounds. Ha, I do not have to look far, just in
the mirror. The pounds found me! All this walking and I have yet to lose any weight. Go figure.
Another thing that has changed, I am definitely afraid of fire. Totally respectful. Last year I was helping my daughter clear the debris from her yard. We
decided to burn the pile. The neighbors had been kind enough to shove their pile of limbs onto my daughter's property. I did not realize how close it was
to our stuff until after I lit the fire. There was no wind, just a beautiful day. At least there was no wind until I lit that fire. The flames literally jumped to the
second pile. The next thing I realize is how very close to the electric pole we are and how very quickly the fire is moving in that direction. I said, "Brandy,
Call 911, no don't, yes do, no don't.... Then I told my daughter to go get the hose, QUICKLY. She ran up the hill. Of course the hose was about 50 feet
long and we were probably 200 feet away. I then told her to definitely call 911. In the meantime, we are filling a wheelbarrow with water and running down
to the fire. Of course, by the time we got there, the water had sploshed all over the driveway and none was left for the fire, like that would have done any
good anyway. Well, our taxes were working, the fire department saved the day. Did I mention my husband and son were at Home Depot the entire time,
arriving just in time to see the Fire Trucks and Firemen doing their good deed of the day?
The reason I even brought this up was because yesterday, I braved up and lit another fire. I was burning the evidence of my climb onto the roof of our
house where I cut limbs from an aggressive tree. I took advantage of the fact that my husband is out of town to do something he has "told" me not to do
for weeks. By now, don't you think he would know better than to "tell" me not to do something???? The funny thing was I discovered I was more nervous
about the fire than I was about being on the roof. Talk about perspective changing. Live and learn, live and change.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Boy my house is quiet. My husband is on a job in El Paso and there is no one here but I. It is times like these that I am so grateful that I have quilting,
painting, bead-making, fusing, etc, in my life. I am never, and I do mean, NEVER, at a loss for something to occupy my time. In fact, I am the real reason
my husband has so little free time. He has to do my spillover jobs. His "honeydew" list is endless. Hmmm, I wonder if he really is working in El Paso, or
running away for a break.
Right now, I am trying to prepare for Quilt Market and Quilt Festival in Houston. At least this time I cannot say I am a complete novice. Last year, my
daughter and I drove up to the Convention center in our "regular" car, packed to the hilt. When the security guard told us to unload in the back, we had
no idea what to expect. Of course, we had no idea what to expect at any level. Anyway, we drove around to the back and drove right up into one of the
loading/unloading docks. We looked like the incredible shrinking vehicle. We were surrounded on both sides by 18-wheelers that were being unloaded by
the crate. We could not even see the top of the concrete ledge. I just looked at my daughter and said, "Ever hear of the Clampets? I think we just
arrived!" We just proceeded to whip out our little hand carts and unload. Luckily everyone was great and our experience was delightful. I only hope this
next Market is as fun. I hope to see at least a few of you guys there. Please stop and say HELLO.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Again, I cannot believe I have gone two days without writing anything. It definitely is not due to the fact that I have nothing to say. I mean, I always have
something to say -- perhaps nothing of interest, or of value, but, definitely something to say.
One of my favorite birthday cards that I sent recently represented my nature perfectly. The card read, "For your birthday I celebrated a moment of
silence," (open card) "It was the hardest thing I have ever done." I seriously considered having bunches of copies of that card made so I could send it to
all my birthday buds. I probably would not even had to have signed them......
One of my "issues" these days is total exhaustion. This Breast Cancer Walk is starting to take its toll on me. I am doing my level best to keep up with the
suggested practice schedule that they send. Yesterday was a 12 mile walk. Today, 9 miles. The stupid thing is that both days I stayed outside after the
walking and tried to make a dent in the limbs that fell during Gustav's rampage. Groan. I can barely stand up. Shoot, I went to bed before midnight last
night. What's up with that? I never go to bed that early. Old, I am definitely getting old.
My plan was to post another quilt I finished recently. However, my photographer, aka, husband, is in El Paso for the week so you will just have to put up
with my jabber. Hopefully, I can get at least one more quilt started while he is away.....
I should not close this before saying a big
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHRIS
(Chris is my son and I cannot think of anyone else who would appreciate a moment of silence from me more than he, heh heh, so here
goes...................................................................................)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Whoops. I thought today was Wednesday until I started writing today's Thread. I am easily confused. Anyway, I have been busy making more Quilt in a
Clock samples. One or two of them will be posted tonight on my "Quilt in a Clock" page. I suppose "time" got away with me?? Get it? O.K., I'm done with
that one.
In the meantime, I thought some of you might get a kick out of seeing my quilting machine and the lamp bar. You are probably thinking, "That gal has way
too much time on her hands." Actually, it more accurately represents my compulsive behavior, hee hee. Last year, when I first bought this zillion dollar
set-up, I did not buy the light bar because I thought the black lampshades were too ugly to believe. Then, I got this brainstorm, put a quilt on them!! Now,
I love them.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Here is the Key Lime Pie recipe that I mentioned earlier: (I just may be paving my path to eternal damnation by sharing this. I mean, anything this good
has to be a sin. Anyone want to join me? The road will at least be sweet!)
American Key Lime Pie
1 envelope unflavored gelatin 1/4 C. water
1/2 C. sugar 1 tsp. grated lime peel
1/4 tsp. salt 4 egg whites
4 egg yolks 1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. lime juice 1 C. cream, whipped
one baked pie shell green food coloring
Thoroughly mix gelatin, 1/2 C. sugar and salt in pan. Beat together the yolks, juice and water. Stir into gelatin mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring
constantly, just until mixture comes to boiling. Remove from heat. Stir in grated peel. Add green food coloring to give a pale green color. Chill, stirring
occasionally until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from spoon.
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold gelatin mixture into whites. Fold in
the whipped cream. Pour into pie shell and chill. Top with more whipping cream if desired.
Monday, September 1, 2008
My sister is safe. That is my most important concern. Now, the next questions are how did her home fare, how about our mother's home in Fort Morgan,
our friend's home in Lafayette? I must be patient; the demo is ongoing....
What is also ongoing is my quilting adventure. Here is a quilt that I finished just this evening. It is the most "like me" of the ones that I have posted so far.
Of course, I ask, how can I say that when the fabrics are all Kaffe Fassett's. Talk about inspiring. His fabrics SCREAM "Make a quilt" to me. The only
problem is that I don't feel like they are actually "my" quilts since they are so totally Kaffe, so tell me, does that count? Whatever. I just decided I don't
care.
Another part of my life that is
ongoing is my love of citrus.
I have several key lime trees,
kumquats, Meyer lemons, etc.,
and my favorite thing to do is
to make a Key Lime Pie using
limes from my very own trees,
which is what I did today. So
much for losing weight this week,
sigh. That pie destroys my
willpower. Of course, it does
not help that Willpower is not
one of my strengths.....
Later, I will type a copy of the
recipe for the pie on this Thread
and whoever tries it -- I own
you for life because you will
LOVE me for sharing it, heh heh.
August 31, 2008
I am not even going to attempt "cutesy" with the weather situation that is surrounding us. My sister barely lived through Katrina. Here is a picture of the
remains of her home.....
She floated to the roof of the home next door (the one in the upper right hand side of this picture), wrapped one of her legs around the chimney and
survived there for the next three and a half hours. This time she is evacuating. We lived in New Orleans for four years while my husband was in graduate
school. All of this weather affects us at many levels. Our family lives on the coast, we lived there, our friends do, actually, in the "Big Picture," we all have
"family" who live there....I watch the weather channel like it was an Academy Award movie-in-the-making. Talk about a reality show; it does not get any
more real. The challenge for this evening -- try to sleep while Mother Nature does a demo.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
First, Happy Birthday to my baby brother, Rob. Poor boy. He lives in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and has a 45 foot sail boat. It takes a lot for me to muster
up pity for him when he says he has had a "bad day." Yeah, right.
Now, I am full of pity for my daughter who is going to lose her toenails. When we were doing our practice walk for the Breast Cancer thing, she wore a new
pair of fat cushy soxs. Well, it apparently made the shoes fit just a bit tighter and forced her big toe to rub the end of the shoe. OUCH. Both big toes are
one huge blood blister. That should make you squirm in your chair; does me.
On to more pleasant stuff, like, say, Quilting? You betcha. Here is the photo I promised three days ago. It is of the Bali fabric quilt and was inspired by
Karen Griska's Selvage Edge quilts.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Finally, more space on my website. It seems that I "talked" my way into total
annihilation of available space on this site. Luckily, I have my own personal direct line for computer help, 1 800-487-2263, a.k.a., 1 800-hus-band. God
love 'em, he saves my hiney all the time.
Now that the computer problem is solved, , I can focus on some of my other issues, like the fungus that has taken over my home. I thought doggie hairs
were bad, but quilt fungus is even more invasive. It has attacked all of my clothes, my car, my life.... funny thing, the fungus looks a lot like thread. I don't
have a piece of clothing in my house that does not have these threads hanging off of them, even clean clothes right out of the dryer! I am beginning to
think that the first person to collect a giant ball of string was actually a quilter trying to get rid of her own case of quilt fungus. The thing is, I believe that
once quilt fungus invades your space, it is a lifetime issue, and the truth is, I don't really mind it.
Speaking of quilts, the quilt photo that I posted on Monday is the completed center of the quilt I was working on. I have to stop for the time being since the
fabric I ordered to complete it will not even be produced until the later part of November. So, I started another quilt and will post its picture as soon as I get
the husband to take it. I mentioned that I was able to take a trip to Bali this year. This quilt is made entirely of hand dyed, hand woven Balinese fabric ,
called Ikat. Even if I did take the time to explain how it is made, you would not believe me. It is totally awesome. Photos sooooon.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Cannot add to this baby until I increase
my memory space...nighty night.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Oh my gosh, am I the only one who had never heard Marvin Gaye sing the National Anthem???. I mean, it was originally done in 1989 but it has been
re-done for an ad on the Olympics. Wow wow wow. Normally, I think folks should leave something like the Anthem alone, as is, for traditions sake and out
of respect. However, I am so totally blown away by his rendition that I want to change the National Anthem to Marvin's version. Hopefully, this link will work
for the other three or four of you who have been left "out of the loop," like I have. Prepare for a major case of Goosebumps....
Marvin Gaye sings the National Anthem
I have this link bookmarked and I just keep hitting the "replay" button all day. Whew.
Anyway, it sure is great to sew by. In fact, I have nearly completed the center of the quilt. As soon as the "expert," a.k.a., my husband, gets home
tomorrow, I will get an updated photo. I really do need to learn how to use that program for making quilts. It sure would have saved me hours of
figuring....oh, well, I suppose it is good to use my mind once in a while so it won't get too terribly rusty.
If you want to make a comment about my quilt, just click here. It has to be a nice comment or my computer will reject it, and I might cry.
Friday, August 22, 2008
That mood took a lot longer to strike that I had anticipated. Oh well. Scaly heads are still at work....
Anyway, here is a photo of that quilt I mentioned. This is nearly half of the center panel. I just love it when they start coming together and actually look like
a "quilt." My dilemma was how to put flowers on a green background, which is what the customer requested. This was my solution. Whatcha think? I will
post more photos as I get more done. My regret at this time is that I did not take the time to design all of the flowers, myself, instead of borrowing some of
the shapes from other patterns. Live and learn.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
O.K., let's be realistic here. Did anyone out there really expect a "daily" musing when the Olympics are still going on and the coverage does not go off
into the middle of the night? I have gotten quite a bit done on my quilt, however. If I can figure out how to place a photo on this thing, I will show what I am
working on. Until then, unless I have some really really exciting news, like a visit to the dentist, um, wait, I am doing that this afternoon.....oh well, I will just
have to write when the mood strikes. Michael Phelps, here I come.
Tuesday, August, 12, 2008
I am lovin' it --- making quilts, watching the Olympics, and seeing my husband's dimples as he smiles-- if I could add simultaneously painting and making
beads to that list, life would have progressed to the "beyond perfect" stage for me.
I actually did sit down to make a few beads yesterday. It is not like "riding a bike." Lampworking is by far the most difficult medium that I have ever
attempted and I have been "attempting" all my life. From string art, to paint-by-number (oops, I think I am too young to have done that. . . .) to enameling,
to weaving, to watercolor, to oils, to welding, to....well, you get the idea. Hey, I taught art for 25 years. I was the " Queen of Workshop Attendees."
Lampworking is deceiving in that you can have some level of success the moment you first melt the glass. However, to actually have control, quite a
different story. Visualize trying to control honey on a small round rod. That is the challenge. Hmmm, what am I doing? Writing while the Olympics are
actually on Live??? No way is this as interesting....go have fun doing whatever it is that makes you happy!
Monday, August 11, 2008
I actually started a new quilt last night. Around midnight, while watching the Olympics, I got inspired. The dilemma, making a commissioned quilt. It is often
difficult for me to resolve what the customer wants versus what I would choose to do. Ideally, I try to find the place where what I want is also what the
customer wants. So, it may not make sense, but, my approach is to design it so that I will be happy even if the customer is not . This way, there is no
possibility that after spending all those hours and all those dollars, I will end up "stuck" with something I do not like. So far I have been very lucky and the
recipients have been delighted. The only drawback is that I want to keep them all, sigh.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
I do love weddings. We went to one last night. Just think what a great opportunity they are for fun at so many levels.
First, shopping fun (o.k., o.k., so all I need for an excuse to shop is, "I am breathing"....Give me a break here, weddings are legitimate reasons) I bought a
pretty dress (well, I really bought four dresses, but they were having a great end-of-summer sale). Then I found some gorgeous gold heels to wear (they
were having en even better sale in the shoe department so I did get in a bit of trouble there, but, I am positive I can find something to go with the incredible
silver heels that fit perfectly---and the red sandles, I have been looking for red shoes for ages, and, those strappy black shoes. . .) Well, surely you can
understand.... and then, I was very pleased with myself that I did not need new earrings since I had already found the perfect pair in Portland. Such a
smart gal; my husband was too proud of me to speak!!
More fun is actually attending the wedding and seeing everyone else all dressed up. Some folks looked so pretty that it was hard to recognize them.
Shhhhh-h-h, who said that???
More fun ?? the music. Last night's band was fabulous, by the way. And, dancing....I just LOVE dancing. The only drawback in this department is that
my husband has to have enough wine in him to dull his reluctance to dance before he will even consider getting on the dance floor. Luckily there was
plenty of wine available as he was actually smiling while dancing -- I think the kissing, and hints of follow-up fun might have helped.
And, finally, an all you can eat food buffet and bar with no bill at the end!!! How fun is THAT?
But wait, there were parting gifts! One of the guests was a dentist and he provided monogrammed toothbrushes for all the attendees so they might not
need him after eating all that wedding cake. Very imaginative, and, allowing for more fun without cavities.
All in all, a lovely time. Thanks to all the wonderful folks who had a part in providing this fun for ME.
Chase and Katie, Have a Wonderful Life!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Well, that was an abrupt ending to my last addition. I was trying to write when I received several phone calls and then realized that I was running very late
for the birthday dinner we had planned. So, my husband, thinking he was helping, published it while I was in the shower. Best intentions and all.....
Anyway, what I did not mention in my homage to my daughter is that she is also very pretty. I know, I know, you are all thinking, "Of course you say that;
you are her Mother, duh." But, I am going to try to get her picture and publish it so you can judge for yourself. I will definitely have the last laugh. Then,
gather all your sons, brothers, friends, etc, but, they should be NICE. We already have a corner on the "dated the jerks" market, sold the stock, and are
waiting for the new "best finds."
As for the "biz," we are madly trying to get ready for the FABSHOP HOP.
To check it out go to the link on my home page.
for the month of September. Such a learning curve to all of this stuff. Everyday is something new. How to register for market, how to place ads, how to
publish websites, business cards, credit cards, etc, etc etc, are all new to us and all so very time-consuming. If you were inundated with all of this
information at the same time, no one would even go there. Luckily, it comes to me a bit at a time and then I go, "TO-OM," and my incredible husband
handles most of it, so, I can say, "I have a business," and mostly, I have FUN. I hope you allow yourself to join me and share in the fun. . .
Have a great weekend.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
First, Happy Birthday to Brandy, my daughter. She turns 40 today. Of course, you do remember that I was five years old when she was born....What
amazes me is that she has never been grabbed by some great guy. She is 5'10" tall, wears a size 8, is smart, has a college degree, is hard-working, and
is the sweetest person one could ever meet.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
I keep trying to get my "ducks in a row" but I am having trouble even getting them in the same room let alone having them organized....
We have been in Houston trying to find somewhere for our son, Chris, to live while he goes to school. I had forgotten how much effort it is to find
apartments. And, the prices, gulp. How do these guys keep a straight face when asking for the rent each month?
It reminds me of one of my visits to Santa Fe. I was in one of the art galleries and came across a pile of rocks in one of the rooms. The rocks were
stacked in the corner, some were painted, others left "as is." There was a price tag of thousands on it. I was standing there, trying to understand how
anyone could pass this off as art, when one of the sales people came into the room. She obviously misunderstood my interest in the display. She eagerly
asked, "Do you have any questions?" thinking I am ready to pull out my checkbook.
I turned to her, smiling, and said, "Just one. Before you come to work each morning, how long do you have to practice keeping that 'look of seriousness'
when discussing work like this?
I know, I know, that was mean, wasn't it?"
Friday, August 1, 2008
It seems that I have adjusted to the "whenever" status of this Thread. I mean, I have basically stopped apologizing, or even mentioning my lack of writing,
at least until today. It's just that those "things" I mentioned at the outset, do have a way of rearing their scaly heads, demanding attention, no matter how
hard I try to ignore them. Sigh.
I am getting so excited. We have been working on our products, some of them for nearly a year, and things are finally coming together. Of course, as
soon as I mention this, it will probably go into a tailspin so please keep your fingers crossed. For a number of reasons, I am going to be evasive.
Curious? ha, one of the 'reasons.....peaking curiosity. I sure hope it works, hee hee. The biggest reason is, however, that those "scaly heads" take on
many jobs and one of them is to make seemingly simple tasks difficult, take longer than planned, and increase costs. Scaly heads earn their keep.
I do hope your curiosity keeps you looking because it is such fun, imagining you out there, talking, asking each other, checking in, etc. -- hopefully, having
fun in the process.
Writing this Thread column has been fun for me. I definitely should have started sooner, not only in the year, but, more so, in the day....One of the things
that gets in the way of my productivity is sleep, or lack thereof. So, if you feel me losing focus, I am probably just dozing........
I was out doing my walk, today, knitting the whole way. On this particular day, I met another walker. She saw me knitting/walking and said, "Wow, aren't
you afraid of stepping on a snake?" Now, how long could I have gone without hearing that????
I have lived in this location for 30 years. I have walked up and down these streets for all that time. Did it ever occur to me that I might step on a snake?
NO. Dumb me. I was concerned with the irregularities in the road, with the traffic, the sun, bugs, dogs.....wow, now I can put this all in perspective, add
snakes to the top of my list, and prepare for that nice relaxing, worry-free walk, tomorrow......where would I be without friends and neighbors?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Goodbye September. I know I am old when I keep being awed at how quickly time flashes by me. Sigh. October is already so planned out that it even
seems like it is already used up.
My whole body is feeling used up. Every part is telling me, "Hey, Dianne, I am hurting here, and here, and here!" I'll show them. I am not going to listen.
If I actually do listen, I might not get this walking done.... However, I did find something out today. I can knit while I walk. Of course, it will not surprise me if I
take a nose dive onto the pavement if I continue with that, but, in the meantime, I am loving it. Did I mention anywhere that one of my favorite things to do
is multi-task?
I mentioned to a friend one day that I loved washing clothes because it was truly the closest I came to doing two things at the same time. She thought I
was kidding but I am perfectly serious. I feel I am defeating time, at least a tiny bit. Now, if I could just do something about the wrinkles and dimples in the
body -- I just have not found the right washer/dryer combo to help with that....I wonder if I can get inside one of the extra sized dryers at the local
laundromat????
Sunday, September 28, 2008
I am having serious doubts about either my intellect or my sanity, or both. I mean, what on earth was I thinking when I signed up for this 60 mile Breast
Cancer Walk??? I walked 17 miles today with my daughter, and I am wiped OUT. Now I cannot stop thinking that I have to increase that to 23 miles, do it
for two days straight, then walk "only" 14 miles the third day??? OHMYGOD...it seemed so do-able, such a great idea at the time. To make matters
worse, I seem to have developed an allergy to my socks. ARGH.
Yesterday was definitely a better day--remember I wished for a more gorgeous day? Well, wishes can come true. I participated in the Dubach Chicken
Festival and Quilt Show. Before you start giggling, let me say that it was such an incredible setting. The Show was set in a restored grocery store. It was
restored so beautifully with its exposed brick walls and amazing wood floors--quilts displayed beautifully on wooden stands. Everyone was delightful. It did
not hurt that I also won first place in the "Contemporary Quilt" category, heh heh. Nice to be appreciated, that is for sure. Maybe I can focus on that when
I walk tomorrow.....
Friday, September 26, 2008
O.K., this is tardy, even for me. I do have a legit reason. I have been in Houston checking out the housing market for our son, Chris. The first deal was a
"bust" so we are having to begin all over again. More looking, more decisions, more driving....
Is it just I, or do others have the issue I have with the ignition on the car? I mean, the second the key goes in, it signals, "EAT SOMETHING" to my stomach
and I head straight for the nearest food source. Wow, when even the dried up wieners in the gas station start looking appealing, I know I have a problem.
Scary. All I can say is I am very glad I am not a travelling salesperson or I would weigh 300 pounds!! it doesn't help that in Houston there are even more
places to eat and good food is definitely not an issue.
The Houston area is finally starting to get back on track. It was hit fairly hard by the hurricane. Trees and limbs line the streets waiting to be picked up,
many are still without power, entire neighborhoods need new roofs... It is a little more difficult for me to appreciate the problems, however, after dealing on
a very personal level with the aftermath of Katrina on the coast of Mississippi and Louisiana, but the problems are there. I definitely do not want to belittle
what they are enduring. Galveston and below, that is another issue altogether. My heart goes out to all who were affected.
My heart does NOT go out to the folks who robbed us. We were in the Great Indoors on I-10 when someone decided they wanted our belongings badly
enough to steal them. The thieves broke my husband's passenger window out of his 4 week old car and proceeded to take my purse, my I-Phone that was
less than a month old (my birthday present), and everything else I had in my purse. Such nerve. I feel so violated, so angry. Mostly I am angry because I
don't think this type of person has any remorse, any feelings for anyone else other than themselves. I am also angry at the trouble it takes to replace the
replaceable, and at the frustration of not being able to replace the irreplaceable. Da#*#*n them.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a gorgeous day.....
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Am I ever impressed. Check out this
Quilt in a Clock. Barbara Gaskins of
Camden, TN, was the creative gal who
took my kit to a new level. She won this
Kit by entering, and winning, the
Quilt in a Cup contest that I mentioned
earlier in my Threads. You go Barbara!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I know I am feeling guilty about not writing for several days when I even consider putting up the wrong date as I begin this. I wonder if taking an extra bath
would wash away some of my guilt because I certainly have an excess of it. Even as a child, if I did something, like chewed a new brand of gum and then
thought, "I don't like this flavor," I would then start to feel guilty about not liking the gum. My next thought would be, "Gosh, the company is trying
something new and hoped I would like it. They did not intentionally make an icky gum. Perhaps if I give it a second try..."
Well, you get the idea. I felt badly, like it was my fault for not liking the gum...Yikes, I had better stop while I am this behind or folks might never return to
read anything else. You will not just be guessing, hmmm, that gal seems a bit off because you will then KNOW that gal is a lot off.
Let's regroup. I have made a fun new email friend. Her name is Vicki and I am loving talking to her. The subject of art and taking art classes came up. I
encourage any of you who are thinking about taking classes, especially art classes, to get up off your booties and go, take the class. It will be the best
thing you have done for yourself in a long time. For me, it was the start of my Master's of Fine Arts degree. I took a class...what a journey. Should I
mention that I was probably the oldest living graduate student? I did not care. I was taking these classes during a time that was one of the roughest times
in my life and it saved me, retaining what little sanity I do have. It turned out to be the best years of my life. I am including here a photo of one of my small
sculptures from my Master's Show. Whatcha think? By the way, the name of this one is:
Come On, Give Us a Hug
.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Happy Birthday to ME, Happy Birthday to ME, Happy
Birthday to ME-E-E-E, Happy Birthday to ME
Did I mention that today is my birthday???
Whew, the weather is finally calming down around here. I have not been able to write a Thread since we have been out of "juice." Of course, from the
Texas coast to here in northern Louisiana, power outages run amok. Somewhere I saw where 90% of Houston was without power. I am getting a little
paranoid, however. Every time my husband plans a surprise birthday party for me lately, a hurricane comes. The first "surprise" was planned for a bash
in New Orleans three years ago---need I remind anyone of KATRINA??? now, Gustav.....Of course, sometimes birthdays attack like a hurricane, each
one a bit more deadly, more damage than the previous one, more costly to repair. Wow, on a more upbeat note, I have asked to go on a movie marathon
and my husband is ready to depart. So, without further ado, I begin my birthday party....
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Today is a day for remembering. This is such an important day for millions of Americans. I keep wondering why Peace is such an impossible concept for
so much of the world.
Right now, I am also wondering why we live in the South. Of course, I have a lot of issues with living here but right now the biggest one is the weather. It
is certainly keeping our household entertained. We are glued to the weather channel, again. My son moved to Houston less than two weeks ago. Now he
is evacuating. The way I usually deal with icky stuff is to try to put problems in perspective. The old adage about the person feeling sorry for himself
because he had no shoes until he saw a man with no feet, is pretty much my mantra. So, I am thinking, "Thank goodness we don't have earthquakes."
Sorry, California. Does it help to say that both my brothers lived in San Francisco for years, including when the interstate fell:? Reality is, there is
probably no place one could go that nature would not have opportunities to prove her power over us. I do love that part, the part where Man gets
reminded that he is not God. Let's hope Houston and the other areas that are in the line of fire, have minimal damage and no loss of lives. I need to
check on the weather. Later folks, and again, thanks for stopping by.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
It is amazing how one's perspective can change. I mean, if someone had told me 6 months ago that I would think today's practice walk of 4 miles was a
"short walk," I would have thought they were crazy. But, when I consider that I walked 12 miles on Saturday and 10 miles on Sunday, then this weekend I
walk 14 miles on Saturday, and.....well, you get the idea, 4 miles, a short walk. I am still looking for the lost pounds. Ha, I do not have to look far, just in
the mirror. The pounds found me! All this walking and I have yet to lose any weight. Go figure.
Another thing that has changed, I am definitely afraid of fire. Totally respectful. Last year I was helping my daughter clear the debris from her yard. We
decided to burn the pile. The neighbors had been kind enough to shove their pile of limbs onto my daughter's property. I did not realize how close it was
to our stuff until after I lit the fire. There was no wind, just a beautiful day. At least there was no wind until I lit that fire. The flames literally jumped to the
second pile. The next thing I realize is how very close to the electric pole we are and how very quickly the fire is moving in that direction. I said, "Brandy,
Call 911, no don't, yes do, no don't.... Then I told my daughter to go get the hose, QUICKLY. She ran up the hill. Of course the hose was about 50 feet
long and we were probably 200 feet away. I then told her to definitely call 911. In the meantime, we are filling a wheelbarrow with water and running down
to the fire. Of course, by the time we got there, the water had sploshed all over the driveway and none was left for the fire, like that would have done any
good anyway. Well, our taxes were working, the fire department saved the day. Did I mention my husband and son were at Home Depot the entire time,
arriving just in time to see the Fire Trucks and Firemen doing their good deed of the day?
The reason I even brought this up was because yesterday, I braved up and lit another fire. I was burning the evidence of my climb onto the roof of our
house where I cut limbs from an aggressive tree. I took advantage of the fact that my husband is out of town to do something he has "told" me not to do
for weeks. By now, don't you think he would know better than to "tell" me not to do something???? The funny thing was I discovered I was more nervous
about the fire than I was about being on the roof. Talk about perspective changing. Live and learn, live and change.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Boy my house is quiet. My husband is on a job in El Paso and there is no one here but I. It is times like these that I am so grateful that I have quilting,
painting, bead-making, fusing, etc, in my life. I am never, and I do mean, NEVER, at a loss for something to occupy my time. In fact, I am the real reason
my husband has so little free time. He has to do my spillover jobs. His "honeydew" list is endless. Hmmm, I wonder if he really is working in El Paso, or
running away for a break.
Right now, I am trying to prepare for Quilt Market and Quilt Festival in Houston. At least this time I cannot say I am a complete novice. Last year, my
daughter and I drove up to the Convention center in our "regular" car, packed to the hilt. When the security guard told us to unload in the back, we had
no idea what to expect. Of course, we had no idea what to expect at any level. Anyway, we drove around to the back and drove right up into one of the
loading/unloading docks. We looked like the incredible shrinking vehicle. We were surrounded on both sides by 18-wheelers that were being unloaded by
the crate. We could not even see the top of the concrete ledge. I just looked at my daughter and said, "Ever hear of the Clampets? I think we just
arrived!" We just proceeded to whip out our little hand carts and unload. Luckily everyone was great and our experience was delightful. I only hope this
next Market is as fun. I hope to see at least a few of you guys there. Please stop and say HELLO.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Again, I cannot believe I have gone two days without writing anything. It definitely is not due to the fact that I have nothing to say. I mean, I always have
something to say -- perhaps nothing of interest, or of value, but, definitely something to say.
One of my favorite birthday cards that I sent recently represented my nature perfectly. The card read, "For your birthday I celebrated a moment of
silence," (open card) "It was the hardest thing I have ever done." I seriously considered having bunches of copies of that card made so I could send it to
all my birthday buds. I probably would not even had to have signed them......
One of my "issues" these days is total exhaustion. This Breast Cancer Walk is starting to take its toll on me. I am doing my level best to keep up with the
suggested practice schedule that they send. Yesterday was a 12 mile walk. Today, 9 miles. The stupid thing is that both days I stayed outside after the
walking and tried to make a dent in the limbs that fell during Gustav's rampage. Groan. I can barely stand up. Shoot, I went to bed before midnight last
night. What's up with that? I never go to bed that early. Old, I am definitely getting old.
My plan was to post another quilt I finished recently. However, my photographer, aka, husband, is in El Paso for the week so you will just have to put up
with my jabber. Hopefully, I can get at least one more quilt started while he is away.....
I should not close this before saying a big
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHRIS
(Chris is my son and I cannot think of anyone else who would appreciate a moment of silence from me more than he, heh heh, so here
goes...................................................................................)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Whoops. I thought today was Wednesday until I started writing today's Thread. I am easily confused. Anyway, I have been busy making more Quilt in a
Clock samples. One or two of them will be posted tonight on my "Quilt in a Clock" page. I suppose "time" got away with me?? Get it? O.K., I'm done with
that one.
In the meantime, I thought some of you might get a kick out of seeing my quilting machine and the lamp bar. You are probably thinking, "That gal has way
too much time on her hands." Actually, it more accurately represents my compulsive behavior, hee hee. Last year, when I first bought this zillion dollar
set-up, I did not buy the light bar because I thought the black lampshades were too ugly to believe. Then, I got this brainstorm, put a quilt on them!! Now,
I love them.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Here is the Key Lime Pie recipe that I mentioned earlier: (I just may be paving my path to eternal damnation by sharing this. I mean, anything this good
has to be a sin. Anyone want to join me? The road will at least be sweet!)
American Key Lime Pie
1 envelope unflavored gelatin 1/4 C. water
1/2 C. sugar 1 tsp. grated lime peel
1/4 tsp. salt 4 egg whites
4 egg yolks 1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. lime juice 1 C. cream, whipped
one baked pie shell green food coloring
Thoroughly mix gelatin, 1/2 C. sugar and salt in pan. Beat together the yolks, juice and water. Stir into gelatin mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring
constantly, just until mixture comes to boiling. Remove from heat. Stir in grated peel. Add green food coloring to give a pale green color. Chill, stirring
occasionally until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from spoon.
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold gelatin mixture into whites. Fold in
the whipped cream. Pour into pie shell and chill. Top with more whipping cream if desired.
Monday, September 1, 2008
My sister is safe. That is my most important concern. Now, the next questions are how did her home fare, how about our mother's home in Fort Morgan,
our friend's home in Lafayette? I must be patient; the demo is ongoing....
What is also ongoing is my quilting adventure. Here is a quilt that I finished just this evening. It is the most "like me" of the ones that I have posted so far.
Of course, I ask, how can I say that when the fabrics are all Kaffe Fassett's. Talk about inspiring. His fabrics SCREAM "Make a quilt" to me. The only
problem is that I don't feel like they are actually "my" quilts since they are so totally Kaffe, so tell me, does that count? Whatever. I just decided I don't
care.
Another part of my life that is
ongoing is my love of citrus.
I have several key lime trees,
kumquats, Meyer lemons, etc.,
and my favorite thing to do is
to make a Key Lime Pie using
limes from my very own trees,
which is what I did today. So
much for losing weight this week,
sigh. That pie destroys my
willpower. Of course, it does
not help that Willpower is not
one of my strengths.....
Later, I will type a copy of the
recipe for the pie on this Thread
and whoever tries it -- I own
you for life because you will
LOVE me for sharing it, heh heh.
August 31, 2008
I am not even going to attempt "cutesy" with the weather situation that is surrounding us. My sister barely lived through Katrina. Here is a picture of the
remains of her home.....
She floated to the roof of the home next door (the one in the upper right hand side of this picture), wrapped one of her legs around the chimney and
survived there for the next three and a half hours. This time she is evacuating. We lived in New Orleans for four years while my husband was in graduate
school. All of this weather affects us at many levels. Our family lives on the coast, we lived there, our friends do, actually, in the "Big Picture," we all have
"family" who live there....I watch the weather channel like it was an Academy Award movie-in-the-making. Talk about a reality show; it does not get any
more real. The challenge for this evening -- try to sleep while Mother Nature does a demo.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
First, Happy Birthday to my baby brother, Rob. Poor boy. He lives in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and has a 45 foot sail boat. It takes a lot for me to muster
up pity for him when he says he has had a "bad day." Yeah, right.
Now, I am full of pity for my daughter who is going to lose her toenails. When we were doing our practice walk for the Breast Cancer thing, she wore a new
pair of fat cushy soxs. Well, it apparently made the shoes fit just a bit tighter and forced her big toe to rub the end of the shoe. OUCH. Both big toes are
one huge blood blister. That should make you squirm in your chair; does me.
On to more pleasant stuff, like, say, Quilting? You betcha. Here is the photo I promised three days ago. It is of the Bali fabric quilt and was inspired by
Karen Griska's Selvage Edge quilts.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Finally, more space on my website. It seems that I "talked" my way into total
annihilation of available space on this site. Luckily, I have my own personal direct line for computer help, 1 800-487-2263, a.k.a., 1 800-hus-band. God
love 'em, he saves my hiney all the time.
Now that the computer problem is solved, , I can focus on some of my other issues, like the fungus that has taken over my home. I thought doggie hairs
were bad, but quilt fungus is even more invasive. It has attacked all of my clothes, my car, my life.... funny thing, the fungus looks a lot like thread. I don't
have a piece of clothing in my house that does not have these threads hanging off of them, even clean clothes right out of the dryer! I am beginning to
think that the first person to collect a giant ball of string was actually a quilter trying to get rid of her own case of quilt fungus. The thing is, I believe that
once quilt fungus invades your space, it is a lifetime issue, and the truth is, I don't really mind it.
Speaking of quilts, the quilt photo that I posted on Monday is the completed center of the quilt I was working on. I have to stop for the time being since the
fabric I ordered to complete it will not even be produced until the later part of November. So, I started another quilt and will post its picture as soon as I get
the husband to take it. I mentioned that I was able to take a trip to Bali this year. This quilt is made entirely of hand dyed, hand woven Balinese fabric ,
called Ikat. Even if I did take the time to explain how it is made, you would not believe me. It is totally awesome. Photos sooooon.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Cannot add to this baby until I increase
my memory space...nighty night.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Oh my gosh, am I the only one who had never heard Marvin Gaye sing the National Anthem???. I mean, it was originally done in 1989 but it has been
re-done for an ad on the Olympics. Wow wow wow. Normally, I think folks should leave something like the Anthem alone, as is, for traditions sake and out
of respect. However, I am so totally blown away by his rendition that I want to change the National Anthem to Marvin's version. Hopefully, this link will work
for the other three or four of you who have been left "out of the loop," like I have. Prepare for a major case of Goosebumps....
Marvin Gaye sings the National Anthem
I have this link bookmarked and I just keep hitting the "replay" button all day. Whew.
Anyway, it sure is great to sew by. In fact, I have nearly completed the center of the quilt. As soon as the "expert," a.k.a., my husband, gets home
tomorrow, I will get an updated photo. I really do need to learn how to use that program for making quilts. It sure would have saved me hours of
figuring....oh, well, I suppose it is good to use my mind once in a while so it won't get too terribly rusty.
If you want to make a comment about my quilt, just click here. It has to be a nice comment or my computer will reject it, and I might cry.
Friday, August 22, 2008
That mood took a lot longer to strike that I had anticipated. Oh well. Scaly heads are still at work....
Anyway, here is a photo of that quilt I mentioned. This is nearly half of the center panel. I just love it when they start coming together and actually look like
a "quilt." My dilemma was how to put flowers on a green background, which is what the customer requested. This was my solution. Whatcha think? I will
post more photos as I get more done. My regret at this time is that I did not take the time to design all of the flowers, myself, instead of borrowing some of
the shapes from other patterns. Live and learn.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
O.K., let's be realistic here. Did anyone out there really expect a "daily" musing when the Olympics are still going on and the coverage does not go off
into the middle of the night? I have gotten quite a bit done on my quilt, however. If I can figure out how to place a photo on this thing, I will show what I am
working on. Until then, unless I have some really really exciting news, like a visit to the dentist, um, wait, I am doing that this afternoon.....oh well, I will just
have to write when the mood strikes. Michael Phelps, here I come.
Tuesday, August, 12, 2008
I am lovin' it --- making quilts, watching the Olympics, and seeing my husband's dimples as he smiles-- if I could add simultaneously painting and making
beads to that list, life would have progressed to the "beyond perfect" stage for me.
I actually did sit down to make a few beads yesterday. It is not like "riding a bike." Lampworking is by far the most difficult medium that I have ever
attempted and I have been "attempting" all my life. From string art, to paint-by-number (oops, I think I am too young to have done that. . . .) to enameling,
to weaving, to watercolor, to oils, to welding, to....well, you get the idea. Hey, I taught art for 25 years. I was the " Queen of Workshop Attendees."
Lampworking is deceiving in that you can have some level of success the moment you first melt the glass. However, to actually have control, quite a
different story. Visualize trying to control honey on a small round rod. That is the challenge. Hmmm, what am I doing? Writing while the Olympics are
actually on Live??? No way is this as interesting....go have fun doing whatever it is that makes you happy!
Monday, August 11, 2008
I actually started a new quilt last night. Around midnight, while watching the Olympics, I got inspired. The dilemma, making a commissioned quilt. It is often
difficult for me to resolve what the customer wants versus what I would choose to do. Ideally, I try to find the place where what I want is also what the
customer wants. So, it may not make sense, but, my approach is to design it so that I will be happy even if the customer is not . This way, there is no
possibility that after spending all those hours and all those dollars, I will end up "stuck" with something I do not like. So far I have been very lucky and the
recipients have been delighted. The only drawback is that I want to keep them all, sigh.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
I do love weddings. We went to one last night. Just think what a great opportunity they are for fun at so many levels.
First, shopping fun (o.k., o.k., so all I need for an excuse to shop is, "I am breathing"....Give me a break here, weddings are legitimate reasons) I bought a
pretty dress (well, I really bought four dresses, but they were having a great end-of-summer sale). Then I found some gorgeous gold heels to wear (they
were having en even better sale in the shoe department so I did get in a bit of trouble there, but, I am positive I can find something to go with the incredible
silver heels that fit perfectly---and the red sandles, I have been looking for red shoes for ages, and, those strappy black shoes. . .) Well, surely you can
understand.... and then, I was very pleased with myself that I did not need new earrings since I had already found the perfect pair in Portland. Such a
smart gal; my husband was too proud of me to speak!!
More fun is actually attending the wedding and seeing everyone else all dressed up. Some folks looked so pretty that it was hard to recognize them.
Shhhhh-h-h, who said that???
More fun ?? the music. Last night's band was fabulous, by the way. And, dancing....I just LOVE dancing. The only drawback in this department is that
my husband has to have enough wine in him to dull his reluctance to dance before he will even consider getting on the dance floor. Luckily there was
plenty of wine available as he was actually smiling while dancing -- I think the kissing, and hints of follow-up fun might have helped.
And, finally, an all you can eat food buffet and bar with no bill at the end!!! How fun is THAT?
But wait, there were parting gifts! One of the guests was a dentist and he provided monogrammed toothbrushes for all the attendees so they might not
need him after eating all that wedding cake. Very imaginative, and, allowing for more fun without cavities.
All in all, a lovely time. Thanks to all the wonderful folks who had a part in providing this fun for ME.
Chase and Katie, Have a Wonderful Life!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Well, that was an abrupt ending to my last addition. I was trying to write when I received several phone calls and then realized that I was running very late
for the birthday dinner we had planned. So, my husband, thinking he was helping, published it while I was in the shower. Best intentions and all.....
Anyway, what I did not mention in my homage to my daughter is that she is also very pretty. I know, I know, you are all thinking, "Of course you say that;
you are her Mother, duh." But, I am going to try to get her picture and publish it so you can judge for yourself. I will definitely have the last laugh. Then,
gather all your sons, brothers, friends, etc, but, they should be NICE. We already have a corner on the "dated the jerks" market, sold the stock, and are
waiting for the new "best finds."
As for the "biz," we are madly trying to get ready for the FABSHOP HOP.
To check it out go to the link on my home page.
for the month of September. Such a learning curve to all of this stuff. Everyday is something new. How to register for market, how to place ads, how to
publish websites, business cards, credit cards, etc, etc etc, are all new to us and all so very time-consuming. If you were inundated with all of this
information at the same time, no one would even go there. Luckily, it comes to me a bit at a time and then I go, "TO-OM," and my incredible husband
handles most of it, so, I can say, "I have a business," and mostly, I have FUN. I hope you allow yourself to join me and share in the fun. . .
Have a great weekend.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
First, Happy Birthday to Brandy, my daughter. She turns 40 today. Of course, you do remember that I was five years old when she was born....What
amazes me is that she has never been grabbed by some great guy. She is 5'10" tall, wears a size 8, is smart, has a college degree, is hard-working, and
is the sweetest person one could ever meet.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
I keep trying to get my "ducks in a row" but I am having trouble even getting them in the same room let alone having them organized....
We have been in Houston trying to find somewhere for our son, Chris, to live while he goes to school. I had forgotten how much effort it is to find
apartments. And, the prices, gulp. How do these guys keep a straight face when asking for the rent each month?
It reminds me of one of my visits to Santa Fe. I was in one of the art galleries and came across a pile of rocks in one of the rooms. The rocks were
stacked in the corner, some were painted, others left "as is." There was a price tag of thousands on it. I was standing there, trying to understand how
anyone could pass this off as art, when one of the sales people came into the room. She obviously misunderstood my interest in the display. She eagerly
asked, "Do you have any questions?" thinking I am ready to pull out my checkbook.
I turned to her, smiling, and said, "Just one. Before you come to work each morning, how long do you have to practice keeping that 'look of seriousness'
when discussing work like this?
I know, I know, that was mean, wasn't it?"
Friday, August 1, 2008
It seems that I have adjusted to the "whenever" status of this Thread. I mean, I have basically stopped apologizing, or even mentioning my lack of writing,
at least until today. It's just that those "things" I mentioned at the outset, do have a way of rearing their scaly heads, demanding attention, no matter how
hard I try to ignore them. Sigh.
I am getting so excited. We have been working on our products, some of them for nearly a year, and things are finally coming together. Of course, as
soon as I mention this, it will probably go into a tailspin so please keep your fingers crossed. For a number of reasons, I am going to be evasive.
Curious? ha, one of the 'reasons.....peaking curiosity. I sure hope it works, hee hee. The biggest reason is, however, that those "scaly heads" take on
many jobs and one of them is to make seemingly simple tasks difficult, take longer than planned, and increase costs. Scaly heads earn their keep.
I do hope your curiosity keeps you looking because it is such fun, imagining you out there, talking, asking each other, checking in, etc. -- hopefully, having
fun in the process.
Writing this Thread column has been fun for me. I definitely should have started sooner, not only in the year, but, more so, in the day....One of the things
that gets in the way of my productivity is sleep, or lack thereof. So, if you feel me losing focus, I am probably just dozing........
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