I mentioned earlier in my Threads that I had agreed to do another 60 mile walk for Breast Cancer. I am selling raffle tickets for
my "Very Pink" quilt at $5.00 per chance. So, if you can find it in your heart to make a donation, please hit the link below, make
your donation, then, email me and I will fill out the appropriate number of tickets. Thanks in advance for any level of support
you can give. Together we can beat this devil of a disease!!
www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/SanDiegoEvent?px=1838682&pg=personal&fr_id=1298
Friday, March 20, 2009
OK, here is more mushy gushy -- get over it because I am gonna put it down, anyway. This is a quote that I found lo' these many years ago
and recreated it in calligraphy for my Mother-in-law....(and, I love it !! so there.)
"You are the Mother I received the day I wed your son.
And I just want to thank you, Mom, for all that you have done.
You have given me a gracious man with whom I share my life.
You are his lovely Mother, and I his lucky wife.
You used to pat his little head, and now I hold his hand.
You raised in love a little boy, and gave to me, a man."
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Well, if nothing else comes out of taking this painting class,
at least I am making myself add to the Threads page more
regularly. I should title this picture "Can you find the 10 changes
to the painting from the previous day?" That should be easy since
I changed darn near everything. Wait, I have it -- change that title to,
"What did NOT change?"
Also, I have been busily working on a new quilt design. This one
I am actually creating with the idea of making it into a pattern.
Folks are constantly asking, "What pattern did you use?" and I just
look at them with "Huh? Pattern?" written all over my face. Now,
I can still look stupid but with a response......
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Yesterday I was cleaning off my desk and came across a piece of
paper where I had copied an article that I felt summed up my feelings
on my marriage in a nutshell. I want to share this with you:
"The Art of Marriage"
A good marriage must be created.
In the marriage, the little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, "I love you," at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry. (to do this one has meant getting very little sleep sometimes, heh heh)
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together and facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is not only marrying the right person, it is being the right partner.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Here I go, again--putting my soul on the line, or, on the Web.....
My painting from day 2....
As you can see, at least I hope you can tell, we had the same
model. We will have him, again, on Wednesday. I am
trying to get the proportions better as well as everything
else, for that matter. If I ever get where I can do the figure
consistently well, it will be a minor miracle. Of course, it
might help if I painted on a regular basis, heh heh.
Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15, 2009
See, this weekend is so boring that I thought I would save us all the trouble and combine the two days. I am trying to get ahead in my
packaging so I can head to Chicago Quilt Festival next month. If you want a play-by-play of "how Dianne cuts batting, makes boxes, prints
labels, etc, then you are even more bored than I. Actually, I watched a really funny movie, "Miri makes a Porno" so I would not feel too sorry
for myself.
Friday, March 13, 2009
All I can say is I must be more thrilled to be home
that even I had realized because it has been a while
since I added to my Thread for three consecutive days.
I had my first figure painting class of the sememster.
I also decided to post my progress whenever possible.
So-o-o-o here is the painting from my first day of class.
Remember to be kind. I cry easily.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I decided, with prodding from my husband, that my life was way too boring -- way too much time on my hands. So, I spent today registering
at the local University for a painting class. Now I have to go find my supplies in my studio. The class begins at 8:00 in the morning, UGH. I
always get a bit freaked out when I sign up for a new class. The pressure to "perform" makes me stressed no matter how many classes, no
matter how much I have done....I much prefer it when I go into a new situation that no one knows me and therefore they have no expectation
of what I can or cannot do........I have taken classes from this professor many times -- the pressure builds as I speak!
Should I post paintings as I do them? Hmmmm.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wouldn't you know it? The you-know-what has hit the fan as far as my computer is concerned. To say it crashed is putting it mildly. It will
not even start. EVERYTHING is tied up. In case you are wondering about this website, it is run from my husband's computer. That is
actually one of the reasons that I do not write some days. By the time he is off the computer, I am too tired to write. Anyway, we have just
ordered a new hard drive that we were told would possibly take 10 days to arrive. GROAN. After being gone for three weeks, I was
dreading the thought of dealing with all the emails. HAHA. Serves me right. Now, I am worried about not dealing with the emails.....are we
ever satisfied?
My trip to Mexico was a business trip but that does not mean I did not have a great time. First, it was great because I spent the whole time
with my brother. He is fluent in Spanish and that is SUPERB when it comes to business dealings. Here we are at a business lunch.
And, no, that is not just the angle of the camera -- those glasses were HUGE.
I swear, I only had one drink, Honey.
And, to let you know I was also suffering when it came to accommodations, here
is a picture of my brother's digs. Her name is Destiny and she is as beautiful
as she looks. My brother keeps this baby in perfect condition, hand rubbing
the wood until it feels like glass. We unfortunately did not have the time to sail
but just used the boat for sleeping for two of the nights. The rest of the time we
slept at my brother's apartment about an hour's drive from where the boat is kept.
So, I will include a photo of the scene my brother gets to wake up to when he is
not on the boat. As I mentioned in an earlier Thread, it is difficult to sympathize
when he says he is having a bad day......
Tuesday, March 10, 20009
Finally, Home. Since I last contributed to my Thread, I have been to Texas, Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, and California. I do not want to
see the inside of a suitcase any time soon. I plan to put some photos up and expound upon my experiences but for now, I am too tired. So,
welcome back to those of you who are honoring me with your time. I hope not to disappoint. It sure it nice to be home and see my blooming
Red buds, Dogwoods, and Blueberries, but, especially to see my smiling husband. Gotta go so I can keep him smiling.....
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Wow, the phone has been ringing off the walls. I have two brothers and one sister, each of which is emailing and calling to attempt
coordinated flight arrangements to Los Angeles for the funeral. Guess how that is going????......(just a hint -- one brother will arrive from
Washington, DC, the other from Cabo san Lucas, Mexico, the other from the Gulf Coast, and then, I, of course, will be heading out from my
little abode here in Mardi Gras Heaven, the lovely state of Louisiana.) This should be easy, ha ha ha ha....Laise le bon temps roulez
Then to make matters just a bit more "interesting" it turns out that the souvenirs that I had shipped from my trip to Bali last Spring just
arrived in New Orleans. I have exactly one day to get them since I leave tomorrow for 10 days on business. Otherwise, the shipping
company starts storage charges, then, after about three days of that, gets rid of the shipment altogether! So, hello Tuesday, hello New
Orleans, good bye New Orleans!!! The marathon began at 6 a.m. We arrived in New Orleans around 12 and immediately picked up the
U-Haul and proceeded to Customs. Here we were treated almost like criminals. Weird. They not only took photos and personal information
but sent armed guards to take us to the 13th floor (appropriate, I thought) After a minor inquisition, both I and my shipment were cleared,
whew. Then we drove to the shipping building located in an area that real criminals would avoid and paid the rest of the ransom for our
stuff. Hey, at this point we just want out of there.
About this time, silly us, we ask which two crates are ours? The guy smiles and points to the very end of the building and says, "See all of
those wooden crates down there? All eight are yours! After we put our eyes back into their sockets and closed our gaping mouths, we
looked at the insy weensy truck we had just rented thinking it was going to be twice what we needed. Bless those guys hearts, they worked
and worked and we drove off with all of our goodies. First, we had to go to Natchez, Mississippi, to deliver half the stuff to Brenda and Hal.
They fed us a delightful dinner which we rudely stuffed into our mouths, immediately jumped up and said our good byes, and drove off into
the night. We arrived home at one in the morning. As I am driving along, my husband behind me in the truck, I would spontaneously start
laughing at this whole situation. I realized that my sweet husband takes all this in stride as though it were perfectlly normal for a person to
be on a one day trip to New Orleans picking up stuff he has never laid his eyes on -- never a complaint, never ever anything but helpful and
supportive. Lest any of you ever wonder why I celebrate Thanksgiving, or Valentine's Day, or May 18? I am thankful for his presence in my
life, love the guy beyond belief, and bless the day he was born!!!!! This man is proof postive there is a God. Where else do angels come
from?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
For a day that began beautifully, my day turned into a day of tears, very quickly. Around noon today I received the type of phone call that
no one wants. My very dear Aunt Dottie died of a heart attack today. We have a very small family. My mother was an only child and my
father had a brother that died at 18 and then this one sister, one who would have been my favorite if I had had two dozen aunts. She was
one of the kindest, most gentle, generous, thoughtful, loving, non judgemental people that I have ever known. I am blessed to have known
her, more blessed to have been related to her, and the most blessed to have been loved by her. The world is a better place for having her
here--she left the gift of three wonderful children who all share her characteristics and for that , we are all who know them, luckier than if we
did not. Every day for the rest of my life, I will miss you my dear Dottie. As you said to me every time I spoke to you, "God bless you. I love
you."
Friday, February 13, 2009
Pressure pressure ...I am actually doing the quilting on a quilt that is not one of mine! Gulp. This is a first for me. This quilt is going to be
raffled to support Breast Cancer Research so how could I refuse? I am doing it for free so they cannot ask for their money back if they don't
like it....whew, guess I had better go get busy..........
Tuesday, February, 10, 2009
I keep hoping that if I include enough pictures no one will
notice how long I go without adding to my Thread, heh heh.
Last Tuesday all I seemed to have accomplished was responding
to emails and shipping orders that had to go out. By Wednesday
evening I was packing for another venture down to Houston.
Thus, the long dry week without Threads. What we have added to,
however, is our son's apartment. Check out the new kitchen!
Visual proof for my aching knees, back, shoulders, whatever --
it is sore. Laying floor tiles is definitely not for old ladies. Also, those
lovely red walls took 4 coats of paint. Amazing considering that I painted
Chris's bedroom deep purple and that only took two coats. I am delighted
to say that basically all that is left to do in the kitchen does not require
moi.
My new focus, bathrooms. You really cannot
tell how yucky they are from this photo. What I
hope is that you will be able to see the "new" by
the next series of photos that I take. Please do
not tell my knees that I have more tile to put
down.....groan.
Don't ask me why I included the image of the
entry. I just love the color so I thought I would
take a picture, so there. Oh, the rug just happens
to be one of our souvenirs from the cruise, just
in case you thought I did frivolous shopping, no way.
I shopped with purpose.....
Monday, February 2, 2009
Unpacking, washing, unpacking, and more washing. My least favorite part of any trip.
Also, there is the task of reading a bazillion emails. So much for adding to this Thread
for a day or so.....Oh, here is a picture of one of the projects that I completed while on
the cruise (good ol' Kaffe helps me, again)
I figured this was the project that was most appropriate to show since it then became
my shopping bag. It definitely came in handy, heh heh.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
We woke up docked in New Orleans. Brandy and I had more boxes and bags than entire families. It was fun but more than a little
embarrassing. The only sad thing was when we arrived home we discovered one of our treasures was completely smashed. Such is the
luck. The good thing -- we had lots of other souvenirs to sooth our feelings. The best thing -- seeing my sweet husband's smiling face and
open arms.
Saturday, January, 31, 2009
Indeed, every day spent sewing is a good day and this one was no exception. The only problem was that this was the roughest seas. They
even brought in barf bags as a precaution. Luckily none were needed and the water calmed down.
One thing that I have yet to mention is the fact that I have had absolutely no trouble falling to sleep. I might actually go home rested.
Friday, January, 30, 2009
Cozumel, Mexico, our last port and the most dangerous for Brandy
and me....lots of shopping opportunities. Gulp. We set out to find
a fabric shop. No such luck but we sure had fun exploring. We
found a liquor shop with the most awesome tequila and had a major
testing of each and every one of the flavors. Yummy. Then we
asked the price; left that store empty handed.
It got the most, um, I am trying to find the right word...exciting? later
on in the day. We were all back on board when the Captain of the ship
started asking for two passengers to come to the main floor. This
continued for about 30 minutes. Soon, the police were called, bags were
placed on the pier, and we departed. These two passengers never
showed up. Boy did we ever have a topic for dinner conversation with
folks saying everything from, "Serves them right," to "Think they were
kidnapped???" Not the best end to a cruise, that is for sure.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
We woke up in Belize to the calmest waters to date. Unbelievable we are actually on a ocean. So far the bracelets are working but I can
thank the Powers that be that it has yet to be much of a test. whew.
Somehow, there is no record of the side trip we paid for. Oh well, I suppose we will have to just appease ourselves by, I don't know...more
shopping?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
This is so cool. Go to sleep, then magically we wake up in Santo Tomas
de Castilla, Guatamala. How cool is that? Trees are everywhere. The
area is very undeveloped and green. The only blotch is the port. UGLY.
Shopping is in one building right on the port but we managed...
I love the textures and the colors of the fabrics. We bought several bags
of coffee as gifts mainly because of the the cloth bags they came in. How
exactly does one give a gift while asking for part of the gift back? heh heh.
We were also entertained with live music and dancing with everyone in
colorful costumes. This was the only port where all of the shop
owners/workers, the taxi cab drivers, and the musicians and dancers
all came to the dock to bid us farewell. They were beeping horns, dancing,
and singing. It was great. I think I even understood some of the words as
they sang..."please come back, we love your money, bring more....."
Go figure, I don't even speak Spanish.
One of the neatest things happens each time we leave a port. The Port Captain rides on our ship for a particular distance. Then another
very much smaller boat rides along side and the Captain steps off our boat onto the smaller one. Are we, the passengers impressed? You
betcha. We watched this event at each port and cheered each time the Captain successfully made the transition. Just think, one mis-step
and this guy is bait.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Our first port, Costa Maya, Mexico. It is a good thing we did not have more than one day to shop. We found a great bathroom sink for
Chris' fixer-upper, a beautiful flower pot, a "typical" pottery gecko, a fabulous platter, a...........hurry, run back to the ship.
Monday, January 26, 2009
We started our vacation by doing one of the "never again" thingies -- we set the alarm clock. We had to be ready for taking and teaching
classes by 8:00 a.m. Classes went well, at least from my perspective. I always love seeing the fabrics each participant chooses. There has
never been a duplicate of anyone elses.'
Brandy met two sweet young ladies from the classes and the three of them went dancing later that evening. I decided to head to the gym.
Of course, I am certain this had nothing to do with the fact that I had eaten three to four desserts with each meal so far.......
Sunday, January, 25, 2009
Brandy and I were nervous about finding the port in
New Orleans. The directions we received did not make
much sense to us. To make matters worse, a group of
Mardi Gras floats were in route to a parade and we were
not even allowed to go down one of the designated roads.
Argh. In spite or ourselves, we made it. Everyone was so
friendly and helpful and parking was way easier than we
were led to believe. Nice surprises. So far, so good.
The ship is HUGE -- 13 stories high. We will be staying
on the 9th floor. Our room is actually larger than I had
expected. There is a wall to wall window/sliding door and
balcony. I cannot imagine using that. I am so prepared
with anti-nausea drugs, bracelets, etc, but I do not want
to push it.
After a huge buffet of delicious food, we headed back
to our room to settle in. Brandy and I were busily
dividing drawer space, closet space, and claiming a side
of the bed when we looked up and realized we were at sea! Again, so far, so good.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
First order of business: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEBBIE. I LOVE YOU AND HOPE YOU
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!!
Now, as for the cruise, anxiety is still running amok -- I do not expect to garner much, if any, sympathy. However, the truth is what I
mentioned earlier, that I am having a difficult time with even the concept of being on this boat (ship). We will soon see how "cruisin' " fits
Dianne.
My daughter and I had originally planned to depart around 4 a.m. Sunday morning and drive straight to New Orleans. My husband kept
saying, "Are you crazy?" (as if he did not know the answer to that by now?) Finally, he simply made hotel reservations in Baton Rouge then
told us that the hotel was booked, paid for, and we needed to leave on Saturday or we would be wasting all that $$. Plans change. We
decided to leave around noon on Saturday and relax. Great plan. Not so great was reality. We finally headed out of the garage around 4
P.M. with about a dozen more errands to accomplish before actually leaving. Tom was soooo wise. Think I should tell him? Nah. Not telling
is so much more thoughtful. Think of the difficulty he would have had getting through doors and places with that big, huge, swelled head.
Much kinder to keep my thoughts to myself......
January 23, 2009
My goodness. I had no idea how difficult it would be to pack for the cruise. So far I can sleep and swim. Other than that, I am naked. I
suppose I could stay in my room and get a lot of sewing done, then swim, then sew, then sleep. I am one of the best procrastinators in the
world and it is being proven right now. Shoot, I am writing this as an avoidance mechanism. So little is going on other that the "biz" that I
figured anyone reading anything about my last few days would get a good snooze in. The good news is how well the post card mailing has
gone. There has barely been time for me to pee. In fact, I have started to add a new use for my cup, heh heh....o.k., o.k., it was just a
passing thought. oops, the phone...
Better go take care of business. I hope you guys have a wonderful week and think of me at least occasionally while I am out there, floating,
unable to get on land when I want to, in the tiny little claustrophobic space called a stateroom, .....ohhhh, now I am starting to have an
anxiety attack, remembering why I never took a cruise before.......yikes. Deep breath. Positive thoughts, positive thoughts. Think fun, this
is supposed to be FUN.
January 21, 2008
So much for the blog these days....We left for Dallas the day after I finished the binding on the quilt. We dropped the quilt off in Jefferson,
Texas, for the Quilt Show and then proceeded on to Dallas. The ladies who were checking the quilts in said, "Boy, when we saw the entry
picture of the quilt we all thought that did not look like a Dianne quilt." Now, I do not know what that means. Is that a good thing? a bad
thing? What exactly is a Dianne Quilt, anyway? Am I going to waste any more time worrying over this ---- nope.
On Friday we went to the International shipping place and picked up 5,000 Quilt in a Cup kits !! Now, no one can park their car in the
garage. I had been totally panicked about not receiving the cups in time for the quilting cruise. Of course, this was all based on the fact
that I thought that the cruise departed New Orleans on Thursday. I had always thought that Thursday was a peculiar day for a ship to be
leaving. Well, duh. Of course it is. I finally read all of the materials pertaining to the cruise and guess what???? The cruise does not leave
until this coming Sunday. Whew. I cannot imagine my having left for New Orleans at 4 a.m., driving 6 hours only to discover myself at the
dock with no boat. Folks around here are shaking their heads and saying things like, "classic Dianne move." Again, is that a good thing?
January 12, 2008
Ditto on yesterday's schedule. Three a.m. bedtime. Yawn. I do not think I am going to duplicate that, yet, again. At least I am seeing
progress on the quilt. I am at the binding stage -- easily the most tedious part of producing a quilt. Perhaps that is why I was able to take a
couple of hours today to go for a walk. Wow. It is amazing how out of shape I have gotten in just a few months. My butt is sore and I was
panting like a dog in summer. Geez. Wheez. I keep promising myself that I will do better tomorrow. I might as well have said, "The second
Tuesday of next week." You guessed it, "It never happens."
What has been happening, in case you did not notice, are several changes here on my website. Definitely some action on the "completed
cup" pages. I have decided to sell the completed cups at 50% off since the newest version has the lid and these do not. So, I hope you
have some fun at least looking. The cups make cute flower vases, pencil holders, and, oh yeah, drinking vessels! Thanks for sticking
around. In fact, if you mention that you found out about the sale by reading this Thread, tell me and I will give you half price shipping
costs. My gift to the one or two of you who have been so very bored that you still checked in on me. Have a good one.
January 11, 2009
First let's get this out of the way -- this is not a trend...I mean two days in a row adding to my Threads? I just wish.
Anyway, I actually started the quilting phase of the quilt below. Arg. It is going to be a long day, two days, three? I went to bed at three this
morning, day one. Lots of thread, lots of sweating. Gulp. This part of the process can make or break the quilt, that is for sure. I will let you
know more later.
January 10, 2009
Good grief. I thought that I was actually writing for two consecutive days. Ha, not even close. Oh well, not to dwell. I am still trying to catch
up with all that I did not do while in Houston. I am in the process of mailing out 4,000 postcards to announce my new cup kit so folks will see
that we finally have cups with lids. The cards say, Happy New Year on them and it would be silly to wait longer to send them. Problem is,
how could we have calculated how long it would take to address and stamp four thousand cards???? Needless to say, it takes longer than
we thought.
Whoa, I am falling asleep as I write. Of course, for me, that is a good thing as I seldom even feel sleepy. I better go take advantage of this.
Later. Have a great weekend.
January 7, 2009
Well, it is not even close to a two year gap like that web site I mentioned earlier, but, even for me this is a long time to be away...I hate
excuses so I won't even go there. Does the fact that I am starting page 4 deserve something? I hope, I hope....What I will do is tell you a bit
of what I have been doing with my time while away.
First, December 28th was my husband's and my 44th wedding anniversary. It was not the most privately romantic of affairs. We talked my
sister into staying one more day to go to dinner with us. Also, our daughter, Brandy, was still here so we invited her, as well. So, it was
more of a family affair which always seems more appropriate for me, anyway. I mean, it seems more like a mini-wedding celebration when
others take part because lots of family and friends are usually there for the original wedding ceremony. So, we begin our 45th year of
wedded bliss. I am not being facetious, either. I am beyond delighted to say that I have been extremely lucky in love for all of that time.
If you cannot tell by my earlier blogs that my husband is a total doll, I am here to say that now. My only problem is that I cannot live long
enough to get tired of this man. O.K., enough of the sloppy stuff. Hmmm. This is Dianne talking. There will always be room for gushy
gooey, heh heh.
While my sister was here we spent a lot of time
in my studio. My sister was in Heaven. She made
everything she could out of the beads that I had
available. It was a delight to watch -- like a kid in
a candy shop. She even created a huge beaded
fob for the new purse I gave her. While she was
playing with beads, I was spending every available
moment trying to get some more work done on that
flowered quilt. I am trying to complete it in time for
a couple of quilt shows as well as for the anxious
couple who have been patiently waiting. Here is
a photo of the completed top -- TADA
By the 31st, all family was on their way home and we
were on our way to Houston. Since then we have been
working on our son's newly acquired fixer-upper
apartment. Heavy on the upper. Of course it does
not take much to move this place into the upperness
category since it is in such need of fixing that anything
would help. For instance, the oven does not work, the
bathroom sink has cracks and leaks so badly that the
downs stairs neighbor complained that his ceiling was
crumbling, dishwasher broken, carpet GROSSSS, etc.
So, I have been painting for days. Every room needed
it. My husband and son removed all of the cabinets in
the kitchen since the bottoms were rotted out and the
fronts were falling off. If any of you folks out there have
yet to shop at IKEA, let me introduce you to that store
immediately. We are going to be able to replace all the
kitchen cabinets for around $500. I was expecting more
like $1500. How often do we get that pleasant surprise?
How about I include photos of the place? I will shoot
some the next time we go down there. Too bad I did not
take before so the after's would be more effective. I will try to do better on the rooms we have yet to re-do. My problem with that is usually
that I am so anxious to get started that photos are the last thing on my mind. Re-group, Dianne, re-group.
While in Houston, our son introduced us to one of his neighborhood restaurants, a Vietnamese place called, Nam's. I am now addicted to a
drink they make from kumquats. We went there every day to get some. Luckily that is not the only delightful item on the menu. The two
most memorable that we have tried so far are fried calamari and French Butter Shrimp. Lick-yo-plate and Slap-yo-mama GOOOOD. My
mouth is watering as I write...One more bright spot before closing for the day. While we were gone, our daughter came over and totally
cleaned up all of the Christmas paraphernalia. What a doll. If she were not already mine, I would adopt her. Thank you my darling
daughter. I am a lucky woman.
For the rest of you, I am hoping that all of your lives are even better and brighter in 2009.
my "Very Pink" quilt at $5.00 per chance. So, if you can find it in your heart to make a donation, please hit the link below, make
your donation, then, email me and I will fill out the appropriate number of tickets. Thanks in advance for any level of support
you can give. Together we can beat this devil of a disease!!
www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/SanDiegoEvent?px=1838682&pg=personal&fr_id=1298
Friday, March 20, 2009
OK, here is more mushy gushy -- get over it because I am gonna put it down, anyway. This is a quote that I found lo' these many years ago
and recreated it in calligraphy for my Mother-in-law....(and, I love it !! so there.)
"You are the Mother I received the day I wed your son.
And I just want to thank you, Mom, for all that you have done.
You have given me a gracious man with whom I share my life.
You are his lovely Mother, and I his lucky wife.
You used to pat his little head, and now I hold his hand.
You raised in love a little boy, and gave to me, a man."
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Well, if nothing else comes out of taking this painting class,
at least I am making myself add to the Threads page more
regularly. I should title this picture "Can you find the 10 changes
to the painting from the previous day?" That should be easy since
I changed darn near everything. Wait, I have it -- change that title to,
"What did NOT change?"
Also, I have been busily working on a new quilt design. This one
I am actually creating with the idea of making it into a pattern.
Folks are constantly asking, "What pattern did you use?" and I just
look at them with "Huh? Pattern?" written all over my face. Now,
I can still look stupid but with a response......
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Yesterday I was cleaning off my desk and came across a piece of
paper where I had copied an article that I felt summed up my feelings
on my marriage in a nutshell. I want to share this with you:
"The Art of Marriage"
A good marriage must be created.
In the marriage, the little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, "I love you," at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry. (to do this one has meant getting very little sleep sometimes, heh heh)
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together and facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is not only marrying the right person, it is being the right partner.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Here I go, again--putting my soul on the line, or, on the Web.....
My painting from day 2....
As you can see, at least I hope you can tell, we had the same
model. We will have him, again, on Wednesday. I am
trying to get the proportions better as well as everything
else, for that matter. If I ever get where I can do the figure
consistently well, it will be a minor miracle. Of course, it
might help if I painted on a regular basis, heh heh.
Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15, 2009
See, this weekend is so boring that I thought I would save us all the trouble and combine the two days. I am trying to get ahead in my
packaging so I can head to Chicago Quilt Festival next month. If you want a play-by-play of "how Dianne cuts batting, makes boxes, prints
labels, etc, then you are even more bored than I. Actually, I watched a really funny movie, "Miri makes a Porno" so I would not feel too sorry
for myself.
Friday, March 13, 2009
All I can say is I must be more thrilled to be home
that even I had realized because it has been a while
since I added to my Thread for three consecutive days.
I had my first figure painting class of the sememster.
I also decided to post my progress whenever possible.
So-o-o-o here is the painting from my first day of class.
Remember to be kind. I cry easily.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I decided, with prodding from my husband, that my life was way too boring -- way too much time on my hands. So, I spent today registering
at the local University for a painting class. Now I have to go find my supplies in my studio. The class begins at 8:00 in the morning, UGH. I
always get a bit freaked out when I sign up for a new class. The pressure to "perform" makes me stressed no matter how many classes, no
matter how much I have done....I much prefer it when I go into a new situation that no one knows me and therefore they have no expectation
of what I can or cannot do........I have taken classes from this professor many times -- the pressure builds as I speak!
Should I post paintings as I do them? Hmmmm.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wouldn't you know it? The you-know-what has hit the fan as far as my computer is concerned. To say it crashed is putting it mildly. It will
not even start. EVERYTHING is tied up. In case you are wondering about this website, it is run from my husband's computer. That is
actually one of the reasons that I do not write some days. By the time he is off the computer, I am too tired to write. Anyway, we have just
ordered a new hard drive that we were told would possibly take 10 days to arrive. GROAN. After being gone for three weeks, I was
dreading the thought of dealing with all the emails. HAHA. Serves me right. Now, I am worried about not dealing with the emails.....are we
ever satisfied?
My trip to Mexico was a business trip but that does not mean I did not have a great time. First, it was great because I spent the whole time
with my brother. He is fluent in Spanish and that is SUPERB when it comes to business dealings. Here we are at a business lunch.
And, no, that is not just the angle of the camera -- those glasses were HUGE.
I swear, I only had one drink, Honey.
And, to let you know I was also suffering when it came to accommodations, here
is a picture of my brother's digs. Her name is Destiny and she is as beautiful
as she looks. My brother keeps this baby in perfect condition, hand rubbing
the wood until it feels like glass. We unfortunately did not have the time to sail
but just used the boat for sleeping for two of the nights. The rest of the time we
slept at my brother's apartment about an hour's drive from where the boat is kept.
So, I will include a photo of the scene my brother gets to wake up to when he is
not on the boat. As I mentioned in an earlier Thread, it is difficult to sympathize
when he says he is having a bad day......
Tuesday, March 10, 20009
Finally, Home. Since I last contributed to my Thread, I have been to Texas, Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, and California. I do not want to
see the inside of a suitcase any time soon. I plan to put some photos up and expound upon my experiences but for now, I am too tired. So,
welcome back to those of you who are honoring me with your time. I hope not to disappoint. It sure it nice to be home and see my blooming
Red buds, Dogwoods, and Blueberries, but, especially to see my smiling husband. Gotta go so I can keep him smiling.....
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Wow, the phone has been ringing off the walls. I have two brothers and one sister, each of which is emailing and calling to attempt
coordinated flight arrangements to Los Angeles for the funeral. Guess how that is going????......(just a hint -- one brother will arrive from
Washington, DC, the other from Cabo san Lucas, Mexico, the other from the Gulf Coast, and then, I, of course, will be heading out from my
little abode here in Mardi Gras Heaven, the lovely state of Louisiana.) This should be easy, ha ha ha ha....Laise le bon temps roulez
Then to make matters just a bit more "interesting" it turns out that the souvenirs that I had shipped from my trip to Bali last Spring just
arrived in New Orleans. I have exactly one day to get them since I leave tomorrow for 10 days on business. Otherwise, the shipping
company starts storage charges, then, after about three days of that, gets rid of the shipment altogether! So, hello Tuesday, hello New
Orleans, good bye New Orleans!!! The marathon began at 6 a.m. We arrived in New Orleans around 12 and immediately picked up the
U-Haul and proceeded to Customs. Here we were treated almost like criminals. Weird. They not only took photos and personal information
but sent armed guards to take us to the 13th floor (appropriate, I thought) After a minor inquisition, both I and my shipment were cleared,
whew. Then we drove to the shipping building located in an area that real criminals would avoid and paid the rest of the ransom for our
stuff. Hey, at this point we just want out of there.
About this time, silly us, we ask which two crates are ours? The guy smiles and points to the very end of the building and says, "See all of
those wooden crates down there? All eight are yours! After we put our eyes back into their sockets and closed our gaping mouths, we
looked at the insy weensy truck we had just rented thinking it was going to be twice what we needed. Bless those guys hearts, they worked
and worked and we drove off with all of our goodies. First, we had to go to Natchez, Mississippi, to deliver half the stuff to Brenda and Hal.
They fed us a delightful dinner which we rudely stuffed into our mouths, immediately jumped up and said our good byes, and drove off into
the night. We arrived home at one in the morning. As I am driving along, my husband behind me in the truck, I would spontaneously start
laughing at this whole situation. I realized that my sweet husband takes all this in stride as though it were perfectlly normal for a person to
be on a one day trip to New Orleans picking up stuff he has never laid his eyes on -- never a complaint, never ever anything but helpful and
supportive. Lest any of you ever wonder why I celebrate Thanksgiving, or Valentine's Day, or May 18? I am thankful for his presence in my
life, love the guy beyond belief, and bless the day he was born!!!!! This man is proof postive there is a God. Where else do angels come
from?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
For a day that began beautifully, my day turned into a day of tears, very quickly. Around noon today I received the type of phone call that
no one wants. My very dear Aunt Dottie died of a heart attack today. We have a very small family. My mother was an only child and my
father had a brother that died at 18 and then this one sister, one who would have been my favorite if I had had two dozen aunts. She was
one of the kindest, most gentle, generous, thoughtful, loving, non judgemental people that I have ever known. I am blessed to have known
her, more blessed to have been related to her, and the most blessed to have been loved by her. The world is a better place for having her
here--she left the gift of three wonderful children who all share her characteristics and for that , we are all who know them, luckier than if we
did not. Every day for the rest of my life, I will miss you my dear Dottie. As you said to me every time I spoke to you, "God bless you. I love
you."
Friday, February 13, 2009
Pressure pressure ...I am actually doing the quilting on a quilt that is not one of mine! Gulp. This is a first for me. This quilt is going to be
raffled to support Breast Cancer Research so how could I refuse? I am doing it for free so they cannot ask for their money back if they don't
like it....whew, guess I had better go get busy..........
Tuesday, February, 10, 2009
I keep hoping that if I include enough pictures no one will
notice how long I go without adding to my Thread, heh heh.
Last Tuesday all I seemed to have accomplished was responding
to emails and shipping orders that had to go out. By Wednesday
evening I was packing for another venture down to Houston.
Thus, the long dry week without Threads. What we have added to,
however, is our son's apartment. Check out the new kitchen!
Visual proof for my aching knees, back, shoulders, whatever --
it is sore. Laying floor tiles is definitely not for old ladies. Also, those
lovely red walls took 4 coats of paint. Amazing considering that I painted
Chris's bedroom deep purple and that only took two coats. I am delighted
to say that basically all that is left to do in the kitchen does not require
moi.
My new focus, bathrooms. You really cannot
tell how yucky they are from this photo. What I
hope is that you will be able to see the "new" by
the next series of photos that I take. Please do
not tell my knees that I have more tile to put
down.....groan.
Don't ask me why I included the image of the
entry. I just love the color so I thought I would
take a picture, so there. Oh, the rug just happens
to be one of our souvenirs from the cruise, just
in case you thought I did frivolous shopping, no way.
I shopped with purpose.....
Monday, February 2, 2009
Unpacking, washing, unpacking, and more washing. My least favorite part of any trip.
Also, there is the task of reading a bazillion emails. So much for adding to this Thread
for a day or so.....Oh, here is a picture of one of the projects that I completed while on
the cruise (good ol' Kaffe helps me, again)
I figured this was the project that was most appropriate to show since it then became
my shopping bag. It definitely came in handy, heh heh.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
We woke up docked in New Orleans. Brandy and I had more boxes and bags than entire families. It was fun but more than a little
embarrassing. The only sad thing was when we arrived home we discovered one of our treasures was completely smashed. Such is the
luck. The good thing -- we had lots of other souvenirs to sooth our feelings. The best thing -- seeing my sweet husband's smiling face and
open arms.
Saturday, January, 31, 2009
Indeed, every day spent sewing is a good day and this one was no exception. The only problem was that this was the roughest seas. They
even brought in barf bags as a precaution. Luckily none were needed and the water calmed down.
One thing that I have yet to mention is the fact that I have had absolutely no trouble falling to sleep. I might actually go home rested.
Friday, January, 30, 2009
Cozumel, Mexico, our last port and the most dangerous for Brandy
and me....lots of shopping opportunities. Gulp. We set out to find
a fabric shop. No such luck but we sure had fun exploring. We
found a liquor shop with the most awesome tequila and had a major
testing of each and every one of the flavors. Yummy. Then we
asked the price; left that store empty handed.
It got the most, um, I am trying to find the right word...exciting? later
on in the day. We were all back on board when the Captain of the ship
started asking for two passengers to come to the main floor. This
continued for about 30 minutes. Soon, the police were called, bags were
placed on the pier, and we departed. These two passengers never
showed up. Boy did we ever have a topic for dinner conversation with
folks saying everything from, "Serves them right," to "Think they were
kidnapped???" Not the best end to a cruise, that is for sure.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
We woke up in Belize to the calmest waters to date. Unbelievable we are actually on a ocean. So far the bracelets are working but I can
thank the Powers that be that it has yet to be much of a test. whew.
Somehow, there is no record of the side trip we paid for. Oh well, I suppose we will have to just appease ourselves by, I don't know...more
shopping?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
This is so cool. Go to sleep, then magically we wake up in Santo Tomas
de Castilla, Guatamala. How cool is that? Trees are everywhere. The
area is very undeveloped and green. The only blotch is the port. UGLY.
Shopping is in one building right on the port but we managed...
I love the textures and the colors of the fabrics. We bought several bags
of coffee as gifts mainly because of the the cloth bags they came in. How
exactly does one give a gift while asking for part of the gift back? heh heh.
We were also entertained with live music and dancing with everyone in
colorful costumes. This was the only port where all of the shop
owners/workers, the taxi cab drivers, and the musicians and dancers
all came to the dock to bid us farewell. They were beeping horns, dancing,
and singing. It was great. I think I even understood some of the words as
they sang..."please come back, we love your money, bring more....."
Go figure, I don't even speak Spanish.
One of the neatest things happens each time we leave a port. The Port Captain rides on our ship for a particular distance. Then another
very much smaller boat rides along side and the Captain steps off our boat onto the smaller one. Are we, the passengers impressed? You
betcha. We watched this event at each port and cheered each time the Captain successfully made the transition. Just think, one mis-step
and this guy is bait.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Our first port, Costa Maya, Mexico. It is a good thing we did not have more than one day to shop. We found a great bathroom sink for
Chris' fixer-upper, a beautiful flower pot, a "typical" pottery gecko, a fabulous platter, a...........hurry, run back to the ship.
Monday, January 26, 2009
We started our vacation by doing one of the "never again" thingies -- we set the alarm clock. We had to be ready for taking and teaching
classes by 8:00 a.m. Classes went well, at least from my perspective. I always love seeing the fabrics each participant chooses. There has
never been a duplicate of anyone elses.'
Brandy met two sweet young ladies from the classes and the three of them went dancing later that evening. I decided to head to the gym.
Of course, I am certain this had nothing to do with the fact that I had eaten three to four desserts with each meal so far.......
Sunday, January, 25, 2009
Brandy and I were nervous about finding the port in
New Orleans. The directions we received did not make
much sense to us. To make matters worse, a group of
Mardi Gras floats were in route to a parade and we were
not even allowed to go down one of the designated roads.
Argh. In spite or ourselves, we made it. Everyone was so
friendly and helpful and parking was way easier than we
were led to believe. Nice surprises. So far, so good.
The ship is HUGE -- 13 stories high. We will be staying
on the 9th floor. Our room is actually larger than I had
expected. There is a wall to wall window/sliding door and
balcony. I cannot imagine using that. I am so prepared
with anti-nausea drugs, bracelets, etc, but I do not want
to push it.
After a huge buffet of delicious food, we headed back
to our room to settle in. Brandy and I were busily
dividing drawer space, closet space, and claiming a side
of the bed when we looked up and realized we were at sea! Again, so far, so good.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
First order of business: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEBBIE. I LOVE YOU AND HOPE YOU
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!!
Now, as for the cruise, anxiety is still running amok -- I do not expect to garner much, if any, sympathy. However, the truth is what I
mentioned earlier, that I am having a difficult time with even the concept of being on this boat (ship). We will soon see how "cruisin' " fits
Dianne.
My daughter and I had originally planned to depart around 4 a.m. Sunday morning and drive straight to New Orleans. My husband kept
saying, "Are you crazy?" (as if he did not know the answer to that by now?) Finally, he simply made hotel reservations in Baton Rouge then
told us that the hotel was booked, paid for, and we needed to leave on Saturday or we would be wasting all that $$. Plans change. We
decided to leave around noon on Saturday and relax. Great plan. Not so great was reality. We finally headed out of the garage around 4
P.M. with about a dozen more errands to accomplish before actually leaving. Tom was soooo wise. Think I should tell him? Nah. Not telling
is so much more thoughtful. Think of the difficulty he would have had getting through doors and places with that big, huge, swelled head.
Much kinder to keep my thoughts to myself......
January 23, 2009
My goodness. I had no idea how difficult it would be to pack for the cruise. So far I can sleep and swim. Other than that, I am naked. I
suppose I could stay in my room and get a lot of sewing done, then swim, then sew, then sleep. I am one of the best procrastinators in the
world and it is being proven right now. Shoot, I am writing this as an avoidance mechanism. So little is going on other that the "biz" that I
figured anyone reading anything about my last few days would get a good snooze in. The good news is how well the post card mailing has
gone. There has barely been time for me to pee. In fact, I have started to add a new use for my cup, heh heh....o.k., o.k., it was just a
passing thought. oops, the phone...
Better go take care of business. I hope you guys have a wonderful week and think of me at least occasionally while I am out there, floating,
unable to get on land when I want to, in the tiny little claustrophobic space called a stateroom, .....ohhhh, now I am starting to have an
anxiety attack, remembering why I never took a cruise before.......yikes. Deep breath. Positive thoughts, positive thoughts. Think fun, this
is supposed to be FUN.
January 21, 2008
So much for the blog these days....We left for Dallas the day after I finished the binding on the quilt. We dropped the quilt off in Jefferson,
Texas, for the Quilt Show and then proceeded on to Dallas. The ladies who were checking the quilts in said, "Boy, when we saw the entry
picture of the quilt we all thought that did not look like a Dianne quilt." Now, I do not know what that means. Is that a good thing? a bad
thing? What exactly is a Dianne Quilt, anyway? Am I going to waste any more time worrying over this ---- nope.
On Friday we went to the International shipping place and picked up 5,000 Quilt in a Cup kits !! Now, no one can park their car in the
garage. I had been totally panicked about not receiving the cups in time for the quilting cruise. Of course, this was all based on the fact
that I thought that the cruise departed New Orleans on Thursday. I had always thought that Thursday was a peculiar day for a ship to be
leaving. Well, duh. Of course it is. I finally read all of the materials pertaining to the cruise and guess what???? The cruise does not leave
until this coming Sunday. Whew. I cannot imagine my having left for New Orleans at 4 a.m., driving 6 hours only to discover myself at the
dock with no boat. Folks around here are shaking their heads and saying things like, "classic Dianne move." Again, is that a good thing?
January 12, 2008
Ditto on yesterday's schedule. Three a.m. bedtime. Yawn. I do not think I am going to duplicate that, yet, again. At least I am seeing
progress on the quilt. I am at the binding stage -- easily the most tedious part of producing a quilt. Perhaps that is why I was able to take a
couple of hours today to go for a walk. Wow. It is amazing how out of shape I have gotten in just a few months. My butt is sore and I was
panting like a dog in summer. Geez. Wheez. I keep promising myself that I will do better tomorrow. I might as well have said, "The second
Tuesday of next week." You guessed it, "It never happens."
What has been happening, in case you did not notice, are several changes here on my website. Definitely some action on the "completed
cup" pages. I have decided to sell the completed cups at 50% off since the newest version has the lid and these do not. So, I hope you
have some fun at least looking. The cups make cute flower vases, pencil holders, and, oh yeah, drinking vessels! Thanks for sticking
around. In fact, if you mention that you found out about the sale by reading this Thread, tell me and I will give you half price shipping
costs. My gift to the one or two of you who have been so very bored that you still checked in on me. Have a good one.
January 11, 2009
First let's get this out of the way -- this is not a trend...I mean two days in a row adding to my Threads? I just wish.
Anyway, I actually started the quilting phase of the quilt below. Arg. It is going to be a long day, two days, three? I went to bed at three this
morning, day one. Lots of thread, lots of sweating. Gulp. This part of the process can make or break the quilt, that is for sure. I will let you
know more later.
January 10, 2009
Good grief. I thought that I was actually writing for two consecutive days. Ha, not even close. Oh well, not to dwell. I am still trying to catch
up with all that I did not do while in Houston. I am in the process of mailing out 4,000 postcards to announce my new cup kit so folks will see
that we finally have cups with lids. The cards say, Happy New Year on them and it would be silly to wait longer to send them. Problem is,
how could we have calculated how long it would take to address and stamp four thousand cards???? Needless to say, it takes longer than
we thought.
Whoa, I am falling asleep as I write. Of course, for me, that is a good thing as I seldom even feel sleepy. I better go take advantage of this.
Later. Have a great weekend.
January 7, 2009
Well, it is not even close to a two year gap like that web site I mentioned earlier, but, even for me this is a long time to be away...I hate
excuses so I won't even go there. Does the fact that I am starting page 4 deserve something? I hope, I hope....What I will do is tell you a bit
of what I have been doing with my time while away.
First, December 28th was my husband's and my 44th wedding anniversary. It was not the most privately romantic of affairs. We talked my
sister into staying one more day to go to dinner with us. Also, our daughter, Brandy, was still here so we invited her, as well. So, it was
more of a family affair which always seems more appropriate for me, anyway. I mean, it seems more like a mini-wedding celebration when
others take part because lots of family and friends are usually there for the original wedding ceremony. So, we begin our 45th year of
wedded bliss. I am not being facetious, either. I am beyond delighted to say that I have been extremely lucky in love for all of that time.
If you cannot tell by my earlier blogs that my husband is a total doll, I am here to say that now. My only problem is that I cannot live long
enough to get tired of this man. O.K., enough of the sloppy stuff. Hmmm. This is Dianne talking. There will always be room for gushy
gooey, heh heh.
While my sister was here we spent a lot of time
in my studio. My sister was in Heaven. She made
everything she could out of the beads that I had
available. It was a delight to watch -- like a kid in
a candy shop. She even created a huge beaded
fob for the new purse I gave her. While she was
playing with beads, I was spending every available
moment trying to get some more work done on that
flowered quilt. I am trying to complete it in time for
a couple of quilt shows as well as for the anxious
couple who have been patiently waiting. Here is
a photo of the completed top -- TADA
By the 31st, all family was on their way home and we
were on our way to Houston. Since then we have been
working on our son's newly acquired fixer-upper
apartment. Heavy on the upper. Of course it does
not take much to move this place into the upperness
category since it is in such need of fixing that anything
would help. For instance, the oven does not work, the
bathroom sink has cracks and leaks so badly that the
downs stairs neighbor complained that his ceiling was
crumbling, dishwasher broken, carpet GROSSSS, etc.
So, I have been painting for days. Every room needed
it. My husband and son removed all of the cabinets in
the kitchen since the bottoms were rotted out and the
fronts were falling off. If any of you folks out there have
yet to shop at IKEA, let me introduce you to that store
immediately. We are going to be able to replace all the
kitchen cabinets for around $500. I was expecting more
like $1500. How often do we get that pleasant surprise?
How about I include photos of the place? I will shoot
some the next time we go down there. Too bad I did not
take before so the after's would be more effective. I will try to do better on the rooms we have yet to re-do. My problem with that is usually
that I am so anxious to get started that photos are the last thing on my mind. Re-group, Dianne, re-group.
While in Houston, our son introduced us to one of his neighborhood restaurants, a Vietnamese place called, Nam's. I am now addicted to a
drink they make from kumquats. We went there every day to get some. Luckily that is not the only delightful item on the menu. The two
most memorable that we have tried so far are fried calamari and French Butter Shrimp. Lick-yo-plate and Slap-yo-mama GOOOOD. My
mouth is watering as I write...One more bright spot before closing for the day. While we were gone, our daughter came over and totally
cleaned up all of the Christmas paraphernalia. What a doll. If she were not already mine, I would adopt her. Thank you my darling
daughter. I am a lucky woman.
For the rest of you, I am hoping that all of your lives are even better and brighter in 2009.
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