South Dakota is behind me. I read "Twisted Tree" by Kent Meyers. SD has been the toughest state so far to find a read. I found a number of fiction books, but not current enough to be in the library. I am into Arkansas with "Calicoe Joe" by John Grisham. I have fifteen states left and around eighteen more weeks to accomplish this goal. It will be close. I have enjoyed reading a book from every state.
I finished my tumbling blocks quilt, but haven't taken a picture. I plan on sending it off for quilting. I am trying to slog through things I haven't finished. I sewed on two bindings so they are ready to be tacked down during cool evenings in the fall. I am still only using fabrics that I have on hand to make anything new. My postage stamp quilt has 64 finished blocks, I have no real plans for this yet. I am using strips to make a shawl. I like it, but Ellen said it looks like something I made. I am not sure what that means. I promise to post some pictures!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Words and Weirds
Ian has a friend over and they decided to play Scrabble. This alone is amazing. They are in the middle of the big game and the "under-the-bed cat" strolls in and lies down in the middle of the game. He wreaked a little havoc and then sauntered back off to look for dust bunnies.
We ate dinner with the neighbors the other day. One of them said a word that I had never heard, some type of Native American word. I asked her how you spelled it. Her husband laughed at me and said, "you really like words, don't you." I really, really, really like words. I forget how weird and nerdy it is. I feel that math nerds are taken more seriously than word nerds.
I got over my library book scoobiness for the most part and have checked out tons of books. I have forgotten to write them down. Now, I can tell you the plot, but not the author and title. I didn't write down Idaho and now can't remember it - very frustrating. I just finished "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathatn Safran Foer. It took me longer to read than usual and I put it down a couple of times to rest from the story, but it was extremely and incredibly beautiful. The book held many love stories.
I have been making steady progress on a tumbling blocks quilt. It is going together amazingly well. I have trouble with precision, but this quilt is really working. The quilt is challenge for me, because the pattern looks different from every angle. I will post a picture soon.
We ate dinner with the neighbors the other day. One of them said a word that I had never heard, some type of Native American word. I asked her how you spelled it. Her husband laughed at me and said, "you really like words, don't you." I really, really, really like words. I forget how weird and nerdy it is. I feel that math nerds are taken more seriously than word nerds.
I got over my library book scoobiness for the most part and have checked out tons of books. I have forgotten to write them down. Now, I can tell you the plot, but not the author and title. I didn't write down Idaho and now can't remember it - very frustrating. I just finished "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathatn Safran Foer. It took me longer to read than usual and I put it down a couple of times to rest from the story, but it was extremely and incredibly beautiful. The book held many love stories.
I have been making steady progress on a tumbling blocks quilt. It is going together amazingly well. I have trouble with precision, but this quilt is really working. The quilt is challenge for me, because the pattern looks different from every angle. I will post a picture soon.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Ambidextrous
If Ned was doing this I would think he was messing with me. Since it is Ian, I think he is generally confunded.
Ian - Mom is that girl on the tv who lost a lot of weight ambidextrous?
Me - She is anorexic, I doubt she is eating with both hands. Someone give that girl a sandwich.
Ian - Mom when you move around to get exercise is that ambidextrous?
Me - Aerobic exercise and you can use both hands. Go play outside!
Ian - Mom that stuff you use to wash the floors that smells bad is that ambidexterous?
Me - Ammonia and I can mop with both hands. Thanks for asking to do the mopping.
Ian - Mom is that old lady ambidextrous?
Me - I don't know, but she has arthritis. Shh, she can hear you.
Ian - Mom when I keep my room really clean is that ambidextrous?
Me - Immaculate, for the seven millionth time ambidextrous means using both hands. In baseball being able to bat both directions. Please go clean your room.
Ian - Oh yeah.
2 days later
Ian - Mom when I really don't want to do something is that ambidextrous?
Me - Apathetic!
Since I am telling Ian stories, here is another one. He is for the most part even-tempered, but every now and then has a grumpfest. I always tell him, "the real Ian has been abducted by Aliens and replaced by a grumpkin." One day last week he told that he doesn't like that and to never say it again. No problem on my part. This week he has been totally out-of-sorts. He told me, "Mom, I think I have been abducted by Aliens and replaced with a grumpkin." He is trying to make me a crazy mom.
Ian - Mom is that girl on the tv who lost a lot of weight ambidextrous?
Me - She is anorexic, I doubt she is eating with both hands. Someone give that girl a sandwich.
Ian - Mom when you move around to get exercise is that ambidextrous?
Me - Aerobic exercise and you can use both hands. Go play outside!
Ian - Mom that stuff you use to wash the floors that smells bad is that ambidexterous?
Me - Ammonia and I can mop with both hands. Thanks for asking to do the mopping.
Ian - Mom is that old lady ambidextrous?
Me - I don't know, but she has arthritis. Shh, she can hear you.
Ian - Mom when I keep my room really clean is that ambidextrous?
Me - Immaculate, for the seven millionth time ambidextrous means using both hands. In baseball being able to bat both directions. Please go clean your room.
Ian - Oh yeah.
2 days later
Ian - Mom when I really don't want to do something is that ambidextrous?
Me - Apathetic!
Since I am telling Ian stories, here is another one. He is for the most part even-tempered, but every now and then has a grumpfest. I always tell him, "the real Ian has been abducted by Aliens and replaced by a grumpkin." One day last week he told that he doesn't like that and to never say it again. No problem on my part. This week he has been totally out-of-sorts. He told me, "Mom, I think I have been abducted by Aliens and replaced with a grumpkin." He is trying to make me a crazy mom.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Mug Rugs
Up until recently I have enjoyed reading other quilting blogs, but lately it has been dull. I haven't been happy with all the blogs having similar quilts. I know it is like fashion and certain colors are in, but it all is blurring together. I feel that many quilters are buying the fabric lines and not putting together their own mix of fabrics. The lines are beautiful, but a bit sterile. Truly, what has put me over the edge with quilt sites is mug rugs. Quilting fights an uphill battle to get respect with "real artists" and the general population. People always perceive quilting to be crafty and grandmotherly. These people making mug rugs contribute to the impression. A mug rug is a fiddly, useless, dorky and somewhat humiliating use of scraps. Go ahead people and make small quilts, place mats, trading cards or just pass on/throw away the scraps, but don't make mug rugs.
I do have a small wonder why I don't feel this same aversion for coasters?
I have not quilted in a month. I have been too busy with kid stuff and reading, but the real reason is a dog barf. Hoover threw up in my sewing room. It was huge and disgusting in that little room. I have cleaned it up, but my room has felt contaminated. I will have to quilt myself a HAZMAT suit. I haven't recovered from his four room episode. Thankfully Hoover has recovered.
I do have a small wonder why I don't feel this same aversion for coasters?
I have not quilted in a month. I have been too busy with kid stuff and reading, but the real reason is a dog barf. Hoover threw up in my sewing room. It was huge and disgusting in that little room. I have cleaned it up, but my room has felt contaminated. I will have to quilt myself a HAZMAT suit. I haven't recovered from his four room episode. Thankfully Hoover has recovered.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Something Like This
Maddy showed me this hysterical video of why things never really get done entirely, my version goes something like this............
I walk into the kitchen to check my Scrabble games on FB. I stop to pick up the kid's shoes. I take Ned's to his room and start to make his bed. I find one sock and so turn to look for the other one. In the bottom drawer he hasn't closed is the missing pair of scissors. I walk down to the kitchen to put them away. I see a dog barf on the floor and set the scissors on the entry table. I go into the laundry room to get the carpet cleaner. I forgot I hadn't switched the laundry from the washer to the dryer. I take the dryer clothes to the back room and start to fold them. I hear my cell phone ring, but don't know where it is. On the way through the dining room I see a Lego creation and decide to put it away in Ian's room. On the way up there I see the dog barf, so set the Lego on the couch. I go into the kitchen to get paper towels. I forgot to do the dishes. I am putting them in the dishwasher, when the phone rings. It is the school I forgot to do a dismissal email. I sit on the couch to do it and realize all the pillows and cushions need to be fluffed to maybe remove the little boy feet smell. I get one fluffed and the cat jumps up to be pet. I then have to pet Hoover, because you can't forget his insistent nose all wet in your elbow. I walk into the bathroom to wash my hands and see one pair of underwear and a blue crayon on the floor. I head to the back room to put the crayon away, but see the dog water bowl is empty. I set the crayon and underwear on the table. This goes on all day. I pick the kids up at the bus and they ask what I did all day? Why didn't I make cookies? It is now time for bedtime and half a bed has been made, 1/3 the laundry folded, 1/2 the dishes washed, no dog barf actually cleaned up, a blue crayon and pair of underwear on the table, scissors missing, no dismissal done. Big sigh!!
I walk into the kitchen to check my Scrabble games on FB. I stop to pick up the kid's shoes. I take Ned's to his room and start to make his bed. I find one sock and so turn to look for the other one. In the bottom drawer he hasn't closed is the missing pair of scissors. I walk down to the kitchen to put them away. I see a dog barf on the floor and set the scissors on the entry table. I go into the laundry room to get the carpet cleaner. I forgot I hadn't switched the laundry from the washer to the dryer. I take the dryer clothes to the back room and start to fold them. I hear my cell phone ring, but don't know where it is. On the way through the dining room I see a Lego creation and decide to put it away in Ian's room. On the way up there I see the dog barf, so set the Lego on the couch. I go into the kitchen to get paper towels. I forgot to do the dishes. I am putting them in the dishwasher, when the phone rings. It is the school I forgot to do a dismissal email. I sit on the couch to do it and realize all the pillows and cushions need to be fluffed to maybe remove the little boy feet smell. I get one fluffed and the cat jumps up to be pet. I then have to pet Hoover, because you can't forget his insistent nose all wet in your elbow. I walk into the bathroom to wash my hands and see one pair of underwear and a blue crayon on the floor. I head to the back room to put the crayon away, but see the dog water bowl is empty. I set the crayon and underwear on the table. This goes on all day. I pick the kids up at the bus and they ask what I did all day? Why didn't I make cookies? It is now time for bedtime and half a bed has been made, 1/3 the laundry folded, 1/2 the dishes washed, no dog barf actually cleaned up, a blue crayon and pair of underwear on the table, scissors missing, no dismissal done. Big sigh!!
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