Notes from the Refridgerator Door

Where have I gone???

2009-02-15T16:19:00.004-05:00

Hey folks, I've defected (actually, it's been some time now, but back then I was having such issues getting INTO this site, I'd just given up...)

come visit and catch up at ....

http://aliaslaceygreen.wordpress.com/

New Years Resolutions??

2007-01-03T10:35:00.001-05:00

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS?
Do people still do this to themselves?
Go out, get bent, and come home, believing that TOMORROW, the world they exist in will be able to be radically changed, just because it’s called January?

Well, not me. Look, it’s January THIRD, and I still haven’t made a list!!!

If I were to make a list, I suppose procrastinate less would have to be high on it, right?

I could of course, write a list of resolutions.
Lose ten pounds.
Exercise more.
Eat less chocolate.
Put house keeping higher on my radar.
Save Money.
Buy less fabric.
Oh, right, the procrastination thing-y.

Sounds like a more like a prison sentence than a lifestyle.

So, how about GOALS….Goals, I think I could handle.

So, for 2007, what goals do I have?

Spend more time with friends. Keep up contact.

Quilt more! That would help the fabric pile-up, and allow me to add to my stash with less guilt. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to learn to finish things, right? Follow-through. I have joined a UFO quilting group to help me process all those started projects. (there are 25 items currently on the list....)

Scrapbooking has taken a back seat to my other endeavors this past year, primarily because the monthly get-together we used to have was ended when our local store closed. I could do this at home. I certainly haven’t run out of photos yet! And I do enjoy it! (there are a jillion half finished pages, and that many more photos awaiting page design)

I have started doing some writing again. I am enjoying the different creative concepts, and outcomes. I don't want to stop that.

The housework resolution I can’t find a way to turn into a goal. Just doesn’t interest me enough. Sorry. But I have decided to try at least one NEW recipe a week. By the end of the year, I should have a collection of ideas that we both like!

Oh, the money thing. Well, I am pretty good about shopping wisely. I only get crazy at the quilt store, the quilt show….. but I certainly can’t eliminate THAT part of my experience!

The garden. But that's more of a spring time desire. In spring all feels possible.

2007 is the year I turn 42--- 42 is my number. 42 is the ultimate answer, you know. If you don’t believe me, google it! Seriously. Google the number 42, and all will be answered!

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone has a great one!

Where is your Christmas card?

2006-12-24T08:17:00.000-05:00

I know. It's Sunday. It's Christmas eve. You are sitting there, wondering, 'where is my card from Trish and Timmy?' You haven't wondered? I'm hurt ;)

The only response I can offer? Last year's card wiped me out! How to top that has left me with no ideas, totally drained of creativity. And so, as I head off to work in a few minutes (yes, on Christmas EVE) I decided to do what any self-respecting photographer would do.

I took some Christmas photos, and you can choose your OWN card!
They all come with the best of Christmas wishes, with thoughts of joyful laughter, with the spirit of peace and love, and the hopes for a happy healthy holiday season and a bright new year!
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR

Peace and Love, Trish, Timmy, kids and kitties

Has Hamish been good?

This honeycomb ornament belonged to my grandma Elaine

An icy, snowy sled

Miss Tatiana was a good girl, Santa

Our Tree

Christmas Cards recieved

Ornaments on display

TACKY LIGHTS AND OTHER CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

2006-12-15T20:55:00.000-05:00

Tacky Christmas lights? Not at this house! But here in the Richmond area, it is apparently a point of pride to help Dominion Power have a very Merry Christmas, and so there is a huge to-do about out-door decorating. Click on the link below and take the slide show tour of our bright neighbors.

And I'm not kidding, folks. There are bus tours of this stuff!!! Myself, well, this is the inside, and the outside of our humble abode.

http://media.gatewayva.com/photos/rtd/special/holidayguide2006/tackylights/banneradslideshow/slideshow_content.html
Ok, so that was silly, and fun, too, don't you agree? As long as I didn't have to be on the roof's of some of those houses, more power to ya, I say. Of course, I would hope that I had good blinds on my bedroom windows! No fears, because none of our neighbors has gotten THAT elaborate yet!

Last year, just about everyone with a computer saw this little movie, and heard the music of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/21/christmas-lights-gone-wild/

You will possibly need to follow a link to Christmas lights gone wild. It's worth it.
-----------------------------------------
On to other Christmas thoughts. There is Christmas music in the air. EVERYWHERE! I am sure you all humm to yourself where ever you are to the sounds of Little Drummer Boy, or Grandma Got Runover By a Reindeer.

For the last few years, this Christmas song, definitely an alternative selection, has topped my Christmas music list.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a musical treat and a light show. The music is not all harps and bells; it's much more like an orchestral heavy-metal. I like it.

The lyrics to this song, however, outshine the music by far. Read them, and think on them. This is a song for believers, cynics, grinches and atheists.

OLD CITY BAR --Trans-Siberian Orchestra

In an old city bar
That is never too far
From the places that gather
The dreams that have been

In the safety of night
With its old neon light
It beckons to strangers
And they always come in

And the snow it was falling
The neon was calling
The music was low
And the night Christmas Eve

And here was the danger
That even with strangers
Inside of this night
It's easier to believe

Then the door opened wide
And a child came inside
That no one in the bar
Had seen there before

And he asked did we know
That outside in the snow
That someone was lost
Standing outside our door

Then the bartender gazed
Through the smoke and the haze
Through the window and ice
To a corner streetlight

Where standing alone
By a broken pay phone
Was a girl the child said
Could no longer get home

And the snow it was falling
The neon was calling
The bartender turned
And said, not that I care
But how would you know this?

The child said I've noticed
If one could be home
They'd be all ready there

Then the bartender came out from behind the bar
And in all of his life he was never that far

And he did something else that he thought no one saw
When he took all the cash from the register drawer

Then he followed the child to the girl cross the street
And we watched from the bar as they started to speak
Then he called for a cab and he said J.F.K.

Put the girl in the cab and the cab drove away
And we saw in his hand That the cash was all gone
From the light that she had wished upon

If you want to arrange it
This world you can change it
If we could somehow make this Christmas thing last

By helping a neighbor
Or even a stranger
And to know who needs help
You need only just ask

Then he looked for the child
But the child wasn't there
Just the wind and the snow
Waltzing dreams through the air

So he walked back inside
Somehow different I think
For the rest of the night
No one paid for a drink

And the cynics will say
That some neighborhood kid
Wandered in on some bums
In the world where they hid

But they weren't there
So they couldn't see

By an old neon star
On that, night, Christmas Eve

When the snow it was falling
The neon was calling
And in case you should wonder
In case you should care

Why we're on our own
Never went home
On that night of all nights
We were already there

Then all at once inside that night
He saw it all so clear
The answer that he sought so long
Had always been so near

It's every gift that someone gives
Expecting nothing back
It's every kindness that we do
Each simple little act

Visit them...http://www.trans-siberian.com/

What Else am I up to?

2006-11-20T11:49:00.000-05:00

Well, let's see. A lot of you know I like to write. I used to write essays for the local newspaper; had a couple published there and even made it to the OP/ED page once or twice.

In college, I was always the one asking for ONE MORE blue book, please, I promise I will stop answering the questions soon! And a 8-10 page paper? Easy as pie. Of course, easy, once I settled down and started writing, it was easy. I have held the title of Queen of Procrastination for a very long time, folks. I groan to think of how long those papers would be today--back then (insert stone age drum beats) I had to hand write and then insert paper into a typewriter! And use white out.

Ah, the freedom the computer has provided. Professor Nachmani is relieved I am sure that we didn't use such new -fangled things like this back then!

Not that you would know by reading this blog so far. I definitely haven't been writing with much thought here; I started this mostly to have a place to show photos.

In any event. I have gotten hooked on this book series. Well, a number of books, of course, but this particular series...it spoke to me. The author is stringing us along, and we are following her meekly.

The series is Stephanie Plum and the author is Janet Evanovich. There are currently 12 books, and she writes a new one each year. I devoured them this summer. And then read them again. Immediately. Not like me, I usually move on quickly.

The characters got under my skin. There has been no resolution for them, and it was eating me up. (Ok, so I don't have much else to worry about...shoot me that my life is great, why don't you?) I am willing to admit, and I know that my husband reads this, that I have certain, well, feelings, for one of the main characters.

I had never heard of Fan Fiction before, or maybe I had, but it buzzed by my brain. I did a little googling, and discovered a whole world of people who like to play with other people's fictional characters! Who knew?

Have I ever sent you a hand made card? What does it say on the back---"another product of Trish's over-active imagination"--I believe those are the words I used.

I began to write a story. And up until now, have posted it on a site where everyone else has similar feelings about the universe we are exploring, (or borrowing.) So they are all very supportive. But, I have decided to take the big plunge, and post it where people I actually know may read it. Exposing myself, yikes, a bit delicate there, but...

if you go to http://www.fanfiction.net/~aliaslaceygreen or http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1166786/ you should be able to locate my story, called Geometry Lessons. (but maybe not quite yet. It's showing up on my computer as existing, from the accounts side, but not from the public side.)

I have written a prologue, so if you have no Stephanie Plum experience, you shouldn't be too lost. I will continue posting there; currently only have the prologue up, but it's a slightly difficult site so far for me to navigate. I am working on it, however.

I hope you enjoy it. I will note here that I use real language (cursing, etc) and real situations, so if you are uncomfortable with this proceed at your own risk.

The Journal Quilt Project. JANUARY 2006.

2006-11-02T21:05:00.000-05:00

STAUNTON WINDOW-On Display at Houston.
I belong to a quilt list on line, quiltart.com.
I am usually not a good deadline person, and I am not a big participant in discussion on the board. I also have a very hard time committing to projects and FINISHING them.
I have so many partly finished quilts. Ideas in progress. UFO's. Even belong to a quilt list to help get my UFO's finished!

Quiltart posted the Journal Quilt Project.
I decided to enter this challenge that was posted. It was in it's fifth year. I could handle having to produce one finished art quilt per month, considering that the only criteria was that they were the size of a piece of typing paper. After all, I scrapbook, and that's the format I use.

So, I committed to the project. Now, what to DO?? Well, Timmy and I had taken a weekend trip the autumn before, hunting down quilt shops. While in Staunton, VA, I discovered an antique/junk shop that had colored bottles in the windows. The owner let me take photos (he actually looked at me funny when I asked if I could take pictures through-out his store.)

The rest of the weekend, I was buying batik fabrics and kept seeing colored bottles. Ah, another quilt idea.

So, in January, I started plotting out the quilts. Do I do a series? Random thoughts? New techniques? What do I want out of this exercise? (other than my name in lights, of course!!!) I knew by fulfilling the project that I would be getting my five of nine quilts displayed at the International Quilt Show 2006 in Houston.
Great motivator!

I rummaged through fabrics and ideas spilled forth. I ran across the batiks, and the windows came back into mind. Did I want to do a series of WINDOWS? (still gonna happen someday)hmmm.
Started cutting fabric and fusing it, decided to add some Angelina fiber to make the shiny bottle and learn how to use that. Gotta start practicing my machine quilting, so tossed that into the soup too.

Then, a topic began on quiltart about netting, and tulle on quilts, and BINGO! I realized I needed a spiderweb. Mine is from organza.

Well, looky there. I made my first Journal quilt. And January, oh, we love January, because resolutions are still easy to keep, so I even sent out my digitial image of my January and February quilts on time.

I was shocked by an email a month or so later to discover that my January quilt was chosen to be one of 280 or so quilts to be published in November 2006 in a book about the Journal Quilt Projects five year odessy!!!! Click here to see the book (I'm on page 256 =} )
http://www.quiltingarts.com/shop/cq_book.html

Journal Quilts February-May

2006-11-02T21:04:00.000-05:00

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
February's quilt came as I was in a mini Beatlmania. I had just finished watching the DVD Imagine, and had a Beatles CD in the car, driving home from Ashland, where I had gone to meet a quilter from one of my groups. We went fabric shopping!!!
And then to the new scrapbook store next to the quiltman. Ashland is a bad bad place.

Anyway, the words to this song rattled around in my head as I buzzed down 95. The entire concept and construction occured on the ride home.
I felt that it needed to be in soft, monochromatic colors, to emphasize John and Pauls timeless lyrics, I never saw 60's psychedelic colors. I printed the words onto fabric run through my printer, cut them up and the sewed them back together. Using some fabric paint and rubber stamps designed for scrapbooking, I pressed the title over the entire thing.

WOULDN'T AUNT GENE BE PROUD
March was interesting. Meaningful. I was working on a different project, for FFAC, which was donating money to the American Cancer Society. Since my father had just finished up treatment for his cancer I decided to donate some fabric postcards to the cause. They would be sold at the Chicago IQS in April.
I started playing with scraps from a different quilt, and came up with an idea for the postcards, but while putting it together, it reminded me of my Aunt Gene. She was the ultimate hoarder. I thought, wow, wouldn't Aunt Gene be proud! Then of course, I amended that thought, because the last time I saw her before she died, she had no idea who I was. Alzheimers had taken her, and her sister, my great-grandmother. I recalled there was an Alzheimers project for quilters going on as well. I took the thought for the postcards, reworked it for the Alzheimers project and liked the result so much (down in the past postings SOMEWHERE) that I made one for my Journal Quilt as well.

IT'S TRITE I TELL YA -On Display at Houston

Ok, another one caused by the endless circular carryings on at quiltart. Is it real or is it memorex? What constites a quilt? What makes it art? Yada yada. One round of this discussion brought up the idea of a sunflower. Someone stated that they were trite. Not art (dont tell Georgia)....Anyhoooo, I just left the Chicago quilt show and there were a heck of a lot of Sunflowers that made it into the show!!!

And after all, I personally have never worked with the sunflower as a subject, in any media. How could it be trite to me? For bonus points, I tossed in a Kincade-esque background complete with Lumiere painted sky and a thatched cottage.

DiscOver Aquehonga On-Display at Houston
See next posting.

Journal Quilts June-Sept

2006-11-02T21:00:00.000-05:00

AND I THOUGH LIME WAS THE NEW BLACK

This quilt happened, too. I don't do solids. They're vegetables, and I am a dessert kind of gal. I hate having to spend money on the solids when there are so many pretty patterned fabrics that want to go home with me. But I digress.

I moved away from NYC before Christos' Gates took over Central Park. I missed something. Did I ? Was it art? I know here in VA, I framed a couple of photos of the installation where people had gotten a scrap of the fabric. It really had by-passed my world. But I went to the Chicago quilt show, and everywhere I turned there were orange quilts. And at leat 4 that were based on the Gates!!!! I did miss --something. I found these awesome beads at a vendor (why do they HAVE to sell beads at the quilt show....far too dangerous!!!) and they were lime and orange. Another quilt just created itself. I even machine quilted the thing!!!

DisCOVER Aquehong -On Display at Houston
See last descripton
IT IS WHAT IT IS
This one never really gelled. I liked the idea, but the overall execution or something still hasn't happened. I used a photo transfer of my brother and myself of the day I perceive as the day that mom left. This whole concept came about because of a discussion on Quiltart (surprise!) about whether it's art if its not about pain. about angst. are pretty pictures truly art? or do you have to have DEEP meaning?

DISC-cOVER // DISC-OVER // DIS-GARD-GUARD AQUEHONGA

On Display at Houston
This triptych has been floating around in my head for around 20 years or more. My great great great grandfather, Ephraim Clark, was a speaker at the Centennial of Staten Island Celebration, and he said that Staten Island was one of the most beautiful places on earth and he hoped that it's future kept pace with it's surrounding. (can't find the exact quote)

Since then, Staten Islands largest claim to fame has been as the worlds largest garbage dump, seen from space, etc.

At one time I thought it would be called Discover Mecca, but times being what they are, I felt that was awkward. Aquehonga is the Native American name for my birthplace. Panel one is as Ephraim saw it. Sun setting in the west, over New Jersey, the Kills providing wetlands and most likely beauty and bounty.
That is how it was Disc covered. Playing on the word DISC, referring to the Sun, and the worship that we have often given to the sun, covering our home and protecting it.
In panel 2, I see the same view, changed. And my how it has changed. The first time I started working across the street from this view, you could still SEE New Jersey. By the time I stopped working at the mall, the horizon of Linden and it’s oil refineries was swallowed by the ever growing mountains of trash that are/were Fresh Kills, the largest landfill in the world. I envisioned grid work silhouetted and the smoke of the refineries changing the color of Ephraim’s sunset. I envisioned panels two and three differently at one time. The DISC is OVER Aquehonga, but it is partly hidden from view by man’s touch.
Today, post 9/11, post landfill closure, Panel 3 has changed. The landfill closure, a long-awaited joy to Staten Islanders was only shortly celebrated; 3 months after closing, it became the final resting place of the Twin Towers, and all that entails emotionally and physically. I have left this island. I see now, the sun, the DISC guarding the discards of our old world. Our innocence. The disc is the link between the earthly, the sky, and the heavens. It warms the soil where the remains of the Towers were laid to rest, the crystals are the souls, earthbound and sent heavenward that day. The phrase in the sky, with the birds flying freely is one that came to me on that day, as I watched the endless souls floating heavenward.

Richmond Highland Games

2006-11-02T20:51:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, Timmy and I went to the Highland Games at RIR. The day was sunny, deceptive, because the wind was whipping around! I came home and for two days felt like there was grit in my eyes from the fine dirt blowing everywhere.

One of the highlights of the day, and
definitely a crowd pleaser was the band Albannach. (www.Albannachonline.com)

Their music is infectious, and loud! You can't sit still. It's not traditional pipes and drums, but primitive, and wild, and fun....

Had a great seat, and got some nice pictures, too!

Large Men Throwing Things

2006-11-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

Thats actually the tag line of the Highland Games! Large men, in kilts, throwing heavy objects like this. This is called Caber tossing.. This caber is 18.5 feet tall, and over 141 lbs. The goal? Throw it.

Make it turn on its head, so that the fat end is at the bottom. Get it to flip over, at a 90 degree angle.

The day I watched, not one of the guys was able to do it... but the judge did
admit that he chose a very difficult caber to toss! Yeah, sounds like my idea of fun! Not. But watching it was fascinating.

Highland Games

2006-11-02T18:32:00.000-05:00

Everyone loves a parade! And while the sound of bagpipes usually reminds me of chilly March days standing on Forest Avenue on Staten Island, or of the little parade we had of our own after our wedding, celebrating the end of the outdoor seasons seems just as reasonable a reason to have bagpipers and parades.
These gentlemen cut a fine figure in their kilts, don't they? The blond wants us to knowabout a few of his favorite things...a beer in one hand and whiskey in his other!!

These horses were performing a dance routine that was called an equine riverdance! It was pretty amazing watching the precesion of both horses and riders!

Festival Time

2006-11-02T18:16:00.000-05:00

Well, the autumn has come upon us, and what a great way to end the outdoor part of the year but with some music festivals!
Richmond has been the home for the past two years of the National Folk Festival--one more year to go, before it moves on to other pastures.

The day in mid-October was wonderful, but we couldn't arrive until after work...
next year I want the whole day!

Here is Chuck Brown, from DC.
The Carlos de Leon Orchestra

This happy couple had a grand time dancing to the music of Sonny Burgess and the Legendary Pacers....they were cute, but, please, shoot me if I EVER ask Timmy to dress up in matching velour running suits!!!

Oceana Naval Air Base

2006-10-02T09:47:00.000-04:00

Sept 10, 2006. The day was absolutely perfect for an airshow!

It was the 60th anniversary of the Blue Angels, who are amazing to watch.

If you go to the next entry, with the sunset, and click on the Kodak link, you should be able to see the rest of the photos....enjoy!

Sunset, Duck, NC

2006-10-02T09:19:00.000-04:00

We stopped in Duck for pizza and found this place that actually has a sign outside that was offering Free Sunsets. Hey, we were game!!!

If this link works, it will take you to my photos of the trip, as well as those of the day we spent at Oceana for the Blue Angels Airshow....
http://www.kodakgallery.com/l.jsp?c=p295muz.ajbbneuz&x=0&y=5fs77c

Ocracke and Hatteras

2006-10-02T09:04:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos from our little late summer mid-week vacation!

At the beginning of August, we had decided to take Arlie down to Ocracoke Island. Having never been ourselves, we apparently under-estimated the concept that everyone else in the universe was planning on taking the ferry to Ocracoke ---the only way, except plane, to arrive there.
So, in 100 plus degree heat, we drove to the ferry and found that there would be a wait of at least 3 hours. So we turned back.
Chicken, huh?

Timmy and I decided to try again on a Wednesday in late September. Much more comfortable weather conditions, and not nearly the crowds.

We waited only 20 minutes before our ferry ride.
When we arrived, we found a motel in Ocracoke Village, which is just the most picturesque little town with tiny, winding roads. The most efficient way to get around is bicycle or foot. We rented bicycles and took off to explore. I have not been on bike since I was a teenager, but just so you know, you really DON'T forget!!!!!

The two lighthouses are the Bodie Island Lighthouse, on Hatteras Island, and the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse.

Pelicans were the big thing in this area. They are comical birds, by turn elegant and then ungainly.

Over my strong objections, Timmy woke me incredibly early, in the pitch dark, to go see the sunrise. Of course, once I was there, I was happy, but it was dark!!!

I had for some reason (the dark, mayhap?) twisted the knob on the top of my camera one click too far, and ended up shooting most of the sunrise at 1/15 of a second. However, the rising sun gave me the ability to catch my mistake before it was too late.

On our way back from Ocracoke the next day, we stopped on the way at Pony Pasture and found some of the wild ponies. They have quite a stretch of beach to roam.
We made a stop formore beach exploration on the way back up Hatteras Island. I had just purchased a long zoom and had some fun taking photos of the birds at the edge of the water.

Ocracoke Island, NC Sunrise

2006-10-02T08:45:00.000-04:00

Ocracoke Island, NC Pony Pasture

2006-10-02T08:27:00.000-04:00

Solomon's Island, Md

2006-07-24T17:27:00.000-04:00

Last week, Timmy and I took a day trip to a little place on the Patuxent River in Maryland called Solomon's Island. It was a particularly hazy hot and humid day, so walking around was OUT of the question! We rented a 19 foot Bowrider for a two hour tour of the river.

Here are a few of the shots I took. Sticking with the theme of the year and my wildlife beach photos, note for your viewing pleasure the lovely JELLYFISH!!! Yikes, this water was thick with them!!!!

And an Osprey on the danger sign....
And a pelican on a piling....(somewhat different than a seagull in the harbor in NYC when on the ferry, no?)

We had dinner at a nice restaurant on the pier, and then walked around a bit, but the heat really did us in....

Next time, we go when the weather is a little less....oppresive!

Solomons Island, MD

2006-07-24T17:21:00.000-04:00

Solomon's Island, Maryland

2006-07-24T17:15:00.000-04:00

Project : FINISHED

2006-06-22T14:22:00.000-04:00

Here is my new bookcase!!!!
We still need to remove the carpet from the front edge all the way to the wall past the stairs and replace with some tile, to deliniate the "office" area from the den area.
Here is the reason we started....Timmy felt we needed a hand rail so his mom would feel more comfortable going down our stairs. Still a bit of touch up to the stain. Gratuitous shot of Hamish.

Our Kitties

2006-06-21T22:47:00.000-04:00

I realized I have shown only one photo of these two sillies, and it really wasn't too flattering (although it was SOMEWHAT true to their personalities.)

Mr. Big Eyes here is Hamish The Red, or Hamish McCloud. (William Wallaces friend in Braveheart)
Or Hamish the BAD!!!! He came to us in 2003, found by a friend of Timmy's out on the road during an ice storm. He was scrawny, and had worn every nail down to the quick....his pads were bloody, and we were unsure if he had been declawed or something.

He obviously had gotten himself out of some very bad place, and to this day he is skittish with strangers, and insists on opening the cabinets
in the bathrooms. Closed doors in general bother him.
Miss Tatiana was brought home in the spring of 2004, as a pet for Hamish, in a last ditch effort to get him to leave us alone at night. We thought he needed a friend.

It turns out that Tatiana has no use for Hamish, and Hamish considers her less than entertaining. He still would prefer our attention over hers.
They do get on well enough; they share food, and toys, but don't spend too much time together.
Miss Tatiana named herself. I tried names day after day, attempting to find one that she would respond to, and when I asked if her name might be Tatiana, she came out from behind the couch and over to me.

These two kitties certainly make our house a home!

Mmmm Chocolate kisses....

2006-06-21T22:40:00.000-04:00

Mmm, I smell chocolate! I love chocolate!
I think I will treat myself to a piece.
No one will see me swiping this piece on the end.
Indeed, how could they claim I was stealing it? I'm so fast you can see Daddy's foot behind my head!

This is Hamish the Red (the BAD)

Workshop thingies...

2006-06-13T19:59:00.000-04:00

... quilt studies, I guess. I took my first ever quilt workshop last weekend with Pamela Allen. What fun! It was more about design, and "art" than about quilting, which was cool, I haven't had an art class in some time! Makes me long for college days...

First study was Black and white.... . She said make a composition with 2 veggies and a flower. Can you find them?? ( a mushroom HOUSE, a brocolli TREE, and a SUNflower) I think I will continue to work with this... I like the simplistic, childlike layout, and in the photo, I like the fact that the white tree trunk fabric is sheer and you can see the background. I think I will use only a few primary colored embrodiery flosses to embellish.

Bed frame by Pamela.... LINE was the topic, and its different than line with a pencil!! Subject...a piece of furniture. I can see this improving if I had the options of fabric from my real stash, with a more thoughtful palette....don't know if I will work on it, but I would use orientals, to somewhat emphasize the bed shape looking like a Chinese character...

This one MUST be finished!! I love it. Monochromatic was the topic, and FISH was the subject. I call it Midnight Snack. It started fun conversation when I declared I needed a dragonfly.

This is our Portrait (not Self-portrait!!!!) She is turning out to be some type of Polynesian Princess.... I want to enlarge this one, add some space and get her off center. She will be able to be heavily embellished, too, I think.

I really enjoyed stretching my quilt comfort levels.... Nothing here is finished, nothing sewn down, and now at home, I will look at them, replace with My fabrics things to help make it more sucessful..and have a blast doing it!!!

Lavendar Days...

2006-06-13T13:12:00.000-04:00

...and violet nights.... well, someday, I will find violets to plant in my yard!! They don't seem to be around in the yards down here, lovely heart shaped leaves and mounds of dark purple flowers, but I really would love to add some violets to my garden.

Here, however, are a few photos of my lavendar that I have growning in the front yard. I am very happy with it's progress this year.
The soil is staying moist, it's richer in my little raised bed than the surrounding yard, and I am having some successes!

This fella is very glad, too, that I am providing him with some yummy nectar.
A more realistic shot....

random thoughts....

2006-06-04T11:18:00.000-04:00

Two photos, 30 something years apart, about the same age....WOW...On the left is Michael, and on the right is his nephew and godson, Matthew... Pretty wild, and Anoki, you are the one that made me do this!!

My Alzheimers Quilt... "Wouldn't Aunt Gene Be Proud"... To be Auctioned off, or sold, or displayed somewhere...in the hands currently of Ami Simms http://www.Alzquilts.com

Timmy and I took his mom to Lancaster Pa the week after Mother's Day for a belated celebration. They wanted to go to the Rod and Custom Car show. I went for the Fabric!!! And these shots were taken out the rear passenger window, while we were riding along in the area of Bird-In-Hand... LOVE MY CAMERA!

The weather was gorgeous. The fabric sublime. And I know one place I definitely can't ever move too, or I might find a touch of domestic life appealling...Morgantown! Where the Grocery store doubles as an incredible fabric store!!! I'd be saying constantly, I need to run to the store for milk! Oh, let me COOK dinner tonight, I'll just drop by the store on the way home.... nah, too dangerous!

Beach Day, Part Two

2006-05-31T11:49:00.000-04:00

Well. I certainly know I need a longer lens!!! I have a 200, but it's broken (only manual focus, which is fine, but for some reason only works with the FLASH on my digi!!!) I had my 28-200 yesterday.
Have I said how much I LOVE my digital??? I could never have taken so many images, just trying to get a bad shot of the porpoises that also seem to frequent this beach, if I had been using film! Not to mention having the ability to play with them on the computer to enhance.

I wasn't looking for the porpoises. Didn't think that was what I was seeing. Thought it was those dive-bombing pelicans actually, until out of the corner of my eye, I realized that was a TAIL splashing the water. They were all swimming out towards the ocean. Every last one was heading east. They frolicked and headed towards the open sea.

About an hour later, a group started coming back into the bay. Next time, I go with a good lens!
Here they ae returning. There are at least three fins here.
This fella was a bit closer in, and he's up a bit higher, you can see his back.

All in all a much more enjoyable beach day than crowded on the boardwalk!!!

Beach Day, Part one

2006-05-31T11:29:00.000-04:00

Timmy and I decided to go to the beach yesterday. We went to Fort Story, where the Cape Henry Lighthouse is. What a nice beach! You need to be willing to submit to a car search, and hand over ID as it is a working military base. We quickly discovered that this beach is far different than the Virginia Beach Boardwalk area just a few miles away!

This beach is a wildlife beach! Sure we saw the normal pelicans, and seagulls. But it was noted right away that we needed to choose a place with some degree of care, as the beach was crawling in certain areas with crabs!! And there were crab holes of every size in some spots.
I took off, to photograph the green hairy rocks, while Timmy settled in a not so crabby location between the large rocky breaks that were built every so often. Whom did I discover but this wiley crab, who obviously has had experience running away! He was by far the largest I had seen all day.
Of course, in normal Timmy fashion, as soon as the crab started scuttling sideways away from us, he had to give chase!!! We spent an entertaining 10 minutes watching the crab run into the water, dip one eye down,
watch for us and take off in the other direction. Perfectly camoflaged he is, but he's about level with Timmy's hand, just off to the right in this photo.

Finally, we gave up the chase, and he stopped too. Here he is, keeping an eye on Timmy, before we both let him commence with his activities. I lay down on my towel, basking in the sun and the sound of the surf. I looked to my right about ten minutes later, and back he came, out from behind the rocks, watching us intently. I sat up, and off he ran again into the surf.
If only he had known I don't eat crab!!!

Flower Bed

2006-05-14T14:08:00.000-04:00

Timmy made this bed for me in the front yard in Oct. 2004. The soil in my yard is just not good. Don't think anything was done to it since the place was built. I hoped that by raising the bed, I would have the chance to improve the soil.
The bed today, May 14, 2006. Yup, that sure worked!!! I have been slowly amending the soil, adding some composted leaves, rich topsoil, etc. The bed is actually retaining some water, and nutrients. Saw my first worm in there a few months back. Now, there are buds on my lavender plant. My Rosemary plants are doing well too. I have added mint, a new spanish lavender, thyme, savory, yarrow, jasmine vine, and some periwinkle. I have also put a weeper hose through the bed, to water more evenly and deeply.... I have high hopes this year that things will all take root and do well!

The view from the stairs, like the first picture.
My Iris's from a few weeks ago.

If you click on photos, you can enlarge.

So, we gave the mouse a cookie....

2006-05-04T21:38:00.000-04:00

This is Hamish the Red (the BAD) meeting Miss Tatiana for the first time. Really Tati is much friendlier than this!! However, for this purpose, it's a BEFORE picture.

I HATE carpeted stairs! We have been talking for most of the nearly three years we've been in this house about improvements....over and above the cleaning and painting and such.

Timmy decided the other day to tackle the stairs, thinking that we would need to replace the stairs, which was fine business as we decided to add a half-wall built in bookcase next to them which would give us a lovely place to add a hand-rail.

However, it turned out the stairs weren't all that bad, but they were kind of started IN the subflooring... which meant we needed to replace the diningroom floor instead of the stairs. Yes, that was me bawling you heard over losing such wonderful flooring(not).
Here you see the semi-after stairs. they still require staining on the step parts. The risers are actually left over Tundra Antique floor boards that I (brilliantly) suggested we place over the older, ratty stuff. Now, on to the floor itself.

Before. No, we haven't removed the 1/4 round trim, the people before us (Harry the Homeowner and family) chose to not replace it after tearing up the carpet and replacing it with this gem of a floor tile. (BTW, that little gap is sure a cat-pleaser!! Hamish lost all manner of objects under there!)
AFTER. I just need to touch up the red paint around the new baseboard moulding. This floor is courtesy of IKEA, my favorite store. It's our fourth wedding anniversary gift to us!

Timmy got the brilliant idea to sharpen his shovel in order to remove the old tile more quickly....look at it fly!

I've gone and done it now!!!

2006-05-04T17:59:00.000-04:00

Welcome to version 3 of my notes from the refridgerator door.... long ago, (back in the '80's sometime), my favored way of communication with the variety of male relatives who wouldn't clean the house was by ever so slightly sarcastic notes left on the refridgerator door....

Moving into the internet age, I attempted a web-page, but I found it clumsy, or I just wasn't interested in keeping it up.

Today, with my cool 8 mega-pixel DSLR, I find myself wanting to send EVERYONE photos, but I hate re-sizing and uploading and having to email.... (I am slightly lazy)....

So, here is the ideal concept...a BLOG!!! oh, dear...we've gone and gotten cell-phones and digi cameras and now Blogs...we are not so caveman-like as we thought!!!

Well, off to learn how to manipulate the darned thing!
See ya!