Never Understimate The Power...

...of Calvin and Hobbes.

I attended the Ordination service on Sunday of a former intern from our church, a sister in Christ, a friend. It was a emotionally moving service for me; from her presentation for Ordination followed by the hymn "Here I Am, Lord", to the laying on of hands by eight assembled Pastor sponsors and the Bishop of our Synod. I will long remember the joy and the majesty of the service, but it's the words of our Bishop, spoken to her in his sermon, that have given me great comfort in these last few days. He spoke of his own sermon preparation rituals and how he would sequester himself away with a pile of books in a small room as he prayed and wrote his message for the coming week. He explained that his pile of books always saw the Bible at the bottom of the stack, that his sermon would likewise be grounded in The Word, the foundation for what was to come. Then, on up the stack were books on Lutheran doctrine and various devotional guides. He explained that the top book was always a comic book, reminding him not to take himself too seriously. That's where I found my comfort! Whose day, regardless of the importance of the tasks at hand and even the most grave of circumstances, can't be lightened with a measure of levity? I'm happy to understand that the Bishop recognizes that, and that he deems it important enough to pass along to Pastors, to all of us. Long live the little boy and his tiger!

Life is Good!

Living With Wildlife

As we approached our driveway after church this morning we happened upon a family of five turkeys running along the road. We hear them often, down deep in the woods that surround our property, but we don't usually see them. My husband thought them brave to make an appearance with Thanksgiving not that far off! We had other visitors drop by the front yard to pay a visit last week, I guess the change of seasons, and cooler days, encourages more mobility. Although it's not unusual for us to have deer close by, we don't usually see entire families in the front yard grazing in the mid-morning sunshine! I haven't planted my fall pansies yet, so their visit made me smile; but, in another week or so my expression will be entirely different, guaranteed!

The Learning Curve

I'm hanging on, it might hurt if I let go right now! I'm working my way through EQ6. I have completed three lessons so far and have piled up many quilts in my sketch book, I'm getting comfy and familiar with the buttons and tools available. It's mind boggling, but fun. If that was all there was to learn I'd feel pretty good right now. But, no, there's more; it's not all comfy-cozy hiking on up the learning curve! What more, you might ask? Add on Photoshop Elements, a wonderful gift for my birthday from my husband. So, the gray matter's getting quite the workout, it seems that a paper "user manual" is missing, I really like manuals! There is a "help" button on the toolbar, but, alas, no book! I do know that there's a Photoshop for Dummies, out there. (I think the dumb thing for me would be not to invest in that!) I took a deep breath when I realized today that the summit of my learning curve isn't even within sight. In the meantime, I'll keep climbing... I received an I-Tunes giftcard from my daughter and son-in-law, anybody know how to use one of those? Uh-oh.

Life is Good!

Burping With Style

As long as there are babies being born, and Moms who who want to burp them with style, it looks like I could stay busy. Not that I was about to run out of projects, have no fear of that, but stitching up a few of these pretty little designs on cloth diapers is a sweet diversion. They go fast, I do love making them, knowing they'll be well used!

Life is Good!

Speed Limit, Age Limit

It's just a number, 55. Right? It became our national speed limit for the purpose of energy conservation from 1974 until it was repealed and turned back to the individual states for regulation in 1995. It's just a number.

It's also my age, as of today. No chance for repeal. I'll have to conserve my own energy from here on in. I can choose to call this my age limit, though. Not that I intend to STOP here, but I don't have to pay attention to ascending numbers; I can certainly do my own regulating when it comes to an age limit. Right? It's just a number after all.

Life is Good!
and like fine wine, getting better with age...
Cheers!

Taking Time, Making Time

I've been working hard to stay caught up with the Southern Album class. I'm happy with my Cotton Boll block, just completed; unfortunately, I have contracted the same throat and upper respiratory infection that my husband suffered from last week and decided to stay home from class yesterday, my sore throat was raging and I just felt too tired and ache-y to go out. I'll have to work extra hard to catch up now, as this was our next to last session! This morning I feel better, after crawling into bed early last evening with the latest Quilter's Newsletter and Quilt Sampler magazines, that's a luxury I don't usually enjoy. I fluffed up the pillows, nestled in, and slowly read through all the articles, digesting every word; especially Helen Kelley's, knowing full well that this was among the last she ever wrote. I'm glad that I slowed down yesterday, I needed to take the time to recover and recharge the ol' battery.

I need to make time, too! I bought EQ6 about a year ago and haven't taken the time, or made the time, to learn it or use it. It's something that I really WANT to do, if simply wanting to do it would make me proficient, then I'm already an expert. Unfortunately, that's not the way it works. There's a learning curve that needs to be climbed and I simply haven't put forth the effort. I told my husband last night that I am going to make the time to learn the program. I can do this by scheduling it, that's what works for me. I'm building learning time into my daily "to do" list. Three days a week, two hours a day, I'm penciling in: EQ6. Until I make it through to the end, design a few quilts and actually stitch them into being, I'll be "in class". I am going to be making time to learn, and practice, a new skill.

Take the time, make the time; be good to yourself today~

Life is Good!

A Pirate, A Thief!

Mason, our little man of many talents, has added two new titles to his résumé. It just so happens that Mason's daddy is a graduate of East Carolina University, and ECU has arrived in the Capital City this weekend to play football against the NC State Wolfpack at Carter Finley stadium. The visiting Pirates cheerleaders made an appearance at Omega Sports last evening for a photo op with kiddos wearing ECU Pirate purple. Dressed appropriately, guess who stole the show?

Yep, you're right!
He's a Pirate (at least until Auburn plays) and a thief!
Life is Good!

Baby Feet, Small Steps

Don'tcha just wanna kiss those sweet, baby feet? This, a parting snapshot from the Angels Race on Sunday. Thanks for indulging this proud Granny~ one more time!

On the quilting front, there's progress! Small steps; but, hey, they're in a forward-moving motion! Round Robin: done, mailed. Block of the month: done. Southern Album: getting there. (class is Sunday) This block, at right, is what I've renamed "Turkey in The Strawberries". It's a Turkey Tracks block which I personalized, that became a career move took forever a while! Charming cotton swap: need to find two purple fabrics for slicing and dicing. (group meets next Wednesday) That's the way I operate: tend to the deadlines as they pop up, and in the meantime fill the days with ongoing projects; throw in a healthy dose of cooking, housekeeping and a church meeting or two and that's about all there is in a week, then it's time to start all over again! I pose this question for your consideration: how do you operate? Do you do you "assignments" ahead of time, or as they are due? Someone asked me the other day, very innocently, if I had all my quilts done. I had to laugh; clearly, it was someone who didn't know me very well.

Life is Good!

Royalty Check?

Mom got a copy of the Fetch Dog catalog in the mail the other day. She was surprised to see my picture, not once, but several times! She wasn't nearly as shocked as I was, though, I don't even remember posing. Is it possible that I've been photo-shopped in? (I've been told that they can do anything with digital photography these days.) Regardless, I think I'm due a royalty check. Anyone know a good lawyer? I'd be happy to settle out of court... personally, I think that leopard print bed and one or two if those snazzy mattresses would do!

Life is Good!

Angels Race

This is a triathalon relay team. From L to R: run, bike, swim. The Angels Race event was run in the opposite order, on Sunday. Kyle, our son, is in the center; he has pedaling legs o' steel!

The Angels Foundation, who sponsor these events in VA and NC, recognizes that we can only become our best with the inspiration and strength of others - angels who see more in us than we see in ourselves. These angels often impact our lives in ways that are difficult to describe, and impossible to repay.

The mission of the Angels Foundation is two-fold:

1. Create opportunities for individuals to honor angels who have touched their lives

2. to encourage people to be angels in the lives of others

The sport of triathlon, like life, is as much a competition with self as it is with other athletes. The Angels Race is an opportunity to challenge yourself to give it your best, and to honor those who inspired you to become who you are, and who you seek to be.

Participants write the name of the angel they are honoring on their body during body marking, and carry the spirit of that person throughout the race.

Many are inspired to their best performance, some resolve grief or celebrate a lost angel while others recognize the significance of someone currently in their life. For everyone, it is more than just a race.

Our son-in-law and his parents also participated; our son-in-law individually and his Mom and Dad on their own relay team. Way to go! It was a beautiful day; one to cherish, one to remember!

Life is Good!

New Profile Shot

All the camera flashing around the house with Mason's photo shoot on Saturday, plus a new photo editing program installed on my laptop, prompted a change. I worked with this photo taken last January to create a new profile shot of my dearest canine companion. I love the effect.

I need to "hop-to" today, just to stay caught up on projects with deadlines. I'm tied into a Round Robin, two BOM's and a monthly swap. And so, I jump, from one stepping stone to another in a river rushing swiftly along and praying all the while that I don't fall in! Can anyone out there relate? Do I need to buy a pair of waders?

...and sew it goes...
Life is Good!

Worth 1000 Words

Really, I ask you, what else is there to say?


Life is Good!

Ready, Set, Shoot!

What's more fun than a barrel of monkeys? A photo shoot at Chez Goodneedle today starring the cutest of all grandsons! OK, I admit it, I might be a teeny, tiny, bit prejudiced where Mason is concerned; but he was so good and so cooperative, the entire time.


I'm eager to see the finished shots; but, considering the subject, I don't see how they can turn out any other way than perfect!

Life is Good!

Blocks Lacking Attitude

I pieced all the background blocks for this Be-Attitudes (click) quilt last Saturday. This is as far as the progress has gone, I have blocks... but no attitude! The applique elements will happen, in time. Like a diver who went too down deep, I've been kicking as hard as I can for days, to resurface; to breathe! This week has been full of various and assorted dis-associated tasks, each screaming for attention, they have kept me submerged; held me, just below the surface. I've managed to break free this morning, only to have a disaster in the kitchen. The pineapple-angel food cake that I baked for tonight's dessert has collapsed, flat. If it were just my husband and me for dinner I wouldn't be worried, but the whole family is coming . I'm attempting now to resuscitate this "pancake" by turning it into something else, something akin to a trifle. We'll see, I can be quite creative when the need arises, I'm lucky, "opportunities" abound! I found a sweet treat while out shopping yesterday, aren't these just the cutest? A little sugar always has a positive effect on my attitude! And so it goes, if all else fails I suppose I can serve these kisses for dessert!

...one thing at a time...
Life is Good!

Spending Time With Fannye

This little beauty of a quilt top, a Bear's Paw, (71" X 82") made its way home from last night's Quilt Guild meeting with me, I was the high bidder when this was auctioned off as a Guild fund raiser. The top was sewn by Fannye Hall. Fannye was thought of as the matriarch of our Guild, a founding member, a quilt teacher to almost every quilter that I know here, a friend. Fannye passed away almost three years ago; suddenly, unexpectedly. Her daughter donated a few quilt tops to the Guild that her mother loved so dearly for the express purpose of raising funds in Fannye's memory. I am so pleased to have captured something tangible to remember Fannye, I will enjoy quilting this and reminiscing. I'll close with comments that I submitted for a memorial tribute to Fannye that was displayed at NC Quilt Symposium in 2006. Thanks, Fannye, for always expecting excellence from me; I remember, rest assured, I will quilt and bind this to the very best of my ability! "I was a brand new quilter. Not knowing any better, I entered that first quilt; with it's wavy borders and puckered, gathered binding into our Guild's show! I worked at that show; helping to scribe for the judges and, hopefully, to learn a lot. I heard one of the judges remark about my quilt, when it's time came to be judged: "someone needs to show this woman how to put on a binding and turn a corner". I dutifully wrote down, "binding can use improvement" as directed by the judge. I hoped no one noticed my pained expression, I was working hard to guard my own anonymity. Fannye was in the room at the time, folding quilts and stacking them for hanging. At lunch time Fannye requested that I sit beside her, she quickly and efficiently showed me right then and there how to bind a quilt and turn a sharp, square corner at the same time! I was amazed that she had known the quilt belonged to me! Fannye knew all, and was always quick to share her skills and knowledge with all of us; that we might be better quilt makers. We became friends from that day on. I learned a LOT from her. I think of, and thank, Fannye with every single quilt I bind to this day! Fannye is deeply missed, I am happy to have known her and will always treasure her kindness."

Sewing Up A Storm

We were due to receive Hurricane Hanna on Saturday, the forecast was for lots of rain in our area but as it turned out, we received only a trace. The storm took an easterly track and followed that path north on up the coast. Our Bee sew-in day had been planned for weeks and I worried as the Hurricane approached that we'd be rained out or lose power, I even had a nightmare that we were on site, at our local retreat, lost power and were stranded! All my worries were unfounded, but... we did sew up a storm! Oh, yeah. Ten women, all in one place with their sewing machines roaring and thread flying can sew up a storm to the category level that even the healthiest hurricanes only hope to achieve! We wound down from the day's gale-force sewing winds at a table in a small restaurant nearby, over Italian food, planning our next tempest. Hanna met her match.

Life is Good!