State of my backside

I gained 5 lbs......ok, I gained 7 lbs. URGH! I need to lose weight before this stinkin' wedding not gain!

New resolve. New determination. (uhm...and no more pizza) I really only have 30 more lbs to lose. I've already lost more than that so it should be easy peasy right!???? If I could only get taller instead.....

Big sigh.......I WILL NOT GO BACK TO FAT!

Now we will go back to our regularly scheduled quilty posts!

Snow Day here too??

I decided that in solidarity for all those poor students and teachers off of school today, I too would take a personal "snow day." My plate is so full that I am overwhelmed. A snow day is exactly what I need to recharge before retreat next week!

So how will I spend my day? Cleaning. Washing. Cutting fabric and exercising! It will all be for the best as I will need all of my energies next week to sew, sew, sew!!!!

Summer 2010

Remember the kippot I made for Hudson? Well his Bar Mitzvah was the weekend that I left for Ohio. It was lovely, lovely, lovely. These are the pictures they took at his party. The first one is a photograph of my BFF and I. We were obviously being silly and sassy.

These are two of my former students. Hudson is on the left. The boy on the right had his Bar Mitzvah in January or February. He then promptly grew 3 feet taller!! LOL! Of the 5 boys in this class (I taught them for 2 years) these are the only two that haven't moved away. I was so pleased that they both agreed to have a picture taken with their ol' teacher.

Quilting program and stuff

I actually sewed something...Yeah I know, pitifull but I sewed. I made these for a friend and he is lucky I like him because I wanted to keep them. I love making these coasters! They are such great gifts.

I am the program for our guild meeting tomorrow.....I am going to attempt to teach machine quilting without demo"ing". I have no idea how it will go.....I plan on covering the machine setup ect., but I can't help feeling that it is going to be nothing more than an in person magazine article.I'm not looking forward to this but......hopefully someone will get SOMETHING out of it!

Neat Shabbat video

I don't know how to get this as an imbedded video so here is the link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GW-frPw2oI

Reflections

I have this theory. It’s not deep. It’s not revolutionary. It is however something I need to remember more often. It is “You never know when, where or how you could change someone’s life.” You could change it for the better or you could change it for the worse. A nice word, a mean word, an off handed comment, letting someone out in traffic, not letting someone out in traffic, an unexpected compliment, an unintended insult… You never know what gesture or comment may make a difference to someone else. I have had many such encounters. It is usually the simplest of gestures. The other person generally has no idea that they had such a big effect.

When we first move to Ft. Worth, I was miserable. We were far away from everyone we knew. No friends, no family. I went to the post office and the postal lady looked up and, acting as though she remembered me, said “hi there how are you today?” I nearly cried on the spot. She was so kind, so genuine. She changed my day, my entire out look. She changed my life that day. She made me just a tad ok with being 1,000 miles away from everything I knew. She has no idea that to this day I remember her.

A few years ago, one encounter changed me so deeply, so profoundly that I am still struggling to deal with it. It was a simple thing but it changed me. For the better or worse I still haven’t decided but it changed everything about me.

All of this however is about today. Today, I am struggling. I have been for a long time. This isn’t the forum for why; just know that I am in turmoil and struggling. For some reason, today was particularly difficult. I forced myself to the gym, not because I wanted to workout, but because I had to workout. I had to get in my running practice. I had to prove that I am capable. I had to prove to myself that I can do this. At the end of my workout I ran into a long time acquaintance and ….he changed my day. With one kind, off-handed comment, he changed my entire miserable day. He changed my outlook and put a bounce back in my step. I walked out of the gym taller than when I walked in. It wasn’t much, just a kind word but little did he know the impact.

Such small gestures put me in awe of the power we have. I hope that the lives that I have affected have been more positive than negative. I pray that I remember my own “theory” the next time I become impatient and that I remember to compliment my friends and acquaintances often.

I have wanted to write about this for a long time. Thank you to my friend for giving me the inspiration to actually put it into words.

My quilts in use

I receive lots of comments on my classroom. I teach both the L'dor V'dor class, meaning from generation to generation (I teach Jewish customs and holidays) and I am the librarian. I share a room with myself. I have many quilts and wallhangings for decorations. The quilts add softness and warmth to my very square, very hard surroundings. I also have a loft. The kindergarteners recently used the loft to put on a puppet show. Look what they used to create the theater.

(before you ask why I'm letting the kids play with THIS quilt..... I loved this quilt. I used quilt shop fabric and it wasn't an inexpensive one to make. I waited about 2 years to have it quilted. However, I made poor choices....I let her use her batting without asking what type it was. It's very poofy. I chose the wrong panto. In short, my very favorite quilt became my least favorite because of the quilting. Lesson learned. However, it is a great puppet theater backdrop!)


Here the dragon is telling a story.



Here the cat is listening to the dragons story.


In this picture the elephant and fish (that orange blur) make an appearance.



It was such a thrill watching this entire puppet show evolve. Unfortunately, I had to cut it short as they needed to leave, but I'm sure that next week the show will return.(unfortunately you can't see the curtains I added to the bottom of the loft because I removed them for washing.)


" BYE" said the cat.

Questions

Lots of questions...

1. Do you use a Reader Service? I have both bloglines and Google reader. Can't decide which I like better. Bloglines is more user friendly. Google Reader more effecient. (Bloglines didn't update at all yesterday until late at night)

2. Are there any New Year Challenges out there? I'm looking for something to challenge me for the year. Haven't decided if Judy's Stashbuster Challenge is it or not. In fact, I don't even know if she is doing it this year.

3.Do you comment? I rarely comment anymore as it is soooo time consuming. However, without comments, how does someone know you are reading? (yes I have a ticker) Comments are like an answer in a conversation and an acknowlegement that someone is out there in blog land. Do you care?

Need inspiration...

I don't know why but I've had a harder and harder time getting into the sewing room. Why? Dunno! But it's been progressive....I really think I want to start a new project but I won't allow it until I finish at least one thing I have started. Help! Give me words of wisdom.....visual stimulation......ideas.....It's become a vicious little cycle. Can't start new because must finish old....don't feel like finishing old...........Not finishing the old is NOT an option but I can't seem to make myself do it......Perhaps I just need to whine a bit here?????? Maybe that'll help?????? A swift kick in the backside????

What am I thinking - Non quilty this time

I am waiting for the afternoon to go by because tonight I am going on a ride-along with a police officer. I'm excited. I'm scared. I'm nervous. I'm..........OMGoodness! What am I thinking! I am the original scareddy cat. I thought for sure I was going to be required to stay put in the car but NO! He told me to bring along a flashlight. Why????? I asked. "So you can see where you are going!" He said, followed by, "We are going to have fun!" Now I'm scared. He then told me "Maybe we'll get in a foot chase." A FOOT CHASE! Do I LOOK like I run??????? I'll be the official car watcher!!

Random bits about tonight
-if/when he needs to go fast AND turn on the sirens....my sister says "You'll be giggling the entire time!"
-if/when he needs to drive fast my daughter said "MOM! You CANNOT hit the imaginary brake on the floor and tell him to slow down!"
- I want to ask another officer to take a picture of us but am waaayy to embarrassed to be so...so...well, I don't know the word but just that it would be embarrassing. I am however taking my camera in case I can get random shots for my blog.
- I told him that all of my friends are going to be standing on the street waving as we drive past....he said, "we can go visit them." What is this a 6th grade field trip!?
-I was told by another police officer that the "bad guys" tend to talk to the ride-alongs because they are just regular people. AHHHH!!!
-being invisible, discreet and unnoticed is just not possible for someone my size

Oh my It's time to leave......

Men

Men are so funny. They would never admit that they gossip, chit chat or chatter. If you ask them, they would say that they go in, get a job done, and get out. THEY LIE!! I'm sitting here at a friend's house while some work is being done. The guys are in the foyer, doing their work, but the chit chat and chatter abounds! I bet if you would ask them if they chat while they work, they would say no. True, they are negotiating how to best get this job done, working out the details ect., but once they are each doing their own jobs....their jaws start to flappin'! LOL!! I'm quietly sitting at my laptop and chuckling.

I have had this same observation at work. We have off duty police officers on our campus. Let me tell you ....THEY GOSSIP! Oh sure, rough and tough, carry a gun and all but man o man. Let something happen at school on Monday and by the time the Friday guy comes to work, he knows all about it....with details! They don't even work in the same office.

I am the product of a man that had few words. "Had" I say because over the past few years, since my mom died, his shell broke. It is a wonderful thing to be honest. However, I was raised by the part of him that didn't talk alot. He certainly didn't verbally express emotion. Now is different. To be fair, he fairly bubbles with words now.

The same goes for men when it comes to their children. They would never admit that they are as soft as they are. I see alot of men with their children at school. Dads are no different than moms, they just won't admit that they have the same emotions!!! These are two stories of men not realizing that others could see their love and devotion.


....again, one of the policemen. This guy is a very muscular guy, He calls everyone "ma'am" and is someone I wouldn't want to meet in the dark (on the wrong side of the law! LOL!!!!!LOL!!!) He has two little girls. One morning, as I waited to turn into the lot, I watched him and one of his daughters, about 3 at the time, walk across the parking lot. In one hand he held her hand. In the other, he held her little pink backpack. I don't know what they were doing but all of a sudden he skipped! Just one or two skips but it was a sight. This big man, complete with a police uniform, gun, bullet proof vest, a little girl and a pink backpack, and skipping! It was a priceless image!

.....my dad. When I was pregnant with my oldest child my dad had a party for his employees. I was very pregnant. I remember him tracking me down, dragging me around and introducing me to his employees. The look in his eyes. I'll never forget the glow of love. He was so pleased that I was having a grandchild! Remember, this was the man that would rather do ANYTHING than EXPRESS emotion.

Why do men work so hard to make us believe that we are so different? What's this macho business about anyways? Every man from my father & my husband to the guys at work, are no different from the women I know. It's just that the women are not afraid to admit that they have emotions or gossip. I really think that it comes down to image. What the men don't realize however, is that we see right through them. We'll let them keep up their charade.

Halloween

October 31 - check

Nightfall - check

Candy - check, check, check


Children......

Children......

Children.............even Minkee was wondering where they all were....



Sigh. Double triple sigh! I was going to skip candy this year, or at the very least buy a small quantity, but DH insisted. The last few years he has been in charge of the candy dispersion and INSISTED that each year he runs out of candy. I had my doubts. I have the most lackluster neighbors...they usually don't even turn on their lights so no kids come down our street, but ok. Buy extra candy this year.
We had 7 trick or treaters! SEVEN! Ahhhh!! Now I see his plan!




On a different note, I have a night blooming jasmine outside my front door. The smell has been overpowering and wonderful at the same time. It seems that just as butterflys like to drink nectar, during the day, of good smelling plants, so do moths, at night. My plant was vibrating with moths. Add to this that the light was on for the trick or treaters and it was attack of the moths when you walked outside. I tried to get pictures but it was too dark. I resorted to using the garage door to exit the house and warded off the unsuspecting children. I don't think they would have appreciated being pummeled by moths.

Dinner recap

Dinner was a relative success. I managed to make it through without a major embarrassment. It was easier than I thought to avoid asking anyone if they needed to potty and I didn't once break into the ABC song !! I did however use the wrong knife at the appetizer course!! After I did so, I had no idea where to put it? The bread plate? The table? At one point, I had 3 knives on my bread plate!!!

The meal/award dinner was at the Republic of Texas. It began with appetizers served on a rectanglular plate. There were five tidbits on the plate and the food was placed so the plate sat on the table perpendicular. It was a very pretty presentation. A house salad followed the appetizer. For the main dish, I ordered the 5 Star Pepperloin. Here is the menu description -FIVE STAR PEPPERLOIN Eight-Ounce Grilled Tenderloin Tournedos Topped with Five Blend Peppercorns, Jack Daniel’s Demi-Glaze. It was served over mashed potatoes and asparagus.

The tenderloin was fabulous, out of this world, crazy delicious and tender. I never, and I mean never order beef out. What posessed me on Thursday night I don't know. I stopped ordering beef years ago because I have the worst luck with getting the toughest, most gristle filled piece of meat. This dish restored my faith in ordering beef. The delectable main course was followed by cheesecake and coffee. Oh yeah, the wine flowed all evening. I don't drink wine but managed to imbibe in my beverage of choice. It was easily the best meal I've ever eaten out. The biggest problem is that I now know how good this restuarant is and what they serve. DH may be in trouble on our next anniversary.

Oh did I mention that the resturant is on the 2oth floor and over looks the city and the bay. It was a spectaculr view. Unfortunately I sat with my back to the windows facing a huge head of a bison! Luckily it was so far above me I could avoid it's one eyed stare.

As I said, other than using the wrong knife for appetizers, and as usual talking too much to total strangers, it was a successful evening. DH received an award for 10 years of service. Af ew others received 10 year awards, one man a 30 year award. It was really nice for his office to honor these folks and do it so nicely. I'm just glad I managed to not embarrass DH tooooo much.

Oh I have a limited life!

Going to dinner with the BIG bosses. DH has a "years of service" dinner. We are going to a fancy schmancy restaurant. I do hope I remember how to act around people who
- are taller than my knees
- call me by my first name
- are trusted to drink out of a cup with more than 2 oz at a time
- potty on their own
Hopefully I won't wipe any faces or cut up anyones dinner!!!!

My new hair

I LOVE the color of my hair. The foils always crack me up so I posted it t00.....I asked her to make me more red.....I did give birth to not one but two redheads!

Aunti Camp. Wednesday & Thursday

Yesterday was filled to the brim. I am still resizing pictures on the computer! I probably won't be able to post photos today either. I will report back. It's just we are soooo busy having fun and this blogging takes up soooo much time. One picture of our morning at the beach. We were there at 6:15....A.M.! More on that later. It may take me a week or so to get this all blogged! OH YEAH.... I HAVE LOTS OF QUILTY CONTENT BUT NO TIME TO POST!!

More Pics

I don't know if it's the extra megapixels or what, but the clarity on these pictures....The camera makes them look better than they did with the naked eye.
This is my nasty neighbors mango tree. Last year she told us "Whatever mangos hang on our side of the fence we can have." How magnanimous of her! I won't go any further into the story of her being nasty! I took these photos a week or so ago. Day before yesterday I found the mangos in my mesquite tree! Something was strong enough to pick the fruit, haul it into the tree and eat it. Birds? Squirrels? My nasty neighbor? I have no idea. I just know that there are no more mangos..... :(

Pictures

I love this new camera. Here are some pics I took at Wildseed Farms in Fredricksburg, Texas. If you live near Wildseed and haven't visited, YOU MUST! We spent a couple of hours there each time I've visited. Cool setting huh!

It's the turtle parking lot! These are concrete and shells. Very cute!

Aren't these tall cactus specatular?

They are made of metal!

I must have been in love with these prickly pears as I took a million pics. They just look so crisp and beautiful.

This was at Ms. CCCat's house. It just came out nice.

Deer,Dear

This is the view from Ms. CCCat's home in San Marcos. Texas. Her home here has COWS in the front yard! This is the view through the front door! I'm such a city girl! Between the deer and the scorpion, I practically had a full camera!

Have YOU ever seen a scorpion?

I can now proudly say, I have. Wellllll I can afford to be cavalier because the scorpion is smushed somewhere in San Marcos, Texas!! I spent the week with CCCat in San Marcos. I was repacking my suitcase. Both the suitcase & I were sitting on the floor. I my black pants up, from INSIDE my suitcase and, being the quilter I am, noticed a bunch of camel colored thread on the pants. Luckily I stopped to take a second look at the blob because IT MOVED! I threw those pants as fast as I could!!!! I was frozen, just frozen in my place! My GOSH, A SCORPION, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I'm just a transplanted northerner who was aghast to discover that cockroaches go into ALL houses in Texas not just the disqusting ones. I suddenly became a whirlwind of activity when I realized that at any moment the DEADLY scorpion could skeedaddle out of my pant leg and come and get me. I jumped up and franticlly looked for something to move my pants. I found a curtain rod. A-hah! The right criteria....long enough for me to jump away if the scorpion decided to take aim at me. I picked those pants up with the curtain rod like they were .....well, like they were harboring a scorpion! I took it out side and THREW the pants. That scorpion didn't even bother to get off of my pants.


It musta been taunting me. I had to use the curtain rod to prod the dumb thing and get it off of not only my pants but the porch. THAT, IT DIDN'T LIKE! Up came its tail and it came CHARGING AT ME! Oh, did I mention that I was barefooted? Also I was certain the thing was the size of a small alligator and didn't really want to smash it. PLUS I WAS CERTAIN THAT SCORPION BITES KILL! Finally I got it off the porch and in the flowerbed. When CCCat came home from her walk and I told her of my ordeal, she wasn't' even phased! She chuckled at me. I was being stalked by a killer and she laughed at me. (We actually found a second scorpion in the doorway....or was it the first one coming back for me....She just picked up a shoe and WAP! took care of it!) Ok, ok, so she told me that it stings like a wasp. That you don't actually die from the scorpions here but instead writhe in pain. But I had been convinced that if it had bit me, I would have needed IMMEDIATE medical attention. In actuality, if it had bit me while she was gone, in my state of ignorance and gross-outedness, I would have called 911! (Boy that would have been fun. CCCat laughing at me and the entire San Marcos Emergency Services having a chuckle at my expense!) Not only did Mrs. CCCAt laugh at me, so did MR. CCCat! Sure, they are south Texaners....they have weathered hurricanes, cockroaches, cows getting into their backyard, and scorpions! I have experience with snails and ladybugs! They got a really big kick out of my ORDEAL. Luckily, Mrs. S & Ms. A. understood my trauma! {{{{{bleeccchhhh}}}}}}} The next time I visit with Ms. CCCat in San Marcos, it's shoes, clothes hangers and NO PICKING STRAY THREADS!