Art Soothes the Savage Beast

This is Monet's The Church at Varengeville (courtesy of Google Images).

Below is my painting of The Church at Varengeville.

Okay, so I went a little nutty with the color. But Monet's was just too dark for me so I livened it up a bit!

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Here's the beginning of the "secret sewing project."

Above is a (paper) grocery bag full of puffs. It's the beginning of a puff, or bubble, quilt. My boss, Sharon, had seen a bubble quilt on FaceBook and admired it. I thought it was interesting, but wasn't enthralled. After she mentioned it again, I thought, "She really really likes those quilts." That's when I decided to make some bubbles over the long weekend. 

You kind of get into a groove watching TV and stitching the bubbles. It's a ritual: pin the four corners, make a mini pleat on each side, sew 3 and a half sides. Sew a pile, trim the threads, stuff a bunch with fiberfill. Sew up the stuffing hole.

On Tuesday, after MLK Day, I walked into Sharon's office and dumped the bubbles on her desk. Boy, does she ever know how to accept a gift!! She grabbed some and caressed them to her face all the while squealing in delight. My hair straightened out with the fervor of her pleasure. Phew!

Knowing Sharon, I had her lay out the pattern and she even made me a grid circling the colors that were lacking to complete the pattern. So now I have a few more bubbles to make and then I put a backing on and !voila! a puff quilt! Sharon calls it a poof quilt ...

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Friday Night Fun

I popped a fresh pork butt into the crock pot this morning before work and Phyllis and I feasted like queens. I was supposed to make cauliflower pancakes, but I ended up putting in a dish as if it were a casserole (it was good and I didn't have to stand over the stove frying the pancakes). Asparagus added color, but I didn't really like the 'gus -- it was too woody for me.

Then I got a call from Barry at Michael's telling me that my framing job was ready. He's the very earnest young man who was patient with me when I was choosing the frame. Phyllis accompanied me to get it and we chatted our way there.  What do you think?

Palm Springs Night

Here's a picture of sunrise and sunset that I took about 5 years ago. I figured as long as I was in the living room, I'd show you these photos.

After Michael's Phyllis decided that she would like to see Planet Fitness. And that's why Phyllis is so young -- she was interested in every machine and she wanted to know what those things are -- it was tanning booths that you stand up in. She said she liked the purple. Planet Fitness has LOTS of purple and gold  . It's pretty garish, but it sure wakes me up in the morning.

It was great to have Phyllis along -- thanks, Friend! We may not be wild and crazy, but we do have simple pleasures.

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I mentioned the paper shopping bag because Amherst has outlawed plastic shopping bags. You can buy the reusable ones, but other than that, it's paper all the way. I'm already in the habit of using the reusable bags (Aldis doesn't have any bags at all), but I did like putting the meat into plastic first. Guess I'll just have to hope that there are no drips. I can't figure out what to do about trash. Maybe I'll have to buy smaller kitchen bags. It takes me so long to fill up the normal size, it smells bad.

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Yup, that's our Abby -- Lisa's daughter -- on the left. She's in the band, Potty Mouth, and this ad for Fender guitars is on the wall at the convention center in Annaheim. How cool is that?

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There will probably be more later, but I was excited to show you my framed landscape quilt!

Moon Struck

Last Friday

Driving to the gym this morning, I looked over the snowless fields of corn stubble and saw the moon. It was incredibly huge, bright and low in the sky. It looked as if someone had  switched on an old fashioned incandescent light behind the moon. It glowed a soft yellow and the Man in the Moon seemed particularly benevolent.  Not wanting to create an accident (it is a two lane country road after all), I had to wait until I parked to get a shot. Here it is. The bottom bricks are the top of the building.

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So here it is Sunday night and the huge moon is low in the sky and a golden color. I just got back home from seeing the original Singing in the Rain (with Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly, and Donald O'Connor). Of course, I had forgotten my phone at home so no picture. I even went onto the back deck, but the trees block the sight of the moon. This lunatic has no pictures to share.

The movie, of course, was fantastic. I had forgotten the plot and only remembered the fabulous dance scenes. The only song where I really enjoyed the singing was "Good Morning" and Debbie Reynolds did most of the singing there.  Boy, was Cyd Charisse ever a hot tamale -- wow! So Lisa and I had a great time watching this movie. We can't wait for the next "oldie but goodie" movie.

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Church today was all about Martin Luther King Day (tomorrow) and how we should be seeking social justice. The Pastor began talking about symbols and mentioned how "the lamb of God" was often used for Jesus. She said a friend had been given a hand made stole which was lovely but which sported a lamb of God dripping blood. Ick, ick, ick. I don't understand why Christians continue to use this symbol -- isn't that a throwback from the pagan animal sacrifices?

As a Roman Catholic (in my youth), I got used to seeing Christ depicted with a crown of thorns and blood droplets on his brow. My favorite was the exposed heart -- I think that's what gave me the interest in medicine. (I now know that real hearts do not glow, nor do they have thorns around them either.)

I remember the former minister at the Episcopalian church where I used to go saying how he thought that image of Jesus on the cross was awful and nothing more than a symbol of torture. This came as a great surprise to me because I had been wearing a cross -- no body on it -- but still a cross.

At the Congregational Church today, the Pastor had trouble finding symbols in the sanctuary. There was only the one small cross in front of the lectern. No stained glass depicting the lamb of God, no statues, no nothing. There's certainly nothing to distract me unless one of the two candles begin to gutter.

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I had an enjoyable hour watching Jim Gaffigan in Cinco, his fifth TV special. He said there is one for each of his kids and he sure hoped it was his last special! I'm guessing he's Catholic. He told some really funny jokes so that I was literally laughing out loud. It's good to laugh. It cleared out my pipes.

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I have started a new series on Amazon Prime called "Sneaky Pete." It's about a fellow getting out of prison and he learns that bad guys from whom he stole money want their money back or they are going to kill him. So he takes the identity of his prison cell mate and shows up claiming the other guy's grandparents as his own. In the second episode there is some violence and I have a feeling that may escalate. But I can always close my eyes!

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I have tomorrow off and I'm really looking forward to sleeping late. Let's see if that happens. Ciao.

Monday Post Script

Yup, I slept late. Woo hoo! In fact, I lazed around in bed watching a Law and Order that I have seen at least 4 times. For some reason, the donk donk! at the beginning of the show is comforting. I think it's because they always get the bad guy. If they don't, it's continued and they get him in the next one!

Right now I have brussels sprouts, radishes, and bacon wrapped meatballs in the oven. I have already hard boiled many eggs -- I'm bringing deviled eggs to a friend's house. She's giving me dinner, so I'm bringing starters.

I have washed 8 million plastic containers and storage units and I have to fetch the dried laundry from the dryer. Oh, yes, I'll have to package lunches once the cooking is done. (I have already cooked some chicken thighs.) My goal is to make cream of mushroom soup, but I don't know if I'll get to that. 

And I have a top secret sewing project to finish.

While I Think of It

Pinterest is very helpful and sends me what my friends have pinned. This may or may not be a blessing. (I have one friend who collects masks and they scare me.)

Last time, my friend Maria posted uses of coffee grounds in the garden. My first thought was that would mean I actually have to go out back and pretend I'm gardening first. My second thought was, "It's going to take me a bucket load of time to empty those K cups!" Although I did remember that I make iced coffee in the summer using the regular multi-cup pot. A helpful commentator to the Pin suggested getting coffee grounds from a local coffee shop. Since the Library is right across the street from Amherst Coffee, I could do that. I do wonder, though, is it dark or light roast?

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O.k., I'm done with this cold snap. It was 7 F. this a.m. and by the time I got to work, it had warmed to 14 F. That is not enough. Just sayin'.

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Today, Wednesday, it was 43 F. in the a.m. We went from 7 to 43. Sheesh. It's welcome, but weird.

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I am so excited, I can hardly contain myself! O.k., I won't. Mom and I are going to take a river cruise in France starting in Paris!!!!! This will be mid-June. Ou est le bateau? (Where is the boat?) is the first phrase in French that Lisa has taught me. Hopefully, I'll never have to use it!


I can't even imagine what clothing to bring. Shoes, I'll need good walking shoes. Sigh. Good thing I have time to plan. :)

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This made my day. I can only take credit for the design and piecing. Jeanne Harlow did the long arm quilting.  Emma and Alex Cowan produced baby Carter Rose.

I may need some dinosaur booties for myself.

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It sure looked like a full moon tonight. Arooooo! The moon was a little hazy and there was an ear-shaped pink glow on the right side of the moon. I have never seen that before.

Zip, Zing, Zong!

I hadn't even remembered this. I went to a modern quilt group -- a year, two years ago?? -- and they had us do this exercise. We were supposed to design a quilt and see if anyone else could guess the theme. This was my Starry Night. I have no idea what the dog is doing there so don't ask.

Admittedly, I was just looking for some color. So while it was a pretty, sunny, ten degree day today, most everything is covered in snow. We didn't get a lot, but it's very white and bright.

Today I finally pinned my "Palm Springs Night" fabric landscape to foam core. I used dressmaker's pins and, boy, the tips of my fingers got painful! I finally figured out that the Roku remote was just the right size for pushing the pins in! Then it was off to Michael's looking for a frame. I was in the throes of deciding on a color and Ann says, "Look, there's an $11 frame right there!" Well, ya, but it looked like $11. I spent a bucketful more but I think (I hope) I'm going to be really happy with it.

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I am feeling very proud of myself because I have finished about 19 letters of acceptance and rejection for the Burnett Gallery Committee. I just have to print them out tomorrow and someone else from the committee will mail them. I say "about" 19 because I had to change the letter when there were two exhibitors on one month. So it was a lot of adding the artist, address, contact person, phone number and email. And a couple of times I goofed (hard to believe, isn't it?) and had to re-do the letter. Thank goodness I proofread!

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I don't know how much longer I can be this organized. I joined Planet Fitness ($10/month) which is right around the corner from me. I go before work. Now, before you applaud, know that I have only done this for one week. And if tomorrow morning is like now, it will be 6 degrees F. and dark.

Anyway, this means, I have to have a modular lunch ready that I can grab and put in a thermo bag with blue ice. I don't use the refrigerator at work because I used to be the only one cleaning it and I don't want to do that any more. I do clean the microwave because I use that. (It is ready: I made mushroom quiche for snacks and roast chicken with cauliflower mash and/or roast radishes.) And I have to have my work clothes packed along with shower stuff. And my gym clothes are ready in the bathroom. 

So I was packing my carry on bag: work pants, sweater/blouse, panties, bra, cosmetic case, shampoo,soap and washcloth baggie, towel.The brush and hair gel were already on the top side pockets with flip flops on the outside. (Notice that what's on top is what's used first.) As I was about to bring the bag to the kitchen, it dawned on me -- there were no SOCKS!! I need SOCKS! I found them (oddly enough in the sock drawer) and put them near the shoe bag. I hate winter. Boots, shoes, heavy coats, gloves ... both of my coats have hoods so the hell with a hat. Phew.

I remembered to put the trash and recycling out tonight. It would not have been a pretty sight tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. I'm thinking of loading up a bullet proof coffee tonight so I just push the button on my Keurig tomorrow. I can't go to the gym on an empty stomach but when I make breakfast, I get discombobulated and forget my coffee on the counter.

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For my own mental health, I do not spend a lot of time in reality. I watch fiction on TV and I read fiction. I try very hard to ignore politics because I don't enjoy a helpless feeling.

But today, I was having what I thought was a civilized discussion saying, "I was brought up to believe that we are a melting pot and nobody is better than anybody else and we should get along." And my companion said something to the effect that this country is embroiled in identity politics and it 'is mainly the fault of the Democrats.'

I found that to be a very hurtful statement. But I didn't say anything. What's the point? Obviously that person believes that. I don't. Oh well.

Hey! I hope you all have a great week! Let's keep counting our blessings: warm houses, enough to eat, good friends (that would be you). I'll keep praying for your good health if you pray for mine. Cheers!