tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36901718183727336202024-03-05T02:22:56.564-08:00Sweet SongsGeorgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.comBlogger540125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-5975509139615031312020-03-24T20:35:00.000-07:002020-03-24T21:08:34.859-07:00Pocket Face Mask (for Virginia, with love)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYs78XKIEIdc461X4g6WH9kolYLy7O8tg5L6v-L9w0rGu_NxQiznoaFFy91ddXG6NlcRxZPCQv27-QFeLzjiC0S9sePRXRB3WC7lCshx021BfujskAxjncpbfhRTMFAagPEM_6umiXtgU/s1600/me+masked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYs78XKIEIdc461X4g6WH9kolYLy7O8tg5L6v-L9w0rGu_NxQiznoaFFy91ddXG6NlcRxZPCQv27-QFeLzjiC0S9sePRXRB3WC7lCshx021BfujskAxjncpbfhRTMFAagPEM_6umiXtgU/s200/me+masked.jpg" width="174" /></a>I like being helpful. And in this weird pandemic time, it's hard to be helpful when you are supposed to stay home. So, I'm trying to be helpful by sewing and returning to this good old blog. <br />
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There is a shortage of medical masks, and lots of crafty/sewing types are cranking them out. I am, too. And lots of people want to know more about the pattern.<br />
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I was using the basic pattern from Deaconess Hospital in Evansville (where I think our godson was born 35+ years ago); it can be found<a href="https://www.deaconess.com/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask" target="_blank"> here.</a> But then my friend, Stephanie Williams, founder of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/roxierosekids/" target="_blank">Roxie Rose Kids</a> and <a href="https://www.thelemonseedboutique.com/" target="_blank">The Lemon Seed Boutique</a> in Bedford, Indiana (and Hen and Chicks Barn Market Vendor!), made some improvements to the basic pattern and made a video outlining every step, with some great tips for less waste of fabric and better sewing in general (as in, trim your stray threads as you go, which I always regret not doing!) Her version has a great inside pocket for inserting some sort of third-layer filtering sheet; she also suggests making ties for the mask from strips of jersey material pulled tight and threaded through the mask (it reminds of of the surgeons on MASH). However, our local hospital is requesting elastic which fits over the ears and I happened to have a supply of elastic, so that's what I am showing here.<br />
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A dear friend - hi, Virginia - is hoping to make 100 masks for the New York hospital where her cousin is a doctor. I told her I would make some for her, too, and take pictures of the process and send her the steps. Then I realized that it would probably be easier if I put them all in one spot. (This is how I blog post is born, I suppose.)<br />
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(And just as an FYI, I did masks like I do quilt piecing - I cut many pieces at once, and run them through my machine daisy-chain style. I do about 10 masks at a time; the first step with all 10, then the second step with all ten, etc. Also, I don't pin if I don't think I need to - you may want to. And I don't iron much - please iron as much as you like - yours will probably be much neater, like Stephanie's!)<br />
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Needs: Good quality cotton fabric, thread, pins, pipe cleaner, 1/4" elastic, some sort of filter/barrier<br />
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First, cut your main fabric into an 8" x 16" rectangle:<br />
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Also cut two strips, 2" by about 6" (this can be the same fabric or a contrast):<br />
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On the main piece, press 1/4" down on an 8" side, then another 1/4', making a small hem. Repeat on opposite 8" side, then sew:<br />
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Fold your mask into a sort of pocket, and pin:<br />
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On the top edge, sew a channel 4/8" from the top: (I marked 4/8" on my sewing machine plate with a piece of washi tape - this really helps when sewing many masks at one time):<br />
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Using side cuts, cut the pipe cleaner in half:<br />
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Then fold it in half:<br />
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I used a needle-nosed pliers to bend the end of the pipe cleaner in and gave them a good squeeze, because I noticed - after I had sewed up my first 20 - that the pointy end of the pipe cleaner can stick through the fabric, and who needs that?<br />
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Sew 2 1/2" from the end of the channel, perpendicular to your channel seam (again, I have the 2 1/2" marked with washi):<br />
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Slide the folded pipe cleaner into the channel until it reaches that seam:<br />
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Then smooth out the channel. Sew 2 1/2" from the other side to secure the pipe cleaner. This will make a nice tight fit against the wearer's nose:.<br />
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Lay the mask back on your work space and start the pleats. There are 3 pleats, but you don't have to be precise - you can just eyeball the spacing, pinch and pin:<br />
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Sew across pleats on both sides of mask:<br />
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<br />
(I just didn't believe this would work until it worked!)<br />
Trim seam:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQkHB8jyRpPQ15NTxWhTVn8vsevQjx3KReaHylJZXlDYRaVvbkJrzPXxoFVXsJY6Ok7szUSeirUMxT6TYsS57TZoz-QWESXqByyDNdeeSFV5Uzi8Uvvgm1rdB7Y-7A0I4jTxCArgsCq7H/s1600/mask+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1515" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQkHB8jyRpPQ15NTxWhTVn8vsevQjx3KReaHylJZXlDYRaVvbkJrzPXxoFVXsJY6Ok7szUSeirUMxT6TYsS57TZoz-QWESXqByyDNdeeSFV5Uzi8Uvvgm1rdB7Y-7A0I4jTxCArgsCq7H/s320/mask+13.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
<br />
It looks so small and tidy,<br />
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But look how those pleats allow it to open up!<br />
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Now for the 2" strip - with the front of the mask and the right side of the strip facing, position it so there is about 1" of fabric on both top and bottom; pin and sew:<br />
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Fold "ears" of the strip to the inside, and make a small seam to hold them down - 4 times, on all 4 "ears" - this will prove invaluable when you go to thread the elastic through, I promise:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OIM5ErnltpNAQEJLj2Lq22o3xtFooE6IaAsKElbWslMeNGxCae8lJIzBM0Dwcsuoa5D8l03f99zqFf9vTXZx7dpDrZAvy_ff8Sryc7yVeJ1IYYyOpIwC-WhOy9XtelXFogmhhVo2EDeN/s1600/mask+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="1600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OIM5ErnltpNAQEJLj2Lq22o3xtFooE6IaAsKElbWslMeNGxCae8lJIzBM0Dwcsuoa5D8l03f99zqFf9vTXZx7dpDrZAvy_ff8Sryc7yVeJ1IYYyOpIwC-WhOy9XtelXFogmhhVo2EDeN/s320/mask+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Finger press a small hem on the outside of the strip:<br />
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<br />
<br />
Fold in and stitch, creating a channel for the elastic.<br />
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<br />
Repeat for second side.<br />
<br />
Cut 1/4" elastic into 7-8" pieces.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Using a safety pin, thread one piece of the elastic through the channel:<br />
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<br />
Sew the ends of the elastic together (I find this the trickiest part, and use a chop stick to hold and guide the elastic so I don't sew my fingers. It's happened.) Go forward and reverse several times to make sure the elastic is secure:<br />
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<br />
Thread the sewn junction of the elastic into the channel and secure with a small seam to keep it there.<br />
<br />
I've seen and heard about people using all sorts of things for the filter inside the pocket - I'm not sure what is best, but I've been cutting out pieces of heavy interfacing and sending it along with the masks - at least it's one more layer between germs and other people:<br />
<br />
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The filter goes in the pocket, the pocket faces the wearer's mouth and the pipe cleaner channel is the top, along the nose.<br />
<br />
I hope this helps those who are helping those who are helping to keep us all healthy.<br />
<br />
Peace, love and hugs, from a social distance, of course.<br />
<br />
Georgie<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-90275762441902340522019-02-07T12:38:00.002-08:002019-02-07T12:38:27.289-08:00The End to the BeginningI wrote my first post on this blog on July 2, 2007. It started as a knitting blog, progressed to a crafty blog/family blog/look at my cute dog and cats blog/whatever-I'd-like-to-say-at-the-moment blog. <br />
<br />
But I have let it go too long. I tried resurrecting it a couple of times. Unsuccessfully. <br />
<br />
So I'm saying good-bye to Old Sweet Songs, and starting a new blog -- Pudding and Pie. You can find it <a href="https://pieandpudding.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
Peace.Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-77399176431572462052017-11-18T18:10:00.000-08:002017-11-19T04:52:19.452-08:00Taste of the Seasons RecipesAbout 4 years ago my dear friend, Blake, asked me to help him with an event for the Brownstown Fund for the Arts, where he was a board member, and because it was Blake, I said, "Sure." I prepared and demo-ed 3 appetizers and 3 cocktails for about 50 people. It was fun, and we repeated the fun for three years. Last year he took a break, but this year, my friends in the Psi Iota Xi Chapter in Brownstown wanted to revive it, both for their chapter anniversary party and as a fund raiser -- and they said they would give the proceeds to the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts where I am a board member. So I said "sure" once again.<br />
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I didn't do a recipe book (both to save a little money and because my computer and printer weren't talking to each other); the event chairwomen Andrea and Jeanna (amazing, fun and hard-working Psi Ote sisters) suggested posting the recipes online, so here they are:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Herb Roasted Nuts</span></i></div>
<i>Although I called them "herb" roasted on the menu, I actually made "spice" roasted nuts. I adapted this recipe from <u>The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook</u>. If you are in Savannah, be sure to go to this adorable vintage bakery. </i><br />
<br />
2 T. butter<br />
1 t. cinnamon<br />
1/2 t. cloves<br />
1 t. cumin<br />
1/8 t. cayenne<br />
4 cups unsalted mixed nuts (any that you like -- I used almonds, cashews and walnuts)<br />
1/4 cup sugar<br />
Salt<br />
<br />
Melt butter in a large skillet over low heat. Stir in spices and continue to stir, cooking for about 2 minutes. Add nuts, and stir for 5-6 minutes. Sprinkle sugar over all, and cook another 3-4 minutes, or until you can't see the sugar any longer. Pour nuts onto parchment-covered cookie sheet, and sprinkle with salt. You can vary this recipe any way you like, with any spices or herbs that you enjoy. There are lots of great spice mixes that would work perfectly.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><i>French Mule Cocktail</i></span></div>
<i>We had this delicious cocktail at a French luncheon last month at Epcot. This is a fairly close copy, I think.</i><br />
<br />
For each drink:<br />
2 oz. Chambord Liqueur (although I used my homemade blackberry liqueur)<br />
1 oz. vodka<br />
Juice of half a lime<br />
1 can of cold ginger beer or ginger ale<br />
<br />
Mix all and pour over ice. Add a raspberry (or blackberry) and a sprig of mint.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><i>Homemade Fruit Liqueur</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Just because</i></div>
<br />
Lightly fill a quart Ball jar with fresh, clean fruit -- berries, peaches, plums, cherries.<br />
Pour vodka over fruit, filling the jar almost to the top, with a little room to stir.<br />
Cap the jar, and place in a cool, dark place for a month to 6 weeks, stirring (or shaking) once a week.<br />
When ready, make a simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water, boiled until clear and cooled completely). Strain the fruit through a sieve or cheesecloth. Add simple syrup to the jar, making it as sweet as you like. I store it in the refrigerator. This is great with some club soda or 7-Up, and I've been told it's pretty delicious on ice cream, as well!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><i>Pam's Cheese Balls</i></span></div>
<i>This recipe is from my dear friend, Pam, who won an appetizer contest with these. Someone Thursday night suggested they were "praline cheese balls" -- I think she was right. I thought this recipe was perfect for a Beta Mu event -- those sisters had just made over 1700 of their famous cheese balls the weekend before for their annual fundraiser! </i><br />
<br />
8 ounces of cream cheese, softened<br />
2 Tablespoons grated onion<br />
2 cloves of minced garlic<br />
1 teaspoon dried dill<br />
<br />
Mix all together and form into small balls (I used a cookie scoop); refrigerate while you make the sauce:<br />
<br />
4 Tablespoons melted butter<br />
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce<br />
1/4 cup dark brown sugar<br />
1/2 teaspoon mustard<br />
1 cup chopped pecans<br />
<br />
Mix all the above and spoon over cheese balls. Refrigerate until serving.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">Whipped Goat Cheese on Puff Pastry</span></i></div>
<i>This was another French Epcot dish. They didn't give us recipes, but again, I think this is close to what we enjoyed there.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
4 ounces plain goat cheese<br />
2 Tablespoons whipping cream<br />
2 teaspoons lightly chopped rosemary<br />
Honey<br />
Frozen puff pastry<br />
<br />
First, defrost puff pastry according to package directions, and cut into small squares (I did mine about 1" x 2"); place on a parchment-lines (or lightly sprayed) cookie sheet and bake according to package directions. Allow to cool.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, beat the goat cheese and whipping cream together with an electric mixer until smooth; (you might need to add a little more cream to make it pipe-able); mix in rosemary. Transfer cheese to a piping bag and squeeze onto the puff pastry squares. Top with a dot of honey.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><i>Christmas Margarita</i></span></div>
<br />
1 ounce tequila<br />
3 ounces cranberry juice<br />
1 ounce lime juice<br />
1 ounce orange liqueur<br />
1 ounce club soda<br />
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Shake the above ingredients together, pour over ice and serve with a lime wedge and pomegranate seeds (arils).<br />
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<i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/mexican-shrimp-cocktail-0?utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=myrecipes" target="_blank">Mexican Shrimp Cocktail</a></span></i></div>
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This recipe is from my favorite magazine, <u>Southern Living</u>, and I think it is just delicious. Click the link above for the recipe. For Thursday evening, I reduced the jalapenos to just 1, and omitted both the hot sauce and the horseradish. </div>
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<a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/petite-sweet-potato-biscuits-pulled-pork-slaw?utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=myrecipes" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw</span></i></a></div>
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This is another great <u>Southern Living</u> Recipe. We cooked the pork in an electric pressure cooker (InstaPot). I will confess that the biscuits we served Thursday evening didn't have any BBQ sauce, as I had left it in my refrigerator.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/triple-chocolate-brownie-mousse-stacks" target="_blank">Triple Chocolate Brownie Mousse Stacks</a></i></span></div>
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This is the third recipe from <u>SL.</u> The changes I made to this recipe were: 1) I used a brownie mix; and 2) I omitted the peanut butter from the chocolate mousse. Just make sure you whip the cream to stiff peaks, and this will set up beautifully. </div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><i>Holiday Sangria</i></span></div>
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<i>This is my recipe, inspired by lots of other winter sangria recipes. Omit the wine and brandy for a more kid-friendly punch bowl!</i></div>
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1 gallon apple cider</div>
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1 cup brandy</div>
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Spice ball</div>
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Mix cider and brandy in a punch bowl or other large container. For the spice ball, combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 cinnamon sticks, a teaspoon of whole cloves and a slice of fresh ginger in a cheesecloth square; tie up into a ball and immerse in the cider for a few hours or overnight.</div>
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Before serving, prepare fruit. Chop or thinly slice an apple and a pear, and slice an orange thin. If you're serving from a punch bowl, add the fruit to the bowl. Or, add fruit to the indivual glasses. </div>
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Add:</div>
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4 cups of orange juice</div>
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12 ounces of club soda</div>
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1 bottle of dry white wine</div>
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I had such a great time at the Taste of the Seasons; I think there are plans to do it again next November! Thanks to my friends Lori and Jenny for coming over Thursday afternoon to help me get ready, and to Clay, Maggie and my sister, Karen, for helping to prep and serve. And thanks to the women who attended! </div>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-15955800953823722482017-09-12T12:49:00.000-07:002017-11-17T11:00:22.853-08:00Checking In - A Little WritingSo it turns out I'm not much good at checking in every week. But this is not a surprise.<br />
Let's just say all is well here, I am deeply concerned about our country and our world, I've been reading some good stuff, and writing a little. Not enough, as our writing circle "assignment" was to write every day this week, and I don't really think Facebook posts should count. <br />
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In way of checking in, this week I'll share what I wrote for the circle last week after thinking about the "how" of my writing. I'm thinking this might turn into a poem -- it feels like a poem. At least it's listy. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>My Mode of Writing: The Pen</b></div>
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I belong to a regular small-town family. We live in a regular house and have regular but lovely children and grandchildren. We love birthday parties and Taco Tuesdays. We usually go to mass on Saturday nights then come home to pizza and morally questionable TV shows. See? Regular.<br />
<br />
But Clay is what they call a "worldwide expert" in his field, and travels the world keeping people happy and doing something important to great big engines that I couldn't begin to explain or understand. He is gone from home for weeks at a time, usually in remote areas of the world: the Australian Outback, mountaintops in Indonesia and the literal middle of nowhere Siberia. We installed a huge map of the world in our living room so we'll always understand just where he is, and our home is decorated with interesting things from his travels. Delicate tea sets from Japan and China. Happy little Buddhas and figures of Ganesha. A candle holder from Sweden, a Union Jack teacup, a vuvuzela, a boomerang. Many sets of Russian nesting dolls. Scarves, kimonos, jewelry, maps, books, teas, jams and chocolates. <br />
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Many years ago, I told him I didn't need him to bring me anything -- his return was gift enough, plus I am rotten at dusting all the knickknacks. So he started to bring me yarn. "Really useful," he said. First was Russian yarn, which we found after deciphering the label was made in China. Lovely Japanese yarn I can buy more cheaply at my favorite shop in Indianapolis. When he told me the story of how his taxi driver guided him through the sketchy back alleys of Pune, India to buy some yarn from the drive's cousin, I said no more yarn. <br />
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But he seemed desperate to bring me something, perhaps in restitution for all the months of our marriage that he's been gone, for the holidays and family gatherings he's missed. Maybe for the time I had to retrieve our middle child from a party after a 2 AM call from the sheriff.<br />
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So now he brings me pens. Pens labeled with Cyrillic alphabets, pens with crowns on top, pens that switch from red to blue to black to pencil, depending upon how you hold them. Short little pens that extend to regular length at the flick of your wrist. Pens with fine, fine tips, because he know those are my favorite. <br />
Those fine tip pens allow me to write fast. They let my hand and brain keep closer pursuit in the race to get my words only paper. <br />
<br />
So I write. Fast little poems for friend's birthdays, or to commemorate their addiction to Peeps. My novel that sits stagnant in a notebook as well as in a file on my computer. Pages and pages of journal entries on my life as a mom, mimi and wife who has struggled to be joyful and at peace in a marriage when she is so often alone, but yet never alone as long as I have a pen. <br />
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Peace.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-39081346474421234212017-09-11T10:57:00.000-07:002017-11-17T10:58:15.510-08:00Checking In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpztuCUlDaY5Dzskt7q-nU4Q7JKKdoij_VgXvYg5d9yj81T2YXvULFg3WzSeOwMzit9KIHgUmTDR04fv2OHHVmXzF4KMPYWsT9yp1GTL9KhQQSab6HrvypWRG5rTVvZ__UAPsbifBCelzH/s1600/olives+torn+sweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpztuCUlDaY5Dzskt7q-nU4Q7JKKdoij_VgXvYg5d9yj81T2YXvULFg3WzSeOwMzit9KIHgUmTDR04fv2OHHVmXzF4KMPYWsT9yp1GTL9KhQQSab6HrvypWRG5rTVvZ__UAPsbifBCelzH/s320/olives+torn+sweater.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
This is Olive's sweater I knit for her last year. I'm not really sure what happened, but it looks a little like how my life/schedule currently feels. Looking to remedy both ASAP.<br />
Peace.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-15595162977744443642017-08-14T09:24:00.000-07:002017-08-14T09:25:26.155-07:00Monday Check In<b>What I'm Reading: </b>Still, <i>My Brilliant Friend</i> and <i>The Brothers Karamazov. </i> I resorted to downloading the Audible version of MBF in an attempt to get it completed before tomorrow. <br />
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<b>What I'm Writing</b>: Re-wrote memoir notes; may have another memoir in the pipeline. Another poem.<br />
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<b>What I'm Crafting: </b>Orange socks! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj8OWS-kTWPFlAxcHSd-9vMNGEFbIcR0MYGzCSJYUsACJvLyTnKz7h50ba3E6D-GHSv9JRQZNiFjN44CgwreopaiNAH6y2bxPEXJ3RtE86yfFqeWN1Gn9FRuqX0mVQrAnBMJ2sdpwUedy/s1600/orange+socks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj8OWS-kTWPFlAxcHSd-9vMNGEFbIcR0MYGzCSJYUsACJvLyTnKz7h50ba3E6D-GHSv9JRQZNiFjN44CgwreopaiNAH6y2bxPEXJ3RtE86yfFqeWN1Gn9FRuqX0mVQrAnBMJ2sdpwUedy/s320/orange+socks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I finally joined up with the "Procrastinate No More" Christmas knitting project started by Brenda and Heather on Ravelry. (They started the project on July 25, I signed up today -- procrastination is the name of my game!) These socks are for Nate; if he decides to wrestle for the North team instead of the East team this winter, I guess these will be for Clay (who can wear them when the Browns play!), and buy a skein of<a href="http://brendaandheatheryarns.com/fingering-self-striping" target="_blank"> B&H Blue Blazes</a>. See that cute little camper stitch marker? From B&H -- they're so fun. <br />
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<b>What I'm Sewing:</b> Patches onto Jenny's volleyball ref shirts.<br />
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<b>What I'm Cooking: </b> Eggplant Parmesan (just "eh" -- the melty cheese was good) and peach cobbler (yum) were about the extent of my cooking last week. I did freeze 7 quarts of peaches. <br />
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<b>Fun Stuff: </b> Watching <i>Good Behavior</i> with Clay. It's splendidly non-edifying. <br />
Lunch at Batar with Deanna -- we talked until the restaurant closed and then talked outside for another 40 minutes, which is the definition of fun in my book. <br />
An auction on Saturday, which I had decided to skip until Jenny called and told me I really needed to go -- she was right. I promised myself "no linens" and "no dishes", but a violet tea set is too sweet for me to pass up. Some kitchy stuff, some costume jewelry and a jewelry box, a cow picture (much like the one my grandma had at her house), turquoise-handled silverware, sturdy end and coffee tables, 3 bamboo fishing poles and a vintage kitchen step stool completed the day. Plus all the stuff we bought for the market (especially an adorable yellow kitchen table and chair set!) And, I got to talk to Blake a little, which always makes me happy. <br />
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<b>Difficult Stuff: </b>2nd Anniversary of Joannie's death; went to Mass and breakfast with Linda and just cried a little a couple of times. I miss her every day -- she laughed at my weirdness, gently tried to steer me straight when I got off track, and made hard work great fun. I've made it clear to Linda that she may not die before me -- she gets me just like Joannie did, and even through she tries to convince me that she's rotten and not to be compared to Joannie's goodness, she's wrong.<br />
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And then, Charlottesville. But I am too sad to write anything else about that this morning.<br />
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Peace.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-5985444910295874152017-08-07T22:37:00.000-07:002017-08-14T09:27:19.909-07:00Checking InEvery Monday, I'm going to blog about what's shaking around here. Hopefully.<br />
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<b>What I'm Reading:</b> <i>My Brilliant Friend</i> by Elena Ferrante (for book group), <i>Lead With Humility: 12 Leadership Lessons from Pope Francis </i>by Jeffrey A. Krames,<i> Blasphemy </i>by Sherman Alexie (because I want to read what the cool kids are reading) and <i>The Brothers Karamazov </i>by Fydor Dostoevsky, because I think I should. (I really want to start <i>Britt-Marie</i>, but am making myself wait until at least one of these others is completed!)<br />
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<b>What I'm Writing:</b> A couple of poems. This blog post. Memoir notes for a friend. I'm <i>thinking </i>about the novel.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Only 60 more squares to go!</span></i></div>
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<b>What I'm Crafting:</b> A knitted afghan for the <a href="https://www.welcomeblanket.org/" target="_blank">Welcome Blanket project</a>, a crocheted shawl for hospice (with really squeaky acrylic yarn -- it's painful.), and hoping to cast on for some Christmas gift socks soon -- my friends, <a href="http://www.brendaandheatheryarns.com/" target="_blank">Brenda and Heather</a>, are hosting a "Procrastinate No More Along" on their Ravelry page, and one of these days I'm actually going to join in, as soon as I stop procrastinating. <br />
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<b>What I'm Sewing: </b> Nada. But I want to be -- I have so many quilt ideas banging around in my head. <br />
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<b>What I'm Cooking:</b> Dishes with beautiful produce. And blackberry cobblers. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE5tg4d7yMw_Se50HLYsf1f8avD84knVoqjFeD_ctVZb-VEhpk6GC0F2T7hc1fg7Ek_OPUBnHlJQfY64hS6ML7RNiuSlZ2v4E23jRuUAG1DtSx4NzUrA92c4n_9j5wQ1hkbIMLfRiupSE/s1600/IMG_1115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE5tg4d7yMw_Se50HLYsf1f8avD84knVoqjFeD_ctVZb-VEhpk6GC0F2T7hc1fg7Ek_OPUBnHlJQfY64hS6ML7RNiuSlZ2v4E23jRuUAG1DtSx4NzUrA92c4n_9j5wQ1hkbIMLfRiupSE/s400/IMG_1115.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b>Fun Stuff: </b>Watching <i>Hidden Figures</i> outside at Jenny and Brian's farm Friday night with a fun group of people, a little alcohol and s'mores. <br />
Going away supper for Carly as she gets ready to leave for her sophomore year at Belmont.<br />
Birthday supper for sweet friend, Ann, with Tammy and Lori. <br />
Delivering 47 blackberry cobblers to my generous friends; ergo delivering $1000 to the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts from the sale of those cobblers.<br />
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Difficult Stuff: Funeral for Helen, my dear friend, Laverne's mother. Visited with our friend, Pam, who lost her beloved dad last week. 45 is still the POTUS. <br />
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Big Question of the week: Why do people hate Ed Sheeran? <br />
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Peace.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-14526872659594984782017-07-21T08:49:00.002-07:002017-07-31T16:35:52.459-07:00Re-start, Re-chargeSo you may notice that I haven't posted on this blog since August of 2015. <br />
<br />
Two years. <br />
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Lots and lots has happened. I won't even try to catch up, but may include some of the lovelier moments of those two years here in the next few weeks.<br />
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I also haven't written much at all in the past two years; my novel, which I quit a great job to write, is still unwritten. I did start a political blog (<a href="http://dowdyfeathers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jumping Down from the Shelf</a>) in January, but have only posted there 10 times. I'm proud of the blog entries, although I get a little timid every time I'm ready to hit the "publish" button -- I'm a blue woman living in a red state with a lot of red friends and a couple of red enemies. <br />
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But I have been inspired to re-charge this blog by two people/things: 1) my sweet friend, Margaret's, lovely blog (<a href="https://myownallegory.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">My Own Allegory</a>). It was just a few weeks ago that Clay asked if I'd ever read her blog, and I am ashamed to say that I hadn't. It is sharp, introspective and passionate -- just what I want my blog to be. I'm probably going to steal her "Weekly Ponder" idea for my blog, just to keep track of books and such on a more regular basis. <br />
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2) <a href="https://womenwritingbloomington.org/" target="_blank">Women Writing for (a) Change</a>. I went on retreat last week. I was so incredibly nervous, as I was stepping out of my comfort zone -- I knew no one else who was going. What I soon discovered is that these 17 lovely, amazing women on the retreat with me are probably my tribe. I think this retreat has changed my life. (More on that to follow...) I have come home ready to right the world with my words. <br />
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Well, write, anyway. Away we go.<br />
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Peace.<br />
<br />
G<br />
<br />Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-66804483802520692702015-08-26T12:13:00.003-07:002015-08-26T12:13:48.749-07:00Happy National Dog Day<div style="text-align: center;">
Please don't take my picture.</div>
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Please don't take my picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUECDcSVR2gSKozGSh_q0rkOH5dJt0eYmMqHfjx055Sjy69ee1xH1JoXeKViy-HrPvF7fTNzj1nEOv8kxZ8i3FWMpP5qC_MWsOxFf8n7zh_LMNWFRKiaF3dtE_mEQ51dOVxaqt6Sjbxvs/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUECDcSVR2gSKozGSh_q0rkOH5dJt0eYmMqHfjx055Sjy69ee1xH1JoXeKViy-HrPvF7fTNzj1nEOv8kxZ8i3FWMpP5qC_MWsOxFf8n7zh_LMNWFRKiaF3dtE_mEQ51dOVxaqt6Sjbxvs/s400/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I asked you not to take my picture. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivubN1EPXiqt5c5e7XZKTnpuENXYkoaknyWttrL193ojQDW3QAzlyRw_cxQRYUpjC-dQQLhx6gaIqP5VUgDaSJn11qcea2vqjOclHMWXsnnwLYyHVO139sZ1B_LiHUKjCiQgSj-0mx18CV/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivubN1EPXiqt5c5e7XZKTnpuENXYkoaknyWttrL193ojQDW3QAzlyRw_cxQRYUpjC-dQQLhx6gaIqP5VUgDaSJn11qcea2vqjOclHMWXsnnwLYyHVO139sZ1B_LiHUKjCiQgSj-0mx18CV/s400/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Peace.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-42688202215324641182015-08-17T08:54:00.000-07:002015-09-28T07:57:42.611-07:00Olive's Doll -- My First Waldorf<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7atQ5AJ06rzHtVkm6SCJYJWH83IRbtoA7pu_yxVvnsGDFnjV9eNbv_vF5hE3YUJNf-aeoTTo5h4Xm5H3WlA6UofQCVr_F9IyedPM-f02qsK8mRpVJNNEMMX-9sF0SrZb0agdx2NjKrb6/s1600/doll3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7atQ5AJ06rzHtVkm6SCJYJWH83IRbtoA7pu_yxVvnsGDFnjV9eNbv_vF5hE3YUJNf-aeoTTo5h4Xm5H3WlA6UofQCVr_F9IyedPM-f02qsK8mRpVJNNEMMX-9sF0SrZb0agdx2NjKrb6/s200/doll3.JPG" width="200" /></a>I've been thinking about and studying up on Waldorf dolls for a few years now. I've made a lot of dolls in the past, from corn husk dolls and knitted dolls to rag dolls and dolls made from felted sweaters. But a Waldorf doll is special, yet open to lots of creative interpretations. <br />
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Waldorf dolls are a part of the Waldorf School tradition, founded on the philosophies of Rudolph Steiner in Germany in 1919. Steiner believed in practical and creative education, based on play and imagination -- my kind of school -- and opened his first school at the Waldorf-Astoria Cigarette Company in Stuttgart for the children of the factory employees. Waldorf-style schools still thrive around the world, and many charter schools in the US follow the Waldorf paradigm. <br />
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The basic idea of Waldorf dolls is that they are to be played with. A lot. They are traditionally cloth dolls, made with stockinette fabric stuffed with wool roving. The faces are sculpted with heavy thread, then covered with a jersey-type knit fabric. Facial features are either embroidered or painted on, then hair is stitched on. If you google "Waldorf dolls", you will get thousands of photos of unique dolls, some with perfect hair and features, some more free-form. Dolls are sold on Etsy and other sites for hundreds of dollars. Speaking of Etsy, I purchased a kit from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/reggiesdolls" target="_blank">Reggie's Dolls</a> for my first attempt. I received all the traditional supplies I needed -- stockinette, knit, roving, heavy thread, ball-point needle for my machine, and a cute little crayon for her cheeks. Plus, Reggie was so helpful with my questions, guiding me in the right direction. I relied on the internet for the body pattern, but think I could probably sketch out my own for next time, or for bigger or smaller dolls. There are no hard and fast rules -- the goal is to make a doll that will be loved and played with. <br />
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So, here she is. I think I'll call her Red until Olive gives her another name:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lQLe1Wf3gwWfQCje2YNtMcHnoonZQttzgZTPDlXBEtB7cvVfPioyZ7zz6M7kZB8zg0wvvldm2GHQY6l6v_bgjEjsy3eUb6PydDcWOpDpmxKK04doWZSRjapudHmatZNqlvPRQlGtU-aR/s1600/doll4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lQLe1Wf3gwWfQCje2YNtMcHnoonZQttzgZTPDlXBEtB7cvVfPioyZ7zz6M7kZB8zg0wvvldm2GHQY6l6v_bgjEjsy3eUb6PydDcWOpDpmxKK04doWZSRjapudHmatZNqlvPRQlGtU-aR/s640/doll4.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
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Of course, I planned to take a lot of pictures during the process, but once I got going (and other things, like a flooded basement interfered!) I just forgot. But here are the body parts cut out of the jersey knit:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2bolJ79MrfLjnMsDzBsFt2J_PddiPcnESJta7SeTOeOsh-iTX88kuhPg-L-ly8P6fzrsXMY5duLrS68qcNSgVeLzbTE8o-s64Ve7142VhXSQwCLUcHPcepLB1rGCWJvN0wxHAUBv1PUE/s1600/doll+body.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2bolJ79MrfLjnMsDzBsFt2J_PddiPcnESJta7SeTOeOsh-iTX88kuhPg-L-ly8P6fzrsXMY5duLrS68qcNSgVeLzbTE8o-s64Ve7142VhXSQwCLUcHPcepLB1rGCWJvN0wxHAUBv1PUE/s400/doll+body.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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And some stitching on the arms. One hint I read was to use a zigzag stitch, so I did. Next time, I'll use only straight stitching -- I don't like how there are tiny gaps between the zigzags when the body is stuffed. Not awful, but a little annoying. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJmpoCpuQ2L3WEmbCgeVgGtrY1uQn5FGb-QhqYDkizk2bAhD1xgsjYQ3D7yjhstEKdo8K5GN4JoCsTtEtvgx5YNbGyPcFSqQ9I0PmdAC8WojLGf7xj00CpyhfDaiHVD-DVdVYbeWA1USw/s1600/doll+stitching.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJmpoCpuQ2L3WEmbCgeVgGtrY1uQn5FGb-QhqYDkizk2bAhD1xgsjYQ3D7yjhstEKdo8K5GN4JoCsTtEtvgx5YNbGyPcFSqQ9I0PmdAC8WojLGf7xj00CpyhfDaiHVD-DVdVYbeWA1USw/s1600/doll+stitching.JPG" /></a></div>
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Stuffing the body with wool roving was perhaps the most enlightening thing about making the doll -- for years, I have used the polyester "fluff", but the roving feels better, doesn't squeak and keeps the shape of the limbs and body just like you want them. Does that make sense? Just know that is it far superior to squeaky fluff, and I'll be using it all the time now.</div>
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I re-did her head several times to get the facial expression I wanted -- I would like her to be a little "smilier" still, but I think she's pretty cute. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFL24-j9PDCMaEJBaZELY_0GMIesjYWBZ7_vVpLOBjcOagTADsoIMYd0hNXmdLBm_r4o1Y-PI_a5OuALw6lvH71Qmx_w0HNSe8EBX_KaBihKqRa3RuTo4PAEaPRFMP0kFEh9mh9CCS1no/s1600/doll1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFL24-j9PDCMaEJBaZELY_0GMIesjYWBZ7_vVpLOBjcOagTADsoIMYd0hNXmdLBm_r4o1Y-PI_a5OuALw6lvH71Qmx_w0HNSe8EBX_KaBihKqRa3RuTo4PAEaPRFMP0kFEh9mh9CCS1no/s400/doll1.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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For her hair, I crocheted a little cap, then stitched it to her head, then threaded hair into the cap. I don't know if Olive's hair will be red like this (the little bit she has is currently strawberry blonde), but I just really liked this color and the texture of the yarn.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGECtB6tsgXo78nGWmT_xX9st1q9EDDAnkj8U5VzUAEYh78pXXjxc-U1twQvurF76z_CuzjQ-lxuqbPO2c8MwtdEZE81SS5ti394iVNhCCyfrZLFHXeCeRosDjgRysM08OND12R5UKmtfY/s1600/doll2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGECtB6tsgXo78nGWmT_xX9st1q9EDDAnkj8U5VzUAEYh78pXXjxc-U1twQvurF76z_CuzjQ-lxuqbPO2c8MwtdEZE81SS5ti394iVNhCCyfrZLFHXeCeRosDjgRysM08OND12R5UKmtfY/s400/doll2.JPG" width="353" /></a></div>
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Her dress was from a pattern from Reggie, but I messed up the sleeves twice and decided to make it sleeveless. I had this fabric in my workroom, and the rickrack is from a big box of vintage trims my pal, Richard, gave me after his mother passed away -- it makes me happy to be able to use her things. I added two snaps on the back. I crocheted Red's shoes and beret, and knit her little sweater using a pattern from <a href="http://blog.bamboletta.com/uncategorized/cuddle-doll-sweater-pattern/" target="_blank">Bamboletta</a> -- it's a little big. I was knitting on the sweater in the evenings before the body was completed, so I didn't do much measuring. Next time, I'll be more careful. I also made her some little panties, because I think all dolls should have them, right? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaNgujIVMbRWypOi-hw8bLa9DEI51EdRw5iEtqyqc8jZWPJvKtIV59FnGciyiAL51lK-Q0CIZiD7Rsr1mp_wuRUWvMOwnk6Cxi6mERHWnzFghDcCRJuj1a2Qa2UnB_7l-ckThqAqvhpsb/s1600/doll8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaNgujIVMbRWypOi-hw8bLa9DEI51EdRw5iEtqyqc8jZWPJvKtIV59FnGciyiAL51lK-Q0CIZiD7Rsr1mp_wuRUWvMOwnk6Cxi6mERHWnzFghDcCRJuj1a2Qa2UnB_7l-ckThqAqvhpsb/s400/doll8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Does this look weird? </div>
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Here she is, in all her finery. She likes to hang out in the camper.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMUblT_M-QY_33iTZE5il9dyfdMFR6sp6m2oJbWzxxnay1yNmWRPzl8PjZJHJ5tLz7vg0OPO4E1VFQ8EmiZAG098o1_XavTCH_6advDSxpKW2bzJ05t9g-DJOhrMDBzVRXCIE_1Qti6xF/s1600/doll6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMUblT_M-QY_33iTZE5il9dyfdMFR6sp6m2oJbWzxxnay1yNmWRPzl8PjZJHJ5tLz7vg0OPO4E1VFQ8EmiZAG098o1_XavTCH_6advDSxpKW2bzJ05t9g-DJOhrMDBzVRXCIE_1Qti6xF/s640/doll6.JPG" width="396" /></a></div>
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I also added a little label on her back:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjzdWfmAfwXxPpcWpSJdXV77r8yz12joaSvEZOE00s8XxkcbHCiqgfGzimiiF2SeFEvUNQG61Bld5MStLgnhb-RMq_MAWsHDXBNFwX5RXCtRHR5BKt9rIbAfoilEeceHPUZ2WFvZDLc9O/s1600/doll9%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjzdWfmAfwXxPpcWpSJdXV77r8yz12joaSvEZOE00s8XxkcbHCiqgfGzimiiF2SeFEvUNQG61Bld5MStLgnhb-RMq_MAWsHDXBNFwX5RXCtRHR5BKt9rIbAfoilEeceHPUZ2WFvZDLc9O/s400/doll9%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And I took Red to the fair, where she won a blue ribbon. OK, so she was the only doll in her category, but Clay says she would have won the blue anyway. He is nice. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg321ZEp9Hy78KAubqyG0vqblTbyIi-uY3G2zoCtH-I8fQFKIOmwJ7XJLbvAxwRw2sWKuIqThTJokh-HZHndF3_RFjoed59gFBGyRFE2Efam6cikiac5ygDhYfuQ6sK4ki1gc3vi7ZRS1T1/s1600/doll11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg321ZEp9Hy78KAubqyG0vqblTbyIi-uY3G2zoCtH-I8fQFKIOmwJ7XJLbvAxwRw2sWKuIqThTJokh-HZHndF3_RFjoed59gFBGyRFE2Efam6cikiac5ygDhYfuQ6sK4ki1gc3vi7ZRS1T1/s400/doll11.JPG" width="305" /></a></div>
(See how her little beret looks like an olive? Tee-hee. I bought this great olive green yarn at <a href="http://www.shabbysheepandewe.com/" target="_blank">Shabby Sheep and Ewe</a> in Columbus, a sweet little shop -- it's a sport weight held with a mohair-like yarn to get the fuzzy look. I wish I could tell you the brands, but I misplaced the ball bands.) <br />
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So, Red will be Olive's birthday present, and now it is time to start thinking about Abby's. Chestnut brown hair, coral dress? Gold sweater and hat? I think, if I didn't have any other things to do, I could sit and make dolls all the time. Maybe someday I will do just that.<br />
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Peace,<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
P.S. Here are some other sources for dolls or supplies: <a href="http://bamboletta.com/pages/sewing-club" target="_blank"> Bamboletta</a>, <a href="http://www.novanatural.com/collections/dolls/waldorf-dolls" target="_blank">Nova Natural Toys and Crafts</a>, <a href="http://www.magiccabin.com/waldorf-dolls/waldorf-dolls.htm" target="_blank">Magic Cabin</a>, <a href="https://www.bellalunatoys.com/waldorf-dolls/waldorf-dolls.html" target="_blank">Bella Luna Toys</a>, <a href="http://www.palumba.com/creative-play/waldorf-dolls-puppets.html" target="_blank">Paluma Inspired Living</a>, <a href="https://www.weircrafts.com/waldorf-doll-making/waldorf-doll-making-supplies/waldorf-doll-making-supplies.html" target="_blank">Weir Crafts </a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThisChildDolls" target="_blank">This Child of Mine</a>, and <a href="http://www.achildsdream.com/doll-making/" target="_blank">A Child's Dream</a>.<br />
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Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-85254178441730856402015-07-05T11:33:00.002-07:002015-09-28T07:58:05.646-07:00A Little Baking for the 4th. And 1st.<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://images.clipartpanda.com/flag-clip-art-american-flag-wave.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.clipartpanda.com/flag-clip-art-american-flag-wave.png" height="153" width="200" /></a>A newer tradition in our family is to have 4th of July breakfast at the Eggers'. Dave made eggs, bacon and biscuits and gravy -- what more could you ask for? Bloody Marys? Mimosas? Baked treats, you ask? OK!</div>
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Jenny gave me some fresh raspberries from her mom's patch on Thursday, so I made scones. The great recipe is <a href="http://lecremedelacrumb.com/2014/06/raspberry-almond-scones.html" target="_blank">here</a> from Creme de la Crumb. They were very good. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyZ_dxbsdub5MqoGV3TApo5pA8a28k4e6RZmcENobIAF5YWS5r9Q9n1L7dj2i1ef5zQP36uR1lOT1O-f5-GTWKyUD3PviujJrNg530_KtNhssJWHjvPstViclEoCddJVKCBONpd8QEOAe/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyZ_dxbsdub5MqoGV3TApo5pA8a28k4e6RZmcENobIAF5YWS5r9Q9n1L7dj2i1ef5zQP36uR1lOT1O-f5-GTWKyUD3PviujJrNg530_KtNhssJWHjvPstViclEoCddJVKCBONpd8QEOAe/s640/IMG_1075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also made Clay's favorite, Blueberry Buckle. The recipe is from our good friend, Joan, via her mom, Norrene. Like <a href="http://oldsweetsong.blogspot.com/2014/07/florences-peach-cobbler-to-go.html" target="_blank">Florence's Peach Cobbler</a>, it's a great one preserved in the 1991 St. Ambrose PTO cookbook. (You know -- before Pinterest.) We made two cakes -- one for the morning, and one for Maggie's last evening, and I got several requests for the recipe, so here it is!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Blueberry Buckle</i></b></span></div>
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3/2 c. sugar 1/4 cup soft butter<br />
1 egg 1/2 c. milk<br />
2 cups flour 2 tsp. baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp. salt 2 cups well-drained blueberries<br />
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Cream first 3 ingredients; stir in milk. (I use a hand mixer.) Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; stir into butter mixture. Carefully blend in blueberries; spread batter in greased and floured 9" square pan. Mix ingredients for crumb mixture:<br />
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1/2 cup sugar 1/3 c. flour<br />
1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 cup soft butter<br />
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Sprinkle on top of batter. Bake 45-50 minutes at 375 until toothpick stuck into center comes out clean. Serve warm, fresh from the oven. <br />
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Just one more. Since the 1st was Canada Day, and since Grandma Olive was from Canada, and since we were having a family supper, I made this:<br />
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It's just angel food cake, torn up in the bottom of a 9x13. Then, I chopped up some strawberries, mixed them with a little sugar and spooned them over. Cool Whip on top (yes, I do prefer whipped cream, but there are some Cool Whip lovers in this family, and it's really just easier, isn't it?). More crushed berries on the sides and a raspberry maple leaf (can you tell that's what that is?) in the center. O, Canada! <br />
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Peace,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-9626942454236422602015-07-01T13:29:00.000-07:002015-07-05T13:29:38.230-07:00David and Goliath Go to the Dominican <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My friend, Linda, is going on a mission trip with her church to the Dominican Republic, where they will be teaching Bible School for lots of kids. It sounds like great fun, and I know it will be a rewarding experience for her. <br />
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(I have the happiest memories of Bible School at Bethany Baptist Church in Crothersville. I would get to spend the whole week at my grandma's, and every morning she would hold my hand as we walked into the sanctuary, where we'd say the pledges to the American and Christian flags and sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "The B-I-B-L-E". Grandma would go down to the basement to make the grape Koolaid and set two cookies on a napkin for each kid to enjoy after our lesson, games and crafts. CRAFTS! It was the greatest.)<br />
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Anyway, I started at Pinterest, and found <a href="https://newlifenewpurpose.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/free-mouth-puppets/" target="_blank">this blog </a>that had great directions for puppets. I also googled some images of David and Goliath, and ended up with these: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd3VS0JTrH_xJ4s7of43i7SdrSiyiMUqDa60Pl-5HTqF9iHykZqkd0tMs16rG8BFslbtx3NaLhTGmAaw2-QSus13buzARQAnCocoC8iyAvA5-piQa6wN4EOEJlkLWCidYS80pbOIa7mxq/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd3VS0JTrH_xJ4s7of43i7SdrSiyiMUqDa60Pl-5HTqF9iHykZqkd0tMs16rG8BFslbtx3NaLhTGmAaw2-QSus13buzARQAnCocoC8iyAvA5-piQa6wN4EOEJlkLWCidYS80pbOIa7mxq/s640/045.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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David was made exactly from the pattern on the blog. For Goliath, I used a compass and increased the head and body pattern by about an inch all around. I just fooled around with his arms and legs until they looked big and fierce enough! </div>
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The only purchases for this project were 3 beigey-tanny t-shirts from the Goodwill. Everything else I had in my workroom. David's tunic and sandals are felt; Goliath's tunic is old sweaters -- the skirt of his tunic is scraps from a Gap sweater I've already made into a purse. His sword, shield and breastplate are cut from an old Cricut mat and covered with silver vinyl. Their hair is yarn and David's slingshot and G's sandals are leather lacing (Yes, I do have a lot of crap in my workroom.)</div>
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David could easily be transformed into any number of Biblical people -- a young Jesus, Zacchaeus, Isaac. Goliath? Well, he looks a lot like that caveman on the insurance commercials ....<br />
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Peace.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8MVivKl7c_zm8qk4jQuTs9sf_snZrm2tV9cxa0gLl0vpXqnUrd0tbKQh2p5lIQ3idfi9olyeh5mqNj6AxY8sAqeElFzIVP1bsw1FqRrL3tg2pOgYnb37SagWDvKdU_UeDKxGu5c7Kv5F/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8MVivKl7c_zm8qk4jQuTs9sf_snZrm2tV9cxa0gLl0vpXqnUrd0tbKQh2p5lIQ3idfi9olyeh5mqNj6AxY8sAqeElFzIVP1bsw1FqRrL3tg2pOgYnb37SagWDvKdU_UeDKxGu5c7Kv5F/s200/047.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-6079021075400187652015-06-29T12:11:00.000-07:002017-07-21T08:51:15.177-07:00Another Beautiful Wedding<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp_SU-qKnuAvVm1zP-CrAwk3uT_ofoyPpyl67BWhxHd2_069o0qpxoceJP0yG4wcnb81c51AAy7tQtvcZ4HZouFgTuohI8qD1VZ-W0ViIVFIxJTbM23xWTXcT30W6xAtY5DJkhyn3QY52/s1600/IMG_1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp_SU-qKnuAvVm1zP-CrAwk3uT_ofoyPpyl67BWhxHd2_069o0qpxoceJP0yG4wcnb81c51AAy7tQtvcZ4HZouFgTuohI8qD1VZ-W0ViIVFIxJTbM23xWTXcT30W6xAtY5DJkhyn3QY52/s200/IMG_1050.JPG" width="150" /></a>I was honored to play for my friend, Lauren's, wedding Saturday. Her mom is one of my dearest friends and her brother is my godson (her dad is pretty groovy, too!)<br />
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Lauren and her new husband, Andrew, along with her family and friends, worked very hard toward making their wedding so sweet and special. Lauren collected all sorts of wonderful things to decorate their reception, and I just thought I would share some of the tablescapes with you.<br />
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Like me, they are big Disney fans, and each centerpiece was a beautiful representation of some of the newlyweds' favorite Disney couples. No mouse ears or yellow, black and red here -- just soft pinks, greens and silver. Each of the 28 arrangements was amazing. (Although they left out my favorites -- Lady and Tramp and Duchess and Thomas O'Malley!)<br />
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They also included Disney music in both their ceremony and reception -- the string quartet played <i>The Sleeping Beauty Waltz</i>, <i>So This is Love</i> and the <i>Marriage Theme from Up</i>. Guests were welcomed to go to the buffet line when they heard the music from the movie that their table represented -- it was such fun!<br />
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I made 250 cupcakes for the reception -- the hydrangeas were pound cake with blackberry buttercream, the daisies were strawberry cake with lemonade buttercream and the pink roses were chocolate/chocolate. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the messy picture -- my decorating bag sprung a purple squiggly leak.</td></tr>
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Peace.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-2863859485269631362015-06-22T19:24:00.000-07:002015-09-28T07:58:29.025-07:00A Little Vintage Camper: A Dream Come True<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a good one.</div>
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My friend, Susie, is soon to be the National President of Psi Iota Xi, the women's philanthropic organization of which I am a member. (How you like that fancy grammar?) Her goal has been to visit every Chapter (120+) during her tenure on the National Council, and since our membership stretches from Midland, Michgan to Lexington, Kentucky, over to St. Joe, Illinois and back to Mount Vernon, Ohio, that's a lot of miles and overnights. Last spring, when she was staying with us in the middle of her travels, we spent the morning drinking tea and talking and somehow, the conversation fell upon how I have always dreamed of having a little vintage camper. </div>
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"A WHAT?" Susie asked, with a weird look on her face.</div>
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"A little camper. You know, from the '60's."</div>
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"A WHAT?" Susie asked again with a bit of a smile.</div>
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"A camper. A trailer. Just a little vintage camper." I was starting to feel a bit silly, and headed to the magazine basket for a copy of <a href="http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/" target="_blank">Mary Jane's Farm </a>(and an article on vintage campers) to help explain myself when she said, </div>
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"I have one in my backyard."</div>
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It was my turn.</div>
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The camper belonged to Susie's husband, Jim's, family; when he was young they had traveled all over the country in their 1965 West Wind Custom. Later, Susie and Jim's kids had used it for a clubhouse, and in recent years, Jim had used it for storage. I think they were ready for it to be extracted from their yard before the trees grew too much more, anchoring it at the back door forever!</div>
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I tried not to be too excited when I told Susie that I'd be interested in their camper, if Jim was ready to part with it, and after a few months, Susie said, yes, if we would come and get it, it was ours. We did, and it is! </div>
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We made one four-hour round trip to east central Indiana to have a look and a chat with Jim, then Clay, Nate and Will made the trip a few weeks later to pick it up. </div>
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The outside needs some repair and spiffing up, but I think it's adorable:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewkJQh00aBI0xlBRV9NWLExD4oPJ4ULuBiYUCqlxhyphenhyphenNoymkU4-6HWQaR9X0V6UA5Me8BLw0rdbLMPkKSHzXNssXmSEFHS5YBP8CGcLVkjhJpX2VhDXjK_vLYaYgmbj3vfYNZIgTG4shbg/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewkJQh00aBI0xlBRV9NWLExD4oPJ4ULuBiYUCqlxhyphenhyphenNoymkU4-6HWQaR9X0V6UA5Me8BLw0rdbLMPkKSHzXNssXmSEFHS5YBP8CGcLVkjhJpX2VhDXjK_vLYaYgmbj3vfYNZIgTG4shbg/s640/023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It needs all sorts of things updated, like tires and wheel bearings. We're currently planning work on all the joints, trying to make it a little more watertight. New windows and a new door would be nice, too, but not necessary. </div>
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What's necessary? Color! This gold is nice, but I think she would be so much cuter in turquoise, don't you? Wait just a moment -- I'll show you the color I'm thinking of ... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy21nGJcZPBz00sBf_QQiGE_Xn2Wc-8NFSwnor_UmwnxA_kC7uuGgLYm1YWZ0Hy4cJ7OOhacdUxBMeoN5rc27QLFfdfquH5ESIbsy8UWcsNY_kZbphg5nDYuHvMNyZn-l2ASXYPzVwT7d/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy21nGJcZPBz00sBf_QQiGE_Xn2Wc-8NFSwnor_UmwnxA_kC7uuGgLYm1YWZ0Hy4cJ7OOhacdUxBMeoN5rc27QLFfdfquH5ESIbsy8UWcsNY_kZbphg5nDYuHvMNyZn-l2ASXYPzVwT7d/s400/021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another upcoming addition will be a large awning over the door and a smaller matching one over the front window, </div>
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Here's the back: </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTILHQWzAZ05GuGHoxjrO6EUHsudIei5BTjKX578ltTq1bV-NTPsYu7sNl-_5zxeYNWW-8AJzjFj_tm_ID2lz8JTKX3Y4HVKYC5XphESA0NxDqSAAJkSliZs_UBx4B3torPqTzn_HbxLKH/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTILHQWzAZ05GuGHoxjrO6EUHsudIei5BTjKX578ltTq1bV-NTPsYu7sNl-_5zxeYNWW-8AJzjFj_tm_ID2lz8JTKX3Y4HVKYC5XphESA0NxDqSAAJkSliZs_UBx4B3torPqTzn_HbxLKH/s320/025.JPG" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little wire brushing, a little white paint and we're good to go!</td></tr>
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I can't do the outside work by myself. I <i>tried</i> while Clay was in Australia, but kept running into problems. Turns out that the screws are all rusted in -- plus, the heads of the screws are in a stylized figure-8. Fancy. I only have flat and Philips in my toolbox. Plus, I'm short. </div>
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So, I turned my efforts inside. Here is a collage of what the camper looked like inside, before and during renovation:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqIvirqtRHy07FSHkU9tSFJCsHYLIa6CghSCKiw9TfpMFGdBtvIHtDLPL-Di9QRnZio5oS5kmKnu2BIKOHqFgAnVVg_piT6Dmpxc0GG48bfwxE85m-badl3rxbn7LqNKoQbQM305An6fN/s1600/collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqIvirqtRHy07FSHkU9tSFJCsHYLIa6CghSCKiw9TfpMFGdBtvIHtDLPL-Di9QRnZio5oS5kmKnu2BIKOHqFgAnVVg_piT6Dmpxc0GG48bfwxE85m-badl3rxbn7LqNKoQbQM305An6fN/s640/collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Certainly nothing wrong with the inside, just dated. In fact, if we had new tires, we could have gone camping right away! If I did that sort of thing.</div>
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The biggest job inside was pulling up the carpet, scraping and sweeping up all the black carpet backing, scrubbing the floor, painting the floor with latex paint (as recommended by the tile manufacturer, Armstrong) and putting down new tile. The 12" tiles seemed a little big for the space, so Jenny came over to help and we ended up cutting each tile into quarters. I had bought a new box cutter to cut the tiles, but for the trim work around corners, a pair of scissors did just fine.</div>
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I sewed new curtains out of vintage linens (tablecloths, pillow cases and handkerchiefs). I was afraid the foam in the cushions would have to be replaced, but I took one to an upholstery shop, and they told me the foam was good for several more years. So I just sewed new covers (after much trial and error!) No zippers and no cording.</div>
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And, here is the big reveal! I still have some things I'd like to do, but you get the idea! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXavhfSd48TdBqUWBG5_rGVHD2pl6A94065ParkuiJ02jMOzit9b6cAQiBIXPdPQ1-ufd5kp2hpQp8dy6u0BJkWeBDUWwr-XOO4EZ7E_8VPlcKlN4J2W3FibY4dx_TspisE4tyyZ8xUAn/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXavhfSd48TdBqUWBG5_rGVHD2pl6A94065ParkuiJ02jMOzit9b6cAQiBIXPdPQ1-ufd5kp2hpQp8dy6u0BJkWeBDUWwr-XOO4EZ7E_8VPlcKlN4J2W3FibY4dx_TspisE4tyyZ8xUAn/s640/015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I had planned to paint the interior a nice clean white, but after hearing Jim talk about how the beautiful birch veneer reminded him of his family's trips to the forests and parks in the west, I didn't have the heart to paint over it. A good cleaning with Murphy's Oil Soap, and the inside is shiny, warm and cozy. I love it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WVIvWcUNMUorhOc_xQWAMupYxcxYXv52DPPDCI5vJao2GeojmClG4QDOx62wdfK19quHciodGnOL2_kM7E6cWy6Lypt7HeW3EQl9eRB2y6Y2PRUalB9gbbGQ6CkesMMzB3bkFJJ0WsJy/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WVIvWcUNMUorhOc_xQWAMupYxcxYXv52DPPDCI5vJao2GeojmClG4QDOx62wdfK19quHciodGnOL2_kM7E6cWy6Lypt7HeW3EQl9eRB2y6Y2PRUalB9gbbGQ6CkesMMzB3bkFJJ0WsJy/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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See? Cozy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXZCDtW17I3eVj0b8y88_VjPOUgVYPithYHup9kz05eZYiL13l_6fDNyi82fg8VGTMdXdIKlIeN8HQK2FxPjZT6ahC4Purls6nXOCVz63AlHAP7QcCQxiUe4WgwJlQPq0Lv7sLdxTQ1j6/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXZCDtW17I3eVj0b8y88_VjPOUgVYPithYHup9kz05eZYiL13l_6fDNyi82fg8VGTMdXdIKlIeN8HQK2FxPjZT6ahC4Purls6nXOCVz63AlHAP7QcCQxiUe4WgwJlQPq0Lv7sLdxTQ1j6/s400/020.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Cushions in turquoise hounds tooth. I sewed little elastic loops into the corners and fastened them onto cup hooks to keep the cushions upright. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4hwjlAilrzj8HyynyJs7BonuupJxyAe5muqGnD2tzo2LiSwa-TyuPQN4M_2rF7fPXy72P1668xuvVGLIIx71Ad0a0OWcAGPrGgkank4a0La_nMPJc3qsLFk3kFuEF6KhJKnO1NkO941Z/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4hwjlAilrzj8HyynyJs7BonuupJxyAe5muqGnD2tzo2LiSwa-TyuPQN4M_2rF7fPXy72P1668xuvVGLIIx71Ad0a0OWcAGPrGgkank4a0La_nMPJc3qsLFk3kFuEF6KhJKnO1NkO941Z/s400/012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I had seriously thought about removing the stove top, refrigerator and sink, but friends have talked me out of it -- I think I'm going to build a little platform to cover the burners. And the refrigerator will make a perfect cooler. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcG1PphfN9uYAdHyDhgzRj_c6133bhDbHnzISihjWbRxfK4Mh1hmp8hW88n1c107tFO63ZQtGSfpkYAF0NFzcmp_0ig1M55BoCgvtQJ_iTz6pe9xBoFQDYRMvllpbKphhNfYD7IoZYQg9/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcG1PphfN9uYAdHyDhgzRj_c6133bhDbHnzISihjWbRxfK4Mh1hmp8hW88n1c107tFO63ZQtGSfpkYAF0NFzcmp_0ig1M55BoCgvtQJ_iTz6pe9xBoFQDYRMvllpbKphhNfYD7IoZYQg9/s400/013.JPG" width="258" /></a></div>
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Do you like this turquoise? That's going to be the color of the accent stripe on the outside, replacing the gold. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdNEziQaF8ZfktVqH6I_aJgoSthktXDfTj2dWzZTmu0miYErDq0EKVEWAzTQet4Sp9xlxRLlO5aTAtgdBbSZfS2HoL9RddOy8htDmjLZSLGNcNL9wWjuBYwgTPyvrySuJ24LLRRLESxci/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdNEziQaF8ZfktVqH6I_aJgoSthktXDfTj2dWzZTmu0miYErDq0EKVEWAzTQet4Sp9xlxRLlO5aTAtgdBbSZfS2HoL9RddOy8htDmjLZSLGNcNL9wWjuBYwgTPyvrySuJ24LLRRLESxci/s640/016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I like to call this end of the camper the sleeping alcove. There are two long cushions under that chenille bedspread, and the platform will pull out to make a full bed. As it is now, it's a perfect napping/reading spot for one, or a couch for several! </div>
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Just a little trial decoration. <br />
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What am I going to do with this when it's done? Well, first I'm going to have to decide upon a name. I'm thinking Susie Lou (after Susie and Jim, of course, Lou being a nod to their last name. Plus, Sue and Lou are the middle names of my sisters!) or Jodi (my mom's nickname in nursing school) or Pixie, for <b><span style="font-size: large;">P</span></b>si<b><span style="font-size: large;"> I</span></b>ota <b><span style="font-size: large;">X</span></b>i -- clever, right? But I am also accepting suggestions ...<br />
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Her first big event will be our Hen and Chicks <a href="http://www.henandchicksbarnmarket.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Barn Market in September</a>, where she will probably serve as our ticket booth (or napping spot), and her next scheduled event will be the 2016 Psi Ote National Convention in Indianapolis! <br />
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Then? I would like to outfit her as a mobile knitting studio, but I know Sarah and Maggie and their families might like to actually <i>camp</i> in her! <br />
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More updates soon.<br />
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Peace. <br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-21439544843843891042015-06-11T06:30:00.001-07:002015-06-11T06:46:13.632-07:00Summer ReadingI haven't written a book post in forever -- sorry. I need to sit down and compile all the books I've read since my last book report (March 20? Yikes) because there are some great ones. And a couple of <i>meh </i>ones.<br />
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Currently, I'm reading <i>The Red Tent</i> for book group, listening to <i>A Spool of Blue Thread </i>while sewing (how appropriate, but I'm not sure I like this one at all -- time will tell, I guess) and my current Jane Austen is <i>Mansfield Park</i>, because I watched the 1999 movie last week, and I didn't remember the novel being quite so sexual or political ... <br />
And after reading a Facebook post by my college friend, Julie, which cited <a href="http://www.religionnews.com/2015/06/04/meditating-wrong-says-buddha-brooklyn/" target="_blank">this article</a>, I immediately ordered <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Make-One-Everything-Meditations-Separation/dp/1622034120/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434029270&sr=1-1&keywords=make+me+one+with+everything&pebp=1434029310750&perid=300EFC231D5448D9B9F5" target="_blank">Make Me One With Everything</a></i>. Oh, and <i>Benediction</i> by Kent Haruf, which I bought at <a href="http://indyreadsbooks.org/" target="_blank">Indy Reads Books</a> last month (after an amazing lunch with the Purdue Crew at <a href="http://www.blackmarketindy.net/menu.php" target="_blank">Black Market</a>, right across the parking lot -- thanks, J&J.)<br />
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Here, instead, is my reading list for the summer. (Or fall. Or winter. Or next year. You know how that goes.) <br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250077001/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0YZMPE76Y2DZM3BJJ4D2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop" target="_blank">Furiously Happy</a></i>. Have you read <i>Let's Pretend This Never Happened</i>? Same snappy author. And I'm not ashamed to say that the first thing that caught my eye was this cover. Raccoons make me furious, but they are so darn cute. </div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358264094l/15803059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358264094l/15803059.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Grace-William-Kent-Krueger/dp/1451645856/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434029567&sr=1-1&keywords=ordinary+grace&pebp=1434029610230&perid=263A67BCAADD43ACA229" target="_blank">Ordinary Grace</a></i></div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344671124l/13180417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344671124l/13180417.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Fiercely-Gilded-Age-Romance/dp/0151014477/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434029616&sr=1-1&keywords=love+fiercely&pebp=1434029660921&perid=4CE81526208C4A17B782" target="_blank">Love, Fiercely.</a> </i>The story of this couple portrayed in a painting by John Singer Sargent. I love art-based novels.</div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320562108l/7632310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320562108l/7632310.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Homecoming-Samuel-Lake-Random-Readers/dp/0385344090/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434029699&sr=1-1&keywords=the+homecoming+of+samuel+lake&pebp=1434029749914&perid=CA7539CE547F4B5EA713" target="_blank">The Homecoming of Samuel Lake</a></i>. Amazon told me I would love this one, since I loved <i>The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry </i>(which I gave to Clay, hoping he would love it and we could discuss it at length. He didn't. We didn't.)</div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418788366l/18467802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418788366l/18467802.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://euphora./">Euphora.</a></i> A novel based on the life of Margaret Mead. I expect this to be fascinating. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367256646l/17797253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367256646l/17797253.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Under-Wide-Starry-Sky-Novel/dp/0345516540/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434029945&sr=1-1&keywords=under+the+wide+and+starry+sky&pebp=1434030008829&perid=DC74A7F83A2D41B2BD8C" target="_blank">Under the Wide and Starry Sky</a></i>. The story of Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife, Fanny. By the author of <i>Loving Frank </i></span></td></tr>
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Peace.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-15710615854149486722015-06-07T14:26:00.003-07:002015-06-07T14:49:34.783-07:00Antique FindsToday, Jenny and I went to the Tri-State Antique Market in Lawrenceburg -- a beautiful day, an amazing collection of dealers from Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky and lots of fun. <br />
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Look at what I found: <br />
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You know I love kitchy stuff -- my writing room is full of odd little Oriental figures. </div>
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I don't know why. </div>
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But these little kissing dolls ($5!) will feel right at home there. </div>
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The yellow ashtray ($2) is destined to be a soap dish, the brooch ($3) is for Abby someday (her room is coral and gold -- kind of perfect for her) and the bowl ($2) is Hull Oven Proof just like grandma had. The towels (both for $10) will be perfect for curtains for the small windows in the camper. (Oh yes, the camper. You probably want to know what's going on with her, don't you? I promise a post this week.)</div>
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We also bought a couple of galvanized buckets, some plant hangers and this pair of shutters:</div>
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But this is the purchase I am most excited about:</div>
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And look! Sheet music included!<br />
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What is it, you ask? Why, it's a Violin Uke! </div>
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I don't know how to play it, nor did I know something like this existed before today. </div>
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I just couldn't pass it up; I was channeling my inner Ron Wunder -- my dear friend, extraordinary music teacher, instrument collector and member of our little nursing home band. He unexpectedly passed away last December, and every week I still expect him to come ambling it, bringing along a sax, clarinet, trumpet, accordion or squeeze box. <i>Really.</i> He had a squeeze box, and could play the heck out of it. We would just tailor our play list to whatever instrument he brought along that day, and we had the most fun. Oh, I still have fun playing at the home, but now it's down to just me and Jack, the harmonica player and all-around nice guy -- he loves bluegrass and folk music, but he's always happy to play <i>Moon River</i>, <i>Unchained Melody</i> or some Beatles songs. </div>
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Anyway, I thought how fun it would be to learn to play the Violin Uke for the residents. The sheet music makes absolutely no sense to me yet, but thank goodness for YouTube -- there are lots of Violin Uke videos. </div>
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Who knew? Off to try to tune it up and give it a spin.</div>
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Peace.</div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-64558080054039124562015-06-06T06:20:00.002-07:002015-06-11T06:50:38.227-07:00This One is About Annie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love making new friends. Oh, I love my long-time friends (you notice I didn't say "old"? I'm trying not to say that word, except when describing antiques.) But there's nothing better than making a new friend who seems like a dear old friend. (oops)<br />
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That was my friend, Annie Endris. I just met her in April of 2014; she was a leader of the retreat I reluctantly went on that spring (as if I didn't love my friend, Lori, enough, I will always be thankful to her for urging me to attend). <br />
That retreat was so meaningful to me, I actually looked forward to going again this year, despite the whole "camp" thing. You know -- hard beds, 20+ snoring women in a cabin, uphill-all-the-way hikes in Brown County. But there were things to return for, as well -- wonderful meals, thoughtful discussion with great women, prayerful meditation in beautiful surroundings and uphill-all-the-way hikes in Brown County. <br />
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And there was Annie. <br />
Annie, who welcomed us as if we were all her very best long-lost friends.<br />
Annie, whose smile illuminated the joy in her heart.<br />
Annie, who shared her stories, her books, her music.<br />
Annie, who just seemed so happy to be at camp, to be at retreat, to be alive.<br />
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And then she died. <br />
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That first year at retreat, we went to Mass at St. Agnes, Annie's parish. During the petitions, when Sister Eileen was naming the sick to pray for, she said, "Annie Endris." <br />
Wait. <br />
My new BFF (of less than 24 hours) was sick? I was very uneasy through the rest of Mass, the bus ride back to camp and supper, and then, at our evening session, Annie shared with us that she had been diagnosed with cancer. <br />
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Wait wait wait wait wait.<br />
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I spent the next year praying for her, because thanks to her encouragement, I was praying again. And miraculously, when we went to retreat this April, there she was. A little slower, a little tired, but she brought her joy with her. We prayed with her, and laughed with her, and we all thought it was adorable when she slipped away up to the lake Saturday evening with her husband to celebrate the anniversary of their first kiss. We gave her small stones on which we had written our concerns; she was going to pitch them far into Lake Michigan the next day when she went up to the Cancer Treatment Center of America for her appointment. <br />
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But when she got there, they told her there was nothing else they could do. And all we could do was pray for her. A short few weeks later, she died at the beach with her sweet family at her side. <br />
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Although I panicked all the way there, I went to her funeral. Lori and I sat in the back and watched the people fill the church -- I told Lori that this was what I wanted at my funeral: sweet music, lots of priests, a few celebrities and the need for extra chairs. Apparently, I wasn't the only one Annie influenced (!) -- her many years as a spiritual director had allowed her to touch the lives of hundreds of people, from regular folks like me to TV anchorwomen. <br />
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I could have spent years sitting with Annie, happily soaking up her joy, peace and wisdom. (I think this is what heaven might be -- sitting around with those you love soaking up joy.) But because she gave her all to us in those few short days we had together, I know that her joy, peace and wisdom will always be with me. <br />
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So here are my top Annie lessons:<br />
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1) Our lives have seasons. Some seasons we adore, some seasons we endure. <br />
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2) Accept the gifts you are given, both from God and from others. Rejoice in those gifts and say thanks. (Why, oh why is this so hard for me?)<br />
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3) Outdoors is the best place to be with God.<br />
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4) Inner peace is hard work. The world keeps messing with it. <br />
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5) Carrie Newcomer. Annie used her song "Leaves Don't Drop" as the theme for our first retreat, and I've become a Carrie Groupie. <br />
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6) Prayer is powerful. Community is vital. <br />
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7) It's not about me. This was Annie's husband's theme for his eulogy, something he told us Annie said often. I am still processing that, and growing from it, and maybe I will write a big blog post about that in the future. For now, just know those words are peace-giving. <br />
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7) Smiles sometimes say more than words. Sweet <i>or</i> sassy.<br />
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8) Now and then, you just have to say Dammit. Dammit, dammit, dammit.<br />
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I'm probably not done with this post yet. Because I'm sure there are things about Annie that I will remember, then come back and add. Because I'll always remember. <br />
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Will I go back to retreat next year? <br />
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Of course. Annie won't be there, but her spirit will always be at camp. And I know she would want me to go -- to laugh and sing and endure the snoring and hike and pray. <br />
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Peace.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-50192182229433067842015-06-05T09:45:00.000-07:002015-06-06T07:10:38.557-07:00Mary Makeover<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxutZC-uWMn7gep780tyHicgZmdJPwIFkKp07e7dPLOpq5szvryG9ndq1J0fLIaWXAKE7NH2oGB3meHh74oeovvjERPHtYGubwzKsVQcTvw2V62amRoJdE5pMqOUGCkgMIyybORS35XGu/s1600/mary+paint+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxutZC-uWMn7gep780tyHicgZmdJPwIFkKp07e7dPLOpq5szvryG9ndq1J0fLIaWXAKE7NH2oGB3meHh74oeovvjERPHtYGubwzKsVQcTvw2V62amRoJdE5pMqOUGCkgMIyybORS35XGu/s200/mary+paint+2.JPG" width="150" /></a>The Blessed Mother certainly doesn't need a makeover, but my garden Mary did. I've had her for years (she was a gift from Clay and the kids many, many Mother's Days ago) and she was looking pretty shabby from years in the rain, snow and sun. <br />
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Clay thought I could just re-paint her in the same colors, but I was afraid she would look creepy -- I'm not good with realistic faces, just cartoony ones. <br />
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So, I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and the good advice of my friends, Heather and Julia at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/beautyofchaos1?fref=ts" target="_blank">Beautiful Chaos</a>, and I think she turned out quite lovely -- like an alabaster carving. <br />
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Peace.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-45974379399586168732015-06-04T09:57:00.000-07:002015-09-28T07:56:32.690-07:00Happy Twin QuiltsI made these quilts last September for the cutest little twins. I didn't blog about them then, but now that the boys are stars of a video that just cracks me up, I thought I would.<br />
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The fabrics are from some bundles I purchased from <a href="http://www.fabricworm.com/" target="_blank">Fabricworm</a> a couple of years ago. Just simple modern quilt style, with lots of machine quilting, because once I get started, I can't stop. On the back, I tried to re-create a motif from the fabrics, with the boys' names done in raw-edge machine applique. (I squared the quilts up, I promise -- photographing them on the lilac bush/tree makes them look a little wonky!)<br />
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Henry's Quilt<br />
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Thomas' Quilt<br />
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And their video. Be prepared to be happy: <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FDM7Tj5HuGc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FDM7Tj5HuGc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Peace and giggles,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-22131234572550058502015-06-02T06:41:00.002-07:002015-06-02T06:41:19.930-07:00Flowers,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
because I like to mess around with my camera ...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8Y4qmf6Rs7zx7dc121H3Zsm5B1KfYmK91armMvcHdIwBriKNazILgcjS1IThb-IxZCCBtG6qga6SydO0NQpP8FA9VKlCEK2LwIwU3X_o9EW2Xy2uBv0y0Un-07P6vIRmEACYYJbEYhbN/s1600/flowers+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8Y4qmf6Rs7zx7dc121H3Zsm5B1KfYmK91armMvcHdIwBriKNazILgcjS1IThb-IxZCCBtG6qga6SydO0NQpP8FA9VKlCEK2LwIwU3X_o9EW2Xy2uBv0y0Un-07P6vIRmEACYYJbEYhbN/s320/flowers+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Peace.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-83748800827556430582015-06-01T06:31:00.000-07:002015-06-02T06:43:56.557-07:00Kindergarten Graduation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfBbWPMrBEOFqDbotZgst_8z_hOPX5rDfauWBmHq8WsOK6ltusvrxtdBKIDqAtSrqOEc5q1chWyKOtjt7Xdl0FGOQ3JlPQPgzKMaj6GxN4CjnKktIGyBG-S9srBRzHsO68wEv8U7XwYL5/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfBbWPMrBEOFqDbotZgst_8z_hOPX5rDfauWBmHq8WsOK6ltusvrxtdBKIDqAtSrqOEc5q1chWyKOtjt7Xdl0FGOQ3JlPQPgzKMaj6GxN4CjnKktIGyBG-S9srBRzHsO68wEv8U7XwYL5/s200/024.JPG" width="200" /></a>Despite Maggie's worries, Paul had a great kindergarten year, and really loved going to school and his teacher, Mrs. Brock. Here are a few pictures from last Thursday's graduation -- lots of kids (4 classes!), lots of good songs and lots of fun.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>With Mrs. Brock. When the teachers announced each child's name, they also told what they wanted to be when they grew up -- Paul said he wants to be a scientist so he can make "interesting mixtures". <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
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Here's his first day, last August. He's lost a little of the baby face and gotten taller. And smarter.</div>
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Peace.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-7757379888142138592015-05-31T06:05:00.000-07:002015-06-02T06:14:38.390-07:00Graduation Quilt #3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOc_BkL3DlVUtWC4w8TdsnQCYloomGVbnwXMto9vpJQw4jqZGD2sFZgm4RKbRtnEfJWesmppUthUNekIT_XFkTm6VSwThRt5kPOQVpICcdSNLSqLfnRh-uwnsWsJzp81McOTUT7WEQx3y2/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOc_BkL3DlVUtWC4w8TdsnQCYloomGVbnwXMto9vpJQw4jqZGD2sFZgm4RKbRtnEfJWesmppUthUNekIT_XFkTm6VSwThRt5kPOQVpICcdSNLSqLfnRh-uwnsWsJzp81McOTUT7WEQx3y2/s200/019.JPG" width="200" /></a>My friend, Ian, has been a college graduate for over a year now, but finally his quilt is complete, and I was able to give it to him at the race this year. Actually, this is the first of the graduation quilts I had planned out, after having seen one on Pinterest that Jenni from In Color Order had made for her husband, an avid sports fan. (Take a look at hers, <a href="http://www.incolororder.com/2014/04/the-sports-fan-quilt.html?showComment=1396874923221#c8631706294800621448" target="_blank">here</a>.) I borrowed her idea, using the colors of Ian's favorite teams: red and white for the Red Wings, red and blue for the Phillies, green and silver (grey) for the Eagles and of course, gold and black for Purdue. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-A7oJ-pWza8dXmAir2Jaqg9NxFbfp2YsWmF3oDIYpEW74B4Fywe24aM27jClLM_I87PhouX6m5L1U3N4LDtvmDVV-D0RV2TsUiC1-w4BoOAVdLorTvxg5H1QDgSq8-0xxKXZcXxf1ewp/s1600/ians+quilt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-A7oJ-pWza8dXmAir2Jaqg9NxFbfp2YsWmF3oDIYpEW74B4Fywe24aM27jClLM_I87PhouX6m5L1U3N4LDtvmDVV-D0RV2TsUiC1-w4BoOAVdLorTvxg5H1QDgSq8-0xxKXZcXxf1ewp/s640/ians+quilt.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's the back, all Boilermaker: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjrW3mnbrfz9cWQGjZx6a2KIyG-Ef_Gz9g0Isb5COxLxjGxCwX7lAIGrGaX_m8_HXtbenoXQ1VvE-nWR6oRi13okLMh1Y9U2mpZn5uWgfzvzeLoRwArjbRYwoOBXTAAnKqDaDEzqvNLyZ/s1600/ians+quilt+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjrW3mnbrfz9cWQGjZx6a2KIyG-Ef_Gz9g0Isb5COxLxjGxCwX7lAIGrGaX_m8_HXtbenoXQ1VvE-nWR6oRi13okLMh1Y9U2mpZn5uWgfzvzeLoRwArjbRYwoOBXTAAnKqDaDEzqvNLyZ/s640/ians+quilt+2.JPG" width="606" /></a></div>
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Don't look too close -- there were still lots of threads I needed to trim on the way up to Indy, and I forgot to take a picture of the label. <br />
Now, on to the next one -- Ian's brother, Ryan, graduated a year early, and I need to get working on that one. It should be fun -- his college colors are maroon and gold, and he's a Harry Potter fan ...<br />
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Peace.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-19147575516599502542015-05-30T07:07:00.000-07:002015-06-02T06:15:52.338-07:00Back to the BlogWhen a dear long-time friend tells you how much he likes your blog, it's time to blog again. I'd been thinking about some things I wanted to write about, anyway, so here we go. <br />
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Peace.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-61155005431224243552015-03-25T08:58:00.002-07:002015-05-31T08:18:57.532-07:00Disappointed. But Anyway ... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjudUmAWQnd_MPDvES4z0ahbNGSapvyayQf2-tGv-6-JpG1caVBggiFMNZDhgi3DpWZpwVJYubXvXt0gToEDeLcj3VOQAp2gUEFZKpuVb231lGHcq6fx7m-KIy-rn-1zBv2-Bytm3LADP/s1600/anyway+button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjudUmAWQnd_MPDvES4z0ahbNGSapvyayQf2-tGv-6-JpG1caVBggiFMNZDhgi3DpWZpwVJYubXvXt0gToEDeLcj3VOQAp2gUEFZKpuVb231lGHcq6fx7m-KIy-rn-1zBv2-Bytm3LADP/s1600/anyway+button.jpg" /></a></div>
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So, things didn't go the way I had hoped in the Indiana House of Representatives on Monday. They voted to approve SB 101, aka The Religious Freedom Restoration Act. (I wrote about it <a href="http://www.oldsweetsong.blogspot.com/2015/02/indiana-lovehate-relationship.html" target="_blank">here</a> last month.) </div>
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Clay, Will and I had a most outstanding discussion/debate on this (and other upcoming legislation) Monday evening. I didn't shout or cry or even get upset when they both pointed out dubious holes in my arguments and contestable flaws in my logic. (I still don't think I'm wrong, though, and I'm happy to report that we all fall pretty much on the same side of this particular issue.)</div>
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I mark this as a milestone. I have been working so hard so long toward peace in my spirit and my home; I know that discussing volatile topics in a rational, loving manner is real progress. From my grandma's Sunday dinner table to my grad school office, political discussions always devolved into fist-pounding, curse-filled vitriol. And while I was once thrilled to be in the middle of all that and out-shout others to secure my position, I am glad to say that I think I have replaced that rabid political intensity with kindness. Simple as that.</div>
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Except, of course, it's not simple. Years ago, I had to give up <i>Face the Nation </i>and <i>Meet the Press. </i> I don't watch the evening news, and avoid <i>The View</i>, <i>The Talk</i> and AM radio. Don't worry -- I haven't buried my head in the sand, I just get my news from NPR and PBS and the best show on television, <i>CBS Sunday Morning</i>. </div>
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I meditate, I think before I speak and I re-write all my letters to my Representatives and Senators, removing all the first draft snark. Well, most of the snark. </div>
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There's a lot of snark in the online community about SB 101 this week. While I think that it's warranted snark and the old me would love to chime in, I am choosing not to participate. </div>
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There is also a movement to boycott those businesses which choose to legally discriminate against certain individuals. While I was once a world-class boycotter (you still won't see any Nestle products in this house) and know the value of voting with my pocketbook, I think maybe a new tack is in order -- The Anyway Movement.</div>
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This beautiful letterpress print hangs in our bedroom (a gift from our friends, the Haffners), and I read it often:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfQyFQeCOiaN13R6CiyAcuKybaj5RbaDbhXt7oKMixIofAEznKQKOhCCnRGKS-3aeLshhLdCikuiplzMQ2Xh_4CCkDDJlGuk1ZJBR1EB0zU3Tyy-0pZZYzUkcs9Jm9tYbJ1oTzoNPWN9X/s1600/anyway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfQyFQeCOiaN13R6CiyAcuKybaj5RbaDbhXt7oKMixIofAEznKQKOhCCnRGKS-3aeLshhLdCikuiplzMQ2Xh_4CCkDDJlGuk1ZJBR1EB0zU3Tyy-0pZZYzUkcs9Jm9tYbJ1oTzoNPWN9X/s1600/anyway.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mother Teresa inscribed these words onto a wall of the children's home in Calcutta; </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">it's an adaptation of </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> The Paradoxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith.</span></i></div>
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I believe that those business people and shop owners who embrace The Religious Freedom Restoration Act are unreasonable and illogical.<br />
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But I will love them and shop and utilize their businesses anyway. <br />
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I know, that's crazy talk. Very non-revolutionary. But let's revisit that imaginary cupcake shop I wrote about last month. In fact, let's call it the RFRA Bakery. <br />
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I really love their cupcakes, and shop there often. And I will continue to do so, even if they post a "We Love RFRA" sign in their front window. <br />
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For how else will they know I believe in love, justice and equality if I simply stop buying cupcakes? Would they even notice? If I saw the bakers at the grocery or a restaurant months after I stopped shopping at the RFRA Bakery, would they recognize me? Or might they just say, "Hey, didn't she used to buy cupcakes from us?"<br />
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Won't they take better notice if I am honest and frank with them? If I pin on my <b>anyway</b> button and tell them what it stands for? If I make myself vulnerable and go into their bakery and kindly explain how I much I love their cupcakes but believe that the discrimination they promote is deplorable?<br />
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And if I continue to shop there, wouldn't that be the best illustration of how, in spite of our philosophical differences, I am willing to continue to do business with them, just as I wish they would do with those they are choosing to discriminate against? <br />
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Wouldn't continued discussion build bridges instead of walls? <br />
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I might be completely wrong on this. As Clay and Will pointed out, at times I tend to think with my heart instead of my brain and can <strike>sometimes</strike> be a Pollyanna.<br />
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And as I re-read this post, I notice that I have asked a lot of questions.<i><b> I</b></i> have a lot of questions. (As my hero, Anne Lamott wrote this week, "The first thing I am going to ask God when we meet face to face is, 'What on EARTH could you have been thinking?' And He or She will know exactly who I am taking about ... God will say what God said to Job -- 'I'm God, and I don't have to explain. Plus, there is a zero chance that you would understand. No offense. Rock on.'") I'm not sure that this quote is exactly germane to my point, but I love the idea of God saying "rock on," and have been itching to re-post Anne's words ever since I read them.<br />
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Justice is not easy. But it can be peaceful, and I truly believe it can be accomplished through kind words and actions. <br />
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Just say it: I will love you anyway. <br />
I will recognize the God/Jesus/Buddha/Mohammed/higher power in you and honor that anyway.<br />
I might suffer attack, but I will continue to try to help my brothers and sisters anyway. <br />
I will give the best I have anyway.<br />
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Let me leave you with something that<i> is </i>germane, especially since this is a religious freedom discussion: <br />
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<i>Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)</i><br />
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Maybe this should be the mission statement of The Anyway Movement.<i> </i>If you want to join me, I'll get you a button; I am pretty sure if you embrace the <i>anyway</i> of life, a button won't be your only blessing. <br />
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Peace. Rock on.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
PS<a href="http://www.indystar.com/story/life/2015/02/26/bakery-refused-cake-gay-couple-closes-doors/24074691/" target="_blank"> This</a> is an article on the brouhaha that might have started the whole RFRA movement in Indiana -- note that "discourse remained civil" and that there was "zero hate." I would say that hate and incivility came later in the Statehouse, but I have promised not to be snarky .....Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690171818372733620.post-35100642600341846522015-03-20T07:16:00.003-07:002015-05-31T08:30:48.148-07:00Happy Day I am happy. <br />
Not just today, on International Happy Day (aka, the first day of spring!), but pretty much every day. <br />
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I have everything I need, and most everything I want. (Wants? Peace on earth, equality and justice for all and a nice big kitchen with a nice long table with room for everyone. Not too much to ask, is it?)<br />
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If you need some happy, may I share mine? <br />
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A video of Abby:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzrkbA7_VXBHw7snXpFJpwD-eewJfsQRzljcxYmQEqzXlTu8_DyL9DxrQ7Wvm3kEsxFxlrYGDYQn5Bnb8ykbQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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A Half Birthday picture of Olive:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKJqr4n9KYhDthyTSwHHYajelfN0lvG6vCC-83cuMOeALR99GYLlcF72Qux5nOxxA7JWgIXf6TcLh6GHNpCRuP8s3Vyg2H_fUY-YAfPX3eoJIetVTuwmpZ_PL1I5in9O-DeG2HeIlm5aw/s1600/olive+six+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKJqr4n9KYhDthyTSwHHYajelfN0lvG6vCC-83cuMOeALR99GYLlcF72Qux5nOxxA7JWgIXf6TcLh6GHNpCRuP8s3Vyg2H_fUY-YAfPX3eoJIetVTuwmpZ_PL1I5in9O-DeG2HeIlm5aw/s1600/olive+six+months.jpg" width="361" /></a></div>
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A good book:<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406526587l/18404204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406526587l/18404204.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
This is a beautiful story of lovely, quirky people that at times reads like a mystery. I really think you will like it.<br />
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And a favorite song by a favorite singer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M1WrNisRhDU" width="420"></iframe><br />
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peace<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/217/AF218697A134958563B0BA7BF7BAEA7B.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Georgiannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03812645530261841610noreply@blogger.com0