Art After Hours

After several days without internet, who knows why, and complaining about it mightily, I'm back in business.  Maybe it was the storm, or maybe it just was.

  

Friday night was Art After Hours at one of the local libraries, and my friend Carrye and I were the fiber artists.  The coordinator of the show did a fabulous job of getting the show up and going - the library closes at 6 on Friday and the show started at 7:00.  Above, the two men who hung our quilts in very quick fashion.
The two quilts on the left are Carrye's.

Above is Carrye in front of her wonderful quilt, plus my four.  Besides artists, the show had live music, appetizers, and wine samplers.

Carrye's quilts plus two of mine, in front of shelves of books.

My crazy quilt is one of two that my mother started and I finished.  People liked looking at the necktie pieces and my mother's wonderful hand embroidery.  This quilt has gold stitching - the other has blue and was my sister's Christmas gift last Christmas.

Seen at the Library

This awesome car was at the library today.  Even the license plate is fun.

And oh, by the way, I was at the aquarium today for the second day in a row, this time to meet two Ecovillage families.  I've missed seeing so many kids grow up. 

Pictures for Steph

Had some trouble messaging pictures today, so Steph, these are for you.  Right click away.

Cincinnati Triathalon

 Pictures from the Cincinnati Triathalon on Sunday.  Above, on the Newport side of the river.

Serpentine wall in Cincinnati.  The swim was beside the wall.

 Those aren't ducks - they're swimmers.

The bike corral - bikes waiting for the swimmers to get out of the water and on the bikes.

I've learned that there is so much energy beside the river early in the morning, even on days when there isn't a special event.  Walkers, runners, bikers - I need to go more often.

Baby Quilt

I've been one quilt down on making donation premmie quilts, but no more.  I really like this little quilt with its off-square blocks.  Now on to the catch-up quilt.  One of the quilt group members brought some great 5" squares, and I'll start with those.

Early Morning River

This is an afternoon picture of the Ohio River, and right now it's morning, but you get the idea.  I headed down to the river to take pictures of a young friend who was very excited about a swim across the river and back.  Yesterday we had lots of rain, the river bacteria level rose, and she arrived to find that the event was cancelled.  Tomorrow she will be in a triathalon that includes a river swim but it's along one bank, not across.  Hopefully the bacteria level will have fallen by then.

So, instead of swimming and photographing, we walked to the Pepper Pod, a long-time local restaurant open 24 hours.  Best known, probably, for its after-bar food in the early morning hours.  It was a lovely delicious breakfast.  I will be happy if the health department is able to successfully promote a no-smoking restaurant ban, but it looks like that won't happen on this side of the river anytime soon.  I can't smell all that well, but I feel like my tee shirt smells like smoke.

I found it hard to get up and out that early on a Saturday morning, but it feels good to have done about 45 minutes of walking plus a relaxing breakfast.  Now to work on my baby quilt. 

Mixer Repair

My Kitchenaid stand mixer is at the repair shop and there is a void on my countertop.  I don't have much counter space and in some ways the opening helps give a spacious look, but I miss seeing the mixer.

Taking my mixer to the shop gave me pause to think about what we throw out and what we repair.  That's on my mind anyway because I work at a sewing machine shop and we repair a lot of machines.  The Vikings and Whites and Berninas of a few years past aren't throw-aways.  People know their value and are willing to repair them - or, often, to just have them cleaned and serviced because they know they will just keep on sewing.  Same with vacuums - the good ones get repaired and they go on.

There was a reconditioned mixer sitting at the shop for little more than the cost of a repair.  The kind you see at the big box store, small bowl and motor.  I'm sure that someone came in for a repair and opted out because the repair price approached what they paid for the mixer.  For me, though, if I get another ten service-free years out of my mixer I will probably repair it again.  There was a reason I got the big motor in the first place.

I'm eyeing the book Cake Ladies that Sarah and Winnie gave me for Mother's Day and am thinking about which to make first when the mixer comes back home.

Today's Ramblings

The kids and I went to Behringer Crawford Museum in Covington today.  It's a hidden treasure (I say that because I always get lost trying to find it.)  Totally not crowded, we were the only ones there for most of the time.  The favorite spot is a two-story river steam boat, complete with sound and a galley and magnetic fishing.  Oh, and costumes.  Nora quickly dressed Aaron in the captain costume but didn't choose one for herself today.  The floor is a vinyl that looks just like water.  Totally kid friendly.
 

After a late lunch and a play dough session at home, we went to the Sweet Tooth for ice balls.  We sat inside for a few minutes, then the kids begged to sit outside so that their ice balls would melt more easily.  It was 100 degrees or so, but we did it and there were no complaints.  Nora had grape, hence the blue lips.



Nora lost a tooth a few days ago, her third.  This one was much less traumatic than the others, probably because there wasn't a new tooth behind it and it was easier to wiggle.  She was one happy little girl.

At Kings Island

Steph, Aunt Tina and I had a great afternoon at Kings Island with the kids.  Yes, both kids, even though I have pictures of only one.  Next time, Nora, it's all about you.

Above, Aaron on the train, and below, with Aunt Tina on the buzzy barrels in front of the photo shop.

We stopped for LaRosa's pizza at dinner time, and about five minutes into our meal a show started, complete with British music, dancers, singers, videos and lights.  Who would have guessed - the kids thought it was wonderful.  Afterward, Aaron had his picture taken with one of the singers - he always has a soft spot for pretty young women with long dark hair.

Trees Gone

I've had two large maple trees in my back yard.  They'd been topped in years past (not by me) and this spring half of one of them was dead.  Both were removed this week, with access help from my neighbors, one of whom let a truck back in over her yard and one of whom let a truck back into his driveway.  Now all that remains are two piles of sawdust.  No more holding my breath when it storms.  Now comes the fun part - deciding what to do with a sunny back yard.

The whole thing cost a lot less than I thought it would so I did the honorable thing and used some of the savings for new shoes.  New walking shoes, plus cushioned Nike flip flops and sandals.  Hmmm, wonder which I should wear to work today.  

Revisiting Downtown

I love to take the kids "downtown" in Cincinnati.  We get on the shuttle on the Kentucky side of the river and the adventure begins.  They are downtown traditionalists, always enjoy visiting the familiar landmarks.  In warm weather, this includes sitting on the steps on Fountain Square and eating treats from Graeter's, always chocolate chip ice cream for Nora and a cupcake for Aaron.  Always  

We visited the escalators in the Westin Hotel, the elevators at Carew Tower with a quick peak from the observation deck, the skywalks, Macy's.  Admiring the revolving doors and various configurations of steps and streets. 

The World Choir Games is currently in Cincinnati, and Fountain Square was bustling.  The best part was that the decorated fiberglass pigs of several years ago came back downtown and were everywhere.  Nora was the designated photographer and took the camera home with her to show her mom and dad, so we'll see pig pictures later.  She started out posing Aaron with each pig, but after about ten pigs he said no more of that. 

It was a very good day, ending with the shuttle back across the river and Subway on the Kentucky side.

Mythology Reveal

Joanne and I are following along with Twelve by Twelve, making a 12" x 20" quilt every few months in the topic chosen by the group.  The topic this time is Mythology, and I thought of sea creatures, then the Loch Ness Monster, supposedly sighted in Scotland several times years ago, and now considered a myth. 

The creature is said to have a large flat body with a long tail.  In this quilt, it has come up for a "sighting" and is now disappearing back into the lake, into the mist.  Quilt is made with commercial cotton fabrics, finished with machine embroidery and free motion quilting.

Head on over to Joanne's blog to look at her quilt.

Loch Ness Monster

The Twelve byTwelve reveal is tomorrow.  The topic is mythology.  For me, all that remains is picking up the scraps, the quilt is finished.

In thinking about mythology, I thought about water - seas and lakes.  And I remembered that, growing up, I was fascinated by the Loch Ness Monster.  I was sure it existed.  I wondered whether I'd ever see it.  There were a few sightings and some early sonar readings.  One idea was that the creature had a large flat body and a long tail.

Now, all those years later, it is still not verified and is probably just one of those . . .myths.  That's my hint about tomorrow's reveal.

We're Going to the Zoo

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo,
How about you, you, you,
You can come too, too, too,
We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo.
    ....Anne Murray

Happy Fourth, Everyone

That's Nora in the water, at her first swim lesson of the summer.  Four kids in her class, four kids in Aaron's.  I love Y swim lessons.

Got to share this story:  At Steph and Mike's, the drain stopped up today and the drain water from the washer backed up.  Snaking the drain revealed a plastic spray bottle.  And Aaron said, "Remember when that plastic bottle fell in the drain?"  Of course, no one knew about this except him, and possibly Nora.  Funny on my end.  Not so funny at their house.

Happy Fourth, everyone.

Finally

Finally, for the first time in a month, probably, real dinner.  Zucchini casserole, made with whole wheat bread, eggs, mozerella and pepper jack cheese.  With sweet corn on the side.  Absolutely lovely.

I've been in a mood, nothing sounded good, no real groceries, more pizza than I've had in ages.  No desire to cook.  Not nearly as many fruits and veggies as I should be eating.  Ridiculous.

Now if I could only get sewing again!  I'm behind on baby quilts.

Season's End

Nora's softball season ended this weekend, starting with a game delayed with rain and hail Friday night

and four games yesterday in the summer heat with temps in the upper 90's.

Her team finished second in the tournament and off she went to a girl-y sleepover, no doubt happy to be cool and clean and into a different world.

Aaron stayed with me on Saturday and we did the predictable things - picnic in the park, watching Peter Pan again and again, LaRosa's delivery, trip to the Dollar Store, Graeter's ice cream.  Graeter's was packed, no power - they must have a generator for the freezers because the ice cream was cold even though the lights were off.  We didn't stay long because Aaron needed a bathroom visit and the bathroom was totally absolutely dark so we headed for home.

It must have rained some time in the night.  The rain doesn't cool things off, but I'm happy for the garden.