Review

Not much creativity going on this past week (or more.) Way too much energy spent on cars.com. Somehow it can't be both with me, creativity and digging in the details, brain all weary with trying to figure it all out. But still, a few moments to review.

Last night I went to Art After Dark at the Cold Spring library branch, where there was a very nice but very short show. Here's my friend Carrye (sorry your eyes were shut) in front of some of her fiber art work, she got the display cases right inside the front door.

On Wednesday I quilted happily all day with a group of friends, which helped things along. Much quilting added to the water quilt banner, this is actually the back. All that's left now is to stitch down the sleeve.

And quilting done on fabric to cut apart to make a couple of little digital camera bags.

Two, but only two, blocks done yesterday for the lady vet quilt.

And more quilting added to the previously-thought-of-as-finished president's challenge for my quilt guild. A couple of straight pieces just weren't laying flat enough and got some parallel quilting. And now I think they needed that anyway to contrast with all the curves.

This morning I ordered an 8 x 10 of a picture taken last fall at the Cincinnati Nature Center. I've had it in mind for a quilt ever since then. Nora and Aaron walking down a boardwalk beside a lake, lots of fall color even though it was the first weekend in November. The last lovely warm Sunday of the year.

Critter Park

Interesting that yesterday I mentioned seeing creatures . . .

Last night I was sitting on the front steps, listening to the last of the fireworks from the ball park, drinking a Kentucky Ale, and considering my front yard garden and the best way to enlarge it for next year. Very content.

I heard a rustling and around the corner came a small animal, which I thought would be a squirrel or maybe a possum. Turned out that it was a young skunk, which I barely got a look at because I was out of there. My neighbor across the street saw it also, as it took off running. He said he's been a hunter for years but had never spotted a skunk before.

We have a lot of deer in the neighborhood, at least we did last year, but a skunk? I live in the city, there's a great skyline view a block over. Only thing I can figure is, there's a city park a block away, pretty much unused, just green space. Even the playground equipment, such as it was, has been taken out and the ball field isn't used. I can picture critters having a home there and venturing out at night, especially the young ones who want to see what the rest of the world looks like.

Going, Going

Gone.

Cost new in 1993: under $15,000. Total miles today: 262,000. My goal was always 300,000 miles. The truck may make it, just not with me.

If I get up at night, I usually look out the front window because I love the night and am always hopeful of seeing deer or other creatures. Seems strange to not see it parked under the tree.

Miscellaneous Tuesday

Potholder from 101 Patchwork Projects and Quilts

Me: Aaron, look at the baby cucumber.

Aaron: Oh, you mean that little thing with spikes?

Beside my desk - I so enjoy watercolor pencils

What Sarah calls my "Lady Vet" quilt, fifteen blocks now. It's hard to get a picture because it has a dreamy quality to it. I'm calling the process "peaceful improvisation."

Nine Blocks

Months ago (maybe even 18) my friend Carrye passed out packets of donated fabric at our quilt guild so that interested members could make quilts for service women in the rehab center at Fort Thomas. Of course, I've felt a little guilty ever since because my quilt remained unstarted.

There were two very dark green fabrics in my packet, which will go on the back, and two light lime greens and a light turquoise. Rather than work with only the donated fabrics, I decided to work with the donated colors and mix them in with my stash, making each block different. And now I have nine blocks, and I'm not even thinking about how many I might need, I'd rather just peacefully go on my way, adding blocks from time to time, mixing this project in with my others, knowing that it will be done at the right time.

It's important for me to work in a spirit of peacefulness and healing for a woman who will be needing just that. Most of these women have post-traumatic stress syndrome and the idea of having healing art on a bed seems so comforting.

Love the Y

Wonder how many years it's been since the Y's been giving swimming lessons to kids. Both my girls learned to swim there, and now it's Nora's and Aaron's turn. And how awesome that both sets of lessons are at the same time. Aaron was reluctant to start his first lesson because he saw kids in other classes jumping into the pool. Two lessons later, it was him. And Nora jumped off the racing block her first day. Just gotta love the Y.

Sun Printing

Yesterday I tried some sun printing, because (1) I've been wanting to try it, and (2) this is surely the time to do it.

It worked very quickly, just the way it's supposed to. Now the trick will be to keep my eyes out for really cool shapes - these are leaves quickly picked from the spirea bush.