It's My Birthday

Today I am 61. I wore a blue dress that I bought in 1987. Twenty years ago I was this size and weight. Sort of a time warp thing. When I began this "healthy eating plan" I set a goal of wearing the blue dress--a favorite of mine-- on my birthday. Nine months later I actually can wear it.

This will be a birthday I remember forever. For good reasons and for terrible reasons. The terrible reasons won't be discussed here until I discuss my First Amendment Rights and my blog with an attorney. Yeah. Terrible.

A friend brought "birthday sushi" to the library for me. I just finished it for dinner. Delicious as always. I think I could eat my friend's homemade sushi everyday. Just amazing.

The comments wishing me a happy birthday have been welcome. You are all so very dear to me! Who knew I would make such enduring friends in such an electronic forum.

Both of my children have called and we had wonderful conversations. My two dear girlfriends both took time to call even though they are very busy. My walking buddy called early to schedule a "birthday walk" and we did 3 miles and laughed and talked the whole time. My co worker and friend surprised me with a fabric bouquet. Very nice surprise and thoughtful. I was even surprised to be invited to a birthday lunch by two of my co workers today with the hour when I should have been working covered by another co worker.

Right now I'm tired, confused, questioning everything, wondering if I should even be posting. Life does come at you fast.

Happy Wedding Anniversary

Thirty nine years. And with no actual "Will you marry me" from G. Nope. Never asked. And no engagement ring either. I did get a wedding ring. Nice wide gold band. And now I have diamonds.

We've had good years and really awful years. But we take care of each other and are good company on long car rides and winter evenings. We garden well together also. And make each other laugh.

Today I was happy to be married to him. I was sitting in my "breakfast chair" talking to G and watching the puppy play and looked up and what to my wondering eyes did appear--a BAT. Clinging to the silk lining of the hanging lamp shade. G calmly collected the BAT, showed it to me and the pup and then took it outside. A BAT in my HOUSE!

Now I think we may have to move to a house without a BAT.

Oh, G thought TOMORROW was our anniversary. He has only remembered it correctly once--our twenty year. With flowers (20 white roses), dinner and a diamond wedding band presented with raspberry cheesecake-- my favorite. Lovely memory!

September Roses

The Japanese beetles moved on to other places this year and I have a small vase of rose buds on my counter. In other years, before Japanese beetles, I could gather a vase of large rose blooms in September --for our anniversary. Maybe next year.

Here I am. Sixty pounds less of me. Today I wore pleated slacks with a white tee TUCKED in and my small belt on the last hole. People were very complimentary. Said I was just "wasting" away. I would prefer "waisting" away. Still room for improvement in the midriff area. And upper arms.

On Monday Riley ate a "bad" mushroom and got very sick. Vomited for almost an hour. G took him to the vet along with the remainder of the mushroom. Riley ate the fungus on my watch and I had taken the uneaten parts out of his mouth and saved it in case it was "bad". Then I went to work and G got home and the fun began. Riley is on boiled beef and rice. The vet also filled Riley's tummy with liquid charcoal to counter the poison. Riley is FINE. No worries. But he did scare G. I'm just relieved that it was gastric and not neurological. Cause I love that dog.

G and I searched the yard for mushrooms and filled a quart garden pot with them. I dug them up with my newly manicured nails. See how much I care! The mushrooms are round, low to the ground and covered with tiny dots. Cruel. My favorite pattern (dots) on poison mushrooms. I think I will have to make a "evil" quilt about these mushrooms with "bad" dots rather than happy ones.

September

I'm borrowing an image from a blogging friend. It really and truly suits me. In the Chinese calendar I'm a DOG. And an artist. And messy. And usually dressed in blue.

September. My birth month. I think of the whole month as MINE! So I will be unbearably cheerful and bouncy this month. Going to be married 39 years on the 15th and be 61 years old on the 18th. I'm hoping one of those occasions involves cake and ice cream.

I FINALLY made it to SIXTY POUNDS LOST. All of July was one big plateau and I didn't gain any weight and perhaps lost 3 pounds for the whole month. August was better and I made the effort to walk three or four miles a day. There were also a number of 800 calorie days in August. Not good but I wasn't hungry.

Riley is now old enough to walk several miles a day without danger of injury to growing hip joints. And this pup has the longest legs! And his head is getting so big (he's smart) and his coat is so shiny and guess what? He loves me. And I love him. I don't even mind that he smells like a dog. And believe me, that's something!

September is also the month when something is in bloom that makes my nose run like a faucet. I wish I knew what it is. Ragweed? Goldenrod? Could be any of the grasses with seed heads. Anyway, I am never far from my hanky.

I have to call and give the central vac guy the okay to replace the existing system with a new system and install an extension into the second floor so I can vacuum the guest suite and the stairs. Won't that be nice? He's also going to place the collection tank in the garage for easy emptying and as an added bonus-- we'll be able to vacuum out the cars with the central vac hoses. And I have to find doggie day care for Riley for Friday when G is at work and I have a Master Gardener class. Landscaping.

My brother is calling the bank to straighten out my Dad's annuity. The annuity my Dad says he never bought. I guess we've entered that scary part of elder parent care. Glad my brother offered to help me out on this. I was out of my depth with banking stuff. Especially "you say- he says" discussions.

So, 2 mile walk and an allergy tab and it's Tuesday so G and I will be grilling hamburgers for lunch. Well, I'll have a veggie burger but it's delicious. Tomorrow Indian food with a friend. It's all good this week. September. What's not to love???

New Work Surface

My work surface of choice this week is the bedroom floor. Carpet. At the end of the king four poster. I get to look at the progress (or lack) on my way in and out of bed and while gazing into the closet for wardrobe choices.

I'm working on a background of three pieces of fabric. There have been many changes and the butterfly is on hiatus. Everything I didn't like was replaced with things I like-NOW- and could stay or go as the day goes. I also have some branches sewn down. And two flowers. May make some more flower heads just to see what happens. And I'll be playing with leaf shapes.

Riley is walking a mile twice everyday. Sometimes in the morning with me and sometimes with G. Then again after work. I go to work. Riley chews on his bedding. He is loosing puppy teeth. We have salvaged 2 so far. He wants to eat them. Tooth Fairy Time.

Riley has a theme for Fall-- so many acorns: so little time. He chews and eats as many as he can get to on his walks. This is Maine and the road and yard are full of them. Also mushrooms or fungus--which he LOVES. I have to pry his jaws open to get them away from him.

I know that dogs are carnivores but Riley loves blueberries, raspberries, green beans and today he sampled zucchini when I sliced some for zucchini bread & butter pickles. Some one FINALLY took pity on me and gifted me with a big sack of zucchini. Thank You!!!!! I inserted some jalapeno peppers into the mix. The "pickle with the tickle". That would be Jack's Pickles made in Maine. The whole house smells like onions, vinegar and sugar with mustard seeds. Yummy. I water processed 6 pint jars. I need to make a second batch (and find more zucchini) to make enough to last all year. We have local zucchini on sale at our regular chain supermarket--and I may have to buy some. Fresh is so much better for pickles.

Three little cherry tomatoes are turning from green to yellow green so I may have three tomatoes to eat by Monday. I have tons of little green cherry tomatoes and just hope that September is good and sunny. I usually freeze bags of them (ripe) for a special pasta sauce G and I love. 10 or 12 quarts last year. I roast the tomatoes in a hot oven with olive oil and salt and pepper for 20-25 minutes, cool and bag. Sungold is their name. Sweet and tasty.

Had way too many green beans. Didn't blanch and freeze any because I was too lazy. Did roast them with EVOO and salt and peppper in a hot oven. Very good. Roasted veg are so nice.

I also have about 8 cucumbers on the counter and eat them with salt. Nice snack.

Progress-- Sort Of

This was one of the "quick fire" 15 minute small pieces from the Pamela Allen class. We each got the little printed face/head and had to "finish the picture" in some way. When I got this home I pulled off everything except the background and the dog. I found the dress and shoes on some printed commercial fabric and added the pink with green dots to make the space work and give the house something to sit on top of.

The velvet fish now has some gold stretchy cord giving it some definition. I added the little bouncey fringe (which I dye painted) and a fussy cut bunch of radishes from some commercial fabric. I still want to attach the lemon but haven't yet. I removed all the Pamela style primitive needle work as it just isn't "ME" and instead sewed everything down with invisible thread and a zigzag stitch on the machine. Cuz that IS me.


This has all been topstiched with invisible zigzag and now I'm doing a straight topstitch--sort of like big quilting in the violet purple pearl cotton #8. Some of the lines of the center fabric have been extended to the quilt edge with velveteen in a mossy green. Some new branches and flowers have been added along with the addition of flower centers cut from some commercial printed fabric.

All the flowers have been cut from my small collection of Wunder Under'ed fabrics and ironed down onto the dotted surface. Now that I have learned the most important lesson from Pamela Allen--to define the background into a recognizable surface (interior, exterior, landscape etc) I realize this will never amount to anything as the flat background will be a negative to the viewer. The dotted fabric doesn't "say" anything. No depth of perspective. The small square in the lower left is auditioning as a possible "table" or surface on which the vase can comfortably sit (it will stretch across the entire bottom if chosen and I will have to heat up the WU and try and lift those flowers on the lower right off the surface and on top of the "table").

What I had hoped to be working on right now. A large butterfly. I may replace the lower third fabric. It calls too much attention to itself. And the fabric (a long sleeve wrap top) that I got at Goodwill IS the perfect color, print etc for the butterfly ( you get a peek in the upper right corner). Nothing else is working well and will eventually be replaced.

What I have done today: walked one mile alone, walked one mile with dog, watched dog sleep so husband could weed back flower beds ( I was wanting to keep dog out of the crate since it's so hot here today but if he's out of the crate, he follows us around and won't sleep--so I watched cooking shows and dog got bored and went to sleep), made husband's lunch, continued to watch dog, baked husband some chocolate chip cookies since he "needs" dessert, forgot to turn off oven when finished (even hotter in here), started this post, called by husband to help give dog a bath, cleaned bathroom after bath, cleaned up wetting accident in spare bedroom (husband can not remember that puppies need to go outside to pee after every exciting thing--which includes a bath), now watching puppy so husband can take a shower. I think husband and puppy are going for a ride in the car so I will have 20 minutes to myself. Oh boy!

They are bringing back dinner. Happy dance!

Wednesday

Discussion Questions at the end of this post.

So far, this week has been fun but I haven't gotten to read or create anything. I have tomorrow and the weekend to do something as my husband is off work and there will be two of us doing puppy stuff.

Riley is getting to be happy to see us and barrels over and hits me in the knees with all 44 pounds. So far I haven't fallen over. I sidestep as best I can. Nothing in the world like the happy greeting of a puppy. 100%.

Cherry tomato spaghetti for dinner tonight with the last of 2006 tomatoes. And no ripe 2007 tomatoes yet--if ever--with the temperature dropping into the 50's at night. My fault for starting the seeds so late. I have winter squash growing, not many cucumbers and all green tomatoes and lots of little yellow tomato blossoms. My cabbages look fantastic.

I have a question for all the art quilters out there who make things to sell. Do you use a gallery or agent to sell for you? If not what do you do. Do you use "gallery" pricing? That means you double the price you want to cover the commission costs. I sell a few things but think I could do better with more exposure. A website with paypal is also an option. Any thoughts on that?

Sunday

August but feeling a lot like October. Maine. What a wonderland of temperature. The nights are getting into the high 40's inland but still in the 50's here by the coast. Sleeping is GREAT! And I start my walk each morning with long pants and a sweatshirt and each time I pass the mailbox (my own), I place a clothing item in until I'm in shorts and a tee. The neighbors are mum on this undressing. And since I walk past them a total of 6 times in the 3 miles--they do get to see the changes.

Today I weeded the back gardens and cut down the non-flowering lilac. To the ground. I've asked G to spray the whole garden with Round-Up and we'll start over next spring. Sometimes you just have to give up.

If the dog will cooperate I want to make a quilt today. Yep. A whole quilt start to finish. I may need to bind it tomorrow and add the hanging pocket but today should be enough time to make something. I want a field of flowers, blue sky and a butterfly. A Pamela Allen butterfly made of silks and velvets in rich yummy texture and color. I may return one pair of sweat pants I got at Goodwill yesterday and purchase this strange printed wrap thing. It's red with dots and I think I need it for fabric. So that's what I'll do.

Goodwill had two sequined dresses for sale. But too hard to stitch down. I'll leave them for someone to buy for Halloween costumes.

I think I'll feel 100% if I make something. I've been feeling like something is missing. The creative, edgy thing. And a butterfly seems to be what I want to make.

Wendy's southwest Taco Salad for dinner last night. OH! It was delicioso! I added a Romaine heart for more salad.

Today

Is he not the cutest dog evah?

G and I drove to New Hampshire for the World Quilt Show yesterday and it was okay. Each year it gets slightly less fabulous and slightly less attended. This year there were NO crowds. The traditional quilters were happy. Where's the art?

After the show we drove to Carrabas for our dinner. We had mussels in butter sauce with Pernod and good crusty bread. Salad. And I had a perfectly broiled tenderloin which was also perfectly seasoned. I chose both vegetables as side dishes but the grilled summer veg was spectacular. I even had dessert. (some of G's). The server said "boy, you both ate fast". Not a good comment to make. We didn't think we ate fast. We did make conversation.

Then home to pick up Riley from Doggie Day Care where he played with puppies from his litter and other started pups. The breeder will keep and train a puppy for the owner until the owner is ready to take the dog home. They have the complete obedience package. I have no idea how long the breeder will keep the pups but Riley's litter mates are 4.5 months old now. Riley was a started dog so he had some training before we got him. Yesterday the breeder worked on Riley's lack of interest in "walking". He likes to lay down in the road. Well. I don't know what she did to him--but he walks now. No pulling. Just walking. And mighty fast walking.

Riley went to sleep at 9 pm last night and we woke him up this morning at 8. Then he fell asleep again at 9. Doggie Day Care is some fabulous thing.

I picked cucumbers and green beans today and plan to have another Nicoise salad for dinner with tomatoes, green beans, half a potato, tuna, green pepper, olives and the hard boiled egg I got at the grocery salad bar. I wonder what one boiled egg costs? { 60 cents }

I also bought 2 melons and a pineapple to cube for the weekend. I am really excited about my diet again as I fit into size 14 pants now and it doesn't matter what brand. They all fit. And size large shirts. No more XL for this gal. I think we should schedule a parade.

I have stacks of plus size winter clothes to go to the resale shop in the next week or so. Plus size doesn't sell as well as 14,16,18. Six of the summer things sold and 10 items are still on sale. I get them back at the end. Fabric.

So What Have I Been Doing?

Riley is now Four Months old. He's been living here for 30 days. Seems like he's always been here. He is one very mellow dog.

I've been walking my 2 or 3 miles a day and eating my 1200 calories and going to work and trying to be nice to everyone (I was rude to one patron and got called on it) and I have actually read 3 books. And I may try to read another one.

I also unpiled the guest room bed--- took all the piles of "stuff" I stored on it off and now I have it stored on the vaccumed floor instead. Then I helped take the bed apart and my husband and daughter carried it out to the cart and tied it on and took it to Sam's house so she could move up to a real mattress and boxspring and not slats and a futon. She told the cats they now have a "grown-up" bed.

I picked cucumbers and green beans out of my weedy garden. No tomatoes. Sam gave me a big bagful of yellow summer squash which I fried with onion and it was delicious. Did I tell you this already?

I have NOT managed to get any fabric work done--other than loads of laundry-- and I am really sad about that. But I have been on puppy duty and have to do the "click and cheese" training for Obedience School each Wednesday. Riley has to keep his grades up. Next week he'll probably get a low grade as he refuses to even think about "go settle". I have my work cut out for me.

Riley found a dead squirrel hanging in an eye level bush yesterday. That section of the yard is now "the place" to go. I could have passed on that event as the crows had already found the body and removed the head. ICK doesn't begin to describe it. I could probably get Riley to "go settle" over by the dead squirrel but then I'd have to bring it to school to get him to do it for the teacher.

Manchester World Quilt Show on Thursday. Doggie Day Care for Riley. Dinner at Carraba's for G and me (we have dinner there and call it our Anniversary Dinner because we never have time to actually go out on the real anniversary date). We don't eat out on my birthday 3 days late either. What am I doing wrong?

DOG

The universe is a strange and magical thing. I can't even begin to understand the way things work. So I'm going to tell you a little story. Maybe you can figure it out.

After we gave our first puppy back to the breeder, I began to dream of a black dog who sat at the end of the driveway. In my dreams, the black dog was sitting there at the end of the driveway waiting. I thought it was unfinished business. Guilt. Remorse. Second thoughts. I would wake up crying. The dream always made me sad.

Now, after 2 months of thinking and dreaming, we have a second black puppy. A puppy who races down the driveway to sit at the end and wait. For me.

Fantabulous Sunday With Pamela

We worked on a larger scale; a portrait or face; and we worked on the same piece all day which was so much less hectic than the 5 pieces on Friday. Each of the pieces I worked on this weekend have bits of my handpainted fabric in them -- my personal touch. This piece is also personal to me as it's going to be all about the changes in my life regarding diet. The weighing, counting, measuring. The numbers. The tape measure. I may quilt sections of my food diary into the red background.

I always think these are clear and then they are blurry and I apologize. That's my painted polka dot fabric center stage in this photo along with 34 pounds and 56 pounds. I found the measuring tape fabric in one of the vendor booths. Love it. Pamela saw it and went straight down to get some for herself.

The neckline with red tape measure fabric. I think it is marketed along with the Dick and Jane stuff. A fellow student gave me two shades of organza for the head. Thank you!

I never did learn anything about embellishment in either of the classes. What I did learn was to make a background that says something. Interior, exterior, perspective, landscape. Then and only then begin making shapes for the subject of the quilt. And by this time the quilt may have other ideas on what that subject is. Your first idea is always the worst idea.

After the big shapes are in start hand stitching them down. Don't fiddle with the little bits. The big bits need doing first. Your hand stitching is like your handwriting. Each of us has their own personal style. Use it to your advantage. Say something. With the stitches. With the thread color.

Now begin to develop the big shapes. Divide. If something isn't showing up--cut a light or dark shape with scissors and place it behind. Leave it there if it works. Replace it if it doesn't. Cut 25 bits till you get the one that does the job. Hang the piece on the wall. Stand back. What bothers you? Change it. Fix it. Remove it. Make it bigger. Make it a different color.

Stand with scissors in hand. Work at free hand cutting of shapes. Trim on the quilt surface. Keep cutting and replacing until you get it right or decide to throw that whole section on the floor and stamp on it. Make something else. I really think it would be best to have 2 and possibly 3 pieces in different stages of development and move back and forth between them.

Quilt. Machine quilt with themes that mean something. In her hot flash quilt, Pamela has little fire engines complete with ladders and hoses racing to the "fire". Do word association to come up with things relating to your subject. In my quilt: measuring, scales, food diary, numbers, walking etc. Don't just make squiggles. NO echo quilting.

Bind.

And I guess this is where the embellishment happens. Pamela took an angel or fairy quilt and made it into a tooth fairy quilt with the addition of two boxes. One holds a nickle coin. One holds a tooth. The fairy has a crown made of dental mirrors. The story: the tooth fairy doesn't pay very well anymore. A nickle doesn't cover two tooth implants that Pamela needs.

So when it comes to embellishment I have been a "Premature Embellisher". I have cute stuff and want to make a quilt to use all that stuff. WRONG. When the quilt is all DONE it will let me know what it needs in the way of embellishment. I will just have to LEARN to WAIT. Well, damn!

Six Quilts with Pamela Allen

First of all, all the "pre-class work" was useless. We winged it. Pamela would give us a subject and color story and set us to work. Quilt in an hour. Usually less. Critque was valuable. Everyone got personal time--helpful artistic time --with Pamela. This is my second piece. Two colors across the color wheel from each other and a fish somewhere in the piece. My fish is velour. I have a styro lemon that I am wanting to stitch onto this SO BAD.

Our first project--and to start I had to rip the three background pieces off the a pre-made background and then dump all my black and white off cuts out and get going- fast. So this is a big bowl and white tomato. I did some additional stitching on the fish quilt and this one this afternoon.

Third piece. After lunch. We were given a chunk of weird fabric and asked to expand and continue the design. As little trimming of the original chunk as possible. My chunk had a branch to the right and then a wide brown space and that little "candle flame" leaf upper left and a partial leaf center bottom. Everything else you see-- I "made". I have since added some flowers to the "candle".

Fourth and running out of gas. Boy was I tired by the time we got to this one at 3 in the afternoon. Since I am in the "portrait" class tomorrow I got to choose a garden or landscape instead of the portrait the others worked on. They did GREAT! And Pamela and I think this was my best attempt of the day. I had fun making it.

I used some of my "Sonji style" painted fabrics in the fish and garden pieces and they are the personal part of the work. Pamela wants us to get personal with the work. She advocates hand sewing because each of us have "signature" ways of stitching--like handwriting.

I can't imagine what it would have been like to have taken classes with Pamela all three days. I needed today to rest and re group. And think. And sort my supplies. Tomorrow a self portrait. And the space and time to work on it for the entire day.

Pamela is doing a 5 day workshop in the Hudson Valley and she says it's better. The work gets done and the light bulb in the creative mind goes on and stays on.

But I do have to say our Friday class was minus all those things that make classes so frustrating. The teacher hog. The whiner. The know it all. The person who refuses to do the assignment. We all just did the work, learned from the critque, and kept going. And we all made 4 little quilts and one little postcard "quiz". Or "quick fire" as I named it. 15 minute time limit. Talk about stressful! Seacoast with clouds.

I hope Sunday's class is just as wonderful.

Oh, and the one hour in the car each way, on the highway, through a toll booth, past an 18 wheeler on fire, getting passed by every single car (who cares?) was SO hard. I was so tired when I got home. I could barely get to the couch and lay down.

Wednesday 7-25

Pins and Needles. Today Riley and I went to the Vet. All sorts of well puppy shots. Nails clipped. Weighed (35 pounds). Nice sitting. Overbite. Some concern on the hips. And then while I waited for the bill--which took forever--Riley peed on the floor. Big puddle. A $140 puddle.

I know you are all wondering how the dog and I are doing. If I had to use one word to describe our days together it would be "easy". I do believe in God and I think he provided this dog so we could --all three of us--be happy together. There is no other explanation.

Riley and I also did the ride in the car thing. A first for me. Had to pick him up and lift him in as he is still too short to get in by himself. Riley is VERY good in the car. I guess I shouldn't have said that. Jinx it. Car was also on "empty". G likes to wait till the last possible moment to get a fill.

Riley is now napping and I am making pizza for our Obedience School car trip (33 miles one way) this evening. We have "studied" the sit and the down with cheese reinforcement. Riley should continue to be "teacher's pet" (since the other dogs are 8 and 10 weeks). What a "good boy". And he likes when I sing "You Are My Sunshine" to him. Riley is possibly the only one who will ever like my singing.

Still trying to get my stuff together for my class on Friday. I did layer 6 scraps of fusible batting to backing fabric (polka dots) and just have to do the fronts. Pamela wants 3-4 fabrics in a nice backgroundish arrangement on each of the 6 pieces. Not easy. But I am making do with whatever is to hand in the wastebasket as usual. Will I ever use the shelves full of fabric in the closet????? I'm thinking the answer to that question is "NO". Why do I like junk so much more?

Well, pizza baking is complete. Time for Riley to have lunch and fetch a stick for exercise and then it's the crate for him and the library for me. We certainly are busy around here!

Oh, I read a book. Innocent As Sin by Elizabeth Lowell. I think she phoned it in. And I am a third into Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz Smith. Arkady. So completely written that I feel like I know him. A new Kurland awaits. Time travel romance. Summer reading. And, for my son, I would like a copy of How To Eat by Nigella Lawson for my birthday.

Blueberries

I always notice the *blur* after uploading. Sorry about that. Anyway, the pup loves blueberries and they are ready for picking right now. The wild ones. I shared some of the berries I picked in a vacant building lot with the dog and now he "picks his own". Riley can sniff the berries out and he has found several spots on our property with berries.

Riley also got to sample my raspberries and stops by the bushes to get some on his perimeter walk several times a day. Now those berries are MINE! Try telling that to a determined berry eating puppy.

It's been a good week. We went to obedience school and are working on "name recognition", "sit" and "down". With a clicker and string cheese. Though he will do the training for blueberries.

G is working the afternoon/evening shift this weekend so Riley and I will be bonding. Between naps (the dog) I will be trying to make my 6 foundation pieces for my class with Pamela Allen next Friday. I also have to make a larger foundation for a self portrait quilt next Sunday. And collect materials for embellishments. And fabric. Glue sticks. Scissors.

I also want to finally change the slipcovers on the two big sofas from winter blue denim to white and change the red and white antique quilt on the wall to a pink and yellow one. Summer is almost over and I'm not decorated! And if it stops raining, I plan to go pick raspberries (for me). Yesterday G and I munched on giant sweet cherries. I think we ate a full pound of them. So good. I love summer fruit. And I've been having iced coffee everyday. Loving that!

Hello

I still don't have a name. I like to take long naps, short walks and rest on my dog bed in between. I like to catch moths and swallow them and Joanne picked blueberries for me along the side of the road. They were good. I have a big head, long legs and a mellow attitude. Not much bothers me.

Anyone got any good name suggestions for this "old" soul?

Day Two

And so sweet. A completely different experience. I'm looking forward to 14 years of this.

No name yet. The kennel named him "patton" and a neighbor suggested calling him "general" but really he is way too sweet to be a general. Walks, sleeps, pees and tracks and catches moths. 14 weeks old. "Started" with obedience training at the breeder's.

"patton" and I sat out in the shade today, little breeze keeping the squitos away. I could have napped or read a book. He sat next to my chair chewing on a stick. For nearly an hour. And he's a puppy! So I suggested we go around the corner and get a drink of water and he ran over there and drank water. All by himself. Certainly smart.

Walked him down my neighborhood street yesterday (his first 2 hours living with us) and all the neighbors were home and out and got to meet "patton". He sat and said hello and when I proceeded to talk to everyone (I talk alot) he sat at my feet with his eyes on me. Waiting for our next move. When I talked too long---15 minutes or so, he gave one bark. I told him to wait. And he did. I told one neighbor I expected to wake up any minute because this HAD to be a DREAM.

Tucked him into the crate at 9 pm (some fussing and whining), potty at 11 and awake at 5:30 am. Nap at 7:30 am, nap at 10 am, nap at 12:30 am, well, you get the idea. He sleeps alot. Sits on his dog bed while I cook or clean and napped under the table while we ate dinner.

Speaking of dinner. I made guacamole for the very first time without a recipe. Two avocado, diced red onion and the juice of one lime. Salt and pepper. It was delicious! I think it worked because the onion was "spicy". Blue organic corn chips. And G is making coffee so I can chill the remainder for iced coffee tomorrow. Summer. What's not to like?

And I'm watching DiceK pitch for the Red Sox. My walking buddy is a big Sox fan.

G and "patton" are playing fetch with a tennis ball. And "patton" is seeing his relection in the French doors and getting excited.

It's a bit after 9 pm and we'll see how long he can behave and stay awake. And I could be referring to either of them.

One Moment In Time

Lunch today with an 84 year old friend. We dined on Lobster Ravioli with Shrimp in Pink Sauce. I'm thinking it was red sauce mixed with cream. Very good lunch. I even laughed out loud at something my friend said. Everything was great. We both put out credit cards for our separate checks. When the credit slips came back I signed and watched as my friend added the tip in cash. Looked like a large tip and then she mentioned putting $18 there. I said but you used your credit card. And she said "No, I didn't".

What should I do? She is forgetting her children's names. I remind her of the grandchildren's names. She lives alone. Calls me each day to see if I'm free to visit her or have lunch. She is disappointed when I have to work. Her children live far away. About as far away as I live from my own 85 year old father. Who lives alone and calls one of my brother's friends. To make sure he has a key to the house. In case.

My 84 year old friend mentioned that my newest quilt--the Marigold-- seemed "tight" or "controlled" to her and not like my usual work which is loose and a bit erratic. And then after lunch, I met a friend on the path to my car and she asked about the Marigold and in talking about it I realized that my lunch companion was correct. It is too controlled and tight and THAT is what has kept me from liking it and finishing it for all these years. About 4 or 5 years. The friend on the path said she would never have even wanted to finish something that old. I said that I was trying to "pull the art through". A David Walker quote.

I'm that way with unfinished art business. It nags at me. Loose ends. Unfullfilled promise. So now that I know what was wrong--I will make a new Marigold. Wild and loose and totally crazy. Because that IS my favorite song. "Still Crazy After All These Years".

I took a bag of outgrown linen clothes to the resale shop. I will know in 6 weeks if I sold any and I can have anything unsold back to use as fabric. I plan to sort through the closet and wash, iron and fold any more big, summer items.

Fifty Pounds. Six Months. I sort of wish there was a FF (Formerly Fat) like AA so I could go to a meeting. To learn how to not see myself as FAT. To not backslide. To accept myself as I am. At the resale shop the owner was unpacking my things and she looked from the clothes to me and said "These are really big". And I said "So was I". So. Was. I.

And dear friends--- that is a moment in time, a day in my life. A snapshot.

Another Rainy Day

The only sunshine in my yard :: calendula. Thank goodness they are right in front of my door so I can see them all the time. N and I timed our 2 mile walk just right today, as the rain held off "just" long enough. N got home first and because I had the length of our street to walk, I got a bit soaked. It's okay. I like curly hair.

I'm collecting rain water just in case we have a dry spell. That little heap next to the watering can is an obo-- pile of rocks.

As you may have read in the comments, someone in Maine was cancelling their Pamela Allen class and now I AM going to be in the same room with Pamela Allen for one whole day, perhaps two. I have the opportunity to sign up for the all day Sunday self portrait class also. The Friday class is "Six Little Quilts" which explore the 6 design principles. I have my supply list and my "homework" to prepare sandwiched backgrounds on which to work. Already layered with 3 or more pieces of fabric to give depth to the piece. Then on class day we will layer, applique and stitch. Pamela is also bringing a Dremel and we will "drill" holes in found objects otherwise known as "junk" and "dollar store treasure". I plan to bring some of the really neat things I have found and have no idea how to use. I'm sure Pamela will have ideas.

I am even going to drive to Augusta by myself. On the highway. Like a big girl. Like a big fraidy cat girl. Now you can see what a BIG LURE Pamela is!!!

Have to open the door for the carpet cleaner for my neighbor across the street later today. Her dog opened the freezer door and ate a bunch of stuff and was very sick all over the house. I think the freezer was open for a long time and my neighbor also lost all her food. I suggested "doggie daycare" instead of the daily dog walker who stays maybe 15 minutes (the dog refuses to go outside). Or bare floors. Last time this happened the dog got into the pantry and ate baking chocolate and nearly died. She's eleven and very bored and doesn't like other dogs. So maybe daycare is out of the question.

I'm have a total overhaul today from toe paint to hair glaze. My checking account will be taking a direct hit but I'm worth it and I will be too pretty for words when it's all done.
I may even get G to take a picture for you. And I may not.

If At First You Don't Succeed

This is a teaser. I'm not saying what I'm going to try again until it happens. Then I will "spill the beans" as they say. I'm nervous. But not as much as the first time. Fingers crossed.

Shopping at Marden's yesterday and I bought 12 fake lemons. I'm thinking of making an "If Life Gives You Lemons" quilt like the ones my favorite quilt diva makes. Pamela Allen. Who is teaching at Maine Quilts this summer and I didn't know and therefore will not be in class. So sad. If anyone in Maine is reading this and there is a last minute cancellation--email me!

I fell off the "not too much bread" wagon today at the supermarket. Along with fruit, fat free "Simply Smart" milk and half/half, and deli stuff for G's lunches--I bought a loaf of When Pigs Fly cinnamon raisin bread. 240 calories for 96grams (2 smallish slices). And SO worth it. Chewy, sweet and so divine. I adore bread. And I DID walk three miles today before it started raining. I'm putting the bread in the freezer. It's safer there.

I'm watching Big Brother, Top Chef, Closer, and Ninja Warrior this summer.

I'm reading Nigella Lawson's What to Eat. Very good. The "healthy eating plan" (no kidding) section (small) is like deja vu for me. She says exactly what I say. She has the same (exact) gameplan for success as I have. And I thought I made all this up. We even have the same breakfast each day. I plan to have her same everyday lunch from now on - a baked potato and some steamed veggies. Nigella puts cheese on her potato but I like sour cream and chives. Can even nuke it in the micro at work. And Nigella NEEDS to have real sugar in her diet food just like me. It makes US feel full. Perhaps I'm really a "goddess" like Nigella????

And along with my half cup of fresh pineapple each morning before walking, I will be adding iced coffee with real sugar and Simply Smart fat free half and half to the daily Summer menu. With lots of ice. That Simply Smart stuff is amazing. Try it.

The parking lot at my supermarket just got striped and patched and the combo of clean white stripes and black patches in squiggly, running, curving patterns was very interesting against the normal greyish asphalt. I plan to go back with my camera and hope it wasn't all a "pre-rain" strange lighting thing which has now gone by.

Tomorrow I'm going shopping with my daughter. I plan to try on clothes to see what fits. I don't think I will buy anything. Trying things on gets me SO depressed.

Today I have on a sleeveless tee which shows off my flappy upper arms and shorts (too big) and my old belt which I have in the fourth hole away from the one I used to use (before I needed to buy the bigger size belt). I think the shorts also have odd tucks in the waistband. So chic.