At the start of October, I had every intention of working heavily on the quilts for the grandkids. But then I took the boys camping for a weekend, and then I got sick or something, anyway didn't feel well for a few days. So much that I missed out on going to the boys last week. And I haven't been working on the quilts AT ALL. Until yesterday.
I kind of feel like I am balancing on top of a large ball, perhaps 10 feet in diameter. As long as I stay centered on the ball top, I am fine. However, once I fall off, it seems impossible to get back on. Imagine trying to climb up on a ten foot high ball. Impossible.
So yesterday, I finally got busy and got sewing again. I have gotten all the colored stripes sewed together, which was my goal for the first week. I know, this has been three weeks. However,....
Next step, pick out "sky", "ground", and "pot of gold" fabric to complete quilt top. And cut apart strips, to resew into rainbow shape. That shouldn't be so difficult. Goal timeline: Get fabrics picked out by Sunday, take with Monday, and complete cut apart-resew by the following Monday.
I can do this.
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
The rest of my life, part 2
Back from Canada, and still with unanswered questions. But some (one?) answer. I will finish some of the projects I have started, and get rid of the rest (either by frogging, tossing, or giving away undone).
I love doing it all. I love sewing and quilting. I love knitting and spinning. I love dying, and want to use my own dyed products in my other projects. I am not ready to give up some other ideas of what to make and create.
My uncertainty is that I will spend the next twenty or thirty years going from one thing to another, and not ever get very good at anything. And I don't know if I care.
I read somewhere (while I was in Canada) that the colonies of (bacteria, I believe) actually do better if there are some "bad" eggs in the bunch. In the struggle to overcome the bad ones, the good ones get better, stronger, healthier. Now that I don't have to work for money, will I have the will-power, attitude, stick-to-it-iveness to really accomplish something? Or will I just become another old woman with a large stash of fabric, yarn, fiber, and unfinished projects? And again, do I care?
I have to ask the question. I don't have or have to have the answer.
I love doing it all. I love sewing and quilting. I love knitting and spinning. I love dying, and want to use my own dyed products in my other projects. I am not ready to give up some other ideas of what to make and create.
My uncertainty is that I will spend the next twenty or thirty years going from one thing to another, and not ever get very good at anything. And I don't know if I care.
I read somewhere (while I was in Canada) that the colonies of (bacteria, I believe) actually do better if there are some "bad" eggs in the bunch. In the struggle to overcome the bad ones, the good ones get better, stronger, healthier. Now that I don't have to work for money, will I have the will-power, attitude, stick-to-it-iveness to really accomplish something? Or will I just become another old woman with a large stash of fabric, yarn, fiber, and unfinished projects? And again, do I care?
I have to ask the question. I don't have or have to have the answer.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
The rest of my life
What am I going to do for the rest of my life?
Do I need a plan?
Should I keep track? Of what?
How will I know when (if) I get there?
Just thought I should ask. Off for Eastern Canada now. Haven't been there yet, so looking forward to it. Should be awesome.
Do I need a plan?
Should I keep track? Of what?
How will I know when (if) I get there?
Just thought I should ask. Off for Eastern Canada now. Haven't been there yet, so looking forward to it. Should be awesome.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
How to Play Kitty Golf
Kitty Golf is a game for children of all ages. It is helpful if they can walk.
Each player selects a toy cat or kitten. (Of course other toy animals can be used, but then it wouldn't be "KITTY" Golf, would it?) Proceed to your nearest disc (frisbee) golf course. Make sure no one else is playing on the course, as Kitty Golf involves a lot of running around and would interfere with other players.
Starting at the first tee, each player throws his cat as far as he can towards the "hole", basket, or goal, whatever you want to call it. The object of the game is to get your cat/kitty into the goal in the least number of throws, however, keeping score is sometimes a challenge for the youngest players. After every player has taken two or three turns, the adult can announce that the first player to get his cat/kitty into the goal is the winner of that hole. This MAY speed up the game somewhat. Or not.
Proceed around the course in this manner as for regular disc golf, for as many holes as you can handle. The winner is the player who has "won" the most holes. This game teaches throwing skills, taking turns, and patience (mostly for the adult!). If things get too slow or the adult finds he/she has had it, an ice cream break may be declared. This results in the game being called on account of ice cream.
Hints for better play: It is best if the cat/kitty is washable. The game involves a lot of running around, screaming and yelling, and some argument, but hardly any skinned knees.
Each player selects a toy cat or kitten. (Of course other toy animals can be used, but then it wouldn't be "KITTY" Golf, would it?) Proceed to your nearest disc (frisbee) golf course. Make sure no one else is playing on the course, as Kitty Golf involves a lot of running around and would interfere with other players.
Starting at the first tee, each player throws his cat as far as he can towards the "hole", basket, or goal, whatever you want to call it. The object of the game is to get your cat/kitty into the goal in the least number of throws, however, keeping score is sometimes a challenge for the youngest players. After every player has taken two or three turns, the adult can announce that the first player to get his cat/kitty into the goal is the winner of that hole. This MAY speed up the game somewhat. Or not.
Proceed around the course in this manner as for regular disc golf, for as many holes as you can handle. The winner is the player who has "won" the most holes. This game teaches throwing skills, taking turns, and patience (mostly for the adult!). If things get too slow or the adult finds he/she has had it, an ice cream break may be declared. This results in the game being called on account of ice cream.
Hints for better play: It is best if the cat/kitty is washable. The game involves a lot of running around, screaming and yelling, and some argument, but hardly any skinned knees.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
I am a Native American
I am a Native American.
Oh, no, my ancestors didn't live here before Columbus. As far as I can tell, most of my great-great-...-great grandparents came from farms and towns in Ireland, Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands, even Russia. But I was born here. My parents were born here.
All four of my grandparents were born in this country. My father and his parents were all born in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Dad was the fifth generation to be born and live in the Detroit area. My mother and her parents were from the Kentucky-Ohio region, living at times on one side or the other of the Ohio River. Her father, my grandfather Charlie, lived in his later years, until his death, in the house in which he had been born. That is native, meaning, of course, "born here".
I am becoming disturbed by the fact that the descendants of pre-Columbian North Americans in the United States have come to be known as Native Americans. In Canada, they are, I believe, known as "First People". This is indisputable. The "First People" immigrated here probably from Asia unknown centuries ago. The European explorers who discovered the two American continents found them populated already, although probably somewhat more sparcely than Europe was populated at that time.
My ancestors did not come over with the Spanish and Portugese who claimed vast tracks of land for their distant Kings, despite the fact that these lands already were inhabited by earlier immigrant groups. A few of my ancestors may have fought with the then-called Indians, especially as I am supposed to be related to both Samuel Houston and a relative or friend of Daniel Boone. Those ancestors are long dead, as are the victims of those wars.
We cannot take back the wars. We cannot take back the territories gained and lost. We cannot restore life to those who lost it in the fighting.
We cannot unbuild the houses, dams, roads, hospitals, and churches which have been build. Or, I suppose we could but the consequences would be unacceptable. We also cannot uninvent the electric light, automatic washing machine, or safety pin. We can choose to live without these conveniences, but few do. We can only go on from where we are now.
We know we made mistakes in the past. We can study the past and not repeat these mistakes. We know we are still making mistakes with our land, our air, our water. Scientists have been studying these issues, and the evidence is not at all clear. We have cleaned up some of our great waterways. We can do better with the land, with the air. We MUST do better, if we are to pass along a clean and safe world to our descendants.
I wasn't going here with this topic. I meant to focus on who I am as a Native American. But I cannot help admiring the aboriginal Australians, who care for their land and protect their landmarks and beg visitors to be equally respectful. I appreciate the First People in the United States who also wish to protect the land and leave a lasting legacy for their decsendents, and ours. As a Native American, I too wish to take care of the environment, preserve our freedoms and traditions, and pass along a legacy of caring to my descendants. Our land is rich with resources, recourceful people, beauty, adventure, industry. We need to start now, here, with who we are and what we have, and create a land and legacy worth inheriting.
I think I am entitled to call myself a "Native American". I am not German. I am not Irish, or Russian, or Dutch, or Scottish. I am American and
I WAS BORN HERE.
Oh, no, my ancestors didn't live here before Columbus. As far as I can tell, most of my great-great-...-great grandparents came from farms and towns in Ireland, Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands, even Russia. But I was born here. My parents were born here.
All four of my grandparents were born in this country. My father and his parents were all born in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Dad was the fifth generation to be born and live in the Detroit area. My mother and her parents were from the Kentucky-Ohio region, living at times on one side or the other of the Ohio River. Her father, my grandfather Charlie, lived in his later years, until his death, in the house in which he had been born. That is native, meaning, of course, "born here".
I am becoming disturbed by the fact that the descendants of pre-Columbian North Americans in the United States have come to be known as Native Americans. In Canada, they are, I believe, known as "First People". This is indisputable. The "First People" immigrated here probably from Asia unknown centuries ago. The European explorers who discovered the two American continents found them populated already, although probably somewhat more sparcely than Europe was populated at that time.
My ancestors did not come over with the Spanish and Portugese who claimed vast tracks of land for their distant Kings, despite the fact that these lands already were inhabited by earlier immigrant groups. A few of my ancestors may have fought with the then-called Indians, especially as I am supposed to be related to both Samuel Houston and a relative or friend of Daniel Boone. Those ancestors are long dead, as are the victims of those wars.
We cannot take back the wars. We cannot take back the territories gained and lost. We cannot restore life to those who lost it in the fighting.
We cannot unbuild the houses, dams, roads, hospitals, and churches which have been build. Or, I suppose we could but the consequences would be unacceptable. We also cannot uninvent the electric light, automatic washing machine, or safety pin. We can choose to live without these conveniences, but few do. We can only go on from where we are now.
We know we made mistakes in the past. We can study the past and not repeat these mistakes. We know we are still making mistakes with our land, our air, our water. Scientists have been studying these issues, and the evidence is not at all clear. We have cleaned up some of our great waterways. We can do better with the land, with the air. We MUST do better, if we are to pass along a clean and safe world to our descendants.
I wasn't going here with this topic. I meant to focus on who I am as a Native American. But I cannot help admiring the aboriginal Australians, who care for their land and protect their landmarks and beg visitors to be equally respectful. I appreciate the First People in the United States who also wish to protect the land and leave a lasting legacy for their decsendents, and ours. As a Native American, I too wish to take care of the environment, preserve our freedoms and traditions, and pass along a legacy of caring to my descendants. Our land is rich with resources, recourceful people, beauty, adventure, industry. We need to start now, here, with who we are and what we have, and create a land and legacy worth inheriting.
I think I am entitled to call myself a "Native American". I am not German. I am not Irish, or Russian, or Dutch, or Scottish. I am American and
I WAS BORN HERE.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Charity knitting
I knit for myself.
I have no problem knitting acrylic sweaters, scarfs, and mittens for my grandsons, and occasionnaly my children and DIL.
But I have never given anything away to charity. What if they don't like it! I like it, and want to keep it (giving to close family is almost keeping it). I rarely give away anything I have made, for this reason. What if it isn't good enough. What if it is too good. What if it isn't like everybody's else's contribution. What if it is just like everybody else's contribution. What if I never hear back. (I probably wouldn't).
Ah, me.
So I made a fairly lightweight cap from sock yarn. It is really cute. I think I should give it away. It is so cute. I won't wear it. It has to be really cold for me to wear a cap, and then I would want something warmer. No one in the family will wear it (see reason above). Julie is the only one who would wear a hat and this one is too light. Plus I have already knitted her two caps, and a third is on the needles (almost).
So give it to a local yarn shop drive. They are collecting hats for St. Judes Children's Hospital, a great charity. Someone there might like this cap. It is warm. I would cover a bald head. It is pretty. i should give it, shouldn't I?
Stay tuned. I guess I said that before.
I have no problem knitting acrylic sweaters, scarfs, and mittens for my grandsons, and occasionnaly my children and DIL.
But I have never given anything away to charity. What if they don't like it! I like it, and want to keep it (giving to close family is almost keeping it). I rarely give away anything I have made, for this reason. What if it isn't good enough. What if it is too good. What if it isn't like everybody's else's contribution. What if it is just like everybody else's contribution. What if I never hear back. (I probably wouldn't).
Ah, me.
So I made a fairly lightweight cap from sock yarn. It is really cute. I think I should give it away. It is so cute. I won't wear it. It has to be really cold for me to wear a cap, and then I would want something warmer. No one in the family will wear it (see reason above). Julie is the only one who would wear a hat and this one is too light. Plus I have already knitted her two caps, and a third is on the needles (almost).
So give it to a local yarn shop drive. They are collecting hats for St. Judes Children's Hospital, a great charity. Someone there might like this cap. It is warm. I would cover a bald head. It is pretty. i should give it, shouldn't I?
Stay tuned. I guess I said that before.
Friday, August 29, 2008
What am I doing here?
DH just home from work. I have been indoors all day. Knitting, made a quilt square, reading on-line stuff and listening to podcasts. Is that busy, or just wasteful?
PS I see that I have previously posted three times, yet I only see two items. Why is that? I know I'm techno challenged, but I can count, can't I?
PPS Okay I found out what I had done, and it wasn't what I thought I was doing. It was when I accidently started this blog. But I just deleted that post, so with this one, I'm back to three posts, showing three posts. I can count.
Accidental Blogger/knitter
PS I see that I have previously posted three times, yet I only see two items. Why is that? I know I'm techno challenged, but I can count, can't I?
PPS Okay I found out what I had done, and it wasn't what I thought I was doing. It was when I accidently started this blog. But I just deleted that post, so with this one, I'm back to three posts, showing three posts. I can count.
Accidental Blogger/knitter
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
technochallenged
I'm trying to show DH my blog and nothing. Then I find out, I have to push this "Publish Post" button to get it to show.
Learning something every day.
School finance, parenting, american dreams, I have lots of threads I want to pursue. Can I get them all down (out of my brain and into print?)?
Learning something every day.
School finance, parenting, american dreams, I have lots of threads I want to pursue. Can I get them all down (out of my brain and into print?)?
Thursday, July 24, 2008
July
So now I'm listening to podcasts and I realize, I don't have to write a book. I can just make a blog. Stay tuned.
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