Airline Wisdom

Recently I've been able to witness a very common occurrence no less than 6 times in less than 10 days in one form or another:



No, it's not very exciting. And  yes, I mostly ignored it. But after hearing it time after time over the course of one's life there are certain things that begin to make sense in more than just the airplane scenario. 

Thank you Elder Uchtdorf.

For instance, that whole part about making sure that your air mask is on securely before you help anyone else. There are some who may see that as silly or even selfish. How hard is it to quickly put a child's air mask on before your own. Isn't that a bit selfish or even dangerous to the child to deprive them of oxygen just so you can get your oxygen first? But there is wisdom here. How can we possibly help a helpless child if we ourselves fall into unconsciousness before we're able to help them? What if they're fear is so great that we have to waste precious airless moments struggling with them in order to put their mask on, and then keep it on?

All kinds of scenarios. All kinds of outcomes. But the basic message is that you have to be in a position of strength in order to give strength to others. If you don't have it to begin with, how can you give it to anyone else?

Lately, that's how I feel. I have no strength. I am weak, weak, weak, tired, tired, tired.

I'm doing everything I can to get back to a position of strength but I think it's going to take some time.

It's hard for me to be patient with myself. I don't want to go back to the doctor and say, "I need more drugs." I really don't think that's the answer anyway. Maybe it's the whole patience thing...yeah, not so good at that.

I take Xanax one night and get 8 hours, I feel gritty eyed in the morning and a bit hung over but it was sleep. I take it the next night and get 6 hours with a couple of toss and turn hours afterwards and a draggy day. I thought I'd take my friend's advice and try 1/2 Ambien at bed time and if I wake up during the night, take the other. It worked for 2 nights but last night I took 1/2, never fell asleep so I took the second half at about two and skimmed the surface of sleep like a skeeter bug. The surface tension of sleep was just too hard to penetrate even with drugs. I understand the a little soap will soften the surface tension of water so that fruit flies will drown...

My brain won't let me sleep. My eyes jiggle in their sockets like nervous twitchy bugs when I try to keep them closed, yet if I open them so that they can fall closed naturally my eyelids hang there at half mast, limp and useless, feeling tired and stupid with my eyeballs hanging like dull red moons just beyond the sails of sleep.

My hot flashes and night sweats have increased uncomfortably, in frequency and intensity, which doesn't help.

I have a lot of questions to ask someone after this life.

Most of them begin with 'Why?'

On the upside: I have a most patient, kind, supportive caring, strong husband who's trying desperately to help me put on my oxygen mask.

I'm going to try some relaxing yoga before bed tonight. I hear that helps.

First Trip Across The Pond

First of all I'll preface this with the advice that IF you decide to go Transatlantic, either plan on going First Class, where you *might* sleep, or if you decide to go coach just don't plan on sleeping at all. That way, if you do sleep it will be a pleasant surprise.

That said we'll just move on.

Our plane left Salt Lake on Saturday, October 15th at 7:10 am. We arrived in Frankfurt Germany via Phoenix-Philadelphia at about 9:30 am Germany time Sunday the 16th (which is about 1:30 am Salt Lake time). Our arrival was a miracle. At least to me, because I thought that flight would NEVER end. It just kept going and going and going. I have a new idea of Hell and it closely resembles a transatlantic seat in coach right behind the bulkhead with a view into first class where they're actually RECLINING and being served a hot breakfast and orange juice in GLASS glasses *with cloth napkins!*, unlike my place where they *say* your seat is capable of being in a position other than 'upright' but it sure doesn't feel like it. My spine and head and rear can testify to this. I know I looked scary when facing the passport officials but they stamped my passport anyway. I guess they're used to people looking like that, (and the US dollar is VERY welcome).

 This is the pickup area at the Frankfurt International Airport.

Munchen is actually what we call Munich...which begs the question: Why don't we just call it what they call it? It IS their city. Do they secretly call Salt Lake City something else entirely? I don't know...

The landscape is very reminiscent of our New England. Rolling hills, trees, rural farm scenes etc... The only thing that let me know that we were in Germany was the architecture and the signs in German.

They drive on the same side of the road that we do, their steering wheel is on the same side, they're cars tend to be smaller, the roads narrower, the city designs less green. Which isn't to say that they're not beautiful, just less landscaping with green things like trees, shrubs etc...

Funny thing - Their exit signs look like this:

Pronounced (h)ousefahrt (House without the 'H' but it's sure tempting to pronounce it with a genteel Auss). For Americans anything with the word 'fart' in it is going to get at least a smirk. There's even a T-shirt sold at the army base that says:

Pretty funny huh? Had I not gone to Germany already in the know about this little tidbit I probably would have asked the same questions because the signs are EVERYWHERE. Just think of all the places you see our EXIT sign. Yeah...all those same places. The word for 'Entrance' is Einfahrt.

Jeni picked us up at about 10:30 or so Sunday morning. It was so wonderful to see Jeni, Fitz and Swede!! As tired as I was I didn't sleep at all until we went to bed that night, even though I'd been up for more than 36 hours by that time. That's what happiness will do to a person. We saw Stephanie, Rue and Al when we finally got to Bergrheinfeld about 2 hours later. Oh how I'd missed my daughters! It was just lovely. Rue is a darling, sweet baby. Swede is as charming as ever and Fitz is a sunny little entertainer. We went for a long walk with the kids in Bergrheinfeld ending up at a little park close to home.

We only saw Al Sunday afternoon and a little bit Monday morning and then he was gone for the rest of our visit on field training exercises with his platoon.

Monday we spent visiting the Army Base in Schweinfurt and aldstadt (old town) Schweinfurt. I love aldstadt ANYWHERE in Germany. They do such a great job preserving their old cities. The courtyards are all cobbled and people just wander around feeding the pigeons. Fitz and Swede love chasing the poor birds but they're so fat they probably need the exercise anyway and it's so nice to watch the kids have such fun doing something so simple. These pictures were taken with Schweinfurt City Hall in the background. Stephanie took a tour of this building and has some nice pictures.

While Steven and Jeni fed the kids at McDonalds, Stephanie and I went hunting for real food. We came back with 4 Döners for the grownups. It's a type of German sandwich which isn't German at all, it's Turkish. Which doesn't really  matter in the least because it was first real food I'd had in a while and was so scrumptious I can't believe I ate the whole thing! It had shredded cabbage instead of lettuce, red cabbage too. Very, very yummy.

Jeni picked up some very decadent special order cupcakes that afternoon that a friend had made and we got to meet her friend Jessica and her children when they came for the cupcake party. I went with Stephanie to the local grocery store EDEKA and picked up some stuff for dinner and I was able to see a bit of the town and get a good look at the church whose bells haunted me almost every night, ringing every 15 minutes so you are never in doubt as to what time it is. It's a beautiful old church, by the way, just rather insistent that everyone know what time it is.

It was a bit damp for a few days and we didn't venture forth much. We played with the kids and Steven treated us girls to the Day Spa on base where I got a massage from a large German Fraulein (very strong, never been slapped on the back that hard before) and Jeni and Stephanie got pedicures. It was really nice. On Friday we went to the Mall...which is really just like any other mall except that English isn't spoken. Which does change the shopping experience considerably. We let the kids run around in the play areas...

...and I discovered that eating establishments don't provide any plastic-ware! Just silverware. It became very apparent that everyone is very conscious of what is thrown away. They recycle EVERYTHING. Even in the restrooms they don't have paper towels to dry one's hands with, they have either air dryers or those big dispensers with huge rolls of fabric. They don't want to have to recycle if they can avoid it. Commendable.

This post is getting a bit lengthy so I'll pause here and continue later. Maybe then I'll be able to access some of Stephanie's pictures too.

The Wedding - Daniel & Hillary

It's been a long time coming. As they said in their announcement:

"Daniel & Hillary

are getting...

married! Finally."

They've known each other for more than seven years. They were planning on getting married two years ago, broke it off, and then got back together around Christmas time last year and made the final decision which culminated in a wonderful celebration on Friday, the 23rd of September, 2011.

We had it in our back yard which seemed roomy and large to us at the time, us being the only two people living at this address right now, but became downright cozy, if not cramped, when we set up 92 chairs on Friday morning for the wedding ceremony that afternoon. I could just kick myself for not taking pictures. I meant to. I had every intention of doing so, but for some reason it didn't happen. Steven extracted some stills from his video footage so I could have something. I'm hoping we can have access to the digital photos that the photographer took.

Of all the pictures that were taken on that day there is one that was taken, with my eyes only, that I'll never forget. I doubt the photographer got it. In fact I'm sure she didn't for her camera was focused elsewhere, as were most everyone's eyes. It's tradition for everyone to stand and look towards the bride when she walks down the isle with her father, glorious in her finery. It's her day. It's her right. I glanced, but I did not follow her with my eyes. Not because she wasn't beautiful, she was breathtaking. And not because I didn't love her, I do. I was looking at someone else. I wanted to see something else, and I wasn't disappointed.

My favorite part of the whole day was my son's face when he saw his bride for the first time in her wedding dress walking down the isle towards him. If he has ever been my Sunshine Boy it was in that moment. It wasn't the dress...no. It was her, and more importantly, her choice to make this commitment to him, and only him. His eyes held all the love I have ever wished for him. I wanted to see that. I wanted to be a witness to that moment and see that devotion, that caring, that commitment. I'm so happy for him. Truly and deeply happy for him.

The refreshment area

Me, Daniel, Hillary, Steven

Daniel's Side of the Family...or most of them that were there.

Daniel's immediate family in attendance

Hillary's immediate family

Photo Table

The reception area

Wedding Quilt Continued - Putting it all together

One week ago today I started cutting.
At 8:30 this evening I put the final border on and it's ready for the quilter.

It has been asked if the definition of madness might be to take a perfectly good piece of cloth and cut it into hundreds of little pieces, then sew them back together again.

I'm not completely convinced that they might not have a point there. (Double negative intended)

Block 1 pieces -          697
Block 2 pieces -          588
First border pieces -        7
Final border pieces -  +   4
           Grand Total - 1,296 pieces

I've participated in greater madness than this, and will probably continue to do so. I find it oddly therapeutic. Which may well confirm the diagnosis.

*Very Deep Sigh*

Wedding Quilt Continued - The Cutting/Sewing of Block #2

I started cutting for block 2 when we got home from The Greek Festival on Thursday night. Since I was working from a picture of a quilt that I saw online and then drew up in my quilting software, and not from a published pattern, I had to do a lot of the math and figuring myself.

This is one of my worksheets that I'm using for cutting. I've found that quilting has kept my brain pretty limber. I'm grateful for that. As my mother has often reminded me, "Use it or lose it Kristine." Well, I'm using it.

For all of the triangles in this block I had to use templates like the one shown at left. I needed to cut 144 light half-triangles like the one shown, 24 dark half-triangles, and 52 dark full-triangles.










I cut several strips the height of the template in both light and dark fabrics then laid the template on top making sure that the edge of the template sat square against the edge.  Then I laid my ruler on top of the template, lining my quarter inch seam line on the ruler exactly on top of my solid stitch line on the template. Then cut. Also trimming the little corners to make it easier to line up my pieces when sewing them together.

In addition I cut 9 dark 2 1/2" strips and 9 light 2 1/2" strips, sewed each dark strip next to a light strip then sub-cut each strip set into as many 2 1/2" segments as I could get out of each set. All those pieces had to come together like this during my Friday sewing session:



Each 12" block contains 32 pieces. (There are 12 of those totaling 384 pieces) Each 12" x 6" block consists of 17 pieces. (There are also 12 of those totaling 204 pieces)

For a grand total of 588 pieces for Block #2.

The Greek Festival

The Greek Festival last night was wonderful, the food was totally yummy and the dancers were awesome.

...But on the way there we had a bit of a scary moment when cutting diagonally through Pioneer Park to get to the Greek Orthodox Church on the corner of 3rd S and 3rd W.

The sun hadn't even begun to touch the horizon, it was only a little after 6:00 pm. A frantic eyed woman (honestly, she looked and acted a bit...touched?) approached us and said in a panicked voice, "Do you have a cell phone? Do you?"

Thinking she might be some kind of panhandler I said, "No, no cell." When in truth it was nestled safely in my purse slung across my body. Ignoring what I said and walking backward now so as to face us, continuing her warning as we walked in the opposite direction, she spoke more loudly saying, "They're fighting over there. Really arguing! Call the police now before someone gets shot! I don't want to see a murder right in front of my face! I tell you! Someone's going to get killed!" I could hear more of her warning as it faded behind me and I started looking around for what might have frightened her. Ahead and to our right were a group of about 6-8 black men either poised menacingly or shoving and verbally abusing each other near the rest rooms near the center of the park. Even though I was walking with my big strong hubby we began walking faster. As big and strong and protective as he is, he isn't a man of steel and can only stop a bullet as well as anyone could, with much pain and blood involved. I clutched his hand tighter. We kept our eyes forward as we approached, came abreast, then passed the group. I murmured quietly to him through my teeth, "I hope we don't get shot just walking through the park tonight."


I felt a little better as we got further from them and I could no longer hear them when we came upon another group of young-ish men, mostly black and maybe a few Latinos arguing loudly, chins jutting forward aggressively across a couple of picnic tables. I tried to tune it out but I think 90% of their conversation consisted of the F*** word in all it's various forms accompanied by many threatening hand gestures featuring either their middle fingers or clenched fists.


All the stories about this park and the increased police presence there came back to me and I could feel my shoulders drawing up to my ears. A very typical sign of stress for me, and a reason that I see a chiropractor. Steven let go of my hand and gently put his arm around my shoulders as we continued on towards civilization just a hundred feet away. I could even hear the sound of Greek music and smell the food.


Ahhhhh...nothing between my shoulder blades but a throbbing ache from tension. I wonder if it would feel much worse to me in a war zone. Although I do remember seeing stuff like that on a regular basis during my High School years in So. California during the 70's. I don't remember feeling that stressed then.

Oh yeah, that was when I was an invincible teenager.

Needless to say we didn't cut through the park to get back to our car. We walked around it and watched the most gorgeous sunset on our way home.

Wedding Quilt Continued - The Cutting/Sewing of Block #1

I'm a marathon sewer. When I start it's hard to stop. I just keep going, and going and going. I've had people ask me, "Are you sure that you'll be able to finish this quilt by the wedding?" which is now less than 3 weeks away? The answer is, "No problemo! Unless I get deathly ill, injured or die, it will be done in the time allotted and probably earlier." It's my nature. I only get slowed down by 'sewer's block' which is similar to 'writer's block': when inspiration is thin and/or mangled or I lose interest in a project.

Okay, Monday was the washing day.

Tuesday was the cutting day for Block #1. I started after dinner and finished before 9 pm.

There are two main blocks, when laid alternately, create the overall pattern, or movement in the design.

 

All totaled for Block #1 x 13 plus 8 half blocks and 4 quarter blocks there are 697 pieces.

Wednesday was sewing Day for Block #1. I was going to take pictures of the process but I got lost in it and forgot.

There are 13 full size blocks (12" x 12" finished - 37 pieces each), 8 half blocks (6" x 12" finished - 21 pieces each), and 4 quarter blocks ( 6" x 6" finished - 12 pieces each).

697 pieces have now been reduced to 25.

Tonight it looks like the Greek Festival for dinner so probably no cutting for block #2 until tomorrow, unless...unless I have time when I get home.

The making of a wedding quilt -

I thought it might be interesting to do a time lapse blog on the making of a wedding quilt.

Daniel is my third born child and second son, born the day after Valentine's Day, February 15th 1985. He's my sunshine boy. His favorite color when he was a munchkin was yellow and he had/has one of the most contagious smiles I've ever seen.







He's never been afraid of getting his hands, or anything else dirty. He's got a very unique sense of humor which keeps us all going and one of the softest hearts imaginable.

I'm really emotionally invested in this quilt for some reason, not only because it comes from one of the deepest places in my heart to a dear and beloved child but because it's one I've dreamed of making. I'm sure the reality will not begin to measure up to the imagined original but we have to begin somewhere.

First we must begin with the inspiration. When his fiance, Hillary, was over with her mother, step mother and sisters to take a look at the back yard and what could be done with it we discussed colors. I got to see her bridal pictures which were taken out on the salt flats during sunset. They're Bee-Ewe-Tea-Full! I loved the stark lines and dramatic colors in them. The wind was blowing and she looked breathtaking. It was definitely her element. She's going to have lavender in her bouquet and when I mentioned sunset colors for their quilt she seemed to take to the idea. My mind began to race...

Batiks!! I love batiks. Love, love, love them. Whenever I want to treat myself I work with them.

First, I soak them in a water, vinegar, salt solution to set the dye. I was told about this process by a Navajo quilting gentleman. It works. I've never had a problem with colors   running when I do this.

 

I wanted to see how the progression would look wet...hmmm...the darks look really dark and the yellow and medium blue aren't there because they've already been washed and dried.

Here are all the fabrics I'll be using the darks will be more 'present' than the lights in order to create the contrast to see the overall design.

This is going to be so much fun!!

A rambling post about my other addiction and stupid warnings.

Yesterday as I was cleaning my sewing room, again, I came across a couple of Winnie the Pooh fitted crib sheets that I found at DI several years ago and planned on using in the guest room for grand-kids. I pictured a pretty little crib that would fit nicely in the nook where the dormer window is.

Well - it didn't turn out like that. I can be practical when the need arises and when the first grandbaby came along I realized it might be nice to have something that would be a little more versatile: crib, playpen, indoor, outdoor, camping etc...so I bought a really nice Pack-n-Play that is fairly compact when disassembled and folded up and is also roomy and has several nice features. It has a diaper changing area, a little clip on basket thingy to hold powder, salve, wipes, the mattress/floor can be raised so that a tiny baby can sleep there to be at a higher level, and lowered when the baby gets a little more adventurous. All in all it was a smart buy and I've used it for all three grandbabys so far...

...but the crib sheets don't fit it. *sigh* They're too long and narrow. But as I looked at them yesterday, sad in the thought about not being able to use them, I decided that they could be re-cut and re-sewn to fit,  and then the Winnie the Pooh theme would continue as it has begun in that room.

I had two crib sheets, both different but Pooh-ish, and from those I was able to make one fitted sheet for the mattress and two new padded sheets for the changing area. It's darling.










Now here is the scary part. As I was putting the sheets on and admiring the whole effect I noticed, again, some labels that were sewn to the Pack-n-Play. They're just UGLY: construction cone orange and Black-Wordy...ick. So I decided to take them off with my trusty un-sewer, otherwise known as a seam ripper. I took two off. Then I noticed another...then another, and another!! I unsewed no less than nine (9!) 'Warning' labels off this thing in two (2) languages! This thing must be the most dangerous, life stealing, baby bed on the planet! I can't imagine how three of my grandchildren have survived sleeping in it.


So...here is my Winnie-ther-Pooh room so far.

On the left is a view from the bedroom door. How many Pooh-ish things can you count?

That's my blessing dress hanging from the shelf.

On the right is a view from the foot of the bed. I must confess that I *do* have some fabric and screen printed Classic Pooh blocks to make a quilt for this bed.  Maybe in January...sweet, January, I'll get to that.










This is looking into the little nook where the crib is set up.

 The dresser - I love, love, love these candle stick holders and the collage picture on the wall. I know the story that each picture is about.

The shelf by the window seat - Those booties were Jason's when he was a baby.

 I found these wall paper stick-on's on sale at Target a few years ago and re-found them under the bed about a month ago. PERFECT.


I love this room. I really do. And if guests don't like it well...then, they can just close they're eyes (so as not to look at it) and go to sleep, and probably dream of The Hundred Acre Wood. That would be a happy dream.






 My children will be the first to point out that Winnie-the-Pooh isn't necessarily confined to this room.

Pooh Shrine

I have a London Pooh sitting on my bed...


...and barely noticeable, insignificant 'shrine' in my living room.





 

A small menagerie on the hallway mirror.

And a little Pooh wisdom hanging above the door going into my kitchen.





To name a few.

My husband, by the way, is totally okay with this. ♥