Another raffle block following the Irish theme
2005/08/25
On the road again
The heater is glowing, 3 globes have blown in the shed and I'm too short to reach the 25 ft ceiling... So I'm working in a rosy glow of limited light....
I was asked by a gal following the blog if I was met when I arrived home? I made mention that Husband Keith was unsure if he could pick me up when I arrived home because of the footy finals!!!! Thankfully he was joking and yes I had a great reception...
It's been a busy week and I've had enquiries why I haven't written the blog.... Simply, just not enough time. I was home four days then flew to Victoria and taught at the Ballarat retreat all weekend. I enjoyed it, 20 great students, good food, good company and I get paid... what more can I ask?
Tuesday, friend Di came down from Queensland for some R&R, lots of laughs and a little business. Now the hard work begins. I have to design, make and write up a new quilt and pattern then fly to Sydney on Monday...However, the project is not public knowledge yet, but all will be revealed in the next month or so...just let me say it's a new venture and I have to have my hair and makeup done!!!!!
It's so nice to be home.. a bit cold, but still it's just plain nice. I can lay on the settee with dog Ralf on my chest and fall asleep until the early hours. Grandson Kodi has been a constant visitor as has Grandson Jordan, who loves my cooking... Last night we had a treat.. Son Josh, decided to cook, folk his meal was heaven... garlic mash topped with melt in your mouth rib eye steak, topped with baked prosciutto and caramalised shallots and blue cheese sauce.... I had dinner ready in the fridge... but my soup and salad, took a back seat with this offering. By the way, he is a chef..... I love those impromptu meals...
Husband Keith is off at the local Quilt Guild Committee meeting tonight and I'm about to begin my drawings for the next few days work.
What's on for the next few weeks? I'm off to Cummins in the mid north to teach, then a few days home and off to Perth... a few more days home and off to Toowoomba... then England and France... The feet are moving fast folk...
Take care...
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
- Augustine (354-430)
I was asked by a gal following the blog if I was met when I arrived home? I made mention that Husband Keith was unsure if he could pick me up when I arrived home because of the footy finals!!!! Thankfully he was joking and yes I had a great reception...
It's been a busy week and I've had enquiries why I haven't written the blog.... Simply, just not enough time. I was home four days then flew to Victoria and taught at the Ballarat retreat all weekend. I enjoyed it, 20 great students, good food, good company and I get paid... what more can I ask?
Tuesday, friend Di came down from Queensland for some R&R, lots of laughs and a little business. Now the hard work begins. I have to design, make and write up a new quilt and pattern then fly to Sydney on Monday...However, the project is not public knowledge yet, but all will be revealed in the next month or so...just let me say it's a new venture and I have to have my hair and makeup done!!!!!
It's so nice to be home.. a bit cold, but still it's just plain nice. I can lay on the settee with dog Ralf on my chest and fall asleep until the early hours. Grandson Kodi has been a constant visitor as has Grandson Jordan, who loves my cooking... Last night we had a treat.. Son Josh, decided to cook, folk his meal was heaven... garlic mash topped with melt in your mouth rib eye steak, topped with baked prosciutto and caramalised shallots and blue cheese sauce.... I had dinner ready in the fridge... but my soup and salad, took a back seat with this offering. By the way, he is a chef..... I love those impromptu meals...
Husband Keith is off at the local Quilt Guild Committee meeting tonight and I'm about to begin my drawings for the next few days work.
What's on for the next few weeks? I'm off to Cummins in the mid north to teach, then a few days home and off to Perth... a few more days home and off to Toowoomba... then England and France... The feet are moving fast folk...
Take care...
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
- Augustine (354-430)
2005/08/17
Home at Last.
Three nights in my own bed... Well sort of, last night was spent in the upstairs room with Grandson Kodi. I never have a problem with Jet Lag when I go to the USA... But I can guarantee that on the third day home..... I crash, and today was said day. But I have managed to prepare for class Friday, organize 2 more plane trips, post off the business info, do the shopping and washing, cook the meals and entertain the troops.... So I guess it's no wonder that I crash....
I'm actually writing this to make the evening longer... I end up falling asleep too early and wandering around in the wee hours.
The weather is super, 21 deg and I'm in shirt sleeves... it's hard to go back into sweaters...Goodness me I was Teaching in California last week, it was in the 90's....and then relaxing in Disneyland...!!! The world sure is small.
Well the bags are packed for Ballarat on the weekend... class notes completed just need the haircut and I'm ready... two more days will get rid of the jet lag... and I'll be firing...
"A child on a farm sees a plane fly by overhead and dreams of a faraway place A traveler on the plane sees the farmhouse and dreams of home" - Carl Burns
I'm actually writing this to make the evening longer... I end up falling asleep too early and wandering around in the wee hours.
The weather is super, 21 deg and I'm in shirt sleeves... it's hard to go back into sweaters...Goodness me I was Teaching in California last week, it was in the 90's....and then relaxing in Disneyland...!!! The world sure is small.
Well the bags are packed for Ballarat on the weekend... class notes completed just need the haircut and I'm ready... two more days will get rid of the jet lag... and I'll be firing...
"A child on a farm sees a plane fly by overhead and dreams of a faraway place A traveler on the plane sees the farmhouse and dreams of home" - Carl Burns
2005/08/12
Going Home
Two and half months on the road is an interesting and enlightening experience. After every trip I return home with an envelope full of lessons in life...
I've just been down to breakfast. I shared the lift with a young African American boy, about 12... He was dressed immaculately. "I just had to go back up to my room to do my hair" he said with a huge smile... enough to melt your heart.... I laughed as I got out of the lift. His hair was cropped to about 1/6th inch.... What does he have to do with his hair...? There are lots of young people here at the Holiday Inn. Its school holidays and many come in groups to visit Disneyland. I'm impressed by their demeanor, and by that I mean their presentation, both in the way they present themselves in dress and speech.
I came to Orange County to Teach for the Guild and I was given a wonderful welcome. Tuesday evening was a pot luck dinner...imagine my surprise when our table was set with fine china, beautiful silver, white napkins and a silver centerpiece supporting chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolates.... It was such fun... It seems that they have a competition for the best dressed table.... I think we won hands down....I delivered my lecture and they seemed to be in stitches for some reason... I also give a 15 minute presentation of inspiration with beautiful photos, (some 250 actually) and play it to an unusual combination of a flamenco guitar and didgeridoo. You can hear a pin drop in the room... and believe me students get more inspiration for quilting in that 15 minutes than in an entire class.
However, my class was super and I was impressed by the students innovation and talent.
I had the added benefit of having some time off so I went to Disneyland. It was hot and sunny...
It's a wonderful family environment... But it's also a place you can visit on your own and still enjoy the sounds and sights presented with so much care....
Now to pack the case for the final time this trip... I'm an expert I can tell you...
This time next week I'm off to Ballarat.... so the pace continues...
The rewards of the journey far outweigh the risk of leaving the harbor. - Unknown
I've just been down to breakfast. I shared the lift with a young African American boy, about 12... He was dressed immaculately. "I just had to go back up to my room to do my hair" he said with a huge smile... enough to melt your heart.... I laughed as I got out of the lift. His hair was cropped to about 1/6th inch.... What does he have to do with his hair...? There are lots of young people here at the Holiday Inn. Its school holidays and many come in groups to visit Disneyland. I'm impressed by their demeanor, and by that I mean their presentation, both in the way they present themselves in dress and speech.
I came to Orange County to Teach for the Guild and I was given a wonderful welcome. Tuesday evening was a pot luck dinner...imagine my surprise when our table was set with fine china, beautiful silver, white napkins and a silver centerpiece supporting chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolates.... It was such fun... It seems that they have a competition for the best dressed table.... I think we won hands down....I delivered my lecture and they seemed to be in stitches for some reason... I also give a 15 minute presentation of inspiration with beautiful photos, (some 250 actually) and play it to an unusual combination of a flamenco guitar and didgeridoo. You can hear a pin drop in the room... and believe me students get more inspiration for quilting in that 15 minutes than in an entire class.
However, my class was super and I was impressed by the students innovation and talent.
I had the added benefit of having some time off so I went to Disneyland. It was hot and sunny...
It's a wonderful family environment... But it's also a place you can visit on your own and still enjoy the sounds and sights presented with so much care....
Now to pack the case for the final time this trip... I'm an expert I can tell you...
This time next week I'm off to Ballarat.... so the pace continues...
The rewards of the journey far outweigh the risk of leaving the harbor. - Unknown
2005/08/08
Life's Interesting.
Late Sunday evening and I've prepared for a 4.00 am early morning call for a 7 am flight. I usually get up early, but the early hours are beginning to take their toll. I've averaged 5 hours sleep a night for the past week because I'm working on projects and research. I will be traveling all day tomorrow and I know I will be able to sleep on the plane to LA...
Just 5 days till I go home.....
I had great classes at Quilt University aided by patient and thoughtful students and supportive organizers. Class went so quickly today I didn't even get an opportunity to take photos.
The time spent with fellow Tutors has been wonderful, we laughed at shared experiences both good and interesting!!!!!!
My life here in the USA is hard for my friends back home to understand, but as Traveling Tutors we share common interests.
Highlights this past week have been being welcomed with a big bag of luscious goodies in my hotel room.
The surprise of a spa in my room.
Shared breakfasts at Big Boy in a convertible booth.
Assisting the window cleaner of Big Boy with his allotted task.
Dressing in my glad rags and giving a lecture where I had a runway to perform on.(I was in heaven)and I used to be shy - Truly.
Relaxing in the spa, with chocolates and the TV on, then I realized it was the weather channel instead of something interesting.
A Phone call arrived while I was in the spa... I told the caller I couldn't talk as I was in the spa with the Weather Man... The phone hung up.....eek there will be more rumors to add to the piercing and the super glue stories...
Just 5 days till I go home.....
I had great classes at Quilt University aided by patient and thoughtful students and supportive organizers. Class went so quickly today I didn't even get an opportunity to take photos.
The time spent with fellow Tutors has been wonderful, we laughed at shared experiences both good and interesting!!!!!!
My life here in the USA is hard for my friends back home to understand, but as Traveling Tutors we share common interests.
Highlights this past week have been being welcomed with a big bag of luscious goodies in my hotel room.
The surprise of a spa in my room.
Shared breakfasts at Big Boy in a convertible booth.
Assisting the window cleaner of Big Boy with his allotted task.
Dressing in my glad rags and giving a lecture where I had a runway to perform on.(I was in heaven)and I used to be shy - Truly.
Relaxing in the spa, with chocolates and the TV on, then I realized it was the weather channel instead of something interesting.
A Phone call arrived while I was in the spa... I told the caller I couldn't talk as I was in the spa with the Weather Man... The phone hung up.....eek there will be more rumors to add to the piercing and the super glue stories...
Visits with students in the common room after dinner who sat patiently and waited for their turn for a massage. The place was buzzing with talk, show and tell and smiling faces...
This evenings meal at Red Lobster and a large Margarita with friends.
An email from a student from last year who said how much my class had meant to her.. I told her she could do it... and she sure did....
My quilting buddies back home who held a quilt show with our combined quilts and raised $2000 for the Local Nursing Home....
Ok, Ok, sure there was one interesting incident that I have never encountered before... and I'm going to keep you guessing...I'll just say we had security on alert for a few days...!!!!
This evenings meal at Red Lobster and a large Margarita with friends.
An email from a student from last year who said how much my class had meant to her.. I told her she could do it... and she sure did....
My quilting buddies back home who held a quilt show with our combined quilts and raised $2000 for the Local Nursing Home....
Ok, Ok, sure there was one interesting incident that I have never encountered before... and I'm going to keep you guessing...I'll just say we had security on alert for a few days...!!!!
Happy Birthday to Daughter Callie....
2005/08/07
2005/08/04
Super Glue again!!!!!!
It's late in the evening and I have Battle Hymn of the Republic by She-Daisy playing very loud, followed by a little Bach. Another 20 young men were killed in Iraq again today. What more can I say... Whatever your religious persuasion is please pray for the families of these young men. I had a heavy heart as I watched their faces appear on the TV screen this evening. Most of them were only 19.
The past couple of days have been a whirl of experiences... These are the first days I've actually had on my own... I intended to do so much, but to be honest I achieved just the basics.
It was sad saying farewell to my Minnesota family. I'm always miserable and tense the day before I leave and I must admit, I slept very little.
I gave the legs an stiff workout yesterday. Have you ever got into bed and your legs keep working? I didn't think I was going to be able to walk today... This all stems from miles of walking in 96 deg heat changing hotels... The one I booked online was a smoking room (even though I booked non) Oh well, that's the way it goes. Win some loose some.
I intended to go to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts today. However, after a late start due to the build up of business mail. The writing of a new lecture etc... and of course I had to have the nails done...
For those of you who know me well, two more Thelma and Louise sparkles were added...!!!! Now the gal in the beauty shop slipped a little and she stuck my finger to hers as she was fixing yet another of my troubled nails... Neither of us noticed for some time. Then we realized we were joined. I envisioned having to cut the finger.. but we pried them apart after 5 minutes. She was embarrassed, I was trying to stifle my laughter. Can you image being joined at the finger to a middle aged Vietnamese gal half my size?
So I didn't get to the Art Institute. Borders was a good alternative and I was lucky to purchase two reference books on my next project. So I curled up in a corner of Ruby Tuesdays, munched on salad and read my books... Wonderful.
I love the Mall of America. You can sit in one spot and see the whole world go by.
It's used by the newly retired as therapy and exercise. Families come for days and get passes to Snoopy Land....On the shuttle yesterday, the banter was as excited as when I visited Disneyland. I passed an elderly Amish couple holding hands and walking through the main doors... I was tempted to follow them and watch their reaction. Mexican families dress for the occasion and Grandparents have grandkids in tow. There are groups of youth with their pants hung from invisible braces under their shirts. They seem to defy gravity. Everyone is well dressed, polite and smiling and you can walk for miles... and I sure did.
The past couple of days have been a whirl of experiences... These are the first days I've actually had on my own... I intended to do so much, but to be honest I achieved just the basics.
It was sad saying farewell to my Minnesota family. I'm always miserable and tense the day before I leave and I must admit, I slept very little.
I gave the legs an stiff workout yesterday. Have you ever got into bed and your legs keep working? I didn't think I was going to be able to walk today... This all stems from miles of walking in 96 deg heat changing hotels... The one I booked online was a smoking room (even though I booked non) Oh well, that's the way it goes. Win some loose some.
I intended to go to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts today. However, after a late start due to the build up of business mail. The writing of a new lecture etc... and of course I had to have the nails done...
For those of you who know me well, two more Thelma and Louise sparkles were added...!!!! Now the gal in the beauty shop slipped a little and she stuck my finger to hers as she was fixing yet another of my troubled nails... Neither of us noticed for some time. Then we realized we were joined. I envisioned having to cut the finger.. but we pried them apart after 5 minutes. She was embarrassed, I was trying to stifle my laughter. Can you image being joined at the finger to a middle aged Vietnamese gal half my size?
So I didn't get to the Art Institute. Borders was a good alternative and I was lucky to purchase two reference books on my next project. So I curled up in a corner of Ruby Tuesdays, munched on salad and read my books... Wonderful.
I love the Mall of America. You can sit in one spot and see the whole world go by.
It's used by the newly retired as therapy and exercise. Families come for days and get passes to Snoopy Land....On the shuttle yesterday, the banter was as excited as when I visited Disneyland. I passed an elderly Amish couple holding hands and walking through the main doors... I was tempted to follow them and watch their reaction. Mexican families dress for the occasion and Grandparents have grandkids in tow. There are groups of youth with their pants hung from invisible braces under their shirts. They seem to defy gravity. Everyone is well dressed, polite and smiling and you can walk for miles... and I sure did.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)