tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274294782024-03-17T10:25:16.166-04:00Blogging, Near PhiladelphiaNancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.comBlogger2744125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-41887680268365069722024-03-04T18:52:00.001-05:002024-03-04T18:52:49.854-05:00A Star for Polly<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8WAsAv28QkOb1hNzjf9xzGJ7yUwYLkQGlsLc-kBR9nDv45_SGBWGnX8yMpe4HfAlRDWxcpuOWvKHtd3iRdrUUDJZxAWBbewYo8eZBUvdV6xvwpsTROXCwQ17YJ2d-myTdBrps78_nJr8uAR6QYUhped7LxPAmA3w_80Q-X8djUeslDDs-kXS/s4032/Polly.jpg.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8WAsAv28QkOb1hNzjf9xzGJ7yUwYLkQGlsLc-kBR9nDv45_SGBWGnX8yMpe4HfAlRDWxcpuOWvKHtd3iRdrUUDJZxAWBbewYo8eZBUvdV6xvwpsTROXCwQ17YJ2d-myTdBrps78_nJr8uAR6QYUhped7LxPAmA3w_80Q-X8djUeslDDs-kXS/w300-h400/Polly.jpg.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>The Queen Bee this month is my friend Polly. She chose this fine block and asked us to each make just one of them for her, due to the complexity.<p></p><p>I didn't find it difficult. The pattern is well-written and clear and the templates are shaded appropriately. I took my time and only had one mistake to correct.</p><p>The fabric I used is hand-dye that one of our guild's members made. I love hand-dyes in general, and these in particular.</p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-2831216604976088502024-02-29T19:42:00.002-05:002024-02-29T19:42:59.612-05:00Cabins for Simone<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaao1IHMFKVlpxj9xebkSs37DBjpcwZxVeMi9etI56-jV-CZsstlCRXYkkTz25IH_je7RF7RLrXNViQKha6TeNtBFzv9tAI5ym6P8ufkMTB3x3clmDiuH3bm3YY2vp_it_nm5Pvhcr0_OdR8TA7JqJPn7rf6O3kxMELq5ykBYNVypNXq03qX4/s4032/IMG_9083.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaao1IHMFKVlpxj9xebkSs37DBjpcwZxVeMi9etI56-jV-CZsstlCRXYkkTz25IH_je7RF7RLrXNViQKha6TeNtBFzv9tAI5ym6P8ufkMTB3x3clmDiuH3bm3YY2vp_it_nm5Pvhcr0_OdR8TA7JqJPn7rf6O3kxMELq5ykBYNVypNXq03qX4/w300-h400/IMG_9083.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>I didn't get the February bee block finished until today, Leap Day. It's a good thing we had that extra day this year.<p></p><p>Simone's recipe was a mustardy center, rich medium-to-dark blues, and "not white."</p><p>The blocks finish at 6" and are paper pieced. They were easy and fun to make.</p><p>Now on to Polly's block for March. It's challenging, but magnificent. Stay tuned!</p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-46716527335284565362024-02-22T08:09:00.001-05:002024-02-22T08:09:29.564-05:00Bessie: Crosses Complete<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDxoB0a6LzDczHyhFMamGaBOG46dDt-Bqh4UkndOPNZEICuUmpuu7GVrihIkH4ZkDiEtHs1wIhUf501O9aXWDrb7_QGBI1PFfVoYsoYy2qwhVYYkBJ19MOvUf3EYQeQK_CdwFR7IAWxpxexfyD4Ueqbs7rAQlCmCx-wocL2oaoCf9t7FrZeXn/s4032/IMG_9074.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDxoB0a6LzDczHyhFMamGaBOG46dDt-Bqh4UkndOPNZEICuUmpuu7GVrihIkH4ZkDiEtHs1wIhUf501O9aXWDrb7_QGBI1PFfVoYsoYy2qwhVYYkBJ19MOvUf3EYQeQK_CdwFR7IAWxpxexfyD4Ueqbs7rAQlCmCx-wocL2oaoCf9t7FrZeXn/w480-h640/IMG_9074.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>Well, the cross blocks are complete. I liked making these. It was fun to pick out tiny motifs to fussy cut for the centers.<p></p><p>Do you see Dr. Fauci? </p><p>It's likely to be a while before another set is finished. The two types I'm working on are complicated and take a long time. </p><p>The octagon blocks use a technique I'm not experienced with; there are sixteen of those blocks, with four uses of said technique each, so my inexperience will become a thing of the past.</p><p>Then there are the "fingers" blocks. I like them very, very much and don't mind a bit that they take a long time and have curves.</p><p>But there's no deadline, and they'll get done. Perhaps I'll share a picture when one of each is finished.</p><p>Meanwhile, maybe you can identify the "fingers" (easy) and the octagons (not so easy in the quilt photo.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOou5z_vH9jO3nWdNh76Sb7x6sFXEF2-0rNK-Fky23OnQgDtR3LsZLiktnSTlpkOh04_koZHgKzvEumiy5YC6OlDzJrXq4klJXAKYgn77e7e6xZafahrZQZ0KQmhoGOMXI_ED9VEntpGM39T-E6wXNhUoQa6VebrA_45Q8ycZouJ3V8T4Jfv0f/s4032/IMG_9039.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOou5z_vH9jO3nWdNh76Sb7x6sFXEF2-0rNK-Fky23OnQgDtR3LsZLiktnSTlpkOh04_koZHgKzvEumiy5YC6OlDzJrXq4klJXAKYgn77e7e6xZafahrZQZ0KQmhoGOMXI_ED9VEntpGM39T-E6wXNhUoQa6VebrA_45Q8ycZouJ3V8T4Jfv0f/w480-h640/IMG_9039.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-69448828929171801762024-02-20T09:12:00.000-05:002024-02-20T09:12:52.312-05:00Happy Anniversary, Henrik!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghF0VlhhypQzEIYzrCGb1Nkx48YaHvEshrQkjvdZukhUbxermIv5o_xxKmZl8JafY7CCCoenrX3Au7042KYmeBm1xBEdRhPIoCTQ1NZOwcvN1nyTdYEX9RnXCnyf0w5Tv7bPP_cKKoJbR-RY89-SJZVZe-hYZkH99yPiddhGL2idlKGjr8JPO0/s1152/Resized_20240123_165128.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghF0VlhhypQzEIYzrCGb1Nkx48YaHvEshrQkjvdZukhUbxermIv5o_xxKmZl8JafY7CCCoenrX3Au7042KYmeBm1xBEdRhPIoCTQ1NZOwcvN1nyTdYEX9RnXCnyf0w5Tv7bPP_cKKoJbR-RY89-SJZVZe-hYZkH99yPiddhGL2idlKGjr8JPO0/s320/Resized_20240123_165128.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>A few weeks ago, we held a surprise party at church. Our pastor has been with us for fifteen years now, and we decided to mark the occasion with a celebration.<p></p><p>The party was a catered brunch in our fellowship hall immediately following the annual congregational meeting. </p><p>Cake was served, [brief] speeches were made, laughter ensued, the Bishop appeared. And a gift was given:</p><p>A group of the quilters started working months ago. One provided a pattern, we all dug into our stashes for bright batiks, a couple of yards of Kona black was acquired, and the blocks were divided up. One woman provided a refresher course on <strike>cat washing</strike> paper piecing. Another returned to quilt piecing after several years away. All went according to plan!</p><p>And he was pleased!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYdC6ZkLs-LIKt8AGE7c9xO81ByN3Uxk-ows3mXRiGoSAkoJ0Yu1gwUnhYjDyZKWFc6QOzbGY_LUmwPkvLkgfc-dyKD_02HusKAb5VtiUVknUgI5IcAj0G3iBBAPQv9iBHH-9O-pyBNEBm2ZlYM8N86RSPb1KcwC9jTNbimXvQxH77MIH7pPF/s640/423036716_1486218725438816_5143238819034191972_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYdC6ZkLs-LIKt8AGE7c9xO81ByN3Uxk-ows3mXRiGoSAkoJ0Yu1gwUnhYjDyZKWFc6QOzbGY_LUmwPkvLkgfc-dyKD_02HusKAb5VtiUVknUgI5IcAj0G3iBBAPQv9iBHH-9O-pyBNEBm2ZlYM8N86RSPb1KcwC9jTNbimXvQxH77MIH7pPF/w300-h400/423036716_1486218725438816_5143238819034191972_n.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmA2ZFLJPCeGfYfMYxujwnKZfRbgrDDSIzbay0b0loZfNnaDbjY0ghez46JsmD1X5n1wo_ITL1KNdp5Rv6b7LXtpocPQ0yYqj4DMbXGSB1S2-1ypBccrfmDzkn1_ZOpI2A1QeSS1D6zO_PobhyOBLA-uvWwbjLuwToTECcSyUWb3IRBjfzPdmn/s640/426108894_405593041937839_6945556710055999636_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmA2ZFLJPCeGfYfMYxujwnKZfRbgrDDSIzbay0b0loZfNnaDbjY0ghez46JsmD1X5n1wo_ITL1KNdp5Rv6b7LXtpocPQ0yYqj4DMbXGSB1S2-1ypBccrfmDzkn1_ZOpI2A1QeSS1D6zO_PobhyOBLA-uvWwbjLuwToTECcSyUWb3IRBjfzPdmn/w480-h640/426108894_405593041937839_6945556710055999636_n.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-85361008778335799082024-02-17T07:59:00.001-05:002024-02-17T07:59:56.529-05:00Bessie: Piece of Pie<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMnNBPX6Q__c3K4r9lf00KXHtjPCICKCrj5oEfIIjgH_Lzz_PDs8Rtx_V520kKXYS_ll-4ekMgyAry9oJoBcXz0U1kypQX7o0_NOICens8jgennegXGAo1ir_8leacduiBPZ2KKU_o8ZrRr2haoX8C5uJ2W1S7Xpcqmv3h2lw95xnYF647U1R/s2048/Pie%20Single.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMnNBPX6Q__c3K4r9lf00KXHtjPCICKCrj5oEfIIjgH_Lzz_PDs8Rtx_V520kKXYS_ll-4ekMgyAry9oJoBcXz0U1kypQX7o0_NOICens8jgennegXGAo1ir_8leacduiBPZ2KKU_o8ZrRr2haoX8C5uJ2W1S7Xpcqmv3h2lw95xnYF647U1R/w300-h400/Pie%20Single.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">This block, the one I'm calling the pie block, called for assorted pieces of pie on a low volume background, surrounded by grays. I loved it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But, y'know, I had to make a small change. Instead of four different pieces in each pie, I chose to use paired pieces. And I like them. And I used the same gray throughout.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have sufficient low volumes that I didn't need to repeat any of the ones I'd used in the nine-patch blocks.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These blocks were all pieced by hand and took a while. My skill at appliqué, oddly enough, is limited to <b>circles</b>! At one point I had an unquenchable urge to make Dresden plates and was stymied about the circles because I could only do blanket stitch appliqué. Google was my friend and now I use the <a href="http://blog.figtreeandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/starch-method-applique-sheet-1.pdf" target="_blank">freezer paper technique</a> and have always been pleased with the results. This <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Westcott-Circles-Geometric-Template-Inches/dp/B00175PNWW/ref=asc_df_B00175PNWW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167152767982&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2884831259755226723&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007243&hvtargid=pla-309381503218&mcid=696ae9c1971b3f2fbb2bc9e8909f6f13&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI06ST6M6thAMVsVFHAR1adAauEAQYASABEgIUn_D_BwE&th=1" target="_blank">tool</a> is fabulous for appliquéing circles because of the quarter-inch increments. (Re-reading the tutorial, I'm thinking that now I could actually appliqué other shapes beyond circles. Duh.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, I really enjoyed the slow process of <strike>baking</strike> making these pies. Once they were done, I returned to the cross blocks because I'd decided how to place the grays.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Please Note:</b> A couple of people (<b>Carol</b>, I'm talking to <b><strike>you</strike></b>!) have lamented that <a href="https://treehousetextiles.com.au" target="_blank">Treehouse Textiles </a>is in Australia and want to know if there's a place in the U.S. where the products can be purchased. I've no idea. But I tell you this: Emma, the owner, takes her customers very seriously. Delivery is very quick and, really, not that expensive, considering how wonderful the project is and how long it will take to make! Any problems are dealt with immediately. My parcel was very well packed and protected. I won't hesitate to think about buying there again.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9TTvU9mf4qoQttnhnGRbLd7dzcZzGYZ2z0XqrcLbRfuuy3EXcAtlATva9G5dgGpxqSvECYmob7semSLgVr2-Bc1ltT5wfwnlihBAglKzfQkcRkoGubC5Hw-hNaN494RRsS3jsGyZYD_1Dlv5L2PiSFo_QC3FpqT94IqG714lJsrSbcTH0kJg/s2048/Pie%20Cluster.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9TTvU9mf4qoQttnhnGRbLd7dzcZzGYZ2z0XqrcLbRfuuy3EXcAtlATva9G5dgGpxqSvECYmob7semSLgVr2-Bc1ltT5wfwnlihBAglKzfQkcRkoGubC5Hw-hNaN494RRsS3jsGyZYD_1Dlv5L2PiSFo_QC3FpqT94IqG714lJsrSbcTH0kJg/w480-h640/Pie%20Cluster.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JQiEor4Z9dtIMoUQQy67OXgCCZ_N77nFUoklHXcPG7wWlMtUZtzULMaYfj4cnfzJ_XJzdAZ7ixTjip6DiOpA-3btGpKQtwFvvGtccvgssI7zr2WUdcUVN7D8GWPWliWgl1IEjL854L7O7KEKuMA8NUZGgAc5j8X11_WeB5G7bXx-WuXMYheM/s1024/Cover.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><p></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-22160225516811619592024-02-15T08:12:00.000-05:002024-02-15T08:12:35.552-05:00Bessie: Criss Cross Applesauce<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IOuE4CVkNfU0WWh4Ng_0gSkkVp68jquprC7jpAP89xdkFLG1rnxvu1HuM_bpNZAfg1aXJNhe6OU0A9YBI7uzd4iar30g4ZQRlCoy0fvMD0lVvjYnQuLb6XDw5isar99yl2bt-y6lMCECZlN-BsCUx0IXxAEUsRV-WQImhj8PDbKolvECgLKL/s1024/Cover.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IOuE4CVkNfU0WWh4Ng_0gSkkVp68jquprC7jpAP89xdkFLG1rnxvu1HuM_bpNZAfg1aXJNhe6OU0A9YBI7uzd4iar30g4ZQRlCoy0fvMD0lVvjYnQuLb6XDw5isar99yl2bt-y6lMCECZlN-BsCUx0IXxAEUsRV-WQImhj8PDbKolvECgLKL/s320/Cover.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Those cross blocks (the ones that look like Xs) were my second effort. There are eight of them, and Emma's recipe called for assorted low volumes, stripes, and centers. I had had enough low volumes for the time being, but I loved the stripes. I chose navy rather than black. <p></p><p>There are eight of these crosses, and I thought to fussy cut those tiny centers for a bit of whimsy. </p><p>Grays rather than low volumes made up the greater part of the blocks. Rather than lots of grays, I chose four.</p><p>I considered two ways to lay them out.</p><p>And then I sewed them by hand in front of the last few episodes of Doc Martin, Season 10.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKnhNFSfBCRiPMf0LKLQlSCK0YUGd02Jqc1TmOs_mMAW-qM6baLhOFtkch-5rgC6Dbu99Obaz2YjbnUGKH9foW6zDi7fkUwDKPD7SGU-W60ciEDHZcDJNQnGo2uCTW9Iox2jPpNCficSCN-EHEQKsKrL7Rc64S8HFLXWC5BwGFYo8aDDKNnfp/s2048/Cross%20Single%20V.%201.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKnhNFSfBCRiPMf0LKLQlSCK0YUGd02Jqc1TmOs_mMAW-qM6baLhOFtkch-5rgC6Dbu99Obaz2YjbnUGKH9foW6zDi7fkUwDKPD7SGU-W60ciEDHZcDJNQnGo2uCTW9Iox2jPpNCficSCN-EHEQKsKrL7Rc64S8HFLXWC5BwGFYo8aDDKNnfp/w300-h400/Cross%20Single%20V.%201.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGmSVBuCbqyUv1H8zYbnFkKEj7D1ATa3DqDpvEXIAymORb8a2l-ZDb4MfTHtth0wMpX-T9Ns33OI3KBiL7CNVeVZOMOJXA9qZ_OMKQTQ1kwU7NS6hI51-aaRmMfrnRraNkrX5GfV_ETHK3YPfHI6ghgdydQUMzgGOiKKZupnigpwW0JU9ZV6E/s2048/Cross%20Single%20V.%202.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGmSVBuCbqyUv1H8zYbnFkKEj7D1ATa3DqDpvEXIAymORb8a2l-ZDb4MfTHtth0wMpX-T9Ns33OI3KBiL7CNVeVZOMOJXA9qZ_OMKQTQ1kwU7NS6hI51-aaRmMfrnRraNkrX5GfV_ETHK3YPfHI6ghgdydQUMzgGOiKKZupnigpwW0JU9ZV6E/w300-h400/Cross%20Single%20V.%202.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /> <p></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-38501455271681950252024-02-14T14:10:00.000-05:002024-02-14T14:10:52.698-05:00Bessie: To The Nines<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gcCHEhJ9iTG8vLR9hl5qsQ3Fx2XUSxudkIvGHxJjqFix0yG04vSVKNa9FJk5Wv4-Y2N-fY6FxjQ2nyhumuhcN9HkiTjrvaNkD-talCFE9vr8QfmqnEdNYfIrBbH6BmuUiC8q95jJwho3WCJRf6VkFb9MT-L_DTxTUQgUNmA_JiW_0EGWMCp8/s1024/Cover.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gcCHEhJ9iTG8vLR9hl5qsQ3Fx2XUSxudkIvGHxJjqFix0yG04vSVKNa9FJk5Wv4-Y2N-fY6FxjQ2nyhumuhcN9HkiTjrvaNkD-talCFE9vr8QfmqnEdNYfIrBbH6BmuUiC8q95jJwho3WCJRf6VkFb9MT-L_DTxTUQgUNmA_JiW_0EGWMCp8/w300-h400/Cover.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>I was so eager to begin. The book gives instructions from the center of the quilt out and I pondered that for a while. But I was intrigued by the arrangement of those nine-patches that form a kind of border around a kind of medallion center. And there were more nine-patches than anything else. So, even though they were the easiest blocks and shouldn't take a long time, that's where I began.<p></p><p>I loved the gingham that the designer, Emma, used and so I used the red. As I've worked on other blocks, I'm not sure that those red blocks are going to stay. They might be too bright. Or maybe they won't. Emma shows most of the nine-patches as having only three red spots; the four patches at the corners each have five. So that's what I made. Again, I'm not sure that I want those four patches that way; I just might remake them having just three red spots. Something tells me I'll like it better that way. We'll see.</p><p>I have <strike>a few</strike> an abundance of low volume fabrics, so getting sufficient variety of them was no problem whatsoever.<br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUhR8TBSoSlvKfsX9Qfb00Wiyva0RnLfZbiyoKsIESJcpyQaalT40Ex2ro7xNmtb9Z1IrBVe95yxOVDCJqs8J26BF8Wz4_ZZlATXzfSYsqBJ-pF-fWb1V2fAMgAhWJXyf6wwUGTW1NGJ1BCjz0MOAzeH4MnNL4UTgnG8GEtU07MznD3a1oxLn/s2048/Nine%20Patch%20Single.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUhR8TBSoSlvKfsX9Qfb00Wiyva0RnLfZbiyoKsIESJcpyQaalT40Ex2ro7xNmtb9Z1IrBVe95yxOVDCJqs8J26BF8Wz4_ZZlATXzfSYsqBJ-pF-fWb1V2fAMgAhWJXyf6wwUGTW1NGJ1BCjz0MOAzeH4MnNL4UTgnG8GEtU07MznD3a1oxLn/w300-h400/Nine%20Patch%20Single.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39aYr8psYzqmiv7jy9_TaKq2cafcqaGTquHrRXeVj5hPOrL1Rfsx40PqV3M-oIvRhId3C2V_G2Z5thw9tjWmEScJQqrlGR6lkol9GvWqgNcONnSOWDGvjh1peK4y9Pca3Z5z_mvO_vL_QzRNBUPT9lhBoom-Iwle2nmlUgWBr8xM78L_wYqqb/s2048/Nine%20Patch%20Cluster.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39aYr8psYzqmiv7jy9_TaKq2cafcqaGTquHrRXeVj5hPOrL1Rfsx40PqV3M-oIvRhId3C2V_G2Z5thw9tjWmEScJQqrlGR6lkol9GvWqgNcONnSOWDGvjh1peK4y9Pca3Z5z_mvO_vL_QzRNBUPT9lhBoom-Iwle2nmlUgWBr8xM78L_wYqqb/w300-h400/Nine%20Patch%20Cluster.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-65202704045412495742024-02-13T16:45:00.000-05:002024-02-13T16:45:31.339-05:00Bessie: And So It Begins<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjghngPo9tiNZcr1TC7E46U7ue2y35Mly1Y4WggfZnG3YGJ1F_ML7-Di3DPH2QsDa2ZCOTOt0OVvmI1IZQqE-5nBRVRzz1wKfwjo1vhEuPp3F9zNYb7iYSdIRGFXahHL87MkBOTKb1ZCP2aS6JjqSSZqBhLEJPSFc6s3NshWFTmxa32ek3ql6v/s4032/IMG_9038.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjghngPo9tiNZcr1TC7E46U7ue2y35Mly1Y4WggfZnG3YGJ1F_ML7-Di3DPH2QsDa2ZCOTOt0OVvmI1IZQqE-5nBRVRzz1wKfwjo1vhEuPp3F9zNYb7iYSdIRGFXahHL87MkBOTKb1ZCP2aS6JjqSSZqBhLEJPSFc6s3NshWFTmxa32ek3ql6v/w480-h640/IMG_9038.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>Last year at this time, I was knee-deep as well as head-over-heels with the Lancaster Diamond Quilt. I loved every <strike>frustrating</strike> <strike>insane</strike> challenging minute of it. My friend Polly was/is also making a LDQ and we messaged back and forth almost daily for months and months and <b>months</b> as we approached yet another seemingly impossible block. <a href="https://nancynearphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2023/09/lancaster-diamond-final-i-think-update.html">Christmas In Lancaster</a> was finished in August of '23 and made her public appearance at the Oaks Mancuso Show in September.<p></p><p>Of course I've sewn and quilted and bound since September and finished a couple of projects while I looked around for another <strike>tedious</strike> long-term project. And nothing appeared for such a long while. And then, in January, just in time to start a new year, a friend cited a shop on her blog, and when I visited (virtually), I felt as though I'd found a new home. <a href="https://treehousetextiles.com.au">Treehouse Textiles</a> is in Australia and the website is very attractive and the patterns are beyond appealing!</p><p>Our home is ranch style, which I love, and my studio and the laundry are downstairs in our finished, open-to-the-outside basement (I prefer to call it the lower level). That's where my Bernina and design wall and stash all live. It's an excellent set-up; I put a load of laundry in the washer and sew until it's time to move it to the dryer, back and forth.</p><p>My problem, which perhaps I've mentioned before, is that when Himself and I watch television in the evenings, I need something to occupy my hands. I just <b>can't</b> sit in front of the screen with nothing to do. Binding, hand-piecing Halo blocks, even stamped-for-embroidery baby bibs have filled my evenings. </p><p>And now there's Bessie. The designer tells us that Bessie Creek Road was the route she traveled when going to visit her grandmother. I personally don't see the connection between the title and the gorgeous pattern, but what does that matter? I ordered both the pattern booklet and the optional set of templates (there are template patterns included in the booklet) and they came quickly. </p><p>I started to make a color scheme on the whatchamacallit page in the book, but was too impatient. I needed to get started piecing. And I've pieced and pieced for a few weeks now and I'm about ready to start to share my progress.</p><p>Stay tuned.</p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-78175201638064241512024-02-04T17:47:00.005-05:002024-02-04T17:58:33.241-05:00A Birthday to Remember<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1texyokayKY5UN4XUrBAnw2zjev-f_QAdSgqbgsf0NOCvEW9YIsZTNqYLHzH44GbhSYCL6E1LvkDOfPpgRTZDrJCtaoWFvN06X6-GID_2iixCLgq7FK9cCV2r8j4vd8YkscZv_a37PD9ivMGpJO_AlGZRZow8N5NgCGX5rkw5_AxLwe03VIAp/s960/b46f3a5f829a0f06d332f21ed1bbfd66.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1texyokayKY5UN4XUrBAnw2zjev-f_QAdSgqbgsf0NOCvEW9YIsZTNqYLHzH44GbhSYCL6E1LvkDOfPpgRTZDrJCtaoWFvN06X6-GID_2iixCLgq7FK9cCV2r8j4vd8YkscZv_a37PD9ivMGpJO_AlGZRZow8N5NgCGX5rkw5_AxLwe03VIAp/s320/b46f3a5f829a0f06d332f21ed1bbfd66.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>For reasons unknown, my Facebook feed seems to be managed by one of the stranger bots at the company. For more than ten years, I've received ads for socks. You'd be astonished to know the variety of socks out there. Regular socks, Happy Socks, compression socks, Bombas -- lots of Bombas, personalized socks where one can have one's cat's face all over the socks, religious socks featuring saints I've never heard of (but Lutheran's don't have a whole lot of those kind of saints that they recognize). I don't mind sock ads. I get it that FB has to have ads and ads for socks are far better than the ones for bras designed by 70-year-old grandmothers (?). For a while there I was getting ads for preplanning funerals and burial plots. I didn't care for them.<div><br /></div><div>Beyond ads for socks and other things, there are the "you might like" things that show up. And they decided a couple of years ago that I might like pictures and videos of people wearing T-Rex costumes, particularly people thusly garbed meeting their relatives at airports.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtDROYCkLNCqJl_Uty6bdQttBjJr-OBPuwwTRmdJDr0vh-me5HqktoWGimVNBDfyqgpWxEKM_ggN1Blxb_ipvOaGVNWPrUh9CzbopCujvnYgjdPErKBi2SDeX0aijmI75tkMcIX3VlEEBA9KfWcCoD4UyDFl08tABKbX21OZ5veO3xY7Fm5oD/s251/images-3.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="201" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtDROYCkLNCqJl_Uty6bdQttBjJr-OBPuwwTRmdJDr0vh-me5HqktoWGimVNBDfyqgpWxEKM_ggN1Blxb_ipvOaGVNWPrUh9CzbopCujvnYgjdPErKBi2SDeX0aijmI75tkMcIX3VlEEBA9KfWcCoD4UyDFl08tABKbX21OZ5veO3xY7Fm5oD/s1600/images-3.jpeg" width="201" /></a></div>Well, in this case, they were right. I did like them and I do like them. A lot. To the point that if I had a bucket list, I'd put on it "Meet a dignified family member at the airport while wearing a dinosaur suit." I just love to watch those videos and picture myself there. Fortunately, (1) I don't have any really dignified family members (well, there's Doris, but she doesn't travel much anymore) and (2) people I know get themselves home, usually by train, when they fly in. So there's been little danger of this goal's being achieved.<div><br /></div><div>I did somehow mention this whole thing to a relative with a better memory than I have. And apparently she filed it away for future reference. I did notice, though, that when she came home from a month-long journey to Australia this winter that she didn't happen to mention her flight number.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had a birthday last week. Not one of those "significant" ones. That's next year. This was to be an ordinary birthday with the only hope that it would be better than Joe's most recent one wherein the dog tried to bite the vet, somebody picked a fight with him, and we all walked out of a restaurant due to poor service. </div><div><br /></div><div>The East Coast Cousins (to differentiate from dear Debby and Janet who live in California) gather approximately quarterly for a lunch or dinner at one of our homes. There's always a delicious group-effort meal and lots and lots of laughing.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU0sgTEET9Lw_xFc5aiwhgCrOhVP0aIYKWGM-KjGCIInX-RWbYhM4AVZwQVBlzK2kHa4xg6A991b1NpjMiVCUOYT7DI5oQu8MabQ7EMYh3fwzrLeglAJ71ecA2lGCx1-h08EgV-k6vGF97GzQVrz-D3rskZnqCKzLGyMH1yd8DY6nsLVmt45p/s1024/2024-02-02T133056Z_586483677_RC2CU5AC5A8V_RTRMADP_3_USA-GROUNDHOGDAY-1024x682.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU0sgTEET9Lw_xFc5aiwhgCrOhVP0aIYKWGM-KjGCIInX-RWbYhM4AVZwQVBlzK2kHa4xg6A991b1NpjMiVCUOYT7DI5oQu8MabQ7EMYh3fwzrLeglAJ71ecA2lGCx1-h08EgV-k6vGF97GzQVrz-D3rskZnqCKzLGyMH1yd8DY6nsLVmt45p/w200-h133/2024-02-02T133056Z_586483677_RC2CU5AC5A8V_RTRMADP_3_USA-GROUNDHOGDAY-1024x682.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />We were scheduled to have lunch at Karen's (the one with the good memory) and since it was Groundhog's Day, we were delighted to be greeted by our hostess wearing a black formal suit and a top hat. She stopped short of pressing her small, fluffy white dog into service as a groundhog substitute, but we surely got the idea.</div><div><br /></div><div>We feasted on quiches and salad and sparkling beverages and told stories, asked questions, and laughed <b>almost</b> the required amount. Then it was time for dessert and when Betsy went off to get it, she inexplicably needed a lot of help and so a few of us were left at the table to continue the conversation, which we didn't mind because Susan had just begun what turned out to be a lengthy report on the downside of the flower show.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then they came in, bearing a cake, and singing Happy Birthday.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIMUu2XWjL1vN1jYRlZ6fXlKlm6C-pdVb1fLaP1TarD1Pl8veD6AabORf9U3U6AgQ5fDaKAaGSHjv0Iyztt2I1BGOt04utF03oXGlod8IYH58N17uDjX03e6dY61y5j-8w3MlEKvXfPLjKGycj_vfgXqsMRjQn_KU2SMkQZ0_KonZ-TMv0t-q/s4032/IMG_1335.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIMUu2XWjL1vN1jYRlZ6fXlKlm6C-pdVb1fLaP1TarD1Pl8veD6AabORf9U3U6AgQ5fDaKAaGSHjv0Iyztt2I1BGOt04utF03oXGlod8IYH58N17uDjX03e6dY61y5j-8w3MlEKvXfPLjKGycj_vfgXqsMRjQn_KU2SMkQZ0_KonZ-TMv0t-q/w480-h640/IMG_1335.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-81151330781936390852024-01-16T10:44:00.002-05:002024-01-16T10:44:26.215-05:00Feathers for Susan<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitF9eyt2Qm-gx_NmRGHrrH-xyzh6g5m4PSkoMcxC2iAe6PNCBWj957zULtlypSJFrr1eHjgckUSEXpi8tK_C8Jb5KxL9Yd0rz92aRr_S1rm-hlhOTywViRWGLBLzjuUZhcr1SqaKlWfubqT6SwmCWDQZek5KJutf7-NF1rjFF1IcN7Djaq2Nht/s4032/IMG_9044.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitF9eyt2Qm-gx_NmRGHrrH-xyzh6g5m4PSkoMcxC2iAe6PNCBWj957zULtlypSJFrr1eHjgckUSEXpi8tK_C8Jb5KxL9Yd0rz92aRr_S1rm-hlhOTywViRWGLBLzjuUZhcr1SqaKlWfubqT6SwmCWDQZek5KJutf7-NF1rjFF1IcN7Djaq2Nht/w300-h400/IMG_9044.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>The bee that I coordinate for my guild is beginning its third year of most of us being together. This year we're all going to work on paper-piecing. I don't know how many, if any at all, are reformed cat washers* like I am, but we've pretty much agreed that we'll do paper-pieced blocks that don't have more than three sections to assemble. And we'll mostly use solids. We'll see how it goes.<p></p><p>Susan is a charter member of the bee and she had the honor of going first. She wants a rainbow of feathers, and judging by the photos the group has posted on Facebook, a rainbow is what she is going to get. </p><p>I knew I had a lot of greens, so I started that feather first. When it was finished, I began digging for purples. Since it's my favorite color, I was sure I'd have a lot to choose from. To my surprise, I kept coming up with scraps of my least favorite color and I decided to just go ahead and turn them into a feather!</p><p>I'm pleased with how they turned out and Susan seems to be, too.</p><p>When I saw Polly last week, she gave me her feathers to pass along to Susan and since I've got the temporary custody, I think it's right for me to share them with you:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaPeCD8KK67SuOZGVJ7GIimHZHqAboSCYo343hHrV-9Wz8ygqycs6Uu9MQoxjvpHOHuRgiPd8O9Shg_WBwxC5l450Ssj2VfuZ_2AT4sZL8Z82ahmuumbydO9bzKGkb_kgxdKt7MT-2z2SDwxNHPsQRm15191Wib-TYufqQCQDOup-4eERwaNO/s2048/418727389_1813676572402511_1830334394677781265_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaPeCD8KK67SuOZGVJ7GIimHZHqAboSCYo343hHrV-9Wz8ygqycs6Uu9MQoxjvpHOHuRgiPd8O9Shg_WBwxC5l450Ssj2VfuZ_2AT4sZL8Z82ahmuumbydO9bzKGkb_kgxdKt7MT-2z2SDwxNHPsQRm15191Wib-TYufqQCQDOup-4eERwaNO/w400-h300/418727389_1813676572402511_1830334394677781265_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*It's been a good many years since I [in]famously proclaimed, "I'd rather give a <b>cat</b> a <b>bath</b> than paper piece!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPL5vM_TNm2hVyOV8Vl_DbwiLc7vst3hq4mm9JZInXtOynJjNzRda4_DpR66SK287WiEij3o09Gt36jeIt5_BVdNWyXu8KwRTdHVZ69_jwrKUIM89UFqtEcpXDOLiOlrWtMLYAy38CpSD2wVNo74pqwVdjl_cdkINUdpxZ22qjXrKe6ZkSc2T/s251/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="251" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPL5vM_TNm2hVyOV8Vl_DbwiLc7vst3hq4mm9JZInXtOynJjNzRda4_DpR66SK287WiEij3o09Gt36jeIt5_BVdNWyXu8KwRTdHVZ69_jwrKUIM89UFqtEcpXDOLiOlrWtMLYAy38CpSD2wVNo74pqwVdjl_cdkINUdpxZ22qjXrKe6ZkSc2T/w200-h160/images.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-35139426244015633072024-01-15T11:50:00.004-05:002024-01-15T11:50:50.625-05:00,<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVofK-Ibs_f2cwN6BrGzAM14enwMfNeOmBC1CIda1Hv6xihcbttKN5Jo9Q8oHCA_0KkV_gwR_jfgU7MKUZI-jm5HDW1RBFqygAlJwS-aMHUMVxLzO5Y5ydO4EjqurA5YkfiCRvmiDl77sHcnMMf0UcjsWdcs0qDGbMj58QNe-xDVag6ZhXql2/s1170/comma.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1170" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVofK-Ibs_f2cwN6BrGzAM14enwMfNeOmBC1CIda1Hv6xihcbttKN5Jo9Q8oHCA_0KkV_gwR_jfgU7MKUZI-jm5HDW1RBFqygAlJwS-aMHUMVxLzO5Y5ydO4EjqurA5YkfiCRvmiDl77sHcnMMf0UcjsWdcs0qDGbMj58QNe-xDVag6ZhXql2/w400-h224/comma.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>I met a guy recently.<p></p><p>I've taken to volunteering in the church office one morning each week. I perform highly skilled tasks, mostly folding bulletin inserts and then inserting them in said bulletins. It's rhythmic work and the church secretary is a delightful person and from time to time someone else pops in and that keeps it interesting.</p><p>So, one morning this guy that I didn't know came in and got right to work, standing at the counter, going over a bulletin and making suggestions and corrections. He was earnest and knowledgable and the secretary seemed to be grateful for his help (let the record show that in her previous life she was a dental hygienist, known more for plaque removal than elegance of syntax). They worked intensely for a bit and then there was a break and we were introduced.</p><p>He told me that he was a retired editor from Philadelphia's major newspaper and was happy to use his experience to assist our church. I liked him right away and told him that I had been the fifth grade spelling champion and spent many years as an executive secretary. And then he got right to the heart of things, asking me, <b>"So where are you on the Oxford comma?"</b> I was utterly delighted. I immediately told him that I was very much in favor of the O.C., and he replied (as I knew he would) that he was too and we both sighed and smiled, and I knew we were going to get along famously.</p><p>That's all.</p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-70748010216472333972024-01-14T09:45:00.003-05:002024-01-14T09:45:26.936-05:00Changing Taste <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FA4GMC5tmhlzszyCAsTWMoyxUaPfiHcprlFO7M_UqB8XFUKQxnNSeuXgePA_ukhk91Ig3pCIhGWsutuJ5HVXMee6SBClNuwoNxcOemMkKS7_1NGuBqPlJsmUNCQgVjh-LsaOMzy4PE_tZRoIjIAm4HnRpFDjDoeFGcrLFDfuggvRst75rCNb/s1600/Alison.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FA4GMC5tmhlzszyCAsTWMoyxUaPfiHcprlFO7M_UqB8XFUKQxnNSeuXgePA_ukhk91Ig3pCIhGWsutuJ5HVXMee6SBClNuwoNxcOemMkKS7_1NGuBqPlJsmUNCQgVjh-LsaOMzy4PE_tZRoIjIAm4HnRpFDjDoeFGcrLFDfuggvRst75rCNb/w300-h400/Alison.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>Our taste changes. <p></p><p>I met a woman in <a href="https://theoldcountrystore.com">The Old Country Store</a>; we were chatting and she casually said, "I only work with Civil War fabrics." I stopped in my tracks. I'd never even <b>thought </b>about using Civil War fabrics. I followed her over to that section and made the first of what would be many purchases. Over the next few years I made a lot of CW quilts and organized a some block swaps using those fabrics. It seemed to me as though these fabrics were crying out to be made into baskets and since I was in my basket obsession period, all was well. One day I abruptly realized that I didn't want to work with CWs any more and gave away what was left in my stash.</p><p>There was a time when I needed baby quilts and [almost] everyone knows that 30s fabrics are just perfect for them. I grew a considerable stash of 30s and made a lot of 45" square quilts as baby gifts. History repeated itself: one day I knew I was done and gave away the 30s that were left.</p><p>My William Morris period lasted much longer, and I still pause for a deep breath when I see a new line, a new color way of an older line (thanks, <a href="https://www.hancocks-paducah.com/SHOP-BY-BRAND/Moda-Fabrics/Morris-Meadow-by-Barbara-Brackman?page=1">Barbara Brackman</a>). I've lost track of all the William Morris quilts that I've made. And yet, there came that day when I called Marsha and asked if she wanted to adopt what remained of my Bill stash (she did).</p><p>I'd gone to a quilt show with Bobbi and was shopping at a stand at what was informally called The Renegade Mall when the fabric at a booth across the aisle caught my eye. I nearly tripped in my haste to get over there (y'know, like somebody might buy out the whole place before I could get even one FQ). The colors were <b>so</b> intense, the patterns were <b>so</b> perfect, oh was I smitten! I learned that all of this gorgeousness came from the mind of one <a href="https://alisonglass.com">Alison Glass</a>. I bought as much as I could afford. I picked up a card from the stand and came home and ordered more. The picture at the top of this blog is from the quilt "Alison Glass meets Tula Pink." I was drawn to Alison like a moth to the flame. I discovered a couple of other designers whose fabrics played very nicely with Alison's. I subscribed to her newsletter. I bought her scrap bags and her new releases. I made quilt after quilt after quilt from these incredible colors; sewing with them brightened the Januaryist days.</p><p>And now I'm done.</p><p>No offense, dear Alison. You've brought a great deal of redemptive vividness into my life and into my work. Truth-be-told, I don't have a whole lot of your saturated, scintillating fabrics <b>left </b>to give away; that's how fruitful this period has been. The bits that remain will likely make their way into the next Halo or perhaps even into the current <a href="https://treehousetextiles.com.au/collections/all-patterns/products/bessie-creek-rd-pattern">Bessie Creek Road</a>. </p><p>It's been grand.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /> </p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-87791602532326224042024-01-11T23:48:00.001-05:002024-01-11T23:48:44.684-05:00Oath and Honor<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlx9QY6P3MEn1q6l2ZIhtbCPQIYGZQOmugPQN27Igi3zF1qI-WgVSpdLlVBDlDL0B_tGuSlj0G1lmmuMkwZy98vSNhDr6Wemwp8xbyHfs1j2BDwUrZvm7J222KSBLWyqaMYFtYnRAakGREmGjQT1CrtEOBGwq6jn_CivBlz0J8rmeY_ouz7op/s279/oath.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="180" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlx9QY6P3MEn1q6l2ZIhtbCPQIYGZQOmugPQN27Igi3zF1qI-WgVSpdLlVBDlDL0B_tGuSlj0G1lmmuMkwZy98vSNhDr6Wemwp8xbyHfs1j2BDwUrZvm7J222KSBLWyqaMYFtYnRAakGREmGjQT1CrtEOBGwq6jn_CivBlz0J8rmeY_ouz7op/s1600/oath.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>My first completed book for 2024. I pre-ordered it on Amazon and received it on the day of publication. Then Christmas, etc., happened.<p></p><p>I don't feel as though I can write a coherent review, so I'll just bullet my thoughts:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I'm glad I read it.</li><li>There wasn't much about January 6 that I didn't already know.</li><li>However, it was interesting to read the process of getting those hearings in place.</li><li>There was very little mention of Bennie Thompson, the Committee's chair. <b>Too</b> little. As though he were a figurehead and Liz did all the work.</li><li>It's a memoir, so it's got to be mostly about her, and although she profusely mentioned other people, it felt as though she was the star and everyone else on the Committee, supporting actors.</li><li>She mentioned multiple times a new closeness with Nancy Pelosi. That seemed odd.</li><li>It's been said that there is no purely altruistic act. And Liz knew going into it that she was likely to lose her seat in Congress. She says she did what she did to protect the Constitution. But one can't help wondering: What were her other motivations?</li><li>Is she hoping for a Presidential run? Surely not as a Republican in today's climate.</li><li>I learned some things I didn't know about the machinations of Congress and reached a deeper understanding that it's <b>all </b>political, <b>all </b>about power and control.</li><li>Despite my wondering about her motivation, I admire her.</li><li>That's not to say I agree with her politics, I hasten to add.</li><li>I wonder what she wants to do next.</li></ul><p></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-41124154359097613222023-12-28T16:14:00.001-05:002023-12-28T16:14:23.752-05:00Year End Rant<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIasuDdb2xhzoyRJNM30FNRg6pg9Y9GOaTpDegbXIgMs78GrZLoUlgxwavOeqxk8DAchMnBnOmzRAglF4WCs9F-D1Cjy_Ewh6Wg2UEwApAG3w1CCNNorwdfLpDBKM4re0Fav0nMbbhZbo0U1xqocYijvorzAt7XV-QWizFwzJPj0RUTKOOmGiP/s2616/cow.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2616" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIasuDdb2xhzoyRJNM30FNRg6pg9Y9GOaTpDegbXIgMs78GrZLoUlgxwavOeqxk8DAchMnBnOmzRAglF4WCs9F-D1Cjy_Ewh6Wg2UEwApAG3w1CCNNorwdfLpDBKM4re0Fav0nMbbhZbo0U1xqocYijvorzAt7XV-QWizFwzJPj0RUTKOOmGiP/w314-h400/cow.webp" width="314" /></a></div>Okay, before 2023 is a wrap, this <span style="color: red;">COW*</span>needs to moo about a couple of things she has seen way too much of on Facebook.<p></p><p>First, do-it-yourself or -- worse -- <b>purchased </b>charcuterie boards. About every fifth post that comes to me has to do with the ins and outs and ups and downs and this and that of a charcuterie board. Is this something one really needs instruction on? My son-in-law made one several Christmases ago. And I suspect he did not have to take a lesson in arranging cheeses and grapes and a couple of meats. I haven't looked at the prices of the charcuteries-to-order; I don't need to because (a) I don't want to buy one and (b) I already know said prices are sky high.</p><p>Then we have the posts that put me to shame. You know, the ones where a 70-year-old grandmother has invented the bra of your dreams. Frankly, this 70-something grandmother would rather be quilting (assuming my mojo has returned) that working with a protractor and some elastic (you can see that I'd have no idea where to even begin).</p><p>Finally we have -- oh, how do I complain <b>delicately</b> about this -- what's-her-name. Because I don't know her name. But she's a reasonably attractive young woman who wears a fashionably baggy sweatshirt and posts videos of herself mourning the loss of her baby daughter. This isn't someone I know and as far as I can tell she isn't someone that someone I know knows. Why the heck do I get these? Every day and sometimes more than once a day. I think they are all different but I'm not about to play another one (apparently I must have played one once, weeks or months ago) to find out. My questions: (1) Why would any grieving mother make videos about her loss and publish them on Facebook to "public"? and, of course, (2) Why in the name of everything holy does Facebook think these would interest me?</p><p>Okay, I feel better now. Mooing off for now.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: red;">*Cranky Old Woman</span></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-23688142643413470302023-12-24T18:00:00.002-05:002023-12-24T18:00:16.869-05:00The Dishes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj8sfRozK2T1wogwy-SYUlbFf7N0gdtwIpp-Nxz8D-ZtDDajX7qlpgIpQlquMp8mJxS1ij9q5aaxscDPlfXbbSjoLB_JoPMpoD-GnyC8z6dd0yIw-ft0KPBrFL_EUNcT8BzNAMGCHGGbQWBK6MQTtCitfT1C2_oztcmF5P-3sp0SmB0Hi2xHZ/s4032/IMG_9014.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj8sfRozK2T1wogwy-SYUlbFf7N0gdtwIpp-Nxz8D-ZtDDajX7qlpgIpQlquMp8mJxS1ij9q5aaxscDPlfXbbSjoLB_JoPMpoD-GnyC8z6dd0yIw-ft0KPBrFL_EUNcT8BzNAMGCHGGbQWBK6MQTtCitfT1C2_oztcmF5P-3sp0SmB0Hi2xHZ/w480-h640/IMG_9014.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>We'd only been married a few months when we discovered The Dishes. Joe was an E3 Navy man and I was hoping to get a civil service position. We were struggling to make our $65/month rent and on a waiting list for base housing ($47/month including utilities). <p></p><p>When we'd made the plans for our small wedding, I was urged to choose a china pattern. So I did. It was plain white and people gave it to us for wedding presents. We had "everyday" dishes, too, so when Joe found the picture of The Dishes, even if we could have afforded them, we had no reason to buy them. But we both fell in love with them.</p><p>Over 56+ years, we've been through several sets of daily dishes and eventually my sister helped us to acquire a beautiful set of Mikasa, our "good china" that I've promised to leave to Caroline in my will.</p><p>Last spring, when we were visiting a small town in Belgium, I saw some lovely organic-looking dishes in a shop. I took photos of them, and when we came home, Google helped me find them and also helped me to know that if we lived in Europe it would be no problem to acquire them, but since we live in the U.S. . . . .</p><p>A month or so ago, when I noticed that some of our current everyday dishes were chipped and that there were 5 of some things and 6 of others instead of 8, I started thinking about replacing them. I don't know what led me to remember those gorgeous Dansk dishes from 1968, but having nothing to do one afternoon, I looked around eBay and there they were. In abundance. Including one offer of several six-piece place settings. The seller was in northern New Jersey in a town where Joe had done work, and the sale was "buyer pick up only." When we got to her home, June offered us fresh cranberry bread and coffee. During our emails to arrange the transaction, I told her how long ago we'd discovered the dishes and she told me she'd just been taking care of them for me for the past fifty-six years.</p><p>Sherry and her family are coming for Christmas dinner tomorrow and the Mikasa is safe in the china closet. I thought this was the right day for The Dishes to make their public debut.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLDQQIpxEysKh5MFjS0he6qETuLUilG-et11eqs7zxOfDxSsNy5JwjhKDI5L5AOvmLjNWTOKlx994ZC1I41HNk8B3UftGtbkDQuDL9krSCmHYgbuc3t9_urqQb4qNheBE-JeibaknSuv29usdgIFB9w2PERrAiQozCVtkcBVWRFHAo0wq3B97/s4032/IMG_9016.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLDQQIpxEysKh5MFjS0he6qETuLUilG-et11eqs7zxOfDxSsNy5JwjhKDI5L5AOvmLjNWTOKlx994ZC1I41HNk8B3UftGtbkDQuDL9krSCmHYgbuc3t9_urqQb4qNheBE-JeibaknSuv29usdgIFB9w2PERrAiQozCVtkcBVWRFHAo0wq3B97/w300-h400/IMG_9016.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFqtBb3QtWNjYh8U5wmUBve9CjjINwzf2C0OcamiQPwt_m1t0qZ3BDpFTctfK1qaO43RKAjuFe0ksDNGz-8TV7hos0MtkcIx12oXBDRTTerRt1kpTe2Z2Se6lUyYxRhKcgR851SMCbe65pTFcTbvSSrS5IaQYjgcfDNGak3UphKEJfdOXynC5/s4032/IMG_9015.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFqtBb3QtWNjYh8U5wmUBve9CjjINwzf2C0OcamiQPwt_m1t0qZ3BDpFTctfK1qaO43RKAjuFe0ksDNGz-8TV7hos0MtkcIx12oXBDRTTerRt1kpTe2Z2Se6lUyYxRhKcgR851SMCbe65pTFcTbvSSrS5IaQYjgcfDNGak3UphKEJfdOXynC5/w640-h480/IMG_9015.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-51793259085283427362023-12-20T10:10:00.001-05:002023-12-20T10:10:52.861-05:00AFTBOTGOOGD 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JP-cHEHo6hMOpbiGIExFCBxFHctpZATemDUKLGX5hdDy0ALHx8Y0CKiyyrKhYlpnwk_KSotvBSdz5Fg0-q632GpPUZM-D5JSOjHV46vfQfXTysVuK3FOceU0QS36Udr7SeFblUcDfnONxumTPLCNVRCy8V78btWRAezeJWC3ITFXF_yesvge/s4032/IMG_8982.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JP-cHEHo6hMOpbiGIExFCBxFHctpZATemDUKLGX5hdDy0ALHx8Y0CKiyyrKhYlpnwk_KSotvBSdz5Fg0-q632GpPUZM-D5JSOjHV46vfQfXTysVuK3FOceU0QS36Udr7SeFblUcDfnONxumTPLCNVRCy8V78btWRAezeJWC3ITFXF_yesvge/s320/IMG_8982.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>I was surprised that some people wrote me, asking if the annual meeting of the <a href="https://nancynearphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2006/12/aftbotgoogd.html" target="_blank">AFTBOTGOOGD</a> had occurred and where the heck was my report!<p></p><p>So here it is.</p><p>I've not shared photos of this plot before, though we can't help but notice it, due to its location on the driveway that we take to our ancestors' graves. It is always a very lavish display and my feeling is that the grief from this loss hasn't diminished a bit. It's a kind of oxymoron, the extreme festivity of the decorating, and the devastation at the loss of a child.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYjysAGm3XwTCW5g6Tom_KqSStSHde97QrW6XLD67vGjj1UDlPdWpE6nLSI59-6bydcZkJCd7OanY9Pq1KbWi7pyQRUzU95AxWqx2fONnNtOVTc0Rj7m_4CF3YDOeZ9ERXeT3-UGBKRbrIRF2vMRmcs_1ie1j25IEl8IPcxVth56OKwEJC1pJ/s4032/IMG_8981.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYjysAGm3XwTCW5g6Tom_KqSStSHde97QrW6XLD67vGjj1UDlPdWpE6nLSI59-6bydcZkJCd7OanY9Pq1KbWi7pyQRUzU95AxWqx2fONnNtOVTc0Rj7m_4CF3YDOeZ9ERXeT3-UGBKRbrIRF2vMRmcs_1ie1j25IEl8IPcxVth56OKwEJC1pJ/s320/IMG_8981.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>This is where our maternal grandparents and uncounted other family members rest. We always drive by and this is the first year that we've left an orange.<p></p><p>Interestingly, from the time I was a child and came to the cemetery with my mother, I was always taken by a nearby tombstone of a lamb; the grave was for a baby, and read "Our Darling Warner T. Seidel." A few years back when Bonnie and I did our drive-by, I noticed that the lamb and inscription were gone. Now, the cemetery is in relative disrepair in several areas; many of the gravestones are cracked, illegible, or fallen. And I was sorry to find Warner's stone among the missing.</p><p>This year, when I got out of the car to place the orange, I looked next door and -- behold! -- there was the lamb! The stone had been turned around and wasn't missing after all!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfsxgzIkAOPmW4frUpRxcwzh8wnESsQ64ta9IvXKD_2vA-N_Kd8eYVGfU5-KzHm7btjm7j8cnaapwL8kM-qYI5eIL2o1j_Un7fFSZnAZdTko-1U__gmMNk-GTaeGy1Lk6qGLYoNJwHaxNUF4DFDvrPLSE6FJWFtO_N0ebO8ElbE5Q3OwKFedX/s4032/IMG_8980.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfsxgzIkAOPmW4frUpRxcwzh8wnESsQ64ta9IvXKD_2vA-N_Kd8eYVGfU5-KzHm7btjm7j8cnaapwL8kM-qYI5eIL2o1j_Un7fFSZnAZdTko-1U__gmMNk-GTaeGy1Lk6qGLYoNJwHaxNUF4DFDvrPLSE6FJWFtO_N0ebO8ElbE5Q3OwKFedX/s320/IMG_8980.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Our uncle and our mother were twins and they always get matching wreaths or swags.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hffMCuaAbaI3yFbuAzu66TCjGJz2zwvXRPxuiiIiJwlx9Xz8BaPtJmtr_jXVaXz3XPyP78FlWTxmV8wdhP_MHHY7T1IambT9vwaifBMvT3y7SPG64z4CR3PLitaHBm8WWSqtG6_ZX4lf9iJb65MxROe0Rd7nC2MjAFAggqZyy4_OrPjlUsDc/s4032/IMG_8974.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hffMCuaAbaI3yFbuAzu66TCjGJz2zwvXRPxuiiIiJwlx9Xz8BaPtJmtr_jXVaXz3XPyP78FlWTxmV8wdhP_MHHY7T1IambT9vwaifBMvT3y7SPG64z4CR3PLitaHBm8WWSqtG6_ZX4lf9iJb65MxROe0Rd7nC2MjAFAggqZyy4_OrPjlUsDc/s320/IMG_8974.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRv_lRGCQ0PeVMECzvrVl3CP_keBVssTZm7UOVHdvYVIitnNlZBopX4Lrii3HKOj16BjGeF-ihbR95Cx_zoZwRZDMArNIFiGZSOQqhIva00egCc_DJBaGhu6CYjb5SpDzNxy8ZCiT5ycdRAVNx6FNXC4UVmHkGzWIV5AYQs9iuhsOxdWVBY6q/s4032/IMG_8979.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRv_lRGCQ0PeVMECzvrVl3CP_keBVssTZm7UOVHdvYVIitnNlZBopX4Lrii3HKOj16BjGeF-ihbR95Cx_zoZwRZDMArNIFiGZSOQqhIva00egCc_DJBaGhu6CYjb5SpDzNxy8ZCiT5ycdRAVNx6FNXC4UVmHkGzWIV5AYQs9iuhsOxdWVBY6q/s320/IMG_8979.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p>And then it was off to the Monilla plot, the family that we've sort of adopted since we discovered them a decade or so ago. Some years, when we arrive, they haven't visited yet, and we don't get to see that year's decorations. This year, they'd visited before we did, and the plot had a pair of small Christmas trees and some very nice seasonal signs. <p></p><p>We pondered the question of whether, perhaps, some of the extended family were to make a visit subsequent to ours, and what they would think about the orange we'd left.</p><p>And then it was off to the traditional lox-on-a-toasted-everything bagel, after a job well done.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkiNPMjs863xu954SmTMFKpGoAQ_Z-e-o9Ki76zY47mNYRMgb-hUlv9BXnMY8NE5N92ndvPtC_RdzCeD3YmM1mW2zNhUbER0eFY2eyrAM0rBIw38siyItavCbgLYpOnH3zlFAC8eUWpFuBr424VtHSdumwcIdc7lKeZ29rjexBhVeUko5auBR/s4032/IMG_8978.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkiNPMjs863xu954SmTMFKpGoAQ_Z-e-o9Ki76zY47mNYRMgb-hUlv9BXnMY8NE5N92ndvPtC_RdzCeD3YmM1mW2zNhUbER0eFY2eyrAM0rBIw38siyItavCbgLYpOnH3zlFAC8eUWpFuBr424VtHSdumwcIdc7lKeZ29rjexBhVeUko5auBR/s320/IMG_8978.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66h7_JkSlGjHHSXZInD3uzZqv0p93Jd2DhYtxSTsa-KyhHj2HnV8hfvSDDsRKwUwXF221i69bkkOVRcfMxvos2ZPBEhCVcJcTCSQp6c_dW6_MMJn2EUcVb6RqMpx4kJPkCcvBoqYOvbnKKgi97mozruNcy-Ct5wKqa7B1IyiMrtD1L_XbcobO/s4032/IMG_8976.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66h7_JkSlGjHHSXZInD3uzZqv0p93Jd2DhYtxSTsa-KyhHj2HnV8hfvSDDsRKwUwXF221i69bkkOVRcfMxvos2ZPBEhCVcJcTCSQp6c_dW6_MMJn2EUcVb6RqMpx4kJPkCcvBoqYOvbnKKgi97mozruNcy-Ct5wKqa7B1IyiMrtD1L_XbcobO/s320/IMG_8976.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjGakMihqVFLo0ddgMY0JC3tH1O3RHKbrPeonTgM_MuxuCtOY1OmFWbz0YNhDp0azyrX59Bou2asrfY1ybqlW9qKnzeLb0xjZ-sitwVkhjSZFccQWNpTBz6abwOaoHY6CVckV5dCmSYE__wPAN_iUasVHKiCB9-u4m9CNyZsge3kGmd3xERa3/s4032/IMG_8975.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjGakMihqVFLo0ddgMY0JC3tH1O3RHKbrPeonTgM_MuxuCtOY1OmFWbz0YNhDp0azyrX59Bou2asrfY1ybqlW9qKnzeLb0xjZ-sitwVkhjSZFccQWNpTBz6abwOaoHY6CVckV5dCmSYE__wPAN_iUasVHKiCB9-u4m9CNyZsge3kGmd3xERa3/w300-h400/IMG_8975.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-33865748117007711372023-12-19T08:16:00.001-05:002023-12-19T08:16:33.882-05:00Quilts for Ukraine in Romania<p>If you were part of the effort a few months ago to create and gather quilts for Ukrainian refugees in Romania, you may want to look at this summary of the work that was done there by Dr. Lark.</p><p><a href="https://www.larkeshleman.com/resources">https://www.larkeshleman.com/resources</a><br /></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-69569523865333662762023-12-18T20:40:00.001-05:002023-12-18T20:40:11.857-05:00This and That<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mS8iiQWyeOFiPf0oAQSMTy4X-dIU4qp2Kco9peCmyDe4uE85gydWuTBikCKSQwUPGLVVTK8_ss4aMMYoLH38dNb07XmKaf-eBhai4sOSacDYg8l77WZd1KL5rdaUCAYPU9j6RBv2_KuEkCr6klQHZc6i4z7iy7R0sHhMZCtz-3kZ_ZWFcd65/s4032/IMG_8950.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mS8iiQWyeOFiPf0oAQSMTy4X-dIU4qp2Kco9peCmyDe4uE85gydWuTBikCKSQwUPGLVVTK8_ss4aMMYoLH38dNb07XmKaf-eBhai4sOSacDYg8l77WZd1KL5rdaUCAYPU9j6RBv2_KuEkCr6klQHZc6i4z7iy7R0sHhMZCtz-3kZ_ZWFcd65/s320/IMG_8950.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>At last month's guild retreat, I worked exclusively on the blocks from the pattern we received from the autumn shop hop. I had suspected that the block would be some kind of a star or satellite design, so I chose mostly gold, silver and cream thinking they would make nice stars. The dark blue was picked out later (and I still need some more). The pattern calls for making a dozen blocks and then splitting some of them to make interesting, uneven rows. One of my grandsons has glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling of his bedroom so I decided to double the number of blocks (yup, I made twenty-four) and make a twin-size quilt for his next birthday. I finished the twenty-fourth star today, and will get over to the LQS for the additional blue that I need and then set the project aside until I get to go to a sew day, perhaps as soon as January. I'll need a lot of space to lay it out.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7LHVHw1k68MqqkJYhxEIlX3PZdl_UpWGdOVekGCIDWDFKriACgEUGJGviio9ovmDbLcFEegpu0B5Mz5eC5FG4Mk-HZqBVbECO-28HBANgxHWYcPA0it1vr6DTA2xQ_2Rn9y01CU2zbRUvgcTVPirDFd2GRQd1oLpjfsXhBfsadok2gPd3uds/s4032/IMG_8922.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7LHVHw1k68MqqkJYhxEIlX3PZdl_UpWGdOVekGCIDWDFKriACgEUGJGviio9ovmDbLcFEegpu0B5Mz5eC5FG4Mk-HZqBVbECO-28HBANgxHWYcPA0it1vr6DTA2xQ_2Rn9y01CU2zbRUvgcTVPirDFd2GRQd1oLpjfsXhBfsadok2gPd3uds/w300-h400/IMG_8922.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>I may have shared this photo before, but the blocks are so pretty that it should be shared again! These are some of the blocks I received during my month as Queen Bee. They finish at twelve inches and I'm aiming for a queen size quilt as a gift for a niece and her partner, so I'm thinking 49 blocks with a nice wide border will do it. These are easy blocks to make and I've lots of scraps. I think this will become a leader-ender project.<p></p><p>I've had a possible glimpse of my long lost <strike>shaker of salt</strike> quilting mojo. A friend's blog led me to <a href="https://treehousetextiles.com.au" target="_blank">this wonderful site</a> in Australia and my plan is after the first of the year to spend some serious time perusing the offerings and pick out a new project that will excite me.</p><p>Last year at this time I'd just begun work on my Lancaster Diamond and around the same time someone I knew organized a group of diamond makers. I was so excited about that project and the enthusiasm lasted throughout the seven months that I worked on it. I think my missing mojo has to do partly with a kind of let-down feeling -- diamond withdrawal -- since the project finished.</p><p>This past weekend we saw all of our children and grandchildren on separate days. We drove to Midlothian where Tom lives on Thursday and spent two nights there. On Friday morning while people were at school and work, we had some free time and used it to visit the LQS and the independent bookstore a few steps away. I bought a couple of packs of FQs without having any plan for them and also did my part to support the bookstore. It was a low-key visit with that family, and we had fun goofing around with the grandchildren and enjoying our daughter-in-law's cooking. We left after breakfast on Saturday and made it to Alexandria -- despite rather heavy traffic -- by lunch time. Andrew had decided to treat us to lunch at a really nice place that was beautifully decorated for the season. After a truly delicious meal, we went back to his house for an hour or so, giving grandson number four his gift for his eleventh birthday.</p><p>Sherry had kept Lizzy for us, so Sunday evening we planned to go up to her home to pick up our dog; she invited us to dinner and we enjoyed her homemade manicotti and then went with Sherry and Chris to a cookies and cocoa event at their church.</p><p>I think that is most of what's happening here.</p><p>Oh, and I'm ready for January:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShxQTLR_77fLuvbrfw9U1S0pqjkYYGytghRhiJIDZosqnE9jcCQSY1CAcV13r-bMZkL6FS1cx44J-CC8pq5Mesg9F61pPZQzBVp9j3B6D2CatzWvwE-3ZnYC7mHDTjaRx_TWRS65UudhKXNCOXAcrOHjcY4GcFG-9OxoNCy-zaEI2mW4iRut0/s4032/IMG_9006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShxQTLR_77fLuvbrfw9U1S0pqjkYYGytghRhiJIDZosqnE9jcCQSY1CAcV13r-bMZkL6FS1cx44J-CC8pq5Mesg9F61pPZQzBVp9j3B6D2CatzWvwE-3ZnYC7mHDTjaRx_TWRS65UudhKXNCOXAcrOHjcY4GcFG-9OxoNCy-zaEI2mW4iRut0/w300-h400/IMG_9006.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-9394272144611365072023-12-13T20:54:00.002-05:002023-12-13T20:54:33.847-05:00Grinchy Christmas<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6z5I1PnwN47JengZlkpXfcRHrveIvuQOUQ07BKofLFwh3DMHHrnp_nvx4ldUVlbKVnTy3DvlwBl1-FRIuKwxlQwpEWSdjCBN2YBSfk0byY1QMugoxt76jnVHAXygcEOAnyRpwCB_H7-hg1LCfgmsiDoDpkPYErs2M2gmIWRl5SyDY5gAcyy3/s274/grinch.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6z5I1PnwN47JengZlkpXfcRHrveIvuQOUQ07BKofLFwh3DMHHrnp_nvx4ldUVlbKVnTy3DvlwBl1-FRIuKwxlQwpEWSdjCBN2YBSfk0byY1QMugoxt76jnVHAXygcEOAnyRpwCB_H7-hg1LCfgmsiDoDpkPYErs2M2gmIWRl5SyDY5gAcyy3/w320-h215/grinch.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>In the past couple of weeks, some people have asked me, "Are you okay?" And now a blog friend or two have noticed my silence and expressed concern. I'm not really okay and I guess it has become obvious.<p></p><p>As I told a local inquirer today, "I'm okay-minus." I told another, "I'm not. But I will be."</p><p>My quilting mojo has gone into some odd hibernation and doesn't show signs of emerging. I look at my UFOs and my WISPs and nothing grabs me. I put in some time working dutifully on the quilt I started at the November retreat, but there's no real joy in it.</p><p>I'm taking more naps, am up during the night for an hour at a time, and have felt reluctance to go out (but for the most part, I go anyway). Things at home aren't getting done. I'm thinking I may have a mild case of depression, not something I've never really known before.</p><p>My congregation has experienced an unusual amount of deaths recently, and two of them were men who leave enormous holes in the life of the church. I sat at my Circle meeting week before last and found myself counting the number of us who are widows (too many) and remembering that two of our members are tending to nonagenarian husbands who are unwell. I've had an amalgamation of survivor's guilt and the terror of "when is it going to hit me."</p><p>It's felt like a strange combination of May, from The Secret Life of Bees, who was just feeling the sadness of the world big time, and the Grinch, working overtime to suck the joy out of life.</p><p>Perhaps the worst of all is a vile diagnosis for the husband of a dear, dear friend. After a few weeks of being postponed and put on hold by the local medical establishment who just somehow couldn't find the time to see the man, to perform the needed MRI, he's now a patient at the cancer center down the road. And my friend, who prolly is wanting to Christmas shop for her grandson, write her cards and wrap her gifts is instead taking her man for intense chemo sessions and learning how to perform nephrostomy care. I'm aching for her. And for him.</p><p>Oh, you're a mean one, Mister Grinch!</p><p>My not-okayness will pass; it will have to. And if it doesn't by the time 2024 gets here, I'll take another friend's advice and consult my doctor. I'm thinking about an upcoming visit to grandchildren in Virginia. I'm thinking about my baking plans for next week. I'm looking forward to the Lucia observance in church this coming Sunday and the many services of the following Sunday. I'm pondering the upcoming Solstice and the return of the light and trying to think of ways to be a part of that light. </p><p>And I'm reminding myself that the Grinch story itself <b>does</b> have a happy ending!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkq7QjaHq4jTy91lxYRL_EJ2uLJFyo1A_03JjSnkezxC6O4R_Y1XEOETHQ6Lc5bPN76PSpFdw5pEKyxjFk3u5uUD44mLWQuqdIHRZmP9fFZZnq0M9RMNg3Y8AangbAyVPCNyB2uQqLUtddA6UU6sDBNPc6ovsKLgOM5cdnbEur-ZGg_xEXSV2/s1033/his_heart_grew_three_times_that_day__by_peach_bubbles_123_dcsi2zs-pre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="774" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkq7QjaHq4jTy91lxYRL_EJ2uLJFyo1A_03JjSnkezxC6O4R_Y1XEOETHQ6Lc5bPN76PSpFdw5pEKyxjFk3u5uUD44mLWQuqdIHRZmP9fFZZnq0M9RMNg3Y8AangbAyVPCNyB2uQqLUtddA6UU6sDBNPc6ovsKLgOM5cdnbEur-ZGg_xEXSV2/w300-h400/his_heart_grew_three_times_that_day__by_peach_bubbles_123_dcsi2zs-pre.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-44161983256181101352023-12-12T23:10:00.000-05:002023-12-12T23:10:30.791-05:00The Birds<p> </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #28142c; font-family: "EB Garamond", serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">THE BIRDS</h3><div class="post-body-container"><div class="post-body entry-content float-container" id="post-body-8869852815815439116" style="font-family: Lora, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.7;"><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-size: 13px;">An important part of Christmas for me since I've become a blogger is to publish my friend Frank's poem that he shared with me many years ago. Frank is gone now, but his spirit lives on. I've shared the poem almost every year with my readers, and -- God willing -- I will do it again next year, and the next and the next.</span></p><div align="left" style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 27px;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a89E6VQeHnc/SUpnDkQ_J8I/AAAAAAAACvg/YpBsdhn_00I/s1600-h/0707americantreesparrowCS.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281146824017520578" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a89E6VQeHnc/SUpnDkQ_J8I/AAAAAAAACvg/YpBsdhn_00I/s320/0707americantreesparrowCS.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>THE BIRDS</strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong><br /></strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>IT WASN'T THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE CHRISTMAS</strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; height: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 1px 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>HE ENJOYED THE HOLIDAY FUN<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />ALL THE BRIGHT COLORS AND SUDDEN GOOD WILL<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AND THE CHILDREN'S HAPPY SUSPENSE<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />BUT HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />IN THE INCARNATION I MEAN<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />GOD LIVING A MAN-LIFE LIKE HIS? WHAT FOR?<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO HIM<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />HE SAT BY THE FIRE<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />WARM IN HIS HOME<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />ON CHRISTMAS EVE ALONE<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />THE FAMILY GONE OFF TO MIDNIGHT MASS<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />HE HEARD A THUMP AT THE WINDOW<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AND THEN ANOTHER<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />SOME MISCHIEF BOY OUT FOR FUN HE THOUGHT<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />HE WENT TO THE WINDOW TO CHASE HIM WITH A GLANCE<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />BUT FOUND NO BOY<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />BUT A SPARROW FLOCK<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />LURED BY THE LIGHT AND SIGHT OF WARMTH<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />HAD TRIED TO COME THROUGH HIS WINDOW<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />THEY HUDDLED NOW IN THE SNOW<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />WITH NO PLACE TO GO<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AND HE FELT COMPASSION FOR THEM<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />HE PUT ON HIS BOOTS AND JACKET AND SCARF<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AND OUT HE WENT TO OPEN THE GARAGE<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />TO GIVE THEM SHELTER<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />SO HE TURNED ON THE LIGHT<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />HE WENT AND GOT BREAD<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AND THREW IT MANNA LIKE UPON THE SNOW<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />A PATH TO FOLLOW<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />HE TRIED TO HERD THEM IN<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />SHOUTING AND WAVING HIS ARMS<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'M SCARING THEM HE THOUGHT<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'M SO BIG COMPARED TO THEM<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AND DIFFERENT<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />IF BUT FOR A MOMENT I COULD BE A SPARROW<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I COULD LEAD THEM THROUGH THE DOOR<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I COULD LEAD THEM THROUGH.....THE DOOR<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />FRANK A. VOLLMER </strong></em></span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 27px;"><em><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></em><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 27px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #7833a9; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 50px 0px 0px;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1" style="line-height: 2.3;"><div class="byline post-share-buttons goog-inline-block" style="display: inline-block; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em; position: relative;"></div></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-14360357327331411422023-11-14T11:56:00.000-05:002023-11-14T11:56:12.737-05:00Retreat, 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxHzACf4c7bCZbmYuML8-c8Sk7j6bfJOLZx-rH9WNqiNEvxOzU6Nn3qvOR8SQHBkrtrimhUPSkZ4gYJxY6usJARUK9kqQhuVQ7z1gz2IovUG9xM5tjF13Vm6lQGYNyFYB27kTxdIZfLUplFYv3_5HgVXjPWVpX0VtI4ytm_wec-GjN49z_0xJ/s1440/LRC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxHzACf4c7bCZbmYuML8-c8Sk7j6bfJOLZx-rH9WNqiNEvxOzU6Nn3qvOR8SQHBkrtrimhUPSkZ4gYJxY6usJARUK9kqQhuVQ7z1gz2IovUG9xM5tjF13Vm6lQGYNyFYB27kTxdIZfLUplFYv3_5HgVXjPWVpX0VtI4ytm_wec-GjN49z_0xJ/w480-h640/LRC.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I spent the past weekend at my Guild's annual autumn retreat. This was especially necessary for me because I've had to give up the twice-or-thrice-a-year retreats with my Renegade buddies; the stairs at that retreat place aren't compatible with my knees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Anyway, we retreated from as early as 9 on Friday until as late as 4 on Sunday; my timing was more like 11 on Friday until 11 on Sunday. One of the highlights of the planned activities was a rousing game of Left-Right-Center with fat quarters. Susan took home ninety (count 'em -- 90) solid FQs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There had been a shop hop earlier in the autumn with all kinds of glorious prizes for finishing by a specified date. I didn't feel as though I needed any prizes and I certainly didn't need another deadline, so I let the weeks go by until it was time to prepare for retreat and then I cut and cut and cut so that I had the makings of a dozen of the shop hop pattern blocks to work on during the weekend. I actually finished 10-1/2 which I thought was pretty fine, considering that each block is rumored to contain 47 pieces. I like the pattern enough that I plan to make twice as many blocks, turning it into a twin size quilt for a certain grandson.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was seated with a delightful group of women and the time passed too quickly. The hotel provided a complimentary breakfast and we sent out for the other meals, giving me a first, second, and third experience with Door Dash. The work room was spacious and -- as you can see above -- pretty full. The guest rooms were comfortable and my roommate delightful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And then it was time to come home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoVDdyl4J2MoY2XRL_ZnYG5g7k1yEGq5BnbQcYUdltcpAmE_6z07gLnIrm6PKSOdgjPoeil5qagE93dqeiy0o6c1sonGGA3A1kXe7vrssd-780M6rZb_60R56N-Q6unU7_FrgTkAVDmmxxqp141gaXyF4OeIt_Mi92SK9wa911EAZvXkRRajE/s4032/IMG_8949.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoVDdyl4J2MoY2XRL_ZnYG5g7k1yEGq5BnbQcYUdltcpAmE_6z07gLnIrm6PKSOdgjPoeil5qagE93dqeiy0o6c1sonGGA3A1kXe7vrssd-780M6rZb_60R56N-Q6unU7_FrgTkAVDmmxxqp141gaXyF4OeIt_Mi92SK9wa911EAZvXkRRajE/w480-h640/IMG_8949.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-2793739885725185742023-11-05T07:14:00.002-05:002023-11-05T07:14:30.810-05:00Mitzi<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXfKy550Hs_LgJruo27ZSOd0v6JVmE6TyjYhVwnhqmEgi6gXhqbm62Y0dqweZ4J1qZ9NckXTY3Xnnqh5VusKqmzkQlGPrg4vAj_pu_OHXSeoLUlRVVygnjT-09Zy3KWd3eNOK3fFxCouau4SauMfm-rPKQRkbcHPUpdtIlKhSpwNfhSMrq-cF5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="602" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXfKy550Hs_LgJruo27ZSOd0v6JVmE6TyjYhVwnhqmEgi6gXhqbm62Y0dqweZ4J1qZ9NckXTY3Xnnqh5VusKqmzkQlGPrg4vAj_pu_OHXSeoLUlRVVygnjT-09Zy3KWd3eNOK3fFxCouau4SauMfm-rPKQRkbcHPUpdtIlKhSpwNfhSMrq-cF5" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">During the four years that Joe and I dated prior to marrying, we made a fair number of trips "up home," as his parents referred to the town in upstate Pennsylvania where they'd grown up and where most of the family on both sides still resided. Sometimes we'd stay with his grandmother who lived in the rural area, but more often we'd stay with Grandma, who lived in town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Grandma had once -- only once -- long ago had a dog. She was an orange Pomeranian and her photo was in the dining room for all of the years I ever went there. Her name had been Mitzi and she had been beloved. Although I never met this hallowed animal, I can still envision that photograph and on the rare occasion that I encounter an orange Pomeranian, I always think to myself, "That's a Mitzi-dog."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My friend Laurie has been going through things left by her recently deceased uncle and the other day she posted on Facebook about a group of photos she found, photos of people she didn't know and her mom didn't either, and it occurred to her that with the passing of her uncle, now no one would <b>ever</b> know who they were. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For some very peculiar unknown reason this made me think of Mitzi. Joe is now the oldest person in his family; his brother and oldest cousins are all some six or seven years younger, and while -- when pressed -- he admits to having a memory of Mitzi, none of them would. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, when we're gone, there will be no one with real live memory of Mitzi and no one who thinks (and sometimes says aloud), "That's a Mitzi-dog." And why I felt compelled to write this post is yet another thing that <b>no one</b> -- self included -- will ever know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-11501079135727025872023-11-02T17:07:00.003-04:002023-11-02T17:07:38.271-04:00Sunday Best<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBvykq7ECAmYH2IXA6GDYP0OFt279u15E3HJPbhk1qVncZMET5pGjZEPlF6I0BfqkKvjzfgLWhlsOFJyrNqaXZ53rvK4Um4Y5ZMcxhTLv6S76y9J0Qz4TsHsh0JJOfQHTVDn0tOYmJ4azgPgMQ8siIfctXs-SvKHkHWeZp_yNb-LJuy8HsxO60" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBvykq7ECAmYH2IXA6GDYP0OFt279u15E3HJPbhk1qVncZMET5pGjZEPlF6I0BfqkKvjzfgLWhlsOFJyrNqaXZ53rvK4Um4Y5ZMcxhTLv6S76y9J0Qz4TsHsh0JJOfQHTVDn0tOYmJ4azgPgMQ8siIfctXs-SvKHkHWeZp_yNb-LJuy8HsxO60=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Someone I know is expecting a baby girl sometime in November, so I spent my autumn evenings working on a gift.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd purchased the pattern "Sunday Best" from a now-defunct shop called Cottonseed Glory that was located in Annapolis about twenty-five years ago and have made quilts for several little girls from that pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For this one, I cut the background squares at 7-1/2 inches and the lattices finish at 1-1/2 inches. If you click on the photo, I hope you can see that the lattices are actually a sweet pink polka dot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The dresses are all made from small pieces of Liberty and are hand-buttonholed with two strands of DMC. The binding is a floral print that resembles Liberty and is a bit sturdier. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hand-quilting is with pink thread. Don't look too closely at that.</div><br /><br /><br /><p></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-40078223863685377252023-10-18T19:08:00.003-04:002023-10-18T19:08:37.238-04:00October Sewing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8JTxtixCx5TrZz9vW_D3TEquxOGDVbFZQ4Ks1XlvUs3IXq4TjAMW-uW3im2S6oiXB9OlR8auC3duDXiufG1I19SLNFdeBUrw12Ems2iaiwRqwz0sKBfLjd9NuT5tPsLgIft6W52M9TCVcT29GR_kE5yMvnTsKceWrjQajv3QUvwTudfx-xtQe" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8JTxtixCx5TrZz9vW_D3TEquxOGDVbFZQ4Ks1XlvUs3IXq4TjAMW-uW3im2S6oiXB9OlR8auC3duDXiufG1I19SLNFdeBUrw12Ems2iaiwRqwz0sKBfLjd9NuT5tPsLgIft6W52M9TCVcT29GR_kE5yMvnTsKceWrjQajv3QUvwTudfx-xtQe=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div>Hooray! October is my turn for the Bee blocks! <p></p><p>I asked my mates for Granny Squares, to finish at 12 inches. I told them blues, purples, greens; anything from yellow-green all the way around to red-violet.</p><p>I made two to give them an idea. Two have come in the mail. Last night at the Guild meeting, some more were handed to me. I was so eager to get them up on my wall!</p><p>By the end of the month, I should have sixteen of them, a great start to a quilt I've been wanting to make. I had a recipient in mind, but then the Shop Hop came along and there's <b>that </b>quilt to make and now I'm wondering which is right for said recipient!</p><p>November will be Ruth's turn to be Queen and then our round of the Intermediate Bee Blocks will be complete. I've been the coordinator for two years now, and there is some chatter about a Bee of all solids to begin in January, so I think it's time for me to retire from this fun little group. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYSDJytMDP1LNUFuUjPZKwjmE3rqWS0tskBdZTX2Nr5kgT9U4xLVdKEccHLHj0aMMq2Yo_yD0con3VCPubK6CAZGQPWzJJvsnx1lLNccss6eOTfavC9NH6dDLoTcFGwmG_m8l-53hWyvBx8D0pQse_VbLfy4U1cPSHqTf5cAiCoSDpiqCJxJMU" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYSDJytMDP1LNUFuUjPZKwjmE3rqWS0tskBdZTX2Nr5kgT9U4xLVdKEccHLHj0aMMq2Yo_yD0con3VCPubK6CAZGQPWzJJvsnx1lLNccss6eOTfavC9NH6dDLoTcFGwmG_m8l-53hWyvBx8D0pQse_VbLfy4U1cPSHqTf5cAiCoSDpiqCJxJMU=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div>My evening handwork for the past few weeks was hand-buttonholing these little dresses for a little baby girl due to be born in November. I believe you can click the photo and enlarge it to see that they are twenty-five different Liberty print dresses. I loved making them.<p></p><p>Earlier this week I drove over to the LQS (which, by wonderful surprise! is moving this winter to my very own town Near Philadelphia!!!) and picked up fabric for the lattice and cornerstones.</p><p>I plan to sandwich this quilt tonight and begin hand quilting her in front of the television. I haven't hand quilted a project in a long time and this is a manageable size. I'll have to set it aside for a few days as I've volunteered to do the hand part of the binding on a Mercy quilt that a group of us are making for a friend going through a rough patch, but I still think the little dresses will be complete and delivered in November.</p><p>Stay tuned on <b>both</b> front!<br /><br /> </p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27429478.post-8748064050866208882023-10-13T15:04:00.005-04:002023-10-13T15:13:51.433-04:00Feeding the Hungry<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BFGDaVcj51IsuMZk5iuGfz0YDyJILuhLHbFj4eOQt8NtMu-gvrfj3ZzeHXOFIRu6w2yu65uYvUTcIfw5k8L4DpJzgIEg_r4f6_hxmV41eihmpO0XsVBnv0JPC-ZqhrYByKrK0ruIj8VrQi-jKbxSXLZ6ReO0vblv5qBisoxAIKCvxYSCqpCl/s1024/Reverse%20Advent%20Calendar.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="791" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BFGDaVcj51IsuMZk5iuGfz0YDyJILuhLHbFj4eOQt8NtMu-gvrfj3ZzeHXOFIRu6w2yu65uYvUTcIfw5k8L4DpJzgIEg_r4f6_hxmV41eihmpO0XsVBnv0JPC-ZqhrYByKrK0ruIj8VrQi-jKbxSXLZ6ReO0vblv5qBisoxAIKCvxYSCqpCl/w247-h320/Reverse%20Advent%20Calendar.png" width="247" /></a></div>This graphic shows up on Facebook and, I imagine, other places each year, although it doesn't usually appear until sometime in November. I volunteer at our local food pantry and have some thoughts to share about the Reverse Advent Calendar.<p></p><p>I have no argument with the basic premise. Advent is an excellent time to think about families who are food insecure and to try to do something to help. My quibble is -- well, where do I begin?</p><p>--Most likely, your local food bank won't be open on Christmas Eve.</p><p>--Even if it is, all of those twenty-four items must be checked for dates individually and then put on the right shelf. And we're talking twenty-four different shelf locations here. One of this and one of that, oh my, the processing is so time consuming!</p><p>--Oh, and wouldn't it be nice to have the food available for the families a week or so <u>before</u> Christmas rather than a week or so after?</p><p>--Everything on the Reverse Advent Calendar list can be bought with SNAP benefits (what some of us know as Food Stamps). People also need laundry detergent, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste (and a new toothbrush would be awfully nice), dish soap, and sanitary napkins. And at the grocery store, all of those things must be paid for with cash, not food stamps.</p><p>--The list is weak on protein. Sure, there's peanut butter. And there's tuna fish. But how far does one little can of tuna go to feed a family of four or more? We kid about Spam, but it's a source of protein. So is canned chicken. So is canned salmon. </p><p>So, help feed the hungry -- not just during Advent, but <u>anytime</u>! And here are some ideas to consider:</p><p>--Instead of a lot of different things, just buy a case of something. Something you like that has some decent nutritional value.</p><p>--Consider purchasing non-food, personal care items.</p><p>--Ask your food bank if they have space to store things like milk, bacon, eggs, fruits and vegetables.</p><p>--Revisit shelf-stable protein and perhaps purchase a canned ham or two (or more), canned chicken, large size cans of tuna.</p><p>--Expiration dates matter!</p><p>--Think about your own pantry basics like flour and sugar in five-pound bags, cooking oil, and fun items like chocolate bits.</p><p>--Make your goal to deliver to the food bank the first day of Hanukkah, which this year is December 8.</p><p>Thank you for thinking about all of this.</p><p>PS: Canned mixed vegetables are gross and, frankly, IMNSHO, canned carrots should not even exist.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nancy Near Philadelphiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803134620826322075noreply@blogger.com7