September Happenings and Owen's Frog

It is exciting when we are teased with a slight break in the extreme summer heat, especially when a little rain returns after a month. My purple face is almost back to normal color from my fall three weeks ago and I've been cleared by my eye doctor and dentist. Now to just avoid little curbs and uneven places. Linda reminds me "Eyes on Path." 

Cats are not the only things with nine lives around my house. I admit to letting the carrots burn to a crisp and managing to get the pot clean. But this mishap with a can of hairspray was a surprise event that I had nothing to do with. The spray looked like a candle that had melted and dripped down the side.

Carrots burned to a crisp

Pot clean and shining

Hairspray acting like a candle

My good friend Virginia McGee Butler took her nine-year-old grandson to see my Festival Fibers exhibit during Festival South in June. He is very artistic and enjoyed the quilted art pieces. She shared a photo of his frog drawing later, and I enjoyed depicting Owen's Frog in fabric.

Owen's Frog Drawing

Owen's Frog Quilt

As expected, the cats have ignored the new scratching post for a month. I have tried dangling ribbon from the top with little success, but there is still hope. Meanwhile Rahrah prefers door facings.  

Rahrah

Elizabeth waiting for me in the bedroom

Outdoor kitty enjoying her meals in the garage

Mississippi Book Festival and A Fall

Our OLLI group 

This was my first trip to the Mississippi Book Festival at the capitol building in Jackson and surrounding grounds and streets. Anything outdoors in August generally holds little interest for me, but after hearing it widely publicized on Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the online news publication Mississppi Today by writer/cartoonist Marshall Ramsey, I chose to go with a group of OLLI friends from Hattiesburg on Aug. 19. Even with all the advance information and recommendations, I was still amazed and overwhelmed at the wealth of information and offerings we found there--something for everyone's interest, prompting us to make long lists of books to read later. 

Linda and I in the hallway planning our day

Virginia Magee Butler, panelist on author biographers

We studied the festival guide to plan which panel discussions and author talks we wanted to attend and the locations for each. The presentation on Civil Rights was especially meaningful, moderated by Pamela D. C. Junior, the recently retired curator of the Two Mississippi Museums, and featured three authors, Devery S. Anderson, A Slow, Calculated Lynching: The Story of Clyde Kennard, Kathleen W. Wickham, James Meredith: Breaking the Barrier, and Alvin Hall, Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance. 

My good friend Virginia Magee Butler, author of Becoming Ezra Jack Keats, was a panelist featuring author biographers.

For Food Pavillion, Food Trucks, Authors Alley, and Booksellers Row, we had to leave the building and face the 100-degree heat. Walking on the sidewalk after getting a book signed, I stumbled on a little curb (walking into a small bit of shade behind a monument for a rest before continuing up the steps into the building). Falling happens so fast and I can only think I am being as careful as possible, but obviously this is not true. Help came quickly after the first person asked, "Are you okay?" I was taken by a vehicle to an ambulance, then to Baptist Hospital, where the cut above the eye and bruises to my face were addressed and a CT was done. There is a fracture of the cheekbone which will heal without intervention, and the cut was glued shut.  I saw my opthalmalogist in Hattiesburg and spent about a week at home in my recliner with pain medication keeping me fairly comfortable, and feeling is gradually returning to my face and teeth. This event has been quite troubling and humbling, prompting lots of introspection. Lying on a stretcher in an ambulance at any age is tough, but at 87, it is especially sobering. Friends and family have been loving and attentive, and I hate like everything to cause such drama and worry.  

The cats were quite pleased to find me in the recliner so much and took turns keeping me company. Rahrah's ultrasound after her surgery does not show any more stones forming in her bladder and I'm hoping the new recommended food will be good for both of them. Although it is still being ignored, I bought a 32" tall scratching post from Chewy that I'm hoping Rahrah will find more attractive than the door facings. It took Elizabeth a month to like her cat tree.

Rahrah's turn on my lap

Halfway through August

Weather and plants--After the hottest July in history, August is more of the same. I missed a couple of days watering my hostas. A large tree has dropped another limb, luckily not damaging the roof.

Hostas suffering from heat and lack of water

Another Broken limb

Cats--The little ginger mama cat is a permanent resident now, running to me when I open the garage door to feed her. Her last two kittens disappeared before I could trap them. She enjoys some petting and is quite talkative. 

I just call her Kitty

More kitty adventures when I discovered Rahrah had a UTI and bladder infection and needed surgery to remove jagged bladder stones which obviously had her in a lot of pain. She is a real challenge to medicate and usually requires help. After the surgery and a couple of days at the vet hospital, she is doing very well. 

Rahrah feeling bad

Julie comforting Rahrah

Feeling fine, being my helper

Elizabeth keeps watch over any possible back yard activity. But mostly sleeps. She waits for me under a chair in the evenings when she knows it's nearing bedtime. 

Waiting for bedtime

Sewing--Southern Fiber Artists are working on an 11-piece project to spell out MISSISSIPPI. Here is my P, highlighting our state's strong connection to music.

Charlotte Timmons, Michele Martin, Leanne Green, Julia Graber

Art--The 2023 SMAA show at the Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey University opens next week, August 22. I entered a stitched Burlap Linen Flower.

Burlap Linen Flower, 18 x 21

The Invitation

 

July Was a Summer Sizzler

July has been quite uneventful, as in a "no news is good news" sort of way. I water a few plants in the flowerbeds every day to keep them alive. My favorite is the basil, and it is so bushy that I cut it for a little vase on the window sill. 

Basil in vase

Basil, with dill on left, parsley on right

The mama ginger cat I trapped and had spayed and released back in my yard appears and disappears every few days along with only one little black kitten. She comes for food but won't get too close, and the kitten definitely won't. They listen for the garage door to open and the food bowl to be put down, eat and then go hide again. 

Time for breakfast

A sudden storm (wind with very little rain) brought down a big limb on the fence on the east side of the house. Here's a view of the limb caught on the wooden fence.  

Taken from back yard side of fence

Taken from front yard side of fence

Linda finished and hung my 12" square barn quilt signs on my mailbox. My driveway is not on the front of my house and it's a little confusing to give directions. But these beautiful signs should help. Thanks, Linda!

Ohio Star on one side

Dutchman's Puzzle on the other side

Maybe I'll make more art in August. Maybe.

Some July Art

Taking down the FestivalFibers exhibit seemed a good time to rotate some artwork on my walls. Silk with Stitches is in the LR where Elizabeth is usually hung. Twisted Tree II is a favorite along with the Stitched Lemons. I made a second Burlap Linen Flower but quilted in opposite places than the first one. 

Burlap Linen Flower I
Quilted in petals

Burlap Linen Flower II
Quilted in leaves and background

Silk with Stitches

Stitched Lemons

Staying inside during this punishing heat with near 100 degree temps allowed time to finish three Pine Belt Quilters community sewing projects. Two of these were pieced by others and I added the quilting and binding on all three. I see that Elizabeth made a few biscuits on the batting while it was out on the table. Then just for fun I made a few more pieces of postcard art.

I'm glad this batting was going to be cut away.

Even with the heat wave, my hosta, coleus, and basil plants are happy as long as I keep them watered. I should cook more dishes requiring basil.

Hosta blooming

Coleus, with vinca and begonia

Basil, with dill (lower L) and parsley (lower R)