Mid-May Safe at Home

I am working on a lavender/purple ghost quilting piece at the sewing machine. I call it "ghost quilting" because I am stitching in what I think would be in the unknown area outside the center floral fabric. I start with a black foundation, apply a square/rectangle of floral fabric, and thread-paint the flower, imagining what is in the outer black "ghost" area.

A new puzzle is on the table. First I unrolled white paper before emptying out the pieces--voila! Thanks to Linda Ginn for this suggestion to help with visibility. Elizabeth is very possessive of the space and often waits for me there. Rahrah tries out the box, but it is only big enough for sitting--no curling up and sleeping. The puzzle is cat-themed and is going together nicely. Tarbaby isn't interested. He'd rather nap in the empty office chair.

Meanwhile, I've gathered more interesting grasses and enjoy noticing how different they are from place to place. The spiral Lady's Slipper seems to only grow in one yard on my walk, and I hope I don't steal so many that they disappear. 

I had a large dogwood tree blow down during Katrina in 2005. It left some roots at ground level, and lately I am seeing little rows of mushrooms growing from the dead root. Interesting!

Year End

It's hard to realize another year--another decade--has gone by, and we are ready to see 2020. I remember when approaching the year 2000 seemed so important. Year ends make us think about listing accomplishments or goals or failures. My biggest accomplishment was reaching my 84th birthday the day after Christmas!
I have made several art quilts, participated in art shows and special exhibits (The Fabric of Mississippi Living at William Carey University), worked jigsaw puzzles, raised a few herbs and flowers, attended exercise classes, savored music both by listening and participating, and generally enjoyed my blessed life. I scrolled back over my blog posts and chuckled remembering many good times.

My three cats have kept me company and made me feel loved. I got to see a black swallowtail butterfly hatch. I even enjoyed rescuing a baby squirrel and a little abandoned puppy. Central  Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation took the squirrel to care for, and Southern Pines Animal Shelter is taking care of the puppy.

I have tried to generously contribute to causes that are important to me. It is vitally important that we care for our planet and each other.

If I had to summarize 2019, I would have to just say that I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I'm not sure what I expected this age to be like, but I feel certain it is better than my anticipation of it. I hope to continue making art. I hope to continue singing with The Meistersingers, to sing and worship with my University Baptist Church choir, to hear and enjoy music by USM orchestra friends. There are friends to be with, cats to snuggle, plants to tend, books to read, trips to take, more blue and purple streaks for Eric to put in my hair. I like the sound of 2020!

Merry Christmas

Music! Music! Music!
My favorite gift this year was hearing Lei and Xin (Zhaolei Xie and Xin Zhang) play for our University Baptist Church PrimeTime luncheon. Lei is our choir accompanist and Xin often joins him or plays the organ. We all were mesmerized, thinking there must be more than four hands playing to make this much sound. It was not all loud, but a concert showing skill and deep feeling. Lei often amazes us with his preludes and postludes, and we are blessed that he shares his talents with us.

 

 Our choral director, Taylor Hightower, led us in singing some carols. Taylor plans wonderful music worship experiences all year--another blessing!

 A string quartet added to our special music enjoyment last Sunday. Thanks to Alejandro Junco, Rodrigo Zafani, Flor Cozza, and Patricia Rezende, all USM orchestra students.

Another neat musical experience was hearing Jim Reyelt play classical guitar for another luncheon club meeting at the Purple Parrot.Jim is a doctoral student studying with Nick Ciraldo.

My quilt guild, Pine Belt Quilters, donated 170 children's quilts at our December meeting to several agencies, including a family who had recently been given keys to their Habitat for Humanity house.

I enjoyed a box of Harry & David Royal Riviera Pears. My family received fruit gifts when I was a teen-ager and I thought perhaps my memory of these pears was inflated and that I would be disappointed today. But no! They were just like I remembered them. Like no other treat!

Current cat news--Elizabeth seemed to enjoy a visit from three-year-old Charlotte Hightower. At least she was still and patient with the petting and ruffling of her fur.

Rahrah isn't content to curl up in my lap. She prefers to get higher and try to put her legs around my neck. It's difficult to photograph, but I tried.

Tarbaby sometimes acts like he has forgotten how high he can jump. When trying to get on a cabinet, he might do several "practice jumps," even looking at me and meowing pitifully as if asking for help. I have no idea what's going on with this.

A definite surprise for this kitten foster mama--on my way home at 6 p.m. from the Christmas Eve service, I saw a small black dog at a corner near my house. I backed up to see about it, and when I opened my car door and walked toward it, the little fellow walked right up to me. I could not leave him at this busy corner. He was happy to be picked up and put in my garage where he drank a whole bowl of water and then a bowl of cat food and looked up for more. He curled up on a fleecy blanket and spent the night and Christmas Day. He needs medical attention for a skin condition that makes him very uncomfortable. I posted a notice on the Mississippi Lost and Found site and will take care of him until the shelter opens Dec. 26. I will see if he is microchipped and hope the vet can help him and get him into foster care and find him a good home. He is lovable and sweet--tempting for me to keep--but my three cats are traumatized by the strange sounds and suspicious smells already, and this would not be fair for them. So I must be sensible. 

Kitties Win Best of Show in Art Show

Tonight was the Awards Reception for our 43rd Annual South Mississippi Art Association Show on 

Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at the Historic Hattiesburg Train Depot. It is a beautiful show with watercolor, oil, sculpture, mixed media, photography, and other. "Other" includes fiber art, and my "The Window Watchers" won a blue ribbon and Best of Show. Quite a thrill for those kitties and me! 

The Window Watchers, 23" x 30"

 

Ireland Street, 26" x 18"

Improv Zebras, 17" x 25"

Black Swallowtail Butterfly, 34" x 26"

Interleave Symphony, 34" x 31"

I have three pieces in the Clothesline area.

Color Blocks, 8" x 10" and Improv-Blue, 10" x 16"

Improv-Pink, 8" x 10"

New Lights and Cats

The light went out on my sewing machine and a trip to the service guy would be necessary to replace it.  After seeing a little light strip on Stewie's Nana's machine, I ordered one. (Stewie Fulkerson is a beautiful cat with his own Facebook page.) It was tricky to stick under my Pfaff's machine head, but Elizabeth was there to investigate and help out.

Here is what the strip looks like as I am sticking it to the side and underneath of the machine head.  I ordered mine here: https://serenshop.com/product/sewing-machine-light, cost about $20 including shipping and it took a couple of weeks, was shipped from China. 

   Stewie's Nana says hers came from this site: 

Meanwhile, Tarbaby is perched on the back of my computer chair (with pillowcase to protect from sharp claws).

 Rahrah always has a guilty look on her face. I think it is those big eyes.

Festival South in June

Festival South, Mississippi's only multi-week, multi-genre arts festival is one of the best reasons to live in Hattiesburg! Sister Act by the Hub City Players was New York quality, and played four performances to nearly sold-out houses. Local dignitaries (a beloved Catholic priest, former newscaster, chef/restaurant owner, and our mayor) played the roles of the pope in the four performances, to the delight of audiences. Festival South is produced by Hattiesburg Concert Association. Sister Act was directed by Mike Lopinto.

Latisha Hamilton in Sister Act

Sunday afternoon I enjoyed chamber music including Afternoon of a Faun and other pieces. This week there will be a baroque trumpet concert, piano concert, string trio, orchestra (Beethoven's 5th), the Meistersingers, and something for Elvis fans (I can skip that). There are special events for children, and free coffee concerts.

Rachel Ciraldo introducing Afternoon of a Faun at First Presbyterian Church

I finished the improv piecing quilt I started at the MQA Gathering last weekend. It's straight--bad photo! Then I did a little organizing in my studio. I hate that this black/white/red fabric is almost used up.

Jigsaw puzzles are notorious for eating up time, but it is interesting how they can wake up the senses and help you see shapes, colors, interactions more clearly. Another thing I notice is that when I seem to hit a wall and give up and go to bed (because it is usually waaaay past time!), the next time I sit down and begin to work, several pieces just fall into place.
My current puzzle is 18" x 24" and features chameleons of all colors. It has only 550 pieces and a friend said it would be a snap with so few pieces. Not true. I'm finding it quite challenging but fun.

Elizabeth likes to nap in the corded bowl to be nearby; Rahrah tries to walk on the puzzle but I can shoo her away. When Tarbaby wants my attention, he walks over and lies down on the corner of the table. He is good at hanging his head off a table.

Finishing MOP, Shrinking Computer Screen Emergency

Stitching the centers of the Mississippi Orange Peel, wondering if I have any of the backing left for a sleeve.

Back at the computer--I often have to move cats out of the way so I can see the screen, but last night while trying to move Rahrah, this happened!

Computer screen with Facebook in a tall, narrow column

Brand new situation for me. Luckily, Linda had a suggestion that worked. Gee whiz--there is more about the computer I don't know than I do!

Last week I did a "Kindness in Action" TV interview about our Pine Belt Quilters guild activities called relating to Forrest General Hospital. We donate 400+ children's quilts every year to FGH and other area hospitals and children's shelters. TV interviews are kind of scary but I'm so proud of our guild that I swallowed my nerves and pride and did it. It's always interesting to see how much of the valid information gets tossed and what will be included in a two-minute spot! But it's fun to brag on our guild. Click on this link in case you want to watch. A group from Purvis is also featured about their making scarves for breast cancer patients.

We have had two days of heavy, stormy rains, and the cats took full advantage for some major sleeping on one of my oldest, softest, favorite quilts, made in 1987. (That's 31 years ago!) This is when I learned to draft my own blocks, choose color palette, and hand quilt. Note the lint/pet hair removal tool on the headboard.