Goodbye, Tarbaby

Only 20 days after discovering Tarbaby's severe urinary tract infection I had to let him go. He spent 12 days in the kitty hospital and was medicated, pampered, adored, and loved. He got to come home for a few days but could not overcome his body's tendency for the urethra to clog, a common problem in older boy cats. He would only be eight next week, not so old, but I could not put him through any more painful procedures. Even though he was skittish around strangers, he charmed both vets and the techs who took care of him. He was more like having a toddler in the house than a cat--lovable, demanding, talkative. He will be sorely missed.

He loved to hang on the back of my office chair; he also liked to lie on his back with me supporting hi head so he could stretch out his long legs and groom himself. A favorite sleeping spot was up against a pillow on one of my quilts. When there were other voices in the house, he often retreated to a high place of safety. His shiny, solid black fur made him hard to photograph but I never quit trying. The girls, Elizabeth and Rahrah, are unaffected by his absence, enjoying their elevated status in the pecking order. Goodbye, Tarbaby.

Loving this Fall Weather

After my week in Gatlinburg I have been enjoying walking in my neighborhood. There are persimmon trees full of fruit, an early azalea, purple ?. My persimmon tree only grows beautiful leaves, no fruit, but it is in full shade. I have several Mexican Heather plants that seem to do well no matter the heat or cold. I discovered a little cascading stem that looks like redbud in my flowerbed. This angel-leaf begonia is lovely from the front or from the back with sun shining through the leaves.

A Week at Arrowmont

 I just returned from a week at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains for a free-motion quilting class at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN. Paula Kovarik is an inspiring individual and teacher, and my fellow students were amazingly talented also. This area is a huge tourist destination, but we didn't hike or shop, preferring to spend our time inside stitching. My lodging was up a steep hill, an easy walk down before breakfast, but quite challenging walking up at the end of the day. My walk down the hill was interrupted by stopping to photograph leaves on the path. The food was creative and delicious. I came home eager to get to my sewing machine.

Road from Bill May Hall toward dining and classes

Mural depicting classes 

Large sycamore leaves

Large sycamore leaf

Dining Hall and fall display

My section of the design wall 

Cool September Mornings

Ahhh. . . how pleasant to wake up to some 60-degree temperatures in late September!  And I got my Pfizer booster vaccine today. Another milestone.

I've been busy preparing my part on the program at the Fall Gathering of Mississippi Quilt Association this weekend--our first in-person since February 2020. I'll be talking about my stitched pictures and ghost-quilted flower pictures. I picked up these stitched abstract pieces from the framer today.

There isn't much blooming now after our hot summer, but I was fascinated by the huge mushrooms in my neighbor's yard. They look so delicious but of course I wouldn't dare try them. They are about 6" across.

Seed pod on Magnolia tree

Our Readers Theatre group presented a program for PrimeTime at University Baptist Church, and Linda read the role of a sassy teen-aged daughter in one of the skits.

Linda Ginn in Readers Theatre

The SMAA exhibit at the Lucile Parker Gallery is over but I am still amazed remembering the wildly colorful work of Hector Boldo. Here is my favorite of his work in the show.  

Offrenda (Offering) by Hector Boldo

Hector painted one of the utility boxes that we are enjoying around Hattiesburg. You can see his art on the corner of Hardy and S. 34th Avenue by Toefer's. Thanks to the artists who spread joy through these paintings around our city. 

September

     Hurricane Ida was a non-event where I live, but the news of flooding in Louisiana and even as far north as New York was heartbreaking. Then a weekend of reminders and tributes to the heroes of 9/11, along with the tragedies of Afghanistan brought on sadness and thoughts of helplessness. With the pandemic still taking lives and causing isolation and unrest, I am searching for reasons to dwell on the positive. 

     A happy art event is that Oddfellows Gallery in downtown Hattiesburg has invited SMAA members to display art on a monthly rotating basis. I am pleased that my Purple Ghost-Quilted Flowers was accepted for this first month's exhibit. 

Oddfellows Gallery

    Making quilts for a family experiencing terrible illness helped several Pine Belt Quilters spread some joy. Working on these quilts gave purpose during the devastating news on TV during that week. Diane Jordan longarm quilted the four quilts we gave.

Quilting by Diane Jordan

     Senior Readers Theatre presented a program for the Petal Arts Council last week and will have one for PrimeTime at University Baptist Church next week on September 21st. We also made two videos to advertise OLLI (Oscher Lifelong Learning Institute through University of Southern Mississippi). This fun activity helps us to even laugh at ourselves. 

(L to R) Steve Clyburn, Pam Powers, Dallas Gorbett, Betty Reid, Patrice Seal

Mrs Santa

With Eric Weill

  September is still miserably hot in the yard. I've enjoyed working on more stitched flowers, postcards, and small abstract pieces.

Stitched abstract pieces in progress

Fabric postcards

      

 

Art Show and Waiting for Hurricane Ida

 The juried art show at the Lucile Parker Gallery on the William Carey University campus is a beautiful event to see, even though the opening reception was COVID-cancelled. My Blue Ghost-Quilted Flowers won a second place ribbon, which was very satisfying. The Best of Show winner, Jo-Ann Adams, came up from Poplarville and we toured the show one afternoon last week. The show is open 1:00-4:00 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays through September 23.

Jo-Ann Adams, Best of Show Persimmons, watercolor

My Blue Ghost-Quilted Flowers, 2nd place;
Andrea Kostyal, 1st place

Enlarge to see

Enlarge to see

Today is the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Ida, another Category 4-5 storm, is scheduled to hit the Louisiana coastline later today. We are 150 miles from the eye but are expecting 5-10 inches of rain and the threat of tornadoes. 

Meanwhile, the Black-(or Brown)-eyed Susans, Lantana, Big Blue Liriope Muscari, and coleus still provide beauty as they struggle to survive the high 90s heat every day of August.