More on weeding

My nephew sent this to me this morning (thanks Matthias!) My sentiments exactly.

Today I tackled the area I feel is most fraught with danger - the big rocks. There are deep crevices at the bottom of the rocks, just the inviting atmosphere a spider will love. Each time I do this area I stand for a few minutes trying to get my nerve up. The conversation in my mind goes something like this:

"There are only a few weeds. It will go fast."
"What if a spider comes running out?"
"How bad does this area really look? Will anyone else even notice that there are weeds here?"
"If a spider comes out, what will be my escape route?" (I look around and make a few plans of escape).

At this point I usually gird up my loins, so to speak, and start in, resolved to work as fast as possible. I also decide that if I really want I can quit at any time and finish it later. That decision is rarely acted upon. I hate that area, and just want to get it done if I start it. I never, never kneel down and work in this area. I just bend over and pull like mad. The kneeling position is too slow to come out of in need of retreat.

Well, all went well in that area, and when I was done my adrenaline was still pumping so I started in another area. I was just weeding along, minding my own business, and as I pulled out a weed, a giant moth (2 inches long, 3 inch wingspan - don't doubt my measuring, I can tell because of all my quilt square measuring) popped out at me along with the weed. That was my last weed of the day.

Where Is My Husband and What Have You Done With Him?

Ray mowed the lawn today.
I didn't dare go out and take a picture of him; you'll just have to take my word for it.

An Autobiography by Igor Stravinsky

I picked up this book in the textbook section of the BYU bookstore about a year ago, thinking that it looked very interesting. It was.

This book was a difficult read, more because of my own lack than the writer's. His vocabulary was extensive, and there were several words I should have just stopped and looked up. As it was, many of them I was able to understand from context (how's that for reaching back into the past?). That is mostly what limited my enjoyment of the book.

Stravinsky has not written a typical life story, but rather the story of his music's life. It was written in the mid-1930's, when he was about 50 years old. He lived another 40 or so years, so this was a mid-life reflection. It was fascinating to read his theories and strong opinions on music and music appreciation and performance. I think I'd like to check out some of his works at the library and give them a listen after having read the history behind the writing and performing of them.

A couple of side notes:
1. I am always fascinated at how famous people know and associate with so many other famous people. Does that mean that if I became famous, my friends and family would also become famous? In reality, the more apt question would be when my friends or family become famous, then would I also become famous?
2. I have come to the conclusion that most people of genius, or most driven people do not have much of a family life. Although this book is not about his family (there are three very brief facts about his family - he married, he had 4 children, and there is one sentence at the end of the book about one of his sons performing one of his compositions), his description of his life tells us that he did not spend much time at home. He travelled and worked on his compositions extensively.

Good book. Not recommended for the faint of vocabulary.

One Quilt Down, Several to Go

One of my goals for 2008 was to try and finish as many quilts as I can that I have already started, or have the fabric and pattern for. I was diligent and got out all my fabric (secretly so that no one in the house will realize exactly how much I have) and already started projects. Then I carefully sorted through it all, and put everything together in "kits". I made a detailed list so that I can cross each item off the list when it is complete. I just love having a list all crossed out.

I discovered I have 5 tops all pieced. They just needed to be quilted. To my credit, my quilting days were all messed up several months before and after our move, and I had two wedding quilts to make during that time also. Back to the quilts. During General Conference in April I quilted all 5 tops. I like to sew while I listen - it keeps me awake. So now I've had 5 quilts waiting to be bound. Today I did the binding on the first one while I waited for Ray to be ready to go to dinner. How embarrassing that it takes so long to get these things done!

This quilt was made from fabric I bought in a kit for a large, scrappy sawtooth star quilt (all Moda fabrics). I decided I didn't want to make the quilt in the kit, so used the fabric to make a couple of lap quilts. This is actually the one made with the leftovers - the back is completely scraps - a la ♥ Michelle Doty ♥. (Michelle taught me how to do those hearts).

Here is Boris our cat, taking over the quilt, as usual:

Here's the scrappy back side:
Only one problem: I can't find my nice list of all the quilts to be done so that I can cross it off the list. I'm really going to have to hunt for that!

Hope Springs Eternal (so do weeds)

Today began my never-ending battle of the spring/summer season: noxious weeds. I've been putting it off for a couple of weeks, and it's a good thing I did. It snowed last Thursday, so I was glad I had delayed beginning. Hopefully we're done with snow for the year. I donned my crocs, old pants, an old shirt, and red Kua Aina baseball cap, grabbed my bucket, gloves, and handy-dandy weeding tool (the one that looks like a long screw driver with a forked end), and went to work.

How can all the weeds on the planet earth be concentrated in my yard? And, how can they have already taken over when it is only May 5? Even with a yard remodel (more grass, less "garden area") , the weeds will be daunting. I've done this the last two summers, and here I go again. I anticipate spending about 10 hours a week weeding.

As I bend over the multitude of weeds right there on Wasatch Boulevard, I wonder if the potential improvement in curb appeal will outweigh the present sight of (let's hope) not my better side to the many who drive by. So far no one has called to report a new planet or astroid sighting in our neighborhood, so it may not be as bad as I fear.

Speaking of fear, there is always the danger factor of weeding: spiders. Due to my collossal aversion to spiders (I can barely type the word. From now on I'll just put s), I am on constant alert. Over 50% of my weeding area is our rock wall - the nooks and crannies there are a haven for the dreaded s. In addition, every blade of grass or weed that tickles my leg makes me jump until I confirm that it is indeed merely vegetation and not a giant s ready to pounce, or eat. I'm not sure which would be worse. Ugh, I have to change the subject or I'll be having nightmares for weeks.

My two nemeses this summer will be clover and the dread Morning Glory (to be pronounced with as much awe/aversion as "the dread Pirate Roberts" from Princess Bride). I have determined to make a huge dent in the morning glory problem. I vow not to pull any out (thus causing them to double). Rather, I have in mind a few other options. If any work, I'll report. If none work, I'll curse. Actually if none work, I'm tempted to leave them be, and say I have it there on purpose. I just hate to do that to my neighbors.

Here's hoping I can make some good progress that will be more lasting than the last couple of years.

Ain't It Good to Know...

Qualities I look for in a friend: (in no particular order)
1. I can speak freely, and even if I'm not clear, they understand.
2. I can complain, and they know it's not forever, it will blow over in a moment.
3. They don't make fun of me.
4. I never have to worry about how I look in front of them (a big pre-requisite for me).
5. I never have to worry about how my house looks in front of them (no one is truly a friend who cares more about my house than me).
6. I can call and say, "I need to go to lunch, will you come with me?" and they will come and listen to all I have to vent about, which is really what going to lunch is for.
7. They will be honest when I try on clothes. There are ways to say clothes aren't flattering without mentioning the words "It makes you look fat."
8. Even when one of us moves away, we are still friends.
9. We laugh together.

I did not have a lot of friends when I was young. I did have one best friend during elementary school, then spent junior high and high school sort of floating among acquaintances and hoping to be invited and included.

I went away to college not knowing anyone besides Ray (how convenient, seeing as we eventually got married). What a blessing that I had great roommates: Julie (Petersen) Adair my freshman year, then the rest of college lived with mostly the same girls - Janet (Hansen) Sligting, Cindi (Robinson) Smith, Ilona (Walker) Hunsaker, Anita (Ross) Hicks, Shawn (Osborne) Darley, Debbie (McIntosh) Orosco, and a few others. We lived in an apartment with six girls, and most of stayed the whole time and a few rotated in and out. Boy, it was tough to remember everyone's maiden name! Now that I live here in Utah, Janet, Cindi, Ilona and I try to have lunch every month (see #6 above). It is so wonderful to keep up with each other.

After college we moved several places in a few years. I made a very good friend, Teresa Kakadelas, when we lived in Santa Monica. Unfortunately we both moved away.

Then we finally settled in Kirkland. Once again I felt lonely. It takes time to get to know people and make friends. First I got to know Michelle Doty. We didn't become great friends until a little later, but that was my first real connection. In the spring of 1991, Trish Derrick moved in across the street, and my life changed. She came right over and became one of the very best friends I've ever had. Then it got even better. Trish makes friends with everyone. I figured out that if I could just hang onto her coattails, I would be in a dream world full of friends. That dream came true. My heart broke when she moved away from Kirkland to Utah a few years ago. Lucky for me, she's good at staying in touch. Also lucky for me, by then I had made more friends. What would I do without my Crazy Ladies?

Well, I could go on and on. We moved to Utah almost two years ago, and more than the green countryside, the water everywhere, and everything else I loved about Washington, I miss my friends. I hope that time will help, and eventually I'll be able to make good friends here as well. I feel a couple of friendships on their way...

Thank you to all my dear friends, for making my life so wonderful.

Trish and me

When I Crossed No-Bob by Margaret McMullan

A friend in my ward recommended this book to me. It is juvenile fiction - I would recommend it to the older end of that range. Not so much for difficulty, as for content. It takes place about 10 years after the Civil War, in Mississippi, I think. A young girl is abandoned by her parents and taken in by a young couple. She has to figure a lot out, and is a well crafted character. I really liked the book. It was a fast read.

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

One of my all time favorite books is Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Although I liked The Bronze Bow a lot, it did not keep me enthralled as much as The Witch of Blackbird Pond did. There were times when I could not put it down, and other times when I was a little bored. I remember not caring for it too much when I was young. I certainly like it better now than I did then.

What is intriguing to me is whether or not this would be chosen as a Newbery winner today, strictly because of it's topic. I have never read another juvenile book on the topic - a young jewish boy, learning about and meeting Jesus Christ, then choosing to follow His way.