Blaine is amazing

Sometimes the hubby amazes me. He got my old computer going; it was absolutely dead!

So instead of working today on real work, I spent all day copying photos and files over to the new desktop. I didn't finish cleaning my mail. As soon as I thought I was making progress, more mail came in. It's like a bunny. Oh well, hopefully the darn thing will live until the week-end.

Note I do love email now that I don't get any from work. Hint, Hint.. but not those 'do this or you will die' kind of emails. Or feel free to leave a comment on any of these blogs lines. There is a link to comments at the end of each write-up.

Off to bed; I'm going in the office tomorrow so need to get up for 5:30 to drive Blaine to work...

America the Beautiful

This is one of my favorite quilts. It is called America the Beautiful from the Quiltmakers magazine. I couldn't find old issues of the magazine so many of the patterns I drafted myself.

When we moved to Des Moines (Iowa), it was required that I play an instrument. To determine which instrument suited you best the teacher had you sing. The song was America The Beautiful and I ended up with a flute.

I had this quilt professionally quilted by Jacquie Pohl. She is so creative. All I asked is that she quilt in the 3 state names where we lived. The blocks in the bottom row are called 'ocean waves' and she quilted the word 'Florida' in one wave. The 3rd row from the bottom is called 'amber waves of grain' (from the song) and 'Iowa' is hidden in that row. And finally in the brightest star, she quilted 'New York' as that is where my Mom is buried.

Email addresses are gone

Ughh.. the computer with my email addresses has crashed, so please send me an email so I can rebuild.

Thanks

The end of an era

I was born into an airline family. Ever since, that airline has provided me with memorable trips, some good friends and even a job in one way or another for over 20 years.

A pilot from the airline saved my life, when I needed emergency surgery within the hour (Gander, Newfoundland). Another almost killed me, as I was literally on the flight that crashed over Toronto in 1970. That was the one and only time I was sitting on the plane on a pass and got bumped off by someone with a higher priority. (It's sad that I can still remember what the lady wore who took my seat - I was so mad at the time as I was trying to get home to Saskatoon from the Maritimes any route I could and I was running out of money).

Up until I was 21, I could travel anywhere the airline flew for $6 four times a year and for 80 percent discount any other time. I used every one of those $6 passes and was able to travel to many places I would not otherwise have been able to afford.

I am so lucky to have the experiences, as I am much too cautious these days to even think about doing now what I did then.

I haven't had any type of airline discount since I was 21, but my love for travel continued.

I know, I know...hot sunny places where Julio brings you your lunch and drinks on the beach doesn't really count as 'travel'...but I have never been one to sit (or work) at home during vacation.

My father, the airline guy , has been gone for a long time. And since I have finished my last contract with that same airline, I don't feel the desire or need to be so loyal anymore.

It is time to park the planes and put something else on the shelf.

If you want any of the planes in the picture above, except the little gray one, let me know.

Til next time.

My quilt display wall

When we moved into this house a few years ago, I knew I would be hanging all kinds of quilts on the wall in my quilt room. After I banged the first nail into the newly painted wall, I realized that I put it a bit too low. And while I was taking it out, I decided that I wanted a different quilt there and the hole would show. A girl can change her mind, right????

There had to be a better way. So off I went to Revy and purchased a curtain rod and a bunch of bungy cords in various lengths. Then I stopped at the dollar store and bought chips clips with holes in different colours. And voila! I put the curtain rod up. Then I attached the chip clips to the wallhanging, put one end of each bungy cord in the hole in the chip clip and put the other end over the curtain rod.

Now I can change the wallhangings (completed or in progress) whenever I want.

My Garden

I found a great stained glass patterns site (Chantal's) and fell in love with a calla lily pattern. I thought I could adapt it to a quilted wallhanging. It looks a bit wavy in this picture for some unknown reason!

BTW...I am a horrible gardener. I have great intentions and plant flowers in all the beds, but as soon as the mosquitos come out, I'm out of there. Other than Blaine watering, I must admit, the flowers have been neglected.

What will I be when I grow up

A lot has happened over the last few weeks!

I was finally laid off. I say 'finally' because I have expected it for almost a year. For the last 7 months, I have been working from home doing technical documentation. Well, actually much of that time I wrote from our deck in Texas overlooking the Intercoastal Waterway or from the screened deck off our kitchen, so I can not complain too much.

But it was quite lonely working in a vacuum.

The day after everything with my old job was final, I started a consulting contract working with an old friend. It's a 2 or 3 month project; the people are great, the work is interesting and I feel a sense of accomplishment. I work in the office (in jeans) or from home (in jammies) when I want (I'm on a flat fee quote), so I am happy. Since we are going to Texas for 3 months this time, if my project gets extended, I will know enough to work remotely.

It's weird that both of us have been laid off from large companies in the last 9 months; it's the first time either of us has ever been unemployed for more than one day. We are so lucky - I can't imagine the feeling others go through when they can not find a job right away, especially if they have families to support and/or debt of any kind.

Some people have asked whether I regret not working for one company all these years, so I would have a company pension. Oh, a company pension would be nice in the years ahead, but I would rather do something I loved than be tied to a job that bores me just for a pension. I've been so lucky having jobs where I really had no 'boss' bossing me around. I did have a few clients that tried. One even used to wave her finger up to my nose and tell me I didn't know my job - I did - as long as my customers were happy and I made way more money than she did, it pissed me off, but effectively went in one ear and out 'the other end'). Enough rant. Overall my clients/customers over the years were terrific. And I wouldn't trade them or my past work for a pension any day.

Blaine will continue to work at the golf course next year and me...well, I will see how this contract turns out then decide what I want to be when I grow up. I have to work or do something constructive or I will go nuts.