BOSTON, BROWNSTONES, BRONZE and the T

While it's fresh  and I can remember correctly the chain of events, this post shares the highlights of this past long weekend's Boston trip we took along with our daughter's family.

1. Rode the Subway on the T  Missy was a great navigator and knows how to read those maps.   Rode them over the Salt and Pepper (Longfellow) Bridge many times, photo taken from Michelle's  blog she pictures it beautifully. 
2. Walked through Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market had snacks.
3. Riding a carriage via Cheecko and Jared to get across the Charles River.   Clip Clopping on those cobblestones at dusk with the lights glowing from the underside of the carriage. 
4. Boston Children's Museum, the 2 youngest grand children had a blast.
5. Copley Square tour with dinner following at a California Pizza.  YUM!!  The arugula salad with asparagus, roasted peppers, almond and a lemon vinaigrette was lovely.  Wish that franchise was around here.
6. Rode the T which the grand children wanted to do constantly, if not that than ride the escalators. She was a Pro and he quickly caught on.
7. Ate breakfast at Champions cafe at the Marriot Hotel.
8. T ride to Boston Commons, seeing Monuments and then to the Public Gardens for the Swan boats.   When I went to Boston when I was little and realized they had Swan boats I have always wanted to ride them.  Can I say Wish list - CHECK!  We treated all since this was an item on my wish list and of course I purchased a couple of souvenirs so we'd remember it more easily.  Besides magnets, Lil' man wanted a stuffed swan, while lil' Miss selected a sweet swan T shirt, I selected a charm for my ever expending bracelet  with earrings and an ornament beautifully painted  of the swan boats for our Christmas tree.  Our  Daughter even picked out the same ornament, it amuses us when she and I select the same things at almost the same time.  lol
9. Watching several artists in the commons like the Japanese gentlemen elegantly playing the stringed instrument near a fountain and cascading tress overhead.  Also near the entrance of the park with BOSTONIA molded over the gate, listening and watching the wily Hurty Gerty man sing his Eagles' songs with all his instruments strapped all over his body.
10. Went to visit Chinatown.
11. Saw the sights from the Skywalk at the Prudential Tower with a cocktail and dessert on the Top of the Hub, 52 stories high.  Daughter and her family went to Dunkin Donuts and stayed low since they'd already seen this in a previous trip.
12. All of us returned to the Hotel at the same time since the guys were headed to the Red Sox White Sox game and the ladies were headed to a belated Birthday Party at the American Girl Doll  in Natick for lil' Miss.  Spent a fortune there and when we returned realized just how little were in our bags.  Must have been something in the nice dinner we had there.  Lil' miss enjoyed herself and brought along her babies: Rose, Emily and her nephew Danny for the party and I do have to say the staff there really know how to treat the dolls and visitors correctly.  Even the dolls had lil Birthday crowns in their high chairs.  Rose had her hair styled and then McKenna shopped for her look alike doll. The newest addition to the family is McKenzie also known as Kenzie and ZZ.   She got an outfit, had her ears pierced and shopped like the rest of us girls.   Great time with a Ka-ching! 
13. The menfolk enjoyed a terrific game at Fenway Park with the Red Sox winning 7-2.  DH said the worst part was the wait for Subways on the way back to the Hotel.  He mentioned that they luckily they got one of the last trains out of that area and many people were left without the T transport back to there destinations.  Also that the Yankee Stadium kneww how to do it correctly compared to Boston (that was the only negative point on this trip.)  Lucky enough for s but not for the next fellow and I can just imagine trying to cope with a 4 year old and obtaining a cab at that time of night, no thank you.
14. Take out breakfast via Dunkin Donuts for the kids and grands while DH&I ate the veggies and coffee cakes I brought from home then on to an escalator ride to a Hop On Hop Off tour.
15. RJ wanted to get a Hard Rock Cafe T shirt so we got off near the Aquarium to access Quincy Market.  He didn't buy one though because of the prices but his daughter (age 8)  did, (Go figure that one out?) 
16. Walked part of the Freedom Trail to see the Paul Revere House.  The youngest one (age 4) was all ears as his imagination was taking over.  Couldn't believe there were so many fireplaces and that the children had to work as part of the family just to survive.  That Santa would bring maybe marbles if the child was really really good but most likely Santa brought them a new pair of shoes or boots if that.  Did you know that Paul Revere had 16 children!  Lil' miss saw the kitchen and was impressed with the bread making accoutrement's and the cradle setting next to the fireplace.
17. While finding Mike's Pastries we stumbled through the  Little Italy section.  The Aromas, pure heaven, so.......
18. Backtracked to have a Beautiful family dinner at Villa Francesca and really PAID for it.
19. Walked more to The Old North Church and enjoyed the tour there, 37 crypts and 1100 people buried there.  Enjoyed the stories of the One if by Land and Two if by Sea  River  (the Charles).  Actually it's because of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere that he got credit for hanging them.  Two other gentleman actually did hang the lanterns after his command to do so but their names didn't rhyme with here.   The following day the "Shot heard from around the world" started the American Revolution.
20. Hop On the Tour Bus to return to our parked cars and finish the tour seeing the Liberty Gardens(name?) MIT, Stata Center along the way.

It was a very nice vacation with us able to hit many of the tourist sights.  Should we ever vacation there again, I'd buy the hop on hop off tour tickets first besides the 7 day passes.  Expensive but worth the convenience.  The sights I wasn't able to see but would love to are the Church of  Science Complex, Trinity Church,  MFA, the Liberty Gardens near Fenway Park area, actually Walk the whole Freedom Trail Tour with all those enactors dressed in the period costumes, visit Hardvard, Bunker Hill, the Hatch Shell with the Boston Pops during the fouth of July weekend along the Esplanade,  have dinner at The Lobster Shanty (a restaurant that was on the Drive Ins, Diners and Dives Program with Guy Fieri) and   DH mentions that he'd love to do the Cheers Tour.    lol

We'll have to save much for all that if it ever happens!

Oh!!  That reminds me of another sight I'd like to see, the ducks at the Public Gardens......

 

Thank you Boston for a wonderful and very memorable trip. 

Such a friendly city and it deserves it's well known title as the Walking City.

It's easy to get around and walk to the many spots.

Enjoy your week.  Soon the little ones will be back at school and my schedule will have more demands, now I'm getting off this computer to work on some quilts that need finishing......

Jane 
 

August is a Blurrrr rrrrr .....

Time seems so very short for me lately.  My best intentions to blog regularly are falling short so I am taking my lead from  Dana over at the Red Barn Co. blog to just give some highlights of some of the happenings that have been going on these past few weeks.   My start for these Bloggy bullets are being posted for my own sanity and journal. 

Met up with Mom in Glens Falls at the Hyde Collection for a Georgia O'Keefe exhibit.  NICE!
The exhibit consisted mainly of her works created when she lived in the Lake George area with the Stieglitz family. The series of Jack-in-the-pulpit really showed her development and interest as an artist.

My favorites were the Chestnut Grey, 1924

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and

 



          Starlight Night, Lake George, 1922                    

 

 

One of Mom's favorites was the Trees in Autumn, 1920-1921.

 

 

Many family gatherings have happened with siblings and cousins.  Our annual picnic was hosted by Doug, my brother and his girlfriend, Lyn.  Thanks so much you two, it was fun gathering especially with all the cousins and most of our siblings and their families in attendance.    But there were others gatherings and connections happening for a couple of weeks.  With Mom staying here,some came by to visit have a bite or relax in the pool.  Pizza parties at another sister's home and gathering at the camp on Lake Champlain with campfires and water sports.

Then the Dale Chihuly exhibit at Montreal's Museum for Fine Art was utterly spectacular.  Mom and I finally were able to go last week after a couple of failed attempts.  Flu, museum closed for example, etc....    Would you believe I didn't take my camera!   These photos of images I took at home via news clippings and post cards.  If you are interested I can give you their names and  forward the credits but just don't have time for all that now.  My regrets.




Le soleil / The Sun
 



Plafond persan d'Oklahoma / Oklahoma Persian Ceiling



Lustre du Mercato del Pesce di Rialto / Mercato del Pesce de Rialto Chandelier
aka; Orange Hornet Chandelier





Mille Fiori / One thousand Flowers

Mom the green black striped stylized leaf that you loved are on the left just behind those red columns.
This picture does not do it justice. These glass lengths were 7 to 18 feet tall.

Many pieces were shown and each seemingly more intriguing than the next. 



Barques de Flotters et d'Ikebana / Float and Ikebana Boats

  

My favorite was the boats with floats.

A more detailed glimpse of it.  I would love to make a wall hanging depicting this memory using batiks. 

 

We'll see......

 

 

Creativity wise some bits have been completed.

 

1. The 10 minute quilt top is a flimsy, I'll be using a brown minkee dot fabric for the backing.   
2. I picked up a vanilla colored minkee backing at Joann's in Vt when we went to Shelburne Museum for the Velda Newman Exhibit.  The minkee is for the camper quilt which only has one border more to go.   Need to commit to how this will be bordered so it's on the fence but will be done for the quilt show in October 2013!
3. The Serpentine bracelet from a class I took with Trudy in August is completed.
4. The 2  smaller  "Happy Birthday" 10 minute runners are done and just in time for lil' miss turning 8 on the 10th.
5. Another 2 Kumihimo bracelets have been finished.  One matte black with amber and metallic bits and the other one is a medium matte green with Magatama iridescent glass beads.    It's another attempt of mine at playing with the orientation and textures, sizes and colors with in these bracelets.  Can you tell I find braiding them fun?
6. Lil' Miss also finished another project of hers.  The 10 minute table runner in fabrics that look lovely with that quilt I made for her earlier this year.  This was the first project she started when she joined in the cupcake kids sewing circle.  The first two dates they met we were away camping.  The second project was this advent calendar panel where she had to fold, press and stitch to create the pockets.  I'll be doing the quilting and attach the binding but she will be hand sewing it on.  The photo to the right is of the circle while they worked on this project.
7. She and I also finished her name tag which a guild member kindly and selflessly embroidered per the childrens' orders from her cupcake kids sewing circle.
 















Kumihimo with Magatama glass



Kumihimo



Serpentine bracelet















 

Mom was staying here for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the month and I enjoyed having her visit.  She continues to amaze me with how much she gets done but I realize she just keeps keepin at it until it's done.  I am more fluctuating with other family members goings on and will allow myself to be put on the bottom of my list.  I am correcting that and realize I have many years to compensate for it.  I even told Mom I need about 6 months to myself just to catch my breath and catch up with my interests.   As if that will ever happen!  I can only imagine that if or when it does, I probably won't like it and will feel like everyone is ignoring me and will be lonely!  Ah balance that's what I'll cultivate and meditate on. 

 

Speaking of that, a friend and I were able to attend 4 nightly lectures for Intuitive Tools brought locally by Dr. Gail Myers in a 5 week time frame.  Despite all that was happening on my home front at the time, the time I took for this was my solace and a quiet time to appreciate all the blessings I have.  Very comforting and surreal in it's affect.  Can you say Synchronistic!

 

Our daugher gave birth to a kidney stone and had to have emergency surgery this past Friday.  Brought her to the ER Thursday night and was there until 2:30am when the ER admitted her.  The stone 7mm x 4mm x 5mm was lasered then  removed since it was too large for her to pass on her own. 

The grand children were here and I helped out with any transportation needed since her significant other doesn't have a license yet.  Hopefully in August 2014 that will be changed so she and I will get some help in that department.  With DH not driving because of his health and RJ not driving because of poor judgement on his behalf many years ago, any errands, appointments and such fall to the females of the family.  Since she was out of commission from surgery all the errands fell to me.  Luckily the good Lord blessed me with adaptability without being to biotchy!   LOL  And I am trying to be humble here too.

 

 

Our gardens continue to bloom and we are grateful.

Rose Mallow, Hibiscus

Purple morning glory, another one is blue!

 

Some of the lilies and other perennials

 

Burgundy Bee balms and dwarf cotton candy pink bee balm, the bright red ones I didn't capture in their peak.

Delphinium and hollyhock finally survived a winter and bloomed.  Yippee!!!
The secret, they don't like mulch around their feet, who knew!

 

I'm trying to pull at least 50 weeds everyday and it's keeping the gardens in order.  Typically, I'll do that when I place the kettle on first thing in the morning.  It's a great way to greet the day and also gets it done while it's still cool. 

We just picked up a few new plants to get in the garden, some Hydrangeas another ecchinachia. 

 

Lastly, I'll share some shots I took from post cards of the Velda Newman exhibit currently on display at Shelburne museum.  DH and I were able to have a picnic lunch in Vt before attending Velda's exhibit this past weekend.

 

 

It was on my lists of things to do with Mom but she really wanted to reconnect with another sister of mine who was able to get the day off on the planned for day, I gladly accepted to decline the outing which DH and I did this past Sunday.  Because of a banks' grant, Shelburne Museum was an all day free admission.  Figured the crowds would be heavy since it also was the dedication of the Pizzagalli Gallery opening, but thankfully it seemed fine and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit. 

 

 

Sorry just wanted to get some of these bits entered and realize it's heavy on the photos. 

You can see by some of the date time stamps some of the photos were from July 31st

and would you believe there is more I could share, that's how much has been going on.  

Oh well, enough for now and thanks for stopping by

 

 

Jane. 

 

PS:     So much for Bullets!! 

This was quite long and wordy! 

 

 

 

Anthology Bag by PGD#1

It seems like summer is blazing through.  Mom just left yesterday and was visiting for a couple of weeks.  She stayed with us so the ebb and flow of around the clock company seemed endless.  I will miss her but it's nice to settle back down into a somewhat normal pace and I really feel like I'm finally catching my breath.  Both the younger grandchildren are here today and that allowed the lil' miss to finish one of her projects she started with a group of "Junior Quilters" last week. 

Check it out:





She started assembling the bag last Wednesday and had shopped for her own fabrics.  She continued on this past Wednesday and with her and her brother  here today since their Mom was ill it also gave us a chance to get at least one of her projects completed! 
I see an improvement in her skills  with the time she's spent on this weekly hobby already.  The plan was skeemed at our P'burgh quilt guild when PGD#1 shared and showed her baby doll quilt she made.  Another grandmother in the guild approached me and asked if a younger guild group could be viable and possible also if we were interested.  She and I both said "YES!"  and voila.    Thanks Velma!



 It was initially shared at Henry Glass fabrics for the Color principle fabric line but it is no longer available at that sight .    Thankfully stitch-n-frame still has it.  It's a nicely sized bag and not too bad a project, especially for a new to sewing young mind.

The pattern for this bag is still available at this link.
http://www.stitch-n-frame.net/images/anthologyhandbag.pdf

 

And just in case you didn't notice the color she picked out for the lining..... another shot but a little closer. ; )

 

 

 

Sorry I've been so neglectful with my blog lately,

seems like so much has been going on, I will try to share at least one post weekly

and perhaps more when I'm able. 

 

Smiles,

Jane

Much going on....

 Back from camping and a wonderful time was had. 

 

What a perfect sentiment!

 

 

This little pillow was my gift to Mom years ago when she was living her dream of having a Class A camper. When she and her boyfriend sold it, she gave the pillow back to me so I quickly put it on the Master bed in our camper.  

THE NILE, 1999

I pulled out this older quilt I made about 15 years ago to use since I didn't have the new camper quilt finished.  I really like how cozy it made you feel when you walked into the camper. The pattern is One Thousand Pyramids designed by Deb Tucker of NH using a 60 degree ruler and includes the leftover triangles trimmed into 1-1/2" squares to make that second border finishing in a row of 1" squares. 

I kept looking at it and saw that even at that time in my quilty life, I used the same fabric as either a dark or a light depending on the fabric neighboring it.  You can see where I placed them next to each other in the center bottom seam, pictured above, giving the illusion of a parallelogram in a medium rose fabric.  The only rule I kept was  for dark triangles to point up and the lighter triangles to point down.  It also was the time that I realized that I tended to stash fabric in the mediums and needed to extend my eye to lighter and much darker fabric choices. 

For the label, I did try a new to me technique and designed a perspective border surrounding a triangle.  Though it may be hard to see I drew lines from a center point radiating out past the triangle I wanted to use as the center and paper pieced it  successfully.   I just snapped this photo and it was 14 years ago when it was finished. 

 

 

 

 Thank goodness for the camper's Air Conditioning too, since with all the rain and heat, the humidity was kicking my Asthma's butt. But Ahhhh AC- what's not to love!

 

Camping was wonderful despite the weather.  It was great to walk and ride the bikes. 

 This scene depicts our little corner of Cumberland Bay Campsite for a whole week.  Our daughter's family had an adjoining campsite so the grandchildren loved playing at the beach, in the water and we were privileged to watch fire works  on three different nights besides gathering together for meals.  The second week we moved the screen tent more on our site since we had several different neighbors come and go after Thera and her family left.  Even PGS#2 (age 16) was coerced into staying with us for one of the nights since he promised his 4 yr old cousin that he would.  He also enjoyed the lake and we made even  more fond memories while he with his electronics stayed with us. 

I wasn't quick enough with the camera to capture his fall.  In the picture above you'll notice him laying on the ground after his fall.   So during another siesta shows this shot with him actually still in the hammock(of course with his iPhone.  lol 

BEFORE

AFTER

All of us giggled like fools.

I enjoyed and willr emember fondly some key points during this camping trip.  One that comes readily to mind that I'll share is when I brought him to Blockbuster.  Since the weather was continuous rain that first week I brought him to blockbuster to pick out a couple of movies that he'd like to see besides something else for later in the week for his younger cousins.  While driving there his iPhone kept tweeting softly.  With me not being used to hearing this "tweet"  I was looking around to see who wanted my attention at each stop light with that whistle.  By the second set of street lights I finally realized it was his phone!  I fessed up about it and  Oh how we laughed at that too.    Another time he'd be eating a meal with us and call his grandfather sitting across the table from him who was completely oblivious.  DH kept answering his phone but never realized the culprit who kept calling was Joshua who was sitting across the table from him.  We laughed more and  more until he finally fessed up what was going.   We really had too since we were both in hysterics by this point.  Way Too Funny but I guess you had to be there . 

Concrete boardwalk just in front of our campsite and Plattsburgh, NY in the distance. 

When we returned home we only had a few domestic concerns.

First  was our hayfield, oops... I meant our lawn. lol  Our daughter and her spouse attempted to  mow it for us  2 days before our return but with their schedules between work and ball games with their children, they ended up starting to  mow it the night before we returned calling us at 9:15pm to know which gas can to use and they left, I kid you not, cornrows that you get when you rake a hayfield.  I'm sure the neighbors couldn't have been too thrilled about the noise that late either.  The grass was so high with all the rain we had that first week while away and then the subsequent heat and high temperatures during the 2nd week, that one cut wouldn't fix it and it looked absolutely horrendous!  I thought DH's heart would stop when he saw it, but to his credit I only heard a small gasp escape his lips. 
The second need happened just after our friend John disconnected our camper from his truck.  While we were having a beverage in the driveway and we heard a loud Ka-POW!!  All of us looked at each other and discerned that it came from the backyard, perhaps the pool area not a truck that just happened to be going by at the same time.  Going back to investigate we found that the pool heater was leaking from the front corner.  That can't be good I thought to myself.  Then came the smell of propane gas was apparant making it an even three concerns. 
That's when I started thinking, what came first the chicken or the egg?
Did the propane leak cause the heater to blow! Or did the heater blowing cause the propane leak?

After many phone calls to the respective companies we deal and dealt with it, reasoning the how and whys it actually was a knob turned off on one of the propane tanks that caused one tank to be at 120% capacity while the other tank was at 30% making the tanks blow off.  DH found the tank caps out in the lawn while mowing the next day  so we're not even sure when they started leaking.
The HAYWARD POOL HEATER was only 13 months old and though our pool season had  only 4 months of use, no warranties would cover that expense or replacement via where it was bought, IN THE SWIM or with Hayward Manufacturing directly.  I told the Representative at Hayward that I was not a happy camper though just in the previous two weeks I truly was.  It's thought that with all the rain we had, {can you say "ACID RAIN"}  it turned the water too acidic and that's what wore out the heating elements out inside causing a bad baffle or /and the heat exchange unit to blow then leak.  Major bummer and can you say ouch and ka-ching!  Thank goodness Lake Champlain Pools where we do our business, was so helpful.  Many water tests were done, chemicals added and they came out within 2 days to replace the heater but couldn't fully hook it up since when Amerigas came the day before for the leaks, locked the tanks and couldn't come until today so the heater can finally start doing it's job. 

Of course there are other items on our to do lists (Not to mention the mail, gardens, etc..... ) but we're content with all so far and we'll plug along.  I still have to  finish unpacking the camper and cleaning it  thoroughly and will continue to get it ready since my Mom will be back North next week and is staying at her little home away from home here then. 

It was so nice to get away and even nicer since while I was camping, I managed to finish off 2 more items from my UFO and project lists. 

First, that Ironing Caddy is totally done. 

Detail of button closure using 2 funky hair bands cut in half  for the elastic over the shank button.
Also the cording used for the handles instead of making cloth ones to eliminate any bulk while actually using it to iron hopefully.

 

I didn't care the way the fold piece went on the pattern so I did a different button and loop attachments.  Like how it looks and is unobtrusive with this fold.

Then my Kumihimo bracelet I started last month in a beading class I took with my good friend Trudy was also finished.    I attended another WRAP IT UP class this past Friday at Ali's Beads and was able to get 2 pair of earrings repaired  besides the 2 additional Kumihimo bracelets finished that I did the  beading/weaving on while camping. 

 

First Kumihimo using size 8 beads.

 

Second Kumihimo braided also size 8 but an assortment of finishes and colors.

Third Kumihimo with another assortment of beads also size 8.

Luckily Alison, the owner of the bead shop actually does the manipulating of finishing them for me.  With my neck and back issues my left hand dexterity is nil and when I try to finish it they look like a three year old got hold of some wire and had a great time though the finish is terrible.  With Alison so graciously finishing them, I love them all. 

 

 

 

Was also able to finish reading 2 books too!  The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs and September's Book Club choice of The Wild Girl by Jim Fergus.   I do so enjoy reading at night just before bed, it seems to reset my spirit.   Something about me is that  I love reading at night in bed but not as much in a chair.  Strange isn't it?  But I know what I like and more important what I don't.  And a couple of thimble hooks I bought awhile ago on clearance were a Gothic gold color so I wanted them to be shabbied up abit and not so glaring.  Now they are finished and put to good use in the sewing room.

That's all I have time to share for now, dinner must be attended. 

Salad, Skampi and perhaps a pistachio meringue with fresh fruit for dessert if I can manage.  DH has duties at the Fire Station tonight and has to be out of here by 6:30. 


Maybe I can make the time to sew on some of my quilt projects while he's gone!