Learning about me

As I told you before, this past week-end was our annual church women's retreat.  It is at the same time every years and a wonderful way to begin the year.  This year, rather than bring in a speaker for the time, the planning committee decided to utilize the talent within this group of women.  And so Saturday morning 5 or 6 workshops were offered and folks were allowed to sign-up [on Friday night].  There were 5 or 6 different workshops offered Saturday afternoon.  It was terrific!

Pilgrim Firs is a lovely wooded setting outside Port Orchard (if that means something to you)

Sitting on Lake Flora.  Unfortunately the lower trail around the lake was still flooded (a rather common occurrence during the winter) but even just walking along the road is so peaceful.

Several years ago my [morning] workshop was offered but I missed the chance to sign up.  So this year I made a visual journal.

We were each provided with a small book (covers and 3 pages).  Our assignment was to thumb through multiple magazines, catalogs, calendars and stacks of available images, words, colors, etc, etc. and see what 'spoke' to us.  All this was in light of our earlier discussions about sufficiency and lack and about "enough".  What is enough?  Do we have enough?  [this is something of a half-full/half-empty dialogue]  Am I enough?  A fascinating concept to ponder and one which caused many, many discussions all week-end long.  So while looking for images and keeping in mind 'enough' , we cut out, tore out, found those pictures that conveyed ideas and symbols of our thinking, but without a specific goal or story in mind.  Thus, at the end, it was fascinating to see what we came up with.  A quotation that our leader provided for our pondering:
"Breathe in your depth of knowing -
Breathe out all that you are
Allow yourself to be . . . . ."

Isn't this all so philosophical?  It really was quite the wonderful exercise and I quite love that little book.  It isn't done, yet, but is waiting for me to add more pictures, quotations, words. 

And so, in the afternoon, I made a reed basket.  A charming woman who has made it her mission to teach basking weaving, brought all the materials,

And we made baskets of every size and shape you could imagine.  And all made by our inexperienced hands.

My basket, great for rolls and buns

Elaine's basket, great for bread

The baskets are not perfect, but they are enough.

What a wonderful, thought-provoking time.

She's Done

Well, at least the center is done.  Still have to figure out borders and binding.  I'm thinking one of the grey purples for a border and turquoise binding.  Something like that.  There's more than enough green in the top itself, me thinks.

Interesting - I guess that's a good word.

Off to the church women's retreat on Friday.  Pilgrim Firs - outside of Port Orchard.  Will have the umbrella handy - probably will need it.

Here's a peek at what Easy Streets will look like

Hmmmmm.

Changing my blog again

I never could get used to that other template, so I think I will change back to this sort of layout.  Among other things, I tried to put a ticker (count-down) on there, for our house exchange.  It would never show up on the last layout (template).  So, once again, let's change things up.  Hope this is easier/more interesting.

Enjoy.
Nana

Sunday Morning

Well, despite the early hour [I was up before 6am] I managed to sew some more of my "B" Blocks.  So here you see the single block
[ notice the 4 square block, first row, second one in and the bottom row, 4th block over ]

Both are facing the wrong way.  The directions say to pay particular attention to the orientation of the 4 square patches (and I thought I did, but obviously I missed on those.  Second row and fourth row are done correctly.  Oh well, guess I'll be doing some un-sewing this afternoon.  Oh yes, I also just noticed the turquoise block with the purple corners (3rd row down) is also reversed.  I don't think this block is from this morning, but may have been in my hurrying yesterday afternoon before we went to friends' for dinner.  [The glazed nuts were for the salad last night.]

I think these are OK, 2 "A" blocks, 1 "B" block and a fill-in corner block.  Bonnie Hunter does not stint on the number of pieces in her blocks, does she?  Certainly is colorful, isn't it? 

-

Saturday update

In an effort to be more prompt, here are a couple of fun and different things that have been happening here at Casa Nana.

As a Christmas gift, we received a box of 9 different vegetables.  Among those were multi-colored beets (bieten)

Also there were pink potatoes (aardappel) (yes, they really are this color)

Elaine helped with cleaning out the refrigerator, so lunch was a bit of this and a bit of that,

This evening was church Mix-Sups dinner.  We were in charge of salad and bread.  So for the salad, I made glazed pecans and almonds (noten)

Some rather eclectic foods this week.  Ain't life interesting.

I have finished 6 of 9 "B" Blocks for my Bonnie Hunter Easy Streets.  Photos to follow.

I am reminded

by friend Caroline, that I have been delinquent in writing.  Too busy!  Not much of an excuse, but there you are.

I have done a bit of babysitting for Grandchild #4

Smiles are sometimes hard to catch.  I hope I will get even more time with her, as Baby #2 is due in mid March.

I have been busy with church things, including Befrienders.  Check it out if you are interested.  It is a program that is to help, train and maintain a ministry of compassionate listening within our church community. 

I have also been working on my Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt, Easy Streets.  Now easy it may be, but that woman loves LOTS of pieces in her quilts.  Here are some of my pieces,

 These are the main pieces of the quilt.  There will be 16 of these.  I've finished 14 or 15, so far.  They are approximately 14" square.

 These are the side triangles of the quilt - 16 done.

 These are the four corners of the quilt.  Obviously I have the alternate blocks still to make.  Apple green, purple and turquoise - not always my colors.  I hope I will like it when it's done - as it will have been quite a bit of work, not to mention many, many bobbins to fill.

We have managed to arrange another house swap and so will be returning to the Netherlands come April.  Of course that is after the church women's retreat,  the visit of Elaine's sister and the church Superfluity (rummage - rommel markt) sale.  I have MUCH work to be done to feel like the house is ready for someone else to be living here for a few weeks.  [No, I am NOT a great housekeeper!]  I'm sure we'll come up with 2 or 3 other things to keep ourselves busy and hopefully mostly out of trouble.

I promise to try to be more prompt in my updates.  {Thanks for the nudge Caro.}

New Year's celebrations

We had such a very fun New Year celebration - it lasted 5 days.  We joined 23 of our RV friends in Port Townsend, to celebrate Lynda's 50th birthday AND the new year's arrival.  The Swan Hotel was quite nice and our birthday girl (and friends) stayed in the 2+ bedroom suite.  It became our meeting place throughout the week-end.

We managed to squeeze 14 around the table and the rest sat in the living room for our joint meals.  Also managed to get at least 2 different games around the table.  We enjoyed Five Crowns, Hand and Foot, Split, Sequence and pinochle.  Sometimes several at once.  Oh yes, and a number of folks worked on jigsaw puzzles.  It was such fun and so relaxing.

Had a New Year's lunch with some church friends,

When we got home, there was a late arriving Christmas package.  Our friends Caro and Rob sent along several tasty treats, as well as this very cute ornament,

"The Best Xmas gifts are memories".  Caro has the same sewing machine as I do, so she knew the exact right size for a mat for under my machine,

Isn't that so cute?  I had a gift certificate to Amazon so had ordered myself a new book,

You may recall that I'm a Bonnie Hunter fan, so this was perfect.  Also got the last clue on my Bonnie Hunter mystery and have laid out the first finishing block,

Grey, black and white, turquoise, purple and green.  This color scheme is a bit of a stretch for me, but looking forward to seeing it complete.

Tomorrow it's back to the gym for jazzercise (and on Friday).  A bit of grandma duty on Thursday, and Sunday our Befrienders training begins.  Woo Hoo - into 2013 in high gear!  Happy New Year to all of you!