Stitching Up a Storm in Alamo City

Duh

Not long after I arrived home from India, Mark and set out on another trip. Sort of at the last minute I grabbed the sheep from the nativity series because I had taken them to India. (What was I thinking? That I'd have time or the energy in India to stitch? Actually I knew it was a long shot but I thought it might be soothing in a stressful environment - so I decided to carry it along.) There wasn't much time for stitching in India - maybe 15 or 20 minutes at most. So I was able to work on the bottom border - nearly panicked over the feather stitch (I'd forgotten to take the stitch diagram from the earlier stitch guide.) but finally figured it out. The sheep made it to the next hop and I really did panic when I couldn't remember how to make a colonial knot. I've done them before but they're not burned into my brain. And my brain doesn't recall motions. But it did remember YouTube. There are videos on YouTube showing how to do a colonial knot!!
I think the message is "Get out of the 80's!!!"
Happy Stitching
Jane

Duh...

Not long after I arrived home from India, Mark and set out on another trip. Sort of at the last minute I grabbed the sheep from the nativity series because I had taken them to India. (What was I thinking? That I'd have time or the energy in India to stitch? Actually I knew it was a long shot but I thought it might be soothing in a stressful environment - so I decided to carry it along.) There wasn't much time for stitching in India - maybe 15 or 20 minutes at most. So I was able to work on the bottom border - nearly panicked over the feather stitch (I'd forgotten to take the stitch diagram from the earlier stitch guide.) but finally figured it out. The sheep made it to the next hop and I really did panic when I couldn't remember how to make a colonial knot. I've done them before but they're not burned into my brain. And my brain doesn't recall motions. But it did remember YouTube. There are videos on YouTube showing how to do a colonial knot!! I'll try to figure out how to post a picture of my knots. Right now that's a problem. Stay tuned. Jane

Just back from a trip

On Sunday, I returned home after being in India for nearly 2 weeks.   I planned to post while I was away, but lots of electronic things weren't reliable.   In addition to having spotty internet service, my flat iron fizzled out on me (even though it was a dual voltage thing that I bought from TravelSmith, thinking I had outsmarted the current gods).  

But one day into the trip, all that stuff wasn't so important after all.   I survived just fine with frizzy hair.   Who could complain based on what I witnessed???

A friend of mine and her husband have put considerable time and resources into caring for the orphans in India - she asked me to go with her to visit the places where they have contributed and made significant changes.   Little did I know that poverty is so extreme there that parents sell their children into slavery to "wealthy" farmers for 100 lbs of rice.  We visited an orphanage about 3 hours from civilization (through a tiger reserve) that houses 500+ children.   They have no toilets - no electricity - and no running water.   The children seemed a little flat - it's very hard for 15-20 caretakers to express love to 500 children.  But they were reasonably happy and healthy.   And, my could they quote scriptures - in a 2nd language.  We took crates of bananas and oranges on the ride in...   They'd never seen oranges before in spite of living in a country that is the 3rd largest producer of oranges.  We gave them cookies and lollipops, too.   Like children every where, they went for the lollipops first.

I'll be processing what I witnessed for a long time, I think.  I saw beautiful people who are in such incredible poverty and who suffer horrendous persecution for their faith.

Loved this little boy.   Would have brought him home with me if I could have.

Also loved wearing a sari.  

Until next time, India.  You're in my prayers.

Jane

 

 

Mitt's Meatloaf Cakes

I read in the New York Times that Mitt Romney's birthday was Monday, and when he was asked what he had for his birthay dinner (or going to have) he replied "Meatloaf Cakes."   Of course, the NYTimes printed Ann's recipe for them and so Mr. Mark and I had them for dinner last night.   I also made the Leek, Potato and Cabbage soup from one of the NYTimes Food articles.   Both were very tasty!!!  And we always love a good salad.  (You can find both recipes in the NY Times Dining Section - March 13, 2012)

I didn't tell Mark that the soup had cabbage in it.   He would have politely declined to eat it.   After he'd eaten half the bowl (with gusto) I told him what ELSE was in it.  He was shocked, but told me to definitely put it on the "Keeper" list. Sometimes temporary deceit is for his own good. 

Happy stitching.
Jane

 

 

Geisha cat, again

My stitching buddy, Jackie came over on Sunday while Mark was playing golf and we stitched ALL DAY.   Since I'm sort of stuck on the Cowgirl, I brought out the Geisha cat, who is also SO CLOSE to being finished.   I was able to do all the couching, except for the part around the bottom which I won't do until I put the 1000 bullion knots in - for the coral.

I'm so determined to get SOMETHING finished.   Maybe it will happen soon.

Happy stitching.
Jane