Gabrielle asked What Would You Do Differently if you could go back and make changes. I do believe that of those of us sharing comments on blogs, I am the senior member. Sometimes I don’t like to think about how old I am because I get a panic attack thinking I will never accomplish every thing I still want to do. That being said, I wouldn’t change anything except to have discovered art quilting much earlier in my life. I have so many blessings. I am surrounded by family and friends whom I cherish. I hate to think that I might have taken another path and not ended up right where I am.

I am way behind in post cards. So I have been playing with Mrs. Mel’s scraps which ended up on my doorstep on Monday. It is quite a treat to have prefused hand dyed fabric in nice little shapes and pieces. But, all I have to show for it is this post card.

I seem to be going through a very fallow period. I am feeling very out of sorts. It must be the sun spots. But, I know this, too, shall pass. I think that is one of the finer characteristics of old age – knowing the ebb and flow and highs and lows of life come and go and life goes on.

Day Four of Twenty Days of Virtue Has it only been four days? Egads, what have I gotten myself into? Yesterday was rainy and miserable. I did go to aerobics and had a very good workout. I stuck to my plan all day. I had a tiny almost pure piece of chocolate after dinner. We went to see a local production of Guys and Dolls. It was really great. It was a fundraiser for The Living Room, a day shelter for at risk women and children in Santa Rosa. Stevie is on the board. I skipped the wine and goodies and really didn’t miss them. Today was a work day at the SDA office so I really couldn’t get into trouble, but I didn’t get any exercise except for stuffing priority mail envelopes with journals and welcome letters.

I am living in a bit of turmoil as we are redecorating our master bathroom. We have painted and now the new tile floor is going in. I can’t go in there until it is finished. The toilet is sitting in our bedroom so during the night, I have to get up and walk down the hall to the powder room. The floor is so gorgeous – I love looking at the variations in the tile. Each one is different. I’ll post pics when it is done. In the meantime, I’m getting no studio work done so here are some quilts that are hanging upstairs in our house.

This was done from a photo I took of my grandchildren two years ago when they were here for the fourth of July. I printed their body parts on fabric from the printer. Then I made their clothes. It is a wonderful memory of a beautiful day. Mia and Miles were blowing bubbles and Maggie was jumping up to pop them. This was juried in to Road to California – the judge said -of course- quilting needs improvement!!!!

I made this sunflower in a class with Julie Hirota. She is a great teacher.

This weird piece was done in a class with Caryl Breyer Fallert, who is also a fabulous teacher. Her freezer paper applique method comes in very handy. I call this Hole-y Limelight!

DAY TWO OF TWENTY DAYS OF VIRTUE: Had a good day, but I have to admit to craving something sweet. I stayed up here in the studio and worked on a desktop publishing project for church. This morning was my day in the church office and then I stayed to take photos of the women’s guild fashion show and luncheon. I brought leftovers from dinner last night because we all know – there is nothing virtuous about a church potluck!! Later in the afternoon, I needed to go to the bank and pick up something at the grocery store. Instead of hopping in the car and driving to Safeway, I walked the dog – the long way – to the little local market and then to the bank. Maggie had a great adventure – they gave her turkey at the deli and she got to go inside the bank with me.

Before America went to war with Afghanistan, another war was underway — against its own people: the war to deceive American into attacking Iraq. This is no longer a theory or conjecture; it is a documented fact. Find out more about the proof of the deception that our president orchestrated at this website afterdowningstreet.org. A coalition of groups and individuals has started this organization to begin the process of a full investigation of the president and the process that got us into the mess in Iraq.

At this site, you can send a message to your own legislators and sign a letter to the President asking for the truth.

Or to go directly to the site to sign a letter to the president, click here:
Congressman John Conyers

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King

DAY ONE OF TWENTY VIRTUOUS DAYS. I made it through my first day of virtue. I drank lots of water, took an extra walk, had no sugar and no adult beverages. I’m having to admit that I feel quite good and full of energy. I went to list mom Diane’s house tonight for a Spa night. Got to soak my feet and try out lots of lovely smelling body products. It was very enjoyable. I had sparkling water and strawberries while the others had sparkling wine and cookies. I am so virtuous – just call me St. Gerrie!

Vintage Japanese Textile Scraps:

Beautiful Hand Dyes by Judy Bianchi & Carlene Keller

Wool felt for daughter Stephanie:

Domino jewelry with bird imagery – gee, I wonder who is getting this?

This photo is especially for Mrs. Mel to see. It was done by former student, Judy Bianchi, from dye painted fabric like the piece hanging next to it, which I now own. The background is dupioni silk. It is just a top – not quilted yet. I think it is stunning!

Today I am catching up on stuff.

This analysis for my birth date is quite accurate except for the singing thing. I LOVE to sing. I can come up with a song to fit any occasion during my daily day, (drives my family crazy) but I am not particularly good.

DebR and Dara are getting virtuous for 20 days. I am joining them, but not until Monday. I have to get organized. I got my summer clothes out and I have plumped up beyond my tolerance level.

GOOD NEWS: As some of you know I am taking a new drug, Femara, to prevent future cancer, and there can be bad side effects. I had my first every 3 month blood test. So far my counts on everything are right down the middle – normal.

Yesterday I helped to hang the quilt show. When I was done, I couldn’t find 5 of my quilts. I forgot to look in the front row by the entrance, where I thought they had only traditional quilts. There in one of the booths were 5 of my babies!! The others are scattered through out the show. I am going back today to shop. Two of my friends have a booth with yummy hand dyes. And I saw a guy setting up with vintage Japanese textiles. I’ll post pics of my buys when I get home.