I am taking time from my newsletter editing to post a political rant (Hope you are happy, Patricia!) First of all, regarding the indictment of Scooter, I copied this from Rosie O’ Donnell’s blog. She does the BEST political rants.

I will not be posing a lot of creative stuff for a while. I am in the process of publishing two newsletters – the one for the guild is almost finished and have to start the one for church later today.

I also had to go back to the Dr. yesterday. I finished my last round of antibiotics last Friday and by Tuesday the headaches, vertigo and noises in my head were back with vengeance. Sudafed helps to control it, but then I can’t sleep because I am wired. Last night I took half an ambien and no sudafed and finally slept 7 hours. I am seeing a specialist when I get back from AQT and have a catscan scheduled next week.

Karoda asked about the Sopa de Azteca. This is a soup that is delicious, nutritious and not for the faint of heart.

1. Cut chicken breast into small pieces and add to 2 quarts of chicken broth and heat.
2. Meanwhile, saute in olive oil, 4 chopped garlic cloves, 1 medium chopped onion, 1 diced green pepper, 2-3 diced stalks of celery, 1 diced carrot, 1 diced zucchini – until wilted.
3. Add to the chicken mixture with 1 package frozen chopped spinach and 2 cans diced tomatoes (14 1/2 oz) and 1 tablespoon basil and 1 tablespoon oregano and 1/2 teaspoon pepper
4. Simmer for 1/2 – 1 hour
5. Grate lots of jack cheese.
6. Dice lots of fresh avocado
7. Dice chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce (Find them in a can in the Mexican food shelf)
8. When ready to serve – put some cheese and peppers in the bottom of the soup bowl, ladle in soup, spoon on avocado. WARNING – use chipotle peppers sparingly unless you have an asbestos lining to your mouth!!
9. Serves 10

I’m off to get my hair color refreshed.

Yesterday was a marathon day for my art quilt group, the Pointless Sisters. We had the unveiling of the brown bag challenge and in the afternoon, we had the second session of our design class with Marilyn Felber.

First, I will share some show and tell from the group. We had a new member, Sylvia, who brought some work to share:

In this one, she used African fabrics.

For this one, she was inspired by a Japanese wall hanging in a decorating magazine. I apologize for the blue hues in these photos – reflection from the window, I think.

Patsy’s sister from MA, shared this piece she made while she was here. She is afraid it will shock all of her conservative New England quilt friends!

Now to the challenge. First, a caveat – these were placed on the floor, so the perspective is a little off! For the challenge, we each brought in a brown bag containing an object which was to inspire an 18" square art quilt. We could use the object in the quilt or not.

Ann Hines received the paint brush. She painted the center section and framed it with the striped upholstery fabric.

Cathy Hansen received an egg. She did  4!!  quilts. This one is titled Find the 3 Eggs.

This is titled Egg Planet:

This is Egg Head: (The hair is fussy cut and not pieced)

And, my favorite, Egg Drop Soup

Cathy Zeleny received a bell. She used the silhouette as a  design element.

I received the 3 clothespins and did this blended photo of my grandchildren’s clothing while camping.

List mom, Diane Hock. received a liquidambar pod.

Diane Land received a piece of lichen and small pine cones. She used the pine cones in the bird nest. She painted the background.

Genie Becker received some yellow roving which she was going to use for the mermaid’s hair, but it didn’t work. This is all done with the Caran d’arche water soluble crayons.

Janet received a silver spoon. The background fabric in this is a Kaffe Fasset.

Joyce Marty received a twig with stag horn moss, from moi! She used it in the large tree, by encasing it in tulle. She calls this Rainbow Forest.

Linda Simms received a chocolate kiss. She and her granddaughter put on lipstick and pressed their lips on paper to get the patterns for the lips.

Marjorie received a (very ripe) pear. She looked at the back after she quilted it and used crayons to color it and has a reversible quilt!

Pat Marabella received a shell, some turquoise fabric and a poem about the sea.
She used a photo she took at Point Reye’s seashore and did this blended quilt.

Ruth Rosenberg received the blue roving seen in the center of this quilt.

Sandy Chan Brown received a Chinese food take out box with a little gift box inside containing a pearl.

Selma Sklar received a whistle.

That’s all ! Aren’t they great? A couple of people didn’t get theirs done.

I’m off to  make some sopa de Azteca for supper.

Look at this cute school picture of my granddaughter, Mia:

My son, Mark, and I thought her smile was familiar and then we realized who it reminded us of:

Julie made me do this – draw a pig!! Go here to see mine.

Yesterday, Lisa came for a visit and extended my birthday celebrating by another day. She and Steve made a great meal and look what she made for me – here on her  blog! It is really beautiful and big!!

Tomorrow is Pointless Sister’s day. We have the revealing of our brown bag challenge and another afternoon of our design class with Marilyn Felber. There will be pictures!!

PamDora tagged me. So here you are: Twenty things about me.

1.    I was born at home when it was not the in thing, but the standard.
2.    One of my first memories is sitting in the hallway listening  to the birth of my brother who is 3 years younger than I.
3.    I am the oldest of 5 children. I am ten years older than my youngest sibling.
4.    When I was in grade school, I had many jobs on our family farm ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú gathering eggs, grading eggs and, in the spring,  canning maple syrup.
5.    I raised pheasants and capons to earn money for college.
6.    I was a cheer leader and played the clarinet in band and orchestra.
7.    When I was 15, I worked for our school music teachers during the week. I babysat after school, while Mrs. Wilbur gave piano lessons, and I cooked dinner. Mr. Wilbur and I used to do dishes together and get things ready for breakfast. They were like second parents to me. I would not have gone to college were it nor for their influence on me.
8.    I was valedictorian of my graduating class and I still have the notes from my speech. It was about libraries and the importance of reading.
9.    When I was a teen-ager, I remember reading ?¢‚Ǩ?ìGone With the Wind?¢‚Ǩ¬ù with a flashlight until I would fall asleep.
10.    I was junior prom princess and runner-up to Miss Cortland County. Parading in a bathing suit and heels is over-rated!
11.    I never had a steady boyfriend until I was a senior in college. He was in ROTC officer training. He went off to Germany and that was the last I saw of him. He wrote to me to tell me that he had met someone in Germany and wanted to give me first chance, if I was still interested ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú what an ego ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú I said no thanks.
12.    I met Steve on a blind date. Mutual friends thought we were perfect for each other ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú they were right!!
13.    I used to be a weaver. I just sold my loom two years ago as quilting was taking over my life. When my kids were quite young, I worked at a department store during the holidays to earn the money to buy my loom.
14.    I was knitting before it was cool to be knitting.
15.    I love to sing and I have a song for even the most insignificant events of my day. I drive my family crazy!!
16.    I once owned and operated two Diet Centers. I was skinny and had to stay skinny and I think I ruined my metabolism.
17.    I am a three time breast cancer survivor.
18.    My greatest accomplishment is raising three incredible children. I love spending time with them.
19.    Mia and Milo, my grandchildren, have brought so much love and light in to my world that it sometimes takes my breath away.
20.    I love that I have found art quilting. I love the  creative process and the friends I have made.