Today, Miss Mia became a mouse for her drama class spring production.
Here she is with the other cutey patooty mice.
Isn’t that just too cute for words?
Later, we had family dinner — sausages, hot dogs, pasta salad and strawberries and ice cream.
I am feeling so much better. Just about pain free. Thanks for all the well wishes.
Look at what Mr C found on the Daily Cos blog today!
“Well I’ve heard from a number of my friends and I’ve certainly clarified with them any misunderstanding that anyone had, because I disagree with General Pace completely. I do not think homosexuality is immoral. But the point I was trying to make is that this policy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is not working. I have been against it for many years because I think it does a grave injustice to patriotic Americans who want to serve their country. And so I have called for its repeal and I’d like to follow the lead of our allies like, Great Britain and Israel and let people who wish to serve their country be able to join and do so. And then let the uniform code of military justice determine if conduct is inappropriate or unbecoming. That’s fine. That’s what we do with everybody. But let’s not be eliminating people because of who they are or who they love.”
The author of the blog goes on to say: (and I agree)
Sure would have been a lot better all the way around if that had been her initial reaction to the question. The kneejerk reaction to answer carefully and conservatively is becoming a hallmark of Clinton’s campaigning. I’m sure that this statement is the much more honest one, is much more reflective of who she is and what she believes. So why don’t we see more of that in her appearances?
I feel vindicated!!
My back is much better today. I think it is because I am not so worried about it and so I am not so tense.
I got some catch up done in the studio — working on Fragments and some new postcards and getting Square Dance ready to ship.
Mr C went to the cathedral to help cook and serve corned beef and cabbage to the residents of the low income housing project across the street. He just got home and he smells like cabbage!!
It is beautiful here in the Northwest! Have a great week-end
Back update: I saw the Doc this afternoon, and he feels that it is just a muscle strain in my upper back. I am to continue icing 3 times a day and double up on the Advil. I am going to try some stretching exercises to loosen up my tight muscles. I am thinking of getting a massage appointment tomorrow if I can.
Some really good news — I sold my first quilt off the website last night. Square Dance is going to live in Astoria, NY. The buyer found me through Lisa’s blog.
This morning Terry, June and I had our crit group. I took my Fragments piece. Overall, I got very high marks, but they suggested some design changes that I agree with so I will be doing a little tweaking. Terry showed us a beautiful mandala quilt from 2004 that is quite large and uses her special fusing technique so that it looks pieced, but is not. June had a gorgeous whole cloth painted landscape from her artisit in residence at John Day Fossil Beds. It was quite wonderful.
I am still sorting beads (almost finished!)
A few days ago, Brenda of Serendipity Patchwork posted about the book “Landscape in Contemporary Quilts” by Ineke Berlyn. The cover shouted Ton Schulten, the Dutch landscape painter, whose work I love. So, I went directly to Amazon to order it and of course the Amazon wizard who knows me too well, suggested that I might like the “Quilt Visions 2006.” On the cover is Patty Hawkins piece which I love. Her Aspen quilts have always inspired me.
On the cover of Ineke’s book, you can see the Ton Schulten look alike quilt and inside, I found that she had indeed been inspired by his work. She pieces the landscapes from vintage and home decorator fabrics. The trees are fused on afterward. This is not the only style of landscape in the book. I found that so many of the landscapes in the book coud have come out of my head – I mean things I have thought about and haven’t done. Does this happen to any of you? For instance, look at this felted landscape – so lovely with the stitching. It is what I have wanted to do with the roving I bought in the fall.
I find myself drawn to so many styles of work that sometimes I don’t know where to start. I really loved many of the quilts in the Quilt Visions show that use cool surface design techniques like discharge, shibori and digital images printed on fabric.
We are having some nice sun breaks and spring is in the air. I am getting used to the new time. If I can work through the back pain, I will be back in the studio tomorrow.
I am getting so weary of the stuff going on in Washington. The misuse of the Patriot Act (didn’t we see that coming). The Blue Dog Democrats who are holding back action that needs needs to be taken to halt the actions of an immoral administration. The abuse of the injured soldiers when they do make it home. All those people running for president so early in the year.
But what put me over the edge to ranting today was this interview with Hilary Clinton that I found on this political blog:
I also asked her about the comments by General Peter Pace that homosexulity is “immoral.” Clinton has opposed the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, so I asked her if that law — signed by her husband in 1993 — was a mistake, and if homosexuality is “immoral.”
“General Pace has clarified his remarks, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is not working,” she said. “We are being deprived of thousands of patriotic men and women who want to serve their country who are bringing skills into the armed services that we desparately need, like translation skills. And one can argue whether it was a good idea when it was first implemented, but we now have evidence as to the fact that we are in a time of war — when we really need as many people as we can to recruit and retain in an all-volunteer army — we are turning people away or discharging them not because of what they’ve done but because of who they are.”
But is it immoral?
“Well I’m going to leave that to others to conclude,” she said. “I’m very proud of the gays and lesbians I know who perform work that is essential to our country, who want to serve their country and I want make sure they can.”
Oh, Hil, you have shown your true colors. You are just one of those politicians who waltz around this issue hoping you will garner a few votes from the Christian right. I happen to have a gay daughter and that anyone thinks she is immoral is abhorant to me. That you could not bring yourself to come out and say it, too, is denegrating to all the homosexuals in this country and their families. You should be ashamed of yourself. You will not get any votes or support from me and I intend to work hard to make sure you do not get my party’s nomination for president.
Earlier this week, Mrs Mel did a post about “…but it’s fused”, in which she debunks the criticism of traditional quilters who think fusing is “just wrong”! I love fusing and I haven’t been doing much — I’ve been in to piecing. So I decided to get out one of my huge bags of fused scraps to make somthing. I had in mind doing a small quilt, but it just wasn’t working so it ended up as two postcards, titled The Shape of Things I and II. Now, my studio is a mess again from making two little post cards – arghh!
I enjoyed making these, but my back did not. I am still having back problems. I am fine when I am flat on my back, but most all day, I am in pain. I tried my ususal drug of choice, Aleve, but nada. Then I tried Tylenol extra strength – still nothing. So I went out and bought Advil Gel caps; I am feeling a little better — at least the pain is somewhat dulled.
I am still sorting beads – almost finished. I have become compulsive about it. Then I laugh and ask myself – why are you enjoying this mindless activity so much?
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