Skin Deep

Yesterday I had a laser treatment done on my face to remove the red "spider" lines caused by broken blood vessels. I have my Dad's complexion, which is on the reddish side and broken veins on the face runs in the family.

I have always been very self conscious about these little red lines and clusters in my face. I have worn a heavier foundation in attempts to cover them up. While right now my face is red and looks like I have hives all over it - due to the treatment - in a few days this will clear up and I will be able to see the results.

Boy - it hurt like hell when the dermatologist was doing the procedure. And, she told me some of the lines were very deep and I might (probably) need one or two more treatments. That's OK - if this first treatment gets rid of 50-75% of these lines, I will be happy. And, I will go back to have the rest removed. I feel better about my face already (despite looking like lobster lady).

Vanity? Yes. But I will also feel much better about myself.

However, I do not believe in extensive plastic surgery on your face if it is purely for vanity.

Good exception: Years ago I worked with a young woman, Amy, in her mid-twenties who had a rather large nose. It really bothered her (I didn't think it was that bad, but it wasn't my nose). She told me how all of her life she had been teased. She hated people to see her profile. Amy decided to have a nose job. She even took out a 3 year loan from her bank to pay for it as insurance wouldn't cover the cost. Boy, what an uproar this caused! Her mother was very upset she was having it done. Even other women at work thought is was ridiculous to take out a loan (I think it was around $5,000) just to have a nose job. But, Amy brushed them all aside and had it done. Her nose did look better. A few months later I walked into her work area and she was holding up a compact and "powdering her nose," obviously liking what she saw. I said, "Amy, what a cute little nose you have to powder." She beamed at me and told me if she lived to be 100, it would be the best thing she ever did for herself. (Note: for herself, not to herself.) By now, the loan has long been paid up and Amy is out there in the world somewhere really liking how she looks. More power to her.

Bad example: A few years ago I was down in Atlanta with my family and we were at a very nice restaurant. At a table across from us sat a large family gathering. They were a happy group, having fun with lots of laughter came from their table. One lady who as probably between 55 - 65 had an expression on her face that never changed. Not while she ate, not while she laughed, not while she listened. It never changed. And, it was so very obvious that she had extensive plastic surgery done to her face. She looked a little goofy. Her brows were too high, her eyes wide in surprise and her lips here pumped up so that they were huge. The skin was so tight across her facial bones she looked like someone was pulling it from behind her ears. How awful she looked.

There is a lot to be said for aging gracefully. There is a lot to be said for having plastic surgery to correct a feature that detracts from your looks, if you so choose.

I can't see myself having any more procedures done to my face once I am done with the laser treatments. But, I believe "never say never." I like the way I look and while my skin is changing from age, it's OK. It's a part of life. If other woman want plastic surgery or face lifts - more power to them. But, I do think it is important to age gracefully and not try to look or be something you are not. And, I would be very careful about what I had done and how much I had done. When you are 60 you are not 20 and to try to look like you are is silly.

October Accomplishments

Well, I quilted my little heart out in October.

I added my "to do" list to the side bar of this blog. It was really fun to "check" things off as I completed them. I can't believe I got so much done considering one weekend I didn't quilt at all and I have a home to maintain. I did a lot of yard work, too.

I wish you could see the metallic thread I used on the stems of the fern.

Underground Railroad blocks 6 & 7.

Carpenter's Wheel on the left. Bear Claw on the right.

I'm posting of a couple of wall hangings I finishing binding in October - Jars Aplenty and the small fern piece. My witch wall hanging is shown in a previous post. I also finished my two Underground Railroad blocks, and am I am on a roll with making more this week.

This month I am gone for a week to Arizona to visit a good gal pal and my sister. Both recently moved out there and, unbeknown to each other, moved within a few miles of each other! Small world. So this trip will "kill to birds with on stone" so to speak. I will be staying with Nancy and she invited my sister Linda over for Thanksgiving dinner. This way we will both be with family. I think my sister is feeling the effects of moving so far way from her son, daughter-in-law and grand kids. Even though we are not that close, it will be good for her to be with people she knows and feels comfortable with.

I am so ready for this trip to Mesa. However, my quilting accomplishments will suffer. Oh, well. . . .

On the bright side, Nancy has already located quilt shops in the area!

A Stole for Lori

I first met Lori in the early 1990s while we were both attending Unitarian Universalist Church-West in Brookfield, WI. I started a Women's Spirituality Group, Lori joined and we became friends. A few years later, Lori and Sharon (another Church Lady) facilitated a 13-week curriculum for women entitled Rise Up and Call Her Name. It is from this group that the "Church Ladies "officially " began.

Almost from the start I think we all realized Lori had Unitarian Universalist minister potential. Our group presented several church services over the years, which were very well received and which Lori had a huge role in organizing. And, there was something in Lori that just made us feel she had the calling. But, life can sometimes get in the way of thoughts and suggestions. Lori and her husband had three young children and were busy people. Also, as the Brookfield church grew, a group left the church and started Lake Country UU Church, about 40 miles to the west. Lori and her husband are charter members and became active is developing this successful church.

Time moves on, kids get older and thoughts/yearnings turn into solid ideas and actions. A few years ago, Lori announced that she had been accepted in the Chicago Theological Seminary. This program better suited her schedule and needs better Meadville Lombard , the UU theological seminary in Chicago. She was able to take classes at Meadville and CTS would accept her credits. After three years of studies and a one year internship at a UU church, Lori could become a UU minister.

To the Church Ladies this was a no-brainer. We knew Lori would make a fabulous UU minister and while the seminary would be challenging, we know she could do it. And, she did. When it came time for an internship, Lori landed Olympia Brown UU Church in Racine, WI with one of the best ministers UU has to offer.

Around this time, the Church Ladies began to think of what we could do for Lori as a "congratulations" for all of her hard work and dedication. We decided on a clerical stole. I contacted and worked with Jenna, from Cotton Patch Designs, out of Texas. This company normally works with Christian ministers, and I think Jenna was a little curious about designing a UU stole, especially one as specific as we wanted. But Jenna listened to what we wanted and designed a beautiful stole. Jenna was great to work with. She is an artist!

Yet, Lori had one more hurdle. The last part of the UU ministerial program is a grueling panel interview, which included Lori giving a sermon, at the UU headquarters in Boston, MA. Lori and her husband flew east. Again, we had no doubt. And, Lori passed with flying colors. She will be officially ordained as a UU minister this spring.

At our Church Lady gathering on Halloween, we presented Lori with her stole. Represented on it are the Church Ladies (circle of women) Unitarian Universalism (flaming chalice), earth, air, fire and water (ground/trees, swirls, stars and river). Inside is a quote from one of Lori's favorites, Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. The back has the pink ribbon of a breast cancer survivor along with the Chinese symbols for strength and hope. Also, stitched inside is all of our names. You may click on the pictures for a more detailed view - it's worth it!

It is a beautiful stole, but not as beautiful as Lori.

A Whole Lotta Witches

My Halloween panel

Church ladies without me

Last night my "church lady" friends came over for our annual celebration of Halloween. It is a tradition we meet at my house for Halloween (Joanne's for Winter Solstice, Kristin's for Summer Solstice, Janet's for Lammas, etc.). We try to meet according to the Earth-based spiritual celebrations. While many of us consider our spiritual paths Earth-based, not all of us do. We have a wide variety of spiritual beliefs (Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Earth-based to name a few) and we respect each others individuality. Our gatherings are always meaningful and fun. Halloween is the one time we "dress up." What fun!

Church Ladies with me (and Gracie, Lucy Lou being camera shy)

We had a great surprise when Nikki showed up! Nikki, a founding member of the Church Ladies, moved back home to Chico, California about 2 years ago. Although we all communicate via our yahoo group, it's not the same as having her here with us. It was great to see her.

It was also a very special night was we had another surprise for one of our group, Lori. More about that on my next post.

Amy & me show off our great hats we bought together at Cracker Barrel.

We had a great potluck, we checked in with each other and we honored the holiday by talking about our experiences with loved one who have passed. Lori read 2 beautiful poems.


I will never be able to express how much these women mean to me. To quote a song, "They are the wind beneath my wings." I love them one and all.

I'm Learning Greek

Maple Star block on the right

Federal Square block on the top

This month's feature fabric is the red, best seen in the Maple Star block and small, outer squares of the Federal Square block.

Blocks 5 and 6 of the BOMs I making as part of the Ladies Friendship group at Ye Olde Schoolhouse. I just love the fabric I used as the main squares of the Federal Square block even though it wasn't the feature fabric of the month.

Jeannie promised that these 2 blocks would be easier than the last 4 blocks from hell - and she was right - or else I am slowly learning to read ancient Greek quilt patterns! I finished one an evening. I still can't figure out where she is getting the patterns from, but that's OK.

I laid out the 6 blocks I have completed thus far. Ha! Mine should be a very interesting quilt! No rhyme or reason to it. Maybe when I get the next 18 blocks completed it will all come together. In the mean time, this month it was fun to do. Let's hope November's blocks are as easy as these two!

China Dishes

Look at little Gracie peeking out from beneath the quilt. Lucy was behind it with me! Wait! on closer inspection (double click on picture) it is Lucy Lou's head (and tail) peeking out. Silly dogs.

My china dishes quilt is completed and what an ordeal! First let me say that I do love this little quilt. The colors are fabulous. And, anyone who know me would say this is the perfect quilt for me - all the beautiful blue and white fabrics.

But, while I completely enjoyed making this quilt, I screwed up royally! Look carefully at the edge "plates" on the completed quilt. Then look carefully at the edge "plates" on the pictures below.

Notice the "plates" reversed. Yup, all 8 edge plates were sewn backwards. I didn't notice this until I took it off my dining room table and draped it over the couch so I could admire it while I made a phone call to my sister, Suzanne. Yup, I had one small border on all 4 sides and a larger border on 3 sides that had to be removed before I could reverse the plates. Rip, rip, rip, rip, rip. Actually, I surprised myself. I didn't yell or scream in frustration. Amazing - no curse words either. I actually laughed about it. I just put the quilt aside for a number of days and then tackled the job of fixing the "plate" position. And, it went very quickly.

I need a design wall!

The pieced 3rd border is another story and give me trouble and didn't come out well at all. By this time however, I was "over it" and just wanted the darn quilt done. Ahhh - the galloping horse method of quilting.

The backing is washed and and waiting to be ironed, trimmed, squared sewn together and then it is off to Mary to be quilted. Should be done tonight.

Changes are A-Coming

For many months now I have started to feel a shift coming in my life. I've basically been hibernating for well over a year. I realized I have cut myself off from friends and have stayed focused on being at home, my dogs, my relationship and quilting. While I probably needed to do this for many reasons, it is time to dig deep, think about what I truly want, what is good for me and to start the crawl out of my cave. Now that I will be retiring in 10 months, this is even more true and important. My sister, Suzanne, who retired 10 years ago, has aways said that when you retire you need to almost reinvent yourself because your life changes so much. And, it is time I regroup, hang on, let go and take stock in my life. I have let important things slip. My spirituality has suffered. I've put on over 25 pounds. I've lost touch with friends.

Yet, wonderful things are going on, too. Fun things I enjoy and look forward to. I recognize that I have a lot of blessing in my life and am very grateful. I don't feel terribly depressed or in angst, but rather adrift and in need of grounding.

The other day I took the long way home from work. I drove along Lake Michigan. It was another rainy, dreary day. The lake was all different shades of gray and white. The waves, while it was not terribly windy outside, were huge. I was mesmerized. If I hadn't had to get home to let the dogs out I would have pulled into one of the lakefront parking lots and sat there for a while. Maybe because I felt like those waves. Gray, turbulent, pounding on the surf only to be pulled out and pound again. Maybe because I realized that the lake will once again be sparkling blue and calm. And, so will I. This is part of the ebb and flow of nature, on which I based my deepest spirituality on.

Over the course of the next few weeks I will be journaling, blog style, trying to figure things out for myself. Some of you readers have known me a long time. Some only through out quilting interests and for a few months. I would appreciate all of your input while I go through this process.

Life is a journey. I just need to figure out which path to take at this particular time.

Pumpkin Quest

Last Saturday my niece Pam and I took her daughter Shannon to the Elegant Farmer, which is located between Mukwonago & East Troy, Wisconsin. Basically, it is a large store known for its apple pies baked in paper bags. They are the best apple pies in the world! And, they have canned goods (I mean really canned goods), honeys, great deli stuff and wonderful pot pies. But, I digress.

The Elegant Farmer offers all types of family activities this time of the year, so it was very crowded. In fact, my gal pal, Terri, was there with her daughter and grandkids at basically the same time we were and we never saw them. You can take a tractor ride to pick your own pumpkins, kids can go on pony rides, make your own taffy apples, eat great food and shop. There are also trolley rides on an old time trolley. It was a fun experience to share with an almost 3 year old.

I love going there because I always purchase Sticky Fingers scone mixes. They make up into wonderful scones. They also have great canned cherries for pie filling. Ahh - there I go talking about food again.

Anyway, despite it being a cold and damp day, we had fun. Shannon got a pony ride, a ride on a wooden horse, she made her own taffy apple, we ate cherry brats and, of course, we bought pumpkins.

I had Shannon about an hour alone at my house. She fell asleep on my couch holding her Curious George stuffed toy and underneath my sampler quilt. Gracie curled up next to her. I forgot to snap a picture. It was adorable.