Quilt on Second Thought

After thinking for a week that I really didn't have, my chioce is...

This is the location of a drum roll, or one verse of "Scotland the Brave"-

To just go ahead and do what I was going to do anyway before I went around hunting up compliments from my husband and justification from Kaye, my quilting expert.

Decided to use the photo option this time just to spice up the blog a bit. It is not sewn together yet, so this is just an approximation.

I don't really care anymore what anyone thinks. The beauty of this blog is that no one reads it, so I can say anything I want and get things out without critical worry. Where I live a blog can spark tons of criticism and many arguments. Right now there is a big debate going on about authentic criticism of local theater. Lots of raw feelings about this. Don't think personal feelings about my quilting decisions will have quite the ability to spark a fire.

Of all the uses for blogs, I think this one is best. Say what I want for anyone to read, so not just writing a letter then burning it, but knowing that it will remain a rant!

Baby Quilt

Sooooo, haven't done a quilt since the one I made for Edward when he was still a twinkle, and now, too late, I find that quilting has come into the 21st century along with everything else. But me? I'm stuck in the 80's. However, my newest grand-baby will be strictly up to date.

Could be worse, I'm thinking, as I could be stuck in the 70's or 60's, but back in the 80's good scissors were still a tool that was cool. Now, if you don't own a roto-cutter and a self healing cutting board, you are in the dust. A 21st century quilt is expected to be exact. A 21st century quilter is expected to be precise.

Additionally I'm told that the squares, well, nearly squares, that I made are not really baby appropriate and my expert would rip most of it apart, down to the size a baby would appreciate.

So my conundrum: Should I just start over and save the really nice, even if I do say so myself, sort-of-squares for an interesting, if unfortunately skewed, larger quilt? Or do as she suggests and rip, rip rip? I'm leaning to a new start with new tools. After all I have learned tons from this and I like what I have done.

I like unfortunately skewed anyhow, sort of a metaphor for life. Anytime I have to explain my metaphors, they are probably not that effective. Story of...

A week of painting

Going with the process not product theme that I started this year, we have had a week of nothing but painting. Started with monochromatic work. Kids got one primary color tempera and mixed a shade and a tint. Nice results.

Then tempera again, but all three primary colors plus white and black. Kids got a six section palette to mix colors.

Finally watercolors. We did a wash the first day to give a nice painting base. Adding details to the wash for two days with smaller brushes.

I'm blown away with the fun, but hard work keeping all ten classes clean and done in half-an-hour!

Lots of pictures on the school web page!

Portfolios and Graffiti

Started work on the cover of portfolios with the kids today. Using "Tag" graffiti, so have to explain all about when and where it is all right to use graffiti. Hope that message got through.

Some of the children caught on right away and it was exciting to see the art they did. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Used the Banksy art in New Orleans as an intro to graffiti. Amazing stuff! And the kids really did get the message. Here is the link:

http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/horizontal_1.htm

WWDVD

First day of school:
That's right, the little chicklets are starting to follow us around and listen to every word we have in the old brain bank.

It just amazes me that the wisdom from one teacher is sometimes soundly trounced and contradicted the next year, but I'm in the lucky position that no one cares too much what I teach, so no one tries to impart their wayward ways over the jewels of knowledge I impart.

In this vein, I had a WWDVD day today as daVinci is going to be our artistic go-to player this year. I say "Mona," you say "Lisa."

Beet Greens and Mint Chutney

This may be a bit oxymoronic, but the beet greens turned out very tasty, simple as they were, with a rosy red pot-liquor to boot. No need to make them into soup, though they would be a good soup add-on. I think beet greens are my favorite of all greens! Who'd-a-thunk-it.

Beet salad: extremely red and just the right amount of seasoning. We will see in the morning if we have an energy boost as advertised. Had lots left for another energetic supper tomorrow and the next day too. We should be leaping tall buildings by Wednesday, which is very lucky as that is my first day with kidos and I always need a little something extra until I get swinging.

Made mint chutney as well using all three kinds of mint from the herb garden, where it is trying like mad to take over. Experimented two ways: one with yogurt and one with red onions. Found a nice spice mix at the Indian Market, so that made it quite easy. Used the mortar and pestle to blend the rough chopped leaves. After watching the Julia movie, thought it only right to go at things the traditional way, even though I sort of cheated with the mix. Jack liked the oniony one, so that is probably the way to go. Keep the troops happy is my motto.

Raw Beet Salad

Ever since we read on the BBC site that beetroot juice can increase stamina, Jack and I have been trying to find this rare commodity. We haven't tried too hard as we have only been to the Farmer's Market (closes Sept. 5th) and three different grocery stores, so it may be available at the healthy food store. That place is just a little off my normal shopping route, so I will have to make a special trip.

In the meantime, I finally found fresh organic beets, with the greens attached at the "good" Kroger. "Good" meaning the one in the strip mall in the middle of the higher rent section of town. After managing to find beetroot and educating the staff that radishes were not just really small beets, brought the beets home, trimmed the greens and set them to cook independently in a bit of water with salt and pepper. I think this will be all they need. I really hate to throw things away. If this doesn't work, they will definitely be part of the next pot of vegi soup. All good!

I peeled the beets, though if it were just me, I would have probably just scrubbed them really well and grated the whole. There were three in the bunch which was a big bit for salad so we will have plenty. Then I grated a carrot and some ginger. To this I added fresh squeezed lemon and a drizzle of olive oil. Salt and pepper topped the whole off. It is marinating in the fridge just now, all ready for supper.

I'll see if we have extra energy for tomorrow's run, and if the greens and salad are up to JACK'S STANDARDS.