She Walked Away

Make Kilts Not War

This year I was too busy to drive up and see my Dad on Father's Day. Instead, I stayed home and made him his newest kilt for the upcoming local Irish Festival. He loves the kilt and he's worn it several times in preparation for our Irish Festival visit this year (3 weeks). 

So my Daddy-O, in his thoughtful and infinite wisdom was sewing the other day - yes, you read that right, he was sewing - and thinking about how much he loves the three kilts I have made for him so far. He's currently working on a sewing project for family Christmas presents.

Here is his sewing machine and finished camping pillow:

 

My dad sews

He makes a good deal of his camping gear, too. He sleeps in a hammock he designed and made with an ultralight rain fly and mosquito net. Genius. He's made his own backpack, from the frame to the pack and all of it's compartments.

I thought back to the Christmas gifts he and my mother made for us after we had visited the National Zoo in Washington DC the previous summer - four stuffed pandas all sitting under the tree with our names stitched on one of the feet. I still have mine, as do my two brothers and my sister. Mine is especially special because my Dad pinned the foot with my name on it upside down before he sewed it. I think he's doing a jig or something (the panda, I mean, but I can see my Dad doing a jig, too).

 Maybe next year he'll be making his own kilt. I'll be more than happy to help him if he does.

Tears

I am admittedly a bit stressed out these days. I am very excited about my school schedule, but until it becomes a bit more routine, I am either frantic, confused, exhausted, weeping, or a combination thereof.

The weeping thing can hit me like a brick. When I am really tired or hungry (the latter happens very infrequently), I might just burst into tears without apparent provocation and almost certainly without warning.

Last night I went to a one-man play written and performed by an actor who just happens to work at my school. It was a funny and emotional piece, and I am so glad to have gone. Once I returned home, I switched on my television (and digital converter box) about 10 or 20 minutes before Michelle Obama's brother introduced her to the Democratic Convention in Denver:

 

The tears could have been from exhaustion, I suppose, but I think I need to come up with a term for the tears I seem to experience nearly every time I hear an Obama speak in public. It's been happening for some time, actually. I'm fairly certain it started with the previous Democratic Convention when I first heard and saw Senator Obama. I recall conversations with friends and family members after hearing his speech, they typically started with something like, "Did you see that Senator from Illinois last night? Who WAS he? Amazing..." Our conversations, apparently, were not unique.

So last night, when Michelle addressed the nation with poise, elegance and content, I started tearing up. It became more of a waterfall when Sasha Obama shrieked to the jumbotron on the stage, "Hi, Daddy!" When the senator failed to respond to her directly, she simply shrieked it again until he DID respond.

So, yes, I might get a little emotional, but I am ready for a new First Family:

 

Do you have any Plinkton?

Beached Whale

More reading...

I think I am trying to get lots of reading in before school starts up again later this month. I am still reading The Embarrassment of Riches (I have a tendency to read books like this in fits and starts), but last night I decided to start re-reading this:

I have had this book for years, but have only picked through it from time to time. Last night I read through the introduction, and I started really reading it at the bustop this morning. Why have I had this book for years without ever having read it?

I love Half Price books, but it is pretty easy to justify walking out of that place with two [reusable canvas] shopping bags full of books at any time. My goal is to start purging books that I haven't read and don't really need as soon as possible. I'll likely start with the feng shui books. Feng shui doesn't really work for my pack rat tendencies. My short list of books to keep will include art books, good fiction (may The Bridges of Madison County never enter my house), good history books - and of course I will never part with any of my Woodswoman books or A Walk Across America. I am fortunate enough to have a signed copy of Woodswoman IIII (I know, that's the way the title is written). I am a sucker for non-fiction any time there is a dog in the story. 

 

Late Summer Reading

This is a rather hefty paperback to lug around on the city bus. Having just started reading it today, I believe it will be worth the effort:

Perhaps somewhere in the 16th Century, someone uttered what I often say, "If you ain't Dutch, you ain't much."

Okay, probably not. Because I am also German, Irish and ENGLISH, I would never use the word 'ain't' - especially around my mother.

 

 

 

 

Is it August Already??

I got to thinking the other day about productivity. I always seem to focus on the things I haven't done, while the things that I have done tend to add up. Here's a list, in no particular order, of some of the things I have done since May:

Finish Spring Semester classes.

Install new Kitchen Faucet.

Finish Teaching Saturday classes.

Install new Bathroom Faucet. Fix Bathtub faucet. Fix leaky toilet.

Clean out gutters.

Mow yard approximately 5 times (never a priority, but it has been growing fast).

Paint exterior of house.

Oh, work my regular job. Switch to p-t status at regular job.

Organize, curate and install student show at school.

Curate exhibit for school as part of city arts festival. Install, host opening reception.

Make Dad's latest (and last) kilt. Part Father's Day gift, part favorite kilt-wearer.

Install new outer tie-rod ends on car. Realign front end of car. Rotate and torque wheels on car.

Take Summer Art History class. Earn A.

I know I have left some things out, but clearly, I have been busy. AND, I am tired.

Saturday, I took an assistant with me to the gallery:

Sunday, I went to a movie:

SO GOOD.