Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Received: Double Wedding Ring Templates from Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilts

I have received the double wedding ring templates.  Per my request they were sent to my address in San Diego - what a nice project to dream about!

Thank you Prairie Moon Quilts
We have until Dec 1st to enter DMR Quilting Challenge.

There are lots of interesting projects at Shelly's Prairie Moon Quilts.  Hope you will all go visit her website.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Project: Fidget Quilts

A friend just sent me this link:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/21/1223965/-DK-Quilt-Guild-Dementia-Quilts

Very sad, but what a wonderful way to practice liberated quilting skills and make a project for someone to use.

I am familiar with the (Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI)) AAQI thru Michelle
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/p/what-is-aaqi.html  This is a fundraiser with the proceeds going towards Alzheimer's research funding.

Keep these two projects in mind!


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

I'm a Winner: Double Wedding Ring Templates from Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilts

I received an email that I won some terrific looking double wedding ring templates!  


The double wedding ring is a design that really caught my eye so many years ago.  I was visiting a boyfriend's grandmother.  She had yellow background and different designs of red rings on her quilt - beautiful.  

I feel so lucky to have won these - what a great way to start the day to receive that email!

Shelly got the templates as a way to help promote the NYC Mod Quilt Guild DWR Challenge that I've been noticing on several blogs.  Sounds like a fun challenge, I plan to sew a DWR and enter when I return to San Diego.  

Prairie Moon Quilts has several projects herself organized that sound very interesting.  For example a challenge (with prizes) for monthly completion of blocks (AKA The 350 Blocks Project: 2013) and collecting neckties for charity quilts!

You'll want to visit her site to appreciate all she has posted!


Tuesday July 16, 2012: Harvard Vegetables and Trivia Night

Fitbit: 15361 steps, 6.4 miles.

I thought today I would get the personal information into quickbooks - just starting in November or December 2012 - but although I know how to do this there were difficulties as I do not really have a wide range of knowledge.

For example:  I have one American Express account - but four cards.  Just now they have made it so I can download by card which is what I wanted to do be doing all along.  But then I don't know how to code the payments!  I don't know how to split that up....  So instead of getting anything done I went through my files to be sure I had the saved PDFs of the data, etc.  Seems I do have access to the statements for the credit union for a year or so so that is okay.  It was really frustrating to not be done with this - but I guess it will have to wait again....

We went to the Harvard Farmer's Market.  They have the most beautiful display and wonderful choices too.  I got some squash blossoms - I'll have to read up how to prepare them. Another bad influence B wanted to eat at the food carts so had a crab salad slider - yum - and even more yum I got a selection of salads from the Whole Foods cart.  I took photos and will post later, pretend they are here!

In the morning I had written our friends to see if they wanted to meet for trivia night and they wrote back yes - so about an hour ahead of time I left to walk to that location.  I planned my trip so I passed a Rite Aid so I was able to get another sun visor.  They only had four left when I got there so I actually bought two of them so I have a back up - it was hot yesterday but without a visor I knew I would burn up so that influenced my staying in too.

The houses had more space between them than where we are staying, they were very nice.  One has to walk farther though to get to little businesses.  The people there also really have to have cars as the public transportation is sort of spotty.  B took a bus to the trivia night and had to go to Boston then back in - and it took him about an hour too.  He left later so he arrived later too.

It was good to see J&B again.  They have been off to Florida to visit B's mom and then to Virginia to visit J's son.  Sounds like a working trip for J.  He went to buy things to install at their houses and was fixing things.  They got to swim every night in Florida and they enjoyed that a lot.

A wrote that he visited my mom today and she was doing very much better - it was encouraging to him - it was wonderful that he wrote with the update.

So when I went to bed there was a pile of papers on the table, left over from my attempt to be organized.  I think I will just skip doing Quickbooks again for the family information - I'll leave that for another time.  I do still need to go thru and prepare the figures for the 2012 taxes - I didn't have the end of year statements and we weren't home so I only filed extensions for that.  I have to set up the preregistration for the event too.


Monday, July 15, 2013

Monday July 15, 2013: TV and Quickbooks

Fitbit:  7763 steps, 324 miles

Today it was really hot, and I needed to get caught up in my Quickbooks for our business - so I just watched TV in the air conditioning or worked did the books!  Feels good to be done with that for now that is.  It's like making your bed and some many other chores - never ending.  I do like the way everything is summarized so nicely though.  Next on the list is getting the personal info into a new account in Quickbooks - then I will go back to the conference work.

In the evening I got B to come along for a walk - we went only to Central Square and he wasn't a good influence again as we went to a pizza place.  I got a chicken curry salad - it didn't have a lot of curry.  They just waved the seasoning jar at the salad as it left the kitchen I think.  I also had one piece of pizza....  We went to the Star market to get supplies for salads and breakfast.  Then it was straight home.


Sunday, July 14, 2013

Sunday July 14 2013: Longfellow House, Huron Neighborhood, Great Manicure, Davis and Porter Square

Fitbit: 10.54 miles.

Today was a beautiful day - again!

I walked thru Cambridge and Harvard Square.  Stopping in different shops to try and get another sun visor but I was unsuccessful...

I passed the on your honor book table and found a few books - but $8 in the box and went on to Longfellow's house.  I've been here several times, I just enjoy being around the place.  Today they had various events to commemorate the arrival of George Washington.  It was very nice.  I stayed and listened or read some of the information.  I had timed my arrival wrong though so I did not see the reenactment.

On past Longfellow up thru the Huron Neighborhood.  Nice houses.  I found one for sale and sent information to B and went to another one that was for sale and was having an open house.  They had just converted from a two family to a one family house - nice job but we are most interested in multifamily places....

It was a short hop to Massachusetts Ave.  I thought I'd go up to Arlington to a fabric store, but got side tracked when I saw a nail place that was open.

I had one of the best manicures I have ever had - she did a wonderful job shaping my nails - I even had her put nail polish on both my toes and fingers.  I ended up having a hair cut - a razor hair cut and had my legs waxed too for good measure!  What a treat!  I was there for over two hours - there wasn't time for facial...  Maybe I can return before we leave....

I was going to continue to Arlington, but my heart was not into it as the fabric store would be closed by the time I got there and it seemed the path was going thru lots of greenery and I was thinking the bugs would come to get me.  So I circled back and took the bike/walking path back to Davis Square.  There was lots of activity with restaurants and all.  I rang B and he got dressed and took the T to meet me - we ate at Redbones - a popular BBQ place.  We didn't order the right food though so it wasn't a delicious meal for us.

We walked to Porter Square and stopped by the grocery store to get some milk - then took the T home.


Saturday, July 13, 2013

Saturday July 13 2013: The Garmet District, Following the Charles to Boston, North End, Dinner

Fitbit: 8.6 miles

Today I slept in a little then did some emails.  Since it was Saturday I couldn't do phone calls that I needed to do - there were several events I had heard about that I wanted to go to.  But then I heard about a flash mob event and tried to get together to do that.  I would have arrived too late so didn't go in that direction.

I kept to one of my plans to walk to MIT then to continue on my walk along the Charles.

Passed by The Garmet district and got a jacket and skirt for my son's girlfriend, a possible shirt for B, and two pairs of pants (one to wear and one to cut up for quilt) - for $7.20!  It's such a fun place to stop into.  Wonderful to get cotton shirts for quilting.

It was then a short distance pass new buildings to the Charles.

I saw a place to rent a kayak.  I spoke to one of the guides from the bridge as they went under - sounded fun. About $20 an hour she said - but I'm not sure if that included the guide time.  Another good thing for my arms and seemed very safe to be in the off shoots of the Charles (at least to start).

It was a different river down there, more tour boats, moored sail boats. For most of the time just a narrow street then larger businesses, hotels, apartments on the left.  Once I got to the Sonrista Hotel (we had stayed there in 2004 with A) it was very near Boston and the walkway along the river ended.  I walked up the stairs and rejoined the cars and bustle of streets.  There was a Macy's and other stores - but my objective was the North End so I continued.  Walking the steps A and I had done together - pass another rowing club, pass the Science Museum.  There was quite a variety of funny looking duck tour busses in front of the museum.

The buildings got quite large - federal buildings or maybe state buildings - government buildings massive but very attractive.  Small places to shop and eat.  I made my way to the North End was still under 10K steps!

Realized the Haymarket T stop was right there - would have saved A and H so many steps if I had known that!

I went in to several pastry shops and got pine nut cookies to comparison taste.  The first shop didn't give me the 50 cent change back - instead he put it in the tip jar.  The cookie was good - but I won't go back.  It was really the only pastry shop without a line, I wonder if others already knew about their tipping policy!

There were lots of tourists but not too crowded.  What a great place to go on a date and hold hands and be with people!  I went to the White Hen and got a banana - took it to  Paul Revere mall to eat. Fun to see people pose for photos for each other.  Called B to see if he wanted to come over but there was no answer.  Went on to explore streets I hadn't seen before.  After awhile B called back and said he'd come over, that I was to find a place to eat.  So then I returned to the restaurants and found nice place that did not have a long line - Deni(sp?) I'll chack the name and will put it here.

I had time to go to Government Center to join hundreds of people to listen to a Mexican Band playing under a temporary tent.  Then I crossed over to the Holocaust Memorial - very moving.  I had passed it with H and her mom but didn't know what it was! Looked like narrow glass boxes then.  Now the etching was clear so I could see there was something to read and think about.

I went to Haymarket to meet B.  We walked over to the restaurant and had a really nice meal.  He got pumpkin tortellini and I got the best grilled chicken cafe salad. Delicious!  We saw them make 16" sandwiches that were on the menu for under $10 - this was a good find.  Many restaurants had lines of people waiting to eat - I was glad to avoid that!  We ended up in line though at Mike's pastry - got a cannelloni with pistachio nuts.  They did not have any pine nut cookies - I forgot my back plan was an eclair too crowded with people.  I had my cookies in backpack so it wasn't a problem when I realized I had forgotten to get the eclair.

B didn't want to walk home, but was okay with walking to Park Street station - it was actually alot closer than the South Street station I had H walk with me.  (Haymarket is where we should have gotten on the T though - I was so new to Boston back then!).  It was a nice walk, and great to feel so connected to the city and to realize how much I had learned about locations. There is so much more to learn though.

We got off at Central and walked back.  Oh I want to live here all the time!





Friday, July 12, 2013

Friday July 12 2013 Campaign Manager 2008, Mt Auburn Cemetery, The Charles, and Homeless Shelter

Fitbit:  11.15 miles

As I have mentioned before, when I get busy doing things then I have been skipping the blog.  I'm writing this a few days later just to record the memories...

I walked a lot today.  It all started with a freecycle posting for a board game!  The pickup location was near Mt Auburn Cemetery and Fresh Pond.  Places I have wanted to visited but hadn't so far....  The walk was very pleasant - I went up Brattle Blvd pass Cambridge Common, Longfellow House and other nice houses.  There were churches and businesses too.  When I got nearer to the pick up point I called and the lady brought the game to the lobby so I could get it.  What a pretty apartment building - it looked to be a converted factory with such a nice lobby. Pretend there is a photo here!

In the parking lot was Collins Branch of the library so I stopped to visit that while I was looking for a place to eat - and that in the downfall of this part of Cambridge/Watertown.  No places were coming up nearby for cafe, restaurant or coffee!  I did find the a beautiful Str Market so got a chicken wrap and tea and sat on a bench in front of the bank to eat.

Then I went into Mt Auburn Cemetery.  It's a beautiful place - not only filled with memorials, but trees, plants, birds, wildlife and at least two chapels.  They have a book club each month, bird watching tours, etc.  Quite a community thing.  There is a tower to climb to see Boston from afar. I'd like to return in the winter to see in the snow!  It's so large they have street names to help you find your way!

I walked back on Memorial Drive so was next to the Charles.  I passed a private school and spoke with a teacher while we crossed the street - teachers are so nice!  There were rowers on the water.  That was something I had wanted to do while here - to join the community rowing club.  But my mom fell and I wasn't sure we'd even be able to stay so I didn't join when the prices were low...  Next time I hope!  Would be good for my arms to do that!

When I got to the Trader Joe's I went in for something to drink and also got the granola I like so much and some pasta sauce to put on the frozen lobster ravioli we got at the farmer's market in Central Square.

Another 20 minutes and I met Dan at the MIT Student Center.  We then went to the homeless shelter and met Ursula to serve the dinner for around 300 people.  They had a nice chicken parm, pasta, string beans and bread meal.  Another volunteer came late.  He was from Iran - it was interesting to chat with him.  This was my fifth time at the shelter. I didn't recognize as many people as the previous times.  I hope that means those people have found housing and jobs!

We took the bus back to MIT, it was so nice to chat with my new friends.  We made plans to see each other at least one more volunteer opportunity and again next summer.  Ursula and I kidded that we'd be penpals.  We'll see!  Both she and Dan are moving their offices so are very tired from packing things. Dan and I wrote during the days after the bombing - was in Watertown during the shut down...

I ate left over salmon and B ate the leftover beef salad from the Thai place we ate last night.  Then we watched a little TV (the last episode of the Last Detective).

Good day!


Thursday, July 4, 2013

July 4 2013: Peabody Essex, Woodman's and Charles River for Fireworks

We took train to Salem and met up with J&B there - first we went to the Peabody Essex Museum.  We saw the Yin Yu Tang House and the Faberge Revealed Special Exhibit then went through some of the other places too.  The visit was really too rushed I think, but what fun to go thru with others!

The last time we were in Salem our son was with us so we were remembering that trip.  We found some t-shirts for him - hope he will like them.

Afterwards we drove to Woodman's for some seafood.  Most of it was fried and delicious! It's one of those places that people were bring their kids and grandkids too - as their parents and grandparents had brought them.

J&B drove us back to home at the end of the day.  I still do not have a handle on the geography but I don't think it's really out of their way to do that when they are not tired....

After a rest and doing email, it was time for fireworks on the Charles!  B was still working on something but I didn't want to miss the fun so I went down to MIT then joined the crowded to enjoy the display.  We could hear the Boston Symphony music - it was very, very nice.  I texted B and he didn't make it but did come out of the house so we met up and walked back together.

: )