My New Quilt

I ordered a quilt from the Quilt Haus a couple of weeks ago. I love it. I saw this quilt at Shirley's home last summer, or one of two that she and her daughter made from the same materials, and loved it then, but couldn't give myself a good enough reason to buy it.

It has sat in a corner in the back of my mind like an itch for half a year. When I saw it again on the website she set up to sell online, I decided to go for it. I'm glad I did. It's a beautiful quilt. The "minkee" back, whatever that is, is very soft, and I love the brown with dots. Very fun.

I'm not sure what it's ultimate use will be. I still hope to have a grandchild some day, and this would be great for a grandson's room, but there are no guarantees of that.

Whatever its ultimate use, it's beautiful and suits my personal sense of style. You can check out Shirley's other quilts by clicking on the link. If you do buy a quilt from the Quilt Haus, it will be a high quality item made by a gifted quilter who cares about the craft.

The Quilt Haus

Osterbrot

They had some temptingly cute and yummy-looking Easter Bunny breads at the PX bakery today, so I took a photo, although I purchased only rolls and cheesecake. I don't know which I like better, the smiling bunny heads with the whiskers and floppy ears on the right or the running bunnies on the left. There are some more bunnies at the top with chocolate bottoms, but I cut out their heads when I took the photo, just a bit too much to fit in the frame. Enjoy the photo and try not to drool. If you've lived here and left, you know you miss it; if you're still here, it's never a bad idea to stop by a German Bäkerei on the way home and pick up some Osterbrot, a Pretzel, or my favorites, Brötchen and Käsekuchen.

Arrested Development

As they read Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes, my reading students write poems about themselves which they will eventually read in a poetry slam for another class. Two years ago I promised to write and perform a rap about them. Here I am two years later,  with a new group of kids, but the poem still applies. I read it to them today. They liked it. They got it. 

It's interesting watching them struggle with this. Some get started right away. Others drag their metaphorical heels, saying, "I don't know what to write about." (If I only had a nickel for every time I've heard THAT one!) You can tell when they have found their angle, that thing they want to say about themselves, the thing that maybe they can say, because suddenly they are in a world of words and ideas, and what comes out can be surprisingly good.

It's a journey.

Arrested Development

Slouchin’ in your seat

wearin’ droopy drawers

with your raggedy edges and

caramelchocolatevanilla skin

Your mind is at rest

while you’re failin’ the test

tryin’ to look your best,

but ain’t it a shame.

You got boldness and shyness

fightin’ for control.

You got hope and anxiety 

messin’ with your soul.

Can you get it together?

Will you find your best self?

Will you crash and burn

or stay in school and learn?

You got lots of potential

and that’s an essential,

but will your life be bent

by arrested development?

Keep on choosin to stay movin’

And your life can still be groovin’

Just don’t get in your own way.

That’s all I got to say.

by Judy Graham, 2007

Time to Get Moving

I tend to sedentariness during the cold twilight months. But, the sun is spending more time above the horizon and the temperatures, while still brisk are warming. It is time to get moving, get on the wii exercise board, get out, and get the blood circulating again.