I've been watching some of the 2024 Olympics, certain events, but mostly Gymnastics. Amazing men and women competing in mental and physical ways I could not even dream of.
I am reminded of those early days when I fell in love with the sport.
As a young teen, I very briefly took a gymnastics class. A few times or so I went, thinking I'd be great. haha. I wasn't...lacking the innate coordination, the desire to practice - A LOT, plus having skinny, tiny wrists...I quickly became a watcher instead.
I remember the 1972 Olympics with Olga. She captured my interest and attention. I found her so charming and talented.
Then came 1976 and Nadia, who captured my heart. Her sprite like floor routine is still to this day so captivating. Her perfect 10's...stunning. What an exciting time! I remember watching in the living room of my parents home, so filled with excitement.
As a young married and mom, I didn't tune in as much in the years following, but I do remember Mary Lou, It's funny how compared to Olga and young Nadia, Mary Lou seemed a new breed of athlete. She seemed so muscular back then. And that adorable haircut!
I think these three stand out for their skill, their innovation and the way they have captured moments in time for me. I loved how back then the floor routines (especially) had tumbling moves, but also had so many dance moves. They were so engaging. Remember how the audiences would clap along as the music became more lively? There was such joy!
...and that same 'beholder' can see beauty very differently on any given day.
My first sentence is that this was an amazing showing of many extremely talented quilters. The colors and apparent gifted execution (hard to see close-ups) in each creation is wonderful. The totality of the little town bursting in color-filled cloth and flowers is stunning.
Back in the early-mid 2000's, I used to pour over any and all quilts. Now, I didn't always like them all the same, but it took years to find what really speaks to me the most. Those were my thoughts as I started to watch this. I thought about how I'd dreamed of going to Sisters, OR one year to see this colorful showing, shop for stash fabrics and let myself be inspired.
Now, I am in such a different place. First of all, I know I will never get up that way. Not only does it not have the same pull it once did (not that I wouldn't go, if it somehow worked out), but the possibility of going is not there. So, I arm-chair travel to the Sister's Quilt Show instead and enjoyed that very much.
It was interesting to me to see what caught my eye this time around. I noticed that I still really like the old-fashioned patchwork (calico) types of quilts, especially in fall colors. I like some rainbow/Spring colored quilts. I like certain patterns. The pine cones @9:17 timestamp caught my eye. I noticed a lot of stars and typical quilt patterns. I noticed a lot of abstract patterns...a lot of circles cut up an placed every which-where. There was a lot that did not grab me. I guess this surprised me a bit, as I had not really thought about how much my tastes have changed.
What do you notice about the show and your opinions?
The other things I noticed were there were no (well, not shown in this particular video from this person's perspective) rough edges, no hand dyed, for the most part, none without a pattern...no indigo...again, for the most part - no words. They looked quite tidy and very beautiful. So this is my commentary on style and presentation, not skill and choices. We all make our own.
This had me thinking about all of you lovely ragmates on the trail with me for all of these years. You originality and self-expression...well, it feels like home.
When I thought about 'words', I decided to open my old page again for The Traveling Quilt (you can also find it above in the 'pages' bar). Just in case you'd like to look and to celebrate my own experience. The photos look so old and fuzzy now. You can click on them to enlarge, but still not the best view. Plus, the panels with the photo transfers are so faded now, I could never get new pics. But, this was a "me" quilt...and I remember them, why and where I took them and how much I loved the process.
So much has changed in my creativity, experimentation and inspirations these days. But, I still love words!
Lastly, I thought about the gift last year from Tina, which I affectionately call the "Tina Quilt" and sleep under nightly. You can see it HERE. It is especially treasured on these hot nights (yes, we are expecting another heat wave: starting tomorrow 7 days of triple digits).
I've had this in a tab, opened for days. It's over two hours long and I've yet to watch it all. The description box has the timestamps of each piece of music, so return to that and easily slip into some escape for a few minutes. Now, I'm putting it here, so I will maybe finish it and perhaps others can escape to this other world.
Or if you'd like, 8+ minutes of this 16 year old wonder: Emma Kok
I lean more towards 1970's rock & blues, but this has its purpose too...and I don't mind seeing the humanity in people, brought to tears or their elated smiles, joined by a common, shared experience.
I think the world can use this.
16 Year Old Emma Kok sings Dancing OnThe Stars – André Rieu, Maastricht 2024 (official video)
My goodness what a wonderful idea...the caring, problem solving, community building...to sit under the work of so many hands. I try to place myself there and imagine.
16 Year Old Emma Kok sings Dancing OnThe Stars – André Rieu, Maastricht 2024 (official video)
My, my my...a choice like this...to choose, really decide that you want to live differently and then do it...and to be embraced by that new world you've created. What a powerful and profound thought.
The image first conjures up a healthy dose of fear
However, I trust in the knowledge that I am safe
My mind allows me to see the beauty in the fear
They say wildfires make their own weather and
I believe them
For 1 minute and 37 seconds I stare in wonder
By the time the video clip ends,
I've seen this crisis as puffs and shadows,
As light and dark and
In colors and movement
Eyes fixated on the billowy mass
I think a heartfelt thank you to the firefighters,
who work so hard
And well wishes for those who are much closer to this fear
I'm working my way through this one, this time, of so many fires. We all do what we can, need to to move through and to process. My friend lives South of the Lake Fire in Goleta. I don't feel fire concern for her, she's not that close. But she also has not returned my text/phone call since Friday and I know I will for sure feel better when I hear her voice.
These are trying times for many, in many different ways.
I wish all of you ways to get through.
🔤
As I've said before, we play WORDLE each night (for the most part). After we've solved it...we play the second game, one that I made up. The rules of play are: Make up a story using the Guessed WORDLE words (in all caps below), in order of how they were used to solve the evening's WORDLE - so top to bottom.
I started saving some of them.
NOTE~ These are an exercise in using the words in front of me, in order. That's it. I don't rewrite or edit or add to...this is how they have spilled out of my brain. Also, I now find this part of the game more fun than actually solving the WORDLE puzzle! haha
6/22/24
They found a RIFLE among the ITEMS in his car. While the police response seemed TEPID, they did issue an EDICT to the community that the curfew would stay enforced until the issue was resolved.
6/23/24
Without a DOUBT, the baby in the BUGGY will wake up when the BUGLE starts to play.
6/24/24
She felt AWFUL, even though there are many things she LIKES, as in CLOTH, ROLLY pollys, her childhood DOLLY...
6/25/24
BRAVO she told him!! SAVOR your two try win!!!
6/28/24
She felt SMALL, but the PRINT on the teleprompter was huge. The CROWD yelled every lyric the the songs. She was glad they DROVE their own cars.
6/29/24
It was RAINY outside, so she put on her rain ARMOR and went outside. By the time she got out there, it was already CLEAR, so she removed her rain armor and went to fix the TEARS in the ZEBRA fencing.
6/30/24
She thought the CLOTH would fit in the FRAME, but the head of the PIGGY was cut off and all it showed were his NUBBY little legs. Sorry BUDDY, she whispered.
7/1/24
She was TIRED, even though she DEEMS it necessary to figure out the meaning of the word PADLE, she's too tired. So she retired to her ABODE and tried to come up with a clever ADAGE instead.
7/3/24
The jungle was full of FIRES. The CHIMP couldn't stop to THINK, he just pounded on his THIGH and then ran on towards safety.
7/5/24
He was so RIGHT on with his cool, blues attitude. He could play his HARPS like nobody's business, down near the SHORE. She had such a huge CRUSH on him!
7/8/24
We have to get READY, he said. But I need to SHAVE my legs, she replied. She added, I'm in such good SHAPE now, I want to show off a bit.
This guy had so many words, he had to put them on sticky notes on the exterior of his window. In turn, I had to ponder how he expected to hold onto his words doing it this way? 😂
This song kept playing in my head as I wove the second blue Medicine Bag. I just kept on weaving the blues. Come along as i record that here...
3 blue bags above: Left one was gifted and the other two are here waiting to get planted.
I'm gathering the photos or links here in this post since I won't be able to photograph them all together as I usually do (and wanted to). I like to look at them all together to notice the differences within a theme (in this case "blue").
Above CMB was also on the May 11-14, 2024 post...the first two Blue Bags planted.
Currently on the loom (above). I think this is the 7th Blue bag. I'm planning maybe two more before switching colors again. I have a couple of other 'accent' colors I want to try out. All of this weaving is serving me well as far as relaxing, stress relief, heart sharing moments and so on.
I read this article on use of our hands being good for our brains: LINK. Interesting.
I heard a term I'd never heard..."a bluebird day", so I looked for the meaning. Many of the meanings had to do with winter and skiing and bright blue skies the morning after a storm. But, I know I'll use it losey-goosey, because that's how I roll. Besides, how can one not call the bright blue skies over the Bridge (or here at the carwash -above photo) as a bluebird sky, even in the blazing heat?!
I randomly chose this video to relax with (while weaving), as art making will do that. When I got to the 2:47 timestamp, I had to pause and go check out the Color Cube. Oh my gosh. How fun. Just my love of paint chip samples would have me looking at these cards daily! The website is quite thorough if you want to work with color in this way.
Well, it seems I have something new that I'm learning about. It started with Grace and my concern and wondering how she was doing in this latest fire. What I discovered in my research is a whole new community of people that learn, share care for one another. What I found is some peace of mind in knowledge. When I checked on Grace, I learned about 'zones' in her area (everywhere in CA?)
In considering the July picture...the first thing that came to mind was today's 4th of July holiday (will the teacher in me ever go away?! haha - I'm so trained to think in themes and seasons and such). Anyway, then the fires came to mind...recent ones near here, the one by Grace's hill, the one near my friend in Ventura County, CA...others. This led to the concerns I have and have mentioned around fireworks and my neighbors' love of them.So that's what I drew for this month.
I did wonder what my city was doing about fireworks tonight, so I went to check...ah, yep...shows as usual, no drone shows here. Sheesh. The city page also states to call the non-emergency line to report illegal fireworks...but goes on to say "Please keep in mind that reports will not result in an immediate response. However, these calls are imperative in helping our local Sheriff’s Department to identify hotspots in our community. Please call 9-1-1 only for life-threatening situations". Geez.So, in other words: they can keep setting them off, until someone's roof catches on fire, then a response will be necessary. Poop.
We've been fire free for a couple days. 🤞 - it stays that way.
Also, up the road a bit, on my old commute road, fireworks are still legal in Fillmore. Drives me crazy. Does anyone actually think that they will buy and then stay in within town limits to have there firework fun? Sheesh.
I found this guy due to the channel below (put them in backwards for some reason). You can go to his channel to see more.Holt Hanley If you read his bio there, you can see that he is an educated young man. Nice. He presents facts and understanding. His skills with the multitude of internet tools is far and wide. I had no idea that there were so many maps one could turn on and off and layer over each other. It reminded me of Jude's thin cloth and Dee's collage work. It almost makes me wish I'd learned a lot more in the area of computer operations and graphic design. The graphic stuff is pretty neat.
So, I had Wendy's Well words in my head, along with Jude's recent teaching about her "seeming" technique and hers and Hazel's peace signs. I thought I'd give peace a chance and seeming a try. What was easily at hand was a ripped paper piece from some recently arrived packaging. I had used it to wrap the 3 Medicine Bag gifts this week and had it out to wrap the latest gift. when I ripped off a piece to big, I made it smaller and saved that piece too. My plan was to add it to the July tracking calendar. But, first...a drawn and sewn Peace sign.
Our heat is high and we've had extreme heat/fire warnings, along with moderate/unhealthy for sensitive people/unhealthy air quality warnings issued. It seems that different web sites or news services have different numbers going on for AQ and temperatures. It seems to me that my visual looking and physical condition is just as good a warning system when it comes to AQ and current temperature!
One giant firework and ball of heat! I used the scraps from a photo used on a TAG. I save all of them now and have used many in this journal calendar. I usually leave them as is...so no trimming or altering them, just glue them in. I thought it quite apropos that the colors on this TAG were Hot too.
I also considered the word peace in relation to fires, explosions, hot...
There are so many thoughts, directions I could go with this.
When I first pulled out the journal to add July, I considered using cool colors...a sort of exercise in reframing, looking for the positive. Then I decided to just go with what truly is. July of 2024 is so far hot & fire-filled. That's just the truth of it.
The video above is from:Kathryn's World Wildfire Tracking. She tracks fires in the tri-state west coast. I have friends in all of these states...and us of course. I've watched and listened (while doing other things). Informative. Holt doesn't seem to be on as much.
BTW~ Her policy for her channel is. to not show burning homes and other traumatic images (for the most part), but they share links in the chat, if one wants to check things out further. Her purpose is to share information so people can be safe and make good choices. I've also heard her ask people to not comment in ALL CAPS, as it give a sense of panic or urgency that may not be there.
You'd think that all of this learning would be stressful, but...for me...you'd be wrong. I find comfort in learning, knowledge...in knowing where to look for information and in being able to check on loved ones without bothering them (of course they know what is happening).
I just watched some of the fire retardant drops on the Mariposa fire...the firefighters skill and determination is something to be admired, in awe of and most of all grateful for.
I'm almost done here, just need to find words for the card and wrap it up to be mailed. I did attach the tri-color strap and am happy with it. I hope she will like it. This TAG is a photo of toddler finger painting from about 18 years ago. Where does the time go?!
I have to add how very happy it makes me to reuse Amazon packing paper from a recent order. I usually save it to use in my own mailing, but to use it for wrapping and sewing on has been extra fun. Plus, squishing it up into a ball to make it wrinkled and softer was a good release of energy! haha
He seems to leave this thing all over the place! Good thing it can stand on its own! 😂 Gotta laugh!
I heard this story on NPR today. Scientists have discovered that South African termite mounds have been inhabited for 34,000 years!! Imagine that! I found that amazing, especially so in the midst of all these fires. It really gave me pause to think what survives.
PS I'm glad I did this post because it inspired me to put some things back in the "go bag" - that have morphed their way out over the months. I'm inspired to consider preparedness again. I hope you are too. This feels especially good as I sit here listening to the booms and cracks and pops of fireworks near my house.
