The Blue Hour - a very magical place...

The blue hour comes from a French expression, l'heure bleue, which refers to the period of twilight each morning and evening where there is neither full daylight nor complete darkness. The time is considered special because of the quality of the light at this time of day. This is the time of day that the camera lens sees the night sky as "blue". And the naked eye cannot see this magic! All you camera buffs out there, go to Bluehoursite.com and check it out. Of course, night skylines rock because for the total effect, you need some light in the picture. But I wanted to try it at home first. When you visit this website, it pinpoints your location and tells you the morning time and the evening time at which this magic appears.
Click here to learn how to take the pictures. You don't need a lot of fancy equipment. If your camera has a "night" mode, you are on your way. If you don't have a tripod. Set the camera on something stable. Use the timer. Take lots of shots. The middle of the magic hour is best.. but you will need to play with your camera to figure out when it reads the blue sky the best. You can tell that the second picture is much more blue than the first.
This was one of the first pictures I took a week ago. I had a few better pictures, but as luck would have it, I wiped off the camera card today :(. I think I see more playing in my future. Now that the site has a newly added option to put in other cities and other dates, I think this will be something fun to try when I'm out of town...


I had to try it, you can do it too.

Welcome to my world today.

This isn't where I was intending to go with today's posting, but roses have thorns. They prick and they hurt, but you learn and get over the pain. So although I tend to look at life with those leftover, Beatles vintage, rose colored glasses, today they are a bit foggy. Being honest feels good.


Here is Baby Priss. Where she is now, we have no clue. But then I didn't even think she existed until last week. Husband saw her last on Saturday. Mom moved her, and we have don't know where she is. Mom walks around like she's looking for her, but then gives up. My inclination was to pick her up and take her in when first she appeared. But she was still being nursed and mom still had to "help" her go to the bathroom. Now I kick myself. This makes me sad.

Paul's prison cell in Philipi

A friend's son was released from prison in March. Last week the young man was picked back up. Missed checking in with his probation officer and missed his AA meeting. When picked up, he had a dirty drug test. Regardless of whether what he did is right or wrong, he is still someone's child and child of the most high. Our federal government is good at putting people into prison, but not giving them any rehab so that when they come out, they can live a good life. We rank #1 in the world for the number of people in prison. Be tough on crime and breed generation after generation of those who find nothing but ways to get back to prison but never a get out of jail card. I'm not talking about those that hurt another human, but those first time non-violent offenders. Do we really want to keep paying 40 grand a year to house these folks when a rehab situation would better fit the situation? And be cheaper? Money could be better spent! Click here for more info. This makes me sad.

So what to do? ~ Plant flowers. ~ Take time to listen. ~ Make the world a better place. ~ Do your part. ~ Be the person who comes out of the blue and says you are worth it. ~ Write letters. ~ Make the phone call. ~ Take the time for someone else. ~ Give to charity. ~ Recycle. ~ Take a nap. ~ Be respectful. ~ Be kind. ~ Be merciful. ~ Ask forgiveness. ~ Be forgiving. ~ Give of yourself. ~ Smile, it might be the only good thing someone else sees all day. ~ Don't focus inward. ~ Be thankful. ~ Pray.

I ask you to pray for Baby Priss, for Blake and for me. That Baby Priss can be found. That the Judge understands that Blake needs help. That I do the right thing.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. (Job 5:16)

But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish. (Psalm 9:18)

But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7)


So I have a plan, follow Miss Priss - oh Lord help me here, she climbs trees.

The steps to help Blake are already in progress. How far will I go, that is in God's hands.

Find solace and guidance in the book of truths.

Sew.

Since no day is a good day unless you learn something, I want to share with you something one of my student's from when I taught high school told me today. By the way, thanks Jeshanna!

"some people hide because they want someone to care enough to come and find them".

I'm out there looking for you ;-). XOXO

Had 'sew' much fun in Arlington!

Last Friday I decided it was time to do something for myself! And it was sew worth it. Got up really early Friday morning and drove to Arlington to Martha's Sewing Market. It's been at least 10 years since I've been at this event, but used to see everyone there twice a year at Martha's School of Art Fashion in Huntsville, Alabama. Click here to shop Martha's, see her embroidery designs, and register for some great classes at her sewing schools.
One of the perpetually smiling faces that greeted me was my shoe shopping buddy Patty Smith. Way before I ever met this gracious lady, I was wearing her designs. Her books are no longer in print but we decided we might need to revive the "bow skirt" and make the bow in the skirt in proportion to the size we used to wear to the size we wear now! Bad idea... but it gave us quite a few laughs.
My friend Connie Palmer. An incredibly talented, super nice, beautiful person. Her work is exquisite. Years ago, we used to teach in classrooms next to one another at Martha's schools and became fast friends. Our rooms connected and the passage way doors were always open for a quick "do you have", "can I borrow", "how's it going". I miss her plenty. We planned on having dinner (if everything went well) at market and it all worked out. Patty, Connie and I had a blast at Pappadeux's.. finished off by the fireworks over Ranger field in Arlington. Sew fitting! Thank you dear friends for making the time. Be sure to check out Connie's website!
Gloria McKinnon from Anne's Glory Box. She is one of just a few crazy quilt queens. And lucky me, I get to count her as a friend. She traveled from down-under Australia to be here at the show. She's doing something special with Martha this coming Monday. Can't say, but it involves printed material! She carries the most exquisite silk ribbon for silk ribbon embroidery, picture transfers to silk, and her projects are just to dye for - pun intended.
Another dear friend and super talent is Kathy Harrison. Her Custom Keepsakes embroidery designs are top notch! Oh, they will just make you drool. A very talented lady used her embroidery patterns to make the most gorgeous dress in the competition. You'll see it later on.
Martha's had the biggest booth full of delicious things. I bought a fabric glue stick. Well Connie convinced me I needed it. LOL. and a refill. This week, I'll order on line. Let's see pink linen, white linen, tatting, mmmm. I have an idea. ;-)
I'll share with you just a few of the beautiful garments hanging up for display.. Isn't this a darling little girl's outfit. The tiny buttons just make it. I'm such a sucker for mini gingham!
Sorry about the bad photo.. I truly am, because IMHO this was one of the most beautiful entries to be judged. The closeup below is better. The hem of the dress was beautifully embroidered using a design by Kathy Harrison. Everything was perfectly in proportion, exquisitely constructed and just simply stunning.
Here's a close up of the top. Insertion laces, entredeux, beautiful stitches just make me drool.
Isn't this crazy patch angel beautiful. Maybe it was the colors that drew me to it, or the trims - don't know. but it's adorable.
Pinstitched lace squares filled with pintucking. Deliciousness by machine,
Oh look at the embroidery on this piece. I would love to wear this garment. I have that pattern somewhere. Mmm, I remember it's in a big pattern package. I'll have to go looking.
A fully embroidered wall hanging. It's so beautiful. Click the picture to see the closeups..
Now how cute is this!!! Sweet doll clothes and so beautifully sewn that it just makes you want to cry.
First I laughed. Then I fell in love. I laughed because the only kitchen apron was next to the fire hose sign. Is this a sign? Nonetheless. The apron is so cute. Aprons are so hot now. But with just two of us at home, although we cook often, it's not the elaborate meals that I once cooked.
Funny thing, I haven't lost my touch at matching embroidery designs with their authors. This cute kitty is by Loralei designs.
And who can resist a bustier into which I might get 1/3 of my torso! beautiful hand work. All the beading was done by hand. Sew beautiful.


And I finally laid hands on the latest and greatest Bernina machine. I have just put myself on a very strict budget so that I too can have this wonder of all wonders. It is a machine that surpasses any expectations. Son said he'll build the perfect work top! Cannot wait. The hardest thing about not working in the sewing industry is missing all the great toys. (other than the people let's get that straight right off) I had the best toys. And this one, well, it will be coming home, but it might take a while. It was quiet, and intuitive and with a finger flick on the screen, I was able to make it do what I want. Superbly done Bernina!

Then Saturday had breakfast and lunch with our son and headed back home. This was just the icing on the beautiful cake made Friday. We missed you Peggy and Charlotte and Gail. You being there would have made the circle complete. Next time.

Plants, plants and more plants….

Thanks for all the great suggestions for shade loving plants…
Let me share the list with you:

Hellebores .. look at the beautiful courtyard my friend Gail has. The hellebores are the plants towards the back with the white blooms. Her pictures are simply awesome. Thanks for sharing your lovely space.

Also known as the Lenten Rose, I will be finding a couple of these! Thanks Gail!

Helen recommends that I find some Ajuga plants. Those should work too. Great low groundcover. And there are lots and lots of varieties. Some are quite colorful.

Did you know there are shade loving Geraniums? I didn’t. but there is a variety called a Hardy Geranium that will do well in the shade. And I thought our other neighbors just kept changing out plants!!

I think I’ll be planting some Astilbe along the back fence. That is if I can find the red color. Pink won’t do as well in our yard. If not red, then some white.

I tried Columbine once. Maybe I need to give it another try. I planted it in dappled sunlight and it did rather well, but it did not overwinter! And it’s supposed to. Where did I fail?

The list continues with

Forget-me-nots

Hostas

Violets

Coral Bells

Aphrodite Plantain ( in the Hosta family)

Bleeding hearts

Nettles - don't these make you itch?

Check back in a couple of weeks and I'll show you what's been planted!