Pollyanna Rainbow Sunshine and the Needles of Doom

Lyda here.

So I’m playing on, ya’ll.

Specifically, I’m considering moving. Things on the job market are a bit… bleak. Not working much is not working for me. Especially considering how expensive it is to live here, and how much debt I have.

If anyone in Orange County needs a great organizer, or a great office manager, now is the time to let me know.

I feel as if I’m having a move thrust on me. It’s not my first choice, but it may be the best choice.

At any rate, I agree with John Gay:

Lyda here. It’s Hump Day - time for a Random Weirdness post. Today it’s:

TOTALLY RANDOM WEIRDNESS

1.) Drunken weirdness: Dude. This is not the way to get more fiber.

2.) Lone Star weirdness: This one’s for all us Texans.

3.) Blue weirdness: They are making a live action Smurf movie. Really. Why??? Fifty years, and there’s still only one female. Her dance card must be full… if ya’ll know what I mean…

4.) Historical weirdness: Check out this modern Trojan Horse  from “The Chaser” - these guys are crazy, but in a very funny way.

5.) Deadly weirdness: The Grim Reaper looks for work. Another gem from “The Chaser”. The Resident Sith Master and I spent at least an hour watching videos from “The Chaser.”  This Pollyanna will go to any lengths to bring ya’ll the weirdness.

6.) Food weirdness: Want melon? Got $6000? So many jokes, the mind boggles…

Also: This is probably not where you want to go on a first date. I’m just saying…

7.) Work weirdness: With competition like this, I should have a job in no time, right?

8.) Shopping weirdness: Because everyone needs their own remote-control zombie. And a R2D2 pepper mill. To go with our new salt pigs. Lick the salty pig! Is that what the kids are calling it these days?

And we all need a duct tape purse. And skull and crossbones ice cubes. Arr, maties!

9.) Weird pig fun: Check out this smart pig. Feel the piggie love! Hint: Do not google “pig love” at work. But that video link is safe for work and kids. Trust Pollyanna.

10.) And finally, because Mom would have loved it:
more cat pictures

Lyda here. Chillin’ at home. Or rather, sweating at home. It’s still way too hot here but they are promising it’s going to cool down tonight. Please!  I haven’t posted much lately, so it’s time to catch up. Which mostly means - movie reviews and babbling about books.

And zombies. Always zombies.

But first, a very beleted Happy Mom’s Day to ya’ll and your moms! I had a great day filled with explosions and zombies, and best of all, time with the Resident Sith Master. What more could this Mom want?

We went and saw Iron Man (2007) - which was fun and action-packed. Thanks to GAAE brother, who was a serious collector of comic books once upon a time, I’d read the original Iron Man comics, and I wasn’t sure about Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. But he brought humor to the role, and made the character’s development from self-absorbed jerk to hero believable. Gwyneth Paltrow was excellent as the smart and subtly sexy Pepper Potts. And Terence Howard - hello, Hollywood, this guy is awesome, please cast him more! - was great as Tony’s best friend and will hopefully have an even bigger role in the sequel in the works. Look for a quick cameo by Stan Lee (creator of Iron Man and Spiderman, among others) - Tony mistakes him for Hugh Hefner. Stay through the credits for Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury telling Tony to join The Avengers. This movie is a bit violent for the youngest, but probably okay for most tweens.

To add to the Mom Day awesomeness, RSM gave me a great gift: a special edition DVD of I Am Legend (my review here and Pollyanna’s Brain score here)  with two versions of the film - the theatrical release, and an alternative theatrical version “with controversial ending” to quote the box. Of course, we watched the alternative version that very day. We like the alternative even better, but ya’ll will have to see it for yourselves - no spoilers here.

This movie is based on Richard Matheson’s 1954 book, “I Am Legend“, and was also adapted for The Last Man on Earth (1964) with Vincent Price, and The Omega Man (1971) with Charlton Heston. I could read the book for the Reading in Wonderland Challenge. For me, it would count as both #1 - a fiction book in a genre I don’t usually read (I watch horror, but don’t read it), and #6 - a book that has been made into a film. And then of course I would need to watch the film again. And watch the other two films.

For thoroughness. Ya’ll know.

Now, this weekend, RSM was off with his dad, so I checked out (for free! I love the library!)  some things to watch, and quilted all weekend.

Yes, I am quilting up a storm making Mystery Teeny Tiny Squares Projects. Top secret for now, but all will be revealed in the fullness of time. Sewing. Quilting. Ironing.

In the 95 plus heat.

Because I am insane.

But I digress…

It had been recommended to me multiple times over the years, so I checked out Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997). Silly, girly, and giddy. The story is unbelievable - but I didn’t care. The clothes are awesomely over the top, the 80s soundtrack rocks, and it made me happy to see the evil girls get their come-uppance and the fun girls win at last. Pure fun if you’re in the right mood for it.

I also checked out a BBC classic: a three-episode box set of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple starring Joan Hickson. I watched the first two episodes - this one and this one - and am looking forward to the third. There is something so comforting about Miss Marple, and not only because she knits. She’s definitely one of the characters I’d most like to invite to tea.

In fact, it would be interesting to have Miss Marple and Commander Sam Vimes sit down to tea together, don’t ya’ll think?

Personally, I don’t think Vimes looks like that sketch. See the end of that link for casting suggestions. Sam Neill… hmmm. The L-Space Web is a must for Terry Pratchett fans. And has links to vendors of fun Discworld stuff, including CMOT Dibbler’s where you can get your own ”I Still Aten’t Dead” pin.

Oh, but I digress again…

What characters would you invite to tea? Or for drinks? And can I come too? I promise to leave the Zombie Army at home.

Lyda here. I really should finish teaching my Zombie Army the steps so we can get out on the road. There should be opportunities for dancing zombies, right? Unfortunately, we had to drop the tap number - their arms and legs kept falling off.

While waiting for the reattachments, I’ve had some unexpected time off to quilt and read, and of course to watch more TV and movies. Ya’ll know where this is going:

Movie reviews! I got two movies from the library and watched them over the weekend.

I watched “Damn Yankees” (1958.) Yes, I am a theater geek from way back, and I love musicals. Except for Tab Hunter as Joe, this fun version of Faust has the original Broadway cast, including Gwen Verdon as that vamp Lola who always gets what she wants, and Ray Walston as Applegate also known as the Devil - they both won Tony awards for these roles. Bob Fosse did the choreography, and performs a famous mambo number with Verdon. Fosse and Verdon were married, and she preferred working with him to any other choreographer. This is a fun romp in the ballpark, and the trademark Fosse dance moves are wonderful in every number.

ZOMBIE ALERT!

I also saw “Planet Terror” (2007). I saw the extended and unrated version, which was released as a 2-disc set, not the film as it was shown in theaters. I’m guessing that the version I saw has more nudity, and possibly more gore and extended gross moments. 

See, the bad guys release this experimental gas which mutates people into zombies when it touches them, and everyone the zombies come in contact with mutate, except some people are immune for some reason. As the infection spreads and more mutated zombies are created, the plot becomes more and more unreal. In a weird - and above all disgusting - way. Full plot and cast list here.

The film was directed by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City), and released theatrically as a double feature with Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. Tarantino has a cameo as an infected soldier and gets to mutate in a particularly disgusting way. Yuck.  Rose McGowan stars as an exotic dancer who loses a leg to the zombies fairly early on. But it’s okay - she’s up and walking an hour later, because her former boyfriend and expert zombie fighter (played by Freddie Rodriguez) attaches a table leg to her stump, and later a modified M4 carbine and rocket launcher - which she can shoot at will. Somehow. Without pulling a trigger or anything. What? Does that seem far-fetched to anyone?  Bruce Willis plays the crazed Lt. Muldoon, and gets to chew the scenery in a couple of over-the-top scenes and then mutate. There are various other loonies and tough men and women - and lots and lots of zombies, shooting, explosions, and fires. Of course.

Some parts of the film were intentionally damaged to give it a 70’s grindhouse theater effect. At one point, a scene is interrupted with a ”Missing Reel” reel sign, and when the film continues, the plot has moved on. This is confusing but also kind of fun - if you are in the mood for this kind of weirdness.

Being in the mood for this movie is crucial for enjoying it. You have to suspend disbelief and just go with it all.

Zombie survival tip: During a zombie invasion, avoid hospitals.

And, apparently, barbeque restaurants. I guess your average zombie likes secret sauce as much as the next guy.

Which reminds me: Do not try to eat while watching this film. Don’t watch it right after a meal either, or plan on eating right after. Particularly barbeque. I may never eat barbeque again. Well, okay, not “never” but… for a while.

This film is definitely not for children, dogs, or anyone with a sensitive stomach. The unrated version at least is for adults only. Even I, your intrepid zombie reporter, had to look away from the screen rather a lot. But it’s not only the gore and extreme grossness that makes this inappropriate for teens; there is one rather explicit sex scene, an attempted rape, and pointless random deaths of a child and a dog.

On the Pollyanna West Zombie Scale, this film gets a 2 out of 5 Brains for Zombie Fun - and 5 out of 5 Brains for Gore. Plus - in a Pollyanna first - an additional 100 Brains for Grossness.

Hopefully, the next zombie movie won’t be this disgusting. I’ll be sure to let ya’ll know…

Lyda here. I’ve read some books recently that were actually not written by Terry Pratchett. Oh, yes, I’ve been re-reading his too. Of course. But these were in addition to… Ya’ll know.  I thought I’d give ya’ll a quick book review today.

I read “The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History” by Katherine Ashenburg - which is about personal hygeine in Europe and the United States. Interesting, and sometimes - often - squirm-inducing. Not for everyone, but a fascinating and different look at cultural norms and behaviors.

Of the historical eras covered (versus modern day), I’d say a modern American would be comfortable with the personal cleanliness of the Romans. Unless ya’ll get squirmy about sharing your bath with 30 or so friends, neighbors, and countrymen. Got to get ready for that orgy. Ya’ll know. Actually, it sounds like the bathhouse was a great place to meet people and then… yeah, do what you were going to do at the orgy.

“I still love to wash in your old bathwater.” Yep, that’s the lyrics. See?

But after the Plague in Europe? Ugh. Let’s just say, it wasn’t all “huzzah” and quaffing ale. From the descriptions, I’m guessing the body odor in this time period would knock me right over. Not to mention the shit in the corridors of the castles. Oh yes, it was. 

And the final section, on the growing American obsession with extreme cleanliness, is interesting. And also squirm-inducing. In a different way. You can read an excerpt of the book and listen to NPR talking to the author here.

Anna-Liza here.

I have to confess, I have never, ever seen most of the TV shows Lyda mentioned in that post. Gilligan’s Island, Hogan’s Heroes and Star Trek are all exceptions. Just to give you an idea of the depth of my television illiteracy. BTW, loved Hogan’s Heroes. I was pretty fond of I Dream of Jeannie, too. In the ’70’s, I was watching Charlie’s Angels (and wishing my hair would do that Farrah thing–which would have been hideous on me, frankly), The Bionic Man and The Bionic Woman. And I remember Mannix and Berretta being staples, and Emergency! I’m pretty sure Randy Mantooth was my first Tiger Beat crush, although Parker Stevenson eventually supplanted him. Or maybe the other way around. Oh, and Tony DiFranco, who, as far as I know, is no relation to Ani.

But I digress. What is it that I do to relax if I don’t let my mind get sucked into the Tube of Mindlessness? (Although, as Lyda points out, there’s a lot of good stuff, too. PBS rocks, except perhaps for Barney.) Well, mostly knitting or reading, and most weekends I spend one morning at my favorite coffee place, Java Stop, knitting and watching the kids play and sipping a mocha. I’ve mentioned it before, but now I have pictures!

Kevin and Ellen, the owners, are super folks. Kevin does the baking, and he makes some of the best muffins ever. When I walk in, if there’s a line, there’s a fresh mocha sitting on the counter for me before I can even order! And they make ”hot” chocolate for the kids that is just warm enough to be called that without scalding their mouths. The kids like them and like going there, because there’s a toy closet and there’s a big space on the floor to play right next to it, with comfy chairs and sofas around for parents to hang out. Which is what we do.

Once we have all our food and drink gathered, I usually settle into my favorite chair by the window,

take a few sips, and start knitting. The kids have their snacks sitting on the floor  

(yes, they’re in their pajamas) and then start playing, and I can watch them, talk with them, and have conversations with whoever else is there while knitting away. I probably get most of my progress done there! If I ever win a knitting prize of some kind, I’ll have to include Java Stop in my list of thank-yous, for providing me with a way to keep my kids entertained while I got my projects done! I’ve certainly gotten farther on Eris there than anywhere else since I took it out of hibernation.

So anyway, Kevin and Ellen don’t have a website, and they don’t have internet access in the café (which means you rarely see someone sitting and staring at a laptop). They do have a cozy, comfy place to hang out and have conversations, read, (or knit, whatever), with excellent coffee and really good breakfast and lunch fare. And they’re big supporters of locally owned stores and community events. And, since there’s a limit to how much I can actually spend there, I figure maybe I can send a few more customers their way.

But not too many. I want to be able to grab my favorite chair when I’m there.

(If you’re wondering, they’re in the historic hotel building at the corner of 3rd and Main in Longmont.)

Lyda here.

The Magic Box of the title is television, people. Television. I know. Ya’ll are disappointed. Sorry.

Ya’ll know, I’m TV obsessed, and I watch way too much. I do prefer quality shows with excellent writing and acting, and I watch a lot of PBS and non-fiction shows. I also rent a lot of movies, both fabulous and bizarre.

But I’ll watch almost anything, if only to mock it. TV at our house is an interactive sport.

TV takes me to distant planets, to the farthest reaches of our own little world, and deep inside the most fascinating species of all, Homo Sapiens. It gives me time with geniuses and monsters (safely!), and it does it all in an hour or two, and usually with built-in snack breaks. TV teaches me and challenges me and lets me laugh and cry and think - or not think. It keeps me company, and lulls me to sleep on the really bad nights. All in the comfort of my own home.

So, anyway… when I read this post at knitche (Linda’s blog), who got it from Emily’s blog, ya’ll know I was fascinated.

Here is Empire Magazine’s list of the “50 Greatest TV Shows” ever. But this is definitely not MY list of the 50 greatest. I’m not the only one who disagrees with this list. Also, this is from a British magazine and the shows were apparently chosen by popular vote, so there are more British and more recent shows than might show up otherwise. TV Guide did their own Top 50 list in 2002 - which is also controversial.

But I rantingly digress…

I was going to do the “50 greatest” meme. But then I decided it would be more fun to do a meme on THE WORST TV SHOWS OF ALL TIME!

There is the TV Guide’s 50 Worst list done in 2002. And then there is Senior Sock’s list, which is much funnier. And this list of UK’s worst. And this list of worst 60s shows.

But I wanted to include only shows that I have actually seen. Yes, coming out of the “terrible TV” closet, as it were.

And then I thought, what about the shows that I loved that were cancelled really fast? And the guilty pleasures? And the just plain weird shows?

So here (at last) is:

The Pollyanna TV meme:

THE WEIRDNESS OF HUMANS, TV EDITION

Category: It Seemed Like a Good Idea At The Time…

“Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories” - Spielberg! What could go wrong? Uh… yeah…

“Manimal” - How do you pitch something like that to a network?

“Cop Rock” - Just weird. And not in a good way.

“My Mother the Car” - You mother is a what? That’s what he said.

Category: Admit It, You’ve Seen Every Episode (or was that just me?)

“The Flying Nun” - Gidget Take Flight, what’s wrong with that? We like Sally Field, we really like her.

“Gilligan’s Island” - This show gave us the all-important question: “Ginger or Mary Ann?” Plus, it was educational. We learned we could make anything out of coconuts.

“Three’s Company” - You laughed, I know you did.

“Baywatch” - Gorgeous people in skimpy clothing leaping in and out of the waves and running in slow motion… Uh, what were we talking about?

“Hogan’s Heroes” - Doesn’t everyone run a successful spy operation from prison camp? And hide the tunnel exits under the dog house? The dogs knew who the good guys were.

“ALF” - Furry alien. It told us about the 10th planet way before the scientists did, too.

“Mork and Mindy” - Maybe my favorite thing about this show, other than Robin Williams of course, is that it was a spin-off from “Happy Days” - the show which spawned ”jump the shark“.

Category: But Why??

“House” - Why does anyone put up with this guy?

“Dougie Hooser, MD” - In one timeless episode, 16-year-old Dougie has to give a vaginal exam to a classmate he wants to date. Apparently being the last doctor left on the planet? I was more embarrassed than either of them. I was only watching it to make fun of it! And I was recovering from surgery and desperate! And the sun was in my eyes! It wasn’t my fault!

“Barney & Friends” - Don’t even get me started.

“The Jerry Springer Show” and all of its ilk - REALLY don’t get me started.

Most “Reality” TV - Ya’ll, I can understand “Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” and the other talent competitions. But most “reality” shows are just too horrible to even think of watching. Even the commercials for these shows make me cringe. And none of it is “reality”.

Category: Worst. Sequels. Ever.

“The Ropers” - Let’s not knock at that door. A sad waste of some talented actors.

“Still the Beaver” - I admit it, I included it for the name.

“AfterMASH” - Oh no.

Category: Cancelled Too Soon AKA “We Hardly Knew Ye”.

“Richie Brockelman: Private Eye” - “The thing of it is…”  A quirky young private eye, smart enough to solve crimes and dorky enough to live with his parents. Whenever I see Dennis Dugan in something, I think, “Richie!”

“Cleopatra 2525″ - Three sexy tough and barely dressed chicks battle various deranged and mutated bad guys in a post-apocolypic world, and then go dance with gorgeous guys in cool futuristic bars. What’s not to love?Totally awesome soundtrack, too.

“Greatest American Hero” - That dorky red costume! Those terrible landings!

“My Hero” - An alien superhero falls in love with an average woman and learns that saving humans is easier than understanding them. Very funny. I don’t know how many episodes they made, but it wasn’t not enough.

Category: Guilty Pleasures

“America’s Next Top Model” - I find this weirdly fascinating. This season, they took pictures in a meat locker with the women dressed in meat. Who came up with that?

“Power Rangers” - Long ago, when my son was little, I watched because of him. He’s long since moved on, but I find this show kitchy fun and still catch an episode sometimes. Especially when I’m sewing on a Saturday morning. Fact to know for future quizzes: Tommy the Sith apprentice cat is named after the original Green Ranger.

Any sci-fi show, no matter how hokey - If it’s sci-fi, I’m there. But what would you expect from someone who still quotes the original “Star Trek”?

Happy Birthday Will! No one knows the exact date he was born, but it’s traditionally celebrated now because he was baptised April 26, 1564. He died on April 23, 1616, so I guess that’s another reason that today’s his day.

“Brush up your Shakespeare, Start quoting him now” -  from”Kiss Me Kate!”

Ya’ll know that when we’re not talking zombies or fiber, or giggling like the twelve-year-olds we are, we do mention Shakespeare . In passing, as it were. Maybe more than a bit. And apologize to him.  A lot.

Here’s to the Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon! You can find his complete works here, and it’s searchable, which is awesome. No zombie hits, but five pages of mentions of “monster.” All the Shakespeare quotes included in this post came directly from that site.

Shakespeare is the most filmed author of all time. Beginning with silent films, versions of Shakespeare’s works have been filmed throughout the world. His works has inspired all kinds of adaptations, from musicals like “Kiss Me Kate!” and plays like “Rosencratz and Guildenstern Are Dead“, to films as diverse as ”Theater of Blood” (1973) with Vincent Price (which I must have missed… must find!) to “Romeo + Juliet” (Leonardo DiCaprio, Clair Danes) which used guns and cars but with Will’s original dialogue - it’s… original… to “Get Over It” (2001).

Shakespeare has been featured in TV shows from “Quantum Leap” (he leaps into a production of “Wives of Winsor”, I can’t wait to see this one) to “The Simpsons” to “Moonlighting” to… some episode of some show that is filming this week, no doubt.

The Melancholy Dane (Hamlet) is considered by many to be the greatest role ever written, and has been played by Sir Laurence Oliver (I highly recommend his very faithful film version), Sir Richard Burton, Kenneth Braughnaugh, and a fair number of women. Plus, well, everyone who can somehow arrange it. Including Mel Brooks in “To Be or Not to Be” (1983). Very highly recommended, very funny and touching - the Shylock speech from “The Merchant of Venice” has real bite in this.

Although some prefer King Lear. Or Richard the III. (Have you seen “The Goodbye Girl“? Richard Dreyfus is hysterical as Richard in a very odd production!)  Will wrote for actors of all ages, sometimes because he had a great actor of the right age to play the part.

Lady MacBeth is the prize for women - a very meaty role (heh). And of course Juliet, and… There are a lot of great roles for women. Will wrote strong women well (sadly a rarity even today), even though in his lifetime, of course, there were no females acting. On stage, at least. In bedrooms, another story I’m sure. But I digress…

Of course, the prize for “playing the most Shakespearean roles in one production” has to go to anyone who performs ”The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” (also known as “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)”, a parody in which three actors do all of the plays. All of them. Well, shortened versions. “Hamlet” in 43 seconds. Really. Read that link. If you get a chance, definitely see this. You might get to play Ophelia! And then you could put it on your resume!  Look, there’s a film of it - must see!

“I must be cruel, only to be kind.” Hamlet, Hamlet (act III, scene 4)

So I must include a pop quiz. I warned ya’ll to study last night!  Anna-Liza got 8 out of 10, and I only got 6 right.

Quick, distract them with some pig-licking:

Two, three, four…

“Kiss Me Kate!”  - Cole Porter and Will Shakespeare - awesome!

Shakespeare is quoted more than the average person on the street knows:

What, you don’t say that all the time?

Perhaps you’ve heard a version of this?

Other phrases from Will: “With bated breath” (Merchant of Venice), “a foregone conclusion” (Othello), “methinks the lady doth protest too much” (Hamlet)… it goes on and on.

Shakespeare is in fact so interwoven into our culture that it would be impossible to extricate ourselves from his influence.

And why would we want to?

Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined. - Second Witch, Macbeth (IV,1)

She’s talking about this guy, not anyone’s ex. Just to clarify.

I don’t know how Will would feel about ending with that, so I’ll end with a knitterly quote instead:

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and
ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our
faults whipped them not; and our crimes would
despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues.
- First Lord, All’s Well That End’s Well (IV, 3)

Lyda here. I did have a good weekend. Not only did I watch “Black Sheep” and a lot of TV, I got some errands done and worked in the garden. I didn’t get to the second movie yet, but I have it for a week, so…

And I worked on the Increasingly Inaccuractly Named “Easy” Heart Quilt.

Mostly I worked on the quilt all weekend, with minor breaks for food, sleep, and errands. Believe me, I wouldn’t have done those if I hadn’t had to, but a person needs food. And drugs  legally prescribed medication.

All 36 rows were completed by Saturday. So I started sewing the rows together into the quilt top.

But first - ya’ll knew it wouldn’t be that easy, right? - I had to do the dreaded ironing of the seams.

I ironed the first row and held it up to the light. And decided I need to trim the seam allowances.

The 1/4″ seam allowances were showing through the fabric, and I didn’t like that. The pieces I cut out were two-inch squares. The finished size in the quilt of each square should be one inch. I could have cut 1 1/2″ squares, but the seams would have been difficult to sew on my machine, and  would have left me no margin for error. Plus my cutting board only has one-inch intervals marked on it.

So, I trimmed the seams on the first four rows, ironed them, and stitched them together using 1/4″ seam allowances for the row-joining seams. And then trimmed those long seams.

Then I ironed the piece I had just created. I held it up to admire it. Four rows together! Woo-hoo!

And then I saw it. The very first row had two pieces in the wrong places. Which totally messed up the heart pattern.

This shall not stand! But I could see how to fix it.

I carefully pulled out the stitches in the seam between row 1 and row 2  - but only for the length of three squares in each of the two spots I needed to change. I weilded my seam ripper very slowly. “These things must be done delicately. Delicately. Or you hurt the magic.”  Then I pulled out the stitches connecting the three squares in each spot on the row, flipped them around, and sewed them back in place. And presto! A perfect row.

And a confirmation that the 1/4″ seam allowances were definitely the way to go, despite the need to trim them later. Sewing 1/8″ seam allowances - - not easy on my machine.

After that, I proceeded, but with more caution. I checked the pattern repeatedly before trimming the next rows. Then checked it again before trimming the long joining seams.

By the end of Sunday, I had 11 rows stitched together - yes, correctly, thank you very much. I didn’t have to rip any more seams.

I also discovered that some of the red fabrics are bleeding onto my ironing board cover. Which means I need to be very careful ironing the yellows which come next. I’ll use a pressing cloth (AKA an old t-shirt or maybe even a paper towel) so the red doesn’t transfer onto the yellows. It also means that I need to be careful when I use these fabrics for other projects. This quilt will be a wall-hanging, so it doesn’t really need to be washable. But other projects might.

Almost a third of the quilt top sewn together. The final look is beginning to emerge. I like it and I think it will be beautiful.

And ya’ll, if I ever try to make a bigger quilt with such teeny tiny squares, please stop me.

Now I have to go see if I can find that pattern Jane is looking for…

Lyda here.

It’s “Hug Mother Earth” Day!

So, here are some things that can help the planet. You’ve probably heard them before. Most of them are no-brainers. No brains? Zombie Army sad.  Some of them save you money. Some of them are even fun!

1. Use reusable bags instead of paper or plastic. You can make your own - extra points for using stash or recycling material you already have. Remember the 70s purses made from old jeans?

Or you could buy bags, like the ones from Envirosax. Right now, they are giving away free shower timers if you buy a pouch of 5 bags.

Okay, I got this link from Laurie’s post today. Recycling ideas - what, doesn’t that count as earth-friendly? 

Quick, distract them: Look, ya’ll, they have piggie bags!

2. Plant something.

Plant a tree. But first - really think about what tree will be happy in that spot forever. How tall will it be? How deep will the roots grow, and how far will they stretch out? Will the tree flourish and grow there for a hundred years -  or will it have to be chopped down in five or ten years because it is threatening the foundation, or its roots are in the sewer pipes, or its branches are in the electric lines?Think about water consumption too. There are lots of drought-tolerant trees available.

Pick the right tree for your area and for the spot where you are planting it. The people at the nursery can help you. A tree deserves to have a long and happy life, and you make that happen by planting wisely.

Sorry, I get carried away. But I hate it when a tree gets cut down because someone didn’t think about all this.

Or plant a bush or two, or some seeds. Ya’ll know to use organic stuff in the garden too, right? Right. Grow some herbs in a pot. Put a plant on your desk. If you have a brown thumb, try succulents, which I’ve found are harder to kill (sadly, I have killed many plants in my life).

Be aware that some plants are poisonous to pets and kids. They often don’t say this on the label, so you have to look it up or ask.

ZOMBIE PROTECTION: As far as I know, there are no plants that are poisonous to zombies, but they can be detered somewhat by tall thick hedges with thorns.

In case zombie deterrance is a consideration in your area.

3. Reduce your energy use. Switch to long-lift bulbs. Yes, they cost more, so every time a bulb burns out, replace it with a long-life bulb.

Switch to rechargable batteries (we even have them for the video game controllers).

Do what your dad told you - Turn stuff off when you’re done. Including your computer and monitor at work. Every day.

4. This one is simple, but hard: BUY LESS. I admit to having problems when it comes to fabric and books, and we all know about yarn… But maybe we can cut back in other areas.

5. Use the library. I haven’t bought a magazine in a very long time, and I no longer have any subscriptions - instead, I check out a lot of magazines. My library has movies and music too. I buy fewer books this way, but my reading selection is wider because I browse the New Arrivals section.

6. Shop for used treasures at garage sales, thrift shops, and resale and consignment stores. You get more unique items, at better prices, it’s better for the planet - and it’s an adventure! Think of the blogging potential! Plus, your money is going to a family or a charity instead of one of the Evil Empires. If you can afford it, antiques are earth-friendly too!

7. Swap with friends. This should be easy for knitters, who are experts at doing this with yarn. Parents do it with kid’s stuff already, but it can be expanded to include kitchen gagets, books, music, whatever…

8. Save water. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Do full loads in the dishwasher (and let the dishes air dry). Do full loads in cold water in the washer (and only dry your clothes as much as they need, or hang them to dry - saves energy and is better for the clothes too). Give your yard only the water it needs - and don’t water the sidewalk. Reduce, reduce, reduce.

9. For women - consider a menstrual cup and/or cloth menstral pads.

Personally, I’m done with all that, but a hysterectomy is kind of an extreme way to reduce one’s footprint on the earth…

10. Here’s the one that embarrasses my kid the most which is a total bonus!: Scrounge.

In my neighborhood, Saturday and Sunday afternoons are prime scrounge times. People put “Free” signs on stuff that didn’t sell at their garage sale, or that they are getting rid of. Some apartment complexes are good for this too - people leave things by the dumpster when they move out, so the best time to check can be at the end of the month. I have friends who call this “dumpster diving” but I personally have not ever actually gotten into a dumpster. Just wanted to make that clear…

I have a long and proud history of scrounging. My first couch came from neighbors who were moving - they first got it the same way - and went off to a new home thanks to a “free” sign. That’s at least four homes for one couch and there were probably more. 

Six Degrees of Couch Ownership.

Okay, maybe not a proud history…

But think of how much I personally have kept out of landfills - Awesome!