"DROP IT!"



"Drop it. Drop it. Drop it! .... DROP IT!"

If you train a parakeet, this might be what you awaken to in the wee hours of the morning. This is an example of how interesting our conversations were today at the Senior Center. We actually started with show and tell of things from the lace day on Saturday: pin cushions, bobbins, boxes, bags, fancy little cushions with the triangular sides, filled with crushed walnut shells (can't remember the name and it's too late to call anyone). Rhoda brought the bead order which included a "Boss Bag" (is that right??) for Betsy. It was filled with all sorts of treasures. We did eventually get down to work.

We filled the room with 5 lacers and 2 knitters. Prabha did both as she finished her Tenerife piece from the class at lace day and then got out her knitting. Kris worked on her wonderful travel pillow once again and then got out her latest hedgehog hat to knit while she enjoyed a cup of tea. Several women came into the room to investigate and were quite impressed with our work. Not one of them mentioned tatting. Caroline explained how to knit with fun fur to an experienced knitter.

There was discussion about the beach trip: a list of 73 rules were recorded and blood types were taken to optimize roommate options.   A whip will be used to assure maximum flexibility in attitude and work output.

Tidbits:

Cats can be trained to use the toilet, thus training their owners to pay exorbitant water bills.

"My brain said, 'Do it.' My body said, 'Don't!"

Rhoda thought she had the Houdini of mice in the laundry room.

Kris needs to find a name for Tux's tail as it clearly has a mind of it's own.

Grae's new dog is precious!

"I'm not a senior!" "No, you're a senorita!" :-)

As the afternoon ended, plans were made to meet for dinner before attending the EGA meeting to listen to Prabha's presentation on Indian Textiles.

Tea Kettle Pipes

This stunning antler basket was made by Prabha. She started it in a class last spring and with Carolyn's encouragement finished it recently. Her next conquest will be working with quills. While on talking of Prabha's accomplishments, the talk she will give to the Embroidery Guild is on Indian textiles and embroidery (everyone is welcome to come).

Today's work session was dominated by actual work and talk of the 1st annual beach trip. Bev decorated her pillow with the Torchon piece she'd been working on, giving it a very finished look. Betsy's round doily is looking beautiful - the thread she uses gives off a rich sheen and is the perfect weight. Carolyn is repairing the damage done to a stool cover by years of feasting moths. Prabha's length of her first scarf section grew by inches and inches...as we watched her unroll it. Kris discovered mistakes in her Binche butterfly that caused very nasty thoughts. At one point scissors were mentioned, but then she remembered what a wonderful brain exercise figuring out thread movement is...grrrrr. The growling did not bother Sally as her smile never wavered.

 (Information about the trip will be sent out today.) What will the sleeping arrangements be? (NO ONE is sleeping on the floor!) How many projects should make the trip? (To be able to switch off.) What time should we leave? (Check-in is 4, but it's fine if we arrive early.) Who will drive? (Good question.) What will our husbands do while we're gone? (Whatever they please!) What should the pin count be for "striving sips/glasses"? (N.B. reverse lacing counts for double pin count even if you haven't put them back in yet.)

Today's questions and tidbits:

The sweet and sour vegetable borscht was fabulous - kudos to the cook! (Next on the docket: 94/3.)

Is cohabitating advisable/desirable after 80?

Watch out for cats who take pins out! (It would be scarier if they were putting them in.)

Pipes at the CU Inn are sounding like Rhoda's tea kettle. (It does seem to depend on who's tuning them.)

Why is yawning catching? (Empathy? Mirror neurons? Ancestral necessity of group behavior?)

There is a great Bernina sewing machine for sale. (Carolyn's)

Families sharing a meal together was and is one of the most important parenting skills to master.

How easy/difficult would it be for a group of women to live together?

Travelling from "tudio" to "tudio" can make for a great Saturday outing.

Jan picked 22 pounds of apples in NYS AND brought them home with her. (YUM!)

Prabha has offered to be the next NCRL treasurer. (We'll see who reads this blog besides SWL.)

The Orange County Artist Guild Open Tour weekends are the first two in November.

Where is the tingling coming from?

Lace will be at Rhoda's next week since Kris will be teaching a beginners class in the mountains. Know of anyone who would like to join the class? (Was that someone saying, "ME!"?)

Toffee vs. Taffy

News of the day (Tues. September 3, 2013):  Prabha is back! Gone all summer, traipsing across the USA in her second home, she collected photos and stories to share. Her cross country adventures were not all good, but she smiled as she shared them with the group. Beyond the incredible parks, each one more spectacular than the last, the highlights of her trip with her husband were the interesting new friends they made and the renewed friendships with old friends. She brought several interesting books to share - basketry and quillwork. Her stories developed into a discussion concerning the continuing saga of American Indian communities.

As soft jazz filter through the room, making lace was the main focus of the day's work with very little other news. Show and tell included Kris' "Suzette Victoria" who is ready to join the other members of her nativity scene and the crazy hedgehog hat. After washing and drying it really does look more like an anemone hat which is what it is according to the pattern.

There were a few tidbits and questions of the day to share:

What's the difference between taffy and toffee?

answer: taffy is pulled and soft while toffee is boiled and hard.

AURAFIL is the sewing thread (size 28) that Betsy uses for making lace and it's beautiful.

Who has entered work at the State Fair? When is it, actually?

OIDFA covers are the same for each yearly issue.

Allergy season is in full bloom for some people.

What is "chenopod"?

answer: another cause of allergies! This is used to represent a whole slew of plant families - including amaranth and pigweed, lamb's quarters and russian thistle.

FOR SALE: bus style RV (Prabha's second home)

September 19 last day to give Rhoda your bead order.

September 24 everyone is invited to Embroidery Guild to hear Prabha

March 2014 is the next Tonder class (Rhoda and Prabha are taking it.)

Change is in the air! In demand: first floor master suites, no property maintenance issues.

What grain is used to make "Rajgira Chikki"?

answer: rajgira, the royal grain, used in making "Amaranthe Naugatine" which Prabha brought as a treat.

As a parting note, lost notes reappeared with two noteworthy bits:

"New jewelry calls for new clothes!" (Carolyn said regarding Bev's gorgeous work.)

Why do we experience reoccurring dreams now, at our age, about High School situations/stress?

THINK BEACH!