The Frustration of Looking for a Job

As of today I have applied for 360 positions since I was laid off in November 2011. More than half of these included writing a specific cover letter and/or going through a rather lengthy application online process on a specific company's recruiting website.Within that number there are some repeat companies and recurring agencies - but still..............

I have reached out with e-mails to past co-workers and others in my Linked In network. Not asking for a job, just trying to stay connected - then hopefully if an opportunity does come up they will remember me. I also counted it up - and I have enrolled with 25 different agencies and head hunter companies. And have set up profiles on at least 12 different web sites that are geared towards job seekers.

  I have also taken the required, and some of the optional, sessions offered by the local Job Center which is run by the Department of Unemployment Assistance in Massachusetts. 



So why then have I only had interviewed with FIVE actual companies???? These were for long term temporary assignments as well as full time positions. 

 And it didn't work out as best I know because I never heard back from the recruiters or interviewers even after we talked several times after the interview.

 I work into almost all conversations with new people I meet that I am open to any new employment opportunities - without actually saying I am out of work. Except lately I have started including that phrase as well.

I never thought I would be out of work this long. It really is the longest I have ever been out of work in my entire adult life.

 About two months ago I tried a new job search tool - which frankly I am not planning to use again. This "tool" will tell you how many other people have applied for the same job which you just did. It also breaks down the years of experience they have, degrees, industry experience etc. I found it more depressing than helpful so I elected to not use that anymore.

 But now things are changing again. I received a notice from the state department of unemployment telling me that the program under which my current benefits are being paid out of is a federal program that will be ending December 29, 2012 - regardless of whether my account shows a balance still available or note. As best I can tell this is another effect of this "fiscal cliff" which the news has been talking about.

 This means that as of January 1st I have no earthly idea just how I will pay my bills. Considering this I suppose it is not all that surprising that I had a full blown panic attack and meltdown two days ago.

 
I shared my state of mind with two groups I belong to online. I am blessed in that neither of them had anyone who was less than supportive and no one even hinted that I was not trying hard enough or that any way it was my "fault" I could not find work still. However both groups did have similar comments and rather than repeating myself I thought this would be a good way to address some of the questions that came up.


Networking: I will confess that in some ways I was a complete novice to this idea when I first started this process. I still find it a bit difficult to "sell" myself.

I just sent out a new e-mail to former co-workers, bosses etc. letting them know that I am still seeking employment and would appreciate any inside information of open positions they hear of.

Job Boards: One of the dirty little secrets of Human Resources is something I learned during my last position. More than half of the jobs you see posted on a website do not really exist. What I mean by that is that the positions have already been filled. The company found someone referred by a senior manager or a position was created for a specific person. However in order to satisfy the company's EEO requirements they post the position for a specific period of time so that they can show a list of "applicants" for a position when it comes time to do their annual reporting.
 
Temporary work: I have definitely looked into this several times. There have been three issues with this however.

* The first is the pay scale. With a small exception all the temporary positions I have talked to agents and recruiters about pay LESS than what my unemployment insurance does.

* The second problem is that none of these were listed as Temp-to-Perm which I would most definitely consider as I have found positions this way before.

* The third issue is perhaps the most difficult. If I take a temporary position then of course I am no longer eligible for Unemployment payments. If I am not longer receiving UI payments then I can no longer participate in an auxiliary program called Medical Surety (MSP). The MSP allows for a refund of up to 80% of the monthly payment I am making for my COBRA medical insurance. Without this program I could not afford to keep my medical insurance.

And dropping my insurance is very much a last ditch step. I take medication every day, and most likely will for the balance of my life. And even with the generic substitution without insurance it is quite expensive. One of the group members asked whether "Obamacare" would help me at all - it will not. In fact, in Massachusetts the sort of state medical plans available are beyond my budget as well. However if you do not use them - you are assessed a monthly fine at the end of the year on your taxes.


So here I am today. Looking at December and wondering "What Now?". Well there are some steps I have already taken and will be looking at come Monday:


Mortgage: I have spoken to my mortgage company and after acquiring the proper forms and documents I have submitted a hardship request to help with the payments for a period of time.

Medical 1: I am working with my doctor to "stock up" on my medication before I need to drop my COBRA insurance. We are hoping to get a six month supply in stock for me.

Medical 2: Two days ago I received a very unexpected and generous statement. I have been seeing a chiropractor for several months. Both for re-alignment of an ongoing issue and as a stress reliever which has served a secondary benefit of assisting me to sleep better. The doctor's office contacted the billing department and DRAMATICALLY reduced my weekly co-pay amount thereby drastically cutting my balance due to less than half. What a very nice surprise.

Public Services: The letter I received from the state pointed me to some alternative assistance programs such as food stamps, utility assistance and other programs to help with housing. I will be contacting them on Monday.

Income options: I was approached by someone I know who has asked if I would be willing to consider cooking for them weekly so they can be frozen for use during the week. I also need to re-connect with a local real estate agent who has indicated he would like me to work with him in helping his clients during foreclosures and other less than desirable home situations.  


So overall where does this leave me today? In many ways right where I have always been. Held securely in my Father's arms. I will hold onto my faith and trust that He wishes only good things for me and my household.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart...I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. - Psalm 37:4, 25

Feline Pharmaceuticals

I have been babysitting two elderly cats for about a month now - one of them requires two separate medications daily. Anytime you need to get medications for an animal it can be an interesting adventure - this is one such excursion.

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I went over to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for Ben Nevis a week ago - the elderly 15 year old cat I am currently baby-sitting.


Picking up medication for any animal at a "regular" pharmacy is always such a treat. First you have to justify to the clerk why you are asking for medication that is not n your name. Ummmm .. because the "patient" is a cat and doesn't have a drivers license? But let me back up - because the weirdness starts before you even pick up the final vial of meds.

When I have had to drop off a prescription for one of my animals it seems as though the intake person loses the ability to read. The script clearly says it from XXX Animal Hospital and/or Dr. ____ DVM. Wouldn't you think that might be a clue that this is not for a person??? But I am usually asked if I have an insurance card for the patient.

Now part of me understands that in a way I create some of the confusion. I have had cats named Abraham, Mary, David and Naomi .... those names I can understand creating confusion. But Tigger, Jericho or Shadrach ... really? Those strike you as normal names for a person? Of course considering some of the really bizarre names I have seen people give their kids in the last few years I suppose it is not THAT odd that
they would not question the name.

So I am willing to cut them a bit of slack. Except now at this point we have established the fact that the prescription is for a cat - they still ask me stupid questions.

While waiting for meds I have been called over and asked: "This liquid formula comes in either Bubble Gum or Grape - which do you think the patient would prefer" - to which I have replied "Neither actually - how about cod liver oil? or tuna juice? Do you have any of that?"

Then I get the look that says they are wondering if I am completely out of my mind I have to remind them that we are dealing with a CAT!!! And I do not really think he is going to care or like either bubble gum or grape.

A couple of years ago I had to fill a prescription for Abraham during his last few months. I was paged over to the pharmacy desk because they had a question. The first part of the question was ... "How old is Abraham?", to which I answered "Seventeen".

The technician then asked what his birthday was, and commented that it was very unusual that someone so young would be on this particular medication. I sighed and asked her to read the prescription pad again - she stared at it rather blankly. so I pointed her toward the letterhead - still no response. So I very slowly said "See the  name of the doctor? And the D V M ???? And that the clinic name is ANIMAL HOSPITAL??? Does this not say "animal" to you and not a person???"

Now, getting back to this recent foray for Ben Nevis - who is a very sweet elderly cat with arthritic back legs. First, the order was not filled or ready - because it seems that when the Natick animal hospital called it in there was some information they could not provide. So first things first - they had not understood the complete name of the "patient" - explanation #1: this is a cat and I am not the owner I am caring for the cat for his owner. So we corrected the last name and the spelling of his first name. Then this same clerk asked me, with a straight face, if I knew his birthday .......... really? Let's just move on.

We make it through the rest of the data such as address etc. and then I sat to wait. Once the order was completed I asked if I could speak to one of the pharmacists since I had a question about the other supplement Ben Nevis takes. So the pharmacist comes out and I explain what I am looking for. So we walk over to the supplement aisle and look at the joint health compounds. However this store did not carry the brand and dosage I was looking for in a capsule - however this very nice woman suggested, again with a straight face, that there was an alternative if I did not want a gel cap for an elderly man. As she removed a bottle from the shelf and held it out to me I almost wish there had been someone there with a camera to catch my expression. Which must have been so odd it even stopped her in mid motion.

And as I looked from the bottle to her and back to the bottle again I arched a brow in a look that must have said "You ARE kidding right?" Because what she was giving me as an option was a suppository!!! Yeah ...... NOT. She started to try and justify this option by saying how for a lot of elderly people who have digestion issues this works best. So yet once again I had to explain that the "patient" is a CAT ... C ---- A ---- T ..... and while I could handle breaking up little pills into four pieces and giving him two pieces a day I was NOT going to be pushing things up his butt !!!!

Sunshine Delft Quilt - Part 1

I have subscribed to Quilters Newsletter for many years. In the August/September 2012 issue there was an article about a quilt collector named Bill Volckening. There was also a second piece detailing one of his antique quilts in a pattern called "Suspension Bridge". This included a description of this quilt with pattern templates and instructions about how to make it. 

There was also a link to Bill's Blog page where he wrote about both featured articles. And he issued a challenge to the readers:  

I've challenged readers to make this quilt, I hope you'll send news and pictures of your quilts in progress, and of course, your finished quilts.

 I have considered making a NY Beauty variation for several years now. I like the graphic nature of the pattern. I have just not been too sure about all those fussy little points. Though I do know that the best way to make this pattern and ensure sharp points is to Paper Piece them - which is a very different technique from English Paper Piecing.

And just because there was not ENOUGH challenge in making this pattern, especially since I have not done any Paper/Foundation piecing in years .... I decided to add an additional degree of difficulty .... size. I was not interested in having another bed sized quilt, but did think it would look nice as a wall hanging. So when I copied the paper patterns I reduced the size by 50%.

Now the decision was - what colors should I use? I drafted the basic block in PowerPoint and printed off several black and white line drawings of the quilt and while watching television one night I used my big box of crayons to color various possible options.

I settled on a scrappy version in blues and yellows. I am thinking it will look great against the cobalt blue wall in my kitchen hanging over my white iron table and chairs. This combo also means I will not need to buy any additional fabric as I have enough of an assortment in my fat quarter/scrap containers.

Now that those decisions have been made it was time to get down to business - last week I made 12 of the corner sections .... only 36 more to go!!!

David - Please come home

In March 2010 I adopted a stray cat that I had been feeding for the last couple of winters - that complete story can be found here:  David d'Khat

I really love David. He has become a complete love bug and I know he realizes I took him in and gave him a warm safe place to live.

A couple of weeks ago I had to take him in for some oral surgery. I had noticed that he seemed to be having problems eating - and even trying to look at his teeth seemed to cause him discomfort. The vet verified that he was having issues with his teeth. The two broken in half canines he had left from his years on the street had cracked further and his gums were infected - the teeth needed to come out. Otherwise the infection would get worse and gum infections can cause sepsis and death faster than people thinks.

So even though I am still not employed full time I had little choice but to pay for his surgery. And while he was out I had them neuter him as well.

David did great through the surgery and recovered quickly. Within a week he was back to his old self - even "nibbling" on me when I was not petting him enough.

So on Tuesday I had to take him back for his Post-Op check up. I had him wearing his harness but had put him in his cage as well for the trip there. Once at the vet's I took him out of the cage and he did great on the harness and leash alone.

Carrying him out towards the car things were still going well as I unlocked the car. However just as I went to put him into the vehicle the UPS truck next to us started his engine. This spooked David who went into mad contortions and before I could really react he had managed to twist himself almost inside out and slipped of his body harness...went under the car .. and was gone.

GONE!!!

I just freaked out. I had no idea which direction he went off in. Did he cross the street? Did he head back towards the freeway? ..... No idea.

For an hour I called his name and did my best to look under and behind all the plantings and bushes surrounding the vet's building as well as the apartment buildings behind them.

Nothing,

I went back at 3:30 pm, 8:30 pm and midnight. Then twice the next day. Sometimes twice a day since. In other people's yards, back yards, expanding the perimeter sometimes.

Still nothing.

The first afternoon I talked to the vet and sent them a picture of David. I also contacted all the local rescue groups, animal control offices, humane societies etc I could find. Giving them a description and e-mail a picture when I could. I posted on FaceBook - my page, a local lost pet site, other cat sites and even CraigsList.

Still, as of this evening ... Nothing. No sightings, no information, no calls, no response to my calling him or even tapping of a spoon against a cat food tin. Which is usually the universal sound for an indoor kitty.

I am trying not to just wallow in guilt and "what ifs?" I know I have done what I can. I even have groups of people praying to St. Francis that we find him and get him home safely.

But it is still hard.


I miss him.

Tigger's Adventure

 Another re-posting from my website of an incident which happened Christmas week of 2008


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'Twas the night after Christmas, when all through the condo
Not a creature was stirring, not even Jay Leno;
My stockings were hung o’er the shower rod with care,
In hopes that the kitties could not reach them to snare;
Burrowed under my quilts, all snug in my bed,
While visions of Clearance Sales danced in my head;
With Naomi on one side, and Jericho on the other,
All warm and cozy for a long winter's slumber,


When from under the bed there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my covers to see what was the matter.
Looking about for the source of the crash,
Yanked on the side lamp and my big toe did smash.


Sounds behind the dust ruffle did fill me with dread,
But quickly I knelt to look under the bed
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But my darling boy Tigger who caused me to fear,
With electric cord in his mouth he did shiver and twitch
That for a brief moment I thought “This is it,
My darling sweet kitty is dying this night”,
But with panic and speed I grabbed hold to fight.


The light did unplug, into darkness descended,
With growls, claws and strength dear kitty was upended.
To the top of the stairs then down all he did tumble,
And noisily landing onto the carpet he rumbled.
We raced down the steps unsure of his status,
Only to stop short as he flailed and hissed at us.


Then down more stair steps like a crazed thing he flew,
Myself in pursuit with the other cats too.
And then, in the kitchen, all slid stop with a clatter
And I threw on the overhead to see just what was the matter.
As I drew near the kitty was still twitching around,
So round the midriff I held him to lift off the ground.


He growled and he wriggled, his jaw clamped hard shut
And then I did notice the thing from his mouth that did jut.
A skinny long thing with no fur, scales or tinsel,
For a moment I feared he had heaved out his tonsil.
Still almost asleep I blinked with pounding heart,
As my fingers and pressure forced kitty’s jaws apart.


His sharp little teeth clenched hard with all his might,
As I wondered just how badly he had injured himself tonight;
Then his jaws did spring open, he grumbled and groused,
While onto the floor dropped a limp and wet MOUSE!!!
I let out a shriek that rang loud in my head,
And stared at the limp thing that thank god was dead.


The other cats circled, quite intense to explore,
This new fangled play thing, laying slack on the floor.
I shooed them away as they grunted and yowled,
Then moved to the counter for a paper towel.
The clock read 3:30, the middle of the night,
As I bent to the body I yelled out in fright,
The mouse was NOT dead merely stunned or in shock,
And I quivered and flinched and looked round for a rock.


Then with several tissues, and not taking long,
I snagged it by the tail and flew into the john.
As it whirled down the toilet to the sewer to sink,
I shuddered and mumbled “By god, I need a drink!!”

Exchange Students and Mister Crab

Several years ago I was a Host Mother for a young lady from Japan who was in the US for a year as a student. One evening I came home from work to find that she and a friend had gone to the waterfront and decided to buy a crab to have for dinner. Said crab was at that time wrapped in newspaper in the refrigerator.

Being a bit distracted at the time I said "Fine", went into the living room and sat down to read the paper. The girls poked their heads out and asked how would they go about warming up the crab, so I told them a pot of hot water and let it sit inside for a few minutes should do it. About 15 minutes later I heard shrieking from the kitchen and ran to investigate.

You see, Rieko and her friend had never seen a crab, much less cooked one. And apparently the words of the vendor dockside had not really penetrated. They had assumed it was ready to crack and eat and only needed to be warmed up, but as I rounded the corner it was immediately obvious to me that this crab was alive and well. If the snapping claws he was waving in the air had not tipped me off, then his muddy gray color would have.

There was a small saucepan steaming on the stove, barely the size of the crab, and he was perched atop the edge. It seems when they unwrapped it from the newspaper they had mistaken his lack of movement as meaning it was already dead, not sluggish because of the cold. So they had picked it up and started to place it in the water. Of course when his first leg had hit the hot water Mr. Crab woke up REAL quick and was now poised on the edge of the saucepan like a tighrope walker. But not for long as he launched himself off the pan and headed across the counter.

The girls were squealing and poking it with chopsticks, too afraid to get near it as the crab took off. I quickly rushed in and grabbed it from behind to set it into the sink where it could not get any leverage to escape, especially with his one red leg. Of course his clattering about in the stainless steel sink added to the general din of the room.

After calming the girls I explained how to tell a cooked from a live crab and we set about getting a large pot for his final "bath". As the kitchen sink was occupied they had followed me into the bathroom as I filled the pot from the tub faucet. That's when the curtain rose on Act II. You see, the scurrying sound of claws on stainless had proved much too intriguing for Patch to resist investigating. So my 10 year old, 12 pound cat had jumped onto the counter to investigate. I guess the crab was just incensed at this new outrage and as paw had gotten too close to pincher ... well, you can just image the noises now eminating from my kitchen.

Eventually the crab met his long delayed demise in a large stock pot, I got the girls calmed down and the cat's "owie" looked at. As I surveyed the disaster zone that was now my kitchen I sighed and did the only thing that made sense - I ordered a pizza.

Appliances on Strike

This was originally written in January of 2010 and posted on my website ... reposted here just for your enjoyment.

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I don't think they are allowed to do that actually - go on strike I mean. At least not in my world.

Appliances are supposed to be heavy duty, made from real materials like metal, weigh a ton and run forever. At least they should in my world.

Three year old coffee makers should not "die" the morning of Thanksgiving when the need for massive amounts of caffeine as you prepare a 25 pound turkey is a necessity. And they should not be so hermetically sealed that you cannot even find a way IN to where the heating element is located so that you can replace it.

You should be able to take things apart, diagnose the problem, buy the part for under $5 and put it all back together again so it runs for another 10 years.

Like my waffle iron.

I do believe this thing is made out of the steel left over from building the Brooklyn Bridge. For something it's size it is incredibly heavy. If it ever fell off it's shelf and hit someone in the head I do believe it would kill them. There are two kinds of grill plates - waffled and smooth so you can make grilled cheese or pancakes with it as well. The plates are definitely NOT non stick and get hot enough to singe the hair off your arms. But they make amazing waffles that are a little crunchy on the outside and tender inside. It used to belong to my grandfather and probably dates back to the 1940s or 1950s.

And it has stopped heating up.

This was a sad thing to discover AFTER I had the waffle batter ready to go. But after converting the batter into pancakes I took a few moments to disassemble the monster with only a screw driver. It needs a new heating element - no big deal. I just have to get to the hardware store for the part.

See - this is how it SHOULD be with appliances.

Which brings me to my current rant - my little stand alone freezer. It's not very big, it's actually shorter than I am. There are no shelves on the door and you have to defrost it manually. But my dad bought it for me as a floor model clearance item from Home Depot about six or eight years ago for a little over $100 dollars. And it worked fine - all I asked of it was that it kept things frozen as implied in it's name - a freezer.

And it was fulfilling it's singular purpose - until Monday sometime. I noticed a small puddle of colored liquid at the base of the door. Odd. I cleaned it up, opened the door to the freezer and discovered that a quart bag of frozen berry puree had developed a rip and liquid was oozing out.

Now, I am going to pause here for a moment to let you all say what I know you are thinking - and which I should have questioned myself at the time.
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There. Got it out of your system? Go ahead and say "Duh" - because I have done it myself. Just WHY if things are "frozen" was their "liquid" oozing out. Wouldn't it have ... oh I don't know .... FROZE inside the freezer???

*Sigh*

Sometimes even us smart girls have our brain dead moments. Because it was not until I saw another puddle Tuesday night that the little light went off in my head. And sure enough the temperature inside was rapidly loosing it's arctic chill as surely as the purple "marbles" in one bag were reverting to blueberry mush.

Okay, pull everything out and into boxes then onto the back porch they go. With nighttime temps in the teens I figured they were safe out there. Unplug the freezer (always a good first step before doing repairs), clean out the pan, check the drainage holes - clear. Check the coolant coils - clean, no nicks, no leaks. Plug it in - well it hums but nothing seems to be happening, unless you count the motor at the base getting REALLY hot as a "happening". That's not good.

So yesterday I called a local appliance repair shop to talk to someone about costs, parts etc. What we concluded was that the condenser motor had died. Now, the part itself is about $100. However, and of course there is always a "however", in order to replace it you have to disconnect the coolant pipes - which contain freon - which is not a really safe chemical and can cause cardiac arrhythmia or just make you feel really sick. So this is not really something the home repair person should be dealing with. Which means the freezer would have to be picked up, taken to the shop, repaired, the freon re-filled and then returned. With parts and labor the estimate was about $400-$450 dollars. For an appliance I paid under $150 for - Ummmm ..... NO!

Therefore my only other choice was to replace it. Oh joy - another withdrawal from my savings account.

I tried getting a hold of several Craigslist postings, looked on line to see what a freezer runs for these days, then after work I headed off to the Sears Appliance and Hardware store just down the street from where I work.

Less than an hour later I was driving away with a new Kenmore freezer. Not the same size or style as the one that died, but I think I still got a good deal.

This one is larger than the one that died (8.8 cu ft as opposed to 7 cu ft of storage), it is a chest style instead of an upright, black instead of white. it's original price was $430. However they were having a sale, then another discount if I took the floor model, a discount for taking it with me and finally the salesman gave me an additional discount for the sale starting tomorrow. So all told I paid $300.78.

Now, if I had not had the car repair bill last week I would not be so stressed about taking MORE money out of my savings/EF to pay for this - but life has a way of derailing most of our better laid plans.

I know some people would not consider replacing the freezer a "need". And for several hours I debated with myself as to whether I really needed to do so. Then I remembered the boxes of food items on my back porch, and the things crammed into my refrigerator's freezer - doing a rough estimate in my head I came up with an amount of about $ 250 worth of food that I would have to throw away without a separate freezer. That to me seemed much more wasteful and fiscally irresponsible than replacing the unit.

Now the next hurdle - actually getting the new freezer into the kitchen - which happens to be on the second floor (or first floor for those of you with a European bent).

So I called Anne - who I knew had been hanging out with Arnold for the afternoon - and told her I needed Arnold to bring her home, oh and for him to stick around as I had something to move. A short time later they pulled up and brought his friend Steve with them. Good, two teenage boys - free muscle. It took under 30 minutes for the boys to bring the broken item downstairs so I can arrange for it's haul away, and carry the new one into the pantry.

And then several hours more to the unit to get cold enough so I could pack it, go through the food stuffs from the porch and fridge, pitch what could not be saved, arrange the saved items, figure out the new shelf I will need and replace or find new homes for the items I had to take out of the pantry during the repair attempt and change over.

It's so much fun being a home owner.

Perhaps someday manufacturers will again make appliances that can be repaired more cost effectively than replaced. But in the current disposable society we live in I think that day is a destined to remain in the realm of fantasy.


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Humorous side note:

I have always kept whole grain flours (like rye, wheat or barley) and nuts in my freezer. The high oil content in these items make them prone to going rancid rather quickly when kept at room temperature.

As I was bringing in the boxes of food items from the porch to put into the new freezer I grabbed a cloth shopping back that had various varieties of flour and a large gallon sized ziplock bag of walnuts. When I grabbed a corner of the walnut bag and lifted it a small shower of nuts fell back into the shopping bag. Carefully removing the bag I saw that an entire section of the bag had been shredded. Not torn, not a puncture hole but actually shreds of plastic were everywhere. And wait a moment, I thought I had a full bag of nuts not this half bag amount .....

It only took me a moment to piece together what must have happened and start to laugh.

You see, we have a couple of resident squirrels. Friendly little critters who have been known to sit on the railing outside my back door and chatter until they get my attention. This is their way of saying "Hey!! It's winter ya know and you could be putting something out for us to eat!!" So being the sucker I am I answer their demands and will pull out a handful of walnuts and place them in a line along the top of the railing for them.

For a year it was a single male who haunted my back deck, but this year he has been joined by a female. I know it is a girl because she was sitting up a month ago with rather swollen teats. Then recently I noticed they have been joined by a third who patrols the decks with them.

I think Mr. Squirrel came onto the deck yesterday and chattered for me, but I was at work. He then come over to investigate these new items on the porch table. Being familiar with the aroma of walnuts and associating my back door with this treat he quickly discovered the ziplock bag of golden nuggets.

Now I find it hard to believe that one little squirrel could have eaten half that giant bag by himself. One can only imagine the melee of squirrels that must have been gathered on my porch yesterday afternoon. I can almost visualize him pulling out his push-to-talk phone and speed dialing everyone in his calling circle:

"Beep....this is alpha tail, nut bonanza outside unit twelve ... beep ... bring the family .... beep"

Patterns and Creativity

Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics

16 July 2012

In your opinion, do quilt patterns limit creativity?

This open query was posted on the FB page of a group I follow. As I commented in an earlier writing I will   be ruminating on random such comments when they spark deep musings on my part.

 

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The definition of a "pattern" is: A plan or diagram used as a guide in making something. A representative sample; a specimen.


I believe patterns in and of themselves have little bearing on a person's innate creativity. They can provide a framework - like the basic structure of a house. Block patterns give you the basics of construction, what size the pieces should be and occasionally in what order the pieces are put together to facilitate a block's construction.

For beginning quilters a pattern provides a comforting starting place. Technical information that lets them become more comfortable with a process, shape or technique. It can also show them how the graphics of a block in relationship to each other changes depending upon how they are placed next to each other. For example - the Log Cabin block which depending upon it's placement next to other blocks create vastly different final patterns such as Streak of Lightening, Courthouse Steps or Barn Raising.

 

 Where I find creativity runs into roadblocks are:

* Through the quilter themselves and their own lack of confidence. they don't trust their own vision, sense of color or interpretation of something "traditional".

* The "Quilt Police" = There are a LOT of people I have run into who insist that their way or opinion is the only one that is acceptable. These people - who very often lack imagination or creativity themselves - will do and say things in order to try and break the spirit or experimentation of another. They try to make everyone conform to their particular idea of what is "correct".


The item I see in many quilt and fabric shops which I do find to be detrimental to a quilter developing her own creative identity or "voice"  - are Kits. Kits that don't even require the creator to cut out their own fabric pieces since that has already been done for them - as had the selection of colors and specific fabrics. 


For me this is as non-creative an endeavor as building a model car or doing a jigsaw puzzle. Neither of which are bad hobbies - but let up not pretend that either is teaching you how to create the item from scratch for yourself.

Just because I wasn't hot enough .....

So, it has been uncomfortably hot and humid for the last week or so. Yesterday was icky hot and humid, to the point where you have rivulets of sweat running down the small of your back and all you want to do is take a long cool shower. Today was more of the same, and the coming week is supposed to be worse.

So - what does a Lioness do?

Find a lake or other body of water to hang out in? - Nah.

Hunker down in front of a fan and drink your volume in water and iced tea with a good book? - No.

Perhaps hang out in my first floor studio where it is cool and dark? - Nope.

No - What I decided is that heating up my kitchen with cooking corn relish and tomato sauce then canning them.

Yeah - I am fairly certain I have lost my mind.

Yesterday I ventured out to one of the few local farms where you can still pick your own raspberries. Most of the local farms have gone to selling them only - and of course the cost is almost double that of doing it yourself. But while I was at this farm I noticed one of the girls who work there culling overly soft or older heirloom tomatoes out of the for sale baskets into a discard bucket. She said they give the old and bruised produce to some local pig farmers. I wistfully mentioned how they would make good sauce .... hearing this her manager said "She can have them if she wants for 1/2 price"

BONUS! Great tomatoes and a sale price. Was there any way I would actually turn that down? I think not.

Then on the way home I stopped by my usual farm and bought freshly picked ears of corn, sweet onions, peppers and parsley. So on today's agenda was Corn Relish and Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce.

Normally I don't do this kind of heat intensive canning until the Fall when I take an entire weekend to make my jams, compotes and applesauce using fruit I have prepped and frozen during the summer., or the apples I picked and stored for up to two weeks in the basement. However sweet summer corn has a short shelf life and the one time I tried freezing tomatoes and using them later for sauce yielded a weak and watery end product. So I have found you have to use these ingredients as you get them.

Sample of ingredients for Corn Relish

Ingredients for Tomato Sauce

Corn Relish in Process

Blending the tomatoes in bathces

One way to combat the heat is to turn down the AC then set a box fan in front of the floor vent in the kitchen to increase as much as possible the flow of cool air into the room. And it seemed to work as I did not pass out - and I actually finished the canning.

Ta Daaahhhhhhh!!!!

Theda and the Flying Squirrel

Okay, I had another weird brain glitch the other night that I thought I would share just for a laugh.

A good friend posted this on her Facebook page:

Quote:
So what does the P_____ clan do when it's 102? GO to a Flying Squirrels Baseball with Lori M. and crew. Why? Cause it said "Go Nuts" so we thought they were calling Us home~ (that should give Honeylioness and A.J. plenty of material for the evening.)

And here was my response .......
When the temperature’s high
And the family is bored
Then off they will fly
And join a great horde

Of Acorns and Walnuts
Pecans and Brazils
All gathered together
To watch Flying Squirrels

Bring water and sunscreen
Your camera and cell phone
Surrounded by other fans
You won’t be alone

The benches are metal
In the sun they’ve been baking
So be careful when sitting
Or visit to ER you will be making

Go cheer for the Squirrels
Those cute little rodents
‘Cause those who love you best
Already know that YOU’RE nuts !!!!

My contradictory relationship with bugs

Bugs are everywhere! I suppose it is a good thing that we are normally unaware of just how many bugs we live with on a daily basis, otherwise I for one would be too freaked out to ever sleep or walk outside my home.


Bugs make up more than half of all living things in the world. Today there are more than a million known species of bugs and there are many more waiting to be discovered. Scientists estimate that at any given time there are up to 40 MILLION insects in an area the size of a football field.

We as humans have decided that some bugs get to be classified as "beneficial", especially those that are pollinators or prey on less desirable species. These include bees, ladybugs, mantis and lacewings. 

It also includes spiders. Shudders. I have very strong feelings about arachnids. Very VERY strong feelings - most of them not all that positive. Though I think we have come to an agreement.

In my garden I understand and can even appreciate the benefits of spiders - preying upon and eliminating some of the more annoying other insects like mosquitoes, ants and flies. I have even come to terms with those that occasionally want to set up their webs outside my kitchen window. I realize that for them it is a good strategic move as the light from inside attracts flying insects into their webs. 

Big spider on the RIGHT side of the window ... OUTSIDE !

However if any insect ENTERS my home then all bets are off - full scale warfare will ensue. And I am not ashamed to boast that in the end I always win.

For the last couple of years there has been an issue with ants. These are not the tiny "sugar ants" that I remember my grandmother having to deal with - no, these are large black ants that crunch loudly when you step on them. For the past several years I have transitioned all the food storage in my pantry to either glass or heavy plastic containers. Finding you have to dispose of several pounds of brown sugars and cereal because of invasion is not something I want to go through again.

I have complained to the Association about these buggers. Because these insects have NOTHING to do with the cleanliness of my kitchen - these are Carpenter Ants. They are feeding on wet and rotting wood of the structure - most likely the sheeting of the unit side facing the main street. We have had problems there before. Additionally, workers have found significant wood damage from ants in all the trim boards. I have placed industrial strength insecticides into any nest openings when I can find them. I was assured that they would have a professional spray done this year - but not sure if/when that was done.

So until I get an answer or resolution back from the Association I guess I am fighting this particular battle by myself. Good thing my Arsenal is stocked. I just DARE any critter to cross this line of death ........

Quilts as Art or ???

Often postings, comments or questions come across my radar through one of several online message boards or forums I subscribe to which really trigger a strong reaction in me. This is occasionally a negative response, but more often what happens is I feel a need to really dig into the idea and really express my feelings and thoughts. 

This question was posted to a group's Facebook page on July 10, 2012:

Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics

Like if you agree: “When a quilt is moved from a bed to a wall it becomes a piece of art. Something to look at not something to use. Untouchable. Higher.”

57 People "Like" This

Response 1: Melissa J - Who says "art" has to hang on a wall? Do you have to remove a quilt from it's function to appreciate it's aesthetics? No. Absolutely not.

Response 2: Carola K -I don't agree! Art can be on beds, on walls or elsewhere. And quilts can be art - or "just" quilts. How do you define "art"???

Response 3: Melissa D (aka Me) -I don't agree either. In fact I am not pleased with the recent trend of those who only define or make quilts to hang on the walls like a tapestry. Yes I want my quilts to be lovely - but once they get larger than 40" square I also want them to be USED.

************************************************************************

After I wrote my response above I realized I had a lot more thoughts about the issue than I had time or space to vent in the small space given originally.

Merriam-Webster defines a "quilt" as:

 a bed coverlet of two layers of cloth filled with padding (as down or batting) held in place by ties or stitched designs

This is the traditional definition. The one I understood to it to be when I first learned to quilt. In fact, when I was first learning I thought that quilts were hung only for shows. I didn't fully realize that some quilts were made specifically to hang on a wall.

Don't get me wrong. I have made quite a few "wall quilts" myself. I have a collection of them that I rotate on a regular basis in my Dining Room and office space. But they are made small in order to fit a specific space. I have nothing against small quilts made for this purpose. Among other things, it lets me try a variety of different techniques and patterns without the commitment of a King Sized quilt.

But there is now an entire new group of items called "Art Quilts". And there are several large groups of quilters who identify themselves as Art Quilters. One of the larger groups is called the Studio Art Quilt Associates's . Their website lists the definition as:
 

SAQA defines an art quilt as a contemporary artwork exploring and expressing aesthetic concerns common to the whole range of visual arts: painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, assemblage and sculpture, which retains, through materials or technique, a clear relationship to the folk art quilt from which it descends.

First off - am I the only person who thought that definition/statement could not have been vaguer or more pretentious? Perhaps it is just me. Perhaps I am missing some type of specialized art appreciation gene. Because 90% of the time when I see "art quilts" find it difficult to see past the "What the ....?" factor and see the workmanship. But then I do not really see the appeal in most "modern" art. I have no appreciation for Pollock, Lichtenstein, Warhol or Mondrian.

Getting back to the original query though ... does putting a quilt on the wall suddenly change it to "art"? And why would the assumption be that they are now "untouchable"? I don't want any of my quilts to be labeled "untouchable". I want people to touch them, appreciate the texture of the different fabrics or embellishments. I want my larger quilts to be snuggled under on the couch, make you feel cozy curled up in a chair and used to keep you toasty during a winter's night sleep.

I think I may need to do another post just on the issue of appreciating the artistry of "regular" quilts and their makers.

The Unfinished Quilt

I have more than a passing acquaintance with UFOs. Not the sort navigated by grey skinned aliens headed for Roswell, but those projects which we all have regardless of whether we talk about them. Quilts started in a class or after picking up that new pattern at a show. Maybe we just experienced the creative nudge to try something different so with great anticipation off to the fabric store we went in search of the “perfect” material from which to construct this next great masterpiece.

And yet – there they sit. Perhaps on a shelf neatly folded, it’s fabric and instructions wrapped around the partially constructed top. Maybe stuffed into a box and slid out of sight under a work table or buried amidst an avalanche of fabric swatches.

Recently I resolved to face these incomplete projects with objectivity and new eyes. I would not bow to the feelings of guilt for not having assembled them fully or lament the funds spent on their components. Instead I would try to see the reasons behind these undone objects and then take action.

The first bundle I opened was a collection of fabrics and a few blocks tied together with a strip of muslin. At one time a friend had commented that instead of a bug jar quilt I should make one for myself with fruits and vegetables. How did that comment become “I MUST do this” in my head? The colors don’t appeal to me anymore and would look garish in my kitchen. I placed the bundle into a bag – I will post on the Guild’s message board that it needs a good home. I am sure another member will be thrilled to get them. More bundles emerged into the light: these colors were wrong, the baby I intended this for is now nine, I never did like this technique / pattern / fabric.

I did find two projects that still sparked my interest enough to finish them, so I have freed them from the back of a shelf and into baskets next to my desk. This weekend I am going to work on one …. unless I find a new pattern at a quilt show.

I love kaleidoscopes

It is one of my favorite "toys"  - and has been since I was a kid. Even now I can spend an embarrassing amount of time just turning one of these tubes and watching all the new patterns emerge. It still seems almost magical and the patterns that form are somehow made more special because of of their fleeting existence. Even if you reverse the turn of the kaleidoscope you don't get the exact same design.



 These are two of my favorite kaleidoscopes at the moment.

The one on the left was acquired at a Tiffany exhibit gift shop several years ago. I especially like the richness of the colors within the beads and other items enclosed in the black end of the tube.







 These are just a few samples of some of the designs I got with a few turns of the black end of the tube.


It really makes me understand the recent fascination with trying to re-create these type of designs in fabric via Kaleidoscope Quilts.







The smaller object on the table above is not actually a true kaleidoscope but is called a Bug Eye and is a toy usually seen for sale at Science or Nature Museums. It is just a small wooden holder for a faceted dome of glass that acts like individual prisms. The difference is that it is completely optical. 

By looking at an object through the Bug Eye you get a multiple fractured image. I have used it in the past to see how a single quilt block would appear if multiples were made and set side by side. Or you can just get a cool look at a petunia on your back deck.

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs - The Untold Story

Occasionally my brain takes a weird turn based upon something a friend may have posted online or said to me in person.  One such comment was made by a friend online a couple of years ago. It started like this:

Quote:

wvugurl, Looks like a beautiful day ahead of us, but alas, I'm still Sneezy. Or am I Dopey. My take on the Seven Dwarfs was that it was an allergy testing center for a major pharma, hehe.

And my response:

Oh no Sharing - you should KNOW by now how dangerous such a comment is .... it turns my little twisted brain down odd and scary pathways . And here is today's ................


From the files of Dr. W.I. Zard

• Bashful: In an effort to better handle his Social Anxiety Disorder the patient is now in counseling and on a regimen of Cymbalta.
• Doc: After years and years of being the authority figure for the other six, subject is now taking Amitiza for his Chronic Idiopathic Constipation.
• Dopey: Initially diagnosed as “slow”, this dwarf has more recently been identified as Autistic with savant tendencies. The group has elected to forego prescription drugs in favor of a controlled diet and supervised environment. Counseling is recommended to offset the associate self esteem issues from his unfortunate name.
• Grumpy and Happy: Recent genetic analysis has shown that the two are actually Monochorionic Twins. However due to a spell cast by the late Evil Queen’s grandmother on their mother the twins were not only born three months apart, but each was cursed to live at either end of the spectrum of Manic Bipolar Disorder. One being always Manic (Happy) and the other chronically depressed (Grumpy). Both are taking Lithium Carbonate while a reversal of the old curse is sought.
• Sleepy: Exhibiting all the classic traits of Narcolepsy the patient has shown a marked improvement in alertness and function since beginning treatment with Vyvanse.
• Sneezy: Severe environmental and seasonal allergies have been somewhat alleviated with the removal of allergen collectors, such as rugs and heavy drapes from the patient’s living quarters. Treatment with both prescription and OTC drugs for symptoms continues to be the best course of therapy.

************************

Sharing the Simple Lifestyle - 07/15/09 04:49 PM

Honey, Laughed my head off! And now...just have to ask for your take on Snow White! I still think I'm Dopey + Sneezy, haha!

****************************

Well Sharing, it took a bit of digging but I was able, for a price, to get a hold of some session notes on the princess in question.

Excerpted from various session notes of Dr. Mack N Tosh, USDA

* Subject presents herself as the daughter of a King and his deceased Queen. Having lost her mother in infancy she was raised primarily by Nannies and Staff. An emotionally unavailable father and self-centered step mother have limited her ability to form appropriate attachments to parental figures - thus she has learned to self-parent however with mixed results.

* During a recent session patient claims to have seen and heard her step-mother "talking" to a looking glass, and that the object "responded". Recommend further evaluation to determine whether any psychosis is present.

* Patient missed her last eight appointments. Her story is that her step mother is jealous of her and ordered the King's Huntsman to take her into the woods on a ruse and then murder her - bringing back her heart as proof. We spent a lot of time examining whether this is the truth or a perception that may have arisen from her feeling as though she must compete with her step-mother for the attention and affection of a pre-occupied father.

She reports that unable to return to her home she has taken refuge in a cottage owned by seven small men. Further probing revealed the "men" are not just small in stature but are actually dwarfs. Having obtained their names I feel it my duty to do a background search on these individuals. Disturbing is the information that one seems verbally abusive, one is rather mentally challenged and they all sleep together in the same room. I urged her to return home and speak to her father but she claims to be happier being the unpaid housekeeper for these dwarfs. We need to address further her self esteem issues.

* Having come up with no public records of any kind on the dwarfs I am still uneasy with her continuing residence in their home. I am concerned that the patient may be slipping into a psychosis as comments about dancing with woodland creatures, birds helping her clean and other animal related tales come more often during our discussions.

* A new "character" has emerged in the patient's odd tales of life in the forest - a man. She states that one afternoon as she was gathering nuts and berries and performing operatic duets with chickadees (note: we really need to focus on this delusion!) a man just "appeared" to provide a pitch perfect tenor-baritone to this little concert. She claims to have run off and not done more than exchange a "warm glance" with said man.

While I am pleased to see that she may indeed still be able to find a normal man of interest, indicating that she is capable of learning to form more appropriate relationships, I am concerned that she still seems to only be at ease with the dwarfs. The P.I. I retained to dig deeper into their backgrounds has learned that they seem to have an abundant supply of gemstones to use in bartering for goods - but no rational or consistent explanation as to where the come from. He is looking into robbery reports within a five shire area to see if there may be a pattern.

* Patient again missed some appointments and two very disturbing tales were told by her. The first being that she had fainted and almost suffocated to death after being too tightly laced with new corset ribbons by a passing peddler. And then soon after an old woman looking for a few coins was combing her hair when she again lost consciousness. Both times she states that the return home of the dwarfs, and their actions, are what saved her life. My concern is this is further deepening her unhealthy attachment to individuals outside her own species.

* Patient again missed her appointment.

* I have been unable to make contact with the patient for almost a year. Then this morning there was a front page story in a special edition of Kingdom Gazette:

The Resurrection of a Princess

Dateline: Road from the western forest

We learned today of a remarkable ending to the story of a Princess no-one even knew was missing. An unidentified Princess was found deep in the forest by a group of men on horseback.

How this Princess came to be "lost" Whether she voluntarily left her home, fled or ran away is still unconfirmed at this time. However what we do know is remarkable enough. She has been residing deep within the Western Hunting Forest at the home of seven dwarfs. We have been able to confirm through a confidential informant that the dwarfs are the owners of Stinken Riche, Inc. The largest producer and wholesaler of gems in the Northern Hemisphere. The partners have a reported combined net worth of more than $35 billion and have served by appointment to the royal household for more than 400 years.

While living in the dwarfs modest cottage the Princess was approached by a peddler who offered her a basket of apples. However upon tasting one of the fruit the Princess fell lifeless to the ground where her benefactors discovered her that evening. Doc, a spokesman for the group, told us that they were so upset by this event, and out of their deep affection for the Princess they constructed a special coffin of crystal at which they took turns keeping vigil. Locals in the area had been noting for some time an odd parade of forest creatures making regular trips to raid their gardens for flowers, but the initial reports had been dismissed as a result of too much indulgence in hard cider.

When questioned about the logistical and sanity considerations of preserving a dead body for that long without noticeable decay Doc told us of a new device the company was soon to file patents on that would chill flesh for extended periods of time to delay deterioration. They are calling the process "refrigeration" and say the toughest challenge still ahead is working out how to supply the needed power source to homes - something called "electricity". The complete story of this appears on page 12.

Sometime last week Prince Noname from Kingdom Un-nohn was passing through the forest and came upon this shrine to the young Princess. Here the stories conflict as to what happened next. Some claim the Prince, so moved by her beauty and the tragedy of her death, kissed her gently upon the lips at which point she woke up. Other sources say that the Prince commandeered the device she was laying in and had his men load it onto a wagon to take to his castle for further study. During that journey a large rut in the road jostled the coffin so violently that the piece of the apple which had lodged in the girl's throat was dislodged and she gasped and began breathing again. (Editors note: We find the second scenario much more plausible .... and hygienic)

Learning of the girl's Royal Blood the Prince took her back to his castle before trying to discover who her family is - whether for a ransom or a dowry no one will confirm.

As of this writing a Royal Wedding is scheduled for this summer.

* Patient has contacted me to say she will be taking a "break" from our sessions for a while as she needs to re-acclimate to normal (at least for her) life and concentrate on the wedding arraignments.

* There was another startling article in this morning's Gazette.

Dancing with the Devil

Dateline: Kingdom Un-Nohn

In yet another bizarre twist to the story we reported earlier this year about the "found" Princess there was a gruesome incident at the Royal Wedding Reception yesterday.

As our King and Queen arrived it was clear to onlookers that Her Majesty was rather agitated. An inside source has told us that it appears her ill humor arose from something she heard from her "magic mirror" regarding her step-daughter, the Princess Snow White.

Sources tell us that the Princess disappeared from the palace more than three years ago, however the public was never told. A spokesman for the King said they were told by the Queen that the Princess had gone to a finishing school for young royalty several hundred miles away.

Around the same time her long-time Nanny also left the employ of the King to retire and live with her family across the sea. We have been unable to locate Ms. Wharm Huggs to confirm this.

What we have been able to confirm though is disturbing. The Queen has been engaged for years in various kinds of Dark Magic and has been found to have several "familiars" within the palace which report back to her daily. Unsealed records show that our King is her fifth husband with the former spouses dieing of "unknown causes". It is believed her use of a spell may account for why the King never expressed concern or curiosity about his daughter.

It now seems likely that Princess Snow White fled out of concern for her safety after learning of the Queen's evil ways. Whatever the reasons the events today will not be forgotten soon by any in attendance. For upon entering the Reception Hall and seeing the face of the "new queen" whose wedding she was attending the Queen froze in her tracks. She then began to rant about how her mirror had told her "You, my queen, are fair; it is true. But the young queen is a thousand times fairer than you."

Everyone present were taken aback when the King then moved to the bride with tears in his eyes to embrace her. The Princess has steadfastly refused to answer any questions as to her origins so her relationship to our Beloved King was a complete surprise.

Witnesses report the King shook his head in an odd manner as if trying to shake off the effects of a long sleep - then turned and had his guards detain the Queen, who at this point was shaking with rage and dread at this public unveiling of her treachery.

As punishment for her wicked ways, a pair of heated iron shoes were brought forth with tongs and placed before the Queen. She was then forced to step into the iron shoes and dance until she fell down dead.

Afterward the Bride, Groom and King left the Hall for approximately an hour before returning to a puzzled group of guests and a Hall devoid of any traces of the execution that had occurred, to continue their Wedding Feast.

We cannot help but wonder what long term effects this incident will have not only on the individuals directly involved - but on inter-kingdom relations as well.

* Met with patient for the last time. She has adjusted well to life as a wife and mother, and while she still retains a bit of naivete regarding people's motivations it is tempered with a better sense of caution.

There was a rough patch in her marriage early on where she was frustrated and angry with the Prince over his not living up to her romanticized expectations of him, and his aggressively eager-for-grandchildren mother. However with work and perseverance she has been able to establish some boundaries to keep all the parents out of the relationship between husband and wife.

She also has come to understand that the Prince's idiosyncrasies are just a part of being human. That not picking up after himself, snoring, spending too much time with his friends does not mean he loves her less and that she needs to choose her battles.

Having felt too narrowly defined as a wife and mother she is finding a lot of satisfaction in getting a new foundation off the ground. Funded by her friends the dwarfs, with whom she still maintains a close friendship, the foundation will be geared to empowering women to stand up for themselves. They have a prototype name of STFU.

Overall patient seems to have a measure of contentment and happiness in her life. And an understanding that life is not a fairy tale or something that just happens to you, but it is something you need to work on every day in order to get what you need and want out of it.