Snow Day

The groundhog made good on his prediction.  Winter definitely has arrived!

The snow is beautiful.  My inner child wants to build a snowman and go sledding.  But my inner adult is grumbling after shoveling heavy,wet snow for three hours, only to risk being high-centered on an unplowed street.  Even 4WD vehicles are stuck.

I was scheduled to work at the tax office today from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm, but 7 of my 8 appointments rescheduled, and one of my coworkers who was able to make it in will cover #8, so my benevolent boss (he really is the BEST boss I've ever had) called and told me to take a Snow Day.  It is my first day off since President's Day.

Once I finish shoveling (yes, there's still more to shovel---I just came in to throw my coat and gloves in the dryer and grab a cup of hot chocolate), my Snow Day will be a Sew Day!  Yay!

TTFN
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

No Do-Overs

Today is Groundhog Day in the United States.  According to tradition, if a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania sees his shadow, he will be frightened and head underground, and we’ll have six more weeks of winter.  If he does not see his shadow, we’ll have milder weather.

Every Groundhog Day I am reminded of the 1993 American comedy film Groundhog Day, directed by Harold Ramis, and starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.  The script was written by Danny Rubin and Harold Ramis.  Although it wasn’t an Oscar contender, it was placed in the United States National Film Registry in 2006 for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, according to Wikipedia.

In the story, a TV weatherman who is really annoyed about being sent to the boondocks to cover a corny groundhog festival keeps repeating the day over and over again until he finally gets it right ---and gets the girl.

In real life, though, there are no do-overs. 

We must live with our mistakes.  We can learn from those mistakes, try not to repeat them, and ask forgiveness when necessary.

On the positive side, life is not a dress rehearsal.  Time is a precious and limited commodity. Life is short. We must make the most of each day, trying to live a life consistent with our values and belief.  We must make each day count.  We must not be so focused on checking items off our To Do List that we miss the gifts each day brings.  We should take time to smell the roses…because there are no do-overs.

Happy Groundhog Day!

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

Mid Winter Blahs

As February approaches, I find myself sinking into the mid-Winter blahs, even though this has been an unseasonably mild Winter by Midwestern standards.

I am reminded of the words of Albert Camus:
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.

Perhaps I was trying to tap into that inner invincible summer when I chose this sunny yellow fabric with whimsical flowers designed by Amy Schimler for Robert Kaufman for one of my latest boutique baby bib listings.  The reverse side features dainty yellow and white checked Carolina gingham.  A lovely baby gift, or a special occasion bib for baby's first birthday or Easter.

I have listed more new bibs this week.  To browse, please visit this section of my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower?section_id=8146356.

It's still tax season....so I'll catch you later!

TTFN
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

Cara Quilts Basic Charity Challenge

Happy Sunday!

Today I want to share a “feel good” opportunity.

Canadian blogger Cara Wilson from Cara Quilts is challenging readers to donate basic items such as toothpaste, soap, deodorant, makeup, hand sanitizer, shampoo, disposable razors, and tissues to a local homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter.

Those who donate and share a picture of their donated items on her Flickr group will be eligible for prizes in a giveaway. The drawing will be held on February 29 (leap day), 2012.
Here is the link to Cara’s blog post, explaining more details about the giveaway. http://www.caraquilts.com/2012/01/basics-charity-challenge-2012.html

I’ve been crazy busy during this first “peak” of tax season, and I’m still presiding over 20 or more administrative hearings per week and drafting decisions and orders for my day job, and I’ve been delighted to have 24 Etsy orders so far in January (I’d expected a bigger slump), so my blog posts will be shorter and less frequent. I still try to follow many of my favorite bloggers, and I’m so grateful my little blog is back to near normal after the scary crash earlier this month.

TTFN
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflowr
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

A Week in the Dark

Lights out.

A little over a week ago, as I emailed a post to this blog, I was met with a startling message. My blog had been disabled. In a burst of denial, I tried to log on as if I were a visitor to my blog. Again, I received a message. My blog had been deleted.

Disabled? Deleted? Why? Who? Is this part of a Wikipedia-type shutdown in protest of anti-piracy legislation? No. Other bloggers using Blogger were still up and running. So why me?
I read the fine print in the message from Blogger. Was it my cookies setting? No. Had I violated the Terms of Use? No. If I thought the blog had been disabled in error, click here. Yes. I clicked. I clicked again. And again. I continued to click. I sent an email message trying to explain that I had not knowingly violated any terms of use and would like an explanation, please, why my blog was somehow lost in cyberspace. No response.

Since I’ve been burning the candle at both ends since the beginning of tax season, juggling two jobs and a batch of custom Etsy orders, I thought perhaps it was a not so subtle message from The Big Guy Upstairs that perhaps I was spending too much time in front of the computer screen. I tried to adjust to my new life as NB (non-blogger), but I still found it hard to accept. Why would my blog be disabled? I’m no terrorist. I didn’t even protest (overtly) in the 60s. I was so straight, my college roommate’s boyfriend thought I was a narc. I’m a blogging granny who has very consciously tried to avoid any controversial subjects because I know my employers would not approve, and I need my day jobs. I try to link back when referencing someone else’s work and give credit where credit is due.

Then a small miracle happened. I happened to note in a comment to my blogging buddy Edi Royer of Memories for Life (http://memoriesforlifescrapbooks.blogspot.com) that my blog was dead, so I had decided to drop out of the Etsy Blog Team until I could recreate one. She mentioned that her blogging friend Gia from One Perfect Day (http://oneperfectday-accessories-and-bags.blogspot.com) had recently experienced a similar blackout, and urged me to get in touch with Gia.

Gia was more than supportive. She understood the shock of seeing months of posts obliterated without a trace, and no clue as to why. She compared the feeling to someone stealing a diary. She suggested I click through the Blogger prompts again, but this time, instead of using email, disclose my cell phone number. That’s how her blog was restored. And…voila! The code was sent via text to my cell phone. I typed in the code, and my blog, widgets and all, was restored.

Thank you Edi and Gia! I’ll be your Followers for life. And thank you to my loyal little band of followers, for coming back to visit. The lights are on again at Ponderings!

TTFN
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

The light bulb embroidery hoop art pictured above was created by Jaime from SacreCoeurVintage on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/77664810/light-bulb-embroidery-hoop-art

Luck of the Finns?

We've all heard the phrase "Luck of the Irish."  But my 31/32 Finnish-American hubby has also had an uncommon streak of luck.

Each month the Lincoln Quilters Guild hosts a mini raffle. You may recall my hubby won vintage yo-yo pillows last Fall.  http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com/2011/10/vintage-yo-yo-pillows.html  Well, this past Monday, while I was working away at the tax office, hubby went solo to the LQG meeting – and he won ANOTHER raffle prize!  (The guild has well over 300 members, so what are the odds?!)

 

This month, his mini raffle prize was this lovely little 11" x 11" miniature quilt in shades of brown, tan, and red.  I love the tiny blocks in each corner, and the  pebble quilting with variegated multi-colored thread (a modern whimsical touch to this traditional-looking quilt), and the machine feather-stitched binding.

 

I think I'll give that man $2.00 and ask him to buy me a Powerball lottery ticket!! 

 

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

 

January Quilt Blocks Craftsy BOM

I just finished the first two 12.5" blocks for the Craftsy Block of the Month with Amy Gibson.  There's still time to join in on the fun:  http://www.craftsy.com/class/The-Craftsy-Block-of-the-Month/50. 

So—here's my show and tell:

 

Block 1 – Asterisk Block

 

This block was trickier than it appears, mostly because of the L-O-N-G bias seams.  If I ever make another asterisk block (highly doubtful!), I think I'll use some spray starch to try to control the stretching.  But I am happy with the overall appearance of the block, and I'm still loving my Kaffe Fassett focus fabric.

 

Block 2 – Wonky Pound Sign Block

 

I used a Michael Miller pin dot, white on bright turquoise, for the wonky pound sign block, with Kona cotton in Snow for my background fabric.  It's a happy little block, but I'm thinking I maybe need to appliqué an ampersand (&) block and an at sign(@) block to keep it company.  (Only kidding!)  

 

So far, so good.  My blocks aren't perfect, but they are colorful and cheery.  And they are done.  On time.  During tax season. 

 

So, what are you crafting these days?

 

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower