March 5, 2010 – Mammogram Day
This morning I went in for my yearly mammogram. It was a simple, quick procedure, fully paid for by my insurance company. It took me just one hour, from when I left my house to when I left the medical building. My sister was first diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 42 , she opted for a full mastectomy. She is a survivor, now 56 years old. Ever since her diagnosis, I have been diligent about getting my yearly mammogram.
In the past three years I have had three close friends diagnosed with breast cancer, they all underwent various different surgeries, chemo, and hair loss, but so far, all have survived. All three women were under the age 50. I hope that this means that women are not getting cancer at an early age, but that they are being vigilant about getting their yearly mammograms, and that we are catching the cancer earlier, when there is still time to fight it and win the battle.
I generally reward myself on Mammogram Day by taking myself out to lunch. Today’s appointment was early in the day, so I stopped off at the local food store, and treated myself to some of my favorite comfort foods! That works for me.
We all need to learn to take as much care of ourselves as we do the rest of our families. So if you haven’t done so yet this year, make your appointment today.
Happy Quilting,
Betty Dietz
February 23, 2010 – Going to the Quilt Show!
Tomorrow morning I will be heading off to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival. I will be traveling with quilt friends, of course! There will be four of us piled into my car. We plan on making a day of it, stopping off in Fredericksburg to check out a quilt shop and have lunch, before making our way to the hotel.
This year I have signed up for one class on Thursday and I will be tending our raffle quilt on Friday. The rest of the time, I will be shopping and taking photos of all the great quilts in this year’s show. As I walk through the show, I find it hard not to take a photo of each and every quilt. It seems as though each one is prettier than the last. I have been taking photos of quilts for over 20 years, and I have quite a collection. It is easier now we have gone digital. At least the photos are organized on my computer and in a format that is much easier for viewing. When reviewing the photos…even just two or three days after the show, I am always surprised at how many quilts I have already forgotten. But that is probably just a result of my aging and memory loss!
We are looking forward to a great girls weekend away, much shopping and fabric purchasing. I will have my computer with me and I will try to get a post up each evening, if I can get an internet connection.
Happy Quilting!
Betty Dietz
February 16, 2010 – Olympic Mania
It’s true. Olympic Mania has struck! At least in our house, where I get so caught up in watching the Olympics that I find it hard to get much else done. While I have really enjoyed watching the skiing and luge competitions, I am especially attracted to all of the ice skating coverage. When I was in college I took Beginning Ice Skating as an elective. I loved it and advanced to Ice Skating II. And then, while my husband was attending Graduate School, I got really serious about skating and took private lessons. This was quite a silly sport for me to take up, as we lived in Houston, Texas at the time.
Back then, the ice skating association still required school figures, these were precise figure eights drawn by your blade in really hard, fresh ice. You had to transcribe the same circle three times, and your circles were supposed to be within a dimes space of each other. Mine NEVER were. I remember having to get to the rink by 6:00PM to get my figures practiced, and be ready for my lesson. This was after I worked a full 8 hour day and fought some heavy duty rush hour traffic to get to the ice rink. I did manage to learn a few of the basic jumps, but I was never able to succeed in landing an Axel. In the end, I feel like I did OK for a 21 year old beginner!
The best thing about my own experience, is that learning to skate, is much like riding a bike. You really do not forget. While the body is older and out of shape, and I probably can not complete a toe loop or lutz, I can still manage to do some decent cross-overs and maybe a waltz jump or spin.
My three years of skating lessons, has left me with a great appreciation for what the olympic skaters manage to do on the ice. I really enjoyed watching the pairs competition last night. I know how hard it is to skate alone, yet these couples make it look so easy , even while they are skating in unison with another person. Those one handed lifts truly scare me…I know you would never get me to even think about trying one. They must be very athletic to hold those positions, while moving on the ice. And of course, even though I love it when the USA wins, I always find myself rooting for whatever athletes perform the best, no matter what country they hail from. I like to cheer them all on!!
So tonight I think we get to see the men’s short program…and later in the week the ladies. You know where to find me!
Happy Quilting!
Betty DIetz
February 15, 2010 – Freedom Star Block #7 – Martha Washington’s Star
Filed under: Block of the Week, Free Patterns, quilting
Martha Washington's Star
Sorry I am late with today’s posting….I was at Pieceful Cottage this morning, tearing off the last of the kitchen wallpaper, while waiting for the window repairman. We are in the middle of a kitchen re-do, with newly painted cabinets and walls, and a new kitchen counter top coming on March 1.
In Honor of President’s Day, I am offering this week’s block…..
Martha Washington’s Star Block – Click here for complete directions or click on Free Block Patterns – 2010 Block of the Week “Freedom Stars”
This block was published in Farmer’s Wife in 1926.
Because we all know that behind every great man was a great woman!
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I wondered if Martha Washington was a seamstress and I found this great article:
Martha Washington’s Needlework by Patricia L. Cummings/photos by James Cummings
Happy Quilting
Betty Dietz
February 11, 2010 – Spring Retreats
Have you had enough of the snow? Sign up today for a Spring Retreat…….
Bits ‘n’ Strips- Weekend Workshop
March 11-14, 2010
In the Vineyard
Want to use up your stash? This workshop shows you how easy it is to cut your leftover fabrics into 5″ bits and 2 1/2″ strips. There are many easy (beginner level) quilts that you can make from this combination of fabric scraps. You can choose to make the “In the Vineyard” quilt, shown, or any of the other quilts from my Bits ‘n’ Strips pattern series. The possibilities are endless!
Cost $275.00/quilter for 3 nights lodging, all meals, pattern and lessons. Fabric and supplies are extra. $25.00 discount for each quilter if you sign up with a friend.
Click Here to see more retreat listings…..
February 10, 2010 – SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!
They are calling this The Blizzard of 2010:Round 2. Here in the Washington DC area, we are experiencing record snowfalls. And the wind today is creating white out conditions. We are all encouraged to stay home!
What wonderful words for a quilter…I plan to get a lot of quilting done today. The next quilt lined up to go on my frame is made up of snowball and nine patch blocks in blues and whites. It is a scrappy quilt that will be used to keep us warm as we curl up on our couch in front of our fireplace. In the white areas of the snowball blocks I am going to quilt snowball designs. Today I am going to mark each section with get a different design. I remember being told as a kid that every snowflake is different from another, so each of the snowflakes on my quilt will be uniquely different.
A great book for inspiration is titled “The Snowflake – Winter’s Secret Beauty” written by Kenneth Libbrecht and photos by Patricia Rasmussen. There are some fabulous photos of snowflakes, showing their beauty and symmetry. It amazes me that the photographer was able to get so many photos of the snowflakes without them melting!
So stay warm and enjoy the snow!
Happy Quilting,
Betty Dietz
February 5, 2010 – Go Red For Women – National Wear Red Day
The National Heart Association is asking everyone to wear RED today, to spread the word about the dangers of heart disease in women.
Click Here to sign in at the website GO RED FOR WOMEN for a free red dress pin and more information on how heart disease effects women. Did you know that over 450,000 women die of heart disease each year? It is the number one killer of women!
The website has information on your risk factors and how to improve your lifestyle to reduce your risks. You will need to sign in to the site to get access to their recipes.
I know that I have to work especially hard to stay heart healthy. My family history is so against me, my father had his first heart attack in his fifties, and all the members of my mother’s family died of heart disease or stroke. My mother’s brother died of a heart attack at 44 years old, and we had a cousin die when he was just 34. So I have been aware of the danger for a long time.
Remember that it is the small choices that we make each day that can improve our heart health. One trick I use is to park farther out in the parking lot, so I squeeze in a small walk before and after I do my shopping. Also, my washing machine is on the second floor, and my sewing studio is in the basement, so I run up and down two flights of stairs every time I put another load of wash in or switch it over to the dryer. Last Christmas we bought a Wii game system and I try to work out using the Wii Fit at least three times a week. This system tracks the amount of time I put into my workout and also my weight. It allows me to set and track simple goals. I eat fruit and granola for breakfast, instead of chocolate chip muffins. I use olive oil instead of butter, when I cook. I drink lemonade instead of sodas. And I serve and eat good, fresh vegetables with every evening meal.
There is still more I can and should be doing, and I strive to get more exercise and healthier meals into my daily life. Once you become aware of the danger, it becomes easier to make healthier choices.
So, Go Red For Women and “celebrate the energy, passion and power we have as women to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke”.
Betty Dietz
February 2, 2010 – Groundhog Day
What a silly tradition we have! Every February 2nd, we ask a groundhog to predict whether winter will continue for six more weeks, or shall we have an early spring. This year, the “official” groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, did see his shadow, so he thinks we are in for more winter weather. And the weather forecasters seem to agree. We are expecting more snow tonight and maybe a bigger snow storm this weekend.
I spent all of last week at Pieceful Cottage, our retreat house in Wenona, Md on Deal Island. We are in the process of a kitchen re-do. I sanded and re-painted all 21 kitchen cabinet doors. We have new Silestone countertops ordered and we are addding a new deeper double sink. The cabinets are now a pretty off-white with brass handles for trim. There is also a new center island. We purchased this as unfinished wood, and we painted the base white and treated the top with a food safe stain. When finished the “new” kitchen will be stunning! I will post photos for all to see.
It snowed over the weekend. We had over 12 inches of snow in Wenona, Md. The locals told us it had been 20 years since they have seen that much snow on the Eastern Shore. The snow set back my ingenious plan for getting internet service to the bay house. Actually getting internet to Pieceful Cottage has been quite a challenge. When we first purchased the house, I was the one who vowed, NO TV, NO Phone, NO Internet! Well, we have phone and satellite TV and soon, maybe even internet. One week alone at the house convinced me that I am the one who needs the connection to the outside world via the internet. I actually started the search for an internet provider two months ago. Verizon contacted me by leaving a phone message, stating that “High Speed internet was now available in my area”. Wow! I thought, finally we can get connected. Since then, I have gone round and round with Verizon. It seems as though our house is located too far from a trunk line to get connected to their system. Boo hoo!
My next move was to contact the cable company. They said sure, no problem. They even gave me a price and an order number, things were looking good. But then, it came. A phone message stating I would need a site survey to see how far we were from the line. I scheduled the survey and on the morning that it was to happen, I got a call from the technician. He said he did not need to bother with the appointment, as he knew the cable line ended in Chance MD, on the mainland side of the causeway over to the island. Again no internet.
But I was not to be defeated. Last Monday, while I was at the library in Princess Anne, MD, using their internet connection to get my Block of the Week posted, I noticed that they had connections through a local satellite company. I phoned the satellite people and for a kings ransom, I can get connected. The work was scheduled to be done yesterday. At 7:30 am I received a call from the technician. He would not be able come out and install my system. He was snowed in! Unable to get out of his driveway, only had a front wheel drive vehicle. Foiled again!
The installation has been re-scheduled for this coming Monday. And so of course, there is much snow in the forecast….old man winter is out to get me again. Thanks Phil!
Happy Quilting!
Betty
January 21, 2010 – My Favorite Quilt Group
Every first and third Thursday morning, you will find me meeting with my favorite quilt group, Fairfax QU. This is a wonderful group of quilters who join together to share and learn. Today we were entertained with a slide-show/ lecture/ trunk show presented by Mary Kerr entitled “Vintage Revisited: The Anatomy of a Challenge”. It was an inspirational talk about a quilt challenge issued to 19 quilters. Each quilter was given one of an identical set of vintage quilt blocks, and they were to make a 24″ x 24″ quilt designed around that block. It was interesting to see each quilter’s interpretation of the old block made new. You can read more about this challenge at her website: www.marykerr.com.
Fairfax QU is part of a larger quilt group known as Quilters Unlimited of Northern Virginia (QU). It is composed of 11chapters with of over 1,000 members! This year, Quilters Unlimited will host its 37th Annual Quilt Show on June 4-6, 2010 at the Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, VA (just west of Washington, DC). Hours: 10-6 (Fri & Sat); 10-3 (Sun). Cost: $10 per day; $20 for 3-day pass. This year’s theme is “Quilts Tell a Story.” At the show you will enjoy over 600 quilts, dolls & wearables. There will be free demonstrations and over 80 vendors! You can sign up in advance for classes from nationally-known quilt teachers. Discounts for pre-arranged bus groups are available. For more information, please visit the Quilters Unlimited website: www.quiltersunlimited.org .
Each year one of the 11 chapters is responsible for creating the raffle quilt for the show. I am especially proud of this year’s quilt as it was appliqued and pieced by members of my Fairfax QU Chapter. Here is a photo and more information about the raffle quilt.
 www.thirdeyephotog.com. |
This is the 37th Annual Quilt Show raffle quilt which is a Pam Clarke design, appliquéd and pieced by the Fairfax Quilters Unlimited Chapter. It was machine quilted by Christy Dillon and measures 92″ X 92″.
The drawing for this beautiful quilt will be held on Sunday, June 6, 2010 @ 3:00 PM at the Quilters Unlimited Quilt Show. Tickets cost $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. You need not be present to win.
Betty
January 13, 2010 – Peppermint
I have always loved the flavor of peppermint. I am a tea drinker and peppermint tea is one of my favorite choices. Last year for Christmas, I received a whole canister of loose peppermint tea from my son. What a treat. Mint and chocolate together is especially good, think Girl Scout thin mints or York Peppermint Patties!
It is possible that I love peppermint so much, because I can “smell” the menthol that it releases. I was born with fairly rare genetic disorder known as “Kallmann Syndrome”. See Kallmanns.org for more info. Because of this syndrome, I have no sense of smell. Yes, I can still taste, but if the pizza in the oven is burning and I was standing right next to the oven, I would never know. Last Christmas, when I opened that canister of peppermint tea leaves, I had a sensation that was the closest thing to smell that I can experience.
Each year we hang candy canes on our Christmas trees, and each year I take them down and wonder what to do with them. We have two kinds, the original red and white striped peppermint canes and the newer, chocolate mint one’s made by Hershey’s. This year I stood the leftover canes up in a fancy glass on our kitchen counter. And now every time that I make a cup of hot chocolate, or my morning tea, I plop in a candy cane and watch it melt. The Hershey’s Chocolate Mint canes are very good in the hot chocolate, and I use the plain one’s to sweeten my tea. The melted candy cane serves as my spoonful of sugar in more ways than you might think. Peppermint is known to help with nausea, digestion, headaches, anxiety, depression and skin irritations. To find out more go to the UM Medical Center Reference site. It seems to me that this is a great way to use up all those candy canes, sweeten my morning drink, and have a healthier start to my day.
Betty