Paula Nadelstern!!

What a great week-end we had with Paul, Lisa, Amanda and Kendra. Our children and grandchildren are always great fun to be with.

And it was a busy time. We arrived on Fri. and went on a picnic to friend's of theirs. Good company and eats. Sat. Paul treated Chuck (a birthday gift) with a trip to Foxboro, MA to watch 2 college LaCrosse play-offs. They loved it. Kendra had a baseball game and both girls had music lessons, so it was girls day at home.
But Sunday was THE BEST for me!! Lisa took me into NYC to the American Folk Art Museum, right next to MOMA ... we kept looking for it across the street. Paula Nadelstern had an exhibit there and even though she is coming to Rochester in Sept. she will not be bringing these quilts because the show ends after her visit here. These quilts are marvelous to look at from a distance, but up close is the BEST! She uses such busy fabrics that I don't have the vision to put together, but they work ... beautifully. And all those little pieces of fabric I've been ditching? Paula uses them and they add just the right touch. If you have the opportunity to see these quilts, go. Admission is only $9.00 ($7.00 for seniors) and there are 5 floors to the Museum. Paula's show is on the second floor.

I did bring Chuck's camera just in case I could photograph them. I read all the information they gave me and looked for signs, but nothing said No Photos. So I took this picture. Then the guards came out! I told them I looked for signs, etc., apologized, shut the camera off and put it away. As lovely as the photo is, it doesn't do it justice.
After the show I went to the gift shop and they had some fat quarters. Sure I bought them! I'm taking a workshop from Paula in Sept. and need to be prepared. I'll try, but don't expect my work to be like hers. It will be fun to learn from her.

We then went to a street fair on 7th street ... it was blocked off for many streets to all kinds of vendors. We were just going to get a drink. I ended up with a skirt. We got home in time to attend a pig roast at the house of a teacher friend of Paul's. Mon. was a quiet time at home with gardening, reading and, as always, good food.

How Did They Do It?

On Fri. we had a lovely dinner with Cindy and Charlie. We were graced by some bluebirds and other birds. Their yard is wonderful!

And then we came home. Chuck was wondering what was wrong with the garage door opener, when we realized that there was no power for most of the neighborhood. Actually, we found out that it was to about 5,000 homes. We couldn't see well enough to read or sew. When it didn't go on after an hour, I decided I HAD to read. I surrounded myself with 7 candles and did read, but it was a struggle. How did they do it ... way back before power? I am SO spoiled! The light was barely enough to read. I certainly couldn't make those small stitches on my quilt in that light. What a relief when the power came back on!

Yesterday I was at a quilt workshop taught by Carol Doak on paper piecing. She is funny and very informative. I liked the workshop and learned some tricks ... but I still don't enjoy paper piecing. Will I use it? You betcha! It is a great way to get exact blocks. I meant to bring my book for Carol to sign, but forgot.

In September I'm taking a workshop from Paula Nadlestern. Wow! Our quilt club really is entertaining some wonderful speakers. I'll not forget my book for Paula to sign ... I hope!

More D. C.

I tried to do this all yesterday, but "it" wouldn't let me access any more of Chuck's lovely photos. GRRRR!! It still won't! So, if you wish to see some of D. C. go to the D. C. link.
I did not include ALL of them because there are too many. It gives you a taste of our trip. We were impressed with the wonderful memorials and museums. We especially liked the F. D. R.

And the Holocaust Museum. It must be experienced. I wrote to them ahead of time and sent them my blog site. I got a response and they said they would like my story, but just the WWII memories. I pulled out those parts and brought them to the Archive Department and they couldn't have been more appreciative. They also suggested that if I have any documents, I might consider giving it to them and I am considering doing that. It would be a permanent way of preserving them and accessible to all family members ... even those that may not be as interested, yet. After all, it took me until I was in my 70's to put my history together because it wasn't "history" to me ... just my life. I do have all the documents on disk for family to access now, but the paper was not archival or acid free in 1930's and 1940's so it would be better preserved there.

Beside the memorials and museums we visited the Saudi Arabian embassy, but were not allowed to take cameras or our cell phones in, which was too bad. It is a lovely embassy, as they probably all are, but some of our group got to put on the native outfits that are worn in Saudi Arabia and one of those participants wondered if anyone had a secret camera so he could be photographed in his outfit. They did get a photo taken by a Saudi from the embassy and then emailed to them. They explained that the outfits are for comfort in the heat and blowing sand. Their talk was very interesting.

We met a couple, attending the Elderhostel, from Asheville that is acquainted with a former teacher friend and we had dinner with another former teacher. We did not connect with another friend as we were on the go and no other free time. We really will have to go back.

Now we will enjoy the flowers that are springing up here and then THE quilt show.

Washington, D. C.

We just got back from Elderhostel's Discover Washington, D. C. program and enjoyed it ... even with the rain or grey skies. We haven't been there since 1966, so it was time. Our guides were informative and the activities were smoothly run. There were several lectures in the mornings ... I think to get the morning traffic out of the way. We went in early on Wed. and even though we were close to D. C, it did take us longer to get in.

Jefferson was our first monument and one we missed on our last trip. The George Washington was one we did not go to, but saw it from every vantage point. Here it is on our last day with blue sky.

The next was the Kennedy Center. What a magnificent facility that is! There are 6 theaters in it and the art is donated from various countries or organizations. We went back again on our last night and saw "Ragtime" as that was included. I saw it in Toronto 12 years ago and enjoyed it just as much this time. There are no artificial flowers and we saw many floral arrangements throughout our tour. This was our entrance, The Hall of Nations. We didn't see the concert hall, but could catch sounds of the Pittsburgh Symphony as they were practicing. We did get to watch on opera practice ... couldn't take a picture of the staging as that's copywrited, but got the chandelier. This one can't be lowered to clean.
Next was the White House ... not inside. We got to see that on our previous visit, but with today's tight security it's not easy to get in.