Quilt Guild honor

 At our annual picnic I was awarded a lifetime membership to the Guild called the Renaissance Membership.  BeckyT and NancyS, my two most favored mentors and friends nominated me. It's a very exclusive club; I only see 8 listed in the directory and at least 1 is dead and 2 have moved to the other side of the country.   I've been a member since 2016 as I prepared to retire.  Diane Focht was the President at the time and at my first meeting she laid out procedures for folding if no one wanted to take the reins when her term was up.  

I volunteered to take on the newsletter and since the website came with it JudyR gave me that too.  It took a few months for us to change the website from HTML to Blogspot and get all the links correct. I didn't have great Internet connectivity at home so that was another challenge. Then came COVID. LizzyT had no co-president, no Board, and was not at all a social person so we nearly folded again.  Membership dwindled to about 40 from about 80 and most of the remaining members were afraid to gather.  We tried to distance ourselves at Spring Creek Park, Karen Power's idea.  That was fine until late October when our fingers wouldn't hold on to a needle.  Then some of us met at the community room in the Mall.  It didn't have great circulation so was a bit humid especially when the roof leaked, but parking and price were great.  

One day as COVID things eased up Becky approached me to be co-presidents.  I'd been thinking of how to get the Guild back on track and I knew that with Becky's fabulous people skills we could do it.  We gathered an unofficial board together and met at Good Day Cafe outside in March to plan.  I think our first whole-Guild meeting was in June at Orchard Park for elections.  We'd been sending out our plans in the monthly newsletter.  We had the picnic catered by Subway or Wegmans.  That became a tradition.  Our Board was elected and we were off and running.  

We changed a few things, but no one said anything.  It was hard to settle on a place to meet.  No one wanted a large group in their space.  We moved around from church to church to Ferguson Twp meeting room before finally finding Blue Course Community Church for evenings, with CindyR's help, and Pine Grove Lutheran for afternoons.  It's better to have a set location. As it is we still have to tell our cars what day it is, so we get to the right place.  St. John's in Boalsburg has been a constant QBs Tuesday.

We changed the layout of Wednesdays. We made it more of a workshop and show and tell with a theme.  MSQC has several tutorials that we used: Quartered Stripe and Charms on Point were two.  We had a show and tell of bags; JudyR brought a big bag with what seemed like thousands of smaller ones stuffed inside like the circus clowns in a car. We met several months at LynnS's community room until we got too popular for the space.  Then we were on the lookout again.

Meanwhile were always looking for programs.  The program person can't do it all so Becky and I led an excursion into Ricky Timm's Convergence and Nancy, Karen, and I did a collage program.  We were modeling team work here.

The Guild is still going so I guess I helped.  I've given both the newsletter and website away but keep my nose to the gossip.

Thanks fo all who followed me and my team.  The last time I did anything like this was in Germany as President of the International Women's Club.  Then I had a fabulous VP who had all the social skills I didn't.

Porcupine for Griffin

 After helping Paul help Richard overseed his food plot in the forest Griffin ran home after stopping to 
converse" with a porky.  He managed only 2 quills which Paul pulled out quickly.  He's on pain meds and antibiotics for his teeth so he should be good. No telling about the porcupine.  

After mixing the seeds with sand and raking the area, I threw out some shade meadow seeds on the new garden west of the house.  Azaleas that I planted last fall look ok.  They did flower this year.  

Dust up

 Sylvester spent all of lunchtime nestled in my chair with me even while Griffin walked around the room.  Progress.

Sylvester and I were outside planting and weeding. He was scared by the hose so ran under the RTV and the spruce in the lavender bed.  He stayed there for quite a while.  Until.  Griffin and Paul can back from their afternoon walk and Griffin nosed around in Sylvester's hidey hole.  Sylvester made a run for home and Griffin couldn't help himself.  He chased.  Sylvester stopped only long enough to give a full-throated hiss and full-pawed swipe. Then he ran for the open door.  Griffin went back to Paul.  
Progress denied. 

Storm

 Storm is losing more weight than can be explained by her 3 walks a day. Her thyroid is overactive so she's on meds too. 

Griffin's teeth

 9 teeth or bits of teeth removed.  His smile is a baby smile: no teeth between and including canines.  He probably tried to chew his way out of his crate in his former life as the fronts were all nubs.  He's on soft food for a while and antibiotics.  Liver is still a concern.

FOY asparagus

 It's coming on slowly.  Paul has 3 beds. This is the first year of good size.

Sylvester's new Super Power

 Paul left Sylvester and me to mind Griffin all morning.  Griffin wasn't happy at all. He moaned and whined and ran from window to door wondering why the big red truck left without him.  Sylvester was having none of this so he crept from his loft hideout to the stairs landing and stared at Griffin.  When Griffin saw the cat who is like smoke and won't stick around for lovin', Griffin immediately stopped his anxiety and lay down, once more proving that he just needs a cat babysitter.

FOY Hummingbirds and a turkey visitor

 Saw 2 males at the feeder swtting each other.  They were reported in Julian and Park Forest a week ago but today's bright late afternoon sun brought them out for us.

We've had a single turkey visit 2 mornings.  It looks like a female because we can't see a beard. She just pecks intently by the fire pit for about 30 minutes then moseys on her way.

Nashville

 Our annual outing with Misciasci, Hays, Mader, Campbell and  X was to Nashville this time.  Our flight down was from hell. We left the house a 11:30 to drop Griffin at the Greyhounds, got to the airport before TSA had their lines opened, eventually passed through with no trouble but had to wait for weather.  And wait.  Big thunderstorms in Chicago moving to Nashville.  We finally got to the hotel around 5:00 AM.  

Of course, we had the Grand Ole Opry tour at 9:30 and the show that night.  Hear Riders in the Sky, Mandy Barnette, Christian Hayes, John Carter &Ana Christina Cash, Victoria Shaw, The Frontmen, Sister Sadie, Clay Walker, none of whom I'd ever heard of nor remember. 

Had dinner at Graystone? resort. A cold blossomed so I'm sure I gave it to Maders and more.

Saw Cheekwood Mansion and arboretum in Belle Mead and took a trolly tour of Nashville.  

FOY Whippoorwill

8:30 tonight

Quilt Retreat

 I spent 4 days at Motel 8 sewing with the girls.  We take our sewing rooms, leave all overnight, but come home to sleep.  The hotel staff provides coffee and cleans up after us.  It's a treat for $15 for the whole week.

I bound 7 small quilts and moved them to the finish pile for Comfort Covers next October.  I'm tired of stepping over that box and shuffling it around my space.  It has a few more flimsies to finish before I can retire it.  I took my machine for it's spa treatment a few months early since I'll be in Nashville next week.  

Sylvester's bravery

 After dinner we read or doom-scroll in the living room with a fire when it's cold. Griffin sits with Paul on the sofa or by himself on the settee with one eye alert for Paul's movements.  

Tonight, Sylvester snuck down from his upper-level safe spot. It took a couple of tries but he eventually settled next to Paul, all the while glaring hot arrows at Griffin who stayed peacefully on the settee. We were a whole family for a little while.  Now, to get Storm involved. 

FOY Kitty Lapp

 Kitty Lapps are blooming.  Yea!

I guess we have our fall work cut out for us.  It hasn't been a good year for daffodils possibly because the ones in the beds are crowded.  We'll have to dig up the whole bed and replant in the forest. 

Sarasota

 An American Air flight from State College through Phila and Charlotte with weather (and maybe other) delays made for a very long day, Rainy and cold so it looks like January.  I didn't get into Lyndhurst Court until 10:00pm.  I used Carolyn's yellow glasses which helped me drive in the dark and rain.  Not ideal.

FOY Peepers

 I think they are in for a rude awakening.  They should burrow back into the mud for a couple of weeks becuse winter isn't over yet.

Foster Fail

 Adoption papers signed and a lifetime license paperwork in process. Griffin has a forever home.

No problem with Paris. they both like to be out the door first and they'd run their little hearts out if they could be off leash.

Jennifer and E are here for Spring Break.  Jennifer will work th whole time but E and I have a contract.  She can sleep till noon but then we'll do things together afternoon. She still fits in the fox hole. She has a Chinese class assignment to make a dinner, so we'll have to shop for that.  I hope she'll finish her Paris collage she started last year.  We traditionally go for sushi at least once.  

Griffin: end of week 4

 Griffin continues to be a gentle house guest.  He has discovered squirrels at the bird feeder RIGHT under his window.  So, though he may live with a cat and be tolerant of her, she is very curious about the bushy tails, I think he'd give chase if given half a chance.  Likewise with deer. He smells them in the meadow and forest and won't leave the smell alone.  He has a very good nose.

We left him in the carriage house with Storm when we went to dinner last Tuesday.  e came home to no damage or bad aroma in the house.  He just needs a babysitter, so he won't be alone.  

Griffin puts himself to bed when I head in that direction.  He sleeps from 9:30 to 5:30 with few interruptions.  He can hold his pee from 8:00pm to 7:00am if there are too many air-borne distractions when we go out at 9:30pm and 5:30am. He has very rigid pee spot requirements so if I don't take him to his preferred spot and he doesn't really have to go, he won't.  Frustrating for me; no big deal for him. 

He takes is pills eagerly now that we wrap them in meat.  He's almost got "down" but sometimes he acts like he's never heard the word.  If Paul waits long enough and reinforces the placement of the treat, he suddenly remembers.  He'll "stop" licking or chewing when we ask.  He'll "wait" for a bit but doesn't know "stay".

 

Griffin: end of week 3

 Griffin is beginning to understand that when Paul leaves him, he WILL be back.  Paul has gone out to plow; Griffin travels from window to window to keep his eyes on his man.  There's a lot less moaning and squeaking.

Griffin and Storm continue to get along well.  There's no strife in either direction: they share their thrones and the sunrays.  Sylvester is still unwilling to give the Monster a try.  He spends the day in the loft and the night in the basement.  That's his choice and problem. His door is open anytime he wants to give Griffin a try.

We have having single digit temps. Griffin is very willing to pee/poop fast and head back inside to the relative warmth.  His word is "Let's go home" and he's on it. Fast.

He's still willing to be faked out taking pills.  Decoys of meat help. He gets Benedryl and doxycycline with his meals and his Denamarin liver support before bed on a (fairly) empty stomach.  

Griffin allows foot inspection after going outside while standing but not while resting on Paul's lap in the evenings.  He seems to growl and attempt to snap, but I'm not sure that's what's going on.  He might think he's going to be moved from his soft, warm, and comfortable spot and just be saying "I;m comfortable here. Don't move.".

He has spotted deer in the meadow but didn't pull to join them. He certainly smells them and remembers where they have been so he looks for them at every potty break. 

Sourdough

 I saw an ad on NextDoor for a class on making sourdough bread.  I've tried it before but never got the Mother right.  I'm disgusted with store bought "sourdough" because it has much more than water and flour in it.  So wth???

Turns out I was giving up on my Mother too soon.  I wasn't feeding her enough and I thought that when the flour and liquid separated it was done.  Not so.  She's just hungry.

MaryEllen walked us through her process then popped her sponge in the oven.  Then we went through the process ourselves.  Before we left MaryEllen's bread was making our mouths water.  We had a lovely morning tea with warm sourdough. 

We had a sponge to take home to bake after its 4-5 "tuck and folds" and a 12-hour rest.  I baked it in the morning and we had delicious bread for lunch. It bakes on parchment paper in a covered Dutch oven for 30 min then uncovered for another 15.  The process takes a lot of time, but in intervals of a few minutes.  The regular yeast bread kneading was a sticky mess at first; sourdough is much less messy because the folding is done with wet hands and only enough to incorporate air into the sponge.  Every 2 hrs fold 4-5 times then rest for 12 hours. Easy peasy.

I want to eat the whole loaf so I can make more.  

She gave us a jar of Mother to get us started.  I fed her some yesterday but she's in the refrigerator cooling and slowing her growth.  I'll take her out tomorrow morning to warm up and start her feeding tomorrow night.

I'm going to weight 350# if I'm not careful.

I had a dream (or perhaps a worry) last night that my jar of recently fed Mother outgrew its jar and had taken over the kitchen.  

Griffin: end of week 2

 Griffin is settling to his new routine.

He is not food aggressive or protective: we can move his food bowl when he's eating.  He doesn't lunge for his bowl when we put food in it; instead, he waits to be invited to eat. He doesn't like peanut butter, so we hide his pills (doxycycline and Denamarin for liver support) in meat: one decoy, two decoy, hidden pills and the last decoy. As long as he thinks there's more meat coming, he doesn't spit out the pill.  He takes the meat with a gentle snap, not enough to hurt, but also sure to receive it. He's gained a little weight but still has his youthful figure. He's just not as sharply boney. 

Before the snow, Griffin pulled off the path to poop.  Now that there's snow up to his belly he sniffs for where he has gone before but can't get off the path. He might be a poop eater.

Griffin knows his name and usually comes when called.  He is learning "down" but he came with a great "sit". He is learning to be on a towel we have put at our table while we eat but would rather be on the sofa. Paul is working on "shake" and "paw". I bring out a doggy-puzzle before bedtime.  He knows there is food under the yellow cups and scratches like mad to get to it.  One night he was able to pick out a cup with his teeth. 

Even after 3 baths, he still scratches and bites his back end.  He usually stops if I say "Grifffin, stop". While he doesn't love his bath and doesn't like going downstairs to the bathroom, he stands quietly and respectfully in the tub while Paul rubs and scrubs him.  He's only a 3-towel bather. His back and belly are less red, and some hair is growing in but there is a sharp and visible line where the flea damage occurred. Above the line toward his shoulders his hair is thick and fluffy.  

Griffin and Storm get along well. Sylvester isn't a fan. Yet. 

Our nighttime routine is very peaceful. After a pee break, he rests with his head in Paul's lap. Paul takes him out at 8:00 then goes to his computer.  After his puzzle time and a pill, Griffin and I go out for one last pee at 9:30.  He heads to his bed on the floor beside my bed.  He seems to know the word "bed", at least at 9:30 at night. He stays there until I get up at 5:30. An occasional scratch and bite, but he doesn't wander or talk all night.

His biggest issue (after his medical problems) is separation anxiety when his man leaves him.  I am apparently chopped liver. He whines, howls, and barks for a long time at the offending door or window. Then he scratches at the door.  We have built barriers to prevent damage, but I've seen nose and paw prints on the windows much higher than normal. A radio didn't seem to help. Toys with food didn't help since he's not a chewer and he doesn't seem to know what to do with chewables. If we leave a paper or rug on the floor, he poops on or near it.  He may have been paper trained to help with his previous owner's long days.

Watching for Dad