Imprisoned for blogging

Ever thought about what life would be like without the abiltity to voice your thoughts and opinions here in this vast forum?

An Iraqui man has now been sentenced to years in prison-19, I believe for content on his blog. Now, I don't know exactly what was there, but I am thrilled to post this blog entry without threat of my liberty, safety or fear of any kind.

I share my gratitude with the world today.

Jess

Here is my tile inspiration. I am so attracted to this ecclectic fabric life story!

One Hundred Day QUILT

This is my 100 day project:

A quilt top that is yet another journal - a personal picture journal. These icons represent places I've been and how I've grown; what I love; pieces of me. Appropriate that I will wrap my life's experiene around me and it will warm me. Hmmm. I think I'll hurry. So, I work on one applique piece per day. I have it planned out in my quilt journal, but I can already see it taking turns that surprise me. Pieces of the puzzle that connect daily. I borrowed a book from our library about old "tile quilts". It was as if this book jumped into my bag to come on the journey with me. It was already a part of me. I am using some of the methods in this quilting style, but adapting it for my purposes. One day I'll do an authentic tile quilt.

Couldn't live without this block. Charles, Jane and William; my inspiration.

Mary E.'s ecclectic color and fabrics. Love her!

I love to collect fabrics. I can almost smell Great Grandma Dale's house dress as I look at these retro fabrics-especially the white and yellow floral. This is the perfect place to see them all together and be carried away in childhood memories.

I hope to chronicle my progress here.

We Are Family

Been thinking. A lot. I'm just about 38, reaching out, screaming, writing, working, changing, asking for change. I am beginning to understand more.
Life is an ever-amazing teacher. When I put myself in a place to, I can be taught by Heavenly Father. I am grateful.

Growth and regrowth

This tree is ancient,
yet has new growth,
new green,
new visitors
and a deep memory.
I prune it.
I step back.
Regrets.
We wait for regrowth.

Cold Treat Traveling Salesperson

Ice Cream Man

I watched horror movies as a kid. Yeah, part of the demented big picture I call "growing up". I also have big brothers, so I KNOW scary. But few things strike fear into me like the dreaded tinkling music floating from down the street on a warm, summer day. Yes, it's the dreaded ICE CREAM MAN!

I wrote a short story last year that I was going to enter into a contest by year-end, but it still needs refining. It's about how this SAHM hates nothing more than and is striving daily to shut down the store on wheels.

I really do think the concept is brilliant...for molesters and killers! Hate the idea that someone whom we know nothing about is attracting kids with his mesmerizing music and sweets. Something more like a slasher movie than summer dream! Remember Chitty Bang? Totally! That guy still haunts me. "Lollipops. Candy!"

Soapbox, yes. I agree. But it's one of the ideas I have that separates me from most others and it's unique to write with. So I enjoy this crazy tangent of mine. I hope you do too. J

Samples of Chilly Mom:

-I stage a protest during the first week of summer vacation in my neighborhood. I even enlist the help of 100 mothers to picket at the entrance of my subdivision. We all have our own plastic ice cream cones we bought "for educational purposes" from the local dollar store. This is the most effective point of punctuation, I believe. We're saying, "Already have some. Thanks. Now leave!"

-"Do you know WHY they call it a 'FatBoy?' is my official campaign slogan, but I'm working on something else equally clever since I can't use the registered name. I've renamed it, "Your obese child" in hopes that no one will ever feed their kids treats that call you names or create the very monster they are laughing at.

-I go door-to-door promoting the weekly ice cream/frozen pop on a stick ads, informing moms of what deals are going on around town and telling them how much, on an average, the ice cream man sells his items for. Next month I'm expanding to an official newsletter, but I have a lot of study I need to do on the software I just bought. I even carry a cooler with samples and have offered to keep them on-hand so people won't buy from the "bad van man", as I call him. There's only one neighbor who demands that I vacate their property and I am writing to the city council about that crazy! I do, however, keep my approach light and airy. I feel that I am improving our community one street at a time.