3 in 30 - March Goals - Update #1

The goals that I have for the 3 in 30 challenge for March include:

1. Do several homeschool field trips and activities. Some I'm thinking about during March include:
=> Go to a place of worship that ties into Sophia's Sonlight curriculum about the Eastern hemisphere (e.g., Clouds in Water Zen Center),
=> Participate in the 4-H Food and Bread Show (this supports home economics and public speaking/communication activities with homeschooling),
=> Go to the Minnesota Woodworkers show so Olivia can see chip carving (which she is interested in), and see if there are any classes where she can learn how to do this type of carving,
=> Do an activity at the co-op (e.g., CSA Fair, Saving Money While Saving the Planet class),
=> Attend the bluebird house-building workshop,
=> Go to Vertical Endeavors for indoor rock climbing,
=> Go to the African Violet Show,
=> Visit the Raptor Center,
=> Volunteer twice at the nursing home - once before St. Patrick's Day and the other before Easter, and
=> Help with and attend the Passover Seder at church.
It would be great to be able to do all of these. However, even doing a fraction of these activities would be fun.

All of these activities are in the second through fourth weeks of March. 

We signed up to do the grocery shopping for the Passover Seder, and have received the shopping list from church. 

Sophia and Olivia picked the recipes they want to make for the Food and Bread Show. I went shopping for the ingredients that we didn't have on hand. We reviewed the food pyramid and how each of the recipes they selected fit into the food pyramid. 

Sophia made Maple Fudge Candy on March 7th, and I was in the kitchen with her to make sure she made the recipe correctly. 

2. Finish 30 Days of Lists. I started this challenge in September and did about 17 days worth of lists. This month, I would like to complete the remaining 13 days.

I did not work on this project.

3. Do one cleaning/de-cluttering project each week. The four areas that I want to concentrate on during March are:
=> the fabric bins in my office;
=> the linen/towel/medicine closet;
=> the "to-do" projects in my office; and
=> the items in one section of my office which need to be put away or donated so there is more space.

I went through each of the fabric bins and bags in my office this past week. It had gotten to a point where I had so many bags and loose fabric that were not in bins. This was because I would work on sewing or quilting projects, and then didn't put the leftover fabric back in the appropriate bins.

So, during this multi-hour task, I grouped the fabric by color and/or project; and labeled each bin or bag. 

Left side: Before organizing the fabric.

Right side: Fabric grouped by type and/or color, and all bins are labeled.

Left side: Before organizing another area that had bags of fabric.

Right side: The bins are labeled with the type of fabric/clothes in them.

These bins and bag have projects that I want to do (e.g., memory quilt, sensory quilt).

In the process of going through the fabric, I donated four bags of fabric and one bag of clothes that I didn't want. 

Cooper (the puppy) sitting by four bags of fabric 

that I donated to the local thrift shop.

It is such a great feeling to have everything organized now, and this project finally off my "to do" list. Because everything is in its proper bin and labeled, I was able to easily find fabric for the Embroidery Journal Project I'm currently working on. 

Last year, I embroidered 12 12" x 12" squares of fabric that represented activities that happened during each month. This year, I am sewing the squares together along with 23 pieces of 12" x 12" fabric for a quilt that will be five squares wide and seven squares long. 

I now have the fabric selected, ironed, and ordered. The next step is to cut it out and sew the squares together to create the top of the quilt.

Embroidery Journal Project - December

This is the 12th and final month of the 2012 Embroidery Journal Project. Each month for the past year, I have embroidered a design on a 12" x 12" piece of white, cotton fabric.

The designs have been a combination of ones I have found on the internet - most often a combination of at least 3-4 different images put together in some way to reflect the highlights of the month.

December Embroidery Journal Quilt Square.

The central image of this month's quilt square is a Christmas tree. Christmas was the major focus for us during the month. As we have done during the past few years, we did a Countdown to Christmas in which we did different activities and/or made holiday food each day during the month. 

December had a record-breaking snowstorm on the 9th and 10th. Over 17 inches of snow fell in less than a day. That's a lot of snow...even for Minnesota!

A snowflake to represent a major snowstorm and 

17 inches of snow that fell in one day.

December also was marked by many performances - plays, harp, and choral. Sophia and Olivia played angels in the annual Christmas play at church. They enjoyed the experience...despite the amount of work and practices (twice-weekly during November and December).

Angel to represent Sophia and Olivia.

That same weekend as the play, the girls sang two songs at the St. Lucia service at church. One song was the "tomten song" that they sing each year. Each child in the chorus wears a red hat and scarf to look like a tomten (like a little gnome).

An image to remind me of the girls singing the tomten song

during the St. Lucia service.

December also has been an interesting one in terms of wildlife. A Harris' Sparrow showed up at the feeder after the huge snowstorm and has been here the entire month. Hopefully it will stay around for the rest of the winter rather than migrating further south. It's such a treat to see a new type of bird.

There also have been a flock of pheasants (about seven on the average) that have been hanging out under and by the pine trees on the east side of the farm. They have even wandered into the front yard; and flew up and sat on the fence where we have been able to see the brilliant colors of their feathers.

In addition to an eagle that I saw on New Year's Eve day (more about that later), I also saw some type of hawk. However, as Olivia looked at the picture I took of it and looked at the Minnesota bird book, it looked like a juvenile eagle or osprey. So, I'm not sure what kind of bird it was nestled in the pine tree boughs. Regardless, it was a large bird and one that I typically don't see which made it all that much more thrilling.

Perhaps most exciting for me was seeing an eagle twice during December. Once as I was walking out to get the mail at the end of the driveway, an eagle was flying no more than 20 feet above my head and about a couple feet in front of me. I could hear its wings flap and see its eyes it was so close. It was such an amazing experience to see one fly practically right in front of me (or at least it felt that way).

Embroidered eagle on the quilt square.

The second time I saw an eagle was on New Year's Eve during the day (about 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon). I had been thinking about this time last year - December 31, 2011.

At about this time last year, I was leaving to go visit my Mom who was in the hospital after her blood sugar level had escalated to a dangerous level. After the visit with her, I went to visit my Dad who was at the nursing home. It would be the last time I would see him look at me (he was able to open one of his eyes despite being very sick and - what I would find out within a few days - dying).

So, as I was thinking about these things, I heard a loud screeching sound coming from outside. I looked out a couple of windows upstairs, but couldn't see anything that would make that type of noise.

Walked downstairs and looked out the front window and saw the white feathers on the eagle's head and black feathers covering its body. It was perched in the oak tree along the driveway.

The eagle perched in the oak tree.

I opened the back door quietly and kept the dogs inside. The eagle was facing north towards the cornfield so it didn't see me, however I'm sure it could hear that the door opened.

It sat, facing north, for a bit and then readjusted itself so it faced west. I'm sure it could see me from its new vantage point, but it wasn't frightened. It sat contentedly in the oak tree.

The eagle opening its wings as it 

readjusted its position on the branch.

It remained there for quite a while until a low-flying plane flew right over the house. At that point, the eagle flew off.

I was so happy to have been able to see eagles twice this month. Hopefully the eagle will come back again soon. Even better...to make its home here so we can see it every day.

Embroidery Journal Project - November

During November I worked on the 11th quilt square for the Embroidery Journal Project that I've been doing this year. Each month I've embroidered a different design based on things that happened during the month. By the end of 2012 I will have twelve 12"x12" squares that I can make into a quilt that represent the year.

My November quilt square.

The focus for the majority of the month was on Thanksgiving. Although I had good intentions of doing something daily with Sophia and Olivia, it didn't work out that way.

We ended up doing quite a few Thanksgiving-theme activities the week of Thanksgiving instead. I feel like that was more than sufficient and not as overwhelming as trying to do something daily during the month.

Embroidered turkey to represent Thanksgiving.

We hosted dinner here at the farm as has been the tradition since 1995. This was the second Thanksgiving that Dad has not been here. Last year, in 2011, he was at the nursing home in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's Disease. There was no way to safely transport him to the farm nor did we have the nursing staff needed to help him. This year marked the first Thanksgiving since his death.

Coupled with the absence of Dad, was the absence of Mom who was sick and unable to make it. It felt strange not to have both parents there for the holiday.

One of the highlights of Thanksgiving Day was seeing a beautiful red cardinal at the feeder and bird bath in the backyard. I haven't seen the male cardinal for the longest time, and there he arrived on Thanksgiving while I was in the kitchen making food for dinner.

He stayed for most of the afternoon, eating food with the sparrows, goldfinches, and other small birds. He drank water from the bird bath. Dad loved cardinals, so it reminded me of him and gave me comfort knowing that his love of birds has been passed on to me and onto Sophia and Olivia.

Embroidered male cardinal.

Another interesting thing happened during the week or so prior to Thanksgiving: the Christmas cactus that Dad gave me more than a decade ago began to show its pink buds. It never buds this early - it is always around Christmas time when it happens.

Embroidered buds and flowers 

on the Christmas cactus.

On Thanksgiving Day, one of the flowers opened on the left-hand side of the plant. It was beautiful with many different shades of pink. It was the single bloom for the day. There have been many more blooms over the Thanksgiving weekend.

The other curious thing is that there is a plant on the counter near the Christmas cactus that is a succulent/cacti type plant. About 7 or 8 years ago, I purchased it for 99 cents so Sophia could use it as well as other cacti in an arrangement for the county fair. 

This plant now has grown into a small tree, and right before Thanksgiving began showing little pink buds. By Thanksgiving, the entire tree was in full bloom with tiny, pink flowers. It has never done this before. It was a complete - and pleasant - surprise that it even would have flowers. 

Back to the quilt square...on the planter there are two images:

=> Chalice - to represent the ten-month program I'm doing called Wellspring through the UU church. This program has been incredibly inspiring and educational; and I'm thankful that I'm doing it this year.

=> Cross with Deacon Stole - to represent the 808-page book that I completed in early-November after working on it for the entire year. 

The book includes all of Dad's homilies, prayers, and invocations; some of the writing and his journal he kept while he was going through the Permanent Diaconite program; newsletters that he wrote; and items I posted on CaringBridge that reflected what he believed as well as the impact that he had on literally thousands of people throughout his life. 

It was a lot of work; and well worth the effort involved.

Next month marks the completion of the Embroidery Journal Project. I'm happy that I'm doing this project and will have something positive to remember what has been one of the most difficult years of my life.

Embroidery Journal Project - October

During October, I made another quilt square for the Embroidery Journal Project. Each of the cotton-fabric squares is 12" x 12" and features different images that represent the major activities of the month.

This month I chose to focus on Halloween and fall activities since that was how we spent a good portion of the month. 

The highlight of the month was doing the 13-day Countdown to Halloween. Each day we focused on a different theme, such as owls, witches, pumpkins, and ghosts.

This image combined two themes of the countdown:

owls and witches. 

The hat is blue because Sophia's witch costume this year

included a blue hat.

In addition to the countdown, the girls enjoyed carving pumpkins twice. One time was at home as we do each year, and the other was at the 4-H club meeting where the youth carved pumpkins that were for a nursing home.

Sophia, Olivia, and I - along with another family - delivered and set-up the pumpkins in the different courtyards at the nursing home. The staff and residents seemed so happy to see the pumpkins again this year. (The 4-H club has been doing this for a number of year now, and we have volunteered for three years to deliver and set them up.)

The images of the moon on the embroidered quilt square remind me of the beautiful full moon on Halloween night. The clouds were slowly moving in front and to the side of the moon giving an eerie look to the sky. Yet, the beauty of the moon shining so brightly reminded Olivia of the full moon we saw in September 2011 when we came out of a restaurant with friends in Boston (this was as part of a trip to New England).

Only two more quilt squares left for 2012 and I will have completed 12 for a quilt that I'll make during 2013. It will be a nice reminder of the positive things that happened and fun memories we created during 2012.

Homeschool Mother's Journal - October 5th

In my life this past week…

We wrapped up the 12 in 12 project for September and began thinking of things we want to do for October.

Sophia and Olivia petting the dogs at Northwoods Humane Society.

It was one of the places that we help each month 

through donations of cans, cash, and Kitten Chow.

In our homeschool this week…

One of the things we learned about this week was electricity. Using Sonlight's TOPS Learning Systems book about electricity, we did experiments about connecting cells in series, opposition, and parallel.

This is an example of cells in series.

The batteries are lined up in the same way,

so the light is the brightest with 3 batteries.

It has a medium-level of brightness with two batteries,

and is dim with only one battery.

By doing this, we were able to see how the way the batteries were positioned affected the brightness of the light bulb.

This is an example of a parallel arrangement.

There is a strip of tinfoil under the batteries as well as on the top.

The top strip of tinfoil is connected to a light bulb.

Because these batteries aren't in a series, 

the light bulb is rather dim - 

as if only the energy from one battery is being used.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Whenever you can tie into a field trip or hands-on activity to what the children are learning, it makes it all that  more engaging and fun for them.

This past week, we went to United Noodles in Minneapolis. It is the largest Asian grocery store in the Midwest. We saw some things we had tried before, things we purchased to try at home, and some things that we probably wouldn't be trying...but nonetheless were interesting to see.

The ice tray on the left hand side has squid and octopus.

This isn't something we typically see in our local grocery store.

One of the things that we were surprised about where the variety of eggs that are used in Asian meals. There were even egg yolks that were sold separately from the rest of the egg. We had never seen anything like that before.

Some of the eggs that are available at United Noodles.

We saw quite a few duck and quail eggs.

I am inspired by…

The beautiful colors of autumn are still here in rich shades of orange, gold, yellow, and red.

Some of the leaves I enjoy seeing.

I'm constantly inspired by nature - the variety of colors, the wildlife that I've seen during the past week (pheasants, turkeys, and deer), and the changing temperatures.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

The girls have their regular activities during the upcoming week combined with homeschooling. At this point, there are no extra trips or activities scheduled which is a change from the past few weeks. I think having a week where it's a bit more quiet is a welcome change.

My favorite thing this week was…

Sophia, Olivia, and I enjoyed going to the alpaca farm for the annual Alpaca Farm Days that they hold each year.

This alpaca came right up to us and 

wanted us to pay attention to her.

The farm has over 60 alpacas, many of which were quite friendly.

Sophia and Olivia with one of the alpacas.

What’s working for us…

We are using A Reason for Spelling this year. I wish I had used this curriculum many years ago. It is one that both girls enjoy, and is helping them retain the way to spell 15 words each week. It's a

According to A Reason for Spelling's website, the curriculum "incorporates a variety of successful teaching techniques: daily practice, self-correction, visual imaging, detailed student feedback, learning games, the test/study/test sequence, and much more. It also includes special activities in every lesson to help motivate visual, auditory, tactile, and multi-faceted learners."

Things I’m working on…

I finished my September embroidered quilt square for the Embroidery Journal Project...making it nine squares total so far this year. Only three more quilt squares left and then I can begin making the quilt.

September's Embroidery Journal Project

quilt square.

I’m reading…

I went to the library on Thursday and picked up quite a few books for the Wellspring spiritual growth program I'm doing this year (from October through June 2013).

While I was there, I went back to the craft section and came across Craft Activism - People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You  Can Join In by Joan Tapper.

The book is packed with beautiful pictures, fun projects, and inspiring ideas. I'm looking forward to reading more of Craft Activism this weekend.

I’m cooking…

I've been trying quite a few new recipes that I saw on Pinterest. If it weren't for that site, I wouldn't be finding such delicious recipes.

One of the highlights from the past week was Easy Egg Casserole. The recipe will be posted soon.

Easy Egg Casserole.

I’m grateful for…

Getting to the car dealership's service center when I did. On Tuesday, I had to brake quickly for a low-flying female pheasant. Had I not, she would have gone through the windshield. After braking, I noticed that the brake pedal went almost to the floor. Something wasn't right.

Brought the car in on Thursday when I was dropping off the girls for equestrian vaulting. Drove to the dealership, and they said that it was good that I brought the car in when I did. Essentially the whole brake line was rusted and the brake fluid was leaking. What potentially could have happened was that I could have been driving, tried to use the brakes, and would have found out that they didn't work.

Needless to say, I feel incredibly grateful that the brakes didn't go out before I got the car to a dealer. I'm even more grateful for the fact that it is a fixable problem. As much as I would like to get a new car, the reality is that the cash needed to purchase a car hasn't all been saved. Until it is...it's a matter of being patient and waiting.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

"I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and 

in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, 

the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. 

And for that I am grateful."

~ Elizabeth Edwards ~

Embroidery Journal Project - September

For September's project for the Embroidery Journal Project, I created an embroidered quilt square that represents some highlights that happened during the month.

The shape this month is the outline of Minnesota. Early in the month, Sophia, Olivia, and I drove up to Itasca State Park in northwestern Minnesota to see where the Mississippi River begins. The girls were able to cross the Mississippi River headwaters...one of the highlights of the trip.

At the end of the month, we visited United Noodles in Minneapolis. It is an Asian grocery store that has a wide variety of items imported from many Asian countries. Since Sophia is studying the Eastern Hemisphere this year as part of the Sonlight curriculum, it was an interesting field trip. Both girls want to go back to United Noodles.

While we there, we saw a display of Lucky Cat statues in various sizes. According to Wikipedia, the Maneki-neko (literally "Beckoning Cat"; also is known as Welcoming Cat, Lucky Cat, Money Cat, or Fortune Cat) "is a common Japanese figurine (lucky charm, talisman), usually made of ceramic, which is believed to bring good luck to the owner.

"The figurine depicts a cat (traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail) beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed—many times at the entrance—in shops, restaurants, pachinko parlors, and other businesses."

During the middle of the month, we went to a local dairy farm that hosts a gathering each year for children. The girls were able to do some therapeutic horseback riding, go on a horse-drawn cart, visit the calves, see cows grazing in the pasture, and enjoy lunch. It was a nice afternoon.

The leaves have been changing throughout the month, and now are in brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow. My favorite trees in fall are maples - especially the ones that have leaves in rich, orange shades.

This is the ninth quilt square that I have made this year...three more to go until I can begin making a quilt. The embroidered squares will be combined with plain or patterned fabric squares to make it a full-size quilt.

This, by far, is one of the longer-running projects I've undertaken. By the time I the quilt it is completed, it will be reflection of a year filled with many transitions. Seeing the images in the quilt will provide comfort and trigger good memories, despite the grief and loss that occurred at the beginning of the year with the loss of my Dad.

Embroidery Journal Project - August

This is the eighth month of the Embroidery Journal Project. Each month I am creating a 12"x12" quilt square each month (for a total of 12 squares) that will ultimately be combined with other 12"x12" pieces of fabric; and be sewn into a memory quilt that reflects what happened in 2012.

The focus is not so much on the embroidery and showing a diversity of stitching, but rather the emphasis is on the meaning behind each of the symbols on the quilt square. For this reason, I have chosen to use the backstitch since it is an easy stitch to do and the final image looks like a colored pencil drawing.

This month, the design is the most simple of any that have been done to date. The four key symbols are:

=> Blue ribbon - represents participating in the County Fair. Although Sophia, Olivia, and I didn't have the number of projects we have had in past years at the County Fair (because of the large number of 4-H projects the girls did for another County Fair in July), we nonetheless were happy because each of the projects we entered received a ribbon.

Of the ribbons received, the majority were blue, with a few red ribbons. The girls even earned grand champion and reserve champion ribbons on some of their projects which was exciting.

=> Trio of books - represents taking three days to put together the 2012-13 homeschool year this month. Last month, I spent quite a bit of time determining which curricula, books, and other resources we would be using. These three days were focused on the "detailed" plans (e.g., what we do each day/week for each subject).

The books also represent a relaxed introduction to grades 4th and 6th grades for the girls. Rather than fully immerse them with all the subjects in one week, for the last two weeks of August they have been gradually easing back into school. This seems to be working quite well.

I chose red, orange, and yellow for the books to represent the return of the heat of summer - both in terms of temperature and humidity. What has been missing is rain...we are in the middle of a drought.

=> Hummingbird - purple is one of my favorite colors (green is the other) and hummingbirds are one of my favorite birds. There have been several hummingbirds who have been visiting the feeder throughout the day. It seems like each time I am in the kitchen and look out the window, a hummingbird will appear at some point.

My favorite one is a tiny green one - the ruby-throated hummingbird. She (or he) is much smaller than some of the other hummingbirds that visit the feeder - maybe a juvenile bird? She will stay at the feeder a long time drinking the sugar-water mixture so I've had a chance to watch her for more than a few seconds.

There also is a hummingbird that visits by the bedroom window where I have a trio of window stars that I made. The hummingbird likes the pink window star the best.

=>  Amish buggy - this represents the trip that Sophia, Olivia, my mom, and I took to Harmony (Minnesota) and Winona (Minnesota). My favorite part of the trip was going on a tour of different Amish farms one afternoon, and then going to an Amish farmers market the next morning.

We also were able to visit two towns where Laura Ingalls Wilder had a presence - Spring Grove (Minnesota) where she and Almanzo attended church for a couple of years; and Burr Oak (Iowa) where Pa managed the Masters Hotel. The hotel is still standing in the same location today - right by Silver Creek.

*~*~*~*~*

There are only four more months left of the challenge. I enjoy looking at the embroidered squares, and each one brings back good memories of things that happened during the month. I am looking forward to being able to sew the quilt together and see what it looks like when it is finished.

Embroidery Journal Project - July

This month for the Embroidery Journal Project, the central image is a sun to represent the oppressive heat that seems to be never-ending. Between the heat and the thunderstorms, it's been a challenging month, to say the least.

In fact, this is the first year that we chose not to go the 4th of July parade. With the heat index well into the 110+ range, it wasn't comfortable nor safe to be outdoors. So, I ended up making a meal for the holiday with red, white, and blue ingredients; and relaxing. It was a change from past years...yet still an enjoyable way to spend the holiday.

Other symbols on the quilt square this month include a 4-H symbol to represent the focus for the first two weeks of the month. Sophia entered 27 projects and Olivia entered 17 projects in the county fair. They received 25 and 15 blue ribbons respectively. Sophia even got a few Grand Champions, Reserve Champion, and Top Blue; and Olivia got a Top Blue as well.

Preparing for the county fair was definitely time consuming. The projects the girls chose were very interesting this year. We all learned a lot about a variety of topics: geocaching, hedgehogs, musk ox, owls (and owl pellets), embroidery, quilting, sewing, cost comparisons of food items at different grocery stores, cooking, beading, painting, origami, dairy cows, and sheep.

The purple and blue stars represent Sophia and Olivia and doing things outdoors with them (e.g., nature programs at Interstate State Park).

The pointe shoes represent watching the movie "La Danse" (it's a French documentary with English subtitles). It gives an inside view about what it is like for a ballet company to produce multiple shows - including rehearsals, setting, costuming, lighting, and administrative aspects. My favorite parts were the rehearsals, the performances (with classical ballet - complete with pointe shoes and tutus), and costuming.

My sister bought this movie so we could watch it together. She made a delicious lunch for her sons, herself, Sophia, Olivia, and me. One of the highlights from lunch: fresh fruit (strawberries and raspberries) and homemade chocolate cookies with Dutch cocoa and Ghirardelli chocolate chips.  

Embroidery Journal Project - June

This month for the Embroidery Journal Project, the central image is a dream catcher. I chose this design because it reminds me of trip that Sophia, Olivia, and I took to southwestern Minnesota to visit Pipestone.

In Pipestone, there is the Pipestone National Monument which has many quarries where Native Americans are actively working on them. When we visited, there must have been a lot of rain recently because the quarries were flooded and were being drained.

Quarry that was being drained of rain water.

Inside the visitor center, there were displays about items that the Native Americans made from pipestone.

Examples of pipes carved from pipestone.

There were other beautiful items created from beads and leather.

Pipe bags that were used to carry pipes.

After we looked at the visitor center, we went on a walk around the area. They were re-establishing the prairie, so there were lots of prairie plants and birds singing among the grasses and flowers.

Olivia and Sophia walking on the trail through the prairie.

Another symbol on the quilt square this month is a flower. Throughout southeastern South Dakota, we saw lots of pasque flowers (South Dakota's state flower). They were in pale shades of pink and cream.

A representation of the pasque flower we saw in South Dakota.

The red feather represents the many colorful birds that are visiting our feeders. There was one young male cardinal who was just starting to get his brilliant red feathers. He was at the feeder and was flapping his wings continuously.


The monarch butterfly represents the monarch caterpillars we have been raising indoors. Olivia and I found a couple of caterpillars earlier in late-May or early-June. They have been eating the milkweed leaves we provided for them for food.

An embroidered monarch butterfly.

On June 28th, the first butterfly emerged. We are waiting for the second one to emerge.

The center part of the dream catcher.

This quilt square marks the sixth one that I've done this year. All the squares are on the same white fabric, and use cotton embroidery floss. By the end of the year, I will have 12 quilt squares - each representing the highlights of a particular month. I'm excited to put them together in December.

Embroidery Journal Project - May

For this month's embroidery journal project, I struggled to think of something that would reflect the month. No patterns seemed to capture the main highlight of the month: Mother's Day.

The other major holiday this month is Memorial Day, but that one reminds me too much of Fort Snelling National Cemetery - where my father (who was a veteran) was buried in January of this year.

Sophia, Olivia, and I will be taking my mom there over Memorial Day weekend. I may change my mind and incorporate a small symbol somewhere on the quilt square, but at this point I did not include one. My dad's death still is a difficult memory.

So, the flowers represent something that I enjoy seeing. In fact, this year on Mother's Day there are flowers already blooming which is very unusual for this time of year. The beautiful purple butterfly weed dominates the garden in the backyard, and is attracting monarchs and other butterflies each day.

A couple bushes by the house have deep pink flowers set against dark green leaves.

The wild irises in the west pasture just started to bloom the last week of May. The horses don't touch them, so they stand out amongst the neatly trimmed grass the horses have eaten.

The eagle seems oddly out of place with a basket of flowers. It needs a bit of explanation: this month I have seen eagles a number of times. One of the most interesting times was seeing an eagle that has made its home along 35W heading towards Minneapolis. For years, two eagles nest there and spend the spring, summer, and fall around the tree.

Whenever my dad and mom would come to visit me at the farm, my dad would mention if he saw the eagle or not. Ever since he pointed out the eagle nest, I look for it (and its family). The girls (especially Olivia) are interested in seeing if the eagle (or eagles) are there as well.

On May 19th, the day I moved my mom from the transitional care unit to the assisted living apartment, I looked out my car window. Not only was the eagle there...but it was in flight. It was carrying a huge branch back to its nest.

I have never seen the eagle that lives there flying nor have I seen it carrying anything. It was one of those times I wish I could have pulled over on the side of the road and watched it.

The other symbol in this month's embroidered quilt square is in one of the flowers. It's the symbol of the Unitarian Universalist church.

According to the UUA, "The flaming chalice combines two archetypes—a drinking vessel and a flame—and as a religious symbol has different meanings to different beholders.

"Chalices, cups, and flagons can be found worldwide on ancient manuscripts and altars. The chalice used by Jesus at his last Passover seder became the Holy Grail sought by the knights of Wales and England.

"More recently, feminist writer Riane Eisler has used the chalice as a symbol of the 'partnership way' of being in community. Sharing, generosity, sustenance, and love are some of the meanings symbolized by a chalice.

"As a sacrificial fire, flame has been a central symbol for the world's oldest scriptures, the Vedic hymns of India. Today, lights shine on Christmas and Hanukkah, eternal flames stand watch at monuments and tombs, and candles flicker in cathedrals, temples, mosques, and meeting houses. A flame can symbolize witness, sacrifice, testing, courage, and illumination.

"The chalice and the flame were brought together as a Unitarian symbol by an Austrian artist, Hans Deutsch, in 1941. Living in Paris during the 1930s, Deutsch drew critical cartoons of Adolf Hitler. When the Nazis invaded Paris in 1940, he abandoned all he had and fled to the South of France, then to Spain, and finally, with an altered passport, into Portugal.

"There, he met the Reverend Charles Joy, executive director of the Unitarian Service Committee (USC). The Service Committee was new, founded in Boston to assist Eastern Europeans, among them Unitarians as well as Jews, who needed to escape Nazi persecution. From his Lisbon headquarters, Joy oversaw a secret network of couriers and agents.

"Deutsch was most impressed and soon was working for the USC. He later wrote to Joy:

There is something that urges me to tell you... how much I admire your utter self denial [and] readiness to serve, to sacrifice all, your time, your health, your well being, to help, help, help.

"Thus, Hans Deutsch made his lasting contribution to the USC and, as it turned out, to Unitarian Universalism. With pencil and ink he drew a chalice with a flame. It was, Joy wrote his board in Boston,

...a chalice with a flame, the kind of chalice which the Greeks and Romans put on their altars. The holy oil burning in it is a symbol of helpfulness and sacrifice....

"The story of Hans Deutsch reminds us that the symbol of a flaming chalice stood in the beginning for a life of service. When Deutsch designed the flaming chalice, he had never seen a Unitarian or Universalist church or heard a sermon. What he had seen was faith in action—people who were willing to risk all for others in a time of urgent need."

Learning about the meaning behind the flaming chalice was new to me. It's part of a program - a spiritual journey - called Wellspring that I'll be embarking on in September through the UU church. (I went to an introductory meeting in May.)

One of the goals is to learn more about your faith...your beliefs...and what defines you as a person. I thought I'd get an early start this month; and begin reading and learning more about what I value and what motivates me to try to make a difference in this world.

Embroidery Journal Project - April

For this month's embroidery journal project I found a pattern at Sue's Treehouse that reflected the main focus and highlight of the month: Easter. I made some modifications to it to make it more personal, and reflect the happenings of the month.

Starting at the top of the Easter egg, there are four whipped wheels. They stand for my mom and us three children (my sister, brother, and me). This is the first Easter without my Dad there with us.

The next block is done in the chevron stitch. It is purple - one of my favorite colors.

The next section includes dark blue French knots and light blue hearts. I picked blue because that is my mom's favorite color. Sophia, Olivia, and I (represented by the three hearts) did quite a bit together to prepare for the Easter dinner which was on April 8th (thus, eight French knots).

We tried some new things (like the Peep-mobiles which everyone thought turned out great and Jello eggs which the children devoured), and did some things that we normally do each year (like make the lamb-shaped cake, buttermint Jello salad, and banana bread).  

The focus was trying to make it a memorable and positive Easter for my mom who has spent her time in a hospital and then transitional care unit at a nursing home since February 28th to heal a cracked ankle and now deal with her diabetes which needs to be stabilized.

The next section is done in the chevron stitch again. It's green - another one of my favorite colors.

The next section includes three pink rabbits - also a symbol of Easter. In addition to the holiday tie-in, this section also represents a three-day homeschool conference that I attended. For Sophia, Olivia, and I, homeschooling is such an important part of our days. Learning and doing fun activities together is something that I feel so fortunate to be able to do.

The conference was a way to learn some new and innovative methods for teaching as well as get the curriculum and resources I need for next year. I'm very excited about what we will doing next year!

The next section is done in the chevron stitch and is yellow. This is to represent the warm days of early April.

The last section of the egg itself are orange circles. I picked orange because it also represents warmth.

The bow is done in two shades of green. I think of green as representing spring - new life.  The intriguing thing about this spring has been that the frogs in the pond were singing in late-March when it was very warm. They were quiet then, and then began singing again - this time around their normal time of mid- to late-April when they typically emerge from hibernating.

This "double spring" - where the frogs sing twice - is something I've never heard since I've moved here in 1995. To be able to hear them sing again, was truly a gift.

The outline of the bow is done in the chain stitch. The "shaded" parts are done in a darker green in the back stitch.

On the bow are two blue snowflakes. In the middle of the month, after temperatures in the 70s, two mornings reminded me that I live in a state with unpredictable - and quite varying - temperatures. One morning, there was a light covering of snow on the ground. The other morning, there was a layer of frost.

Thankfully, all the blossoms on the fruit trees and flower shoots that had emerged safely made it through the drop in temperature.

In fact, the crabapple tree is covered with beautiful pink blossoms that have stayed on the tree for what seems longer than usual. As a reminder of the beauty and fragrant apple-blossom smell every time I walk by the tree, I outlined the Easter egg in pink.