I think I have a cotton problem

While Chris and Michele were involved in an on-line role-playing game, I went into my sewing room where I put another round of border strips on my purple quilt top. I also cut up a pile of scraps into small sections suitable for making another rug. As I was doing that I was able to watch episodes of Simply Quilts that Cathy lent me. After lunch I showered and walked onto post, to the thrift store. I left something there for Anne Marie and gave Maryanne five pennies. Then I walked to the high school where they were having a bazaar. There were many interesting things there, but I was more interested in the fabric table. I got 56 yards and he gave me 8 more for free. Luckily our car was parked at the DHL from last night. I trudged under my two leavy bags of fabric to the car and drove home. I called Chris to come help me carry them upstairs, which he did. I clipped all the corners and made them into two loads of wash - a light and a dark. As I sat at my computer doing e-mail and such, I had a timer around my neck so I could rescue the fabrics from the dryer early. Chris made chicken and chorizo with rice and broccoli for dinner. While on the internet I read more about how the effects of ingredients in the vaccines haven't been properly tested. I am so glad I have the choice not to get the vaccine.

Michele - German fashion model

As it was Friday I tried to stay home. I put borders on one of my purple quilts and watched a Fons and Porter DVD someone lent me. I also watched a DVD titled "The Future of Food". Mostly it was about the history of genetically modified crops and the companies that make them. Kinda made you want to grow your own food because they aren't labeled in the supermarket. On the other hand, the seeds you buy might be genetically modified anyway. G M crops cross-pollinate with regular crops, contaminating them. Then the company, Montesanto, sues the farmers for having G M plants on their farms. (Montesanto owns the patent) I was terribly upset. Then I took a shower and met Chris at the gate. We drove to the DHL to get won and take a taxi to Yonsei. The Korean cab driver spoke English with a French accent. He is an anthropologist, caring for his elderly mother until he can go back to Madagascar to live with his family. He drove us to New Millenium Hall. We got there early and Michele told us to come back later. So we walked around each floor of the building until 5:45. Then we went back to the auditorium to sit. First there was a talent contest. All were good. Then there was a fashion show, where college students dressed in costumes from many different countries. Michele was asked to represent Germany because she was the only blonde. It went long, and then we stood around talking to her professors and friends. So although we had planned to go out to eat afterwards, we just went home. Well, we walked across campus, down to a department store, through the basement into the subway, then up and out and around the corner to a bus stop. And the bus was right there so we got on. It was an uneventful ride. Then we walked home from there. Michele seemed surprised that after all that walking, Chris and I took the stairs up to our apartment. We had some nibbles then went to bed.

Patti's husband retires

Usually I go to the thrift shop on Thursdays but I was invited to a retirement luncheon for a friend's husband. There was a seating chart indicating table 10 for me. Cathy was also seated there so I had someone to talk to. I also talked to the 10 year old lady sitting next to me. Hard to believe she was only 19. Part of the ceremony was watching two videos by their kids (grown) saying what a great father he is. Then, the doors opened and the kids walked in! It was a huge surprize. Then we lined up for the receiving line and buffet. He gave each of us a retirement coin. Then we filled our plates. I was enormously relieved to see healthy selections on the buffet. I passed up on the retirement cake however. (It isn't a great pic, but I was using telephoto and any motion is exaggerated)
Then I stopped by the thrift shop long enough to say 'hi' and collect some money owed me by another volunteer. I went home to work on my lesson for tonight, but since Toniette mentioned that she would be bringing charm squares, I spent most of my time cutting and organizing packs of them. Then I decided that it would be better to just bring a stack and let people pick what they didn't have. I spent my last few minutes cutting 7 1/2 inch squares of batting for the potholders. When Chris got home, I packed my bag with fabrics and batting and walked to post where I picked up the car and drove to the South Post Chapel (SPC). I set up the room. Toniette offered to make copies of the directions for the class projects. I showed them how to make tissue covers, checkbook covers, coasters and potholders using a quick fold and sew technique. It went over very well. Many were thrilled to have finished projects to take home.
I drove home afterwards, tired. But when I saw wrinkled fabric lying on the couch I was inspired to iron it. However Chris wanted to go to bed early, so I went with him.

Acres of kimchi

I was excited this morning to participate in a kimchi-making event to provide kimchi for the homeless and elderly. Someone mentioned that kimchi is made in one season for the rest of the year. I could believe that we were making a year's worth of kimchi. Lency and her son met me at my gate and drove to Gate 19, which is home for her. We took the subway to SookMyung station. From there we walked to the old school grounds. There were long rows of tables set up, with kimchi juice from yesterday (2 day event). First we were given handsanitizer, then facemasks. Our group handed out orange aprons so we could identify each other. We were also given a plastic tunic, knitted gloves, rubber gloves, and a shower cap. You'd have thought there was a biohazard. Wearing a jacket, I thought we'd soon be over heated, but that didn't happen until it was almost lunch time. There was a man-made trough where one group washed cabbages. There was another table where some men were slicing the large radishes. Then there were the long rows of tables where the cabbages were stuffed, and where the 'stuffing' was made. We were at the stuffing table. First a bag of grated radish was dumped at the end of the table. Someone added spring onions, and salt. They pushed it along to where spices and kale was added. We mixed and mixed and passed it along to the next group, who added the red shrimp sauce. After thorough mixing, it was scooped from the end of the table and given to a cabbage table. They slid the mixture between leaves of the cabbages and wrapped them up. These were placed boxes and sealed. It was messy work! After that we were given sandwiches and we left. Lency went home, but I went out in search of a printer cartridge. My favorite office store did not have it, so I went to E-Mart. They told me to go to 4th floor of I-Park (in the same building). So I did, but that was cameras. I went up to the 5th floor to find printer stuff. The Dell cartridge no one had, but someone did have the Canon ones, so I bought a color and a b/w. Paid cash, but wasn't given a receipt or a bag. I went back to E-Mart, but this time to the grocery section. I bought kimchi and some snacks. I had the cartridges in the basket with my groceries and didn't see her scan them. A little later I sat down to look at my receipt because it seemed high. Well, she had charged me for the ink. How in the world it happened I don't know because they don't sell ink. But I identified it by the price on the Korean receipt. So I had to go back and try to explain. they thought I wanted to return it. They called in someone with a little English. Finally they understood and refunded the money. I walked to base and caught the bus. Chris was home because it is Veteran's Day. I soaked my clothes and I did my e-mail, then went into my sewing room. I finished a Dresden plate, and put green triangles in one of the purple tops.

All finished

This morning I went to the thrift shop. Someone had donated a ton of little itty bitty books. They wouldn't sell at the normal price so I had to bag them in sets. So much fun. But there was nothing else to do, no DVD's or videos or CD's. At 2 I left to meet Chris at the DHL. We paid for plane tickets to Hongkong, and hotel. Then I walked to the Px to return some bacteria. It was windy and I wished I had worn a jacket. Turns out the bacteria was ok after all and I could have saved myself the trip. So I took the postrun bus to my gate and walked home. I had cut the binding for my quilt before I left this morning. So all Ih ad to do was join the pieces, and sew them on. While listening to interviews on the internet, I handstitched the binding down. Now my quilt is finished and I am so pleased!

I could have been sewing!

This is Monday, quilting day. I packed up everything I could think of that I might need: The quilt I did Saturday, 2 purple tops, the coordinating fabrics for those tops, nuts for lunch, pictures and examples of things we could do for future classes.
Well, Pam was right on time picking me up, but I was late. We drove to the church and only one person was there. I showed off my quilt and tops. They chose the green and the gold as setting triangles. Then we set up shop and sewed until lunch. Bethany, a 12 year old, came and she rotary cut batting all morning. Cut quite a pile all by herself! Then we broke for lunch. Several people left, including Bethany. We the few stayed to finish a few baby quilts. I wanted to go home, but then Cathy gave me her passcode so I could get into her apartment while she took her son to the DR. I looked at Ann Bright quilting designs on her computer. She wanted several of us to pick out some designs to request money for (for use on the Statler). I had several dozen on my list before she came home. Then Annette came over with an opinion question. After she left, we sent to the Arts and Crafts center to talk to the lady there. We wanted to hang the Yongsan Quilters quilt (which is now completely finished) but it needed a sleeve so Cathy took it back home. She dropped me off at Chris' office since it was almost 5. But Chris was so busy he didn't leave until 6! I could have walked home! But his coworkers got to see my quilt and they liked it immensely, which was gratifying. After leftover cabbage soup for supper, I made the block of the month, which is a Dresden plate. One of the quilters had made it already and hers was too large for the background. So I tried it and she was right! The easiest solution was to re-sew it with a 3/8 inch seam allowance.

Twin quilt top

We actually went to church this morning. It was raining. I thought it might be the least bit chilly so I brought my purple hand-dyed scarf. But then took it off at the church because it might not be colorfast in the rain. We had a moment of silence for the victims at Fort Hood. After church we had fruit and kimchi as usual. Chris and I stopped by the PX to get 220 floursecent lightbulbs and a printer cartridge. No luck there, but we did get a DVD and a guide to Hongkong (because he is taking me there for my birthday). We stopped by the Arts and Crafts center to get another shelf cut. I thought I could redistribute the PVC I have to support another shelf. Then we went to the commissary for food. We got a huge jar of pickles. I also wanted wasabe ('cause the Japanese eat it to avoid getting parasites), but they don't carry it anymore. I looked up probiotics on the internet. Some bacteria are very efficient at helping you break down your food and store it as fat. People who are obese have more of it and people who are lean have less of it. It feeds on sugar and processed carbohydrates, so if you eat less of that, you grow fewer efficient bacteria. Probiotics are a way to increase the inefficient bacteria. But you can also eat fermented foods like natto (in Japan), kimchi (in Korea) or sauerkraut.
A few days ago (October 31) I posted a pic of a purple on-point quilt top. Well, I had some purple left over so I made another one using a different coordinating fabric.
While I was doing that, Chris made cabbage soup and Michele did the laundery.