My last luncheon

I woke up at 8:15. I glanced at the alarm clock and realized that I was supposed to be at the DHL setting up the quilter's table right about now. So I showered, dressed, skipped breakfast, grabbed my quilts which I got out last night, and headed for post. I arrived around 9. Cathy was there, already set up. I dropped off my bra art, and I took her place so she could shop for fabric. Lynae arrived at 9:30 to take my place and I went to shop. When it was time to check out, I only had won, but he took it. And he gave me a pile of free packets, and let me pick out two more. He even gave me a 3 yard piece of minki. It was 10:30 so I went to the check-in table to see if there were any lunch spots left. She said yes but they only take dollars. I stopped by the quilters table and sold Cathy the minki, but still did not have enough for lunch. As I put my fabric down in the Naja ballroom, Ruth Ann gave me lunch money. So I paid for lunch, and went to the bank for cash to pay Ruth Ann back. Then I ran out to my car to deposit my bags of fabric. The luncheon theme was breast cancer awareness. There was pink in the centerpieces and pink wrapped around the chairs and of course, bra art. They had a speaker who was a breast cancer survivor. She told us her story. It seems more amazing that she survived chemotherapy and radiation. Mary and I cleaned up the quilter's table display. I wrote down the names of the people who signed up. I went home, wanting to stop and sit in the grass somewhere, but I was not dressed for it. I read through my e-mail, deleting much of it. I typed in the new names. I fixed the QOV. (Can you spot the mistake in the picture? ) I washed up a load of fabric, and partially dried it. Chris came home as I was laying it in the bedroom. I proceeded to press it dry one piece at a time while watching TV. By the time I was finished, Michele was home, and the two of them were watching The Last Starfighter. I sat with them 'till it was over. Chris went to bed and I fixed him a sandwich for tomorrow.

Columbus Day - productive

My husband stayed home today and Michele went to college. I spent the morning sewing sashing to the big blocks. Did I mention that when I stacked and cut the 18 inch blocks, there was an extra fabric in there. I realized this morning that it was supposed to be the sashing fabric. And now, instead of having 1/2 a yard, all I have is a fat quarter. Well, I made it work: 1 inch sashing and on the inside only. Chris copied files from my desktop computer to my laptop. Then he went to the bank to deposit money in Michele's account. But he forgot his passport, so I dressed and brought it to the gate. He had picked up my shoes from Mr. Bob. They were too tight, so I walked into Itaewon with him, stopping at the key maker's place. The man could not copy my key, but he sold me a lock with three keys to it. I went to see Mr. Bob and he stretched the shoes so that they were comfortable. Then I caught up with the fruit seller, and got some persimmons. Chris finished at the bank, and caught up with me. We walked back to post, and went through the automatic gate. At least, I did. It would not let Chris through. He had to see the guard. Then we went home. I put my new shoes on and they were back to being too tight. I wore them as I went back to sewing, and they got tighter and tighter, until I had to take them off. Weird. I spent the afternoon creating bra art with scraps of fabric. Chris put pork in the oven. It was not ready by supper time, so he and Michele ate leftovers and went to see "Cowboys and Aliens." I stayed home to watch "Wonderful World" with Matthew Broderick. It was just ok. I finished the QOV that I started last week. Chris plans to go to work tomorrow so I will make a sandwich before I go to bed.

Same service, new location

Now that church starts at 11 instead of 10,
I decided to use the extra time to sew. I finished the blocks that I was working on last night and had breakfast. When Chris was ready, we left for church. The Episcopal service now meets in the hospital chapel. I handed Gene's wife the last batch of communion bread. She mentioned how she had cleared a large space in her freezer for it, and I wondered if I should have made more. The attendance was less than last week, probably owing to it being a holiday weekend. After the service we had refreshments and Gene's birthday cake in another room. I put the word out that Michele needs a roommate and am hopeful a good one can easily be found. Then we went to the PX. Chris bought two shirts, a belt, a laptop for me, and a flat screen TV. He chose a 32 inch. It seemed so small there in the store that I chose a 42 inch. So he bought the 42 inch. It came in a really big box. It would not fit in the trunk, so he and this other guy put it in the back seat. We went to the commissary for groceries and called Michele to meet us in front of the apt building to help unload. I carried up the groceries while she and Chris handled the TV. It had gotten bigger. She and I put away the groceries. Then Chris set up the TV. Looked smaller in the store. After the TV, he set up my laptop. After much usage of language frowned upon in Sunday school, he got it on the internet. Microsoft is still on his spit list. Romaric arrive to play games. I had wanted to go early to the AnC center to finish my quilt, but for some reason was very sleepy. By the time I found the energy to walk through the new gate, and drive to the AnC center, it was 5:15. I 'might' have finished if I hadn't had to outsmart the machine. It was almost 7 and I had one block left. The OS decided that the quilting software had performed an illegal operation and shut it down. I took it as a sign to quit. I unzipped the leaders and put the other quilt back on for Ms. Kim. I went home. The game was still in session. I had a bite of supper and went to trim my blocks from this morning. They became perfect 16 inch squares. That is when I found out that the previous ones were not so perfectly trimmed. It makes sense, 'cause I just got the 20inch square ruler recently. I wonder how I trimmed them years ago. So what I do do about them? I don't want to cut the perfect ones any smaller.
Last night we could hear the fireworks festival in Youido. We have windows facing north and south. But Youido is west. So I tried climbing to the top of the building and craning my head as far out the window as it would go. "Don't look down" was my motto. It was a very uncomfortable position, and not just physically. Many of my nightmares involve standing on the top floor of a tall unsteady building. My weight is enough to tip it over and I wake up as I am falling along with the building. So it was too much like that. I should have visited Ruth Ann. She said she had a great view from her apartment last year.

Can't believe it's finally open

The blocks that I sashed yesterday got trimmed today and sewn together. I auditioned backings and bnidings. When I finally had the complete set (top, backing, batting), I asked Chris to drive me to post. It was after lunch. He and Michele played with the voices all morning. As he got ready to go, I pulled out another set of blocks waiting to be a quilt. There were only six, and they were in a bag with matching fabric so I cut another set. It starts with 18 inch blocks, maybe 18.5. Anyway, I ironed, cut and stacked the blocks. Then he was ready so we went. He dropped me off at my car. I drove to the AnC center. Hardly anyone was there. I heard the staff went to the Fall Festival. So no one bothered me as I made use of the Statler. Since all my blocks are different, I spent quite a bit of time picking out block designs. Especially hard was the folded flower block (upper left corner). Finally decided to just sew an X across it. The first line I sewed by guiding the hopping foot along my finger. But it wasn't straight enough. Then I realized that I could do regulated stitching at a 45 degree angle. That worked fine. Sadly the placed closes at 7. But the man left early, telling me to turn off the lights when I left. I was very tempted to stay later. But I shut down the computer with plans to come back tomorrow and finish. My next puzzler is how to quilt the sunbonnet Sue and Sam blocks. Chris was going to come get me, but the traffic was too congested. He suggested that I walk home, and I suggested that he bring me a jacket. Well, guess what? The new automatic gate was open. So walking home couldn't have been easier. Of course they get it working just before we move. It makes getting to post on nights and weekends as easy as getting there during normal working hours. Chris baked fish for supper. After we ate, I glanced at my e-mail and then returned to my 18 inch blocks. I made five cuts in roughly a star shape. I rearranged the resulting piles, and started sewing the mixed-up pieces back together. I am almost finished but it is time for bed now.

Happy Quilt warehouse

This is a special post just for Happy Quilts. Over the years they have been very generous to me personally and to our group. Yesterday the clerk let me fill a bag with two-yard packets for free when he found out I was moving back to the U.S. When Happy Quilt came to our group meeting in February (or June, can't remember which) , the young man had orders from Mr. Kang, the owner, to let our group select 15 packets for free. We got both baby fabrics and QOV fabrics. It added a great selection to our stash which we have enjoyed ever since. I highly recommend that anyone with an interest in fabric go there.

The warehouse address is 837-1, Jije-dong, Pyeongtaek. Ph: 010-9292-8954. Sales manager is Lee, Yong Seok (happyquilt.lee@g-mail.com)

They also have a shop in Dongdaemun:
B-5215, 5F Dongdaemun Shopping Complex, Seoul
02-2267-8582

Last trip to the warehouse

I awoke slowly, almost like in a daydream. I think it was a pleasant one - until I looked at the alarm clock and saw that it was almost 8 and remembered that we were supposed to meet at the commissary at 8:30. I quickly had breakfast while skimming my e-mail. I called Cathy to tell her not to leave without me, and I needed to pack a lunch: she suggested I bring cheese. So I cut up a package, and rushed out. I could have walked to the commissary but I knew I would be heavily burdened on the way back so I drove. I got there just as Ruth Ann was getting back from buying a snack in the store. Then we left. Those of us sitting in the back traded work histories, which was a pleasant change from discussing what stinks the worst: diesel, pigs, or paper mills. Don't ask. When we got to the warehouse, the choices were overwhelming. The store is not organized by theme or color. So we just had to look at everything. Some of us went into the second warehouse where the big rolls are. When we found stuff, we had to wait in line to have it cut. But there were rows of 2 yard packages as well. It was all fun. We bought fabric for the Christmas exchange. I looked for white-on-white and pastels because I have so many medium value fabrics. I bought yardage of a few extra wide fabrics for backings. When I got to the register, I had two baskets full. The first basket cost 215,000 won. That was most of the money I had. For the second basket, I had to give him American money, but I had just enough. I went out to the car to store the bags and sit. The others had mostly finished. Then RuthAnn came out and wanted me to go back in to see a piece of pink that she thought was a pastel. So I went, it wasn't, but when the clerk heard that it was my last time and I was moving back to the U.S., he handed me a bag and told me to fill it up for free. I wasn't sure I had understood him correctly, but my friends did, and they offered to help me pick some out. It did not take long. It was like a miracle. We thanked him, and took a bunch of group shots (although not with my camera). (I did my happy dance when no one was looking.) Then we headed home. There was lots of traffic so we drove in the HOV lane. When we got to the commissary, the ladies set up a lunch date for Wednesday to say goodbye to me. I returned Julia's call and she wants to go to lunch on Friday at the fish market. I parked in the lot, and carried two very heavy bags to the apt. I drank several glasses of water and had a snack. I laid down for a bit and when I felt rested, I went back for the other two bags of fabric. I was reading e-mail when Chris came home. He put chicken in the oven for supper. He said his going-away luncheon is Friday, and our pack-out date is Tuesday the 18th. He suggested that we pack our suitcases before then and put them in the car. What do I pack? It is mid-fall, so Christmas fabrics? Baby quilt kits? Pillowcase kits?
Michele came home from college. We ate supper while watching the third X-Men movie. But I had already seen it so I did some sewing. I got out some blocks from a block-of-the-month class that I taught maybe 10 years ago. I laid them out on the bed, and chose a sashing. Chris retired with the blocks still on my side. I finished sashing the blocks and soaked my sprouts. This batch is actually sprouting. I think it is because of the fabric rubberbanded to the top to keep out the fruit flies. Some of it will be ready to eat tomorrow.

Our 21st anniversary

Chris woke me by ... and whispering "Happy Anniversary" in my ear. I had forgotten about it in all the stress about being photographed. I got up to clean house. I did not have to be at the South Post Visitor Center until 10:30 so there was time to wash the kitchen floor, and improve the coffee table. I should have worked on the head of the bed. I hadn't figured on him taking pictures in the bedroom. I arrived before 10:30 and watched for him. He arrived right on time. I signed him in, and drove him to the thrift shop. There was a lady from the PAO waiting to shadow the photographer. I shelved books while he took pictures. But when the books were finished, I started on puzzles, and he did not photograph that. He just stayed in the bookroom. The lady was replaced by a man from the PAO and after awhile, he offered to take the photographer back to the gate. But only I could sign him out, so I took him there and then went back to the thrift shop. I finished about 2 and went home, stopping at the commissary for fresh veggies. I got home about 2:20. The PAO man called to offer to sign the photographer in for the sewing class so that if the photographer wanted to leave early, he could. That was fine with me. Because the photographer might come while I was eating lunch, I used a plate and sat at the table instead of the computer. The photographer arrived at 2:30 and I wasn't finished. But he waited until lunch was over, and then he took pictures while I made a batch of communion bread. While it was baking, I juiced up the vegetables and made veggie pops. He did not seem attracted to the idea. I showed him the king-size charm quilt on my bed, and the prizewinning quilt on the wall. He took pictures while I washed up the juicer and mixer. Then he wanted to shoot me sitting on the bed. After that, he took pics of me sewing and ironing. I showed him my fabric stash, and that too was deemed photoworthy. Then he took a few pics of the quilts I had stored. He invited me to pick only a few. Then he had enough. After he left, I checked my e-mail, and ate some of the pineapple that Chris cut up yesterday. Chris mentioned that he was able to get the apartment for 700w/ month. But Michele came home and told me that her 'roommate' got an offer to continue to stay where she was for free. So Michele feels guilty for wanting her roommate to move in and pay rent. The roommate feels guilty for not moving in after they have been apartment-hunting together for so long, so she says she will move in when she gets the money. Then it was time for me to leave. I drove to the SPC and was amazed at the glut of cars everywhere. I had to park out in the armpit of God. I thought it must be some big event at the high school, but it turned out to be a memorial service for a wife (and mother) who died of cancer. My heart skipped a beat when I realized that there were no tables in our room, and the ladies next door said they'd been taken downstairs for the teacher's training. Luckily one of them spotted some tables in the fellowship hall, behind the spread waiting for the memorial attenders. I took them and set them up in our room. I started bringing in machines, cutting mats, rulers, etc. Then the PAO man and the photographer arrived. They helped carry in machines and put out chairs. As the ladies came in for class, I inspected the fabric they brought. Just nosy I guess. I gave out the pressing instructions first so those who had arrived could get started and be done before the late attendees came. But for some reason it took a long time for them to do that. When the first person finished, I gave out the cutting instructions. But by then the photographer had left. I relaxed and enjoyed seeing what color combinations came up. People started leaving early for some reason and we were packed before 8:30. I stood around to talk for a bit and then hiked to my car. I drove to our parking lot, and got into Chris' car. There on the seat was an anniversary card. He remembered twice in one day! The sentiment was so sweet that I almost couldn't drive home. When I got home, I hugged him and then had some supper. I finished an audio interview that I had started earlier in the day. Chris doesn't need a sandwich so I just need to soak my sprouts and go to bed.