Large cappuccino mug with brown under glaze detailing.
Mug with clay details from when mug base was cut.
Mug with black under glaze detail.
Porcelain bowl, red and white glaze.An email I received on Friday from the ND health services started out like this, “Our records show that you have not met all the mandatory immunization requirements for the State of
If you do not meet the state requirements, there will be a hold placed on your student account.”
Half way through the email I started laughing so loud that my office mates asked if I was ok. I am one of probably only a handful of students at ND that checks her immunization record yearly for far more immunizations than required by the state of
The email ended, “If you feel you have received this email in error, please email us.”
Yes, I thought I had received the email in error and rapidly shot off a response to that end. However, it seems that they never got notification that I had updated my tetanus immunization three years ago, and needed the documentation. Tetanus vaccines are good for 10 years…unless your wound is a “dirty wound,” at which point it expires after 7 years. Needless to say, I stick by the 7 year requirement and so was 3 years ahead of
Saturday was the coldest day we have had here this summer / early fall; it was also the day of a friend’s wedding. The men put on their multi-layer suits and we women put on our one-layer dresses. They got socks and shoes and we got high heels and exposed toes. And thus the day began.
The bride was stunning, the groom handsome. We celebrated with much food, drink, and dance.
Then we hurried to the car in 40-something degree F, not C, weather with our one-layer dresses seeming to laugh at us as they flapped in the breeze.
Yes, fall is here…
A drum circle is any group of people playing (usually) hand-drums and percussion in a circle. Other instruments and dance can also be incorporated into the drum circle. They are distinct from a drumming group or troupe in that the drum circle is an end in itself rather than preparation for a performance. They can range in size from a handful of players to circles with thousands of participants.
~ Wikipedia
In order to work to complete my ND football experience, one of my girls invited me to the pre-game Friday midnight drum circle. I imagined some of the drummers from the band sitting on one of the quads (think big green lawn) letting the rhythms build into the cool night air. My conscious mind knew that this was wishful thinking, but my subconscious dreamed of an African drum circle building energy through the night.
SR arrived at the steps of the main building at 11:15pm to save us a ‘seat.’ RH and I arrived by 11:35pm to find that SR was, literally, standing on the outside part of the steps of the main building—a cement ledge about a foot wide. People behind her and in front of her, but true to her word, there was space for all three of us to stand after being helped up by a rather large man. By the time that the entire drum line of the ND marching band showed up at midnight, there were probably more than 2,000 people gathered on the steps and the lawn, and ND security had to work to clear a circle for them. What followed was 30 minutes of ND cheers mixed in with drum circle improve. The drum line was a circle; it was a swarming, dancing group of percussionist. The crowd sang, clapped, and made all the motions of the traditional songs; they cheered the drum circle and soloists. Through it all, the energy built, and I could not help but be swept up in the moment with the crowd.
African drum circle? No.
A cultural experience? Yes.
Would I recommend it? Definitely.
Over two years ago I took a quilt design and modified it fairly significantly. Since then I have been working (very much on and off) on the quilt. All the pieces are now appliquéd, and last night I spent the time to iron them and arrange them as the design did not dictate the exact location of each square. Before I pile them in order to be sewn together, I took a picture. Here it is.
In case you are wondering why it has taken me so long to get the squares done, my philosophy on hobbies is that they should not be a burden and drag me down, so I indulge when I feel like it moving from one project to another with at least five going at any one time. They generally, eventually, get done with me having enjoyed myself along the way. Sometimes they are born from an urge, a need, to create. Sometimes they are born as I work through frustration, anger, joy, disappointment, or elation. Some of these hobbies, or ‘creations’, come together fast, and others take much time. Some are not good enough or too personal to share, others are for sharing and for gifting to others. Though I am not an artist, these creations are very much a piece of where I am, so some will be shared here. As for this quilt, I’m sure pictures will appear as it slowly continues to come together.
