Cateechee!

There are a number of shawl
dances(for ladies) - this one is a
butterfly dance. 

That's where we were this afternoon - Ninety Six, South Carolina, for the Cateechee Fest.  If you weren't there, you missed a good time!

Isn't she graceful! 

Her stamina was amazing!

Dancers and talkers from the reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina, demonstrated some of their dances, told stories, and stayed on their feet despite the broiling hot temperatures.  It was about 95F by mid-afternoon, and despite a pretty steady breeze, the humidity kept everyone from being comfortable.  I stayed in the shade as much as possible, but forgot to bring a camp chair, so I had to stand or find a spot on one of the picnic tables that dot the city park.

Lots of years between 1920 and 1940 were represented.

There was also an exhibit of antique automobiles, which still work - I watched some drive off towards the end of the day.  The local rescue farm brought a couple of horses and donkeys they've nursed back to health from malnourishment and ill-treatment, but I didn't get a picture of them (darn it).

There was a canopy with a table displaying some of the Cherokee beadwork, but the dancers were between it and me, so I didn't get a close look.

Wonderful reminders of bygone days!

When we got back to Greenwood, we stopped at a local place, Little Pigs, and got a sandwich (for me) and a hash plate (for David) and cooled off in the excellent air conditioning.

I'll pop in a few Cateechee Fest pictures for your viewing pleasure, then I'm going to hit the shower!

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On!

...in some places!  Here in the upstate of South Carolina, most of us noticed the tremors at about 2:00 this afternoon (EDT).  My chair, which is springy, bounced around with me in it - my monitor jiggled - and the ice cubes in my water glass danced!  It only lasted a few minutes, but it was such a strange sensation!

After I felt pretty certain the tremor was over, I ventured across the hall to ask our IT guy if he'd noticed anything - and he had!  We went down the hall to see if anyone else had noticed, and everyone in the office had noticed the shaking.  Most thought they might be imagining it and decided not to mention it (just in case they actually had imagined it, so nobody would think they were crazy).

We're all fine here, and I'm getting back to work on my entries for the SC State Fair.  The deadline is getting closer...and closer...yikes!

Sew, What's New!

Today I have learned something important: I still remember how to sew!  Enticed by two (count 'em, not one but two) tutorials online on How to Make A Dorset (or Origami) Bag, I went to the local chain sewing store (Hancock Fabrics, if you're interested) and purchased a small, portable sewing machine.  It's a Janome, which I'd never heard of before reading the sale ad that came in the paper a few days ago.  It was a nice sale, so with the money I saved, I invested in two remnants and some thread.

Observation:  I used to sew nearly every item of clothing I wore, and could save a lot of money.  What I just paid for remnants used to pay for fabric cut off the bolt!  And thread...well, let's just say a spool of thread no longer costs just a quarter.  You can still pay for it in quarters, but you'll need a bunch of 'em.

Frightening thought!

We brought it home, and I read the box.  Should I be alarmed at this note on the side?  I mean, are we talking literally GROWING with me?  Will this cute little portable one day be the size of a Volkswagen?  Does it have a serious doughnut habit or are cookies its "fattenator" of choice?  Or.... does "grow" refer to picking up my bad habits?  Will it begin to accumulate accessories to the point that it needs its own house to live in, and is eventually featured on Hoarders?

Moving on...here are the remnants and thread.  The berry print is just a fraction over 1/2 yard, and the yellow is about one yard.  Both tutorials stressed making sure the two fabrics were exactly square; I remember having to clip-and-tear back in high school, so I did.  Amazing!  It still works!  (d-u-u-u-h-h-h-h-h....)

Observation:  there are times when having a room in the house dedicated to sewing and crafts would be very helpful.  This is one of those times.  Lacking a flat surface on which to press the fabric (so it wouldn't have helped to locate the iron anyway), I finger-pressed the seams. 

I like this little machine!  I went through the manual so I'd know where everything is located and how to wind the bobbin and how to get the machine threaded, and practiced sewing straight and zig-zag stitches on an old shirt of David's.  I took my time when I started sewing the bag pieces, and I think it came out pretty well for a first try.  Please don't examine it too closely as I know it has multitudes of mistakes!  I need to get something for a drawstring (or make one, but that doesn't really hold any appeal for me) to say it's completely finished.

Let's see, what shall I sew next??

Captain Klutz Strikes Again!

Or...Gee, I'm So Glad I Mopped the Bathroom Floor Last Night!

At least when they go from
purple to technicolor,
they'll soon fade

Yep, one minute I was walking across the hall to the bathroom -- and the next, I was in free fall, heading for the ceramic tile floor!  I landed mostly on my left side and have the bruises to show that it was not a soft landing.  Nothing is broken, other than a small plastic organizer box that I demolished on my way down - why it was in the floor I don't know, but it did break my fall, so I'm just as glad it was there.  I'll take bruises instead of a broken hip any day of the week and twice on Sunday!!

The biggest bruise - not in a good
place (if there ever is a good place
for a bruise to form)

I'm still sore, but don't have to take pain meds now; I can drive again with no problems; and it's back to work tomorrow morning.  I've rested all weekend and I think it's really helped.  I'm ready to get back to my normal routine, though, including tatting!

Other than that, things have been pretty quiet.  It's too hot to do anything outdoors.

I can't believe this one just below
my knee is already greenish!

Oh, and about the pictures -- I didn't think you really wanted to look at my bruises!  The butterfly is one I tatted several years ago; the mini doily is, I believe, one of Karey Solomon's; and the two-color heart is one I designed and taught at Palmetto Tat Days for 2008.