As I have been working on my quilt I have also been enjoying an audiobook entitled The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.  This audiobook was preformed by LeVar Burton with historical recordings of Dr. King.

This was an inspiring and interesting experience over eight CDs.  It impressed me how far we have come in the arena of human rights in the United States in my lifetime and reminded me of how far we have yet to go.

Beyond the obvious, I was struck how a man with limited primary education (due to segregation) was able to go on to college and graduate school and achieve a level of knowledge of world history and literary prowess that few Americans today achieve or even desire to achieve.  In his public addresses, Dr. King never spoke down to his audience, rather it seems that he was able to lift his listeners up in a way seldom heard today.

I encourage you to download, purchase or borrow a copy of this from your local library.

May it inspire and encourage you as well.

Teri Leigh

This morning, a dear friend of mine posted the following challenge on Facebook:

“Years ago a friend of mine challenged me to give the new year a ‘one word theme or a short phrase’. He said, ‘pick one word or a short phrase and apply that to everything you do for the entire year’…….So, every year I pick a new word or phrase…This year, I would like to pass this challenge along to you. What “one word” or “short phrase” are you going to apply to everything you do this year?”

The very first word that came to my mind was “Creativity”.

With this, I have decided that every day in 2012, I will have some activity in the creative realm.  I believe this conscious effort will create more joy.  I know some days will be easier than others.  A few weeks back, I watched a show on PBS about a family of artists.  The husband said that for many years he has gone to work in his studio every day.  Some days he really does not want to go in there as he feels he has no creative ideas.  On those days, he sharpens pencils.  He said that when you sharpen enough pencils, you get an idea.

I will keep you apprised as the year progresses on my creative progress.

This and I would like to learn Tai Chi.

Happy New Year!

Teri Leigh

I have been sitting in front of this computer all day long.  Not by choice really.  A while back I registered a couple of new domain names for Michael & I and thought they would be super simple to get set up.  I don’t remember gladewinds being all that difficult.  I even took advantage to a super sale for hosting the day after Thanksgiving that should make the whole adventure barely worth a mention.  Sometimes it is better to walk away for another day….  I decided to simply update gladewinds a bit.  It is no longer a business site – turned into a personal site a year and a half ago or so.

The first part I updated was my resume page.  I have been laid off since the 18th of November.  Not that I have necessarily minded the break, mind you.  I knew Smiling Sun is for the most part a seasonal business and I will be recalled at some point in the Spring.  In any event, I am on the lookout for full-time, year-round permanent employment, and if I am not asking for too much in this recession, perhaps some medical benefits and paid holidays.  You can see on my resume page that I have a lot of skills to offer and am looking for a nice environment that I can call my work home for the next 25 years or so.  Your consideration/referrals are appreciated.

Michael has been kept busy over at Maschino’s.  He is in the showroom sometimes, sometimes he is working with a contractor on a construction site, and sometimes he is out servicing an existing fireplace.  Nice folks over at Maschino’s.  If you have a need, give Michael a call.

What have I been up to with this spare time?  Fighting a website today (grrr).  Working on a new quilt.  Funny, we have been in this house for a year and a half and this is the first quilt I have started here.  I have worked on my 20 year hand pieced quilt in fits and starts (thus why it will take me 20 years). 

This is one of the blocks.  It is a pattern from Buggy Barn called “Blossom”.

I am using a fabric collection from Moda named “Whimsy” that I won on Facebook.

Here is a picture of the fabrics in the collection.

I plan for this quilt to go on the bed in the little guest room.  The orange is the exact orange of the accent paint in the room and the yellow is the exact yellow of the other walls.

While I have been working on this quilt, I have been enjoying a terrific book on tape The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. read by LeVar Burton with excerpts from the historical record.  Truly a work to be savored and reflected.

We have also been busy with Missouri Master Naturalist, Springfield Plateau chapter.  I will write about that another day.

Michael just arrived home from work.  More later, with your indulgence.

Teri Leigh

Our House in the Snow

We are so very fortunate in this “Blizzard 2011″!

Here in Springfield, MO we received freezing rain followed by sleet that left 1/10″ of ice then 10″ of snow.

What makes us very happy is that we retained power throughout.  We are snug as a bug in a rug.

We have not attempted to dig out the driveway or anything like that yet.  The high temperature today is to be 12 degrees with a below zero wind chill.  The roads are still poor, most businesses are closed and we have all we need here.

Mainly, we simply wanted to share that all is well here and our house is pretty in the snow.  Trust you are also well and happy!

Thanks for the calls, e-mails & facebook posts wondering what we have been up to this summer into fall.

We have been working toward sustainability in our own way.

We moved from Nixa into an 81 year old home in Springfield in April.

Isn’t it a beauty!  We are really excited about this next chapter as it lends itself to our growing sustainability!

Needless to say, this old house needs some care and feeding, so that is what we have been up to all summer and seemingly for the rest of our lives.  This is not a statement of complaint, rather a statement of opportunity!

Over time, we will post the before and afters as we restore and regain this home’s sustainable nature.

Here is tip #1.  Friends do not let friends plant ivy on a stone house!  See the ivy overtaking the chimney in the picture?  This took Teri Leigh 4 days to kill at the base and remove up the first 5 feet.  Once the ivy was cut down to the ground – it had two base stems 4″ in diameter each – Teri Leigh poured five pounds of pure salt on the roots to get rid of it!