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2010 was a big year in quilting for me. In 2009, I received a Rasmuson Project Award to travel to Ohio and study with Nancy Crow for three weeks. Thank you Rasmuson Foundation for supporting and believing in Alaskan artists. I have written about my adventures studying with Nancy Crow many times. If you would […]

via The Year in Quilts 2010 — Maria Shell

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Challenge 9 About Gentleman

This challenge comes from a small writing group.  We have a series of questions that we answer and share.  The goal is to answer at least one per week.

Question:

Describe what the term “gentleman” means to you.

My thoughts on how a gentleman behaves, in no particular order:

1. Opens a door.
2. Asks if he can help you.
3. Looks you in the eye when talking to you.
4. Offers to pay for something and remains gracious when you say no.
5. Walks on the curb side as you are walking together on a sidewalk.
6. Lets you win a game, occasionally.
7. Offers you the remote.
8. Does not think his is the only opinion that matters.
9. Honest at all times.
10. Respects all women.
11. Offers to carry your whatever.
12. Does not talk over you in conversation.
13. Really listens to what you say.
14. Neat and clean.
15. Not afraid to show emotion.
16. Sense of humor.
17. Has both a soft and a hard side.
18. Truly cares about others.
19. He can cook a full meal.
20. Asks for help when he needs it.
21. Honorable, humble and helpful.
22. Supports you, actively.
23. Practice self-control.
24. Open minded.
25. Patient and generous.

I must admit,  I had some help on this.  We all have our own opinion on what a gentleman or gentlewoman means.  I did ask several friends what they thought and included their answers in with mine.  Some said it all depends on how he treats his mother or the wait person or a dog.  All good and valid points, but I was really going for specifics that perhaps could be defined.

While I was looking for 10 things that define a gentleman, we came up with 25.  How many did I miss, what would you add to this list?

 

Challenge – 8

This challenge comes from a small writing group.  We have a large series of random questions that we answer and share.  The goal is to answer at least one per week.

Question:

Write 10 thoughts that could be stuffed inside Fortune Cookies for perfect strangers to read.

Fortune Cookie Thoughts

1. This is a special month for you.
2. A song in your heart will keep you awake all night.
3. You will meet an exceptional person today.
4. A spoiled child will always stay at home.
5. The path you are traveling will change dramatically.
6. Always bring your own rainbow and snacks.
7. Your home is a place of serenity.
8. You must find a balance between work and play.
9. Any pet will bring joy into your life.
10. Don’t forget to eat dessert first/
11. Be very careful of your secret wishes.
12. Your ancestors approve of your current situation.
13. Someone from your distant past will come back into your life.
14. The next book you read will follow your life exactly.
15. Make sure you get your exercise in tomorrow

 

Now for a little fun.  In case you didn’t know, Fortune Cookies, like Chop Suey are American inventions.  If there is no fortune in your cookie something good will happen to you soon. (Like the Fortune Cookie Fairy owes you one????)

Don’t forget to add the words “in bed” at the end of reading your fortune cookie aloud to those you are dining with.  As you take your cookie make sure you don’t touch the others.  That would cause them to have bad luck.

It is possible to order special fortunes to be placed inside cookies if you are celebrating a special event or having a party. There is also fortune cookie jewelry and fortune cookie fabric to create your own items. Finally a video on You Tube on how to make your own cookie out of felt or videos on how to make your own actual cookie.  OK, OK this is way more information than anyone ever needed about these fun little cookies.  I will stop now.

Holiday Breakfast

Do you have a small or elderly person in your house who does not always eat as well as they should.  I just thought of an easy way to make breakfast festive.  This can be used for all kinds of holidays, all year long.

A healthy bowl of oatmeal or other warm cereal with fruit, in my book is delicious, but how to convince a 5 year old.  A simple sprinkle of just a tiny bit of colored sugar.  And I mean tiny, this had about 20 red and 20 green sprinkles. (Maybe 30.)

Suddenly, I see little red hearts near Valentine’s Day.  Then pastel flowers and sugar as we are approaching Easter.  I would probably only do a small amount of the black sugars near Halloween.  This could be a good thing gone bad.

On this snowy day here, what a fun treat to start my day.  Have a good one.

Challenge #6

This is based on a small group challenge, to write something based on a series of questions and to try and complete one per week.  I did not get anything posted for a little while, with a grandson back in town visiting and Thanksgiving I was pulled in different directions and got no writing done.  Let’s hope I stay on track until the next holiday.

Question

Is there a childhood activity or tradition associated with a holiday that you still practice.  If not, why not and how has it changed over the years.

My first thought for this has to be something about Christmas.  We had lots of traditional things we did and I have created some new traditions for my children.  So, trying to pick just one and a grandchild said let’s go cut down a tree this year.  OK this is the tradition to talk about.

Cutting Down A Tree

When I was a very young child we had live trees every year but never went out as a family to cut one down, I have no idea when tree farms came about to do this.  At about age 7 or 8 my father decided to sell live trees.  He rented a store for the month of December and had a truckload delivered and his business was open.  All of my siblings and  I worked at something in the store.  This went on for several years and I always looked forward to being a part of the activity.  Eventually my parents purchased a farm that was planted with trees and the trees came from our own farm.

As a mom we lived near a tree farm that was selling trees that you cut down as a fund raiser for  a local home for disabled adults.  So when I wasn’t visiting my parents and bringing back a tree, we would go and cut down a tree. This was a hay ride out into the fields to find the perfect tree and we were the lumberjacks to cut it down, then catch a ride back to the barn.

At the barn they helped tie the tree to our car and we went inside for some hot chocolate and cookies.  Then home to set up the tree.

Living alone for a number of years I switched to buying one from the Boy Scouts or using an artificial tree or some years no tree at all.  So the suggestion surprised me and was  pretty well talked down by all around.  Due to allergies or the high cost of a tree or how cold it would be outside or the amount of time involved in the project.

So, I came up with an alternative.  Let’s go to the tree farm, dressed for the weather, and find the perfect tree.  Rather than cutting it down, let’s just put a pretty ribbon on the tree and leave it for the next family.  Next into the barn to buy some hot chocolate and cookies and give a donation to the organization and not cut down a tree.  We get to have the fun experience and memories without setting any ones allergies off.

Wishing you an early Happy Christmas.