tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79005078640273017932012-02-17T03:58:05.246+02:00An American Quilter's adventure -- living in South Africa!!!Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.comBlogger1391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-35243921013990077362012-01-26T21:10:00.001+02:002012-01-26T21:10:08.789+02:00

Well it's now January... and things here in South Africa are getting back to normal. South Africa takes the Summer Holiday (which also includes Christmas) very seriously, and very little gets done from about Dec 15th through Jan 15. Several  others on the Internet have indicated that they wanted to be part of the Postcard swap with the South African Quilters, if you are one of them… then

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-39357262377969893052012-01-18T20:38:00.001+02:002012-01-18T20:38:38.910+02:00

I have been a little neglectful…. to the blog…. We are now past the middle of January. I am back on my feet…. my back thing was a muscle spasm, not a pull or a strain. Is that good news or bad news… we shall see. I still feel a little warning, once in a while, but I think its something that comes with age! This last weekend we went to a hunting lodge. The DH has taken up Bow Hunting in this last

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-26975727603142858452011-12-31T18:30:00.001+02:002011-12-31T18:30:14.632+02:00

That would be me… I am immobile…. resting…. and healing. On Monday or Tuesday I was tossing some toys for the dogs (at least that is what I think was the cause) and inadvertently, pulled, strained or tore a muscle in my back. When I went to work on Wednesday…. things progressed rapidly downhill. By midafternoon, I knew something was wrong… but wrongly thinking I would work through it. When I

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-41305056228637447162011-12-24T19:09:00.001+02:002011-12-24T19:09:17.368+02:00

It’s hard to believe but Christmas is here again. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!!! Down here in South Africa, it doesn’t look or feel like Christmas!!!! Up until today it was sunny, with some big clouds floating and occasionally stacking up for a bit to produce a quick thunderstorm. But today, on Christmas Eve day, we have a dull gray sky that is spitting out a misty rain. The

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-33804508835705432692011-12-14T21:05:00.001+02:002011-12-14T21:05:14.521+02:00

We’ve been home for a little more than a week now. Fortunately things smoothed out as the week came to a close. The generator is installed and the grass is repairing itself. We will probably never need it, the generator, but it’s here just in case. I spent a little time in the sewing room. I found a cute purse pattern… well it looked cute on the front of the pattern. I was looking for something

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-74807103109282095792011-12-08T20:23:00.001+02:002011-12-08T20:23:56.648+02:00

I’m home!!! There is so much to tell that I scarcely know where to begin…. Posting a blog from a tablet or any device with a virtual keyboard is NOT fun. As portable as the tablet was, it does have it’s limitations, so I found it less than optimum for posting to the blog. While the tablet has 2 cameras, they are not really built for taking pictures… I did snap a few on the way home and post them

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-70979862975603288142011-11-16T15:07:00.001+02:002011-11-16T15:07:20.022+02:00

I have been quiet the last week or so because I was busy. Busy packing for a trip home. So no pictures to go with this post. I'll have to work on figuring out getting some pictures .... We arrived late yesterday, after a long long long 34 total hours of travel!!!! Some might think that sleeping in a bed would be the best thing after all those hours, but no we both agree hat the hot shower was

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-48075672494656778702011-11-01T20:17:00.001+02:002011-11-06T19:47:45.576+02:00

I always intend to be a part of this… The Bloggers Quilt Festival, but never get around to doing the post… something comes up or I don’t have a picture of the quilt… or… well I just procrastinate right past the deadline… and I almost did it again. (edit- there are over 500 entries in the BQF, and as much as I would like to visit each and everyone and comment on them.... there just isn't enought

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-23982528833116171552011-10-26T20:44:00.001+02:002011-11-06T19:49:41.194+02:00

Last night the local small group of South African Quilters, the Kwetterkwilters, met. I was there about a month ago, sharing some of the items I have collected and traded made with Peltex/Timtex/Fast2Fuse….  Postcards, Twinchies and 4x4’s. (I did a post about it here). I gave each of the ladies a 4” x 6” piece of Peltex, 2 sided fusible to make something… and they chose to make a postcard. We all

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-53061452650195176762011-10-25T07:01:00.001+02:002011-10-26T06:27:49.760+02:00

It is summer here! Daytime Temperatures are reaching the 90’s. Last weekend I went on a short drive looking for one of the flowering trees. I have been seeing this tree, in the distance and from the car …. never really close enough to see the yellow flowers. I didn’t notice it last year…. but then again, I was being a ‘very good driver’ and keeping my eyes and mind focused on driving on the ‘

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-7800761507015695412011-10-15T19:58:00.001+02:002011-10-15T19:58:58.445+02:00

After I loaded the last Kruger update… I remembered that I didn’t finish with the birds or some of the flowers!!! I also forgot the elephants…. There aren’t too many places where you are allowed to get our of your car in the park, but there is a bridge over the Olifants River where you can get out. I make it a point to always get out and see what is going on in and around the river. Today there

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-41531786564529364202011-10-14T06:37:00.001+02:002011-10-14T06:37:06.388+02:00

One of the most amazing places to visit in South Africa is Kruger National Park. It is huge, it is quiet and it is AMAZING! All you can hear is bird calls and insects… occasionally the sounds of animals, the snort of warning from an Impala buck, an elephant trumpet, or the screech or bark from a monkey. We went back to the park. We were there nearly a year ago, and again in March. Neither one of

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-50921350823991682482011-10-11T20:09:00.001+02:002011-10-11T20:09:32.542+02:00

A few weeks ago; ok maybe a bit longer than that, well now it seems like ages ago… I stopped by IHAN (I Have a Notion) blog, -I have a link on the side bar-… and Kelly was previewing/talking about the NEW book by Susan Brubaker Knapp- POINT CLICK QUILT. A book I would really like to own and everyone stopping by had a chance to win a copy by leaving a comment. So I left a comment and was very

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-18946951767710057772011-10-02T20:10:00.001+02:002011-10-02T20:10:13.132+02:00

After being without Broadband for 3 weeks we are back up!!! Its not that we didn’t have Internet. We, did. It was on an aircard, where you use the wireless phone infrastructure to get online, but it is expensive and in the day and age of graphics…. all pages are slow to load and graphics eat up kilobytes…. which turn into Megabytes, which eat up available online time!!! we paid $75 for 3 weeks of

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-10873227071583956822011-09-28T06:49:00.001+02:002011-09-28T06:49:40.202+02:00

First my hand injury is better, the stitches are out. I will have a small scar, but nothing that will really bother me…. I figure I’m lucky its not much worse. I think I just missed the nerve that runs up the thumb, at lease every time I saw a physician, they would ask me about the nerve. Second we are without broadband internet again. It’s been more than 2 weeks, and who knows how much longer.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-54703247298123345132011-09-22T19:57:00.001+02:002011-09-22T19:57:28.716+02:00

I spent last Friday with a good friend and her husband learning about a beautiful South African building and landmark. Susara has been a wonderful friend here in South Africa. I met her last year when she presented herself at my door, because another friend of hers (now also mine!) and  president of the Pretoria Jacaranda Quilters that I  had been corresponding with mentioned to her that I had

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-68780019884978432152011-09-04T09:14:00.001+02:002011-09-04T09:14:08.896+02:00

It’s amazing how debilitating a hand injury can be. I have  had to be careful to keep my hand clean and not pull on the stitches. …. Which means… no slopping through the dishes in the sink, cooking takes a bit more precision, and sewing has been pretty much a non-starter.  Although I did do the dishes and I even made some attempts at cooking for one. Good thing most of the time I just wanted to

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-27823073688128861462011-08-27T11:00:00.001+02:002011-08-27T11:00:30.402+02:00

We are nearly at the the end of August. Where did the month go? I mean really, one minute we were looking at the end of July and now the end of August. I have been thinking a lot about ‘this time last year’ and how to mark the differences or note the changes.  No solutions yet…. still thinking. DH is gone again, and has been for 2 weeks. Maybe home next week or the week after… no firm date as

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-26197533495271626072011-08-17T06:27:00.001+02:002011-08-17T06:27:23.584+02:00

You know all that meat that I posted about??? It’s history. The freezer was bad and was cycling…. So on Saturday we had to toss 200 pounds of meat into the garbage. In addition, we had to clean the freezer…  The meat on the line, was dry so we also brought that in…. That was a lot of meat!!!! The biltong that we hung, was also brought in. We learned a lot of lessons…. this past week. They

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-20111710054988881912011-08-11T06:09:00.001+02:002011-08-11T06:09:54.886+02:00

Last Friday we picked up the Wildebeest from the butcher. Don’t let anyone tell you they are small creatures!!! We have 308 pounds of Blouwildebeest packaged to eat. Between the Wildebeest and the Nyala, we had to get a freezer. Fortunately, we are able to borrow. So I took it home on Friday… and plugged it in, thinking we would have more meat than the freezer (side by side) could possibly hold.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-26164854964512009422011-08-03T19:57:00.001+02:002011-08-03T19:57:17.601+02:00

Ok, so I have been a bit lax on the blogging side of things, but judging from the lack of comments….. I’m thinking everyone is as busy or otherwise occupied as I have been. Having the DH home has really affected my allotment of free time!!! Once again the sewing room has been bereft and left to idle and I am so far behind …. that the light at the end of the tunnel appears to have been

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-258252812432699032011-07-17T20:21:00.001+02:002011-07-17T20:21:06.200+02:00

While I was in the sewing room the DH was out hunting. He spent the first week of July looking for animals and freezing. To be fair I was originally supposed to go, but we decided there wouldn’t be enough to keep me occupied while they were out stalking dinner, (just a euphemism). The hunting place was primitive and the only heat would have been from a campfire, and it would have been too cold to

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-50789838130832642672011-07-10T18:54:00.001+02:002011-07-10T18:54:57.781+02:00

I cannot believe that we are finished with the first week of July!!! Next thing you know it will be Christmas! I received a swap block, from the Sparkly Chickens, and I’ve had it for a month now.  It is just the cutest take on a ‘Paisley’ don’t you think!!! It is so cheerful and bright. Jean B. the maker has the most amazing imagination. Everything I have received from her has a simple twist

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-4239703453714471162011-07-03T19:35:00.001+02:002011-07-03T19:35:05.084+02:00

Of course this weekend marks our 1 year anniversary of living in South Africa.Things look much different today than they did last year. We were in a hotel… and Axel the dog and Spaz the cat were in the kennel. I did not have much to keep me busy, but I did have my friend Jan, who came and rescued me from long days in the hotel. Now I have just about everything I need….  So here is to another

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-30477156165198257342011-06-26T08:21:00.001+02:002011-06-26T08:21:02.125+02:00

We decided that we wanted to have a second TV operational in the house. When we moved here we brought 2 ‘tube’ televisions… One a huge heavy 36” that we never even plugged in because DH couldn’t wait for the House Hold Goods to arrive… and bought a Flat Panel for the living room. The other was a 19” Mitsubishi that I bought back in 1987 that has been in nearly constant use since and in recent

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-27756079328493748482011-06-18T10:14:00.001+02:002011-06-18T10:14:00.488+02:00

Let me start by saying we have some really great friends, both here and at home. Just before Frank came home a surprise box from the US came in the mail. It was a care package from our friends from Durban, Carl and Brenda. They were stationed here for 2 years and we spent lots of time with them last year when I visited DH in Durban. We saw many of the sights with them. They are now home in Texas

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-78400811062195685862011-06-12T07:24:00.001+02:002011-06-12T07:24:31.500+02:00

Today I managed to make it to the Pretoria Jacaranda Quilters meeting. I missed the meeting February. Meetings here are a little different. They are large gatherings several months apart. A place to meet, shop and share. I think it’s mostly about the shopping…. just like in the US. I went for several reasons. I wanted to see some quilts made by South Africans. The Guild has a small quilt show.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-83107397792890848282011-05-29T19:41:00.002+02:002011-05-30T06:19:24.182+02:00

Yesterday while I was out running errands I remembered that there was an Orchid Show at a local nursery. So I grabbed my camera…. I have just loaded up a few here… for more check out my Flickr page. There are a couple that are not Orchids, but I just couldn’t resist. There were some pretty amazing specimens. Some as small as 1/4” and I saw a black one, but it did not photograph very well.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-91647657586895714022011-05-25T20:52:00.001+02:002011-05-25T20:52:39.038+02:00

Well a couple of things to show from the sewing room and a couple of pictures of nature too. I’ll start with a picture. This plant is considered a weed… I don’t know what to call it… nor can I think of enough words to look it up for identification. I think it is in the succulent family… It makes baby plants, similar to hens and chicks… so they are quite prolific. There are many different plants

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-31141161690996816262011-05-20T21:06:00.002+02:002011-05-21T06:36:17.015+02:00

DH is still gone!!! I think I have spent more time alone in South Africa than I  have with my husband…. Good thing I stay busy… or I would be really bored by now. He thinks he may be home in 2 weeks… but I’m not holding my breath. Karen, who blogs here said I must show the results of the Gelatin Printing we did two weeks ago…. so here is what I did. It was an experiment, because none of us had

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-64026343049348607452011-05-08T09:31:00.001+02:002011-05-08T09:31:07.806+02:00

Its Mothers Day! and it’s really not that special for me. My mom has been gone for 15 years now… While it is easier now that time has passed, you never really get over not having your mom around… to call, to visit or just to chat with. There are lots of questions that I would also like to ask… now that she is gone… and never thought to ask while she was alive. However daughter in law is going to

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-29639377227412889922011-04-29T20:30:00.001+02:002011-04-30T08:22:00.911+02:00

Since the last blog post we have had a week of days off or so it seems. Most of the time between posts I don’t think I have much to tell and then it sort of explodes and there are lots of small topics… So I’ll start with the days off or South African holidays. From the Friday April 22, before Easter to Monday May 2, if you took 3 days off work you get something like 11 days off. The first one

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-42204655111949145392011-04-24T21:07:00.002+02:002011-04-24T21:12:08.347+02:00

Of course I have to start with a couple of pictures. I keep trying to get a some that say Winter!!! but so far no luck, so I will show you these… that are just nice. One of the ornamental garden trees is the ‘Bottlebrush’. Also called Callistemon salignus, a member of the Willow family. It is a familiar plant for me because growing up we had a Bottle Brush Shrub in our yard. I really liked the

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-41027133544210291792011-04-11T06:42:00.001+02:002011-04-11T06:42:43.935+02:00

Last week was sort of hurry up and wait… with the impending and threatened Government shut down. Of course my job is not ‘essential’ so I won’t have to report to work if they don’t come to a resolution. I have been busy again in the sewing space to kill some time. I have another Swap Block ready to go… so no pictures yet -the recipient has to get it first. However I can show you the last

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-30831011686116912172011-04-03T19:21:00.001+02:002011-04-03T19:21:33.354+02:00

My DH is home from Rwanda, but unfortunately it’s really only a stop over!! He has to go back to Rwanda and then from there to the US. He will be gone again for several weeks… but I am hoping to join him sometime at the end of June. He of course brought me a few things from Rwanda. A basket with a set of coasters in it, another basket that has a top or could be 2 baskets, a small purse of very

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-69199803616417536672011-03-29T07:10:00.001+02:002011-03-29T07:10:39.588+02:00

First of course is a photograph… a flower. A Bird of Paradise or as they are known here, a Crane Flower. I don’t just have one finish…. I have TWO. Actually I did quite a bit of sewing in March. There are 2 small items I can’t show you yet. One is a Sparkly Chickens Group ‘Receivers Choice’ swap block, and until the receiver receives… I can’t show it. The other is a surprise for the

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-89343881400691195172011-03-27T21:35:00.002+02:002011-03-27T21:46:48.425+02:00

Before I get on to the mail…. let me just say tell you about the rain this morning. It started with a T-storm rumbling in the distance at 4-ish. Linzy was bothered by it, so we got up just in time to be downstairs to see the deluge start. The heavy rain and T-storm lasted for 4 hours. We must have gotten between 4-6 inches of rain. The rain finally stopped around 2 and we had a beautiful warm

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-47912796071535776602011-03-15T20:49:00.002+02:002011-03-15T20:51:44.028+02:00

On Saturday I took a Workshop. A quilting workshop. It was on piecing without a pattern using curves. It was sponsored by the Jacaranda Quilts Guild, of which I am a member. Another group was having a small quilt show so I wanted to go to that. I spoke to the ladies manning the table and there was still 2 spaces available, so on the spur of the moment I signed up! Now I must confess that on

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-80305843161821549082011-03-01T21:23:00.002+02:002011-03-02T06:21:48.696+02:00

Well I didn’t get my February UFO done. I really didn’t even start it. One of the things  I didn’t realize when I joined the challenge was that I don’t have 10 quilt stores with in a 25 mile radius, and that I can’t really run out for the perfect fabric in just a few hours or be inspired in a direction based on a fabric. I did discover that I didn’t really have a fabric in my stash that fit where

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-17580339285742354522011-02-27T21:03:00.005+02:002011-03-01T19:26:03.650+02:00

The picture is a flower called the Moon Flower. Supposedly only blooms at night. I have a friend in Nebraska that has this growing in her garden .They are quite spectacular. So I have some cuttings rooting; a pink and a yellow. They grow like weeds here, but I plan to use them to cover one of the walls…. Today I finally got my design wall done. It’s not what I am used to, but it will do for now

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-26325682721096387182011-02-23T14:18:00.001+02:002011-02-23T14:18:58.498+02:00

Not much going on in the studio- can it be called a studio without a design wall? I am still working on making one. Nothing wants to stick to the wall and the Styrofoam… generally one or the other… so I am now contemplating a wooden ladder frame… and glue the foam to that. By the time I figure this out it will be time to go home. We went back to Kruger National Park for the long weekend. A very

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-3403905810283990622011-02-16T19:37:00.001+02:002011-02-16T19:39:19.760+02:00

So a post or two ago I did a little rant about terrible customer service and even worse online service from Ritz Camera and suggested that you choose any other online or retail outlet for your camera needs; which I really hope you do. So on the positive side is a Brita experience. We had been using a Brita Pitcher for drinking water that we have had since at least 1996. So I ordered some

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-78748236014196066682011-02-11T07:15:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:26:34.950+02:00

So besides work… what have I been doing? DH was gone for a bit less than 2 full weeks. So it was just me and the dogs. I did do mostly quilty stuff, tho. The flower above is a ‘bind weed ’of some sort. Since moving in, one of the things I have been missing is a design wall. I really wanted to bring mine from Chicago, but the movers talked me out of it. Aside from being large, the weren’t

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-1284535216589215042011-01-31T20:46:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:27:13.892+02:00

Well we have the Internet back!!! For how long I don’t know and certainly know enough to not count on it…. NOW. Actually we do have Internet when the ADSL is down, but it is slow, very slow. Any one that has used 3G air-card knows just how slow, (not on a phone, but on a computer). I have been playing with the new camera and lenses… and here are some birds. All have a bit of color. First is the

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-27675235328311743302011-01-23T13:18:00.001+02:002011-03-01T19:27:37.709+02:00

UFO #6 is done!!!  Well there is one more small thing to accomplish… make and apply the label. I spent the morning looking through computers, hard drives and cd’s to find the meanings for the Kanji symbols on the quilt. I’m on my 4th computer since I made the quilt… so finding some information is not as easy as it used to be –before the information age!!! I will prepare the label today and hand

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-17192939982133856972011-01-19T16:10:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:27:58.685+02:00

I got an Award!!! My friend (both in the 3D world and the blog world) has given me a ‘Blog Award’. This is the Award! My Friend, Karen, she blogs here, and I love to see what she is up to. She is incredibly talented with both fabric and paint (dye, ink, pencil, etc.) and really makes her visions come to life. I especially liked the Pelican quilt she did here and is currently on display at

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-48197156598584330642011-01-08T15:26:00.003+02:002011-01-08T15:31:04.860+02:00

My friend Pegg loves me… well cares at any rate. On Thursday DH came home with a box that I wasn’t expecting, didn’t know was coming and it was a total surprise. What was you ask… a CARE PACKAGE full of wonderful small things. It’s the only care package we’ve received since leaving the States that I didn’t specifically request the items. See Pegg has lived overseas also…. and she raised her

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-85300109444617413172011-01-06T20:18:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:28:32.355+02:00

Number 6 was the number drawn for the January UFO Challenge to finish. See the info about the UFO Challenge project here at Judy Laquidara Patchwork Times. #6  is my Red Japanese Quilt. I started it in 2006 or so... not really too sure on the date, but I do know I was living in Nebraska at the time. It was when all the cool Japanese prints were hitting the quilt shops and I thought I'd like to

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-37117913649757070792011-01-05T15:30:00.003+02:002011-03-01T19:28:57.539+02:00

It's a new year and I have a new LOGO for my photos. Every year my sister (a Photoshop wiz, Published Digial Artist and Scrapbooker), makes me a new logo with my name, Copyright or symbol and the year. I love them. I can adjust the size of the logo, the color to either match or contrast with the picture... and it is as easy as using a stamp. What really makes them nice is the simplicity of use

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-7795260212216161512011-01-01T10:41:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:29:48.280+02:00

Because I procrastinated so long on getting my UFO... stuff posted... I didn't have the time or room to post a New Year's Blog!!! So for all you readers, friends and family (lurkers)... that know what I'm doing ... because you drop in... Happy New Year! May it begin bright and beautifully, bring you wealth, health, vitality and prosperity all year long; and all the laughter and love you can

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-60830349912160320762010-12-31T19:32:00.008+02:002011-07-03T19:38:49.793+02:00

I had planned to participate in Judy Laquidaras UFO Challenge .... in 2011. So in preparation I procrastinated until today to make my list. I have several small projects that I might be able to complete... Here is my 12 for this .... next year, but my real (personal) goal is to get them to the next step, IF I finish one or more, that will be a bonus. 1. Christies Quilt (1988) - hand quilt*1/2

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-55677455367525708202010-12-26T20:12:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:30:49.983+02:00

 Widowbird.... has an amazingly long tail. (170-500 lens)  Happy Day after Christmas to everyone. Tomorrow is another holiday here, The Day of Goodwill, otherwise known as Boxing Day in the rest of the world. I was suffering the few days before Christmas with neck pain… not sure where it came from --but I have a good idea. So I was nowhere near ready for the big day. Really glad we didn

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-35871416465565239472010-12-21T15:40:00.003+02:002011-03-01T19:31:15.566+02:00

Since we returned from Kruger and I was done posting about it… I slacked off. Mostly because … taking pictures of things other than the landscape, animals or flowers is really a challenge for me…. And I hate taking them, because when I look at them I see where I could have done better … MUCH Better!!! So what have we done in the last 5 weeks… Not too much exciting stuff and in no importance of

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-71786177832135475262010-11-30T21:26:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:31:55.137+02:00

The Olifonts Camp was spectacular! It sits high on a rocky ledge overlooking the Olifonts River. The river itself is wide and fairly shallow, although there are some deep looking channels. Reminded me of the descriptions of the Platte River in the middle of America, when it actually had water in it. All you can see now is where the Platte River once flowed… and is now just a former trickle of its

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-46537781320906231472010-11-24T21:06:00.003+02:002011-03-01T19:32:22.777+02:00

Before I begin… another installment of the Kruger adventure let me say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. We don’t need a national holiday to be thankful. We should practice Thanksgiving on a daily basis! Thankful that we have life first and then all the things that make life worth living- family, (both real and acquired), friends, and the ability to change or adapt! With those things anything can

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-61384315259542996882010-11-21T17:45:00.003+02:002011-03-01T19:32:57.302+02:00

On the second morning we had a Walking Safari. Once again, it was up before the sun and assembled for the short ride in a truck. For some reason… I thought wearing Capri’s and tennis shoes would be good clothing for a walk in the brush. I don’t think very well without coffee… and didn’t put any bug repellant on either, although I Did pack better walking clothes and bug stuff. Not smart! It is the

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-34928349815508696282010-11-17T16:07:00.004+02:002011-03-01T19:36:22.028+02:00

 Kruger Park has many Rest Camps that have accommodations from camping to luxury suites. We did not camp and we did not stay in the Luxury accommodations. Our first camp was Satara, located centrally in the park. We stayed in the Huts, which are simple and allow you to BBQ (braai) and come complete with a refrigerator and a lockable cabinet for pantry items. There is a communal kitchen

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-43165023892311419442010-11-15T06:16:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:36:58.028+02:00

 The Expression! of a tortoise before coffee in the morning.  Our first full day in the Kruger Park, started early. Remember I mentioned that folks are leaving the Guest Camps as soon as the gates open. Yep our day started at 4 am. We had a Sunrise Game Drive reserved and it was scheduled to leave the camp at 4:30, so we had to be at the departure point at 4:15. The sun rose on time, the

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-5557915108794532732010-11-13T20:34:00.004+02:002011-03-01T19:38:35.171+02:00

I am back and what an adventure. Kruger National Park, South Africa is a gem. Almost unspoiled. There were signs of humans; and as usual it was trash. But not nearly as much as we would have seen in an American National Park; certainly no Walmart bags with used diapers anywhere to be seen, (I saw this in Yellowstone on the side of the road in more than one place!!! And let’s face it lots of other

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-50156956254434206892010-11-04T19:44:00.004+02:002011-03-01T19:39:08.602+02:00

Common Greater Scimitarbill-Juvenile A quick update… while I have a few minutes…. Also I have taken a few photos… and again, in the backyard nothing to spectacular…. And sprinkled them about… for eye candy and blurbed about each at the end…. In case you really aren’t interested in the pictures. Hornbill-male I have been on the go for the last 2 weeks. Doing what exactly I’m not sure… and

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5Pretoria, South Africa-25.7460186 28.1871204-26.0552596 27.7202014 -25.4367776 28.654039400000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-54460954760047884282010-10-19T07:04:00.006+02:002011-03-01T19:40:12.375+02:00

 The wooden crate on the truck.  Our House Hold Goods arrived about 2 weeks ago. They arrived on a Monday. They sent 5 young men to unload the truck. One fellow was very tall, compared to the rest of us, but couldn’t have weighed a buck fifty soaking wet holding large rocks!!! I had them unload everything into the garage. The truck held lots of remembered items… Amazing how much I forgot

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-32183244058826402552010-10-11T07:02:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:40:58.044+02:00

I think I mentioned somewhere recently that  I have decided that I want an Accuquilt GO!! One way is to try and win one... so far no luck there... so to increase my chances I have actually even blogged about blogger's having Accuquilt Giveaways. So, once again... to increase my odds (HA!), I'm adding another blog... about the Accuquilt Go. Go to Badlands Quilts and check out her blog. Karen

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-76301563048993635332010-10-09T08:19:00.003+02:002011-03-01T19:41:42.335+02:00

My husband spent the last week of August and the month of September in Rwanda working. He and several others did some interviews in the rural areas and back to the Capital of Tagali Kigali for the weekends, where they wrote reports and had laundry done. From Tagali Kigali to the rural area, Butare was maybe 30 miles, but the road was in poor condition and only 2 lanes, one each way and you had to

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-70684240312061786712010-10-04T09:49:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:42:56.001+02:00

(once again. While we thought we were on High Speed Internet... it was only temporary. It seems there are still some problems on our phone line... so back to slow and expensive wireless... for now.) So since things here are so slow -I thought I would send you to a blog.... that is hosting a Giveaway. I have of course signed up... in all the ways possible... including posting on my blog about

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-71550115254866186062010-09-30T16:52:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:43:59.981+02:00

 White Icelandic Poppy  Last night, and several others since we have been here, I have noticed how quiet it is at night. I don’t mean the lack of city sounds. There are plenty of those; dogs barking, cars- horns and doors, music, and police sirens. The part that is missing, especially after living in the Chicago area, is planes in the night sky. No colored dots, red and green, zooming

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-39704222285964576742010-09-21T17:05:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:42:13.971+02:00

  I was going to post …. “Design Wall Monday”… but the Internet here was so slow and clunky I decided to put it off. Not sure if it is any better today… but I have to give it a try.  We still do not have high speed Internet connection. Telkom has not only NOT connected the Data (ADSL), but somehow on Friday disconnected the telephone part too, so no dial tone on the house phone. Good

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-17804091667922223312010-09-12T07:08:00.004+02:002011-03-01T19:47:01.304+02:00

Flowering Tree, outside kitchen.  In the Southern Hemisphere the seasons are reverse of the North and not quite as brutal… well winter anyway, especially if you compare it to the Midwest in the US. The winter has been very mild… at least compared to last year when I visited Pretoria in July! I never thought I would ever get warm again after experiencing winter for 4 days in summer weight

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-14709700889820695032010-09-07T19:00:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:50:08.290+02:00

Actually there are lots of special people here. The diplomatic community is large, not just the US contingent, but all of the Diplomatic Missions in country. I never noticed, and that is probably because I have never lived in a capital… of a country or a state before. There are several other Embassies … near the US Embassy or scattered about. There is the ‘new’ Chinese Embassy, just recently

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-61449746394269083242010-08-22T06:30:00.001+02:002011-03-01T19:48:09.502+02:00

So another week in South Africa…. There was some good, some bad and some just plain mediocre. Our compound is now full. All four houses have occupants. Two of the houses are occupied by US Aid, a single lady with a small dog and a family of 3, and the other is occupied by the Office of Regional Interests (a huge euphemism… but we can’t discuss it), a family of 4. Monday found me with a few

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-90210345294538728872010-08-16T19:16:00.001+02:002011-03-01T19:51:15.096+02:00

The busy week of Nothing ended on Saturday with a trip to a couple of Farmers Markets… here, in South Africa, it is all about the FOOD!!! We hit the one in Hazelwood first. It’s in an upscale area of homes, and there were about 40 stalls of food; from bakeries to olives. We skipped the sweets, but I did get some olives that have been brined in red wine, rosemary and garlic. They are very mild

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-58136869340072842712010-08-14T20:22:00.001+02:002011-03-01T19:52:38.130+02:00

This past week has been a whirlwind of activity and no results for the effort. When you have a puppy, housebreaking and scheduling are the BIG jobs. Linzy is learning, but not as fast as Axel did. Not sure why. Could be that I am not able to contain her to a single room… so she can sometimes wander out of sight. Fortunately the floor is tile. The other part is getting used to being on call and

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-59420867903104318982010-08-09T19:40:00.003+02:002011-03-01T19:54:18.881+02:00

Axel Not quite sure what possessed my DH. But he decided that WE wanted another dog. He was undecided about the breed until just recently. Like last night. His first trip to South Africa he was introduced to the South African breed of mastiff called the Boerbul. You can find more information on the breed here . I have met a few of the breed and they are a nice dog, but they don’t make my heart

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-59242122892550401742010-08-01T20:39:00.002+02:002011-03-01T19:59:57.962+02:00

Friday was the Pretoria Piecemakers get together. We met at Sakuras home. She is a delightfully, warm and sweet person. She always arrives at all the meetings with food in hand, and so far I have enjoyed every bite!!! I would love to get to know her better. But alas she will be leaving in September too. For our lunch she make a seafood Risotto and a huge tossed green salad. front-Sakura, Mishi

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-59904448676821983352010-07-30T21:04:00.000+02:002010-07-30T21:04:12.692+02:00

When you join a ‘Mission Community’ you are welcomed by a Work Sponsor and Social Sponsor. The work sponsor is usually from your own agency and there are a bunch here… and just to name a few. CDC (Centers for Disease Control), Peace Corps, APHIS (Plant and Animal Services), Agricultural Affairs, and well the whole Alphabet Soup of agency acronyms you can imagine. I can’t even keep up… and I get a

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-27405203637097142642010-07-27T21:28:00.002+02:002011-03-01T20:00:34.157+02:00

There have been so many things that have been happening since we arrived. Most of it seems inconsequential… or part of everyday life… and then I think, I wouldn’t do this or see this in Chicago or any other city in the states for that matter. Of course getting into the house was the primary issue, and now that we are here, there are some interesting things. Like the telephone. We still don’t one,

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-60266658419037515672010-07-26T07:19:00.003+02:002011-03-01T20:04:50.431+02:00

We have been here 3 weeks now and I suppose I should include a post about quilting. Actually I have lots of stuff about quilting… to tell, but I am going to start back in Chicagoland… My "Bee" Quilt I want to share with you the Bee I belonged to Near Chicago. I joined the Bee sometime in the summer of 2008 and have met with these ladies on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. We became

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-35943216256155467622010-07-21T21:01:00.000+02:002010-07-21T21:01:18.771+02:00

Yellow (immunization record) Card In my last post I alluded to a Medical Orientation which we went to. At this meeting we are informed about the Medical Unit at the Embassy and the medical staff as well as the services available to us. The first visit to the office, my appointment on Monday, was to go over my immunizations. Since we had our Medical Clearances done by our private healthcare

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-2971782819593000312010-07-20T20:39:00.000+02:002010-07-20T20:39:59.850+02:00

So, before I continue the HOUSE saga… I must say I am going to have to post more than one blog entry a day in order to keep up… (I think)… I wish I had pictures of the before.... So, what changed yesterday? EVERYTHING in the house. I had to make a run over to the Embassy for a medical consult, (everyone has to do this) and start some immunizations, (more about that another day). TheKitchen, and

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-87330724654624275382010-07-19T21:58:00.000+02:002010-07-19T21:58:53.737+02:00

Woooo Hooooo!!! We are in the house! Since Saturday. Granted it’s much like camping out as we only have the bare essentials… We are provided most of the furniture and eventually they will give us proper curtains. We said we would rather live with the makeshift curtains than spend any more time in a hotel and the animals at the kennel. Granted, they were well cared for, but it is evident that

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-80922028165119471972010-07-16T07:24:00.000+02:002010-07-16T07:24:23.006+02:00

Why do I wait so long to post to the blog? I could do something daily or every few days… but then I think something better will be happening…  I had some pictures ... of specific events to share but I can't find them... but my new lens (broke the 70-300 in the move) arrived and I played with it yesterday, so I added them here... and there in this post. Last Friday I met with the local

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-36024377409645899702010-07-10T17:28:00.001+02:002010-07-10T17:31:15.562+02:00

Monday of course was a holiday, for the US personnel and that included us. One of my DH’s co-workers invited us over for dinner. James said the cost of admission was a 6 pack of beer, so we took some Windhoek beer. It is brewed in Namibia, a country to the north and west of South Africa. The beer has a very light but deep flavor and tastes very good. James and Mar started us with appetizers, and

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-16456345957824223472010-07-05T06:43:00.000+02:002010-07-05T06:43:22.248+02:00

  It seems a little odd that one year ago I was nearly in the same place. I came to the Pretoria area last 4th of July to visit some friends of my DH’s. We stayed at their house and saw some of the countryside, animals and city life here in Pretoria. Temperatures seem to be a bit warmer this year than last… Our 4th was very quiet and that is a good thing. Before we left our neighbors were

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-79157460908393737062010-07-01T00:15:00.000+02:002010-07-01T00:15:13.170+02:00

T- minus 18 hours or so… Yep we are finally down to hours not days!!! As of about 11 or so this morning, we finished with the house. Dragged the garbage to the curb and did the final load of laundry. We had to stop at the bank again… on our way up toward O’Hare… the banks have turned out to be the largest problem. Of course you have to prove who you are 9 ways from Sunday and an affidavit too.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-50381737909182020642010-06-23T13:48:00.002+02:002010-06-23T13:48:25.884+02:00

Today the ‘packers’ arrive to put all our stuff into boxes. It is maddening to try and keep track of what they are doing… since they are usually in different rooms… They didn’t leave me any stickers to label items with so I will be running around CHECKING boxes!!! Once this stuff goes into storage it is there for the duration. No, asking to get something out of the storage locker. So if it gets

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-32650516407320551362010-06-19T14:04:00.000+02:002010-06-19T14:04:50.100+02:00

So far the dog and the cat are the closest to being ready to leave. They had their final vet check, shots and wellness exams today. Axel passes all his blood tests, (for parasites), with a negative, so that is good news. The cat only needed to be current on rabies and healthy to go. Next week I take all the results in to the USDA for an Export Permit, -which is basically a Veterinarian reading

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-83448693427433180882010-06-11T15:40:00.003+02:002010-06-11T15:44:39.982+02:00

So where are we now? Less than 3 weeks! DH booked our flights- so now the countdown is on. I saw an Ear Nose & Throat specialist for my ear infection. He of course confirmed the problem and sent me home with a purse full of samples and a script. The magic of medicine is working and my head is finally clearing!!! However…I did improve, but am still having problems…. So new week new script (this

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-905355442723068442010-06-02T16:01:00.001+02:002010-06-02T16:04:29.571+02:00

Back from Washington DC, and I wish I could tell you more about the trip, but my last entry was pretty much all there was.  (just click on the picture for a larger view) Before we left, I thought I was suffering from outdoor/pollen allergies, not something I typically suffer from, but the symptoms came on at about the same time a lilac bush, (very prevalent around here), bloomed!!! So by the

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-24747986738190185652010-05-21T15:21:00.000+02:002010-05-21T15:21:37.857+02:00

So where am I if I am staying (almost) next door to this house, just up the street from this monument, and this is also nearby? Yes, I am staying just about next door to the Obamas... from the roof of the hotel I can see over the Treasury Building and see part of the White House and some of the grounds. We are less than a block from the White House. We took a walk when we got in,

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-77013155706073589492010-05-18T13:44:00.001+02:002010-05-18T13:46:07.392+02:00

A week or so ago I won a Blog Giveaway from ArtQuiltMaker (see her blog here). It was for some sample silks from a tie factory that used to be close by her home. Anyway, all entrants had to do was leave a comment, which of course I did, or why else would I be telling you about my win!!! So today, they arrive!!! Please forgive the terrible pictures; I took them with the iPhone… And am I so very

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-4879171166044873712010-05-16T01:34:00.000+02:002010-05-16T01:34:38.253+02:00

Not sure if anyone has noticed… but I have changed the header on my blog… from Notes about … something, everything or maybe nothing… to A Quilters Adventure – Moving and Living in South Africa!!! Somehow it just doesn’t seem grand enough for the amount of change taking place in my house and life. So if anyone has any better ideas for a title…. I’m open to suggestions. I have also changed my

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-63885833477229224592010-05-10T02:51:00.002+02:002010-05-10T02:54:33.742+02:00

Once again I have left a huge information gap….. I sometimes find it very difficult to tell half a story or only portions of a story... so I let it hang for a bit to see if I can tell it all or not. We still can't tell it all, because we don't know it yet or it could change direction in midtelling. There are a few things going on… the first and foremost is tomorrow I have the last part of my (

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-90454440268691453042010-04-20T03:34:00.003+02:002010-04-21T16:00:40.339+02:00

So the Chicago Quilt Festival has come and now is gone. It is over for Chicago and on for Cincinnati, Ohio in 2011. I’m not sure if it was just me or if anyone else seemed to notice… but there didn’t seem to be as many quilts displayed as in previous years. Lots of empty space on the quilt display side of the house. There just didn’t seem to be as many quilts big or small hanging… and while I

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-29976139741377355252010-04-05T18:01:00.001+02:002010-04-06T21:40:54.933+02:00

I have been quiet recently... why... because there has been an elephant in the room, actually there have been a few lately. Was it this one? or this one? or.... and now that I can disclose the beast... I'm not quite sure how I want to do it... should I have a contest? should I have a scavenger hunt? should I ask a question? OK a question it is! Who wants to go to

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-42046475252128215172010-03-28T14:27:00.000+02:002010-03-28T14:27:27.513+02:00

Since the last post we have experienced a few more days of winter, but spring is definitely pushing forward. My lilac has green showing from the leaf buds, I see some green on the butterfly bushes, an a maple tree is starting to bloom; and in the pots on the front porch a volunteer strawberry and some marigold seeds? Or are they weeds showing some green? I hosted a regular meeting of the small

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-78848500714930214732010-03-12T05:38:00.000+02:002010-03-12T05:38:39.960+02:00

Yesterday I took a workshop from Leora Raikin, on South African Folklore Embroidery. It was a very fun class and she is such a kick. On Tuesday evening she did a lecture for the guild (Riverwalk Quilt Guild), about South Africa, the animals, the people, languages and the arts and crafts of the country. The embroidery threads were also from South Africa, and hand dyed too. Her kits are clever, and

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-59557584792506729962010-03-07T17:53:00.001+02:002010-03-07T17:54:15.777+02:00

Well Hello stranger! Ok, so maybe the stranger is me. I’ve let the blog go. Why? Because I haven’t much to tell, and it might be that there isn’t anything one would really want to read about. Since my last post… made on February 17th… I have been back to Shipshewana, because one of the items I picked up for a friend was broken, so I had to return it. I called another friend and quilter, Janet,

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-28921678064164707752010-02-17T17:21:00.004+02:002010-02-17T17:35:56.924+02:00

I have been home for 2 weeks and don’t have too much to say about the goings on at home. In the sewing room I am working on a couple of things I can’t talk about… because they are supposed to be a surprise(s) for the recipients. So I was thinking I didn’t post too many flowers from South Africa. Keep in mind that it was summer and hot, so only the hardiest show their sunny faces. I did notice

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-18434706500907116522010-02-09T23:35:00.007+02:002011-03-01T19:44:36.089+02:00

It’s a wedding gift. The wedding was in October, but the quilter was booked up through Christmas. So we had to wait until January. Of course I was gone the whole month of January to South Africa. Anyway I no sooner got home, then I got the call the quilt was done. I spent the next several days putting the binding on and I still have to make the label.  (You can click on any photo to make them

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-55050320906738570442010-02-05T00:21:00.001+02:002010-02-05T00:23:44.012+02:00

Ok as promised… But let me first say Thank YOU for reading my blog and my small adventures to South Africaat  or the daily bits about home and my generally not so exciting life! I enjoy reading your input, encouragement or views! I made a list of names from those that commented on my blog, chopped it up and had my friends at bee draw 4 names!!! So what are the prizes- A yard of Shwe Shwe (

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7900507864027301793.post-65572355110171194822010-02-01T16:54:00.003+02:002010-02-01T17:07:51.173+02:00

I think I have the Jet Lag thing beat… at least I hope I have figured out the solution, (at least for me)!!! Out of four 22+ plus hour flights (not including all the layover times), only the first flight in July, left me dragging for 2 days. The other 3 I have only needed the next regular 8 hours of sleep to be caught up. Now that I am home, I have collected m y dog, said hello to the cat,

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431103172678397165noreply@blogger.com4