So much for getting anything done

I was going to sew something this morning, couldn't decide which fabric to use so I decided to look for the reproduction fabrics I knew I had from way back when I still quilted (that would be when we still lived in Oklahoma, more than 11 years ago). Spent a "happy" 30 minutes or so digging my way though one of the closets in my studio - the one in the far corner - shifting heavy storage boxes working my way through the 2 stacks in the center first, then on to the one on the left. No luck. Finally tackled the stack on the right. Sure enough, the box on the very bottom had the fabrics. By now, it's too late to get started. Sheesh!
But I just realized yet again that I need to get rid of lots of stuff. Found at least a dozen unquilted tops along with projects in progress (with no instructions and no idea what they were meant to be). I think the thrift stores will be receiving a few bags full of "stuff" and I'd better not pursue what one of the many sewing blogs I just discovered inspired me to start - hunt for vintage fabric. After all, some of my stuff is old enough to almost qualify for vintage. Sheesh again!

The mayor's position on the bride barrier

Here's what the mayor's committee wrote to the Bridge Authority:

http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/acrobat/2008/09/11/final-eir-letter.pdf

It's a long letter and while I read it, it did so quickly and didn't even notice - as somebody else pointed out - that there are misspellings in it. I was more interested in the purpose and I don't agree with that at all.
I just love the suggestion that there would be volunteers offering to patrol the bridge and prevent people from jumping.
But my absolute favorite is this, "In sum, the program could result in the bridge being known not only for its design and location, but as an international symbol of the humanity of this region."

Remembering special days and events

Reading a post by a friend of mine got me thinking ............
She wrote about remembering 9/11 and asked in her post, "Where were you?" She also mentioned remembering the day John F. Kennedy was shot. While I remember both of those quite well and the feelings that went with them, obviously, I remember 9/11 much better. I was 8 when JFK died.
It made me think of other memorable things, though. Being German, something totally different came to my mind.
I still remember when the wall between East and West Germany went up. I was much too young to really understand what it meant, but I do remember being quite scared having heard in the news that because of that wall families ended up being separated. Made me stick very close to home for quite a while, until somebody explained to me exactly what was going on.
And I also remember the day that same wall came back down. My son was born that year, we were busy trying to apply for a passport for him so we could visit family and my father had just been diagnosed with cancer and all the excitement of a united Germany was overshadowed by those news.
So, what do you remember?

Mayor's committee: no ugly suicide barrier on the bridge

This was on the morning news today and in the Chronicle as well. Not what we need at this point.
I don't think these people get it :-(

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/10/BAR712RL95.DTL

Putting architects, engineers and artists in charge of life and death decisions seems very sensible to me - NOT.

And this is what the editorial, also in the Chronicle said:

Newsom's bridge bungle

I only just found this now - 3 hours or so after I posted the first link, so I'm editing madly today :-)

New bags and fabric

Two more new bags in different fabrics from the ones I've already shown. Everything else is duplicates, no need to photograph all those.

The fabrics in the first picture are the ones that came today. Some to be made into a bag, some to go into the stash to be used later. Completely different from the ones I use for the box bags. Lots of Kaffe Fassett fabrics. I've always liked his fabrics and a lot of his quilts and one of these days, I'll a) finish the wall hanging I started a few years ago and b) make another one of his quilts. After all, I have just about all of his books.

The other fabrics are Japanese fabrics, totally different in design from American fabrics. Cute, but in a different way. Not quite sure what I'll make with those yet.

This and that

First, a link to an article about tolls being raised on the Golden Gate - yet again.
Golden Gate Bridge toll climbs to $6 Tuesday PressDemocrat.com The Press Democrat Santa Rosa, CA
I'm concerned that this will be tied to the decision about a suicide barrier in some way - lack of funds. I have a few suggestions, but I'm keeping those to myself.

I'm feeling quite virtuous today. I finished 5 more box bags, leaving 6 more to go. And I haven't cut out any new ones. I'm trying to finish up what I started so I can go on to another project - something I already bought fabric for.
Last night, I cooked - totally from scratch. And I've done a lot of that lately, mostly things using fresh veggies. Last night, though, I made pesto from scratch. I am growing lots of basil and wanted to use some up before it becomes totally overgrown. Since it took me a good 30 minutes just to wash and dry the basil leaves, I almost decided never, ever to do that again. But the end result was so good that I changed my mind. Except, next time I will use just one clove of garlic like the recipe says and not three.
We had gone out the night before to a newly discovered pizza place and tried their version of penne with pesto. Pretty good, but Larry liked mine better. Must have been the parmesan (or the garlic). I have to agree, though, mine was more flavorful.

The mail man brought 2 packages and UPS brought another. So, I'm all set with zippers (found a less expensive source than the fabric store on the web), fabric (more trouble on the web than going to the local quilt store) and soap base (I had used up everything I had on Monday).
The little dog goes slightly bonkers when somebody knocks on the front door (mail man) and really bonkers when somebody rings the doorbell (UPS). Quite funny, actually. He's much too small (and cute) to do anybody any harm even if he wanted to.

And even more bags

Here's some of what I made this weekend. A few more box bags - not all of them. Unless, it's a new fabric, I don't photograph them anymore. And a new kind of bag - a pyramid bag. Many, many years ago, a quilting friend gave me one she had made and explained how to sew one. Very simple. And it uses up the bits of fabric that are too small for box bags. Of course, I'm still left with even smaller bits of fabric afterwards but I have ideas for those, too. Have to be careful, though. This "use up, make do and recycle" mindset can get one into trouble.