Rain in a thirsty land

Last week I had the privilege of assisting at an Iraq-Afghanistan Conference of NGO's (Non-governmental Organizations) and meeting almost two dozen wonderful persons involved in making life better in the war ravaged lands of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The conference organizer, a friend from church, asked me if I was willing to assist in a few tasks such as picking up and taking attendees to and from airports, taking notes, operating the computer/projector, and setting up a Skype call. I told Rick that in a former life I'd been an executive secretary, and administrative assistant so I figured I could handle whatever he needed.

I missed the opening session of the conference on Tuesday while picking up that night's keynote speaker at the airport in Des Moines. Cindy Fogelman and I had a wonderful conversation on the drive back (over an hour). We arrived back at the Danish Immigrant Museum at the end of the introductions, followed by a delicious lunch at the Danish Inn in Elk Horn, Iowa. The afternoon session was time for each representative to introduce his/her organization. This is when I helped with the computer/projector for the PowerPoint presentations.

Dinner was held at a renovated livestock sale barn in Kimballton, Iowa, catered again by Danish Inn. Cindy told the story of her organization's involvement in caring for orphans and street children in Baghdad with a captivating slide show.

Wednesday's morning session included two speakers, the first, Jan Bradley on Sustainability, and then Julie Mierau (former Director of Entrepreneurship at Iowa Western Community College) on Innovation. After a really tasty lunch from Vittles, in Elk Horn, the participants decided to move forward with the breakout sessions planned for Thursday morning. I took notes for the Iraq group.

That night at the Cottonwood Barn we enjoyed another great meal from Vittles and heard Charlotte (Charlie) Ponticelli talk about her experiences working with women's issues in Afghanistan while at the State Department during the Bush Administration.

Thursday morning was a review and wrap-up session. I had to leave early to take Charlie and Allison, another participant from the Denver/Baghdad Partnership, to the airport in Omaha. When I returned to the Museum, everyone was gone except my friend Rick.

I thoroughly enjoyed being with these intelligent, educated, passionate people! My mind came alive and my heart was touched. I hadn't even realized how "dehydrated" I was, but I soaked up the conversation and camaraderie like the proverbial sponge. At each session and meal I sat with someone different so I could get to know as many as possible. At one session Ann Geiger from Sister Cities International was reaching for her bag to retrieve something and I stood up and got it for her. She said "I'm capable." I said, :"I know, but I'm the assistant so I endeavor to assist." We had a good laugh!

Many thanks to the participants: Linda Egle of Eternal Threads, Ginna Brelsford of Ayni Education International, Don McKay of Iraqi Hope Foundation, John and Jan Bradley of The Lamia Afghan Foundation, and Marshall Plan Charities; Mary Baumgarten from Food for Kidz, Ann Geiger, Sister Cities International, Lee McManus representing Council Bluffs, Iowa local sister city; Allison Sharp, representing the Denver Baghdad Regional Partnership for Peace; Adam De Jong from Dwell Earth, Monty Simus from The Bayat Foundation, Cindy Fogelman of The Sponsor Iraqi Children Foundation, as well as Charlie Ponticelli; Ken Choquette; Steve and Randi Nelson from Nathan Hale Middle School; Troy Muller, Pat Crossly and Dr. Scott Smith from New Century Art Guild; and Aseya, college student from Afghanistan (forgive my spelling, I never saw it written).

Thank you Rick for asking me to participate, we can fight over who got the most out of it, but I know I'll win. This was truly a saw sharpening experience for me.

Archaeology Dig in the Sewing Room

Another de-cluttering, de-junking Monday and I was hard at work in the sewing room. And glory be, I found things I've been looking for since we moved here in August 2010!

I don't have everything put away, mostly because I don't have a place for everything yet. But it is all sorted out and my desk cleared off, the shelves behind the desk organized and condensed. I opened every box and combined things and got rid of other things. All of my tools are together! I can find things! It is great.

I have a laundry basket full of "projects" and mending and such. There are 22 items. My goal is to do at least one each day, except Tuesdays which are sewing days and then I'll do as many as I can endure. When these things are done I'll move on to my actual sewing projects of new clothes and quilts and items for my Etsy store (more on that later).

It is such a good feeling to get that room organized and it was so exciting to find some tools I'd been missing!

Here are the BEFORE and AFTER pictures:

First, the view from the doorway

Such lovely, organized shelves!

Second, the actual sewing desk:

Now I have a clear surface to work on:

Last, my bins of fabric:

Still a ways to go, but everything in this area now is fabric, rather than projects or orphans:

This area still needs another "sort and organize", but it's from here that I'll select some treasure for my giveaway. What are you most interested in? Wool, vintage look, silk, cool cotton? Leave a wish in my comments and see what happens.

I don't know about you other seamstresses (or whatever you liked to be called) but I can't create in chaos. I must have order and I'm so happy to finally have it. Now if I could just find some little elves to keep it that way!

First Task - GET ORGANIZED!

Despite my best (or more likely because of my worst) efforts my sewing room is always a disaster area. I get fabric out for a project, decide that's not the perfect one and get out a whole bunch to sample and then never get it put back again. I have leftovers, patterns, mending, ironing, filing, piles of donations, off season clothes, and anything else that doesn't have a place all stacked and stashed around my room. It is a mess! And I have the pictures to prove it.

View from the door

My sewing desk

Most of my fabric stash (with some stuff on top)

Just today I got the totes of fabric into the corner and sorted some piles of fabric back into the appropriate totes. I love fabric and have lots! And I plan to use lots this year. I'm so inspired by the many other bloggers that I'm committed to making my daughter and myself some wonderful new clothes for spring.

But first I have to get the room organized so I can set up a cutting table and work space that really allows me to work.  I'm also wanting to share some of my fabric with others who could put it to good use. I'll think some more on how best to do that, as I have only eight readers and two of them are family.

I'm excited to report that I have been a really good girl for the first two days of the new year and the bathroom scale is showing a lower number than on the last day of the old year. It is encouraging!

In other news, we got a wonderful email from Elder PW saying he received the Christmas package and enjoyed all the goodies. Dr. Hair and Dandylion don't go back to school until Wednesday so I don't have the house to myself just yet, but they helped take down all the Christmas decorations and tree today and get that all stowed away in the basement for another year. It's so nice to have strong (and willing) young men to help lift and carry heavy things.

Sharpening My Saw

Linda J. Eyre tells this story in her book A Joyful Mother of Children:

"My husband's grandfather was a master carpenter. As a little boy, he used to watch his grandfather work, and he noticed that after cutting a few boards Grandpa's saw went slower and slower until smoke curled from the cutting edge and perspiration dripped from the old man's brow. The boy knew that even though his grandpa was anxious to finish the item or had a deadline for completion, he still took time to sit on a stool and methodically sharpen the saw.  Richard loved watching Grandpa's look of pleasure when he put the saw back to the board and it cut like a hot knife through butter."

TopDad and the boys were off school on Friday as a compensatory day after a week of parent/teacher conferences.  We got a couple of things done to the house, namely putting up a new latch and deadbolt on the front door and removing the old storm door (for use at the back of the house) and putting up a new full glass one to show off the pretty original door to the living room.

Here's the new door, right next to Ironman and his hippie friend (Dr. Hair and Dandylion). A pretty Autumn sunset is reflected in the door. Too bad you can't see the pretty front door. Next time.

Saturday while TopDad was putting up the new door, I was upstairs in our bedroom cleaning, decluttering and rearranging.  Sharpening my saw!  I couldn't move for the piles of stuff, mostly books, but lots of papers, clothes (changing seasons) and other miscellany that needed to be put away, decided upon, or trashed.  My goal is to have NO PILES on any of the floors in any of the rooms.  Lofty goal, but I believe in the scripture that says: "Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion." (D&C 132:8)  I want mine house to be that way too.

So, to that end I'm taking time at this busy season to clean and organize so I can better accomplish all my tasks for the upcoming holidays.  Next up is my sewing/crafting room. I'm borrowing Dr. Hair's camera for before and after pictures so you can see the difference.

May you take time to sharpen your saw and then cut through your tasks like a hot knife through butter.