Trip to the pridelands!

Well, not really the pridelands...it's more like the Furmanlands! Chris and I are leaving TOMORROW for a long relaxing weekend in Greenville (because it's close, cheap, within half-a-day's driving distance, and has GREAT ribs). Not to mention the fact that we'll get to watch the cute baby ducks and reminisce about Good Ol' Furman. Mostly, I'm amazingly excited to go on a vacation, even if it's only for a few days, and it's not anywhere exotic. There will be time for that, I'm sure!
On the crafty side of things, I have finished the quilt top! The border is constructed but not sewn on yet. So the prognosis looks good-I may actually finish this thing!

My Adorable Wallet!

This is my third attempt at making a solid, sell-able wallet. The first two were fine, but without interfacing, and I hadn't figured out the coin pocket bit. Now I have too much interfacing (too thick to sew evenly) and the coin pocket needs a little refining. But needless to say, I'm getting very close! And these great Heather Bailey fabrics don't hurt anything, either. :)

Oh my goodness! I truly am an old lady. They must have a lot of fun getting it on with their sewing machines. :) Actually, I've been mildly bombarded with fabric. Chris's mom sent down a TON of coordinated pre-cut fabric squares, and a volunteer at St. George's brought me a bunch of flannel fabrics that she swore she would never use. Last Friday, I came home from work and went to check the mail, and found a wine box parked in front of the door. It was FULL of fabric!! Literally. Packed to the brim. I must have 50 or more large pieces to work with now-between only that box and what I had originally. Needless to say, I was inspired, and these 20 squares are the product of all my hours in front of travel channel DVDs this weekend. I haven't decided quite how I'm going to put them together yet. With individual borders? What color? All the same color? I'm in a creative crisis, and I can't decide!

Think Green

Environmental awareness is quickly becoming a new platform for me, in addition to supporting public schools. At work, we are divided in half about the issue of global warming and pollution, and separated by a huge chasm. The other employees tend to conveniently disagree with the issue and are sick of hearing about it, mostly because they dislike Al Gore and his father. The younger and, consequently, more educated half, disagrees. We see the facts for facts and are interested in talking about ways to affect change in our daily lives. Unfortunately, I do not see the fire in other employees' eyes about wanting to act. But I guess we have to move one step at a time. Understanding is the first step toward change.
I keep hearing and learning about groups and programs that are designed to promote local businesses (to limit pollution by shipping products by ground and air). And there are insane amounts of products that completely revolutionize the way we think about cleaning and using electricity. AWESOME! So anytime I hear about something cool, I'll let you know. There's tons of stuff out there, and in every city. We'll just have to look for it. :)

Hands on Nashville

Here's a new find for me, but not a new find for the city: a fabulous volunteer organization that gets involved with everything from landscaping to knitting, and from book club discussions promoting change, to weekly soup kitchens. This organization really does have something for everyone, and they challenge all of the area residents to 15 hours of service by the end of the year. That's a pretty manageable goal, considering how many of us waste too many hours on email, Facebook, and chatting online...not to mention anything that has to do with the TV. So here's to inspiration, one hour of service at a time!

I will save the world by not being satisfied with the status quo. I will save the world by not shirking away from the innate duties I have as a woman who loves children, as an educator, as a tax-paying resident of Nashville, as an American citizen, and as a human being.

I will not stand for mediocrity when I can do something to affect positive change on the way Nashville students live and learn. I hope that you will not, either.

Today's students will lead future, but our school system needs help to make that happen in the best way possible. This is why I'm inspired to do something.

How often do each of us come up with a terrific idea, and then do nothing about it? Today, I am making a promise to myself that I will make active decisions and pursue meaningful things with my time, efforts, and money. Although I am not teaching, I will do what I can to give back to the community, because several years ago, I know that someone did that for me.

An Opporunity to Provide Books!

Barnes and Noble has an annual program called "Back the Stack" that runs during the month of April. To participate, visit the B&N store at Cool Springs or Opry Mills. Participating schools have their book wish-list available.

Hillsboro, Hillwood, and Overton cluster school lists will be available at Cool Springs. All other school lists (of those participating) will be at Opry Mills.

Last year, 1,100 books were donated. There are more than 74,000 students. That's enough books for about 1.5% of the students here. Every book helps, but we are not making a dent yet.

An easy solution? Save $10 at the grocery store each week between now and the last week of April. That could go toward 9 or 10 books for each family who pitched in!