Ooh Rah!

I promise this will be the last post about Pete for a while. (My facebook friends will be relieved!) This blog will return to its focus on quilting!

I didn't get a "first day of school" photo this year, but I got a "leaving for the Marines" pic instead!

We met Pete at MEPS in Boston yesterday morning. He was tired (4:15 wake up call), but excited to be processed and ready to go. He gained 15 pounds of muscle since he first went to MEPS last December. The swearing in ceremony was quick, but nice. They asked the boys (all boys this week) to introduce themselves and say why they joined. Pete said he wants to be a warrior. His contract is for MOS 0321, Reconnaissance. We recently watched a military channel documentary about Force Recon that describes them as a clandestine group of nearly superhuman special operatives. We were surprised he didn't say that! (Watch the preview video here.)

 

This is what my amazing son posted to facebook before he left:

Well, the time has finally come. My epic, life changing quest to become one of America's most elite warriors will soon begin. Thank you to everyone who has helped me get this far and thank you to those who will be with me down the road. Words can not express how humbled I am to be joining a group of outstanding men and women with such a rich history and profound reputation. Forever shall I strive to maintain that reputation. See you all in three months. SEMPER FIDELIS.

After we said good bye and I cried again, Bill and I walked up to the North End for lunch at Regina's and cannoli at Mike's. Then we headed over the bridge to Charlestown to see the USS Constitution again. Bill has been reading the book Six Frigates about the founding of the US Navy. He was looking at cannons and masts. 

I was looking for every mention of the Marines who served on Old Ironsides. This display says, "Americans aboard shallow-draft gunboats engaged the Tripolitans in savage hand-to-hand combat." Which Americans do you suppose they were? The Marines, of course! There were 270 seamen and 50 Marines on the crew at the time.

The Marines have worn the coolest uniforms since 1797! I bought a hurdy gurdy that plays the Marine Hymn and a magnet and postcard with an image from a Marine Corps WWII recruiting poster.

We got "the call" that he had arrived in Parris Island at 11pm. I was expecting it to be in the middle of the night, so 11 was a great relief. He sounded good, but stumbled on his scripted speech when I yelled Love you!

 

I joined the Marine Family Network, so all my discussions about Pete in boot camp will happen over there. I will spare you the gory details! I'm off to write my first letter to my recruit.

To Boston with Love

 I dragged Julia to Boston with me yesterday. I'm so lucky that she shares my crafty passion!

Our first and most important stop was the Museum of Fine Arts. Since it was their community weekend, admission was free, and there were lots of families waiting in the line that stretched down the sidewalk in the drizzle.

We headed straight for the Shapiro Family Courtyard to see this!

After making a flag and reading so much about this online, it was a little overwhelming to see it in person. 

We didn't know if we'd ever find my flag, but in the last corner left to search, we spotted it!

 

With its RIMQG friends!

 

In the view from the balcony (staircase landing), I indicated our location with the arrow. In case you've been wondering (as was I), the big green "tree" is a glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly called Lime Green Icicle Tower.

The toughest part about viewing the exhibit is that it stretches across a cafe in the middle of the courtyard. To see each flag, we'd have to lean over peoples' lunches, which is frowned upon at the MFA!

 After leaving the museum, we were starving, so we headed to the North End for pizza and passed this amazing display of wisteria in Christopher Columbus Park.

The real reason for going to Boston: cannoli from Mike's!

Our last stop on the way home was Ikea. I'll show you the haul and what I plan to do with it soon.

Love and Hope for Boston

 I've been sewing for Boston today. First up, a flag for "To Boston With Love." This initiative is being lead by the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild.  The goal is to bring messages of peace and love to Boston. Rhode Island has an anchor and the word hope in the middle of the state flag, so I chose both for my flag.

I paper pieced the wonky letters. I didn't trust myself to free piece them and have them come out the right size, so I drew out the paper piece blocks.

For the back, I used freezer paper stenciling to paint the anchor. I'm not happy that the front shows through, but they asked that no batting be used so the flags can fly free.

 

Click on the button for details, and be aware that the deadline has changed to May 21. The flags will be displayed during Memorial Day weekend.

 

Next up is a block for "Quilts For Boston" by the Boston Modern Quilt Guild. I had just signed up for Jacquie Gering's new Craftsy class, so I watched a few lessons and made a mini swirling stars block. The yellow star looks more like a diamond, but I'm OK with it.

Click the button for details:

This is what happens when I can't find the right vase! Beer bottles are the perfect size for a single rose (from Pete's senior night track meet).  And an aperitif glass is perfect for a bunch of stray grape hyacinths, picked out of the lawn before mowing.

Up next, a couple of bird blocks for the Modern Stash Bee.

WIP Wednesday

Finish: This star quilt was the perfect project for a beautiful Spring day. Read more about it here.

In Progress: I've been working on other outreach projects because they are mindless sewing. Yesterday, I finished the blocks for this bricks quilt that a little boy will love.

I finally started my flag for Boston last night. I chose the anchor from the Rhode Island state flag that stands for Hope. I used a freezer paper stencil technique with fabric paint. I'll heat set the paint when it dries and hope it doesn't run if it is out in the rain.

 

For the other side of the flag, I will piece the word HOPE. I am not good at have never tried improv piecing, so I drew out some wonky letters to paper piece. (I was excited to get an email from Craftsy, announcing Jacquie Gering's new class!)

I also pulled fabric for my block for Quilts for Boston. This project is using a tighter color palette. If the HOPE letters come out OK, I might enlarge them for this block.

Simmering: Two secret projects for two special people are due soon, but not started. I need to get going!

Mod Bento has been pin basted for weeks. Maybe I'll finally quilt it before next Wednesday.

On the back burner:
I ordered backing fabric for the Magenta quilt and my Three by Three top that has been waiting far to long to be quilted.  (Yikes! That 9-patch swap was 6 years ago!)

It's time to link up, then get stitching!

Boston!

Julia and Pete had the day off yesterday because of the primary election, so we headed to Boston! It's absolutely our favorite city. Every time we go, we find something new.

We started out with lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. Pete has a drum stick collection, so he added a pair here. They have an entire wall covered in cymbals!


We arrived at the National Park Service visitors center just in time for a free tour of the Freedom Trail.

I love the old buildings flanked by modern skyscrapers.

The tour ended in the North End. Since it was snack time, we stopped by Mike's Pastry for cannoli. Look at the size of these!

With a few hours to kill, we continued along the Freedom Trail to Charlestown.
I love this new bridge!

Unfortunately, this is the one we walked across. I never liked driving over this bridge, and it's even scarier to walk across. The top span is that metal grate that you can see through to the water below. Yikes!

Old Ironsides is a beautiful ship. Restoration continues, and the Navy hopes to actually sail her again next year. Until then, a tug boat pulls her around the harbor a few times a year to keep her commissioned.


I love all the ropes and knots on tall ships.

Our main reason for being in Boston was to see Rush at the Garden! I've been a fan since high school, so it's been fun to witness the kids discover the music of this incredible band. I've never seen so many air drummers at a concert! It was so funny to watch all the drummers in the crowd (including Pete) try to match Neil Peart's signature moves.

It was an awesome concert, a fun day, and we're completely exhausted!

I Love You, Paul!

Bill and I went to Boston to see Paul McCartney last night. What a spectacular show! He's still a rock god at 67 years old. His voice is still velvety smooth and he can still shred on electric guitar. During the 2 1/2 hour show, he plays electric bass, 2 electric guitars, 2 acoustic guitars, mandolin, ukulele, and piano.


I was too young for Beatlemania in the 60's. (Actually, I wasn't born yet.) Here's my sister's copy of Meet the Beatles. We figure she was about 8 or 9 when she wrote on the album cover.

I love you Paul...
I like you John...
Don't feel bad Ringo

We took advantage of Bill's Hilton points and stayed at the Doubletree in Chinatown for free! Yippee! In all these years, we had never been to this part of the city, so we did a little exploring this morning.





The Bear statue that used to stand in front of FOA Schwartz on Boylston Street now resides at Tufts Medical Center, right next door to the hotel. Somewhere in the archives is a photo of Julia and Pete in front of this statue when they were toddlers.


On the way home, we stopped at the Button Box in Wellesley. It's a great little shop with a really friendly staff.


A terrific 24 hours!