Fire Captain Jan Chatelain - you will be missed

I don't like to announce when I go out of town until I've returned because of the whole " someone's going to see I'm gone and break into the house" theory of things. Now that I'm back I can talk about my trip to LA. Unfortunately, it wasn't a vacation - it was for my sister-in-law's memorial service.

Jan passed away a couple weeks ago from a job related cancer. That's a term you don't see too often unless you know someone in the fire department. You see, fire fighters work with smoke and asbestos and other toxins that increase their chances of getting cancer to way more than the regular people. They know this going in and take on the job anyway. If you look at the reasons firefighter pass they are almost always heart attacks or job related cancer. This is a fact I didn't know until recently.

My SIL was a Fire Captain for LA County. She was the 13th woman to become a fire fighter in LA County. She is the first female captain to pass while on active duty. She was in line to become a Battalion Chief. Jan was a force to be reckoned with. A strong woman who knew what her passion was and she went for it.

Last Saturday we all gathered to remember this remarkable person. The we being friends and family and what felt like the entire LA County fire department. It was a hot day and about 200 firefighters showed up with their trucks, rigs, cars, paramedic vehicles and more. There was a giant flag hanging from two ladder trucks over the street we drove in on. The department provided my brother and me with an official escort for the day so we didn't have to drive or worry about anything but showing up and being amazed at how much organization and care went into the memorial.

Chief Daryl Osby, fire chief of LA County, gave a talk about Jan and her service. He also had some personal words about her that showed he really knew her. There was an honor guard with bag pipes and it all ended with a flyby of 2 helicopters. Later we learned they held off heading out to a brush fire for one minutes so they could complete the flyby.

The LA Fire Department is amazing. The 2 chaplains (Matt and Rick) who spent time with us were great guys. The union rep from Local 1014, Andy, had everything so in control and did so with such care. The term family really does description the fire dept. By the day before the service Andy had already made sure Jan would be included in this year's service at the fire fighter memorial in Sacramento and was working on getting her included in the National memorial in Colorado for next year's service. Thanks everyone, you made a tough time easier to endure for my brother!

Through all this I was knitting. On the plane, at my brother's house and now at home. I've designed a shawl that is basic, strong and has some feminine accents to it. It reminds me of Jan. When I've completed the shawl it will be for sale as a PDF download. The proceeds will be going to a group to support firefighter families. I'm talking to Chaplain Matt about which specific group and will let everyone know when we decide the best one. He's checking around to see if there was a group Jan spoke of or worked with and that's what we will send the proceeds to. It seems so little but its what I can do to honor Jan and all the members of her department that give their lives to protect others.

The Boys Big Week



It's been a big week around here so The Boys decided to show you what they've been up to.

 

 

We had some knitting and watching quilting videos time. Notice we're into June and there was still a sweater on my body for this pic. At least we're finally into summer like weather now. It's about time! Back to knitting and watching videos - I've been very happy watching "The Quilt Show". It's a web show and you have to buy each season but I lucked into getting Season 8 for free. They offer several episodes from past seasons for free so you can give them a test drive. Bert seems to like them very much! If you want to see all the free episodes you'll need to "join" but it's free.

 

We also had some time to hang out in the kitty cottage. Bert loves to find the smallest window in the cottage possible and hang his head out till he makes choking noise. Very strange! It had Chief confused too.

 

We had normal versions of napping with each of them taking their place on the kitty jungle gym.

 

After a nice restful nap there has to be bath time. Chief usually gives Bert a bath but every once in a while Bert will return the favor. I think it's Chief thinking he's the older brother and having to take care of the baby.

 

 

This week has also started a new and rather disturbing thing. Check out the picture. I'm standing in the den/cave. The room with the tile across the hall is the bathroom. Notice anything that might cause problems when I don't bother to turn on the lights to go "across the hall"? Multiple times this week Chief has decided to stretch out right in my pathway. I don't know if its because the floor is cooler there or what. It can't be because he wants more attention because he spends a huge amount of time on my chair or my chest with me watching TV and he's never been denied cuddles so I just don't get this.

But - it's spreading. Tonight right in front of the bathroom door was both Boys. With swishing tails. Very proud of themselves because this seems to be a new game of "Let's see if we can trip up Mom". I can hardly wait to see what they come up with next.

 



I have a couple things that I can't show quite yet. I'm part of a secret swap with one of my Ravelry groups and I can't post thing thing I made until my swapee gets it. I hope it makes her very happy. I had fun designing it.

I'm also designing a shawl in honor of my sister-in-law. She's a Fire Captain (recently retired) with LA County. I was not aware of how many fire fighters end up suffering from various forms of cancer because of the work they do. It makes sense. You can't work around smoke and toxins and all the things fire break free from buildings without having some nasty effects. There is a group that supports the firefighters and their families and have been a great source of support with my sister-in-law because, she too ended up having to fight the cancer battle. When the shawl is done I will be writing it up and putting it on Ravelry for sale. It will be a small cost and all profits will be donated to the fire fighter support group. I'll give more details and pictures when everything is ready to go.

Happy Father's Day

Miss 'ya Daddy!

Happy Yarn Bombing Day

I did absolutely nothing to celebrate International Yarn bombing Day but - I have friends. I have awesome friends! Lori gets into yarn bombing in a very creative way. She doesn't knit a flat yarn piece and just slap it up on a tree or something, she creates works of art.

A few year's ago she knit a hat to fit over the hat on the Mary Tyler Moore statue in downtown Minneapolis.

This year a dragon over a bike rack. What is extra special about this dragon is it's location. Apparently, she didn't even notice the pub across the street until after the dragon was "birthed". Across the street is a pub called George and the Dragon. How perfect is that!

 

 

The last picture may take a bit to open because I left it "full size" so you can enlarge to see the dragon and pub better.

 

 



 

Start of Summer

As a child Memorial Day meant the start of the family cabin season. Grandpa built a cabin in northern Minnesota in the late 40s to be a gathering place for all the family. As a child every summer holiday meant Grandma, Grandpa, the aunts and uncles, and all the cousins were up at the cabin together enjoying the freedom that being away from the city means. Many of the other weekends were also many of us up there but something about the holiday weekend, having 3 days with my family buddies was special.

One of the most important things about about the weekends was Danish Apple Bars. My aunt brought them up to the cabin once and a tradition was started. There were very few weekends that didn't include these wonderful bars. They're like apple pie bars with vanilla icing on top. Yum!

I haven't had a chance to make them in a few year cause I know if a make a pan of them without a place to bring them, I'll eat the whole pan. They're that good! But I decided to start the summer by giving you the recipe. Trust me. Make them and you can thank me later.

Danish Apple Bars

2 1/2 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 T sugar
1 C shortening
2 Egg yolks
1/4 C milk*
1 C corn flake crumbs
6 Apples, peeled and sliced
1 1/2 C sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 dash salt
4 tsp butter
2 egg whites

Powered Sugar Icing

*Amount of milk depends on size of egg yolks

Sift flour, salt, and sugar together. Cut in shortening.
Put 2 egg yolks in measuring cup and add milk to make it 1/2 C. Add dry mixture and blend with fork. Divide dough in half.
Roll 1/2 mixture to fit jelly roll pan. Top with corn flakes crumbs.
Mix apple slices, sugar, cinnamon and salt in bowl. Place in pan and dab with butter.
Roll remaining dough and place on top. Brush with beaten egg whites. Bake 400 F for 45 minutes.
Drizzle with powdered sugar icing.

Powdered Sugar Icing

1 C powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
2 T milk
Combine in small bowl. Add more milk as needed to make drizzle consistancy.

My Mind is Blown!

Back in 2002 I went to my first "real" quilt show. The quilts I saw were unlike any I had seen before. Quilting wasn't limited to log cabin quilts or sunbonnet sue quilts. They had grown into an art form. That show by the Minnesota Quilt Guild opened my eyes to many new quilt artists I had never heard of before.

Sharon Schambers

Hollis Chatelain

Caryl Bryer Fallert

And Ricky Tims

There were of course many, many others I was introduced to that day and that fall when I went to the International Quilt Show in Houston.

In the years that have passed I have attended many other quilt shows and always walk away with a sense of awe at the quilts and the minds of the people who create them.

This past week I got an email asking me to fill out a questionnaire about a new movie coming out based on the book "Persian Pickle Club". I read that book many years ago so figured, why not. The questionnaire asked about my buying habits and on line habits about quilting things. Many questions were geared toward - would I buy fabric or patterns based from the movie. Easy enough questions. When I was done they gave me a free subscription to "The Quilt Show" with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims for the 8th series. I enjoyed Alex when she hosted "Simply Quilts" on HGTV and I love Ricky Tims' quilts so this was a nice little treat. At least that's what I thought.

This morning I decided to watch a couple episodes. First off, they are done very well. They may be online shows but the quality and production value is definitely high. Episode 804 & 805 are a 2 parter on how Ricky Tims creates his rhapsody quilts.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Ricky Tims goes through step by step everything he does to create a rhapsody quilt. He shares all sorts of tips and tricks to make it easier and do-able. These 2 parts are basically a 2 hour seminar by Ricky. He has the camera person move in so close you see exactly what is happening at the sewing machine. He lets you in on his award winning secrets - and yes, they are really award winning as he has many, many awards for his quilts. My mind is totally blown by these two episodes! How can I one minute look that something like Bohemian Rhapsody and think "No way could I ever do that." and the next minute be thinking about making one because it really is do-able. That's the mark of a really good teacher. Now, I have to head over to his web site and check out his teaching schedule. I think I may be in trouble here.......


Oh - I almost forgot to add. If you are interested in seeing amazing quilts in person, the MN Quilt Show is in a few weeks and this year it happens to be in Duluth. I'll be there!

MQ Quilt Show and Conference
June 13-15
Duluth, MN

Same ole'......

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since the last post but, that's what the date says. Life at work has been one massive yuck. I'm not only doing my regular position but also covering another one since it is taking forever to find someone new. As a result, I'm trying to do 2 jobs at the same time and one of them takes great coping skills. I come home tired and not in the mood to be creative. I've been sitting each night eating fast food cause I'm too weary to cook, staring at the TV and knitting basic things. I worked on the 19 stitch afghan and a pair of garter rib socks. Both of which take no creativity, just let the brain cruise into neutral and watch the stitches appear.

The socks are done as is a lace scarf I've been working on for a few years on and off. I also decided to get some quilting done but - there's that whole "creativity sucked out of me" thing going on so I made a placemat this weekend. My quilt guild is making a bunch of Christmas placemats for Meals on Wheels and said if we each make two they'll have enough. So, one down, one to go. I still need to finish the binding and I'll get a picture when it's done.

Rumor has it an offer has been made for the other job at work but even if the person says "Yes" there's still all the starting stuff - background checks, drug test, etc. and then there's the time to train this person so I'm guessing I have 3-4 weeks left of double duty. If there's no posts during this time, forgive me. I'll catch up when I can and I'll look really hard to find my creative drive and that part of me that like to post pictures of the projects, the cats and other silly stuff, Just know that I'm not depressed or anything, just weary. Bert and Chief are doing their jobs and keeping me company and providing a great source of cuddle time. They do that better than any cats I know!