Crazy Craft Club

This craft club started over the summer on Thursday afternoons and moved to nights when my son started Preschool.  Tonight there were four of us all coming from different parts of the world.  England, Scotland, China, and America.  It is interesting to see how each of us started with identical canvas and how each item came to be. 

Ten year anniversary of 11th September 2001

photo from REUTERS/DoD/Tech. Sgt. Cedric H. Rudisill/Handout

This is what I remember.  I could smell it from where I was.  Everyone focuses on the first two planes that hit the twin towers.  Well there were two more planes.  One in DC, and the one that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.  It was a day that people all over the world will remember for a long, long time.

I worked for an Airline that flew for United Airlines at the time. I was off at home due to a work related injury.  I was just falling asleep that morning after taking medication too help with the pain and enable some much needed sleep.  I received a phone ca11 from my stepmother shouting into the phone hysterically turn on the TV.  I was dazed and said, "I am just falling asleep why do I need to turn on the TV?"  as I grabbed for the remote. I turned on the TV and put it on one of the main channels and as she was telling me about the first plane hitting, I see the footage on the news of the first plane crash into the building.  It was very surreal.  My Dad and Stepmom were gridlocked as they were heading out of town in their RV to go on holiday.  I know took them hours to get  home. It was hard for me to comprehend that there was a terrorist attack.  Little did I know it was just beginning.

At the time I was dating my husband, who lived in Scotland, United Kingdom.  I phoned him up just after hanging up with my parents and told him what had happened.  He was working in Leith, Edinburgh at that time.  He and his staff went to find a TV.  The rest of the day we chatted via Instant Message.  They found a TV just in time to see the 2nd plane crash into the world trade center.  I think shock and disbelief in watching that was felt around the world.

I am still reeling from everything happening in NYC when I hear reports of a fire at the pentagon.  I had a friend staying with me helping me out while I was dealing with injuries and she was working at Pentagon Row that day.  I phoned her and told her to get out.  She then noticed the smoke filling up the workplace. Her house had burned down as a child and she thought the building she was in was on fire.  She made it out of the building safely, and then said there was so much smoke she could barely see.  She made it to her car, but with all the confusion and chaos with what was happening... It took her HOURS to make the fifteen minute journey back to my house.  

I remember having to go out to my car and get my map book to help her navigate through all the road closings to get back.  When I stepped out the front door, the smell... with the breeze coming from that direction, I could smell the distant smell of jet fuel burning.  Working for an airline, and being on the tarmac so close to the planes, you know that smell.  I immediately felt my stomach churn and felt the bile come to the back of my throat.  I told her I think it was a plane that hit and not a bomb that caused the fire.  That theory was confirmed for me shortly after getting back in the house.

While I am on the phone with my friend, I see the first building fall and I am stunned.  There are reports that not all aircraft are accounted for and suspect that there is another plane.  It is announced that all planes are to be grounded and airspace will be shut down.  I hear there is suspicions that the government may send US military to shoot down anything in the restriced air zones.  There are reports of car bombs in Dc that turned out to be fake.  I vaguely remember another story that turned out to be false reporting of a bomb or fire nearby at the Mall in DC.   I am now curled up on the sofa, waiting for my friend to make it back watching the news on TV.  Who they suspect, are people still alive after the collapse of the building, the show people covered in ash walking around on the street.  Then live shot of the 2nd  building collapsing.  It is hard to believe even now. 

Shortly there after were the reports of the last plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. I think it was somewhere near 11 am.  Despite the shock and the adrenaline pumping news casts, I was struggling to stay awake. I drifted in and out until my friend arrived and watched the news a bit more, and slept fitfully. 

The only other thing I remember from that time was how I felt when the announced America's borders were closed.  Having a loved one on another continent terrified me, it may have been a little selfish, but I believed home was when he and I were together, and the thought of not being able to see one another for who knows how long was an extra added punch with everything else going on.  AS the events unfolded along with speculations, the odd bit of facts and all the conspiracy theories all I could feel was anger. 

Ten years on and I still feel a lot of anger, but also a lot of sadness.  I just wish there was a better solution We are still occupying on foriegn soil and nothing seems to have changed.  I think because the people who want this war have still not changed their viewpoints and dont have value of anyone but their own group of culture, and even then it is a small percentage that feel this way.  I am not there, I can not see with my own eyes.  I personally have a hard time understanding how someone can have such a skewed view that they can hate that deeply and be justified in their religious teachings to take another life.  I dont understand how any religion could support such hatred and violence. 

I digress though, as that is not what today is about.  Today is about remembering.  I do remember, and I shall not forget. The total number of dead in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania was 2,977 people, not including 19 hijackers.

Another thing I remember... Happy Birthday Samuel P. Warren. RIP 11/Sep/1911- 7/Dec/2000)  Today you would have been 100 years old.  I love you and miss you.

Family Projects... 3Sep2011, Sunday

Well, part of my life in Scotland would be had no matter where I lived!  I am a parent and we try to do things together whenever we can.  Whether it be going out somewhere, or doing something at home.  My son is nearing the end of his third year, so we are doing skill based projects at home.  Here are a few photos:

after drawing together and gluing bits of paper, we decided to make some Gluten free treats:

and sometimes we have accidents.  I happened to cause this one while we were reclaiming one of my husbands shirts to use for crafts... it seems that while using the stitch ripper to remove the buttons, I got a little overzealous!

Well, that is a start of showing you a little of what my family does together.  Incidently, I am healing up just fine!

little boy and his owl.

I went to another Craft fair to take photos and try not to spend money,

but this little owl, I could not resist. My son saw it as I was unwrapping it and

claimed it for his own.  I lost out on the owl.  Right after this photo he ran

and put it on his bed.  Cheeky monkey!

KID FREE Craft Day

Katelyn of MadBrilliantIdeas came by today and we crafted. 

Here are some photos of what Katelyn made, she usually

makes bags, coin purses, monster pillows and other assorted crafts.

Finish Toffo below...

Here is a painting I did with the leftovers:

I also painted and then decorated a canvas, however,

I can not post photos of what I accomplished as

it is a Christmas Gift for Beckie, and well...

she reads this blog. Dagnabit!

Grocery shopping/bringing home messages.

Over here, most people in the UK use some means of public transportation.  In some cases it can be costly if you are travelling to and from by taxi/cab.  So, the use of online delivery for groceries is a way of life for me.  With recent technology, I even have an application for it on my android phone! 

I tend to shop at two grocery stores teh most.  Either Tesco or Sainsburys.  I just found out about http://www.mysupermarket.com/ , which is a website that will tell you about deals you missed, or healthier alternatives, or even if other grocery stores in the area are selling what you want for less money.  A pretty good idea.  I havent figured out if I am still able to accumulate club card or Nectar points, etc through the website.  Great Idea though!

I will say it is nicer sitting down and thinking through meals and menus for the week, rather than going in and buying loads of things I wouldnt do to marketing or... my child trying to sneak something in the cart.  Okay, if I am honest... it is usually my husband doing this! Either way, it helps keep the budget on track and with 'favorites' it can be done in a matter of minutes.  I do miss shopping and being able to pick my own produce, but if I dont like what is brought, the delivery man will take it back and a refund given. 

Just so handy.  I know some of the larger cities in the US do this as well, but on a bigger scale here. 

Communication and Pronunciation...

One of the things that has taken awhile is geting used ot hearing things pronounced differently. The other is different words with different names.  If I say to my husband... can you pass me my purse? He will hand me my wallet.  If I say pointing at a pile of folded clothes, hand me those pants... he will hand me a pair of underwear.  Are you getting the picture?  Jersey for Sweater, Vest for onsie or undershirt, waistcoat for vest... and so on!

Now a word or two that can get you into trouble here... bum for bottom, not bum as in vagrant. Oh... and NEVER EVER say that your fanny aches.  Fanny is not a word word in the UK for your butt--nope it is slang for vagina.  Yup... you will get some strange looks.  Another one to be careful of saying is the phrase; 'Toss the Salad'... it is sexual inuendo here.  Whereas fag is another word for cigarette. fag ends = cigarette butts. 

There are words I hear that I have to stop and mentally translate into american in my head before I can continue... the person can be five sentences ahead and I am still working on the word that sounded wrong and replaying the first sentance in my head so I can comprehend it.  I dont watch the news here because I get lost! Deciphering accents and then name pronunciations... it is just too distracting.  Say for example there is a news story about something to do with Maryland, it would be pronounced in the UK as 'MARY-Land', not 'Meryland'.  Oh, and forget about any Spanish words being pronounced properly.   Tortilla, Jalepeno, guacamole to name a few.  Just sounds odd.   I think Dora the Explorer needs to do a food episode for the masses here! 

Life is amusing at times with what pops up!  As Always, if anyone would like to add some words and/or share a story, please do!