April Activities

Sometimes you have to take a break and sew some small projects. I made another lunch bag as a gift for my sweet sister-in-law.  I expanded the size a bit and had to wing-it (hah!) with the Soft & Stable and cover. It turned out quite nice, if I do say so myself!

Then I started sewing a small kit from Connecting Threads -- but I can't show it yet because it's gift.

Finally I returned to quilting. The Red Cross quilt is sandwiched and ready for quilting. I also added two and a half rows to Jamestown Landing / Blueberry Hill. Seven and a half more rows to go, then it will be time to work on the blue string border. [Will this ever get finished???]

The weather is improving! Spring has finally arrived! A few hours were dedicated to preparing the raised beds in my garden then planting peas and lettuce. Next week the broccoli and cabbage plants can be added. Another week later it will time to put in more seeds and tomato plants. The rhubarb is already starting to show. We should see some asparagus spears in the next couple weeks, too.

And more importantly...I got in some fun flying time, just a few takeoffs and landing for practice and 'currency'.  I need three takeoffs and landings every 90 days to be deemed proficient enough to carry passengers, but I like to keep the interval to 30 days or less to keep my skills fresh. Plus my airplane engine needs the exercise (or at least a splash of oil across the cylinders). And it puts a big smile on my face and a spring in my step after being up in the air.

This week I had a couple incidents which caused me to reflect a bit on the Vietnam War. At the EAA meeting this week, our guest speaker was a guy who talked about flying helicopters in the war. He had lots of funny stories but also shared the sobering fact that half of his flight class died in the war. He also compared his opinion about why that war was 'lost' and how history seems to be repeating itself in Afghanistan and Iraq. [So true!]  Tonight I read an article in Sport Aviation about a pilot who spent 8 years as a POW. Recalling his vivid description about his captivity, final release and the trepidation he felt in rebuilding his life is still bringing tears to my eyes as I type. He eventually continued his career flying for a major airline and organizing a group of guys to honor fallen or returned soldiers with formation flights. What an amazing man! I wish I could have met him before he passed away recently.