Yes, we did feel and hear the earthquake yesterday here. Unfortunately, at least for our little family, it was also a very bad day because we had to have one of our cats put down. Our boy, Tom, 20 years old mostly Siamese cat, suffered from kidney issues for about two years, getting Ringers lactate infusion once a week. He stayed pretty happy and active for most of that time but went dramatically downhill this week. There just aren't any other options and pets cannot live forever. Still we are bereft and weepy right now.

Tom was sitting on my lap at 10:23 which was when the first earthquake happened. There was not a whole lot of ground shaking or anything but there was a fair amount of noise in the creaky old house built of stone. No discernible damage though. We felt the 4.8 at 10:23 but did not feel the milder earthquake later in the day.

I have been forcing myself to wait to start a new project because finishing the small Illegitimi quilt did a number on my right arm. Sometimes when I get near the end of the project I get a little carried away with finishing and don't pay as much attention to the mechanics as I should at my advanced age. So I have been suffering from tendinitis and tendinopathy for  a couple of weeks. Once I am more or less repaired I will make my husband a quilt featuring his favorite dog, our old border collie who has been in dog heaven for several years. 

My arm problems weren't helped by my long competitive swimming career but what really brought the issue to the fore was having polished black granite in my old house in Utah. Keeping those counters polished led to most of the recurring issues although doing my own plastering and sanding, in addition to the hand sewing, was also a contributing factor. So take heed because this is not a whole lot of fun. Since I cannot sew right now, I have been reading a lot of books in addition to the literary journals and other periodicals I get. I used to be timed at reading more than 500 words a minute so having a good public library nearby is a wonderful resource for me. When the weather is nice we even walk there as it is only a little over a mile away. The weather hasn't been that nice so far this year but we did get one library walk in last week.

 

 If anyone was wondering what Jared Kushner was doing with the $2billion dollars MBS and the other Saudis gave him, wonder no more. Good old Jared proposed that Gaza be turned into beachfront resorts and property. If anyone thinks that is a good idea, consider that Jared proposed this just over a month ago when fighting in Gaza had already killed more than 20,000 people, about 50% of whom were children. Must be nothing quite so thrilling as swimming and lazing around in the blood of innocents, regardless of religion or ethnicity. Jared went on to say that the situation was unfortunate, an understatement of enormous proportions. I can't wait to see the advertising. 

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2024/03/20/jared-kushner-gaza-waterfront-property-valuable-trump-israel-sot-vpx.cnn

 Thank you, Anne. This is one project that I know has never been made or copied before so it is unique from the jump. I often adapt other quilters' designs to suit my own choices but this was hand drawn by me. Of course I don't care if someone now copies it.

 Here is a photo of the completed project. For me this is a flag for all seasons and a motto to live by.

 Seems as though Trump might be more exposed in the near future. It is currently reported that he cannot make his bond in the NY fraud case. He approached thirty insurance brokers to secure the bond for the $400+ million dollar fine, telling them they could use his real estate as collateral but that would mean they would be responsible for the properties. That is not a deal anyone wants to touch.

Where will he go next? Inquiring minds want to know.

Chortling ensues.

 Trump keeps bringing up January 6th as if that were an event that deserves praise and recognition. He has already promised to free what he calls the "hostages" of January 6th. The insanity of that notion resonates with his supporters as if it were the Boston Tea Party or some other noteworthy historical event. It was noteworthy but not for any admirable ideas or actions.

One of the hallmarks of our nation as a democratic republic is that power transfers seamlessly. Or at least that's what happened until Trump lost the election. The man is so deranged and so narcissistic that he could not take the loss as a gentleman but had to deny the loss as a monster. Unfortunately his Trumpettes are swayed by what they think is fighting for the country rather than fighting against the country. 

My Twelfth Night entry on this blog was written contemporaneously with the violent incursion. My own deep love of the country and our history informed my observation of crazed thugs destroying what has always been a revered moment when the people's voices are recognized officially.

So it should not be a surprise that those who continue to deny what is truly great about this country--that we can individually and as a group choose by ballot to shift the government to a different path--follow their deranged hero into destroying that which makes us great.

In 1956 I was living in Heidelberg, Germany, with my family. The Russians invaded Hungary. The US went on high alert as they expected confrontation. That meant that my family, along with thousands of other families, were evacuated from Europe. While war was expected, it did not happen. The US decided to let Hungary wither under communist control for decades.

Now Trump is hobnobbing with Victor Orban, the leader of Hungary who has convinced Trump that a strong leader has ultimate control and ultimate power.

Do you Trumpettes agree with that? If you do, you need to go back and read your junior high history books. Our democratic republic may be messy and disorderly but we don't need dictators to tell us what is good or right. Each of us has a responsibility and the freedom to prevent that. 

 When the Emperor had no clothes the people were astonished.  At least that's what happened in the old children's story that was supposed to be a lesson in disguise. So what do folks think about Trump finding himself unable to cover his nakedness. He not only doesn't have $400M in cash as Alina Habba claimed, he doesn't even have a quarter of that amount. I would say, "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" except too many think he is just being cautious with his cash.

To that I ask, since when has Trump ever been cautious about anything? Another "time was" sort of commentary simply shows how far we have fallen from the ethical and moral and how close we are to utter chaos. It would be nice if I thought that it doesn't make any difference but it makes all the difference in the world. We support murderous thugs so what's another reprobate or two?

My "Illegitimi non carborundum" is quite small so the quilting is moving along swiftly. I am already thinking about my next project which will be a departure from my norm in some ways.