Trees taken by Ike

The morning after Hurricane Ike swept across Houston, we tentatively ventured outside to see what damage had been wrought by the strong winds of this storm. We were very fortunate to only lose electrical power for nearly one week -- no damage to our home (at least that we have spied). We once had a large stately Water Oak tree in front of our home -- but since it was "overly mature" and had begun to randomly drop heavy limbs (no winds, no rain, just limbs falling to the ground), we made the difficult decision to have the tree taken down this summer. There is no telling what Ike may have done with our old Oak tree ... if given the chance.

The photo above shows a sister to our Water Oak. The dramatic view of limbs blown down by Hurricane Ike is repeated throughout our neighborhood.
Below is another photo of a tree blown over by Ike's storm. Isn't it odd how the St. Augustine grass came up with the tree and roots?

These photos are common images seen not only in our neighborhood but all along the path that Hurricane Ike traveled. We are fortunate that so many of these trees came down into streets and yards, rather than on top of houses and cars. However there are many with have roof damage and other casualties from the havoc wreaked by Ike. May they all find the means to recover from the extensive damages suffered.

In many ways, not having electricity was a blessing -- we had no television or cable to see the many horrific images broadcast on television in those first few days after the storm. There were many images in the Houston Chronicle, our newspaper, which resumed publication one day after the storm.

My friend Mary Ann captures the feeling of life-post-Ike accurately in her blog. Please click here to learn more about life after Ike. Although without electricity for several days, we discovered friends who had power within hours after Ike blew past. Friends and neighbors have all been generous in looking out for one another. A cool front also came to town when we needed it most. What a welcome sight it was to wander by local restaurants and grocery stores and discover that they were open again! When our electricity was restored, our neighbors across the street were not as lucky, so immediately we filled our empty freezer with containers of water -- making ice to share as the weather began to warm up again. There are still several homes across the city without power -- it is an odd hit-or-miss situation. The schools are in a similar situation. Tomorrow, some of the public schools in HISD will reopen their doors for the first time since Sept. 12, but alas our elementary school is not. It is listed as "pending" ... perhaps we will reopen on Thursday .....

Evacuate or Stay?

I have had the opportunity to "hunker down" and wait out a hurricane before, and have always chosen to evacuate. The first time was in 1988 when Hurricane Gilbert was heading toward Brownsville, Texas. I fled with my Bernina and my photographs, leaving my sweet husband behind to "man" one of the evacuation shelters in town. We were fortunate. Gilbert made landfall south of Brownsville, in Mexican farmlands -- damage and injuries were small in Brownsville. I returned in a few days to discover my dear husband had rearranged all the furniture as he unpacked (we had piled everything high, as we feared possible flooding). From this experience, we learned all about renter's insurance and flood insurance.


My second brush with a hurricane came when Hurricane Rita was predicted to hit Galveston and Houston in 2005. Emotions were high as everyone in Houston had been busy helping the Katrina evacuees from New Orleans. I loaded up my car with my two boys, my Bernina, photo albums and favorite quilts and fled to Austin. My husband decided to flee this time too (err, evacuate), but he missed a crucial turn on the highway, and ended up going a different route. Fortunately I brought bottled water and snacks in the car as that trip to Austin (typically a 3 hour drive) took over 20 hours to complete! We were part of the world's largest traffic jam. My husband's route was much more congested. After 13 hours of driving, he was still inside Houston city limits. At Beltway 8, he exited the highway and returned home. Again, we were fortunate in Houston -- Rita made landfall further east, causing much damage and destruction to areas still recovering from the earlier hurricanes that year, Katrina primarily.


Hurricane Ike has been my third hurricane to experience -- originally expected to hit land near Houston, forecasters changed their predictions to locations further south and west, reverting back to a Houston/Galveston landfall just two days before the storm was due to arrive. The traffic jam of the Rita evacuation was still a strong memory, so we decided to stay this time and "shelter in place" or "hunker down" at home. The first time I do not evacuate, the hurricane does not change path, swinging neither to the west nor to the east. Landfall was on the eastern edge of Galveston, Houston sustained massive damage -- primarily the loss of electricity across the city, the nation's fourth largest, due to trees blown down by the hurricane force winds (for images, click here). All in all, our home suffered minor damage, for which we are quite extremely grateful.


What will I decide to do the next time a hurricane is predicted to come my way? I cannot say -- perhaps I will evacuate -- or perhaps I will hunker down again and wait out the fury of the storm .... in my home ....

Should I flee -- here is an evacuation check list to refer to .... hopefully in the far and distant future ... if ever...

Ike

Ike update and news ...

(Our home with our old Water Oak tree; January 2, 2008)

I have had the opportunity to "hunker down" and wait out a hurricane before, and have always chosen to evacuate. The first time was in 1988 when Hurricane Gilbert was heading toward Brownsville, Texas. I fled with my Bernina and my photographs, leaving my sweet husband behind to "man" one of the evacuation shelters in town. We were fortunate. Gilbert made landfall south of Brownsville, in Mexican farmlands -- damage and injuries were small in Brownsville and elsewhere. I returned in a few days to discover my dear husband had rearranged all the furniture as he unpacked (we had piled everything high, as we feared possible flooding). From this experience, we learned all about renter's insurance and flood insurance.

(Our home with Azaleas in bloom; March 23, 2008)

My second brush with a hurricane came when Hurricane Rita was predicted to hit Galveston and Houston in 2005. Emotions were high as everyone in Houston had been busy helping the Katrina evacuees from New Orleans. I loaded up my car with my two boys, my Bernina, photo albums and favorite quilts and fled to Austin. My husband decided to flee this time too (err, evacuate), but he missed a crucial turn on the highway, and ended up going a different route. Fortunately I brought bottled water and snacks in the car as that trip to Austin (typically a 3 hour drive) took over 20 hours to complete! We were part of the world's largest traffic jam. My husband's route was much more congested. After 13 hours of driving, he was still inside Houston city limits. At Beltway 8, he exited the highway and returned home. Again, we were fortunate in Houston -- Rita made landfall further east, causing much damage and destruction to areas still recovering from the earlier hurricanes that year, Katrina primarily.

(Our home, ready and waiting for Ike to come; September 2008)

Hurricane Ike has been my third hurricane to experience -- originally expected to hit land near Houston, forecasters changed their predictions to locations further south and west, reverting back to a Houston/Galveston landfall just two days before the storm was due to arrive. The traffic jam of the Rita evacuation was still a strong memory, so we decided to stay this time and "shelter in place" or "hunker down" at home. The first time I do not evacuate, the hurricane does not change path, swinging neither to the west nor to the east. Landfall was on the eastern edge of Galveston, Houston sustained massive damage -- primarily the loss of electricity across the city, the nation's fourth largest, due to trees blown down by the hurricane force winds. All in all, our home suffered minor damage, for which we are quite extremely grateful.

(Our home, the morning after the storm -- no water oak, as it was taken down in August -- lots of leaves and branches everywhere; September 13, 2008)

What will I decide to do the next time a Hurricane is predicted to come my way?
I cannot say -- perhaps I will evacuate -- or perhaps I will hunker down again and wait out the fury of the storm .... in my home ....

Legend of the Bluebonnet

A field of bluebonnets -- a classic sign that Spring has arrived in central Texas -- is a favorite time of year for me. The legend of how the bluebonnets came to be in Texas is also a favorite story -- either the version retold & illustrated by Tomie de Paola or the poem below.




"The Legend of the Bluebonnet"

The Texas fields are covered
With a blanket of deep blue.
But for a little Indian girl,
This would not be true.

Texas land was buried and dry.
Rains just would not come.
Indians danced and prayed for rain,
And beat upon their drums.

The Chief made a proclamation.
He appealed to one and all.
A prized possession must be sacrificed
Before the rains would fall.

The Indian camp was silent,
While each person searched his heart.
But when it came to sacrifice,
With possessions they would not part.

Suddenly a little girl stepped forth,
Holding her blue-clad doll.
She placed it in the roaring fire
and raindrops began to fall.

The rain brought forth the grass,
Among its blades, flowers of blue.
To be a sign for all the time
Of a love so pure and true.

-- Author Unknown


This poem is the inspiration behind my 2008 Journal quilt. It portrays all the Elements (earth, wind, fire and water), the theme of this year's Journal Quilt exhibit, also a juried exhibit for the first time this year. One prerequisite specified that entrants were not allowed to post photos of their journal quilts before the International Quilt Festival opened (end of October 2008, in Houston). Since I have received the official notice that my quilt did not survive the jury process and that it has been "released" back to me, I am free to post photos here on my blog. Likewise, I will enter it into the Online Journal Quilt exhibit, called "Braving the Elements" and being curated by my friend Linda T. Minton.

Of the 150 quilts entered into the 2008 Journal Quilt jurying, 48 were selected to be in The Festival exhibit, including 3 by friends of mine. Congratulations to Linda, Susan & Nancy! If your Journal quilt was released from the official exhibit like mine, be sure to send it in to Linda's online show, "Braving the Elements" -- she needs all your info and jpgs by September 15. (I'll send mine to you this week, Linda. Promise!!!)

My ATC collection begins

Last month I showed you the two ATCs that I had made and mailed off to friends in England. Here are the two that I received in return. They are the beginning of my ATC collection .... so they will always be very special to me.

The first one is made by my friend Carol Taylor, a fiber artist friend to whom Wales is home. She's also our Textile Challenges leader. Carol had made four ATCs which she posted on her blog (here), willing to trade to the first who requested them.
"Industry 3 of 4" features a hot glue gun squiggle, beading and a dash of copper stitched down by hand and machine embroidery.


Even before I finished the ATC I was making in return for Carol (see my post here), I joined one of our Textile Challenge swaps -- a lottery of hand-embroidered ATCs. After we signed up, she matched us randomly with names and stitches. Ati in Norway was matched with French Knots and my name! How fun to receive this international post.

Ati's embroidery is wonderful! She filled the entire surface with french knots stitched with different fibers and lovely colors.


I see a reclining lady in a field of heather, relaxing and loving every bit of it! What do you see?

Deadline: September 5, 2008

Just a quickie reminder that tomorrow, Friday, September 5 is the DEADLINE for all Texas Fiber Artists and Quilters to send in their applications to the "It's Not a Quilt ... Or Is It?" show in Round Top, Texas.
Below is more info .....
===============

"It's Not A Quilt ...Or Is It?" is a juried fiber show open to art quilters and fiber artists residing in the state of Texas.
Note: this show is held in a gallery and all pieces are for sale. Open to Texas Residents only. The show will run for 3 weeks in February 2009.

Important Dates:

September 5, 2008
Deadline for submitting your Artist Portfolio for the jury process.

October 1, 2008
Deadline for submitting digital photos to the gallery for promotional materials. Photos should be of new work that will be available for the show.

January 27, 28, 29, 2009
The artists who have been selected to participate in the show will bring their finished artwork to Copper Shade Tree.

February 6 through 28, 2009
Opening night of "It's Not a Quilt ... Or Is It?" at Copper Shade Tree Gallery, Round Top, Texas. The show closes at the month's end, February 28, 2009.

===============

The essential information to be included with your application is:

• Name
• Address
• City (must be a Texas resident)
• Phone #
• Email
• Your Artist Statement
• Brief Description of each piece
• Two photos of each piece (one of the full piece, another detail shot)

Email your entry to: gerald@geraldtobola.com

Or

Mail your entry to:
Copper Shade Tree
206 E. Mill St.
Round Top, TX 78954

Please email Gerald if you have any questions: gerald@geraldtobola.com

"With One Voice"

My quilt and entry form for "With One Voice", the 2008 Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit, were sent out in yesterday's mail. I am excited about this exhibit and look forward to seeing the entire show online, since I will not be in Michigan any time soon. Even though this is similar to my earlier post, I am posting again here -- since it successfully encapsulates all that Henrietta Szold and Hadassah (the organization she began) has done and continues to do. Plus the photography is brighter, perhaps. Tell me what you think.....


I chose to honor the memory of Henrietta Szold (1860-1945) for two reasons: (1) the success of Hadassah, an organization she founded and (2) the new trail she blazed for women in an age when they were not encouraged to venture beyond the traditions and expectations set by family and society. Henrietta was born December 21, 1860 in Baltimore, Maryland, when the country was entering the Civil War. She died in Jerusalem on February 13, 1945 as World War II was ending. She was 84 years old.


Dry facts do not capture the full essence of her remarkable spirit. As an educator, Henrietta taught in private schools, then began some of the first night classes for Jewish immigrants where she taught English (a necessary skill) and History. In 1888, Ms. Szold became the first and only female member of the newly founded Jewish Publication Society where she worked for 22 years as an editor, translator and administrator. She continued her own studies, receiving permission to study at the Jewish Theological Seminary after promising not to seek rabbinic ordination. This was a time when only men were Rabbis. Nearly one hundred years passed before the first female became an ordained Rabbi.

Aghast at the poor medical conditions she witnessed during a 1909 trip to Palestine, Henrietta Szold organized the first chapter of Hadassah in New York City. The primary goal of The Hadassah Chapter of the Daughters of Zion was to improve medical conditions for everyone living in Palestine, whether Muslim, Christian or Jewish. The year was 1912 and Henrietta was 51 years old, an age of independence, strength, and maturity.
Over the years, the Hadassah organization grew and adapted to the changing needs of Israel and the United States. In 1933, Ms. Szold began the Youth Aliyah movement that rescued over 22,000 children from certain death in the Nazi concentration camps during the years 1933 to 1945. Youth Aliyah continues to serve the needs of “at risk” children in Israel today. The Hadassah Medical Organization, continuing the early path set by Ms. Szold, is one of the world’s leading institutions in healthcare. In 2005, HMO was nominated for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, receiving international acclaim for promoting peace in the Middle East by providing equal treatment to Palestinians and Israelis. Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, has grown to be the largest women's, the largest Zionist, and the largest Jewish membership organization in the United States. For more information on Hadassah, please go to their website at www.hadassah.org


I am a Life Member of Hadassah and I am proud to share all that Hadassah has done and continues to do because of the bold determination of one voice, the voice that once belonged to Henrietta Szold, the founder of Hadassah. For more information on Henrietta Szold, please start with the Jewish Women’s Archive website at http://jwa.org/exhibits/wov/szold/over.html