Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Flag Day

 Flag Day was a big deal when I was a kid. In Buffalo, New York, where I attended elementary school, we learned patriotic songs that I still love to sing! We had parades and said the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. I hope they still do that. I have been out of school for a while, so I don't really know. Do you have your flag out today? I do! God Bless America, Land that I Love!
 Of course we American quilters also love our patriotic quilts! This one pictured (that just didn't want to load right side up) is a photo that my husband took while in New York. I can't remember where he took it. I just found it on his I-phone. But it is old and behind glass, I can see that. Maybe one of you out there can enlighten me. Awesome, isn't it?

 We US quilters love to make patriotic quilts as well. This one, called Homeport, is one of the first quilts I ever designed. It has been, and still is, a popular pattern here in Virginia Beach.  

I had the misfortune Monday morning of finding a package on the front steps that must have been delivered late Saturday. It rained Saturday night and also on Sunday, and since we never left the house all weekend this is how it looked Monday morning.
 You know what, these sideway photos both came off the I-phone. Interesting. My camera photos have never done this.
But you get the idea. Box busted open and contents soaked. 
 Here is what it looked like later that morning. 300 some pattern covers all soaked and 5 dozen envelopes permanently sealed. I was mad. Since I know we were home all day, I know we would have heard the doorbell if the postman had only rung once! But I think he is too lazy to climb the steps and ring the bell, he just heaves the box up and leaves. Fortunately I deal with a wonderful printing company, Vistaprint, and they happily replaced the whole order for free. Wow, I am so impressed with that kind of service. Their quality is awesome as well. If you ever need a printing company please check them out!
 And now I must share my new TV favorite! The show is Doc Martin and it is a British TV show that has been off the air, but is now available on Netflix and other places. The link takes you to Hulu.com where they apparently have it. His face says it all! He is brisk and rude and hilarious. He is funnier than House, who I don't find funny at all. The show takes place in this beautiful waterfront village filled with quirky people with whom he gets very frustrated. The episodes are filled with a good mix of both drama and humor. I have crammed all four seasons of the show into the past month and when I am done with the 30 episodes I will probably start over because I am hooked! And-good news! They are filming again this year! Yay!!!


So there is another glimpse into my oh so fascinating life!


13 comments:

Gayle said...

Marcie - I recently discovered Doc Martin after hearing friends discuss it at a rug hooking meeting. So far I've watched two episodes and I'm HOOKED! And for sure I want to visit that wonderful village some day! I need to go back and watch the early shows now.

Becky Pitcher said...

I've never even heard of flag day! But I've also never had to go to school so late in the year, maybe it's still a thing?
And I tried to watch Doc Martin, but I thought it was booooring.

Janet said...

Oh how frusterating to find that mess on your front step! Wonderful that it could be replaced!!

Michele Bilyeu said...

Phew! Good thing I already had flags out and decorating everything, everywhere. They may have been left out since Memorial Day...esp. in honor of my Dad...but I know about Flag Day and ALWAYS put his flag out at his house when I was up in Alaska in May, June, July,and Nov and do our house, when I am here, as well. Hmmm, do I have all of the right months for flying our flag?

sewprimitive karen said...

That flag picture might be from the American Folk Art museum..? Must try Doc Martin! At first I thought that picture of Doc Martin was going to be of a Bad Mailman lol.

Anonymous said...

Your quilts are perfectly patriotic and having military in my blood....full of extra meaning!!

It is a shame your postal worker is like that! I love my gal! She always honks her horn, rings the bell and if by chance I'm not home she tucks packages on my porch on the window sill area and bench. She knows they are likely quilts or something along those lines (the I'm usually home to receive them)...now that said, a few years back there was a horrible UPS driver who tossed any packages "close to" my garage door! I had been expecting a package on a certain day...it came and went. It showed being delivered! This was a Friday and they were closed for the weekend. That Monday a different UPS guy arrived with the package. I told him it showed delivered...he said yeah...that guy wanted off early Friday...he is unemployed now. Thankfully my new guy for UPS uses my covered front porch as well.

Lori said...

We have a lazy mail lady too! How frustrating to find the mess, but am thankful the printing company would replace them.

My flag is flying today!!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh what a bummer for those patterns. We started watching Doc Martin too. But we get it on PBS here.

Latane Barton said...

I definately will have to check out this Doc. Martin. Sounds like something to keep me entertained on a lonely evening.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

That would've made me mad too! Vistaprint to the RESCUE... YAY for excellent customer service!! I've never heard of Doc Martin (except for the shoes). Gotta check it out.

Ruth said...

Love the patriotic quilts! I have several too. Thanks for the info about Doc Martin. I'm going to try it - sounds good.

AnnieO said...

Love your patriotic quilts! We sadly forgot to put our flag out for Flag Day--and we have a pretty sorry looking flag that really needs replacement before July 4th.

Oh, man, I would be so mad about those patterns too! What a complete waste.

I tried to like House but the main actor is only allowed two facial expressions and I got tired of it immediately! This British doc looks interesting :)

Linda said...

I feel your pain re your mailman (or lady). We had a wonderful mailman for 15 years, who was transferred to another route a few months ago. The mailman we have now just crams packages marked "fragile into my mailbox, leaves boxes teetering on the post behind the mailbox, where anyone could grab them, and never, ever gets out of his truck! How lazy!

Doc Martin has been available here on the New Jersey Network, but since our lunatic governor just ended funding for the station, the station is ending this week, so who knows where I'll be able to get it now.

Linda