Listen To The Rain

National Turn Off TV Week -an annual event where children, families, schools and communities are encourage to turn off screens and "turn on life". Instead of relying on screens for entertainment, participants read, daydream, explore, enjoy nature, and spend time with family and friends - or listen to the rain.

I managed to grab the morning sun before the rain came again. I finished my last monthly goal - the geranium quilt. Scrappy Roman Stripe blocks bordered with a vintage geranium print sheet. This will be added to the donation for my quilt guild charity collection.



SQUARED UP

I sorted my 'mini' charm pack from Moda (Just One Star thank you) into lights and darks and pulled some left over Moda Jelly strips - Moda lines play so nice together.

I kept the Jellies folded and cut two 2.5" and two 6.5" pieces - you get two blocks from one strip.

I'm sure many of you have made the 'boxed boxes' blocks. Very quick blocks to make up a quilt in a day.

A pile of pretties ready to be laid out into rows. I only switched a few blocks around from the initial pile just laid out on the floor.

6.5" blocks pieced 6 blocks across and 7 blocks down (used those 42 mini squares) and then just used a Jelly strip for borders. A cute, easy donation quilt 40" x 48". This will be going to the Hands 2 Help Quilt Challenge. I should be able to get it sandwiched, quilted, and bound this week.




MAY FOR ME

With no TV time - instill some ideas of things to do while you grab your May time. Making puzzles, doing a craft, reading a book, playing some board games.

Mediterranean Chicken Wrap
For the yogurt sauce:
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 large garlic clove, minced
2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste


For the wraps:
3 1/2 to 4 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 medium sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 medium tomato, chopped
4 large pocketless pitas, warmed if possible
Combine sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl; season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Place the chicken in another mixing bowl. Toss with olive oil and oregano.
Arrange pitas on sheets of wax paper or foil. Top with the chicken mixture, sliced onions, and tomatoes. Spoon some yogurt sauce on top, fold each pita in half, then wrap up tightly or use a toothpick to hold everything together.
Ideas for picky eaters: If your kid won't eat the assembled wrap, allow them to dip pieces of chicken and veggies in the creamy yogurt sauce.

WINNER

My daughter loved going thru your postings - I didn't read a one as I wanted her to not be influenzed in any way. She made her own list and then compared it to all of yours. She chose the person who most replicated her list - stating "I think this person knows you better than me!" Congratulations KATIE Q - I will need your mailing address. I thank all of you who braved the task. There will be more fun and gifts during the month of May.



APRIL IS POETRY MONTH
Listen to the rain,
the whisper of the rain,
the slow soft sprinkle,
the drip-drop tinkle,
the first wet whisper of the rain.
Listen to the rain,
the singing of the rain,
the tiptoe pitter-patter,
the splish and splash and splatter,
the steady sound of the rain.
Listen to the rain,
the roaring pouring rain,
the hurly-burly topsy-turvy
lashing gnashing teeth of rain,
the lightning-flashing
thunder-crashing
sounding pounding roaring rain,
leaving all outdoors a muddle,
a mishy mushy muddle puddle.
Listen to the quietude,
the silence and the solitude of after-rain,
the dripping, dripping, dropping,
the slowly, slowly stopping,
the fresh wet silent after-time of rain.
*Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault