'Q' is for Quarantine . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

On whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV

'Q' is for Quarantine . . . OK, maybe not Quaker, but it is something that we are all living with at the moment. Whether or not we are in a hospital quarantine, mandatory quarantine or in-home self quarantine.

Friends around the world are reaching out in all sorts of ways - sharing how they, their family, their Meeting are spending their time and how they have changed their way of worshiping.

F/friends taking care of each other - calling, video chatting, standing outside the windows of care facilities and talking with loved ones over the phone while looking through the window.

F/friends making and distributing homemade face masks to those in need - family, F/friends, healthcare providers, first responders . . . whoever is in need.

I work for JoAnn Fabrics - and while we were closed to customers from April 8th through May 3rd of 2020, many of us continued to show up for work - filling BOPUS (Buy Online Pick Up in Store) orders, delivering to customers via curbside pickup, receiving deliveries, and stocking shelves. We were considered an "essential service" - providing the raw materials (cotton fabrics, interfacing, thread and elastic) and kits with the previously mentioned items (as available) with instructions and a pattern to make the homemade face masks - along with the raw materials that so many home crafters need to make their products to sell and bring in much needed income for their families.

I'm amazed at how generous JoAnn's has been with all  donations and concern/care not only for our customers but also for their team members. When I looked at the website and as of April 4, 2020 - company wide they had donated enough materials to make 5,000,000 face masks! In addition to that they figured that customers have purchased enough materials to make an additional 20,000,000 face masks! Customer donations to date (those that they are aware of) is 33,213,645 face masks. Along with this they partnered with Neiman Marcus Group to make thousands of scrubs and masks.

Over the last eleven months I personally made over 200 face masks and and about 50 scrub caps. Most of the face masks scrub caps went to staff at the local hospital's ER, a few scrub caps to my daughter-in-law, face masks also went to my children (including my new daughter-in-law and soon to be son-in-law) and granddaughters, along with friends and their family members.

Getting back to Friends, the need to stay connected as a faith body is strong, the need to be doing what we can to help those around us in need during this time is also great. Friends are always so good at doing what I call 'quiet service' - that is doing what needs to be done quietly and without the need for a think you. That being said, during this global pandemic Friends around the world have gotten creative! Learning how to worship safely and at a distance, sometimes thousands of miles separating those worshiping. We've learned how to use online platforms including email, ZOOM, Microsoft Teams, to conduct business and worship.

Stay safe my F/friends . . . and do what you can to make someone else's day a bit brighter.

                                     ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

'Q' is for Quarantine . . . and as here in the United States we are supposed to  wear a face mask while out and about, if one must be, or while working . . . here's the pattern from JoAnn Fabrics that I've been using.

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Cotton Fabric – at least 12”X9”
• Lightweight Fusible Interfacing 12” X9”
• 1/4” Elastic
• Basic Sewing Supplies

DIRECTIONS:

1. Download the pattern (adult & child sizes available)
2. https://www.joann.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-joann-project-catalog/default/dw36b4f157/images/hi-res/project/pdf/042188731P321.pdf
3. Cut 1 pattern piece, on the fold, out of the cotton fabric and lightweight interfacing
4. Apply fusible interfacing to wrong side of cotton fabric using an iron.
5. Fold fabric right sides together, matching 9-inch (8-inch) sides.
6. Sew along the 9 (8) inch side, using 1/4” seam allowance and leaving a space 3” wide in the center to turn mask right side out.
7. Cut 2 pieces of elastic 7 inches long. Insert into the corners of the two open ends of the mask and pin into place. Sew across sides, backstitching well over the elastic, to secure the elastic in place.
8. Turn mask right side out and press seams flat.
9. Using pattern as a guide, fold up 3 pleats on each side, making sure the pleats are folded in the same direction. Pin into place.
10. Top stitch around the entire mask, securing the pleats and closing the opening.

JOANN HACKS:

• Substitute elastic with 4- 16” Fabric Ties at each corner.
• Any light-medium weight, non-woven interfacing is appropriate for this project. 

I've actually cut 2 rectangles, 6x9-inches each and sewn them together. I cut my elastic at 6-inches for each side - as so many were saying that they were too big. I use Pellon P44F - a very lightweight fusible interfacing for mine.

"Ticked . . ."

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV

As I got on the coach Wednesday morning at YMG (Yearly Meeting Gathering) the Friend from BYM standing by the bus said "You've been ticked." I chuckled and said "I know what you mean by that, but in the States 'ticked' has a different meaning."

This incident reminded me of the difference there are in our languages. Like the word 'ticked' - this Friend meant that she had checked me off on her list - in the US 'ticked' would mean that your angry, upset or 'pissed off!' I knew this Friend didn't mean that she was angry, upset or pissed off at me - or that I was at her.

There have been other words . . .

Tuesday as I was leaving one of the upper floors of the Humanities building, after my 'Scouting and Guiding Conversation' workshop, I decided not to walk down the stairs, but rather take the 'elevator' . . . ugh 'lift!' WHOOPS, I actually said 'elevator' in front of a couple of British Friends . . . I caught myself and corrected myself quickly.

During my quilting workshops I tried to remember that what I call 'batting' here they call it 'wadding.' 

In my Scouting workshop Friends talked about Remembrance Marches - which was something that British Friends had issues with. Which led to some discussion as to how Young Friends might still be able to participate - doing it in a Quaker way. I had to ask if they were 'marching' (giving demonstration of that) and I was told no, they were just walking, so it was more the manor of the walk.

So whilst I've been traveling through England the last couple of weeks, even though we all speak English - not all of our words have the same meaning and in some cases we use totally different words for the same thing.

Some of my favorite phrases are "Mind the crack" a "Mind your step." With Friends one might use the phrase "Mind your words!" In the US we would say "Watch your step" and "Watch your words."

I know that there are a lot of other words I could have used here, but being told that I had been 'ticked' kinda made my day!

 

Walking the Labyrinth . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV

After breakfast this morning, I thought of taking another quick walk through the gardens at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, before getting my bags and heading to the car to leave. I did a bit of that and then found myself redirected . .  . to the labyrinth.

OK, why not? I had thought about walking it when I was here on Wednesday and again yesterday, but for one reason or another, I didn't. Someone else was walking it. I didn't know how to do it. It just didn't feel right. However, this morning something was different . . . it felt right to do so.

I found the beginning and started on my way. At some of the curves I stumbled a bit, as I sometimes stumble in life. Sometimes the path became a bit unclear, again as in life I thought.

Along the way I saw the morning dew on the grass . . .

I saw leaves . .  .

I saw tiny flowers growing - some were purple and some were white . . .

I saw one small white feather . . . and a few steps later, there was another.

It was quiet . . .

The labyrinth had a beginning and an end - just as my journey through England has . . . just as in life I thought.

Walking the labyrinth this morning seemed so right . . . Was it the right way to end this journey? Was it the way to begin a new journey? Only time will answer these questions . . . or will it?

It was time to slow myself down and to take a bit of time to thank God for all the blessings of the last two weeks.

A time to think of all my Friends - new and old, those I've met before and those I was meeting for the first time. Friends I have known online, Friends I've blogged with, Friends I met in Peru at FWCC World Plenary last year, Friends from an online course just completed through Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre . . . and oh so many new Friends!

Time to recall all the HUGS, conversations, laughter . . . and sometimes tears.

Thoughts of what does God have in store for me next? When I get home? Next week? Next month? Next year?

I'll wait patiently . . . and listen.



Ministries in Action . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV

 

This morning, as we rode the train from Paddington Station (in London, England) on our way up to Heathrow Airport, I got to thinking about several situations that happened to us whilst we were out and about yesterday . . .

 

The first happened to us on the east side of London. After traveling some time by double decker bus and stopping for breakfast we walked around looking for a fabric shop that a Friend had found online. We arrived at the destination only to find that that shop had closed and that it wasn't believed that they had relocated. Bummer! BUT . . . we were redirected to the west side of London where we were told there was a whole street of fabric stores!

 

The second situation occurred during our train ride, to the west side of London. A young Asian man had mistakenly gotten on our train instead of another.

 

Not one, not two but three of his fellow passengers offered him help! All talking to him and pointing to the map above the windows several times showing him where we were and where/when he needed to get off and switch to a different train to take him to the airport. All working together to help this stranger get to where he needed to be.

 

A member of our group, who is familiar with the train system, offered him help. She knew where he needed to get off and told him to get off the stop after we did.

 

A young man sitting next to him offered help. He too was getting off before the other young man needed to get off and would have stayed to help, but would have been late to where he was going.

 

And a woman sitting next to him also offered help. After a while, she said she wasn't in any hurry so she would ride to the end of the line with him and make sure he got there. 

 

The third situation happened after we got off the train . . .

 

We arrived at our stop and looked down the street - yes, just as we had been told on the east side of London, this street was full of fabric shops! BUT . . .  where to begin?? I was the one looking for fabrics, specifically cottons that I could take home and use in some sort of quilting project or projects. The Friend leading our little group noticed the two Jehovah Witnesses standing nearby and approached one of the ladies and asked her.

 

We were told that we might find what we were looking for in the 'market' across the street or in one of the many shops down the street. We walked a ways through the 'market' and didn't see anything fitting what I was looking for, so we went back out to the street and started searching there.

 

After a walking several blocks and checking out several fabric stores, we found a very nice little spot to sit and rest and have cups of tea, coffee and bottles of water.

 

About two or three shops later I found some floral calicos that I thought I could work with and I purchased five and a half meters altogether for what I thought was a very fair price.

 

So, ministries in action??? Yes!

 

The young lady/ladies at the location of the original fabric shop we went to that redirected us over to the west side of London, shared their knowledge with us.

 

The three strangers on the train all working together helped the Asian passenger get to where he needed to be.

 

And the Jehovah Witness who gave us suggestions as to where we might find the fabric I was searching for.