Now I understand there's been serious flooding in Colorado. Anyone know how quilters can help there? If someone down in the US is coordinating an effort, let me know and I will publicize it up here in the Great White North. :-) And...I'll check my stash and see what I can whip up!
Showing posts with label Southern Alberta Floods 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southern Alberta Floods 2013. Show all posts
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Special Delivery
Yesterday, over 1,300 finished quilts were delivered to Calgary through the efforts of coordinators of 'Quilts for Calgary' in Calgary and Edmonton. Here's Calgary's Mayor Nenshi's response to these gifts:
Now I understand there's been serious flooding in Colorado. Anyone know how quilters can help there? If someone down in the US is coordinating an effort, let me know and I will publicize it up here in the Great White North. :-) And...I'll check my stash and see what I can whip up!
Now I understand there's been serious flooding in Colorado. Anyone know how quilters can help there? If someone down in the US is coordinating an effort, let me know and I will publicize it up here in the Great White North. :-) And...I'll check my stash and see what I can whip up!
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Art = Hope
My "neighbour" exhibiting next to me at the "Take 5" art show and sale this week has been Joyce Hartman, who lives north of Bashaw, just off Highway 21...and is, I believe, a member of the Bashaw Art Club. I can't find a web page or blog for her (she's older than I) so can't give you a link. Sorry.
She features in this afternoon's story of delight and joy.
It was very quiet during my shift at the show (1 - 4 p.m.) but 'long about 3:30 p.m. a young family sauntered by our front door as my co-worker and I were taking a breath of air. I invited 'em in to see the art...but the littlest girls weren't interested. Still, on their way down the street I heard one adult with them say, "I'll bet your mom would like to see the art show."
Sure enough, a few moments later they were all in the theatre: mom, three daughters (eldest, about 11 years old), and friend/companion.
By closing at 4 p.m., "Mom" had purchased a bold acrylic (unframed) canvas by the above-mentioned Ms. Hartman: "Mountain Ash Berries". She said it reminded her of the tree in her former front garden.
Former, because she's from the Flood Zone (or 'Ground Zero of the Flood', as she called it) in SE Elbow Park area in Calgary. Not one of the fancy newer homes, but an older, modest home that is normally 2 blocks from the Elbow River -- except when it floods. (She showed us photos.)
She and her husband bought the house a year ago; the 11-year-old had her bedroom (with art supplies) in the basement.
The basement was flooded nearly to the ceiling...but the place is salvageable. That said, the girl lost everything. Generous benefactors in a shop in Britannia (a very posh SW neighbourhood) where she has a picture on sale, have given her art supplies. Strangers have come out of the woodwork to help with the clean-up. The family is living higher up in the northwest part of the city, with "Mom"'s parents.
And yes, the front garden is gone...or at best, a muddy mess.
When we asked what could be sent to help in the area, "Mom" replied that the most important thing was food and cleaning supplies, like paper towels and hand sanitizer for the cleaning crews so they could wash their hands before they could eat. Some of the volunteers have had to be hospitalized due to mould etc. contracted/inhaled while cleaning.
Not a word about something she needed. Only about the needs of others.
And she bought art. Uplifting art. A picture that would remind her of her wee holiday in Bashaw, a rural place in the middle of nowhere, Central Alberta, where, she agreed, one could find healing and solace and the strength to start again.
May it always be so.
She features in this afternoon's story of delight and joy.
It was very quiet during my shift at the show (1 - 4 p.m.) but 'long about 3:30 p.m. a young family sauntered by our front door as my co-worker and I were taking a breath of air. I invited 'em in to see the art...but the littlest girls weren't interested. Still, on their way down the street I heard one adult with them say, "I'll bet your mom would like to see the art show."
Sure enough, a few moments later they were all in the theatre: mom, three daughters (eldest, about 11 years old), and friend/companion.
By closing at 4 p.m., "Mom" had purchased a bold acrylic (unframed) canvas by the above-mentioned Ms. Hartman: "Mountain Ash Berries". She said it reminded her of the tree in her former front garden.
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| Photo Credit: Global Calgary |
She and her husband bought the house a year ago; the 11-year-old had her bedroom (with art supplies) in the basement.
The basement was flooded nearly to the ceiling...but the place is salvageable. That said, the girl lost everything. Generous benefactors in a shop in Britannia (a very posh SW neighbourhood) where she has a picture on sale, have given her art supplies. Strangers have come out of the woodwork to help with the clean-up. The family is living higher up in the northwest part of the city, with "Mom"'s parents.
And yes, the front garden is gone...or at best, a muddy mess.
When we asked what could be sent to help in the area, "Mom" replied that the most important thing was food and cleaning supplies, like paper towels and hand sanitizer for the cleaning crews so they could wash their hands before they could eat. Some of the volunteers have had to be hospitalized due to mould etc. contracted/inhaled while cleaning.
Not a word about something she needed. Only about the needs of others.
And she bought art. Uplifting art. A picture that would remind her of her wee holiday in Bashaw, a rural place in the middle of nowhere, Central Alberta, where, she agreed, one could find healing and solace and the strength to start again.
May it always be so.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Quilts for Calgary - Come Hell or High Water
Thank you to SAQA Western Canada for posting this information on its blog! Now there's a way for quilters to help out that is concrete and do-able.
There are shops in Calgary accepting quilts:
There is also a connection with our quilting friends in Houston, Texas (Calgary has long been nick-named "Houston North" because of the oil business)...and a way for our US friends to help if they so choose...
(from "Quilts for Calgary" on Facebook)
And what would a Western Canadian flood be without an appropriate song?!
There are shops in Calgary accepting quilts:
- My Sewing Room (where I got my start as a quilter with their wonderful classes); and
- Rumpled Quilt Skins (in Okotoks, where I bought my trusted Husqvarna Lily 555, located not far from High River, the worst hit in the floods...)
There is also a connection with our quilting friends in Houston, Texas (Calgary has long been nick-named "Houston North" because of the oil business)...and a way for our US friends to help if they so choose...
(from "Quilts for Calgary" on Facebook)
USA Address for Donations to Quilting for Calgary (Facebook)
By Bev Rogan in Quilting for Calgary (Files) · Edit DocWe are most grateful to Westfreight Systems in Houston for their kindness and generosity. Westfreight will be bringing US donations to us once a week hence eliminating the customs concerns and expense for our US friends in getting their donaitons to us. Please send your donations to:Westfreight Systems16855 Crosby FreewayHouston, Texas, 77049Ph. 281-456-7332Attention: Kathy or Randy
And what would a Western Canadian flood be without an appropriate song?!
Written and performed by Blake Reid
Yes, I'm back from Montreal...and working in the studio. More posts soon. Summer School is underway and I've been playing with paint and my new embellisher. Stay tuned!
Friday, June 21, 2013
Ten Ninety
Many tumbling thoughts on this First Day of Summer. Here it's rain, rain and more rain. Parts of Calgary, where I lived for over 30 years before moving out here, are under water, and there have been evacuations. Current Mayor, Mr. Nenshi, advised all who can to stay home today -- especially out of the downtown area, where public transit, streets and parking will be difficult in the lowest areas.
To understand how unusual this is, you need to know that in all those years, downtown Calgary never closed for snow, let alone rain.
The city is built around two rivers -- the Bow and the Elbow. While the Elbow may have crested, it's not known how long it will be before the waters begin to recede. The Bow, on the other hand, may still be rising. The Mayor on the situation:
There have been mudslides near Banff and Canmore that have cut off Highway 1 -- the TransCanada -- and may be blocked for up to a week!
Below is a photo of Macleod Trail, a major thoroughfare travelling south through downtown Calgary, one of several such photos submitted via Twitter on the Weather Network post of the situation.
I've never seen anything like this in the city I called home for three decades! I have friends and family there and so far everyone has reported that they are home and dry and safe but...whoa!!
High River, south of Calgary (site of "Smallville" in the Superman movies starring the late Christopher Reeve) is in real trouble and people (and the hospital) have been evacuated.
Sundre, south and west of here by a couple of hours, is also in a local state of emergency, and has moved it's hospital patients 'way east to Innisfail. In fact, the east side of Sundre has been evacuated as the Red Deer River is rising...
And the news keeps rolling in!
I'm off to start the rest of my day...Montreal-bound (flying out of Edmonton) tomorrow, so meeting my friend who'll be watching the house and the kitties till my return (Wednesday -- it's a short trip)...mumbling prayers continually as I go.
To understand how unusual this is, you need to know that in all those years, downtown Calgary never closed for snow, let alone rain.
The city is built around two rivers -- the Bow and the Elbow. While the Elbow may have crested, it's not known how long it will be before the waters begin to recede. The Bow, on the other hand, may still be rising. The Mayor on the situation:
There have been mudslides near Banff and Canmore that have cut off Highway 1 -- the TransCanada -- and may be blocked for up to a week!
 |
| Photo Courtesy of "Meanwhile in Alberta" (Facebook) |
 |
| Photo source: The Weather Network |
High River, south of Calgary (site of "Smallville" in the Superman movies starring the late Christopher Reeve) is in real trouble and people (and the hospital) have been evacuated.
 |
| High River - Photo Courtesy of 88.9 Shine FM (Facebook) |
And the news keeps rolling in!
I'm off to start the rest of my day...Montreal-bound (flying out of Edmonton) tomorrow, so meeting my friend who'll be watching the house and the kitties till my return (Wednesday -- it's a short trip)...mumbling prayers continually as I go.
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