machine settings on Bernina 1530

I suppose it would be foolish to recommend you consult the users manual.

That's a last resort, Ron. As in, "If all else fails, RTFM."

If she happens to have gotten the machine used, she won't have one.

In that case, the first thing to do after getting it home is to buy one:

's my favorite: addition to useful information about how to USE the machine, it will contain invaluable instructions for how to MAINTAIN the machine. Beverly

Woohoo! Beverly's back!

Woohoo indeed. I am never leaving home again.

;-} Not really, but the bed in the hotel was horrible. I slept last night from 10:00 to 7:00 this AM. I have an adjustable bed, I elevated the foot of the bed last night, now my swollen ankles are almost back to normal.

More later, gotta go make my first cup of mocha....

B

I hope your feet are back to normal soon. I hate ending up with swollen ankles/feet after travel. When I was in Thailand I slept with my feet on a spare pillow - a 7 hour flight followed by a 6 hour flight did not do my legs any good.

Ah, too much blood in you caffeine stream? Look forward to hearing all about the trip and piccies please.

Lizzy

We've missed you, Beverly and am glad you're back home.

Now, we need to hear what about DGD's dancing, Nashville, and the entire trip. Pictures are expected, too, when ever possible, please.

Emily

Hotel/motel beds are iffy. The Peabody Hotels have lovely beds. I had a bed in Atlanta once that I think was trying to eat me -- it molded to my body in such a way that I couldn't move. I hate strange beds. Strange rooms, too. I travel with a nightlight.

My little Dyazide pills that I've got to keep my blood pressure down have the lovely side effect of preventing fat ankles. Otherwise, in summer I would be like the little old ladies of my youth with their rolled down stockings and sensible laced oxfords with ankles hanging over -- NO! Never that!!!!

I have always tended toward edema in my lower legs, and when I travel it gets much worse for whatever reason. You know how they always say, "STAY HYDRATED" when you fly? Well, I do, I drank lots of plain water and/or tonic water on the two flights home. I took a diuretic before bed, and with the end of the bed about 6 inches above my head things returned to normal pretty quickly. The nice part was, each time I got up to use the bathroom, I was able to drop right off to sleep again.

LOL! Yeah, much better now.

I'll be working on my pictures for the web site soon, but for the next week or so my family will be installing hardwood flooring, so I'll be pretty busy supervising the crew.

Beverly

Emily Bengston wrote:

Thanks, Emily.

I really enjoyed Nashville (waaay too hot and humid Wednesday and Thursday, but it cooled off nicely the rest of our time there). We got leads from some locals for good places to eat and places to visit.

The flight Wednesday from PDX to Dallas/F-W then on to Nashville was uneventful. We checked in to the hotel, then asked around for some good places to eat. We had dinner Wednesday at Jack's BBQ, funky, great food, you know you've found it when you see pigs fly.

we took the DUCK Tour in the morning, which was great fun, walked around, did some souvenir shopping, and I bought DGD three pairs of good pierced earrings. She is finally going to have her ears pierced so they will make a nice BD gift come September. Lunch was at the Wild Horse Saloon for the entire group from all over the country, where we were entertained watching all the Highland Dancers being taught to line dance. Hysterical! Dinner was the FUSTA banquet at the hotel ballroom, stuffed salmon which sat and cooled, and cooled.... and cooled..... while self-important speakers .... spoke ... endlessly ... ...But I had a very nice young (maybe 12?) dancer sitting next to me. He was a bit lost, his entire family was seated somewhere else, and he had no clue which forks to use for what course. ;-} I discreetly instructed him, and then we talked throughout dinner. I saw him several more times during the week, he always greeted me like a long lost friend. And I won the silent auction for a beautiful framed art print of ghillies surrounded by Celtic knots, which I will give to DGD for Xmas. Friday was a meeting day for parents and teachers and practice day for the dancers. Later we did some more walking and contributing to the Nashville economy. The entire NW region contingent had dinner at The Spaghetti Factory, I was seated at the table with DGD's teacher's daughter's teacher (did you follow that?), who, it turns out, was good friends with my younger brother in high school. And her father was president of the school board when my DFIL was superintendent of Milwaukie schools back in the 50s, so she knew my (then future) in-laws and DH very well. And she also rented equipment from my DF's rental shop, and knew him. Small world!

Saturday was the first day of competition for DGD, in dances for which she wore the kilt and jacket I made

(bottom). Her age group (Premier 12 and under 14) was huge so we didn't really expect her to place highly, especially as this was her first time at Nationals, and many of the other dancers have been to the competition before. She did very well, she didn't stumble or fall, (!!!) and never messed up her steps. She also got through the Sword Dance without kicking her sword. ;-) She was awarded a sixth place in one of her dances, and got a medal on a lovely purple ribbon to add to her growing collection. (click results). I think she was very happy just to have qualified to go to the National Competition, just as we were all thrilled for her. She was wearing her new kilt and velvet jacket for the Presentation of Regions parade Saturday. Our family all trouped to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner, a marvelous place with great service and ambience. The tables have a big hole containing a metal pail in the middle where you toss your crab shells. DGD danced in several of the National dances in the Aboyne outfit I made for her (top of the page), and participated in the Special Highland Jig Challenge, for which she wore the jig outfit she sewed under my guidance although she had to learn a couple of new steps very quickly she did well, and looked to be having lots of fun. We went to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. It was really enjoyable and the food was very good, the music was not nearly as loud as I feared and I wandered around and looked at the memorabilia from my heroes of the late 50s. I treated myself to a black leather jacket (marked down a LOT) at the HRC gift shop. ;-)Monday morning was mostly packing up for the return flights. My younger DD took care of my dog while we were away, and she brought him to me after I arrived home. It's very nice to be greeted so enthusiastically! I took lots of pictures, I'll be working on getting them downloaded, edited and put on the web site ASAP.

Beverly

These beds were too firm, and the pillows were either extra firm and HUGE or small, lumpy and limp. I had called in advance to ask if it would be possible to arrange for a 4" foam or feather mattress topper, or even if I could buy one locally to use while there. No.... but I could have extra pillows. Eeerk.

I take Hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix) for moderately elevated BP, and it has the same affect. I usually take just one a day, but I took a couple of extras while on the trip and another last night after I got home. It helps a lot. Even when I was very thin I was susceptible to swollen ankles especially after standing for too long or in very hot weather.

LOL! What we do for fashion....

Beverly

And on that note:

22, 2009) ;-)

I saw that! Love it.

My younger DD and her DH bought memory foam mattresses, for their own king-sized bed as well as the queen guest bed. I was their overnight guest once following some minor surgery, and I thought that mattress was the most appalling thing I ever (unsuccessfully) slept on. It was way too hot, did not allow one to turn over or even slightly change position. Felt like I was in the grip of an warm-blooded octopus. I'm glad they like it, but I'll never have one. I even gave the memory foam pillows I (mistakenly) bought to my dog. He never complains. ;-)

I have a very good quality 12" foam (not sure what but not memory) mattress, to which I added a 4" latex foam topper. The latex foam is ventilated and very cool, and 'gives' at the pressure points. I love it, I wish I could take it on vacation with me.