The Comfort of Quilts

Soon after I moved to my current location, I was included in a group of ladies from my new church.  These ladies knew I was needy.  New location, family trying to acclimate and a very medically needy father that came along for the ride.  I didn't have much to offer this group other than letting them hear me vent during our weekly Bible Studies.  It was an odd dynamic for me; I was used to being the one that ministered to others.  This time, I was completely unable to reach out, having nothing left to offer.  So I let these lovely ladies minister to me.  They showered me with gifts on the first birthday away from my home base.  One of them, still remembers my birthday.  (Thank you, Sweet Sharon!)  I drank all this care in like a healing potion.  Another, Gentle Friend, went above and beyond the call.  She made it her mission to care for me while I cared for Dad.  She dutifully picked me up every Wednesday to just get me up and out the door.  Some days would find me sort of catatonic with my latest stress and she would quietly just drive me around, taking me to lunch or some store that, she said, 'would do me good to just look at different things.'  I still think of that statement when I minister to others today.  Just get in a different environment to switch perspective.  Very wise.


Today is a lazy kind of day.  Miss Dixie awakened us a little past midnight, warning us of some Stranger Danger between our house and the northerly neighbor.  The rustling of dry leaves and a heavy shuffle brought her to warning status to her masters.  Hubby and I were properly awakened and warned, but thankfully, no guns or knives or pointed objects were needed.  Methinks it was probably one of the legions of cats that think that we have a waiting list after the demise of Miss Kitty.http://sonowiknow.blogspot.com/2010/04/rip-miss-kitty.html.  Don't really want to think about if it wasn't cats.  Anyway.  I was awakened and that was it till four AM.....By the time Hubby was off to work, I was more than ready to climb back into bed.  The new chill coming in my northern windows beckoned me to reach on my quilt rack for that extra cover to snuggle in for a supreme sleep.


I woke up to see the unfamiliar cover yet favorite quilt on me.  The sound of the gentle, rare, rainfall to our parched land, was music to my ears.  I laid there for awhile, listening to the rain and basking in the comfort of my special quilt. Ten years ago this birthday, Gentle Friend gifted me this fine quilt.  I love everything about it; the color, the arrangement of the squares, the vintage fabric, the quilting template used, everything.  I still remember the awe I felt when I opened this gift.  I know what it takes to create a quilt.  I know the time, energy, expense, the heart, that goes into each creation.  And for Gentle Friend to share this amazing gift with me, well, I was overwhelmed.  Still am.


So as I laid there in quiet retrospection and peaceful appreciation for her and all the times and ways that I have been comforted and cared for in my life, my heart was full.
And what should we do when a heart is full?
Spread it around.  Share it. Let others in on your peace and comforted spirit.


I'm off to my sewing room......

Singing in the Rain

Imagine my delight Saturday afternoon, to hear the unfamiliar patter of rain against my sewing room window.  Imagine my delight, when raising my blinds to view the rarity, seeing this sweet sight.

Neighbor Nancy, hosting her Two Grandgirls, allowed them, as a good Grammy should, the incredible fun of playing in the rain.

Prior to this interlude, NN tells me that they were in a bit of a tiff.  Ah, leave it to a change in weather to neutralize the spirits.  You couldn't have proved it by me.  These girls were twirling, running, singing and in generally speaking, enjoying this ten minute reprieve from oppressive heat.  I had to quit enjoying them from my second story window to scurry down to capture this bit of Summer/Sister memory making.

As I chatted with NN, I remembered those rainy day escapades of my little children years ago.  The rule was, if it wasn't lightning, they were permitted to have at it.  The neighborhood would empty out its contents of children, and the curbs and potholes became instant fun.  We had a  caved in like depression in the street across from our house that would fill rapidly. The kids could not wait to kick up and splash each other with the deepening rain.  Earthworms were collected and the squishiest of mud would seethe through their toes.  Prissy girls became boy like in their delight of all things squirmy and slimy.  Their giggles and shouts would bring me to my front porch, enjoying the rainfall and delighting in their simple pleasures.

Funny how a single scene can transport you to another time...

Thank you, girls, for reminding me...

What Would You Do?

The Autumn has been gorgeous. The trees are just starting to turn, promising a golden show.
When the rain stops.
Can't complain too much. Just every other day, we've had 'The Rain'.
So what would you do?

First, get yourself a nice mug of soup to ward off the chill in the non heated house. (new furnace comes next week and trying to stall off using the old one...)



Then, make yourself a roaring fire to do your administrative work the Admin Girl gave you to do for homework. A nice, long conversation with Eldest is another good way to help perk up The Rainy Day. Listening to Miss Vivien in the background, imitiating mama on the phone, is quite the mood lifter.
Make sure you get all the info the Admin Girl needs to do data entry for your business. And be smug and warm in front of the lovely fire. With Companion Dixie by my side....

Pretty good option to a cold rainy October Day, huh?

Miserable.

Rainy all day.
Not Festival Weather.
Poor little ol kiddos.
No rides for the third night of their three night ride bracelets. Perhaps tomorrow night, when the weather is cloudless, (she says with cheerful optimism) they will be able to use their now useless bracelets.
I made one attempt to go to the Commercial Tent this evening seeing that I won a drawing! I believe I should be the owner of stainless steel scrubbies from Stanley Products. That is, if the Stanley Lady would have been at her booth tonight. I trudged down, in the rain, pants rolled up against the deep, deep puddles and fought my sturdy royal blue hooky umbrella against the winds, only to find the dear lady had closed up shop and stayed in her comfy dry home. All the other vendors were there. The only dark spot was the Stanley Home Products booth. Will I now have to actually purchase the Wonder Scrubbers, that have over 50 yes 50 uses?......I'll let you know... Second Son accompanied me to The Methodist for a hearty lunch of pork tenderloin (sorry Baby Girl), dressing, gravy, cole slaw, dinner roll, green beans and the most sinful Chocolate Fudge Walnut Cake. I should have taken a photo. Way beautiful and scrumptious. However, Second Son and I made fast work of it even after the bounty we had just consumed. And we do have to mention, seeing most of Mitchell there. Lots of good company....Writer Friend Joyce, Neighbor Michele and Her Friend Jean and their delightful children. Poet Georgia was there as well. She will be 90 in November. A sharper more humorous woman would be hard to find. And on and on the names go....A perfect Methodist Lunch with Second Son and company.
We took the time to look at all their crafts for sale. After all, where were we going in the downpour? To buy Barbie cupcakes for Second Son's birthday friend, but that's beside the point.
See the bread pictured above? Just a sampling of their lovely baked goods.....

And quilters and seamstresses as well....I could tell their stock was a bit diminished from Tuesday when I visited with Crazy Dee Friend

And here is the Special photographed for those that cannot read..Sorry for the blurriness; I had just consumed my weight in Chocolate Walnut Fudge Cake.....Makes one fuzzy....

So I came home and attacked this Rainy Day with a useful vengeance. I finished Faithful Friend's new bag! She received a Birdie Sling last month but found a need to own another Mama's Collection Bag...What a good friend! I'd make her one every week if she wanted me to; she's just that good of a friend.....

The fabric was yummy, the lining silky, the handle comfy and the embellishment, strong.....Good, good purse....

Enjoy Faithful Friend!!

We Interrupt The Festival With A Sewing Update...

Thanks to my crafting blogging 'friends', I learned how to make cloth labels for my bags!
I read a blog from two years ago about buying the iron on paper for the computer and then ironing the images/words onto twill tape.
Two years pass and now they make paper backed twill fabric! You simply (it better be!) make a Word document or whatever image program you have and put the paper/fabric in the printer! A few other little steps and you are ready to put a custom label in your sewing project!
I got absolutely giddy making these yesterday so I thought it was worthy of interrupting the Festival coverage...... And because of the label success, I decided to use up the rest of a rainy Sunday evening to make the top that goes to my yoga pants pattern! I believe that older women should only wear 3/4 length sleeves and tops that keep you modest with the cleavage. No one wants to see it after a certain age. Well, few anyway. Anyhoo, the thought of being able to sew my own 'uniform' top and to keep from the frustration of looking high and low for fuller knit, 3/4 length sleeve top with a reasonable length that is somewhat flattering, took me a sewing thrill that was very pleasing.....
Good to have sewing success.....

And now back to the festival.......

As you can see, the Methodist ladies (and gentlemen I'll have you know) are hosting their Puddin Pan Bazaar again this year. Good, good, homemade food (their noodles and pork tenderloin are re known) and little homemade items to sell, make for a yummy lunch or early dinner....

And there is the Art Show at the library. Lawrence County has an inordinate number of artists. I love seeing the entries each year and voting on my faves. There is a Photo Contest as well. It appears that I will be chairing it next year....More to come on that as the year progresses.....!

Yes. It was raining while the carnival workers set up early Sunday.

But do not fear! The skies cleared up midday today and the official start of the festivities went off under sunny (albeit humid) skies promptly at 5:00pm.

I know because it was 5:05 when I heard, from my sewing room, the first squeals of mock terror from the Zipper Ride......
Fun Stuff....