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......

Sabbath Rest

You have to recharge.
We are designed to.
We have a nearly six day charge to our bodies and we know when it's time to recoup from the flurry of activity that we indulge in.
So, in case you're looking for permission to shut down for awhile, be it 2 hours, 20 minutes, 1 day, whatever you need to get to that feeling of  'Ahhh....I think now I can continue', then I'm here to give you that permission.  Granted.  Permisso.  Go sit down and be quiet, inside and out.

It just was not a tricky way of the church to get our attention on Sunday.  No indeed.  Our Divine All knowing Creator, knew that our limited energized bodies and minds would need refueling to continue on our strength and creativity.
So today, I recharged.
Big Time.
Two Hour Nap.  This does not usually happen.  Sometimes a quick 20 minutes.  Sometimes a bit on the porch swing.  Maybe a sit under the pergola gazing at the greenery.  But today, I joined the Hubby, who needed some major recoup after his now 6 day a week/12 hour+ day weeks of late.
When I woke up, I felt like I had been on vacation.  Chomping at the bit to get up and out to the tasks at hand.
As is often the case, when Hubby works overtime, so do I.  I feel so painfully empathetic to his plight, that I feel beholdin' to pick up the slack around here.  And so I have.
It also helps terribly to know that in nearly a month, I shall be hosting My First Annual mama's collection of Friends Crafting/Sewing/Spiritual/Mothering Retreat here at my home.
How's that for giving your whole estate a once over?  Positively Energizing.  I now look at the whole house with a more than critical eye, thinking, 'How will The Ladies View This?'  There is nothing like inviting company to your home, whether it be for dinner, coffee or a retreat(!) to spur you on to big accomplishments.
But first you rest.
Then you work a bit.  Or mommy a lot.  But always, eke out the few solitary, quiet moments to reflect and retool.  Bodies need strengthening and minds and attitudes need tempering no matter what your workload.  And the more you invest in your own down time, the more you'll be able to help others carry their burden.

Do yourself and those you love, a favor and shut down for a modicum of time this week and just reflect. 
And be at peace.....

So Much; So Good....

The Weekend started here..
Rain, rain, rain.
But a warm car, grand company and Sugar and Cream yarn to work with.
And a car, that Hubby wisely picked out based on if the dashboard would accomodate my legs on a long trip. He even told the car salesperson that he needed to make sure that his wife would be comfortable in the co pilot seat by putting her feet on the dash. The salesperson, unwisely said, 'you let her do that?' To wit, Hubby said, she can do whatever she wants, bucko, this is my car.....Good Hubby.....

This was the weekend that we were to meet up with Most Interesting Loving Friends. We decided to meet half way from their location, our past home. We have shared nearly 25 years and needed time together to catch up and enjoy each other's affable company. What a good time. What pleasant entertainment we are!
It always helps to stay at a Bed and Breakfast out in the country and with plenty of stories to go with as well!
The house photo is the grand old lady with quite a story.
The Pumpkin Patch story, with a Martha Stewart commendation, is a blog unto it's own. Pretty amazing. Wait till you see.


After leaving Most Interesting and Loving Friends, we headed northerly to visit Baby Girl and her Hubby in Lafayette.
Another amazing visit with a blog unto it's own.
Suffice to say that Baby Girl's Hubby prepared us the most wonderful breakfast one half hour before lunch time!
Ah! Rest and relaxation on a long weekend!

And no visit to Lafayette would be complete without a visit to First Class Clutter, BG's fave store.
I took in the three bags I had promised her and she promptly placed them in the window pictured here. Can you see them amongst the most pleasing clutter??
Picking up a hefty supply of vintage buttons rounded out the visit there.
On to an Aveda Spa visit then lunch/supper at an Irish pub..
Off to make a short check in visit with Eldest Son and Lovely Wife...
Wow.
A blessed weekend from start to finish.
Can't wait to share it with all of you....