Thursday, July 27, 2006

Chelsey got a job….that ought to let you know this has been a great week. It’s at a little teeny-bopper dress shop in town. She starts training on Monday. Let’s all stand up and do the victory dance. She has way too much time on her hands. I’m really glad for her. I think a lot of growing up has taken place and we’ve done a lot of talking about responsibility and such. Eric and she are 20 months apart. And I am going to accept blame to the fact that she’s always been treated as old as Eric and she’s just not. She’s always played with the same age toys, read the same level books, etc. She’s never had a fair shake at being younger and as these teenage years come into play…let’s face it ...she just is. And no matter how liberated we get, boys are different than girls and I can’t just assume she knows everything your brother does, it’s not fair to her. O.K., now that I said that---who am I trying to convince---you are me???? I just needed to remind myself.

I came home from work and walked Ransom his 2 miles. He kept chasing chipmunks in the woods, so I think he probably got a 5 mile run in. It was spaghetti night at our house. Then I played with my flowers and garden. Eric says he looks out the window and sees me smiling, I must be having fun. Someone at work was talking about the heat and said, “Oh well, in four weeks it’ll all be over.” My heart dropped. But they’re correct. The days are getting shorter. I saw Golden rod on the side of the road this evening. My Mom’s ‘old Wives' Tale’ says the first frost happens six weeks after the Golden Rod Blooms. That puts the date, the first week in September, which is just about right. I love every season, but you know me and change, even good ones…I struggle.

I wanted to talk about quilts, so I went on a mission to find something to talk about. I am still plugging along on the same project. Then I remember…. I have a quilt to show (without fall leaves, pumpkins or Christmas trees..just you wait). .
I think this is going to be a great quilt. O.K., give it a chance. It’s a Thimbleberries pattern, but it’s totally a scrappy stash quilt. You know me and fabric, there’s a memory for everything. The red plaid reminds me of old shirts my dad wore when we were little. The blue print was the last piece of fabric that I purchased from the quilt shop in town before it closed. The crème and gold prints are totally stash pieces I pulled together. Don’t give up on this....look at the quilt…are there gold stars or red ones? I want to get it machine quilted, I even have the backing fabric. It will bring it out. It’s not that I don’t have the money for the machine quilting; it just always seems to get tucked away for something else. I’ll show it again after it’s quilted, you’ll see. Can’t you just picture it on a table with a vase of Queen Anne’s Lace…?

Now, you’ve witnessed a first hand account of Quilt Ogling (is that a word?). I just wanted you to see things through my eyes….

Gratitudes:
1. Web log friends
2. Garlic Cheese Biscuits
3. Snap beans straight from the garden

23 comments:

Linda C said...

do you have a plan for this one then---your bed, Eric's or Chelsey's? It has a Thimbleberries look about it!!

Good for Chelsey on landing the summer job though as you said, summer is gradually going away. Here in AL it will be still pretty warm in September while you get your first frost.

Granny said...

Glad Chelsey got a job. Working at a dress shop should be a fun job for a girl. Chad is back working at another Kroger here so we should both be thankful I guess.

Loved reading your "quilt ogling".

Judy L.

Juliann in WA said...

I think it will be a lovely quilt too- congrats to your daughter - my girls are 20 months apart and I can relate to the idea that the younger one was often lumped with her older sister - now that one is out of the house, it has been fun getting to treat her like an only child

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh I LOVE the quilt! I loved it even before you told about it and had us really look at it! It is wonderful!

Wow how wonderful Chelsey got a job! I"m still waiting for my son (#2 child). #1 gets jobs but nothing paying enough, or so far away it all goes to gas. #2 won't get one. I"ve finally hit it with #3 - she works hard, kept the job during school and still did well with school work! OK, so it only took me 3 tries!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Forgot to mention that I would die for cheesy garlic bisquits and beans from the garden right now! mmmm I could make a meal of that. But throw in some sweet corn and new potatoes - oh baby!

dot said...

I like the quilt, has great charm. I agree with you after it is quilted it will be spectacular.

Libby said...

Your quilt is great. Don't forget to share it again when you get it back from the quilter. Congrats on your daughter's summer job. It's a good sign when they take on responsibility to an actual employer.

Finn said...

Hi Mel, thanks for you kind words over at my place, yes there were NO tornadoes near where I am. And 35 miles is way too close to you!!! Scary!

I love the quilt you are showing. It has it's own "air" of quiet, low key, unassuming, and just plain comfortable. I love the little daring darting out into the blue that those red triangles do..*S* And I must say, the stars appear to be gold, but then which stars are we talking about..? I think you are a spinner of dreams and a weaver of time and places where the heart lingers in the twilight..*VBS* And it's bound to look wonderful on the table with Queen Anne's lace..because it looks wonderful with those lovely little white flowers next to it, in the picture..*VBS*
Spin on my friend..*S*

Mary Johnson said...

I'm obsessing about winter now that I'm moving to Minneapolis - so that *only 4 weeks of the heat* comment caught my eye! It will be hot here in Georgia for a lot longer than 4 weeks!

I like the quilt - it's traditional looking.

Tazzie said...

I'm so pleased for Chelsey, that's wonderful news.
I love the quilt, the colours and pattern are just wonderful. So fun that there are two different stars in there. First up I saw the gold ones ... then the red :-)
Have a wonderful weekend
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

Unknown said...

Definitely gold stars is what I see - lovely quilt - I reckon Chelsey gets a gold star for getting a job too - the learning curve is so steep at that age - in fact come to think of it, it doesnt get much gentler at any age really - just the things we have to learn about change

Eileen said...

You write so easily that I feel like I can reach out and touch the quilt. I think it looks wonderful now, and quilting will enhance that beauty.
My kids are 15 months apart, so I know what you're talking about. We always wanted Keri to handle things the way Dave did, and it just didn't happen. Trust me, it all works out in the end.

The Calico Cat said...

Congrats to your daughter.

I can't wait for fall... Sorry, Summer is not for me. I need a snow day!

You sure did chat up that quilt...

KC Quilter said...

I loved reading your thoughts about the quilt and the fabrics. And it looks really neat from this side of the screen. Good, good, good on the job-landing front!!! And, hey, send a batch of those garlic biscuits right on over, okay?

Nines said...

A very old fashioned quilt. And I like it. My 2 oldest are just 17 months apart and they have always done things together. DH said that when he dropped them off at camp, Daniel- the younger said, "See ya!" to his older brother and choose a different cabin to stay in. I guess he doesn't want to only be known as Joe's younger brother. And isn't that what we want for our kids? to be independent adults? Thank you so much for the words of wisdom about the Xmas ornamants. My roommate from college sends the children Xmas ornaments every year- and we put their names on them so that when they put up their own trees, they'll have a healthy start of their own. With 8 kids, I need to put up a very large tree! Fine by me! It can never be too big!

Judy said...

Any job for teens that doesn't invole flipping burgers is a GREAT job! She'll like working at a cool place.

Nice quilt, I had to look hard for the red stars, but once you see them they all pop out!

Joanne said...

I can see it on a twin bed in a little log cabin.
Congrats to Chelsey -- my DD's first job was at a little clothing store too and turned out she was a heck of a good sales person -- even worked her way up the ladder to assistant while she was in school and only working nights and weekends.

Laurie Ann said...

I'd love to see a picture of Ransom. Sounds like he loves his walkies!!!

Shelina said...

Good for Chelsey to get a job. She probably gets a discount at the shop too, so don't expect her to have any money left over!

I like things that have a story with them. Yours has lots. And I like that it looks different every time you look at it. So I like your quilt twice!

I don't like change of the seasons either - except spring - that I can handle. Everything else is just a reminder that winter is that much closer. And having to adjust to the time change again.

Hanne said...

Lovely quilt top :-)

kim said...

Hi there- I want to thank you for the thoughts about your kids. My 2 youngest kids are 19 months apart (they're still babies), and I find myself already treating them the same- I appreciate what you said, and will try to use the advise!

I also love the quilt and the story. And congrats to Chelsey and her new job!

Take care, Kim :-)

Passionate Quilter said...

love the quilt-even though I typically am not a Thimbleberries person. Glad you pointed out the red stars--missed that when I first looked at it. I love it when the blocks make up secondary patterns. So much more fun to look for those.

Bonnie said...

I love hearing your comments about the fabrics in the quilt. Quilts always seem better when a good story is attached.
Hmmm - those cheesy garlic biscuits sound yummy. And green beans from the garden...... my mouth is watering.