Friday, December 26, 2014

Typed Because I want to Remember...


So three weeks earlier – Chelsey brought a friend from Germany home to visit, His name was George and he was studying for a master’s degree in Management.  So while there was a definite German dialect to his voice, he spoke English incredibly well. Chelsey told me he spoke 4 or 5 languages.  Smart guy.
Don tells me this story after George went home that night. He’d been around the house about half of a day when he and Don decided to go downstairs and play a game of pool.  Don is racking up the balls.  George picks out a pool cue.  They are making small talk--- the weather, football, how many days left in the semester.  Then out of nowhere the following is spoken:
“You sure have a lot of blankets…”
Don grins ---, “No Shit..., not much chance of any of us getting cold around here…” 
Don laughs, George smiles and the pool match continues.
Yes – George’s “Blankets” were my quilts.  I started looking around.  Yep – they were everywhere. I started evaluating. Is it too much----are there too many??? At what point does creativity become obsession?  Did my home look like a house of a crazy person—you know like the one in the movies about a woman who can stuff animals so consequently there’s all these stuffed animals all over the place…. 
So fast forward to Thanksgiving weekend.  The house is full of people.  Eric and Carolyn come home.  Chelsey brings friends.  My take is ---the more the merrier.
 Our famous family saying is ” We don’t go to sleep in our house, in the winter time we go into Cryostasis instead.” Don like it cooler and we pile on the covers. My kids grew up piling on the quilts.
That first night I had all the air mattresses and beds layered with sheets and quilts.  The next morning I asked how everyone slept…The general agreement was they were ”chilly” to put it nicely.  As a Mom--- I felt horrible.  That second night,  I put my ’blanket obsession’ away  and gratitude was replaced as the quilts were pulled from the ladder rungs, yanked from the quilt racks and unfolded from the quilt chests.  Everyone slept warm that night. I’ll never entertain the idea of having too many quilts round my northwoods home again
I guess I’m typing this because I want to remember this – and what it means to be a quilter.

11 comments:

Angie said...

Oh Melanie, I LOVE this story---and no, you simply cannot have 'too many blankets' and they are to be USED. :)

Mary @ Neat and Tidy said...

Great post!

I was showing my new sister in law (also a quilter) my collection of quilts and unfinished quilt tops. We never did get to all the walk hangings and table runners. I was embarrassed by all that I had!

I am glad to be on the same league you are. Thanks for sharing.

jirons42 said...

I often wonder the same thing about my piles of quilt and then I will need a special gift or my go to charity (Margaret's Hope Chest) will ask for additional quilt and I will have something all ready. Then I need to make more to fill up the stacks.

Carol said...

What a wonderful story Mel! My philosophy is we just can never have too many quilts...and I live in Florida...LOL! We do it because as my husband says " That's just what we do". And we love it! Keep making quilts!

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

No, you can NOT have too many quilts. What would I do if I couldn't make quilts? And it's wonderful to always have a quilt nearby to grab and snuggle in. ;-) So quilt away, Melanie!

Phyllis in Minnesota said...

Some people collect shoes, purses, tools, golf clubs. cars, etc. but we make and collect "blankets" which can warm the world.
Enjoy your passion.....

Lorraine said...

Never too many quilts! Beautiful functional "decorations" :)

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

No, Melanie, there can never be too many quilts! Of course, I'm pretty sure I'm not a reliable witness since I AM one of those crazy quilting ladies!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

:) big smile here - I have "too many" also - they are all over the place - when our daughter and family came from WI for Thanksgiving I asked if everyone had enough quilts for sleeping and as they looked around the rooms - it was yes think there are plenty! I love your quilt ladder - did y'all make it and if so do you have instructions - I sure do need one - or two - or three LOL

jayne said...

I love this story!!!! I will never have more than I need, more than I want or more than I can create!!!
Life is so about the little thins that bring joy!!!!!!

Carole said...

Many years ago, I had an aunt tell me in an authoritative way that I had way too many quilts and why do I bother to make more since I cannot use them. I just smiles and said "it makes me happy". Voila! Life is short so do what makes you happy! Cheers!