A 5 AM photo before I head out to work shows the embroidery that brings to life another block in the Journey of a Quilter. It’s a chilly morning 41 degrees on June 29th.

They had frost advisories out, but I just said if it frosts tonight, the garden just wasn’t meant to be… I don’t think we got any….

Every day this week has been pretty uneventful--- just the way I like it. Weed a row of the garden, water the petunias, run Ransom, quilt a few stitches every night.

We’re off to see the new Die Hard movie tonight—Yeah, I’m a Bruce Willis fan. We’re having dinner with friends tomorrow night and church on Sunday.

Tuesday I did hit a small quilt shop in Eagle River. She’s closing her doors. Not because of lack of sales, but she’s going to be wholesaling her hand-dyed wool to quilt shops around the country. Everything in the store was 30% off, so I picked up a couple of pieces, three yards each just for wishful thinking. It was therapy--- cheaper than a psychiatrist I say.

Gratitudes:
Don & I getting along well
Grilled burgers last night
Presents in the Mail

I just came in from watering the garden. We’ve spent the weekend catching up on Chelsey’s adventures in Mexico. While traveling is fun—I think she’s figuring out “there’s no place like home…”.

I had eleven kids in Sunday School. We went outside for our summer bubble expedition. We talked about giving your troubles to God and letting go of what you couldn’t fix… My favorite response was..”But Miss Melanie --- the bubbles don’t make it to heaven…” My response, “God knows they’re there…”

I’ve been pretty useless on the homefront. We held ‘family house cleaning' on Thursday night before Chelsey got home, so I’ve been totally absorbed in my Journey of a Quilter Blocks. Here’s one
and the other is probably completed by the time you are reading this.
I keep thinking—‘Just a couple more stitches and I’ll put it away…’

We’ve got a consultation with a Photographer in Eagle River on Tuesday for Chelsey’s Senior Pictures. There’s a quilt shop in Eagle River, So we just might have to stop and check it out….

Gratitudes:
A gorgeous weekend
Cashews for snack
4-year olds…..

I’m still here. Work was outstanding this week. After you’ve been away, you always wonder…It’s a “Catch -22”, if they did fine without you…Are you needed? If they suffered without you do you delegate well and are you ready to pick up the pieces? I think there was a balance… A manageable list of task to conquer and get caught up.

I receive this box of gifts from Connie and was just amazed.
A friend who has never met me and yet shared so generously…there’s a special place in heaven for quilters—definitely. I told her I couldn’t begin to pick out my favorite thing… the handwritten card… the gingham paper it came in… or maybe the 30’s reproduction fabrics. I’ve never had any before. I guess I always looked at it like I had my stash of fabrics built and never varied from the color scheme. Now I’m psyched to get some more and start cutting them up for a project.

What’s been going on all week? A little nightly stitching on the Journey of a Quilter blocks. Maybe pictures will come on Sunday.

Ransom and I have been strolling nightly. The guys worked late on Wednesday so I brought the camera. We went after a thunderstorm. While I don’t spend an obscene amount on flower—nature provides free ones on the side of our road…I look forward to them every year. Rain drops on oak leaves.

My kids say I gravitate to anything “rusty”, here a farm tool
that neighbors up the road display on a corner. It’s been banged by teenage drivers making the corners too fast several times, but still I stop and look at it for a second every time we walk. Here’s a view up the road, you’ll find a hundred of them just like it –just about anywhere in the U.P., but I appreciate the view I have.
And here is someone’s mailbox.
They have a flag displayed. Sometimes –I wonder… will mailboxes ever go “out of style”…Ours got hit by someone last week. They didn’t even stop. Don wanted to replace it. I told him, “No way --- It now has character… a mark left by a rear view mirror…” Walking up the driveway, here are impatients peeking through the wagon wheel.


Summer time is great with the longer days, the ease of being outside without bundling up. And while I may not write as often, there’s not a day goes by that quilters aren’t thought about…. Enjoy your weekend… and enjoy your stitches.

Gratitudes:
Connie
Chelsey’s safe travel home
Eric’s safety traveling for tests this weekend
Warm temperatures and clear nights.

I’m having a great week. Work has called a couple of times, but I’m grateful for the job, so it is what it is….

I’ve been catching up on some things--- visited a friend who had lost her husband recently. I remember she used to sew all the time. I brought her a book and a couple of fat quarters. I guess I’m pretty naive, but quilting is the ‘fix’ for just about everything for me…. I worked in my Sunday School Classroom, just doing some organizing.. again things I don’t normally get to do. Got a baby gift. I had dreams of making something, but settled for purchasing a little outfit, but I made the card and gift bag. A nice compromise, I think. Recognizing limits is a good thing.

I made another block for the ‘Journey of a Quilter’ quilt. I even traced for the stitching.
The remainder of the week, I’ll work on it and My Primitive Garden quilt.

Monday afternoon my book came in….so You can guess the time I’ve spent dreaming over it.
I highly recommend it to everyone. I finished ‘ The Quilter’s Homecoming’ in the hammock yesterday.. a good book, but my favorite was a ‘Circle of Quilters.”

I’ve been keeping up with the daily chores, they don’t seem like drudgery – they almost seem like a race to complete to get to the fun stuff. A few days off really help.

Gratitudes:
1. DMC Thread
2. Sunny Days
3. Ransom at my feet

Paradise—no – vacation—no—just a week at home. I couldn’t be more content. Don and I made a pact last year that we’d take one week a year home doing home projects, sleeping late, and doing fun things together. Housework, yard work, everything is better when you have someone to do it with. Sunday we broke out the bicycles for the first summer ride.

We‘re not glued at the hip. Today he went on a 5 mile jog and I opted for the elliptical machine and weights. It has gotten to where I have to do lots more lifting at work, so Eric’s put me on a weight training program.

I ran errands, He’s re-doing some landscaping. I picked us up salads for lunch. This afternoon I completed a block on my Journey of a Quilter.
I still have the stitching to do on it but I’m extremely pleased. Her directions were great, and by taking my time everything fell into place. It’s hard to get a feel of it from the pictures, but I pulled fabrics that have special meanings to me--Fat quarters from friends, Thimbleberries, pieces from gifts I’ve made for others.


At about 6:45pm last night, I told Don, I could fold laundry, catch up on some paper work, or read a book in the hammock on the porch. He said, “You have a week off of work, I vote for the hammock.” So He took the porch swing and I the hammock. About ten minutes into it a thunderstorm comes up and we listen to the thunder and watched the rain. Swinging back and forth he said…” You can’t watch this on a deck…” I just smiled.

My Irises are blooming,
and
thanks to the generous rain last night, the snap beans are popping up.


The neat part of all of this is I get to do it again tomorrow…..

I’m thrilled. I finally got my 3rd block completed for my Primitive Garden.The block hasn't been pressed yet, but I couldn't wait.... It’s only fitting to photograph it on a barbed wire fence since the block is a picture of that.
I’ve got the fourth blocked marked and cut, now for the pressing and stitching. On the next block, I’ll take a before and after photo. It’s amazing (I think) how the stitching brings the block to life. The blocks are kinda ‘naked’ with out it.


Lessons learned—I’ve shared with several already. I placed a lightweight interfacing on the back of the block and it made the quilting and stitching a lot easier and the fabric anchored in the hoop a lot better. On the crows-- I cut off the legs and appliquéd them separately.
I’m just not that detailed a person and it was impossible for me to appliqué them otherwise. I also took a tip from Leanne Beasley, and sewed scrap fabric around the edge to give myself more holding room in the quilting frame. I used the widest stitch on my machine and the seam-ripped it after the block was complete.

I started this project a month late. I said I’d never do another BOM because my attention span failed. But I am really enjoying this. I’m now 2 months behind, but I’m not stressing at all. I’m having fun and it’s a nice portable project. Who wants to be stuck in the basement during a U.P. Summer?!?!?!

On the home front, Chelsey flew to Mexico with her Spanish class yesterday. I hope she has fun. Seventeen-year-old girls go through a lot growing up--- so do their parents. I hope she spends some time thinking while she’s there.

I’ve completed the first week on my 365- challenge quilt. Pictures coming this weekend.


Isn't this a great birdhouse?!?!? This is on the road where I live. I don't know whether it's the evergreens in the background, the wire fence or the mossy stuff growing on it. I just loved the picture...

Gratitudes:
Chelsey’s safe flight
My guys at home listening patiently to “quilt talk”.
Summer time weather.

Saturday was my Wedding anniversary—Twenty-three years, a huge investment in a person’s life. Over time, relationships evolve and change, Don and I have spent a lot of time talking about that lately. Age and wisdom are incredible things. We went out to dinner Friday night – and relived the wedding rehearsal and wedding details. We laughed this time because the first time we both were pretty nervous.

Saturday, I planted the garden. Don tilled it up for me. In past years, it seemed like I fought to get it all done. It’s not like we depend on it for food or anything but it just seemed like a battle to get everything done. But this year, I enjoyed it like crazy. It even sprinkled a little while I planted. Friends who have lived here all their lives swear that planting during sprinkles is a sign of a bumper crop. Time will tell I guess. Don laughs, maybe we’ll get that bumper crop of Black eyed Susan’s, daisies, oh and pumpkin gourds—he can hardly wait!!!:). My Garden signs aren’t up but the Garden Angel is watching over the rows as you read this….


A few months ago I found this website, Leanne’s House, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Not knowing anything about Australia, I looked to a friend for answers. She’s been great. I asked those ridiculous questions like how the seasonal colors work with seasons being opposite from ours, and what do you have for Christmas dinner and does Santa wear that big red coat with White fur in Australia in the summer time???? She’s answered the questions and the word ‘Dingbat’ was never typed. She sent me this.
Chelsey and I have enjoyed the DVD (Yes – we’re totally enchanted with the accent!!) and I’m saving the wrapping paper for something special. Thanks again- quilting friends are the best.

Gratitudes:
1. My anniversary gift of a new flash for my camera.
2. Family time last nite, it’s getting harder and harder for us all to be on the same time schedule.
3. Rain watering my garden last night.

A sunny morning--- I’m probably going to be late for work. Well, work isn’t going anywhere. Thundershowers again last evening but I played with the flowers before they came. Chelsey worked last night. Don has meetings all day today, so I stayed up and quilted and waited for her. What is it about needle and thread that just soothes your soul? At least mine anyways….

I took a stroll through the damp yard this morning, yeah, I’m that crazy person you see walking in the grass at 5:30 in the morning. In the wintertime, there is silence outside. No leaves, no birds, just maybe birch limbs clapping together keeping time with the wind howls. But in the summer, the birds and chipmunks shout from the rafters. Here are a couple of photos from this morning on the front porch.



I’ve written before about mother; she’ll be 75 years old in a couple of weeks. We’re really close, pretty amazing since we live so far away. We talk two or three times a week, at least. She’s anti- Internet. I think it’s because she’s never had anyone work with her on it, but she feels that it could be “the root of all evil.” I still write her once a week and she writes back. She includes clippings from the hometown newspaper, photographs, (I giggle—she sends funeral programs from friends passing away.) I always say relationships take the effort of two people and she does a heck of a job. She’s even sent coupons and fabric swatches when she’s picking out things for the house. I stayed a few minutes after work yesterday to jot a few lines down to get sent to her through the post office. She always tells me that when you hang up the phone call is over, but if you have a letter, you can read it over and over again (and typed letters don’t count—they’re impersonal—they must be hand written). I took a camera phone snap shot because I guess I wanted to remember what I wrote her this time.
The photo is pretty bad but here it is:

“My quilt blocks I’m working on have embroidery. Brings back memories. I’m so glad you taught me how. Thanks.”

Maybe you learned on your own, maybe you didn’t, I but never want it to believe that I don’t appreciate learning about needle and thread….

A quick post and I’m off to work. Man—I want to stay home today, but I got a 19-year-old kid looking at me in the face wanting the same thing, so I’ll set the mark and get to work. Here’s a photo of the flower baskets on my light post.
Usually there are geraniums or regular petunias hanging there, but this year I was charmed by the baby petunias the gardener called, “Million Dollar Belles”. So they came home with me.

Left early from work because I had a meeting with an auditor. But wouldn’t you know it—I left my purse and had to go back. It just wasn’t in the cards. Eric is coaching Chelsey through finals.

Chelsey: “Eric, I don’t wanna learn this.”
Eric: “ You don’t a have choice”
Chelsey: “ But I don’t wanna”
Eric: “ You can do this…”

He has the patience of a saint, she may not appreciate now, but I hope one day she appreciates him.

When I got home, I had treasures in the mailbox. Chelsey always find cool sayings that fit the right moment. “ A friend is someone who sings the words to your song even when you forget them…” That’s what kind of friend I have.

The needles have big eyes to go easy on my own and the picture of roses from her garden—sharing a view because I don’t have them.

Gratitudes:
The Guys at work
My two guys at home
Alfredo for supper

I enjoyed my three day weekend tremendously. I vote for three day weekends every week. The weekend started kind of tough. I had my list of “Have to do’s”. We went to several graduation parties. It was fun, saw people we hadn’t seen in a while. But after the “have to do’s” were complete, it rained. That means no gardening, no playing outside. Sunday it was frightfully cold, again I couldn’t plant. Then Sunday afternoon they put out frost warnings so everything worked out for the best. I think it was God’s way of telling me to quilt.

I slept in until 7:00 am on Monday. Totally out of the ordinary, but even Ransom slept in. We did the breakfast thing and Don and Eric took Ransom running. I hit the elliptical machine for a couple of miles. We’re redoing the walkway in front of the house. Seventeen years of frost lines heaving up and down—it’s cracked and sinks and holds ice so Don and Eric are working on it together. It’s going from a straight sidewalk to and S-shape winding one. It’ll look sharp I hope.

I got dressed. Only quilters can appreciate my bibs.
They are the ceremonial gardening outfit for the past few years. Chelsey says, “Mom – you’re a Dork,” but I’m OK with that.

I planted my geraniums for the steps, played with the hanging baskets, and purchased my tomato plants and bell peppers.

I ordered fabric for a gift that arrived on Saturday. It was clearance I got four yards for $15.00.
What I really liked was the packaging. Looked at how it arrived. I guess it goes to show—little things can mean a lot. I made the gift; pictures will follow after it reaches its destination.

The quilt today is the second quilt I ever made.
I could almost say it was made on a dare. The double wedding ring quilt has always been one of my favorites. I showed Don a picture and kind of talked about making it. Don’s response, “Look at the symmetry... and those curves. There’s no way, Mel that quilt is wayyyy tooo tough.” But instead of caving in, I took the challenge. I used templates and cut each piece individually. I remember sandwich bags all over the place holding the pieces. I hand pieced it because I was worried about stretching the bias if I used the machine. And it’s hand quilted because I had never heard of machine quilting at the time. Talking about rookie quilting--- it has “purchased quilt binding” because I had never heard of making your own. I think I made it in 1991. The fabrics are muslin and scraps picked up here and there. There’s even a piece from an old curtain in our first house. The quilt hung for many years above my bed in our room until I changed the colors. There are lots of nice memories looking at this quilt.

I’m really trying to be grateful for the three-day weekend…. But I find myself wanting more time….

Thanks for the comments from my last post. It’s not always easy hanging yourself out there—even for the silly stuff. We’re supposed to hit over 80 degrees today and tomorrow I plan on playing in the dirt. I just have to knock out work first.

I have some photos from weekend projects. Here is my basket with the blocks I have cut for my 365-day quilt.
I’ve got the pens and some “doodling” books for inspiration. I’m looking forward to this. The next photo has my watermelon placemats. I made them a couple of years ago. They’re from a Thimbleberries club meeting. I made one block. They’re kind of plain but I loved the blue plaid backing and binding, so I went back up to the shop and got more fabric to make a set of four. Last summer Chelsey and I found Watermelon napkin rings and I stumbled across watermelon seed fabric on the Internet
so I finished up napkins this weekend and I have a setup for June on the back porch.

I’m going to defend a gratitude before I type it today. Cooler days. The past 4 days have been in the low 50 to low 60-degree range. While I’m so excited for warmer weather, but the cooler days kept me from planting too soon and making more work for myself by covering every night. The cooler /rainy weather let me catch up on rest and reading and stitches without the feeling of “I need to be raking or pulling weeds”. Life been so hectic and now I’m getting back into my routine. I know Ransom is grateful.

Gratitudes:
Cooler days
Eric running Ransom with me
Chelsey’s coming home

OK, Seven random things about myself—which you don’t already know. I’ve talked about the ‘dish thing’ and the several other things.

1. When it comes to Burgers, I want Mayonnaise only on mine. No cheese, no ketchup, no other stuff. If I wanted a salad, I’d order one—I want meat, bread, and mayo… that’s it.

2. I pretty much do plain—I think it’s a neatness thing. French fries – no ketchup, toast no jam (butter’s ok), bread sticks- no sauce. Thank Goodness, my kids have a father that mixes EVERYTHING up, because they would never learn it from me.

3. I’m not a jewelry person. Sure I have jewelry, but every piece has a soul-searched meaning. Every piece is a gift; I don’t go out and just buy. I could never ‘upgrade’ a diamond – the sentimentality of the smaller is too great. I’m not saying it’s wrong… I just couldn’t do it.

4. I was a dancer all through school. I’ve had about 15 years of dance training. Yeah I did the football field thing with white go-go boots (No, you’ll never see that picture).

5. Change is really hard for me. I thrive on constants. Why I got a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, a field that changes with the speed of sound, I’ll never know. I lacked one class getting my Bachelor’s degree in 2 ½ years. I’m not bragging by any means. I’m seeing now through my son, that I missed out on the total college experience. I’m half way through to my MBA. I don’t ever see me finishing it. I get nauseous thinking about it. Oh, I’ll go back to school one day but I want to learn a foreign language, take a photography class, or learn how to sketch. I have a passion for things that are constant—I think most things are disposable these days (computers, televisions, cameras, dishes, plastic anything), a quilt, an old key, a wooden table (complete with scratch marks) are not.

6. Best feature – well, it use to be my belly button…don’t laugh. I don’t have great legs, I’m pretty much average when it comes to chest or the “hind in” but until I had Chelsey I had a great belly button. Now it’s just kind of there between stretch marks and too much pasta…but I know in my heart that at one time “it rocked!”

7. When I was in high school, I had an after school job at Woolco department store. I was the fitting room girl. They wouldn’t let me have a stool or a chair; I had to stand the entire time. “Mrs. Fox”, my manager, made the Wicked Witch of the West look compassionate. I had to watch for shoplifters. I was amazed, more often than not, the shoplifters were little old ladies that would put their old clothes on hangars and come out wearing the ones they had not purchased. Kind of sad…

8. My first name is Melanie. My Mom is a big reader of romance novels and sends me every one that has a girl named ‘Melanie’ in them. I better read them because there will be a telephone quiz on them…. I read them and think—“My gosh, my mother is reading this.” But they say Women that read romance novels have sex 35 % more than women who don’t… I say good for her and Good for me too…..

Looking back over this, I don’t see anything intriguing. I was never a wild child, I’m pretty much an ‘open-book’. But I’m a team player…so here’s my seven—correction – eight.

I left work an hour later than I had planned… it’s been that way all week. By the time I hit the parking lot, I was contemplating how long I could hang in there like this. It’s a choice.. But there are lots of new tasks and things will stream line eventually. But home can’t suffer because of it. It defeats the purpose of working. I wonder if guys feel things like this.

I promised myself that I was buying the flowers for the horse buggy after work. So I went and bought my annual bottle of Liquid Fence, and impatients for the buggy.

Not much quilting taking place, But I got some needed quiet when I made it home as the guys worked late and Chelsey had dinner plans. Ransom and I relaxed on the porch swing. I looked out over the woods. We’d planted an apple tree 17 years ago. Don’s wanted to cut it down the past 5 years as it’s never produced an apple… well—I looked out and it’s got Apple blossoms everywhere.
We’re going to have apples.
I laughed and went and got the ladder and camera. As I traipsed through the woods, the trilliums
are everywhere and the wild violets (I think) are blooming.





I felt better and knew I could tackle another day tomorrow. I know the steps to take to lighten the load; I just have to do them.

Gratitudes:
Chelsey’s improving grades
Eric’s safety at work
The tail wagging of a ‘sorta Labrador’ dog

OK – a five minute post and I’m off to quilting…. If I want a detour in my life, all I have to do is make plans to quilt and Wham!!! There will be an obstacle guaranteed…I worked yesterday and ran through the checklist of evening chores, took a bath and … got called back in to work. A plane’s nose wheel went flat upon landing, No one was hurt but we had to get parts in line so the plane could run tomorrow. By the time I got home again, it was time to start winding down.

I had a great Mother’s day. I got a necklace from Don/Ransom, rubber stamps from Chelsey, and a book from Eric. I loved all of them. It’s interesting how the gifts reflect my time with them. Eric and I loved to get at opposite ends on the couch and read—we always say we’re bonding. Or we love to go to Barnes and Noble. We’re even sharing a discount card together. It’s “our” thing. Chelsey and I make cards and “play with scissors “ together, so the stamps make sense.

Yesterday I opened up the mail box and got fabric from a friend.
I loved it. I think I held onto it all evening. I plan on using it in my “Journey of a Quilter” piece I’m working on. It seems fitting as I met her in my journey of quilting. I brought it to work to show my friend at work. An interesting thing happened. Chelsey stopped by for lunch. We’re sitting there talking and she says something:

“Mom – you’re such a dork…I’ve never seen you pick out fabric with words on it before. If I walked into a quilt store, I’d never pick this piece for you… you just like it because a quilter sent it to you….” I thought about it---

But I’m crazy about the piece—
Because I love the color… I love the words written on it…. and because a quilter sent it to me…..

Until tomorrow-----

Tulips in the garden. I’ll probably cut them for the dinner table today. Yes, they are double-fenced. One is to protect them from the deer, and the small one protects perennials from the tiller.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother’s day. My family is still asleep. I mailed my Mother’s day gifts to my mom and MIL Wednesday. My MIL opens immediately. My mom tries to wait until Sunday. But I called her yesterday and asked --- did you open your gift. She told me, “I was having a bad day, so it was open the gift or the bottle of wine… I chose your gift…” We laughed and talked for 30 minutes about the cookbook, napkins and stationary I sent her. I miss her.

We’re making Mother’s day books in Sunday school. I’ve got everything ready to go. Hopefully I’ll be sewing this afternoon.

I love being a Mom. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. While I don’t want any more children, I can say without hesitation I’d have mine all over again. I hope Parenting is an evolutionary experience in that my kids will be better parents and enjoy the good points and conquers the pitfalls that we’ve encountered along the road together. I hope they do it better, with more grace, and patience.

Before everything went crazy last Friday, I decided to treat myself to new a summer purse.
I couldn’t decide between the two, so I bought both. Yeah, I probably could have made them, but sometimes, It’s fun to treat yourself. I even got Chelsey’s approval – I guess that means they’re “teenage- approved” Is that good or bad?!?!?!

I’ve got the FAA coming in so I’m about to head to work. I think my department is ready.

My new project - I’ve really now got 4 things going. My Primitive Garden BOM, putting the binding on my floral quilt, and the Project I started tonight – The Journey of a Quilter by Leanne Beasley. I just ordered the patterns. I felt like to me my journal should have pieces from my fabric stash. The picture is beautifully done in pinks and greens and whites. I’m going to try and change it up a little. I suppose I could work on one large project, but I need small victories at this point in the game, so I’m pretty content.

It’s suppose to be sunny and 80 degrees here today. I might purchased flowers for the buggy after work. There’s so many things I want to be doing—
a. Tilling the garden
b. Changing my dishes in the kitchen
c. Bike riding
d. Quilting

All good things in time….

I’ve been kind of going through the motions the past few days. I can honestly say, last Friday was my toughest day of work ever. I was called into a meeting and four hours later I had to lay off a guy that works for me. It wasn’t a performance issue, an attitude problem, and in my department we had the best year ever. It was strictly a number crunching issue and I didn’t get a vote. It was really tough for me. But, in the grand scheme of things it was worse for the guy that got pink slipped. And who am I to feel sorry for myself.

Saturday I purchased my seeds for the summer.
It’s still a couple of weeks before I dare plant, but they’re something to wish over in the mean time.

Eric is home and we’re all kind of adjusting but so for it’s pretty great. He started his summer job for a well drilling company. I laughed when he told me he was going to make one of those paper chains like little kids make counting down the days till Christmas. He said his was for counting down till he gets to go back to school—the summer job is work!!!! Positive reinforcement--- I don’t have to worry about him dropping out….

Gratitudes:
People checking on me at work—I guess I’m not as tough as I think I am.
My new quilt project that starts tonight
My family’s patience with me this weekend.

It’s Friday and we’re heading for a temperature of 69 degrees today with sunny skies. Don is downstate bringing Eric home for the summer. Ransom pretty much paced the floors all night. I guess he for anxious with someone ‘out-of pocket’. Chelsey was working last night so I was forced to quilt alone till she got home (bummer, hah!). I made great progress on My Primitive Garden BOM Square; maybe by the end of the weekend I’ll have a photo to post.

Weekend Plans – we have dinner plans with friends on Saturday night, and we’ll be getting Eric moved back in with his junk. I haven’t had time to put the winter clothes away, but we’ll definitely be swapping those for the summer ones. Mother’s day is coming up so I’m going to get my shopping done to get things in the mail.


I’ve been cutting my blocks out for the 365-day quilt. While I was downstate I picked up this book to guide me with stitches to dress up the blocks. I’m starting the project June 1st, marking Chelsey’s senior year of high school. My last kid, her last year of school and there should be all kinds of events that I don’t want to forget.



Gratitudes:
My hostas waking up after winter
Don and Eric’s safe travel
Cell phones for keeping in touch

I wanted to take a picture to prove to myself and everyone else that I’ve been quilting. It’s not completed, but it’s progress. OK, the first thing most people would do is look at the top of the screen, to check and see whose journal this is because this photo is definitely not the ‘typical’ quilt for me. It’s from the first quilt shop I ever went to, the Country Peddler in Minneapolis. It’s since closed, but if you’re like me you always remember that first quilt shop. They had a quilt similar to this one, sitting in a corner next to a watering can. Definitely patchwork, but the quilt was simply squares joined together. The fabrics were mostly small floral and there was a bin to purchase 5 inch squares. Every square reminded me of my grandmother. She always wore what she called “dusters” in the morning for breakfast and doing the morning chores. They were light cotton robes, but she never called them robes--- they were dusters. In the winter, they were heavier and she called them housecoats. The squares could have been patterns right out of those dusters, I just loved them.

What will I do with this quilt?—I’m finally finishing it (it’s been pieced for about 10 years) and thought about using it as a palette for my Sunday school kids for bible stories, and then there’s always the porch swing on the back porch, we’re still having chilly days. I’ll take the low 60’s instead of below freezing we were having a month ago.

What’s been going on? We had a fun visit with my MIL and SIL. There’s never enough time to do the things you want to do. Eric will be home for the summer on Friday. Can you believe he’s got a year behind him already? The summer job for him is waiting “in the wings”.

Don’s a black belt in Tae kwon do and he’s helping test some high school kids for their black belts tonight--- that’s probably why I got a few stitches in. Chelsey‘s battling a cold and pouring it into the school books, catching up from missing classes, not always easy.

Lots of “number crunching” at work, but it keeps my mind from wandering and it seems like I get to come home sooner…..

Gratitudes:
Popcorn
Lunch with Chelsey
Hugs in the afternoon

One year ago today I recorded my first entry in my journal. I look back on that year with tons of good memories . I met many people all over the world, and made many friends. And unlike years of schooling –where I found many friendships were based on people’s looks or possessions—I’ve made friends that have no idea what I look like or if I live in a straw house or a glass mansion.

I found that I’m pretty normal and lots of women go through the same juggling act of working, raising a family, and treasuring a few moments of quiet for a passion they have. The passion--- quilting.

I’ve told others before, that in the past year, while reading literally hundreds of entries, I never once read about someone in a panic to complete a quilt because a loved one was going to sleep cold tonight. In today’s world, while many ARE kept warm by those quilts, I think women quilt for other reasons. I think it’s an artistic expression that allows emotions to be placed into something tangible.

Until this year, I never quilted something and gave it away. I don’t know whether I never pushed to have the time, or subconscious maybe I felt my projects weren’t good enough. But in the past year, I given 9 projects away. I think the graciousness of quilters is contagious. I also think quilting is a gift in itself, and it’s a gift better given away the kept hidden inside yourself.

I love reading about the different seasons around the world.

It’s fascinating when I see someone do what I call, “Quilt Ogl-ing”. That quilt could just be strips sewn in a straight line, but they can tell you a story about the fabric, a story about the pattern, or even a story about the reason they’re making that piece. They aren’t methodically going through the motions as a reason to an end---there’s definitely a soulful reason to their quest.

On an average I get to quilt maybe 2 hours a week—sometimes as much as 4 hours, but then there are times when I go entire week without a stitch.. I think reading about other quilters has taught me patience and finding blessings in little things—sewing a button on Chelsey’s shirt, walking along a dirt road with Ransom, or just swinging….

….. on my Covered Porch…..

The photograph – a gift from Don’s sister.