Thanksgiving 2012

Grace

I don’t want you to just sit down at the table.

I don’t want you to just eat and be content.

I want you to walk out into the fields

Where the water is shining and the rice has risen.

I want you to stand there far from this white tablecloth.

I want you to fill your hands with mud, like a blessing.

~Mary Oliver

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond. 

~ Rumi ~

November 20, 2012

 

 

 

I have so much to be grateful for.....

Wishing the same for you.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Nana

My Little Sampler

 

I designed and stitched this little sampler in 1991.  It measures 15" x 17" and it's hand pieced and quilted.  I'm posting it for an online quilt show of little quilts at Taryn's.  I've made a lot of little quilts and find that they are quite therapeutic since they allow you work up some of the patterns and fabrics that you love in a hurry.  Besides, as a collector of fat quarters, they can always justify a trip to the quilt shop.

I like to display them around the house as they're easy to hang or fold over a little chair with a doll.  This quilt keeps Raggedy Andy and two beloved teddy bears company.

Sometimes I hang them in our entry with a little angel to watch over them.

I hope you make many quilts...especially the small ones for yourself and all the people you love.

Nana

An Event in October

 In October there's always pressure to get out on the lake one more time before we pull in the dock and put the boat away for winter.  The warm days are fewer, but the lake is a quiet and calm place to fish read.

We love to enjoy the sunsets and see the moon or first stars come out without the natives (mosquitoes) bothering us.

It's fun to snuggle up and read with a grandchild.

But this October there was a family wedding and that calls for a make-up quilt!  The first quilt (in a previous post) was the Christmas sampler...not a very good example of a make-up quilt.  So I started once again putting up blocks on the wall.  This bride had a wool quilt for graduation, so I decided a pinwheel scrap quilt with a wool batt and a flannel back would be the one.  Scrap quilts are my absolute favorites.....haven't I said that before?

When the top was together, Grandpa helped me pinbaste the top.  He's also good at setting up and taking down the tables.

Then Bernie and I quilted it.

Here's the finished quilt.  I bound it on the morning of the wedding.

 





Put it in a pretty box that I bought the day before.

And here it is, ready to go!

That's the real blue sky in the background!!!

We started out for Minneapolis on a very foggy and cold morning.  The wedding was outdoors.  By the time we arrived at the venue, the sky was blue and the sun was shining.  


Here comes the bride.  Her dad put the grooms hand over the brides and advised him that this will be the last time he has the upper hand.

The newlyweds come down the aisle.  There was a sprinkling of autumn leaves that drifted down over them as they said their vows.

Followed by the bride's brother and family.  A wonderful reception followed with family and friends.

The following morning we woke to a beautiful sunrise with a skyline view of Minneapolis.  Another gorgeous October day!

I wish you many beautiful days and wonderful events all year long!


Nana

Election Day

First I voted.

Now it's time to get this puppy together!



My wish is that every one of you get out today and exercise your right to vote!

Nana