Ginger

This one solitary item, a ceramic Cocker Spaniel named "Ginger", has been with me as long as I can remember. If I recall the story correctly, my Mother received this as a congratulatory gift when I was born. I don't know who assigned the moniker. The back of the dog is hollow and open, a "planter", if you can call it that. I don't ever remember it bearing a plant but suspect it may have, originally. Ginger always stood at my childhood bedroom door, serving as a doorstop, although I feel certain our floors were level and it didn't actually hold the door open. When I left home Ginger was packed up with my few belongings and accompanied me to my first apartment, eventually she became a fixture in my married home, standing sentry at my daughter's bedroom door from the day I carried her home from the hospital. Today Ginger resides in the bathroom adjoining my Studio, at the door (where else?), ever vigilant. I can't think of any other single item that speaks home to me as loudly, or for as long, as this ceramic dog. She's aged beautifully, my constant companion, she's made eleven moves with me; none the worse for the wear!

What one thing speaks "home" to you?
Life is Good!

Research has yielded the following: "Ginger" was made by Royal CopleyRoyal Copley china was made by the Spaulding China Company of Sebring, Ohio, from 1939 to 1960. The figural planters and the small figurines, especially those with Art Deco designs, are of great collector interest.
(Regardless, she's priceless to me for precisely what she represents.)

Rabbit Rescue

We rescued this baby rabbit from an attack-cat yesterday morning on the way to church. We pulled our car into my mother-in-law's driveway to pick her up for Sunday School and found this little one cowering under a shrub, it had already suffered a flesh wound and the attack-cat hovered nearby, ready for round #2. My husband shooed away the cat. My mother-in-law supplied a box for a temporary refuge while we were gone. This is a feisty baby with a strong survival instinct. It's currently living in our basement in a crate and eating well. We simply can't raise it and set it free here; we have an abundance of hawks soaring above our rural homeplace. We'll pass it on to a family with children this evening who will continue to nurse it back to health until it's strong enough to live on it's own. I'm glad that we happened by when we did...

Life is Good!
... and timing is everything...

Sad update: 10 AM, Monday morning. This little one didn't make it.
It may have been that the wound was too great, or that the rabbit was just too young to survive without it's mother. You never know with the delicate balance of nature and wildlife. We didn't have a choice yesterday but to save it from a certain death,
I'm so very glad that we at least tried; and that it's short life was marked with this photo.

Worth Watching

I'm always on the lookout for a good family movie. By that I mean exactly that, one that is entertaining for everyone in the family regardless of age! I saw one last night, it's definitely worth watching: "Night at the Museum" with Ben Stiller. I was surprised by this movie because it's one where the movie is better than the trailers they ran for it (hardly the normal scenario)... based on those alone I thought this looked dumb and silly. It's neither, in my opinion, but rather fun and heart-warming with just enough scary stuff to delight the kids; (think: "Jumanji") plus, it's laced with fascinating historical characters that might even prompt additional reading and research during summer vacation! The movie comes to a tidy conclusion with a strong priority message guaranteed to make you smile.

Life is Good!

Surprise Visitors

Some things only last for a short time and are enjoyed expressly because of their fleeting nature: a clean house, a well prepared meal, a bright blue cloudless sky. I had surprise visitors yesterday morning at the feeder, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a pair of them! Their stay will be oh-so brief. Each spring these birds stop by here along their migration route to the mountains, where they spend the Summer months. Their appearance is magical, they're gone almost as soon as they arrive and I feel privileged to bear witness to their presence. Eat up little ones, stay as long as you can, gather strength for your journey ahead! I'll be eagerly awaiting your return next Spring.

Update: this morning I found four males vying for position at the feeder (one was on a nearby tree branch, just out of frame). I shot this through the window... awesome, huh?Life is Good!

Rural Living And Trips To Town

We live in a rural area, it takes us thirty minutes to get most anywhere "in town". That's fine with us, we love where we live but trips into town are consolidated as a result. On Thursday mornings I have Quilt Ministry at church until noon, after that I ordinarily make my numerous errand stops along the way home, including groceries. This isn't usually a problem, I don't have a big car but I don't normally buy bulky things! I did today. I stopped at a discount department store and they had large, standing ferns (Kimberly Queen) outside the entrance door for $9.97 each, a good price. I picked up two for the patio. As I was cruising to the checkout I ran across a great deal on a large area rug for the downstairs basement/workshop bathroom, it was the perfect color and size, we've been looking for one for a long time. I was barely able to manage wedging it's 5'X7' rolled size into the cart along with all the other necessities I'd already accumulated, but I did! I paid for my purchases and, luckily, was able to get everything BACK into the cart for the short walk across the parking lot to the car. Whoops... I'd forgotten how small the trunk was... the floors behind the front seat, the back seat and every other surface was full when I still had two bags and the rug in the cart! I was determined... where there's a will there's a way. I had plenty of will (even if I was short on space). After a few minutes of repacking, crawling in and out, and basically 'sizing things up' I was able to slip the rug inside the car on an angle and put the ferns on either side of the floor in the back. I was proud of my accomplishment. I happily wheeled the cart to the return "corral" when I noticed an SUV parked near my car with two men in it laughing and pointing... at me! Huh? Apparently I had put on quite a show with all my shoving and cramming and rearranging; they seemed to appreciate the free parking lot entertainment! Glad I could amuse them. An offer of help would have been nice, but no; they were laughing too hard! How did I react? I smiled broadly and curtsied for their benefit. They saluted me then and off I drove, back to our rural retreat. I'm very thankful that I was able to get everything inside the car, now that I know I was being observed, but then, I've had experience.

After all, I am a quilter... I'm used to trouble-shooting and making things fit!

Life is Good!

I Get By With A Little Help...

...from my friends! Especially my friend Quiltkeemosabe! She's the absolute best!! She made this wallhanging for me and surprised me with it today in the parking lot outside our LQS. Can you even imagine my delight? Did you hear my happy squeals of appreciation? I'm hanging it right beside my design wall here in the Studio where I can see it every day. (Doesn't it just make you smile?) She gave me some other perfectly wonderful treasures, too. No, it's not my birthday. These are Christmas gifts. We don't exchange Christmas gifts at the conventional time, (duh!) but we typically do this at Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival at the end of February. This year I wasn't ready, (I'm still not!) but dear, kind Quiltkeemosabe said "that's OK... we'll do it later". Yesterday she cleaned up her sewing room and wanted to clean some things out, too. Namely, my Christmas gifts! Lucky, lucky me. She also had wrapped up some fun strawberry collectibles and two linen dishtowels, plus a great-smelling Spring-scented votive candle; all this-- and a Shari Lewis and Lambchop DVD. (I just love that lamb!!) THANK YOU, Quiltkeemosabe!

On the quilt front I've been really busy cutting my scraps and busting the stash. I'm employing Bonnie's Scrap User's System and cutting strings, squares and bricks so that they'll be ready to sew when I am. It's really such a great idea to cut and store pre-cut pieces that will combine and fit together... like building blocks! I'm inspired to store my fabrics this way and actually get some sewn together into quilts! I sew 'multi-fabric', 'scrappy'-type quilts more often than not anyway, so this system works for me! I've designated 2007 as a no-buy year (fabric-wise) and with the exception of a few fat quarters here and there I've kept to my resolution so far. I have my bins ready and labled, I've got to get some more cutting done and stashed before next weekend's Black Mountain quilt retreat! I hope to piece a Sandman 'Stack and Whack' quilt while there, and work on my BOM's...

...oh, and I have a few Christmas gifts to finish up, too!
Life is Good!

Before I Was A Quilter...

...or a college graduate, or a married lady, or a mother, I went to the senior prom! The date on the back of this snapshot is 14 May, 1971. My escort way back then turned out to be a keeper; he's now my husband of almost 32 years! Some things are just worth hanging on to... him, and the car in the background; (1964 Oldsmobile Jetstar '88 convertible) it's parked in our basement, under a cover. We've gladly let go of a few things too. I don't have this demure dress anymore, and my husband has long since traded in these glasses for contact lenses. Thanks, Beemoosie, for challenging us to dig out a prom picture and post it. Mine was found buried under a few more layers of dust that yours!

...yesterday and today...
with our daughter at her wedding, June '04
Life is Good!

How Do I Apologize To A Cat?

I've been wondering how I might go about apologizing to Turbo. I am offically printing a retraction here, that's a good first step. I told the world, through this blog, about the exploits of our nocturnal feline resident and how she must have inadvertantly pushed the TV remote into the trash can. See: "Click, It's Gone..." from my archives, 30 March. As it turns out she had only relocated it! That remote has been languishing under a cabinet in the Studio and hadn't gone out with the trash as earlier suspected! I found it yesterday when I was vacuuming. She's been wrongfully accused, I need to make up to her. My sister-in-law suggested licking Turbo's face and bowing to her as penance, but I'm thinking a little Kitty Kaviar might work just as well. I'm counting on the fact that Turbo can forgive and forget, and that she doesn't read my blog!

Life is Good!
... and even better with a remote control...

Mission: Action!

I've been busy, really busy the last few days. Called to action. I attended a wonderful quilt show on Friday, a close-to-home Guild show, not my Guild. It was delightful in every way! These are details from a charming original quilt based on stick figures, it was a captivating calendar-style quilt. I am unacquainted with the quiltmaker, but have put her on my "Mission: action" to- do list! (I've gotta meet this gal!) I already know we'd have much in common, her quilt spoke to me! I spent that day with two good, long-time friends. It's been too long... really; we had a fantastic time, including lunch and enjoyed every single minute. When we arrived back at the home of one of these friends she invited us to her back yard to witness the devastation of this week's wind storm... a tree that had crashed onto their back deck. They don't have a chainsaw. I called my husband, no problem; we have three! Mission: action... ! (There was a reason I went by there yesterday!) I spent this morning at a conference gathering of our church's womens organization. There were thirteen churches represented at the conference gathering, it was a picture-perfect morning in every way and the attendance was the best in recent memory. We broke into small groups for Bible study, the topic should have come as no surprise... there are no coincidences: "Women in Mission: Called to Action" Hey, I'm on already on board, not a problem! I arrived home to find a message on our answering machine, from our retired pastor, our 'Pastor of Visitation'. He has deep connections to Blacksburg, VA and Virginia Tech. He was calling to inform me that our council president is out of town for the weekend and that I, by default, was "in charge". (I am VP of congregation council). I had to laugh at the pronouncement; but, he had a greater reason for calling me: to request an official endorsement by council to dedicate next Sunday, 29 April, as Virginia Tech Sunday in our congregation. I told him I would handle that. Mission: action. Yet, again! I sent out a group e-mail to the council, on behalf of our now-known-to-me absent president requesting us to stand with the Virginia Tech. family, and with the larger Blacksburg community, as fellow Lutherans in support of the churches, the families and Lutheran Campus Ministry there. We'll be wearing maroon and orange next Sunday, and we'll be doing that proudly! Called to action, living the mission... how can we do anything else? I'll be posting more photos in days to come of the quilt show. There were the most stunning examples of piecework and an utterly incredible Baltimore-album style quilt that requires a post of it's own. I'll do my best to give it the just accolades it deserves... after all, I've been called! Called to action, it's my mission these days!

Life is Good!

Chillin'

We've spent the last few days chillin', at home in the Studio, Hannes and I. He looks like he's enjoying Mom at home, doesn't he? I finished binding one more preemie quilt for the NICU and machine quilted the table runner I made up from "found" blocks a few weeks ago.





The weather's been chillin' too, this has been the most delayed Spring! I've potted up some of the flowers that we brought home over the weekend for the porches, but had to come back inside this afternoon to put on a pair socks, it was just too cool for sandals. Today is one of those days that looks warmer through the window than it actually is! The family of Chickadees that had "squatters rights" in one of the Bluebird houses has fledged, I got that cleaned out at long last; hopefully we can snag a Bluebird this time! I've accomplished many things; none of them huge, but still, a good feeling. Some days are just made for chillin', and chillin' can warm the soul and feed the spirit with contentment.

Just ask my furry companion...

Life is Good!

WIGIAT?*

*Where Is God In All This?

I'm shaken beyond understanding regarding this senseless massacre at Va. Tech. Where are we safe? How could this happen in Blacksburg, VA? How could this happen anywhere? My 'mother's heart' is split wide open with sympathy for other mothers and yet their pain is so far apart from anything I can relate to or feel. I am left in shock and reeling from such profound, deep sadness. Where is God in all this? He's right where He's always been reminding me that there is good, there is God, everywhere; good triumphs over evil every time. The sunshine will break through the clouds, it's been there all along. It means more today than ever to know that "Life is Good", on days like this, though, my head needs to convince my heart all over again. Please join me in prayer for the families, for the school, for the Virginia Tech community in these next few days. I pray that God's sure and certain presence will be recognized, will break through, and provide merciful comfort and steady reassurance where it's needed the most.

Have Pouch, Will Travel

We lived in Europe for three years in the late 90's. At that time we had our little terrier, Muffin; she traveled everywhere with us, as dogs in Europe do. Shopping, out to eat, on public transport, you name it. We bought this padded travel pouch at that time; it has a tether inside that hooks to the dog's collar to secure them, handles ride up over the owner's shoulder, zip the top and puppy is good-to-go! The pouch languished in a closet after we moved back to the U.S. and our little Muffin passed away. We dusted off the pouch and took it with us in September of '04 when we drove to Murray, KY to adopt Hannes, then only 8 and a half weeks old. He was so tiny back then! He nestled deep down inside what was then a cavernous space for him on the long drive home in the "inherited" pouch. He's grown to fit, as time has passed, and looks upon this pouch, his pouch now, as a signal that we're all off on an outing! The minute he lays eyes on the pouch he literally leaps into it, turns around and pokes his head out through the opening as if he's saying "OK, let's go-- I'm ready!" In the great tradition of family dogs before him, he's become a champion traveler.

Life is Good!

It's That Time Again

It's time to pull the Pansies and replace them with summer blooming annuals in all the patio pots and containers. It's a yearly ritual, sadly it's always performed when the Pansies are blooming profusely and it seems almost cruel and wasteful to yank them out and toss them on the compost heap, but they're on the verge of 'going-by', as my grandother used to say. I abhor waste of any sort. We eat up leftovers. We recycle. Our church is donating our old hymnals to a mission church in Africa; and yet, I don't know of any organization or agency collecting spent, leggy Pansies so... out they go to make way for Tidal Wave Petunias, New Guinea Impatiens, Alyssum, Vinca and Geraniums! We're off to the Capital City to visit with our daughter and her friend who owns a nursery there, Hannes will accompany us; it's another annual ritual. His bag is packed, he's looking forward to a two-day break from kitty-watching... his last few weeks have been exhausting!

Herr Hannes, German Guard Dog

(Laurie Ann, this one's for you!)

I'm taking a quilt in the car and will hand stitch the binding in place...
(which means it's DONE!) does it get any better than this?
Life is Good!

Challenged!

If you stop by here to read regularly you know that I've been challenged of late. There have been a few storms and I've weathered them; maybe a little worse for the wear, but I've landed on the other side. When we find ourselves in positions that are awkward we may stop and wonder how we arrived there. I dare say that none of us would choose trial over comfort, but at times that's precisely where we are through no choice of our own. Late last year I was elected to a position of leadership within my church congregation, while flattered, I was, above all, fearful. Fearful that I was ill-equipped to assume the responsibility and terrified that I would let down the very people who had elected me. "Why me?" I asked God in prayer, "surely there must have been a mistake, you know me better than I know myself... I bolt from conflict, I don't have the skills necessary, this is more, much more, than I can handle!" I can't say that I heard an answer (as in words spoken to my ear), but I can tell you that my fear was replaced with calm. Honestly, this was a little unsettling, unnerving at the time. I wasn't sure I'd gotten through... much like a child whose wailing pleas are temporarily allayed with a pat, or a hug, I was afraid that God was putting me on hold. My fears and doubts nagged away. That was then.

The work began, the challenges were issued. My skills were tested: organization, patience, listening, debating, accepting, courage, public-speaking... talents I did not know I possessed. I've been busy, very busy-- doing the job I was elected to do, living the mission. The busy-ness filled the spaces where doubt and fear had lived before! I've been so consumed with the work that I forgot about the apprehension! I've heard it before: God doesn't call the equipped but equips the called. He did it for me. Believe me, If I can rise to this challenge it's only with God's help and guidance and through no illusions of my own. The work continues, the bar has been set. My feet will be held to the fire and I will need to continue to prove myself, but I'm calm in the knowledge that God and I can do this together! There's sunshine peeking over the horizon. This is now.

Life is Good!
God is gooder.
(thanks, Nancy!)

Chirp!

The upper respiratory bug that bit me over Easter weekend is loosening it's grip. My voice is returning, albeit gradually... from nothing at all to a squeak and now, finally, to a raspy facsimile of my normal voice. It's been a week of challenges, health-wise and personally. The personal issues are nearing resolution too, they deal with struggle and conflict of a different sort; through prayer God has granted me the strength I needed to deal with the issue and move forward toward a peaceful resolution. I am deeply thankful for that. There's been some comic relief every morning. Apparently, this fluffly little chick has had some nightime adventures! My mother-in-law brought several of these stuffed chicks for our Easter table. Isn't he cute? Turbo, our night-roaming kitty, thought so too. Every morning this week little "Chirp" has been found in a different place...under the dining room table, in the middle of the hall, in the foyer... it's been a fun kind of "hide and seek" between the two of us. I was eager to search for "Chirp" this morning, he's had a challenging week, too. It looks now like mine wasn't as bad as his!

He must have acted up last night...
Game over.

(He shoulda been prayin' too!)

PRAY, don't go to pieces...
Life IS Good!

Renewal

We've been living in our home now for 'going-on' six years. As some of you know, we built it ourselves, and have worked on it over time in fits and starts. It still seems "new" to us because there's still so much yet to finish. Will our home truly ever be done? Is any home ever done, finished, complete? I wonder. One task on the "to do" list has been, for all these years, to paint and install moulding in the stairwell from the foyer to the basement. It's been naked, primed drywall since we moved in, which wouldn't be all that bad if we didn't have a glass door providing a glimpse at this stark, bare whiteness. Our rationale in waiting has been that we have planned all along to do the woodwork and stair-treads prior to painting the walls; over time we have been lulled into complacency. Last week my husband asked what color we were planning to paint the stairwell and did we already have the paint? I was surprised. We had the paint! It's a warm and wonderful honey-color, a tint lighter than the foyer. He asked if I thought we should just go ahead and paint the walls now, we could always turn out attention to the woodwork-to-come later on. Yes! What a difference it has made. Each trip up or down is like stepping into a warm and welcoming hug, I love it! Sometimes there isn't time or energy to do it all, but isn't it wonderful when there's just enough to shake up the status-quo?

It renews the soul!
Life is Good!

Easter Weekend

The weather has turned cooler, much cooler! The blue sky and the blooming flowers outside give little clue to the bone chilling-cold unless you step out the door. I have somehow been afflicted with a wretched UR malady. It began after I cleaned the patio furniture one day last week and blamed it on pollen, but alas, it got worse and worse until it drove me to bed for the entire day yesterday! My darling daughter is visiting from the Capital City and put together today's menu offerings ahead of time, to be popped into the oven at the appropriate time. I opted out of morning worship as it was: 'either-or' (based on my current energy-level, or lack thereof) either church or Easter dinner, I knew I couldn't do both. Dinner won out. Conversation over the meal has been sacrificed, though; no voice! I'll have to wait another year for the Easter recessional: Widor's Toccata... what did you think, Nancy? I'm a patient person, quilters are like that, I can wait.

He is risen!
~He is risen indeed! Alleluia~
Life is Good!

Meet Turbo

This is Turbo, she's the elusive night-stalking little kitty who has taken up residence at Chez Goodneedle. There were many questions last week when I began a post with "we've acquired a cat"! Actually, Turbo came to us as package deal, a three-fer; as she came with our son and his dog, Diesel! She's Kyle's cat. Yes, the family dynamic has shifted, again. It's all for the good. While Kyle finishes school, he can concentrate on what he needs to (studying!) and know that he has a hot meal here at the end of the day; we love having all of them back home again. Anyway, back to the cat... she's been amusing us ever since she moved in by finding the most unusual places to hide. This is where I found her yesterday; she crawled up between the top sheet and the comforter on Kyle's bed and curled right up, smack-dab in the middle! Only the slightest little bump in an otherwise smooth bed gave her away. I couldn't resist taking her picture here. She's giving me a look, as if to say: "Uh-oh, am I ever busted..." Yep, you are!

And so it goes, the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey likes to say. Life is anything but static.

We have gained an outdoor "sentry" too; Diesel keeps the deer and critters at bay and happily greets human guests at either the front or the side porch, all 50 pounds of tail-wagging exuberance masquerading as a Labrador Retriever. Does it get any better? You know what I'm going to say...

Life is Good!
It is, it really really is...

Ironing

I love to iron! I do. To me, there's nothing as pretty as a line-up of crisply ironed shirts awaiting replacement into the closet. It represents order and control, albeit temporarily. I love irons, too! I am lucky enough to have an iron that's also a steam generator, I adore it. I have a travel iron, a heavy old-fashioned iron for messy jobs (fusing), a regular steam iron and a Clover mini-iron. They each have a place and a purpose. Kyle was at least seven or eight years old before he even knew that the ironing board could actually be folded up and put away! It was always standing tall somewhere near my sewing machine, I can still recall the astonished look on his face when I showed him how the legs collapsed flat! (He also thought every home had an Olfa mat and a rotary cutter as normal operating equipment; but that's another story altogether!) Sometimes my ironing basket gets full, no worries--that's a joyful day for me! But, for the most part I keep on top of the ironing. Generally I iron before dawn, a few pieces a day. It's almost like sewing... it keeps me centered. I'm planning on using the linen tablecloth for Easter dinner and the matching linen napkins trimmed with battenburg lace. (There's a method to my madness... oops, you're on to me!)

Life is Good!

Steamed

Some of you picked up on the fact I was a little steamed yesterday when I posted about "Honesty". I was. Thanks for giving me a chance to vent, it helped. I've calmed down a lot. Steven Covey says in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People that we can't control the actions of other people, we can only control our own reactions to them. I knew that. Quiltkeemosabe helped to remind me. In fact, it was a Covey kind of learning day... my Pastor reminded me of the habit: "to be understood one must first seek to understand"... I knew that, too. And more Covey-speak... my daughter suggested that when these habits come together it will truly be a "win-win". Yep. Thanks, guys. A little understanding will go a long way.

Life is Good.

Let's Be Honest

... for the sake of just that, honesty! I deal with people honestly and rationally, I expect the same in return. I am disappointed and frustrated when that doesn't occur. When my children were little and they wanted something, anything, I would listen to their requests and they would have to listen in return to my response. That's the way it was then, that's the way it is now... from a very young age they knew that they were being heard but they didn't always get what they requested. As adults they have learned to deal with similar situations, be they personal or professional, and move ahead. They are trustworthy, honest, rational adults and I am very proud of them. If an individual behaves in a dishonest and irrational manner with me I am forced to take a step back and wonder how in the world this person was raised as a child, I have little tolerance for this in adults who should know better. I am reminded today of Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthians, chapter 4, verses 1- 2: "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning, or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." If we are not true of heart and clean of conscience then how can we face the cross on Friday, or better yet, the empty tomb on Sunday and profess to understand?

I don't think we can.
Life is Good!

Does That Come In White, By Any Chance?

I was driving down the road the other day and saw the most gorgeous blooming hedge; it was pure, dazzling white and intermixed with vibrant yellow Forsythia (a common sight recently). I didn't know what the white bushes were, I did know what they weren't: they weren't Spirea, it's still too early and they had a different growth habit, too; these were more sturdy, upright branches, more like a Forsythia! (Forthysia, Nancy!) I decided to do some investigation... I called Quilt Keemosabe and asked her if she would ask her daughter what this blooming shrub might be (young Q.K. knows all things plant related). She wasn't sure. I did some Internet research and learned that there is, indeed, a white Forsythia! I never knew that before. But that reminded me... three years ago when my daughter and I were in wedding-mode the florist had mentioned that, naturally, not all flowers come in all colors but every flower does come in white. I was surprised by that little known (to me) fact then, and was even more surprised to recall it again now! Who woulda thunk it? Yep, it's white and it's Forsythia!

Life is Good!