Mirror Image

I saw my grandmother this morning, There she was... in the mirror! I got ready for the day and slipped into a cardigan sweater... my favorite white, lightweight, cable knit; I gazed back at my own reflection, that's when I saw her. Among my most vivid memories of her was the fact she always wore a white, cable knit cardigan, regardless of the season. She carried it with her through the dog days of August, just in case there would be air-conditioning wherever she was going, she didn't like cold air blowing on her. I remember shaking my head and seriously wondering about her ability to adapt. Years later I recall playing musical chairs in restaurants with my mother-in-law for precisely the same reason; and, having a similar reaction. I'm not exactly sure when I became them, but, I have. I heard myself telling my husband this summer that if I lived alone I probably wouldn't use air conditioning, but would prefer to open the windows all summer long and acclimate myself to the outside temperature. I actually said that... out loud; and could scarcely believe it myself. Yes, I saw my grandmother this morning in the mirror, she was wearing my white, cable knit, cardigan... she'd even left a crumpled up tissue for me in the pocket. I smiled.

Life is Good!

Keeping Track...

... of each other, generation to generation. I've written a LOT the last few days about cleaning out and the importance of documenting. My focus was on quilts and needlework, even though we think we'll remember what we've done, and when and why... we don't; it's important to label, and to give ourselves credit, if not for ourselves for those generations to come. Believe it or not, our quilts will outlive us!  When visiting Nova Scotia last fall we stopped at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck. Before exploring this fascinating museum I was under the extremely limited delusion that he had just invented the telephone; boy, was I wrong! This gifted genius invented so many things and possessed a mind brimming with concepts, ideas and quotes. I photographed this genetic portrait chart there, realizing how important (and unique) a photo chart like this would be for my grandchildren; I hope to create something similar very soon. This past Saturday morning, as the grits were simmering on the stove, I browsed through my Google reader looking at new blog entries when I landed on Barbara Brackman's Civil War Quilts blog and a picture of a gorgeous quilt made by Dianne. I clicked on the site link and began to read, I couldn't believe what I was reading (or seeing) when my eyes landed on an actual block from 1865 bearing the name of a man from my own hometown. I am from a relatively small place (West Boxford, MA; made even smaller by the inclusion of "West" in the first position). Dianne was doing research, the blog post went on, to learn more about this individual. A quick phone call to my parents and one by them to a local historian (a childhood friend of my father's) revealed that the man in question was a distant relative by marriage to the historian himself. My mother called me back with his contact information which I promptly passed along to Dianne. As she stated in an e-mail response: "isn't the internet an interesting way to communicate and learn?" Yes, Dianne, it surely is! This was a timely "God wink" for sure, I rarely read through the aforementioned blog for content (I usually just look at the photos) and had I not on Saturday morning this information connection may not have ever happened. We have the  responsibility to keep track, not for us, but for those who follow; with a wealth of information at our fingertips, it's never been easier. 

Someone might just be looking 

for you tomorrow~ help them out.

Life is Good!