Girls Weekend - Plus One

One week ago we made a weekend trip to the Other Banks with our daughter and our oldest granddaughter. Lucy Ann referred to our time together as "girls weekend with Paw Paw". We had a memorable two days. The purpose of the trip was for Mr. Goodneedle and our daughter to experience hang gliding from the dunes at Jockey's Ridge State Park; this was my husband's Christmas gift from her and her family. Unfortunately, this was also the Y-Guides Spring Outing weekend for our son-in-law and Mason; we missed them, but, undaunted by their plans the four of us pressed on for an adventure.
These two were scheduled for a Saturday morning flying lesson, which left Friday evening for exploring and walking along the boardwalk in Duck at sunset. As you can plainly see, it was a sweet and relaxing time.

It was a good thing that we were well rested because we had to hurry through breakfast on Saturday morning so that we had time for this local treat before flying!

Here he is-- gone with the wind!  My husband had the time of his life, as did our daughter. 

Lucy Ann did too, she spent the waiting time productively: shopping(!) and perfecting her cartwheel. All too soon it was time to head home once again. I was sad that it all went by so quickly but, even one week later, I am warmed still by the memories of sweet smiles and giggles, hearty laughter, the thrill of a shared adventure, delicious meals and one incredible sunset!

Life is Good!

 

It's A Wrap

"Summer Breeze", completed earlier this month, is ready for gifting. I went to the store yesterday intending to buy a gift bag for presenting the gift. I didn't like any of the available offerings and changed my mind about purchasing a gift bag at all. I came home empty handed. I looked at the quilt, neatly folded and thought: "how can I wrap you?"  Then it dawned on me-- Summer Breeze needed a pillowcase of its own!  I had scraps left over. This afternoon I stitched up the perfect, at least to my thinking, gift bag! Not only is it useful, but it matches and can be the ideal storage container when the quilt isn't in use. I believe this impromptu wrapping idea to be the most excellent complement to a quilt gift. I have a feeling this won't be my last.

It's a wrap~

Life is Good!

Why We Make Quilts

It's simple: this is why we do what we do. Meet the newest family member; our great niece, relaxing on her very first quilt. Isn't she a little doll? I believe she looks pleased with her gift. I spoke with her Daddy on the phone last night, he told me that she uses her quilt for "tummy time" but he assured me that once she started eating solid foods and dragging items around they would put her quilt away for safe keeping. "No, don't do that", I urged him; "by all means, let her use it." Nothing gives me more pleasure than a quilt that is used and worn out by a child who loves it, that's what they're for. If a quilt wears out, we can (and will) make more... it's why we do what we do!

...and SEW it goes...

Life is Good!

Sharing The Good Times

I have a friend who always remembers to take snapshots; and then, she shares them, what could be better? She gave me this print last evening, I am deeply grateful. This picture represents a lot to me; taken at a very happy event this summer, my husband and I were surrounded by good friends in a wonderful and relaxed setting, and now I have a tangible reminder of this great day! I need to take a lesson from my friend and be more mindful of remembering the camera, snapping those photos at outings, gatherings and get-togethers, and sharing the good times with copies printed out. A photo gift is a priceless memory and a treasured memento. Thanks, Salem Stitcher, for sharing the joy and the memories; one precious snapshot at a time!

Life is Good!

Be Happy Tip #2:
Sing! - Singing works just like smiling, causing your body to produce "feeling good" chemicals. Sing in the car, sing in the shower, sing when you prepare dinner and sing when you feel frustrated and notice how the negative feelings melt away.

Creeping Gloxinia

Have you ever seen one of these? This hanging basket is going crazy creeping up and around the shepherd's hook just outside my Studio, where I have it staked. This is a new plant for me this year. The owner of the nursery where we buy our flowers gave it to me to try out; I'd say it's one giant success, wouldn't you?

Bloom where you're planted...

and stretch those wings to soar!

Life is Good!

Vintage Tablecloth

I was looking for something else, that always seems to be the case when I find the very best treasures tucked away and long since forgotten! My dear mother-in-law gave me this tablecloth embroidery project when my husband and I were newlyweds, almost 34 years ago. I remember her presenting it to me when we lived in our first apartment, it was a kit, floss and hoop included, that she had purchased from her Avon lady! (Now, I could be wrong about that fact; I cannot find any kits such as this ever offered through Avon. It was a while ago, so don't take this as the Gospel truth. Does anyone know anything about similar kits or this tablecloth in particular?) The kits of those days had the design, with the color code, stamped onto the background. I loved it and began stitching right away directly onto the stamped lines and did, oh, maybe ten inches before I abandoned the project! Here it sat, all those years in the very same Avon snap-top sack, until it was rediscovered last month. I love it just as much today as I did when she gave it to me. It is approximately 34" square, the design goes all the way around the four sides. I saw a vintage tablecloth that Quiltdivajulie had sent out to be quilted a few months back, it was beautifully done! This week that same quilter, Quilting4U, has quilted another vintage tablecloth, a cross-stitch embroidered beauty for her mother. I know, now, what I'll do with this when the embroidery is complete! I'll remove the red binding, find a backing, and load this onto Sundance for quilting. It will look perfect in our breakfast area! It's both new and vintage at the same time.

Life is Good!

An Historic "Ride"

We made a road trip to the Capital City on Saturday; Uncle Kyle had a very special gift for Mason, this lucky little boy didn't need to wait until Christmas, either! A few months back Kyle discovered the old, rusted out version of this very wagon in Grandma's basement where it's languished, neglected, for decades. Purchased in the 40's for my husband's older brother, this Murray wagon was pressed into constant, and sometimes heavy, service for at least thirty years! My husband has fond memories not only of riding in it as a small child, but of using it to collect glass pop bottles for refund, from construction sites, in the 60's when he was a boy; as well as piling it high with rocks, for transport, when he and his Dad built the foundation for a porch in the 70's, as a teenager. Kyle knew that this would make the perfect first Christmas gift for another generation. With Grandma's permission, Kyle worked his magic with sandpaper and a spray gun. He replaced the wheels, crafted a new bushing for the steering mechanism, and applied a pinstripe along the sides. Mason was mesmerized by his first set of wheels, he stared and smiled a great big grin of sheer delight and gratitude! I'm not sure if his reaction was to the wagon itself or to the reflection of the Christmas tree lights in the high-gloss paint finish; it really doesn't matter. His is now a wagon with a long and storied past, the very best gift of all!

back row, left to right: My husband, Mason, Kyle
front row: Riley, Mason's big "sister"
Life is Good!

It's What's Inside...

"It's what's inside that counts". How many times have you heard that? How many times have you repeated it? It's true with people, and packages. I remember opening a gift on my fiftieth birthday, from my sister, and finding this hand carved "walnut" nestled down deep inside a wad of tissue paper. I was confused at first, until I spied the seam and slowly twisted it apart. There, in the heart of this "walnut", sat a shiny gold thimble! It's a tiny one, and bears the initials of a young girl, most assuredly, based on the diminutive size. This precious antique thimble and case have rested on my bookshelf for the last five years. Sometimes I pick the case up and gently trace the bumpy contours and wonder about the maker, I imagine it was the thimble owner's father who carved this case lovingly for his daughter. Occasionally I will remove the thimble and balance it on my pinky finger; I speculate about the girl that "J.D.P" might have been, I can envision her settled in a chair and carefully piecing a patchwork block or hemming a dress with the thimble gleaming in the firelight. I always place it back gently, reverently, it's a treasure in every sense of the word. It's the perfect gift; my sister took the time to search for, and find, something so very special for my birthday. Hers is approaching next month and I know what I need, I need to find something wonderful, something perfect; I need to find a gift full of love. After all, it's what's inside that counts.

Life is Good!