New Year, New Goals, New Milestones!

Happy New Year! I've given up on any guiding words or resolutions for 2023; I decided that I didn't want to set myself up for any disappointments or failure in that arena. Instead I have set some goals, both short and long term.  With an active, growing puppy in the house, it seems right to set the biggest long term goal for this year as one that sees Augie growing into a well behaved and obedient companion. With a LOT of patience and firm, consistent, training we should be able to accomplish that nicely. He's already been training us, now it's going to be his turn. He begins classes in Puppy Manners and Socialization in a week and a half.  The plan is for him to graduate into basic obedience classes after that, as the year progresses. I've begun having him sit with me at the sewing machine. He's fine with that as he has quickly become my little shadow and enjoys being wherever I am. Even in the chair while piecing!

Leash training has been seeing good progress, he's less interested in biting the leash now and understands the concept of walking while tethered. One step at a time. 

Mr. G celebrated a milestone birthday during the "in between" week of Christmas and New Year's day. We were discussing this week how when we were in high school we were all  reading George Orwell's 1984 in English class. Politics of that science fiction book aside, we thought that sounded like such an outlandishly futuristic date at the time! Now here we both are, all these many years later, celebrating birthday milestones we couldn't even imagine back then, and ringing in a New Year that we would have only laughed about back in 1970!

I did accomplish a small quilting goal last week; another donation quilt pieced by the mother of a friend, for our son-to-be Quilt Ministry closet at church. "Popcorn" pantograph by Willowleaf Studios; it's one of my "go-to"s and never disappoints on any straight/angular patterns, I believe it is a nice combination for quilt tops pieced that way. I have another on the frame right now; one more small, achievable, goal. 

One more goal: I am looking forward to becoming much more

 blog-active again this year. 

In the meantime, I have my hands full. 

❤

You know, it's referred to a "puppy love" for a reason. 

Happy New Year!

Life is Good!

For Everything There Is A Season...

We recently took a quick trip north for a very special occasion: it was Mr. G's and my 50th high school reunion! Our class has always stayed pretty well connected and, even fifty years later, some things don't change. There were approximately 125 classmates in attendance, not bad out of a class of 307!  

In this photo are the three amigas, we were the very best of friends in high school and always look forward to reconnecting; given any opportunity! Mr. G and I sat and visited, and ate, with our old friends and classmates as if time had stood still. At our dinner table stories were told that I'd never heard before, tales that have stood the test of time!  We were so impressed by the organization of the reunion committee: there was no stone unturned, every. single. detail. was attended to and expertly implemented to ensure the best reunion ever! My heart is so full; even now, almost two weeks later, from classmates that I spoke with and their stories. I'm was so inspired and proud to learn of amazing lives and careers from folks that I grew up with as well as saddened to realize the loss of thirty eight members of our class of '71; gone much too soon!  All of a sudden, it seemed, the evening came to a close; I don't know why I was shocked when I looked at my watch, that should have come as no surprise since it seemed like the last five decades had just passed by in the blink of an eye.  I am left warmed by rekindled friendships and hilarious stories of days gone by; some of which I am still laughing over now.

We truly had the very best time; even if we did have to wear our high school pictures pinned to ourselves to be recognized! (Someone ought to tell graduating seniors that the TRUE "permanent record" that follows you for the rest of your days is your yearbook portrait!) 

A flowerpot of  souvenirs followed us home... 

...as well as happy memories to last a lifetime!

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Well done, class of '71; well done!

Life is Good!

With A Little Help From My Friends!

I recently celebrated a birthday; in grand style-- with a little help from my friends! My high school friends, to be more accurate. This year the day just happened to fall on the same day as our high school reunion! Mr. Goodneedle and I were in the same class so this event was great fun for both of us; we're still talking about what a terrific time we had visiting and catching up with classmates.

A specially decorated name tag greeted me at the registration table. The name tags, all bearing our high school yearbook photos were helpful for identifying each other but they make me laugh. Akin to one's "permanent record", like it or not, that photo will follow your every step for the rest of your life! I have heard that there were approximately 80 people in attendance, a great turnout. The event was held on the grounds of a classmate, it was the perfect venue on a gloriously clear and sunny fall day!

I was lucky enough to share a dinner table with my two best friends from all those many years ago. There's nothing like a reunion such as this one to take one back. It wasn't difficult to remember all those fun (and often not-so-fun) times when I was an insecure and tentative teenager worried about insignificant and trivial matters (which were anything but at that time!). What a gift it is now to reflect and realize that all these decades later maturity yields a secure and stable outlook freeing us from the fear and anxiety of our youth.  I believe that my parents and grandparents reassured me with similar words and encouragement at the time; but why would I have listened then-- I was a teenager after all. Now, I feel that responsibility, to offer reassurance and encourage. Surviving those teenage years is not for the weak and timid; but oh, the years after are God-given blessings, each and every one!

Life is Good!

A Product Of Era And Area

I remember attending a lecture some time ago presented by a quilt historian and taking notes; I wrote: "quilts will be influenced and can be identified, most of the time, by the time period  and the geographical region in which they were constructed". Isn't that true of people as well? A high school classmate had posted the dress code, the one to which we were all expected to adhere, on Facebook. I have copied it here for your information and amusement. I graduated from high school (public school) in New England in 1971,   I am a product of time and place! I know, inherently, what a "school dress" is; I believe that term would need further explanation today. The notation that "thongs are not acceptable" brought a smile to my face, before they were flip-flops they were thongs and back in the day were not appropriate footwear for school.  Sneakers were acceptable for girls (but not recommended) in Spring and Fall and boys were advised not to wear footwear designed for out-of-doors in the Winter!?! Both boys and girls' hair was an issue, the length of bangs was of enough concern to be regulated; and I seriously wonder how this authoritarian statement: "any item of clothing or style of grooming deemed by the faculty to be distracting is not acceptable" would be viewed by students/parents now; I can't even imagine what is printed in rules for dress and appearance today, but I suspect that tattoos, T-shirt slogans and/or visible underwear are on "the list" (or should be)! I don't recall many challenges to these rules when I was a student; there may have been a few rebels, but then I am blessed nowadays with a shorter memory! I do remember the "hem police", teachers who were stationed in the halls between classes checking how short skirts were, but that was about as dictatorial as it got, the rules weren't a problem. This probably explains a lot about me; an oldest child from a Puritan place who has always been an ardent rule-follower, but I'm also like an antique quilt, influenced and identified by the era and area from which I came! 

~not to mention being soft, worn and wrinkled~ 

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!