"She Hath Done What She Could"

I first posted about this thimble twelve years ago, this is an updated version of that original post, I have more information now and pictures as a result of my recent trip "back home". 

I wear this gold thimble on a chain around my neck, it was a gift from my grandmother many years ago, before I was a quilter (amazingly there was such a time!). I had it made into a pendant a while back, when I learned that it could be transformed into a piece of jewelry without compromising the integrity of the piece.  I treasure it as much for its beauty as for its history. Someone asked me about it one time and I could only recall a portion of the story behind its age and how my grandmother came to own it. When Nannie gave it to me she explained that it had been made for Sarah Elizabeth Barker, (it's monogrammed) it was a child's thimble, and that it had been given to my grandmother by Sarah Elizabeth's sister-in-law after Sarah's untimely death. We visited her gravestone in an historic old cemetery the week before last. It seems that Sarah Elizabeth Barker was born on May 6, 1831. She died Sarah Elizabeth Barker Wood on July 4, 1871 of complications following childbirth; her infant daughter, born and died on June 30, 1871 is buried alongside her mother.

Her gravestone is engraved with this sentiment: "beloved in life, lamented in death" and, at the foot, "she hath done what she could". A quick brush of leaves and debris from the foot of the marker's reverse side reveals this engraving: "here in line at my feet my dear pet cat, Tommy, August 21, 1875 aged 17 years". That's a lot to take in. There's much to learn in these centuries old cemeteries, they're historical goldmines.

The story goes that after her death her husband locked the door to their home, walked away, and never returned to live there again.  If the thimble belonged to Sarah at age 10 that makes it approximately 179 years old! I feel a deeper connection to Sarah now; she was a wife, mother, loved her pet, and did what she could. All this documenting one short, (too short) life on a slab of ages-old granite in a New England cemetery. I'll proudly wear this pendant with much more understanding, and heightened reverence, from now on. It's the least that I can do; for an amazing and inspiring woman, for Sarah Elizabeth Barker!

What would your epitaph be?

Life is Good!

Back To School...

... a long, long time ago. There were days, even in the not so distant past, when back to school meant physically going back on the day after Labor Day, that's the way it was when I was a kid. This is me, back in those days, my fourth grade school picture. We were lucky enough to be able to take a trip back to those places where I attended elementary school last week. We have been FaceTiming with my family in New England since the COVID crisis began, but we really needed to see them in person, even for a very short time. This trip up there took some doing: COVID tests to make 100% sure we were negative and then self-quarantining until it was time to leave. We packed our food and gallons of sanitizer in the car, no stopping; (except for bathrooms and fuel) and drove straight up to their home- 865 miles. It was great to be able to hug my mom and dad again! We arrived on the 6th and drove back home, in identical fashion, on the 11th. Whew, it was a fast-paced, jam-packed few days! One day, last week, the decision was made to make a trip down to my hometown (also my Dad's). Mr. G and I, along with Mom and Dad, jumped in the car for the two hour drive back home. I thought that our road trip was fun, but there's much truth to the old saying that "you can't go home again". My Dad had hoped to see his old homestead, my grandparents home; much has been renovated and changed in the last year but the trees and shrubs have grown so large surrounding the house that it was almost impossible to see the place at all, that made him sad. My mother was very disappointed in our old house, next door to my grandparents home, where I grew up; the exterior paint color has changed and other alterations have occurred since they sold it. Time marches on, but it's hard; and especially so as one grows older. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the day visiting my old schools. Sadly, the biggest thing missing last week were the sounds and sights of children inside and outside the schools. The physical appearance of the buildings has changed dramatically, except for the school where I attended second grade, that school housed three second grade classrooms back then. Two were upstairs, one to the right and one to the left of the front door. My classroom was downstairs on the back of the building. sadly, those windows have been boarded over, thwarting my hope to peek inside. I was able to look in the window of the back door and remembered going up and down those steps, it looks exactly the same as it did in my mind, the cafeteria was downstairs there too, on the other side of the lower level (the building now temporarily houses the town's library). That oak tree behind the school where I spent the most number of years looks the same too, except for the fact that there used to be a bench built all around that tree; I recall that we would race out the door at recess time to claim spaces on that bench! The school where I attended sixth grade was brand-new when I entered for that single year before moving on to Jr. High. Those double doors were the main doors back then, there's a new entrance and another wing has been added in the last 55 years-- ha, imagine that! I did speak with the school secretary here. She came outside and introduced herself, she wanted to see why an old lady was photographing the school! She had questions about the way things used to be that I could actually answer. We commiserated about the current state of things; she, too, misses the students!

We spent Labor Day doing something quintessentially New England in my parents backyard; 

and, yes, it was as every bit as delicious as it looks.

Friday morning, bright and early, it was time to bid good-byes; always the hardest part, and hit the road once again. We have no idea what the fall will bring and when we'll be traveling again, but we made the most of our time together for a few, brief, golden days. I'll have a few more posts this week about our northern adventures. Thanks for joining me today on my trip down memory lane, it was such an enjoyable trip to take and one that's always more fun with friends along. 

💗

Life is Good!

Sorting Strips and Other Weekend Activities

We had our youngest two grandchildren yesterday, it was a VERY rainy day and we concentrated on inside activities. I asked Lynnleigh for some help in sorting my bin of strips into color groups. I set her up in the sewing room and taped crayons on the table to identify each row. She set right to work and enjoyed the task... for a while. She took a lot of breaks in between and that was just fine. We found lots of fun activities. We decorated the house for Easter, planted some flower seeds and baked up a big batch of caramel corn (recipe below!). I don't have a plan for my strips but they'll be all color coordinated and easier to use now, whenever I'm ready.

She got a LOT accomplished in snatches of time. I am very pleased (as she is) with the result.

The truth is there's probably just as many strings left in the bin as there are on the table. But, we've made a GREAT start! The bin on the left (on the sofa) will be reserved for lights/neutrals only.  

I got this recipe from Quiltkeemosabe last week. It's all that and more. 

Good luck keeping it on hand for up to five days!

Gregory was happy to pose for the recreation of this photo from seven years ago. Sigh. 

Last evening Mr. Goodneedle and I attended the Winston-Salem Symphony for an evening with "Ella and Louis", we had a terrific time listening to vocals and trumpet music saluting the greats Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. We always love attending functions at the beautiful Reynolds Auditorium, for a high school auditorium it is amazingly special and, I dare say, unlike most others. 

One final little story from yesterday. Lynnleigh was sitting at the kitchen table and I mentioned to her that her face is elongating and slimming down and, at six, she's looking much more like a  big girl now than a little girl. She immediately replied: "Oh, that's probably because I'm sitting up on my knees!" 

Yeah, that's it. 😉

Life is Good!