Going On, Growing On...

You may remember that I began this perennial garden, located just outside of my sewing room, two years ago. I've had some good luck, some bad luck and have learned a TON along the way! So, two years later, I have a lovely and peaceful space that is filling in and providing much enjoyment. I have moved, dug up and transplanted many things, all part of the learning curve. I'm rewarded with the reemergence of old "friends" and have added a few new ones this spring. 

This area has become a haven for birds, "hummers" and butterflies too. Those handmade stepping stones are weathering in nicely and have developed a nice patina. 

On the subject of growing on... our two youngest grandchildren spent the weekend with us. Gregory is now ten years old and Lynnleigh, eight; they're finishing up the fourth and second grades, resectively. We had a great time going to Cracker Barrel for dinner, playing games, helping with church responsibilities, practicing piano and exploring the wonders of sparkling maple syrup on waffles! 

We delighted in every minute that they were with us, the house is very quiet this morning. Today is our forty-sixth wedding anniversary, as far as how we're celebrating: Mr. Goodneedle is outside splitting wood and I am quilting at the longarm today. We'll thoroughly enjoy a dinner out tonight, as we did these roses recycled from yesterday's worship service on our breakfast table today. Time marches on and so do we.

May 24, 1975

Going on and growing on... together.

💕

Life is Good!

Five?

Five? Really?? The passage of time seems to be measured in days rather than years to this Nana. How could time be passing so quickly? Yes, our youngest granddaughter is five years old.

January 2013

We had a fun day shopping for clothes and accessories for her newest doll, Kit, on Monday. Our trips together to the American Girl store have become a birthday tradition. My dad calls it the "Grandparents Store", there's a lot of truth in that. 😉

Tuesday was Lynneligh's actual birthday, we gathered with her and the family for dinner and for her to blow out the candle on her cupcake. It's a good thing, too. Because yesterday this was the scene in our parts; when this happens here no one goes anywhere! It was so pretty and peaceful, we had 6".

The children all had a snow day from school to play; I spent the snowy afternoon playing, too!

Today the sun is shining, the temperatures are rising and a clean-up is underway.

There's a clean-up underway inside too. As we s-l-o-w-l-y put our house back together after the floor refinishing I am dedicated to cleaning out junk and debris that has been accumulating in the closets.

This 1991 planner surfaced. I have no clue why I kept this. Back then I kept track of how many hours a day I quilted (hand quilting in those days) and the projects I hoped to complete each month. I had to squeeze in as much time as I could while the children were in school or at other activities. It would seem that I got much done, too. I barely remember these quilts now. There is a notation in there that is laughable to me today: "This month I plan to finish up all projects already started!" Alrighty then. 

Some things change dramatically and some don't. I still keep a planner, but I do not log in quilting hours. I wish that I finished every project already started; but today I pick and choose what I will devote time to. I remember when our children were growing up someone told me that "the days are long but the years are short". I can fully appreciate that today. I have always crammed my days full, I can't recall a time when I didn't; and, yes, the years have grown incredibly short. I measure them in a different way now-- through my grandchildren. How are you marking time today?

Life is Good!

Just Like That...

... July is gone and this boy is NINE years old already! NINE!! What? How did that happen?

He celebrated his birthday by swimming in the county wide championship swim meet on his birthday that very day. He did extremely well too, nine days post-op. 😲 His friends from his relay team shared a pool themed birthday cookie and a birthday sleepover party at his house later in the day. Our very talented daughter in law created the birthday tees for Mason's party. They were a hit!

She also created this adorable shirt for the birthday boy's sister. This was her right before the championship meet.

And this was Lucy Ann a few days later, sporting the hardware to back up her shirt's claim. She is speedy!!  Yep, and just like that it is August already. My life has been stuck on 'fast forward' lately.  I will catch up, I know that. It's all good.

Life is Good!

Wrapping It Up

I'm down to quilting the last few rows of blocks in this quilt: "Jackstones". It's been on the rails for a very long time; so long, in fact, that I have removed it and replaced it three times already to quilt pantographs on other quilts while it languished! It really is way beyond time that this one gets wrapped up. I don't know about you but I feel a particular sense of urgency at this time of year, a push to get things done, wrap up loose ends and complete tasks. I believe it goes back to all those years of being a student. The month of May signals "end of year" like nothing else in my mind, that signal increases in frequency and volume with each passing day in the month. Just thinking about term papers being due, final exams and end-of-year this or that can still elicit a cold sweat, even after all these decades. With increased age I am keenly aware now, more than ever, of the all-too-swift pace of time passing; easily gauged through the rocket-like growth of my own grandchildren. There's no time like now; right now! "Wrap it up, finish the job, get it done" echoes in my head, "there are new challenges on the horizon". We were invited to a few "end of year" programs for Gregory and Lynnleigh at their respective schools (didn't school only just begin last week?).  They were both adorable, naturally.

Lynnleigh, age 4

Gregory, age 6

Back to the job at hand, only a few more rows. "Wrap it up, finish the job, get it done"... almost there!

None of us know how much time we have; but I, for one, know that I don't want to spend forever quilting on just one quilt! There's simply too many other things that I want to try and need to get done. I am thankful for this ingrained "end-of-year" urgency that not-too-gently propels me forward, presses me onward; yep, it's high time increase that final effort and wrap things up! Summer (and all the fun and adventure that one word implies) awaits; and beyond that there are newer, bigger, mountains to climb! I'm sure you remember that feeling too: the giddy excitement of what's to come.

Life is Good!

Up next: "Twirl, Girl, Twirl!"