Orphans – Bless Their Little Hearts

I’ve been knee deep in a little half-square madness this week. Not at all what I thought would happen with my time, but it was such a pleasant meander that I couldn’t bring myself to put it away. Now that’s a nice way to deal with orphans.

I told Nines that if these ever made a quilt top, I’d have to call it “Forever Melancholy.” Most of the squares, before I dissected them, were remnants from my “Melancholy Mama” quilt. I’m convinced I’ll carry some melancholy trailers to my grave. Once the squares were trimmed, I semi-sorted colors and looked in my 1000 Great Quilt Blocks (Maggi McCormick Gordon) for 4-8 patch variations. These orphans struck a scrappy sampler-like bargain, but I’m pleased enough to be anxious to get it all sewn up. Hmmm...perhaps I can put that on the slate for Monday morning while GF is escorting Aunt Margaret to the doctor. And you know, I might even be able to cast off those half-dozen 3” melancholy squares, if they won’t fit in the border. Sooner or later even orphans get old enough to move along.

But if you’re looking for perfect points, don’t. Like their adopted mama, these little orphan bones are old and their little joints are too arthritic to match perfectly. Besides, perfection could never be as rewarding as this was. My favorite square is the "Balkan Puzzle" - 2nd on top row.

The Perfect Gift

Only Isobel would think to so cater to her DBIL. Here he is, using the banded headlight she sent him for its first chore – a recalcitrant door knob. I can’t count the times over 40+ years that GF has run out of light before he ran out of job. But no more! He came in from weed-whacking about 8 p.m. last night asking, “Can I come in?” Imagine his surprise when I answered, “I don’t think so, I think you need to put your headlight on and cut weeds a while longer.” Just joking! I’d been pining for his company over an hour already.