THANKS GIVEN

It has been a week for reflection. This time last year Wayne was entrenched in CICU, facing a second open heart surgery in less than eight hours. The cardiologist’s nurse assistant was standing in a far dim corner with tears streaming down her face – trying to be unseen. The cardiologist was agitated, the surgeon sober … there wasn’t a lot of hope floating around.

Still there was love enough and faith enough to fill that space and stretch across the miles into eternity. God answered prayers – ours and yours. So here we are a year later, especially given to thanksgiving for time and memories that might not have been.

None among my friends and family would think of giving thanks but once a year, I’m sure. Still, it seems to me that along side our prayer list, we should keep a thank You list – lest we become presumptuous, ungrateful children. Our blessings are indeed countless.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth…

PSALM 105:1-5

SKINNY CATS

Yesterday was (late) (o.k., very late) fall cleaning day. I had been pondering since October’s knee surgery how to begin that little task. Our household has been running pretty much on a lick and a promise for several months now. You know - a lick at the dishes and a promise to mop after I sweep sometime soon. Even I can tolerate only so much dust and clutter, so the time was at hand.

But where to start? A list of course. And then I took the arbitrary notion to start out with a pain pill instead of waiting for a miserable end. My daddy always said there was more than one way to skin a cat. (Wherever did that expression come from?) To my way of thinking, my day needed a little help and it turned out not to be overindulgent, after all. The list had very few check-offs at my giving out point; but clean windows, curtain and rug washing along with regular tasks was a real good start. Today, cleaning the tea shelves, bathroom and computer corner seemed a breeze – without medical assistance. Still have to sweep/mop the floors tomorrow – the paper trail to/from the computer took too long to rid/file today – but that looks quite doable from here. So my skinny cat took three days and a lortab boost, but she’s sleek and trim and ready to relax, snuggle up in. A little cleaning can surely lift a spirit.

For a sit down job after cleaning the computer space I ripped some CD’s onto my hard drive. Now I won’t have to shuffle between Brightman, Beatles and Beethoven CD’s on the single player – just think of all the time I’ll save for leisurely pursuits. And this blogging spot is much more inviting.

There’s more than one way to keep a ripening apple on a skinny tree limb, too, as the photo will attest. GF engineered 5-gallon bucket supports which, like those resewn seams, “ain’t pretty, but it’ll hold.”

 

WHISKED AWAY

I've had a couple of little fun projects under foot the last while. First I serged together several utility aprons in adult and children sizes. Then a host of tea napkins. Imagine a white-headed granny with sprouting French twist huddled over the serger...rzzzz-click -click, rzzzz-click -click, rzzzz-click -click, rzzz-rzzz-z-z-z-z-snip...four sides, pausing to turn each corner then cutting the thread at the end. Fourteen sets of napkins (only four per set, plus 15-16 scrappy extras) - that's way over 50 knots to tie as GF sat getting his nightly Western novel fix. At least I was a bit better at turning those corners when I finished than when I began. Some of the napkins got a little lace trim and some didn't need it.

In each instance, I piled aprons/napkins into an envelope and whisked them off to never never land about as quickly as they were done. I didn't even press the napkins - for shame! No pictures for show and tell, either. Maybe the Indiana organizer will think to share a snapshot or two. . . while she's sitting around eating sugar-free bon bons and drinking de-caf tea. *Snicker.*

We had a fun weekend with DGS- Josiah. He called to ask his GF if he could "sleep over today." GF answered, "We don't sleep during the day." We drug him to Pomeroy OH for visitation with friends, evening church services and then back for a late bedtime - for which we were all ready. We did sleep over until after 8 o-clock this morning too. Josiah was quite impressed with GF's smoked venison roast and Bambi jerky. And GF about talked his leg off as they made outdoor rounds today...which, if you know Josiah, you know is something of a role reversal.

About now I just hope the hurried trip to the post office sent today's parcel through the gate to Indiana and not one akin to the pictured Teelside "gate to nowhere."

FLIP SIDE BARGAINS

The subtle rainbow of fabrics were quite a find. Together with the one sent off to Nines for her own use, I grabbed up backing for eight quilt tops in one fell swoop....for a bargain price of under $10 per quilt. Whoever heard of such a thing? I had one more quilt to match, but didn't find what I wanted so resisted. Ironically, the one I didn't match was the first one I pieced. All these pretty pieces, except the browns on the corner, will be stashed away for future delivery to In where their mates await completion. Their mates aren't anxious or lonely...I'm sure they're keeping each other happy company as they wait contendedly in that workshop of wonder.

But perhaps I should consider storing my future quilt tops here for a while, lest the added numbers get burdensome. I have my fun putting them together and fully trust the hands that store them for quilting whenever. I truly don't care if they don't get done in my lifetime...I know they won't end up in a yard sale or thrift shop. But one really shouldn't over tax a dear daughter, should one.

 

ABEL'S BIG FAT HEN

Nines was right - it took two pounds of rice to fill this big fat hen. But isn't she just so cute! She'll be laden down with pins in no time, so no, I do not think she is too big or too fat. Besides she has enough heft to hold down pattern pieces sans pins and GF's mail when the doors are left open.

You'll recognize the blocks from the gorgeous quilt Nines made for Abel. I loved the unusual colors in that quilt and the star in the corner, didn't you?

And as Abel lives in my heart, it's only fair and I'm very pleased to give him his own place at my (sewing) table.