Go for it

Today I said I love you and goodbye to my Grandmother.
The woman who helped to make my mother the strong, opinionated, impish and beautiful woman that she is. A woman who I feel I never quite got to know as much as I should have, but loved hearing about so many of the things she accomplished in her life.

It was a blessing to be there with her this weekend....the weather had been bad just a few days before and had kept my own my mom getting to their house. But the temps rose, the roads cleared and my mom, one of her sisters, and her brother were all able to make it. By the time I arrived Grandma was no longer able to speak, but she gave me a beautiful smile and held my hand as I snuggled in next to her for a while. Thank goodness for Bob (who did all the driving to get there) and who was my steady rock as I rode the emotional tide in and out while trying to be strong and full of love for my Grandfather as well as do my best to be helpful around the house.

The entire time I was there I was mentally replaying one of my favorite sermons of all time (from Pastor Kevin at Advent Lutheran in Washington) He gave a childrens' sermon that blew me away on an All Saints Day service. He talked to the kids about how hard it is to see those we love in pain--especially as they lose those they love to death. He mentioned that because we don't want to feel that kind of pain (when we don't have control to make things better or easier) that we tend to tell those we love "don't cry".....He then looked at each child and said "I want you do me a favor...the next time you see someone you care about sad, crying and hurting, I want you to pull up a chair next to them, reach out and hold their hand, look them in the eye and tell them 'go for it', and I'm going to be here until you're done."

Honestly, what could be better than that type of love?

I love you Grandma. I'm so happy that you are now free from this final pain and struggle. Thank you for your gifts in this world and for the family you helped to create that now holds each other's hands with love and memories.

Falling leaves and falling temperatures

The temperatures have dipped down into single digits already this fall, and most the leaves that have not yet turned, might not have a chance this year. (Although I still hold out hope!) The coldest weekend came during the perfect time for me however....Fall Quilt Retreat! Three days of sewing, laughing and hardly sleeping with my mom and good friends from the shop where I work. BLISS!

Here a few of the smaller projects that I was working on:

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This little quilt is a donation quilt that I did for our Quilter's Guild. They give you a bag of fabric and you decide what pattern to use and put it together! I wanted to give this pattern a try so I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to play with it! Lot's of bright colors to be sure in this bag!!

And just to prove how serious we take our sewing weekend.....

As the weather has changed lately, we've started seeing our winter friends around the property again. This year we have a wonderful gang of baby turkeys living near by....they are so cute when they chase down grasshoppers!

And I have to admit that I'm surprised by how many small animals we are still seeing...I hope that the intense cold we've been having early this year doesn't harm them!

I've been getting more and more requests for consignment work, which is thrilling and a wonderful compliment. I'll try to post some more photos as they are completed. I taught a wonderful woman yesterday to maker her first quilt, and next week I teach my first fabric greeting card class! I don't know if I'm keeping in or out of trouble...but as long as there are people who want to play with me, I don't think it matters. :)

I hope that your feet stay warm and your hearts are full of love this autumn! Enjoy the magic of the changing seasons!

Happy Peace Day!

The past few days have been magic...and not because of any large events in my life. On the contrary they have been magic because of how much I've been enjoying the little events in my life.

Listening to audio books in the evening with my sweetie as I sew.

Snorkeling in the river with the full knowledge that with the frost this morning that swimming season will very soon be over for the year.

Watching my sweetie prepare the wood pile (and our new shed!) for the firewood that will keep us warm and toasty all winter.

Tending to the garden and enjoying the last blooming plants while watching others start to fade.
On a whim, going to a new restaurant with some good friends because of a musician that none of us had ever heard of, but wanted to listen to (I highly recommend him!! His name is Dorian Michael and you can find him on itunes and Youtube: He eve has his own website.)

Watching the light change as the sun and moon trade places in the sky.

Looking at the stars at night and feeling as if you could reach out and brush your hand through the milky way.

Apples, Apples, Apples....it's been a good year and we've been picking! Which means I've been baking up a storm and I love the smell of a house that has apples and cinnamon recently baked together.

Having a tea party with my Godchild where we painted with watercolors and told stories of "Indiana Dragonfly"

Catching up on my quilting consignments! (for those keeping track, the mosaic piece was picked up and she did love it *whew!*) One store sample is finished, another is ready to have the rows put together and then one more wall hanging to quilt and I'll be looking around my own things and getting to choose what wants to be made next! How fun!

And best of all, my dear and closest friend, (my chosen sister) who has been through so much this past year, is really starting to find her footing and is learning what we all need reminding sometimes...how beautiful and strong and talented she is.

Actually, for all our sakes, do this right now...go to your nearest mirror and tell the one standing there all of those things. When we recognize the beauty in ourselves, the world will be one step closer to finding peace.

I hope you find the magic in all your 'little' things too!

Blessings!

Getting back into the swing of things

I'm going to do my best to be here at least once a week....more if I can manage it. I miss connecting (albeit cyber-ly) to my friends around the globe, and frankly I also think it's good for me to sit down and think 'so...what is on my mind today?'

On my mind today is the joy of baking with freshly picked apples, of planting in some last minute perennials before the weather changes completely, of watching the tomato plants that we grew from tiny tiny seeds, fruit and ripen on the vine, having a tea party with my Godchild and my best friend (complete with goggles made from the plastic containers that apples are sometimes sold in!) and the beauty of snorkeling in the river that makes up our back yard.

I've snorkeled many times in the past, although mainly on vacation in far off places and in either the ocean or a lake. I've never snorkeled in a river with a fun but significant current. I love that by simply placing your face under the surface of the water you enter a different world. All of the sudden you start to recognize where you are by the large rocks at the bottom of the river bed or by the shallows where the light place across the rocks like music.

I also love feeling the desire to fight against the current, to struggle up river and try to get just a little further than last time....then to choose the right moment and let yourself go into the current and by carried by the momentum, effortlessly and free. It's a good way of looking at life I think...we do need to struggle sometimes...need to work on getting just a little bit further up our river, but it's good to remember that when the times comes to release and go with the flow for a while that we should enjoy the sensation. Enjoy the scenery, and of course...watch out for oncoming rocks in our way!

The light is falling on another day here at the cabin and I'm blessed...I know it. And somehow knowing it makes it just that much sweeter.

I wish you well in all your swims this week!

Home Sweet Home

After traveling and performing most of August, I'm happy to be home and enjoying the last of summer and welcoming the coming autumn with open arms. Both Bob and I had busy summers and were away a bit longer than either would have liked, but our different adventures went well and we're truly blessed to have as many opportunites in our lives as we do.

Yesterday we went over to my parent's old farm...the place where I grew up, my father grew up and his father was raised as well. While they no longer live on this piece of land, it is still full of memories and childhood dreams. When I was driving by the other day I happened to look over and see our old apple tree (which my memory told me had the BEST apples in the history of ever). The year was good for apples it seems as the tree was laden with big green circles. So, since the sale of the property is still not complete, Bob and I decided we had best go and do some picking!

There are times when you memory from childhood does not hold up to the reality of the present day. Things aren't as grand or enormous as they remained in our imagination. Foods aren't as wonderful and comforting as we remember them to be. HOWEVER, in this instance....I picked an apple, wiped it off and bit into my childhood. It was wonderful....so sweet, with just enough tartness to add some fun...and I flashed back to days playing, exploring, day dreaming and watching the clouds pass. The sound of the grain waving in the fields and the cows asking for more hay. How magical to have this memory remain as strong and vibrant as it ever was. What a gift.

And this morning.....apple pie. The first of the season (but with the box we picked, certainly not the last!)

I've also started to catch up a little in my sewing studio on a number of projets. Here is the completed mosiac consignment piece I've been working so hard on. All that is left to do is some hand sewing on the binding and to tack the sleeve on the back down, then add a label! I sure hope the woman who ordered it likes it!




And I decided to teach a class in October! I've been having a blast using up my scraps to make greeting cards from fabric and other bits and pieces I have around (and to match quilts that I've done). A few people at the shop sounded interested and so I put my name in the teaching arena! Now to get organized! It's one thing to play on your own...quite another to have others follow you!

I do still have a few weeks left in my garden too. Lately I've begun harvesting seeds along side the vegetables. I'm excited to plant them next year knowing that their parent plants where enjoyed so much the year before.

Life is good here at the cabin. I hope life is also treating you well in your home.

blessings!!!

many journies....

I've been off and away again (as if you couldn't tell!) Today is a brief moment of rest before my summer performances begin in full force. For those near Hamilton MT or Edmonton AB keep an eye out for 'theater simple'...we'll be performing two different family friendly shows in August and there is always room for another audience member!

Another journey that I've been on this year is a very special consignment project that was given to me back in the Spring. I was given a photocopy of a photograph, and a small magazine cut out with an example of colors and asked to create a wall hanging to resemble them. The inspiration is the tile floor in the Nativity Church in Bethlehem. Not having a pattern to follow this process has taken me longer than any other consignment piece I've ever done. However, getting to design the project from the start to the end is a pretty amazing process and now as I get close to finishing the project I'm excited and hopeful that the woman who requested this piece will love it.

To show you the journey that I've been on here are a few photos....photo copy and magazine clipping

the sketch that she started before bringing the project in the store

My design layout, which I then enlarged to act as a pattern...

And here is where the piece is today! (actually I've done most the quilting on it but I haven't taken a photo of it since I started....I'll be sure to get a good shot of the finished product!)

It's been a fun summer, but I'm very much looking forward to fall, time at home again, and catching up with everything that is going on in your life as well!

Blessings!

As promised!

It is a beautiful rainy (much needed!) day today and I'm so grateful to have today off from work (since last week was wonderful...but full on)

Here are some more photos of my birthday trip up to Glacier Park...it is a stunning place and we're doing so much better this year in making time to visit it at least once a month. (and yes Lynn, sadly you were no where near my corner of the state during your visit, but you know you're always welcome!)

I don't think I'd like to have my back scratched with this guys nails....

yes...that's a large snow field in the middle of July...they don't call it "Glacier Park" for nothing!

As I catch up today on rest and projects around the house I hope to take some photos of the projects that I've been working on, as well as some of the hand dyed fabrics that I did yesterday as a part of of Ellen Ann Eddy's class at Glacier Quilts this past weekend. I have high hopes! :)

What a perfect day to rest and relax, with the sound of the rolling thunder and the strong life-giving rain outside....May you all find your own much needed drink of water this week.