STORM AT SEA

When I was at the children's house yesterday, I noticed something all balled up in the corner of the couch.  Don't look, I told myself - it's none of your business.  Stop being a meddlesome old sot - be the mother that your children want to spend time with.  Keep your opinions to yourself and stop asking about grandchildren.


OMG - that is the quilt that I made for Andrew.  It's the one that he picked the border fabric for - the very one that he loved because the pebbles reminded him of the Housatonic River bank and our fishing escapades.  (I admit now that I called him in sick on more than one occasion and then took him fishing!)  These are memories that will always be cherished.

 This quilt is brimming, OVERFLOWING with symbolism!  Sixteen years ago I remarried and moved to New Hampshire.  In the brief time that I spent there, I worked on two quilts - one for each of my children, who had elected to stay in their hometown to live with their father.   These are emotional pieces.

Hand quilted and tied ( I ALWAYS loved tying my quilts despite the flack that I had to take from fellow quilters!)  WHAT OTHERS THINK OF ME IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS!  

I love this shot with the afternoon sun filtering through the layers.  This quilt is now nice and clean and air-dried!  I'm going to fold it carefully and tuck it into a cedar chest until someone asks for it again.  In the meantime, I'll be looking to spirit away the one that I made for Hilary so that it can have its own day at the spa!  And then you'll all get to see it.  Andrew's quilt is my perennial 'Storm at Sea' and Hill's is a pretty 'Flying Geese'.  Hers will be harder to sneak borrow as she seems to have a perfectly accurate running inventory of ALL of her things at any given time!  It's a gift, I tell you!  As soon as it leaves the driveway, she'll be all over it!  I think that she inherited that gene from my mother.

Harley seems to be able to detect eau de Bubbha even after the washing!  What a nose.  

Scott has returned from North Carolina with a stomach bug and a great cloak of sadness.  His father is not going to get better, but the trip provided both of them with some essential time and closure.  I have massive amounts of empathy for him, for us, for everyone who struggles with their parents' aging and disease.  One is never prepared for how difficult these passages are going to be.  As some of you have pointed out - there are no manuals for either child rearing or parenting our parents.  We do the best that we can and it's in the sharing of our stories, the affirmations of strength and courage and love that we find some peace.  I appreciate all of your comments and encouragement - thank you so much!

If the pumpkins are here, can Sheep & Wool be far behind?  Five more days ...