A Legacy

I read a poem today that perfectly states a lot of my thoughts and feelings about quilts and quilting. It reminded me of all the quilts on my quilting journey. My "About Me" tab tells about how I became a quilter.

After I had done a few quilts, I learned of the existence of this quilt. My grandparents gave this to me because they knew that I would value it as it deserved.

I have always wondered what her life was like as she made it. Because of that question in my mind, I journaled in a notebook about my first quilts and included pictures. Perhaps over the next few weeks I can share the highlights of those quilts. I'll also look up my great great grandmother's name and add it here later.

1886 Crazy quilt made by my great great grandmother

 This picture is actually sideways.The bottom of the picture is the left side of the quilt. The left side of the picture is where the pillows would go on the bed.

The 3 rings have F,L,T. I believe my grandmother told me it was a religious organization for women. It stands for Faith, Love and Truth. (I think.)

'85

Below the bird and to the left, in gold thread, it says '85. She began quilting this in 1885.

JW

I have no idea what JW stands for. No one in our family has these initials. Perhaps she had a crush on JW?

21

She finished the quilt when she was 21 years old.

swan

I have looked at this quilt for many years and never noticed the letter A here, until tonight.

1886

 You can barely see, in cream thread, along the left edge, 1886 is embroidered. This is the year she finished the quilt. It amazes me that she did all this hand work in one or two years!

Alice

This name looks machine stitched. My Grandmother's name was Mary Alice. I assume this was added at a later date to cover a hole or thin spot. Now, sadly, there are many threadbare spots where there once was a brownish looking silk.

What if...

Each day that passes, I feel Jr. more strongly. I haven't felt him jab me in the ribs yet. I have felt him shift and sit on my bladder though and suddenly I don't know if I am going to make it to the restroom on time! If I have my hand on my belly when he moves I can see him push my hand out. It is so cool, yet so weird and alien to me. Every day it becomes more and more real; Jesse and I are going to be parents! UGH! I feel old.

If you know me, you know that I like to plan and I am a worrier. (Thanks Nana for the worrying gene!) During the week I feel ok. I go to work. I teach the best I can. I go home. Think about how to solve work problems or just veg in front of the TV, too tired to think of anything. Then Saturday comes. There is so much to do before Jr. comes to get ready for him and projects I want to get done, knowing I won't have much time after he comes. So on Saturdays we do what we can to get ready for Jr. like buy paint for the nursery. (no VOC! yea!) I also do a lot of sating my appetite for things like crepes, that I don't have time for during the week. But worst of all...I have time to think. I hate it when I have time to think.
What if I am put on bed-rest before school is out?
What if we are not ready?
What if something goes wrong during delivery day?
What if my RLS symptoms don't go back to a tolerable level after Jr comes?
Which I wonder if this is the cause of my anxiousness today, RLS? My legs feel crawly and I feel anxious beyond my normal worrying. I wonder what the neurologist will say about that when I see him in a couple weeks to be officially diagnosed. Probably that I am a nut case, and I need to see a different kind of head doctor! : )

Anyhow, I know I need to quit worrying and listen to my own advise. My students at the beginning of the year, usually try to get me off topic by asking "What if" questions.
Now they were not questions like, "What if I arranged the sentence thusly?" (Creative, exploring What ifs are things to celebrate in my room!)

No, they were questions like, "What if there was a fire and our homework burned up? Would we still get a 0?" "What if we leave the last 3 lines of the page blank? Is that enough?" (Testing limits) If I let them, they would ask them till the cows come home! So a few years ago, I made a rule, "No what if questions." The kids know it so well that I don't even have to say the rule anymore. Because I teach ESL, sometimes I have some of the same kids 2 years in a row. So the ones that had me the previous year will tell the student that asked the what if question. "NO WHAT IF QUESTIONS! She doesn't like them." They try to rephrase the question without the words what if but I just say that it is a what if question in disguise. It sounds very un-teacher-ish of me to limit a question, but those types of what if questions don't serve much purpose. So...I need to take my own advise..."NO WHAT IF QUESTIONS!"

To bad it is easier said than done.

Just Like Heaven

Just like Heaven by Patrick McDonnell

Mooch the cat wakes up from a nap in a heavenly place. It is about noticing the world around you, thinking about how you react to those around you. All in all a very sweet, thought provoking book.

Seer of Shadows

Seer of Shadows by Avi


***** Of course this was a great book; look at the author. Setting 1872 NYC. An apprentice photographer, Horace, is finally allowed to take a picture with the camera. The problem is when it is developed, a ghost shows up in the photo. The ghost is angry.

The only problem I had with the story is in the last chapter I was unsure of what happened to one of the characters. I went back and reread that chapter 3 times to figure it out.

Ruined

Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris


**** This story is about a girl who had to move from New York to New Orleans to live with her creepy fortune teller aunt. The new school she is going to, is full of rich snobby kids so it is hard for her to make friends. Then she meets Lisette, a ghost. She learns there is more to her own past than she knew.

The author did a great job building suspense. I couldn't put the book down during the last 100 pages!

The Hunger Games Series

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

The Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins

  ***** It is high action, high suspense. It is about the US after it is taken over by a very controlling government. The government holds a lottery to choose 2 children from each region. The children are put into an elaborate arena and made to fight each other til only one remains.

For this reason there is some controversy. Some parents object to their children reading about children killing children. I however, believe children today see far more violence on TV. The main character, Katniss, struggles with the dilemma, kill or be killed.

Teeth, Tails, & Tentacles

I bought this book for "Jr".

Teeth, Tails, & Tentacles by Christopher Wormell

**** This is a neat counting book. It takes you up to 20. It is not your basic 1 dog, 2 cats, 3 birds...etc. An example from this book is 13 caterpillar segments. Great vocabulary!

Paint

Well, I think we finally got the paint color right for the nursery room. We are going to paint the room in the more brownish color on the left. It is hard to tell the true color in this picture. Think Classic Pooh Gold.  (the one on the right looks like bright sunshine yellow)
Now all I need is someone to do the painting!  : ) "Oh Honey..."

Next on to do list : gather and get addresses of friends to my Mom and Sister who are planning a baby shower for us.