I'm BACK

We have returned safe and sound from Nashville, TN where we attended the AQS Quilt show which had my quilt in the "On the Wall" display. The show was very nice and I enjoyed every minute we had at the resort. It was unbelievable, beautiful and all enclosed so that the temperature and humidity was perfect. This was the view from our balcony in our room. It over looked this lush area where there were restaurants and a place they did water shows and other events. This other picture is the giant structure that covered this 53 acre resort. It kept us all at a comfy 75. It was great.


The first day we just settled in and tried to plan our week of activities. We thought it would be best if we did the quilt show but also took advantage of our vacation by soaking up the local color and attractions.



My quilt did not win, the judges seemed to prefer traditional quilts although a few great art quilts did place. There were several different challenges, one of which was the Alzheimer's challenge. It was touching, and heartwrenching, I had to stop reading the descriptions after the third quilt. We decided to buy the CD and look at it later. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to raise money for research.

This beautiful blue quilt won best of show and the quilter said it took her 16 months to make it! She plans on putting on her bed. The giant bee was a beautifully done whole cloth painted quilt from France that won in it division.

Houston

I was notified by Houston that my Quilt "Crepe Paper Poppies" was accepted into the show. I am really excited and can't wait to hang in Houston. Since I am going to Nashville I don't think I can swing going to both shows. Whats really nice about this show is that they let you know before the show if your a winner. That way you can try to go to the awards ceremony. Most of the shows I have entered don't let you know and you just have to decide early whether to go or not. Its very disappointing to not be able to go and find out later you won! They notify by the end of September.

Bette's Mom

I was invited by a quilter friend to Bette's mom's house, they needed to get rid of all of the sewing stuff to make room for a caregiver. Her health had gotten to the point where she could no longer care for herself, nor was she able to speak. Bette told us that she hadn't touched her sewing in over 3 years and that they needed to sell it if she was going to stay out of a nursing home. The family had decided it was best and called all the quilters they knew to come in and buy the stuff, the money would help to fund the remodel. Even with hearing all of that I wasn't prepared for Bette's mom to be sitting there watching us. Bette reassured us yet I couldn't help feeling so sad as I watched her watch us disassemble her life, piece by piece. She sat, not saying a word with her mouth but her eyes read volumes. Her hands were no longer able to hold a needle or manipulate fabric the way it used to but her love of it was apparant. Her sewing room was full of organized plastic boxes, each holding treasures for the next quilt. In some of the boxes we found perfectly choosen coordinating fabric with the pattern awaiting their turn at the sewing machine. There were shelves and shelves of magazine holders, full of quilting magazines which help patterns she planned on making. On the sewing table were bits and pieces of things that we all use and love, pins, scissors, tapes, and buttons, thread and bobbins. So much stuff, a life time of accumilation, of dreams, of UFO's. I couldn't help but thinking that there sat all of us, one day we will all arrive at a place we can no longer do the things we love. I think the hardest part of that realization is the fact of all the unfufilled dreams, knowing inside that your life is almost over. I hope Bette's mom knows where she is going, believes in our Savior, for then nothing is lost, but all gain. Elsewise, its a lifetime of bobbles and bits and fabric that little value to others. As I got home I sat and looked at the things I had gotten, I found a beautiful thimble, used many times. I placed it on my finger and wondered how many quilts she had quilted with it, I wish I knew the stories behind the tiny treasures. No one in her family sews or quilts, and they didn't feel it important to keep an momentos. My girlfriend found a drawer full of finished blocks, she took to make a quilt for them, probably to be delivered after she is gone. This is not unlike my family, do we really know the person when we don't really know what the person loved. It has been a hard day of looking in through a window to our future. It reminds me to make each day count, to enjoy every process of each project or adventure and so that when its over I will have no regrets, only accomplishments and peace knowing I spent my time wisely.

Gone Fishin'

Last week we went fishing with the rehab hospital where Jennifer has her outpatient therapy. They have the most wonderful program that uses adaptive equipment to allow handicapped people an opportunity to feel normal and have some fun that the rest of us take for granted. The program has activities all year long and last week we all got to go deep sea fishing. They let us take Mikey (our grandson) along with us so he got to enjoy the day with Nana, Umpy and Aunt Jen Jen. It is such a wonderful opportunity to be able to do that since many of the activities the kids do are very inaccessible to Jennifer. Mikey had never been fishing and was very concerned about having to bait his hook once he saw how big the bait was! He said he would be excited to catch the bait fish (about 8") long. He started out a bit timid about handling the fish but soon became the fishing expert, baiting all our poles. The fishing is so good right now due to our unseasonably warm waters. We barely got our poles into the water and got hits. Mikey loved casting his line and then just reeling it back up to see if the fish had gotten his bait! Gus put a bait fish on Umpy's hat as he took a well deserved nap. He spent much of the day fixing our birds nest mess after our attempts at casting. I never imagined that fishing line could get so tangled up! We all had so much fun and can't wait until the 9th when we get to do it all again.