Behold Old Things Become New

I just finished this quilt tonight. Actually, the inside of the quilt is a very old quilt that my aunt wanted to save but it was coming all apart. I recovered the old quilt so that she can continue using it. The front is stripped pieced with Christmas prints that I had in my fabric stash, and the back is solid white from a bolt that I had purchased before my Walmart stopped selling fabric :(
I don't know the history of the original quilt that is sewn up inside this one, but I am pretty sure it was made way before we had laptops, digital cameras or the internet. I was just thinking how crazy it is that I recovered a tattered and almost used up old quilt with scraps I have been saving forever and then I took a picture with my digital camera and ran to the computer to post to my blog. Talk about culture shock. Or shockwave or something like that. It just feels weird!

Actually, I have been enjoying looking at lots of other blogs that show master quilter's work. This ain't one of them, but I feel like I have mastered something to finally get this finished! I have one more to go and I will definitely take a before picture of it. I am going to use fabric scraps from my stash again, and maybe even part with one of my beloved, thrifted, vintage sheets. So, keep watch for what I will sew up next!

I've Been A Little Down

Down under in Australia at VBS that is! That's me next to last car with arms up in the air. I got to be with the kindergarten class as we had a great time on the Boom-a-rang Express! Every day we had Bible stories, great snacks and train rides. Yes, our recreation every day was to ride the train. It was so much fun. I got to ride the train one day and then decided that was enough for me. I almost couldn't get out of the car when the ride was over. It is really meant for little people. I felt like "Elf". We learned a lot about Australia and about how "It all Comes Back to Jesus". I had so much fun, I am going to sign up to teach again next year!

THROUGH THE EYES OF A FIVE YEAR OLD

I am proud to say that I have learned a very important lesson this week from my five year old friend. My friend and her mom came to visit me and to see the new digs, aka old farmhouse. Ok, I was a little nervous about what they would think and how they would react to the huge difference between our city house and the farm house we decided to relocate to. There are many differences and no matter how much cleaning or decorating that goes on, at the end of the day, I still reside in an old farmhouse. Of course, they really came to see me, but we all know, as women, we love to see how someone else lives and does. Anyway, here is what I learned:

A five year old will run, laugh, have a silly grin and give you a big huge no matter how much stuff needs to be unloaded from the car or how bad she might need to go to the bathroom.

Five year olds don't know or care when you last mopped the floor.

They can't see how much of the trim has not yet been painted or even installed in many places on the ceiling or floor.

They don't care that the dogs lick their face or hair even when it has just been washed and fixed.

They don't notice that the grounds are severely overgrown and the gardens are full of weeds as they look in awe for the new tomotoes that are just beginning to appear in the leaves.

They think climbing through a rusty barbed wire fence and dodging cow patties is a big adventure.

They don't notice that the house slants downward as you walk toward the bedrooms down the hall.

A five year old does not even think to look behind the curtains to see how dirty the windows or the ledges are, or that the window is cracked and patched by a metal serving tray.

They don't notice that the study is in the laundry room or that the ice maker is missing and old fashioned ice trays are constantly being emptied and refilled.

Most of all, they don't care if my hair is fixed or my makeup is even on. They don't even care if I have lost or gained 5 pounds.

And most importantly, they thing blackened marshmellows roasted over a tiny fire and mashed between 2 graham crackers is the best dessert ever.

I miss my friend.

Nature's Pedicure

Who says you have to go to an expensive Spa or Salon for a pedicure, or rather manicure? I watched my cat get up from a nap, stretch and then do his nails, all within 6 inches of each other. He didn't need a gym for stretching, no fancy sheets for good nap and no one forcing him to "pick a color". We really have added many complications to our lives in the effort to make things easier and more efficient. We should all look around at the life of luxury that our pets are living and take a lesson. Remember the verse in :Luke, chapter 12: "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. I am going to think about this today.

Going Green

So, in my efforts to conserve energy, save money, have new material for blogging, I decided to hang out a load of laundry. It was a beautiful, warm, Monday morning and I really wanted to let global warming work for me. Only problem, it is now Wednesday morning that the laundry is still out there. Do you think it is dry yet?