Looking back, preparing to look forward

To See Such Fun

We're in a new year it seems, so it's time to look back. I'll look forward in a day or so, but I need time to process last year. So much has happened, two new babies in the family, the loss of Richard's dad, my hospital stay and surgery. 

Another Red Feather from Red Is a Neutral challenge

Still, as it turns out, I've been quite busy in my little world. 

Dora and Diego 

Busy with what, you might be asking yourself (because I did set myself up for that question). My sassy answer is finish reading the post. But I'm not particularly sassy. 

Mr. Stripey made by Marley

I made or finished several quilts, taught a grandie to sew as she made her own quilt. All of these are quite small--lap or baby quilts, and a few are some tops that I simply quilted. That basket of tops waiting to be quilted is just a little lighter.

Pink Pieces

A Touch of Teal

We finally finished our bedroom and bathroom remodel, which ended the procrastinating to make (or buy?) a cover for the bed.

The Biggest Finish

The Biggest Finish required a great deal of time and effort to complete because, well, it's the biggest finish. It's bigger than a normal king so that it has a nice, long drape to hide that huge mattress. I don't remember the crazy measurements, but it may be the reason I'm going to therapy for this shoulder.

Dresden Teaching Quilt

So those are the quilts I made: from cutting to binding, even if they've been languishing for a year or four. 

Apparently I did some things that are not on my normal Things To Do list.
A quick rundown:

• made monkey costumes for Beta 
• learned to use the Silhouette machine and completed several projects
• chaired the silent auction (and donated items) for the annual church fair
• turned Daddy's old wooden ladder into two quilt ladders (thanks to Richard)
• and I organized this thread cabinet he made for me (It's crazy how much time that took.)
• 
  

I also ended my presidency for the Cotton Quilters' Guild, managed the CQG quilt show and managed a (first time) CQG sewing room tour, including my room.

Finally, I tackled Doctor Zhivago Yes, reading is generally on my list, but this book!

Retirement is paying off, and I started some new things that I'd like to pursue, such as

1. GSQA meeting (circuit teacher)
2. GSQA Pursuit of Excellence class
3. BRMQG retreat (three finished tops)
4. CFAL show (Baton Rouge)
5. Quilters' Guild Acadienne show (Lafayette)
6. Houston 2019

Reese's Quilt

And then there were a couple of customer quilts. This first one is for my sister, so it didn't pay much. :) But the ones below did and 
have a special meaning for me, as well. There's a fourth that I didn't get a picture of.

If you know anything about my world, you know there is always an art project going,either sitting near my chair, ready to put needle and thread to, or on the studio worktable. I'm still into art quilts. 

Bayou Des Glaises at Bordino Crossing

Cotton on Green 2

Cotton on Green 1

We have our aches and pains. Richard has some health issues, pain in his neck and back, plantar fasciitis, and an annoying frozen elbow. I fall apart, temporarily, then pull it together again--thank you, Bipolar Disorder. 

Cave in Yellowstone

But all of those are simply the result of living a longer life and we are grateful that it's not worse--there are, after all, so many, many illnesses and horrors in the world. 

Indigo Dusk

We feel blessed to be turning 60 (soon). To know that we are loved by God. To have healthy children, grand children, and great-grandchildren. To be able to help others. To be able to live the life we love.

Big Sky in Montana

Happy New Year! 

And in my personal life...

there's not much going on. I am slowly healing from the surgery two weeks ago. Mostly I am resting, napping, and sleeping. However, yesterday and today I went into the studio and actually made some stitches. Of course, some of those stitches were to hem up Lane's pants for graduation, which is tomorrow night. That  took all of maybe 15 minutes. 

The other stitches I made had to do with the Cotton Robin final round of mini-quilts. (Here's a sneak peak. Shhh!) It won't be long till the Big Reveal. That's when I can post about my doings on that front. I'm excited to see my own little quilt and to get reactions for the ones I worked on. This robin is such fun!

Yesterday, Richard and I finally went to the cemetery to put new flowers on mom and dad's grave. I meant to do that for Easter, but the hospital wouldn't give me a pass. So I figured Mother's Day would be a good plan B. I just couldn't get myself to take the trip. It's only about 25-30 minutes away, but any sitting in the car can be painful. So I've had to pick and choose my drives and take only one a day. Even so, not every day.

I bought these beautiful blue daisies and white magnolia flowers several weeks ago. I really like the way they look together. Dad's favorite color was blue and mom loved blue and white so it's a perfect combination for their flowers. I may add some red roses later in June in preparation for July 4th. What do you think? Will that be too obvious?

And finally, here's Meme riding her rocking horse that her poppa made. She has had it for at least a year and still loves to ride it. Though, truthfully, she's on it for about 30 and then she's gone again. She reminds me of a hummingbird, flitting around from one toy to another. Or one person to another.

How is life in your part of the world? Are you getting any stitching done?

Papa -- a hard loss

Back in the beginning of April, I wrote this article about Richard's dad, who had become bedridden and losing his battle with COPD and dementia. We lost him last week. He struggled for weeks unable to breathe, though his memory had a few days of clarity. He was able to recognize those who visited and say goodbye. It was heart-wrenching, but having the closure and knowing he was ready must make his loss easier for Mrs. Carolyn, his wife, and Richard and Steve, their two sons. 

Mama and Papa

We spent as much time as possible with him because we wanted someone to be with Mrs. Carolyn when the time came. Waiting while a loved one slowly passes away is difficult enough without having to face it all alone. So Rich and I made sure one of us was sitting in their house or within just a couple of minutes drive. Mostly we tried to help her in dealing with hospice, company, family, and her own grief.

He'd been in a semi-coma for a week when, finally, on Wednesday morning he took his last breath. I must say that first time that he stopped breathing for several moments was frightening. Not that I'm afraid of death, but because I had promised to call the family. But that was just a warning of what would come in less than an hour, and we were able to gather everyone to their house. 

Richard's parents, Richard Sr. and Carolyn; my parents, Riley
and Ellen (their 50th anniversary); and Richard and me.

People in our area have held wake services for the dead for centuries. Although it's rarely followed now, the Cajun French people of Louisiana held "the wake" throughout the night and into the morning when the funeral is held. Papa had made several things clear and "an all-night wake" (meaning a traditional service) was an absolute if we were going to follow his wishes. Of course, we would comply: a rosary, a mass, a burial in the plot he had prepared 20+ years ago. He had always made things simple. 

Friday we said our last goodbyes and prayed the funeral rites. Papa had been raised and remained Catholic for his entire life. It's quite calming to know exactly what to expect during a Catholic mass. Somehow it's easier to mourn. Father Sklar, who has been assigned to us for only a few weeks, had visited the family several times in the last month and celebrated with a beautiful eulogy. 

And so the last of the five Marcotte brothers is gone.

Pa-pa

Richard's dad is in the last throws of dementia. It's terribly sad to watch this man, who was so vital and full of life when Rich and I first married, slowly lose every bit of life. Now bedridden, he's become a shell of a person, barely recognizing even his sons and grandsons. 

When I first met him, Rich's parents were in their late 30s, working and farming, raising a family and caring for elderly parents of their own. The Marcotte men would throw 50 lb. crates of sweet potatoes onto stacks that reached well above my head. 

 My father-in-law is the last of his generation of our family, having buried his four brothers. 

Today I asked our sons to pitch in and help us care for their grandparents. The task is too much and though we are three--Rich, his mom, and I--we need all hands on deck. 

So our boys will get a lesson in caring for the sick.  Who better to care for than their grandfather? The man who taught them the value of hard work and fair wages... and foul French words, yes, literally! 

Life's little things

Do you have those days when it seems that you haven't accomplished much, but a look back makes a few small discoveries?

I've had weeks of those kinds of days. I really felt that I had not accomplished anything of worth lately. Then I drove Richard's mom to a wake. As we were talking, I mentioned my feelings of wasted time, and she began a list my recent doings.

She and my father-in-law belong at the top of the list. I don't do enough for them, but I do try to help. They truly enjoy when I  visit, but even just a few in a week eats into four or five hours. Let's just say I'm a good conversationalist. Plus I have experience with dementia patients. And they are good people.  

She reminded me of the little dresses and outfits I've made for Milly and the 7-8 year olds. Marley, Caki and Soph have gotten only a few pairs of shorts, but I've also altered a few uniforms for grandchildren so everyone could start the school year off.


Hmm, she reminded me that I'm the lone member on the church directory "committee." It's not a difficult job, but it takes time and only one person can put all the information and photos into the directory. And other committees are slowing me down since I have to wait for their info and photos. These two photos came along quite recently. The one on the right below is a painting of the church by a local art teacher, Mrs. V. McNutt, who has been deceased for several years. 




Then there's a quilt guild that requires about three days of each month. Not much, grant it, but still there go three days.

And in case I don't have enough going on, there are grandie duties--babysitting, taxi services, general pop-ins, plus family time, meals and the happy news of little ones on the way. 

In the studio there are some things happening: I've finished another quilt in my bipolar series and begun a fourth. I'm sewing lots of tee shirts for my friend Leta. Uh, 75ish so far and still another 50ish to go. 

Then that idea of cleaning the studio got started. What came over me? I haven't a clue, but I've made a huge mess--really huge--and pop! Nothing happening for weeks now. 

Except that Richard helped build a new design wall. The old one was a mess, dirty and ugly, so we pulled it down. He also built a cabinet with cubbies for fat quarters and small cuts. I folded for days!

We concocted this design wall using flannel and a tablecloth. I'm hoping the lines on the flannel will help me to keep blocks in relatively straight row/column lines. I make lines that slant higher and higher as I move to the right. I need level lines to follow. 

The flannel was in my mom's stash and I knew immediately what it was meant for. Now the wall is about 90" square. A good queen size. I may add numbers to the blocks on the flannel for easy measuring.

Since there are so many things happening, I have a plan to finish some of these starts: 

1. Tee-shirts go out this weekend. Boom! top of the list. 
2. My self-imposed deadline for the church directory is the 30th. (No more waiting...get the stuff to me or don't.) That book is going!
3. The alterations and repairs have been shut down for a while now that everyone is back in school. On hold till the Christmas holiday rush.
4. The guild meetings happen when they happen, and get done at the last minute. That's just how it is.
5. The cleaning mess will annoy me until that day (not too far away) when I can't stand it. At that point nothing else will happen until I finish cleaning.
6. The in-laws are flexible and I can pop in at any time. So I'll just continue to do that two or three times a week. I sometimes bring handwork to do while I sit and visit, something I used to do when I'd sit with momma. My hands like to be busy.
7. I don't know. The rest will take care of itself. I'll get a quilt finished eventually and then I'll start cranking them out again. That's just how life's little things happen here. 

How do you handle life's little things? Do you plan or fly by the seat of your pants? Or do you do both badly, like I seem to do?

what would happen if...

I ask myself that question maybe too often--it sometimes gets me in trouble. My husband, who always seems to have answers, wonders how at 57 my curiosity and mouth get me into problems I often cannot fix. I have an easy answer: if is a small question. 

Who knows where it will lead? I guess that's where the real problem lies. He seems to know where questions will lead. I have to find out for myself. 

I start with such a small question and ask it again. And then again. Before I know what has transpired, I've questioned myself into a corner. And just as quickly I can't get out.  

Part of the reason that I can answer questions is that I keep asking. I like to know "Why?" "What if..." "How?" 

And the questions don't quit coming. No matter how much trouble they get me into. No matter the answers. Even when the answers are not what I want or hope or dream. 

If there's one thing that I hope I instilled in my students, it is that they ask questions, push themselves to know more, inquire about everything in their lives.


What do you hope the children of today learn on their way to adulthood?

Pin It Weekly #193

Here's the catchphrase: What are you pinning this week?

Noelle Wingate has a lovely Pinterest page full of ideas and fun. One of her boards is called "Dollar Store Crafts" and I love, love, love it!

Another follower, Lucinete Silva, has only four boards, but you need to check out her collectible China board. If I ever go missing, that's where I'll be!

I want to hold this cup in my hand. I want to feel the texture and the weight of it, and run my fingertip along that top ridge. I want to see the colors and figure out the little flower dots. Yes! I want this cup!

Belgin Goztepe Kouuncu has thirty boards. I can't read the titles, but I can tell you that they have hundreds of pins and those pins are interesting. From the pictures I'd say "tavuskusu" means peacock.

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Click here to visit my Pinterest page! Here's hoping you're having a great week! Richard and I just celebrated our 57th birthdays, so we're feeling a little older. lol But we're also gearing up for Mardi Gras, which cancels out age. See how that works in Louisiana? We stay young by celebrating life! How do you stay young?
#fleurdelisquiltsonpinterest