Mixing the old and new fabrics…
Love the ladybugs…and ants.
Our son and his wife met while they were in high school and spent a good bit of time hanging out at our house together. I had made a black and red and white lap quilt that Dawn really liked. Eventually I gifted it to her and it has been well loved. Last time I was visiting them I noticed that the quilt was aging not-so-gracefully, with its polyester batting (shriek! Did I actually use that?) hanging out of frayed fabric. So, I came home and searched my stash and found quite a few scraps of the original fabric I had used all those years ago (this is when give a cold shoulder to minimalists.) I put together what I’m calling this “second generation” quilt, a modern take on an old favorite. Adding a wide border of solid black drew it into this decade, leaving the 1990’s in the dust. Dawn loves cats and so I was happy to catch this shot of Cora napping on the backing before I tossed the finished quilt into the washer and dryer. It recently found its way to its new home in Ohio, so I can share it here with you.
ABOUT MEYER LEMONS! Batman ordered a “2-3 year improved Meyer Lemon” for me in 2010. It has sat in southwest facing windows in both our CT home and here in VT. Once it nearly froze when the power was out for a week during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. And once it nearly fried when we left it longer than we planned to, while we were away…parched, it eventually recovered and thrives to this day. One year we had 6 full sized lemons, this year, we have four ripening on the branches. Batman ordered it from Four Winds Growers, true dwarf citrus. The scent of the blooms and the wonder of their unlikely fruits remind me that magic is all around us, especially in the midst of a Vermont winter.
There’s a pot of Tête-A-Têtes (correction…”minnows”) blooming on the dining room table and the minnow daffodils are blooming in the living room, reminding us of the return of Persephone. To learn about forcing bulbs indoors, check out this lovely book.
MORE BOOK NOTES…I heard this delightful interview on Vermont Public about a book written years ago that recently become a best seller due to a post on TikTok. (I do not have a TikTok account, but love this story for so many reasons…) Stone Maidens is now on my wish list.
Have you read Sarah’s blog Wool+Home? Sarah is a voracious reader and generously shares reviews and recommendations with her readers. She sews and gardens too, so she feels a bit like a kindred spirit. Check her out here.
JUST FOR FUN, check out Larry the Cat, who is the chief mouser at 10 Downing Street in London. In this video you can witness his courage and tenacity. Next time I feel daunted by a situation, I am going to remember this feisty cat and try to channel his audacity.
Wrapping up here on a Monday afternoon, I send you best wishes from Vermont, dearest readers. Sewing and growing and reading may not change the world, but they can change how we feel in our own little corners of the world. Take heart, friends, and carry on. xo