Outdoor Living, Porch Style

Just in time for July, I finished sewing spiffy new covers for all the cushions and pillows on our screened porch. My yard sale rocking chair got an upgrade to match. I love that they can be easily removed for cleaning.  I added new rugs to complete the look. 

 

Spending hours on the porch reading, talking, and grilling was a wonderful way to enjoy a summer week in our fresh new space. The weather fully cooperated, with low humidity and temperatures ranging from 60's in the morning to only low 80's in the afternoons. Not all down time for us, since we caught up on some yard work as well.

Can you believe we even opened windows to bring that cool air into the house – in July? AMAZING! 

My mama joined us on the 4^th for grilled burgers, chocolate pie and family time. What a pleasant, quiet holiday for the three of us, relaxing on our porch.

Useful Notion: Sometime you need to step outside, get some air, and remind yourself of who you are, and who you want to be. 

 

Lydia's Cross Revealed

Lydia's Cross by KSD, 2014

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I recreated a quilt block from a quilt made by my husband's grandmother, Lydia Fort Rose. Her design variation of Grandmother's Cross and Nine Patch Star was probably made in the early 1950's. Her full size quilt featured eleven inch blocks set with two inch sashing, and was hand pieced and hand quilted from whatever fabric she had around the house. 

 

My lap quilt version of Lydia's Cross blocks contains a piece or two of her old feed sack fabric, other clothing fabric from my late in-laws (her daughter and son-in-law), scraps of mine, and a few new batik blenders. I wanted a more modern look so I didn't exactly copy her work, but I did use eleven inch blocks.  The back is 5” square blocks in the same color scheme. Mine is machine pieced and machine quilted with a simple scallop stitch using my trusty Singer XL 1000, and I love the final result! It's on the back of my couch right now. 

 

I measured and sketched out the basic block first, then drew the design in Electric Quilt 7 for final layout, pattern pieces, and color design. As I worked, I thought about how long it took her to cut out and sew together these pieces by hand. She must have had a lot more patience than I do for handwork. I am grateful that she sewed and gave her cherished quilts to her daughter.  I dedicate my inspiring useful remnant to Lydia and to her grandson...Happy Birthday, Jerold!  Here's her original quilt.  Her sense of color and blending resulted in a beautiful quilt with character and depth. 

Lydia's Cross, circa 1950's by Lydia Fort Rose

"Everything you need will come to you at the perfect time.  You just have to be patient and wait for it."  Author Unknown

Breakfast Dates and Quilt Fabric

Sorry to be late posting this morning, but I had an impromptu date with my sweet husband at our favorite breakfast place. Bacon and cheese omelet, fluffy biscuits with hot sausage gravy, crispy home fries and steaming coffee. If you have a chance, try breakfast at the Highway 109 Restaurant in Portland, Tennessee.

Last week I pieced this quilt, a new design called One Direction. The fall colors coordinate with the dining room valances I made a few months ago. It may be a table topper, a wall hanging, to snuggle under, or all the above.  I will quilt it tomorrow so it will be ready for use on Thanksgiving Day.

I have several designs in mind for these lovely new fabrics that I got last week. It's funny, sometimes I immediately know what a fabric will be used for. Other times I buy fabric because I love it but don't have a clue what will be done with it. I salvage old clothing for scraps as well. I guess that's why I have hundreds of yards of material stored in my sewing room. I will use it eventually, even the smaller pieces. The dark brown print in the above quilt was the last bit left over from a blouse I made in the late 70's.

Hopefully when I'm a hundred years old, I will look back at my quilts and remember the fabric's origin: clothing it came from, where I bought the yardage, or that I went to breakfast with my husband wearing that shirt in 2013.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

A Great Excuse To Be Late

I'm late posting today's message, but I have a great excuse...I've been hanging out with my mama, Sam. This morning we had coffee on the back porch, and sorted through some of her clothes. She's staying with us while she recovers from a recent illness. Actually, we almost lost her, so I am very happy to be able to spend time with her now. It's good that she's here since she would have no help or anyone to talk with at her place.

It is occasionally a bit stressful to have another person sharing the house, but the fun times make it all worthwhile. My sweet husband is helping a lot, joking around, and doing nice things for both of us. Sam's always been feisty, so she's determined to recover enough to go back home and drive her car again. Whether or not that happens, I think she's doing well with her home physical therapy. She's still weak and gets tired easily, but we did have a short outing last Thursday to get her hair highlighted and cut. A sassy new do is a wonderful pick-me-up! I'm getting mine done this week.

I'm grateful for this opportunity, even if it makes me late, or keeps me from other tasks. The ordinary things will get done eventually. What's important now is Sam. After all, she's my mama and she made plenty of sacrifices for me.

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. 

– Cynthia Ozick

Enough Is Enough

I am done. I refuse to tolerate the actions of fools who have no regard for others. Self-centered, irresponsible, ungrateful people who take and never give have no place in my life. I'm beyond being angry or disappointed...I'm just done. I'm letting go of any expectations that they will change, do the right thing, or even show up.

“People will show you exactly who they are, by their actions.
 They will also show you exactly what you mean to them the same way.

Believe them. This is reality.
 Your reality will be however you decide to handle it.” ~J.V. Manning

It is sad to watch someone close to us continually disappointed by people they love. I wonder why we tolerate poor behavior from the very people who should never treat us badly. They shouldn't be excused just because they share our DNA or because they have been in our lives for so long. Their action or inaction is the best gauge of how they feel about us.

One of the hardest lessons in life is knowing when to walk away. No one can fix crazy, toxic, or mean people. Worrying about them only brings us down; being angry with them doesn't help the situation. They, like all of us, will have to answer to a higher power one day.

I have learned that I can't change others, only myself. I can limit contact with anyone who does not positively impact my life. I am solely responsible for the people I let into it. 

I am walking away. Enough is enough. Letting go is easier than I thought, and I feel much better already. 

 

Farewell To A Wonderful Man

Yesterday morning my father-in-law passed away suddenly.  Mose White Ireland (Whitey) had just turned 89 years old.  I will always remember his kindness, his beautiful silvery white hair, his wit and his devotion to his wife of 65 years.  They provided a Christian home for their two children, and I am thankful to him for raising his son to be the wonderful man I married.  

Whitey proudly served our country in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  He loved baseball, lively conversation, and puttering around in his workshop.  He never met a stranger and always told you exactly what he was thinking.  

I'm sure Whitey knew how much we loved him by our words and deeds.  We were all with him before he left in the ambulance, but sadly, he was gone before we knew it.  Sometimes we forget that we may not get to say our final goodbye.  Today, let your loved ones know what they mean to you.