Monthly Archives: November 2013

Foundations

I suppose we all know the stories of Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony and the stories of their days shown as cartoons can weaken the reality of their struggles to settle this wild land. But before the Plymouth Bay Colony, there was Virginia. The Virginia Colony of entrepreneurs and the Plymouth Colony seeking religious liberty were foundations for these United States.

Our recent trip to historic Jamestowne was again a bleak reminder of the struggles and pain, deprivation and death of the earliest adventurers. It all seemed somehow magnified by the beauty of the day we visited. Jamestowne

Divine Providence, provision, and persistence kept the colony of Virginia, growing it from wilderness to the flourishing community of Williamsburg.

Williamsburg

My own ancestors came over two centuries later but their hearts for freedom and provision for their children gave them resolve to see past dangers and deprivations and, with faith, they came. On this Thanksgiving, I bow my head in gratitude for them and honor the price they paid – for me and my family of today who could only have been a vague and distant dream.  I pray that we as a nation will remain true to our heritage for the generations to come.

Williamsburg

Happy Thanksgiving!

May the coming year abound with blessings for you and your household. Amen!

Evening glory

sky painting

I know, I’ve posted many sunset sky photos. I can’t seem to help myself!

I was out in rush hour traffic and my camera was home on the counter, probably a good thing or I would have been seriously tempted to drive into a farmer’s field to try and capture the magnificence of 5:00 p.m.  I had to wait until I could get home and this was the sky art at 5:20. As Heather said today, “There’s always beauty around us to enjoy.”  I love that days begin and end with beauty surrounding us; even when we think we can’t see it, it is there.

Stitching in time

Somewhere in the deep storage of memories, I remember a quilt – 2 in fact. I guess they were really just coverlets, no batting for warmth. But they brought a comfort, coming out of the depths of the old sofa bed storage whenever one of us was sick and the couch became our daybed.

One was made of squares of shirting fabric embroidered with simple designs that I recognized from Christmas cookie cutters: circles, diamonds, hearts, flowers, Scottie dogs… block letters spelled a child’s name.

vintage quilt

The other quilt was made of circles of the same kind of fabric gathered into tight little bunches – “yo-yos” I now know. A few found in an old sewing box many years later stirred the memory and a small piece was born from my scrap box and needle.

yo-yo 1

Slightly larger circles by the dozens have taken shape in waiting times and places and fill a large basket.

yo-yo 2

Recently, in this lovely book by Jane Brocket, I saw much larger yo-yos or as she calls them, Suffolk Puffs. I made a template and gathered some fabrics.

yo-yo 3

I am so pleased by the varied appearance the different sized puffs produce and especially these large ones. I enjoy the repetitive, simple stitching in waiting times and long rides. No expertise with a needle is required for this project. Jane gives directions in her book, but if you just happen to have a circle of fabric and needle and thread handy and want to give it a try, Heather Bailey has a lovely tutorial on her blog.

A few months ago, I sat stitching, keeping busy, keeping calm in a hospital waiting room with incessant TV. From time to time, I would look up and see someone’s eyes fastened on my work. I wondered if it was just something to focus on beside the screen or if somehow memories of quilts known or hands sewing were being stirred and offered some comfort to the anxious waiting there.

A quick search of Pinterest + yo-yos will show you an amazing amount of creativity springing from such a simple craft.

Carolina’s morning visit

Carolina wren

A sweet new visitor for us. This Carolina Wren is very quick and this is my first photo capture. Leaves continue to fall and blow about and this energetic little bird barely stops for a photo op as he races around turning them in search of a juicy bug. The other day, he plucked a stink bug from the door. I don’t know if he ate it, but I do hope he has an appetite for them!

I’ve mentioned it before – this is such a great site – Cornell Lab of Ornithology Click and you can hear the song of this wren which is what draws me to the window! These little guys are loud and distinctive from the House Wrens that nest here in summer.

I haven’t put out a suet feeder in a while because the squirrels and crows are adept at stealing them. Today, I’m plotting where to put one to entice this visitor to stay a while.

Do you have a favorite bird in your neighborhood? Do you feed birds over winter?