Friday, February 17, 2006

Simple living, or simply living...

I love words, don't you? Sometimes I'll just make lists of words that seem to go together- or words that I like the sound of and try to use them all in one sentence. ("Ode to Mom"- I think that was in September, was one of those. Trepidation, and consternation are two words I wanted to use, but missed the opportunity.) Simple and simply seem very much the same word, and the difference is subtle, but they seem to significant to me.

I've had a very peaceful week. A simple week. I've refused to get caught up in the mental and emotional turmoil that seems to swirl around me these days. What purpose would it serve and how would that impact my quilting? Giggle. Now that we have ascertained what's important... I'm thinking that there is something to be said for the concept of endurance- not acceptance, necessarily, but enduring in the sense that what is beyond my control is... beyond my control. And I'm figuring that those things are some kind of disguised blessing- I'm just not of the mind to rip off the mask and see what's behind it. So...

I'm baking rolls using my "no recipe" recipe. I'll have to blog that one as I have been getting rave reviews. I've organized the laundry situation at my house- oh, joy! I can actually see the laundryroom floor! I've finished a couple quilt tops, quilted a couple more. Been chipping away at a couple more. I even bound the above quilt. Sarah hates that job, but apparently she is very proficient at it. Me, I figure that I am depreciating my quilts with each stitch I take!! Actually, they don't look too bad, but I doubt anyone would say, "My! What straight binding!" either. This quilt is for my cousin's son. His brother was our ring-bearer and in an effort to show impartiality, he is also getting a quilt. (That's my story, but the fact of the matter is, I just love her boys. I can't help myself. They are wonderful. I'm calling this quilt, "Alex the Great.") He is in his first year at college. I had meant to get this quilt done long before now, but I've had a cra... difficult autumn. It just has taken me awhile longer to finish than planned. I need to get a label made and attached, then it'll be on it's way. Better late than never- and he is the sweetest guy. Did I already mention that? Oh, and I washed the quilt and despite my concerns that some of those very dark greens were going to bleed all over the whites- nothing untoward happened. How relieved am I?! I did use my mom's advice and put some vinegar and salt in the washwater. Why? I have no idea. But it didn't bleed. If Alex has some sort of inexplicable craving for fish and chips, we'll blame it on the hillybilly method of setting dyes.

The kids humored me and went to see Pride and Prejudice. I couldn't help but smile when my husband said, "9 for Pride and Prejudice." My two oldest boys looking a little out of place. We decided that we liked it, but I must say that I preferred the A&E version- it was more... peaceful. The British are good at that. (Colin Firth was so good in the first one, but whoever the young man was in this version- he was wonderful, also. Just different.) I humored the kids and went to see Chicken Little with them. Now that wasn't so good, but the chicken was cute. We have a dollar theatre here in town and it is a good deal for big families. A very pleasant way to spend a cold winter evening. And it's 50 cents on Tuesdays, if you're really cheap. Evabeth is embarking on showbiz, herself. She had an interview with the director and producer for advertising at the medical center where she had some tests run. Apparently, the employees there found her appealing and mentioned it to them. I have put off meeting with them, but figured that Eva would find it fun and she could use a little fun these days... When she started quoting The Princess Bride, "Mawage. Mawege is what bwings us togethew... today." I thought they would fall out of their seats they were laughing so hard. Then all talk moved from a poster and billboard to a comercial on cable TV. They asked her if she would be nervous and she said, "Not a bit." That's Eva.

Now, I have broken into the bag containing Tonya's letters and I have started setting them. Unlike Sarah, I have been pleasantly surprised with how easily they are coming together. Of course, I am working with monster letters, not baby ones, so maybe that is the deciding factor. I have come to a corner and I can't see my way around an inset seam- oh the agony. But I am trying to calm myself by saying that it is only one. Not something I will have to repeat. I'm not feeling very calm about it, though. I just really, really want that silly "o" to straddle the line between the upper border and the side border. There's no help for it. It's simple, right? or simply right?

10 comments:

Cher said...

I so enjoyed your post. I like to play with words too. your thoughts on enduring...make sense to me-thank you for sharing-and I like that quilt-simply wonderful and wonderfully simple.

Holly said...

You've been busy! How you manage to get so much done is an inspiration to me. Looking forward to seeing those words.

Granny said...

Since you like to play with words, do you find it easy to name your quilts? I hate coming up with names for mine. I'm so challenged when it comes to putting catchy names together.

I'm with you on the bindings -- everyone else seems to have nice, straight bindings and I almost always have a ripple somewhere.

Judy L.

teelduo said...

Give Eva a hug and kiss from her aunt. Tell her that Benjamin talks and prays about her frequently. We miss all of you.

Hunter said...

I've made my living with words for the last 20 years or so. The power in words always amazes me.

On TV, they'll bleep words and leave visions of terrible violence intact. Words and ideas often scare people more than things that can physically hurt them.

I hope you have a wonderful, peaceful day.

Darilyn

Darcie said...

I remember seeing Alex's quilt awhile back...now it's quilted! It is so smashing, Nines. Quite a handsome quilt!

Eva's opportunity sounds great! She also sounds like a natural.

And you, my dear, are SIMPLY TERRIFIC!!!

Quiltgranny said...

I, too, collect words. Your post today was very thoughtful, and it made me stop and rest for a moment thinking about what you said.

And that little Eva sounds like a keeper!

Kay said...

I enjoyed your post. It's a beautiful quilt, which reminds me of one I just posted yesterday! :) Also was so interested in discussion of Pride and Prejudice. I also saw the movie recently, and then just rewatched the A&E version. I agree with you that the old one is better. The slow, more complete telling of the story helps you really become interested in the characters and appreciate the humor. But the movie is also good--just a different, maybe more romanticized version, and certainly beautiful.

Isobel said...

Nines, I glanced at the quilt and was engrossed in reading when I came to the line about the cousin's son who was your ring bearer and I thought 'Hey, Nichol was her ringbearer' and then I realized that this was Alex's quilt so I scrolled back up to look at it again. It is beautiful and he will love it. You are right, they are both sweet boys. The kids in this family (your generation) just seem destined to produce really nice kids. When he gets it, I am going to have to tell him--I saw it first. He will now have two quilts. I made a string quilt a few years back and just knotted it. He thought it was 'really cool' so I gave it to him for his birthday. I believe your Mom had to do the binding for me. It's not my favorite job either. Sort of seems like mending when all the fun work is done. Love Ya

Isobel

Tonya Ricucci said...

Oh noooo, not an inset seam. Gack.

I still haven't seen the new "Pride and Prejudice" - they had it on the airplane between Cairo and France but my headphone plug-in jack was broken. Just as well, cuz there would have been many interruptions.