A year in the life ...

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Condolence

Executive Mansion
Washington, December 23, 1862.

Dear Fanny

It is with deep grief that I learn of the death of your kind and brave Father; and, especially, that it is affecting your young heart beyond what is common in such cases. In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and, to the young, it comes with bitterest agony, because it takes them unawares. The older have learned to ever expect it. I am anxious to afford some alleviation of your present distress. Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You can not now realize that you will ever feel better. Is not this so? And yet it is a mistake. You are sure to be happy again. To know this, which is certainly true, will make you some less miserable now. I have had experience enough to know what I say; and you need only to believe it, to feel better at once. The memory of your dear Father, instead of an agony, will yet be a sad sweet feeling in your heart, of a purer and holier sort than you have known before.

Please present my kind regards to your afflicted mother.

Your sincere friend
A. Lincoln

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Friday

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Tuesday

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End of an Era

I've decided not to renew my local guild membership for the coming year.  I've come to the point where I was no longer benefitting from the time I was spending with the group.  Membership carried a HUGE load of social expectation, but involved very little actual quilting -- and when quilt-making did happen, it was not of the skill level or style that interested me. 

I was a very active guild member for a number of years, and always held multiple Board and committee positions at the same time, trying to instill energy into the organization, and to set an example.  But I no longer share common goals with the group, and the time has come for me to direct my attention elsewhere.  This separation is coupled with the decision I made last fall to retire from working at the LQS. 

These days I'm thoroughly enjoying working on the projects of my own choice at my own pace, instead of having my time filled with activities I'm obligated to participate in.  It was a carefully considered decision, and I feel UNBURDENED!!

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Inauguration Day

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Laughing at myself!

Ha, even though I spent the whole afternoon concentrating, I still managed to have one of the aqua sub-units turned wrong in yesterday's En Provence picture!  Easy enough to correct at this point, before I go on to the next section.  Thanks, Petra, for catching it!

I made some blocks for a 30s swap today.

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To-Do January 2017

UFOS
Westering Women - to be quilted
RSC Yardbirds - blocks + quilting
Wonderful Life - to be quilted
30s Steps - borders + quilting
Austen Album - requilt bad sections

ACTIVE
RSC - churns, spinners, bows, crackers ...
Tulip Time/En Provence
RWB lap - Pax Comfort Dogs
30s Strawberry Fields queen
1800s Century RWB queen
1800s Oak Grove
Applique vintage Dresdens
Yankee Diary - Brackman

OTHER
1.    Bake bread weekly
2.    Clean out armoire
3.    New shoes
4.    Prayer flags - Kismet
5.    Knot garden for Xeriscape Tour
6.    Museum,  Holcomb Valley
8.    Boston 
9.    Organize old photos
10.  Strength and flexibility
11.  Decrease net volume of fabric stash
12.  Quietness of heart and poise of spirit

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