Starts and Finishes, What I Have Been Working On

 I have really been enjoying my new sewing machine. The dining room table is perpetually cluttered with a work or two or three in progress. Today I sewed the binding on the latest quilt I got back from the quilter. I adore these Tilda Christmas fabrics I bought last fall. I used four of the prints to make this variation of an Irish Chain pattern. This quilt will be tucked away until Christmas when we will keep at the foot of our bed. It doesn't scream, "Christmas". The duck egg blue border is the only thing that gives away a holiday theme. So, it should be able to stay out for a good long while around Christmas time.

Without the binding.

 

I also pieced a sweet 30"x30" quilt with little baskets on it. This one will be made with a flannel layer rather then a batting layer. This way it will be floppier for use as a table topper or some such. I plan to hand quilt this one while I am away at a hand crafting retreat in a couple of weeks. Boy did I struggle with the points on these baskets. I managed to do okay with the bottom points but I really lost the side points in the sashing. I worked and re-worked a few of them to no avail. My motto regarding quilting needs to be, "Good enough."

These little baskets are just adorable!

 Lastly, I just finished a cross stitch for Blake. I thought it was sweet that my son-in-law should want a stitched item made by me, his mother-in-law. Blake chose this racoon pattern but asked that the pink flowers be replaced with blue. I found an older frame in the basement (from my hoarded picture frame stash) that fits perfectly. I ordered glass and backing and once that arrives I can truly finish it and gift it. 

I have no active rugs on my hooking frame although I do have one started. There are so many other things I want to dabble in which take away from time I would normally spend on hooking. I am sure I will come around to working on the rug again. It will probably be when I have to clear the dining room table of my sewing machine, etc.
 

The April Garden

 

Not much to see yet. But it is tidy and that is the nice thing about the garden in April.

 When we purchased those pepper and tomato plants in Raleigh, NC earlier this month, it set into motion a domino effect of gardening tasks. At first we thought we could hold them until planting time in our zone, which is May 15th. But they couldn't wait that long. So, we went ahead and planted them in the raised beds a month before our average last freeze date. We bought hoops and row cover fabric as insurance just in case we did get a freeze. Sure enough, a freeze warning came. Steve drilled holes in the raised bed frames and inserted the half-round hoops. All we had to do was unroll the row cover over the hoops, clip it on wit the clips provided and secure it with rocks and bricks at the ground. The plants stayed cozy and nothing died. During the cold day, I opened the up the ends of the row cover and let the air circulate through then shot it up again at night. Once it warmed up for good, I removed the row cover and stored it in a plastic box in the shed. It is now ready for use at any time. 

The weather has been swinging between very hot to cool and breezy with very little "normal" in between. We finally had some good rain but it has not alleviated the drought conditions yet. Last week Jack and Matthew came to spend the night. The three of us took the truck and got a load of mulch and the boys helped me spread it. It was really nice to have the help! 

Our little chipmunk friend that came to live here last summer still makes appearances. We still only see the one, as far as we can tell. He makes holes and then fills them in after a while and makes a new hole. I can only guess that he wants to confuse the cats, snakes and whatever else wants to eat a chipmunk. 

Return to Warm Springs

 

We booked an Airbnb for the weekend in Warm Springs with Tim and Kay as we had done last year in May. The Airbnb was a little cottage called "Cordwood Cottage" located right on Sam Snead Highway. It was four minutes away from the baths and similar distances to eateries, etc. On Friday night we dined on pub food at Bacova Brewery. On Saturday we dined at Country Cafe. I was surprised at how good the food was at Country Cafe given the simple and dated interior. I ordered Mediterranean Chicken, Steve has a prime rib, Tim ordered fried catfish and Kay had a salad with chicken on it. Everything was delicious. We ordered two desserts which were just ok. 

 Warm Springs is only about an hour away from home so we decided to mosey along back roads on our drive up and stop for a picnic. It is beautiful country in these mountains with gorgeous vistas and farms at every turn. We stopped at Falling Springs Falls to listen to the water tumbling over the fall. I would have loved to see the original two hundred foot falls as Thomas Jefferson saw it but alas, we only have an eighty foot waterfall now.

 

 

 We decided to have our picnic lunch at Lake Moomaw. The drive into the lake took us on a narrow gravel road that ran alongside the Jackson River. It was a secluded road with only a cabin here and there. Otherwise, I watched the sparkling river water scurry over pebbles. With water levels apparently low, it looked to be the perfect place for wading. Temperatures were hot, in the nineties, at home. But up here there was a brisk breeze coming off the lake and we donned our jackets while we ate lunch at a waterside picnic table. There was a nice camp store at the entrance to the park and after lunch, Kay and walked over and bought ice cream from the freezer chest. What child doesn't love the treat of choosing an ice cream from a camp store freezer chest?! It was still early in the season for the lake so it was quiet and peaceful on this day.

 

  

We took the baths on Saturday afternoon and it was very crowded. Because of the large number of bathers, they split us alphabetically into two groups with our group assigned to the Gentleman's bath. This is the original, smaller bathhouse with a rushing flume on one end in which you can sit and let the water give you a massage. We all agreed that the baths were not as relaxing in a crowd. Even though voices are to be kept at a whisper, some people cannot help but chitchat away. The ninety-eight degree, naturally heated water temperature was very soothing and I felt all my tensed muscles relax as I floated with my pool noodle. 

It was a nice getaway for all of us but especially for Steve as he has been working hard and traveling a lot. He is beginning to count the months to retirement and it seems that it cannot come soon enough. 

 

Spring Time Walks On Our Road

 

It is a good year for the crab apple blossoms.

Baby Christmas trees.

My favorite holler behind the old Cahoon farmhouse.

A red bud tree blooms in front of an old garage. 

A beautiful sculpture. A ten-foot tall tree stump that has been here for more than the twenty-three years we have lived here.

Easter Triduum

 The Easter Triduum Masses are the most holy Masses of the Catholic church. They begin with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Thursday evening, followed by the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Friday evening, and end with the "feast of feasts" of all Masses, The Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night. What a glorious weekend it was! Adults who are entering the Catholic faith and have spent the year studying and preparing will receive their Baptism (if not already baptized) and their first Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil Mass. This takes place in every Catholic church, on this night, around the world. It is deeply meaningful, a powerful witness, and a joy to behold. 

Steve and I have participated in the Easter Triduum Masses since our return to the Catholic faith in 2018. (Steve and I chose to worship in the Protestant faith for thirty-five years prior to our return to the Catholic church. Both of our backgrounds are fully Catholic.) This year was especially meaningful for us because our youngest daughter, Tess, made the decision to join the Catholic church. She was raised in the Christian faith but now made the decision, as an adult, to fully embrace the Catholic faith. 

 To add to the joy, I was able to get to know all four of our candidates throughout the past year and to share in their journey as one of their OCIA teachers. It was a time of learning, many questions, moments of discernment, and personal examinations of the mind and soul. In the end, I saw their faces filled with joy and excitement during the Holy Rite of Full Acceptance into the Catholic Church. They were anointed with the Chrism oil,  prayed over, and received their First Holy Eucharist. It was truly a celebration!

Our four candidates (Tess on the right) with their sponsors and Monsignor McCellan.

 

The Easter Vigil Mass is long. It is two hours for our parish and longer in larger cathedrals. But every  part of it is worth it. It begins after sunset and everyone stands outside near a small fire. After a prayer, the large Paschal candle is lit from the fire and the priest begins to lead everyone in procession into the church. The lights are off, it is dark and everyone is carrying an unlit candle. The priest stops three times along the way and sings, "The Light of Christ". All in the procession stop and respond in song, "Thanks be to God". When we stop for the third time, which is in the center of the church aisle, the priest turns to those who are joining the church this year and are positioned right behind him. He uses the Paschal candle to light their specially decorated candles. They, in turn, light the candles of those behind them and the flame is passed down throughout the entire procession. Everyone then slowly enters the sanctuary by this candlelight and takes a seat. 

The Mass proceeds with readings from the Old Testament with the telling of creation, man's first sin and the need of a Savior. The readings are alternated with responsorial songs from the Psalms. And then comes the moment that I anticipate every year. After the last Old Testament reading, the altar candles are lit and the priest begins to sing the "Gloria". At this precise moment, all the lights of the church come on, the sanctuary is filled with light and music and bells ringing throughout the entire singing of the "Gloria".  This year in particular, Tess was seated next to me in the front pew. We turned to each other in wide-eyed happiness and our eyes filled with tears. I turned back to the front and caught the eye of Monsignor McCellan who was watching us. He nodded and gently smiled a knowing smile. There is that much joy and meaning in that moment of light and song. To know in our hearts what it means for us and for all mankind. It is indescribable. 

Raleigh, NC Farmer's Market

 

We had a fun weekend visiting Claire and her family in Raleigh last weekend. The purpose of the trip was to take Steve's grandmother's Cushman Colonial dining set for Claire to sell. We were given the table, chairs, and hutch in 1989 when we had our first house in Saratoga. I was overjoyed to receive it at the time and it served our family for many years. But the chairs were never comfortable for Steve and we replaced the set several years ago. No one in his family wanted it nor did any of our children. So off it went to sell. I hope finds a home with someone who will enjoy and appreciate it.

Spring appeared to be an entire month ahead of us in Raleigh. Trees, shrubs and flowers were blooming and the weather was warm. We had movie night with popcorn, as is the tradition in Claire's family, on our first night there. On Saturday, Claire took us to the Raleigh flea market and then on to the farmer's market. I have been to the farmer's market a few times before and it is always impressive. There are so many stalls with plants, shrubs, little trees, vegetables and fruits, and baked goods. I paused at one stall that only sold mushrooms. They were so beautiful and varied in shape. We did not make it to the indoor building but spent all of our time at the outdoor stalls browsing plants. Steve made a beeline for the pepper plants and I chose a few tomato plants and two lavender plants. There were more varieties of tomatoes and peppers than we normally see back home. We are still a good six weeks away from safely planting them in the ground in Virginia so we will need to bring them in at night until our last frost date in mid-May

Saturday evening we went out to dinner at a Lebanese restaurant called, Sasool. The food is served cafeteria style and everything was delicious. I had a four item plate that included beet salad, spanakopita, pearl couscous, and grilled vegetable medley. Steve had grilled shrimp kabobs over a bed of rice and ratatouille on the side. They had a wonderful variety of desserts and I chose traditional baklava. It was perfect. After dinner we went on to see the North Raleigh Christian Academy production of the Broadway musical, Frozen. Wow! Their production was outstanding! It was of a professional quality in every aspect. They even had a live orchestra performing all of the music. The talent of the entire cast was mind-blowing. What a treat that was! The entire weekend was delightful and I look forward to another visit before too long. The cultural advantages to living in or near a vibrant city like Raleigh are numerous. We prefer the country life but we will foray into the population centers now and then to sample all it has to offer.

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Updates While Winter and Spring Duke It Out

 The swings in the weather have been dramatic. Eighty degrees one day and forties the very next. The shifts brings high winds, power outages, confused blooms, and a wide array of wardrobe changes. We are riding it out in good form and making the best of whatever is thrown at us. On a warm day I cleaned up the step bed of its weeds. Another day and we warmed up our dinner on the grill and played Scrabble in the dark during a power outage. 

We have continued our walks but now the fields are green and bright and the trees are all flowering. It became an entirely different landscape overnight.The time change affords longer light in the evening and it feels luxurious to have it.

 My "Cut the Mustard" quilt (Pattern by Jo Morton) is bound and finished! I also passed along the two "Merry Little Christmas" pillows to Audrey and Tess. The new sewing machine has made it a joy to sew. Kay and I drove out to Julia Quiltoff's studio and I dropped off the next quilt I pieced using more of the Tilda Christmas fabrics. It is a variation on an Irish Chain and I can't wait to see how it turns out.

 In the midst of sewing, hooking and cross stitching, we are celebrating the Easter season and Lent. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) at church is finishing their studies and will formally join the church at Easter Vigil. It is exciting to help them prepare and to see them embrace this meaningful time in their lives. I offered to lead this program at our church and it has become a highlight of my week. There will forever be so much to learn and contemplate about our faith that it remains fresh and new with every chapter.

For down time or for listening while I hook and stitch, I have listened to a few good books and watched some good programs. I enjoyed Books One and Two of the Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries and Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett. I took a break before beginning Book Three of that series and listened to East of Eden by John Steinbeck.  The twenty-five hour audiobook on Audible flew right by with Steinbeck's masterful writing. I will pick back up at Book Three of the Faeries Trilogy, "Compendium of Lost Tales" for my next read.

My favorite streaming channel is Britbox.  I am still following the 1970's edition of "All Creatures Great and Small" as well as the newer version on PBS. I love the happy vibe and the stories about vets, animals and the wide array of quirky farmers and animal owners. Steve likes to watch a show called, "Dangerous" It is a crime drama with a tiny bit of humor sprinkled in. I also follow "Father Brown" and a few other crime shows that I call "cozy murder mysteries" because I do not like blood and gore.

So, all caught up! Not much going and yet life feels like a lot.