5 seasons in quilts

The Chinese believe there are five seasons, our usual four with the added fifth: late summer. Late summer is a time of harvest and abundance and only last 4-6 weeks. We perhaps have always called it Indian summer, cool mornings, warm days but hints of of autumn around the corner. I have always associated the season with a change in the light, a clarity, and crispness in the smell of the air. Late summer is associated with the earth element, a time to balance our bodies with the feel of the soil beneath our toes and taking deep breaths before we eat our harvests.
So what does this have to do with quilts you might be asking. Well, I have a quilt on the bed and a quilt on the wall above the bed. Below are my summer quilts:

The blue and white quilt has been on the bed so many summers that many of the dark fabrics have disappeared becoming light. With the newly added window seat I now have more easily accessed storage and with retirement and a collection of fabric I have the ability to produce more quilts. And so I am assessing the seasons to see what I need to do to cover my wall and bed.

The late summer season is perhaps my favorite season so I will have to choose carefully.

The above may be my choice for the bed with the almost completed bear paw below to hang on the wall.

And then what can I do with this tub of fabric from my friend Ann? I've been toying with a flying geese quilt to represent the autumnal migrations south with the quilt in the drawer for the bed.

Winter will come, but that is far off and pushed out of my mind as my least favorite of seasons. But I have some ideas involving white, grey, and red.

And Spring, weren't we just there?

things change

We just returned from our annual Yellow Creek camping trip. The weather was beautiful, the food, as always, both good and plentiful and the company enjoyable. But there was an edge of bitter sweetness to the time. We are not sure if the campground will exist for us next year and we are all aging. While the two of us still enjoy our tent, trailers and generators have entered our friends campsites. Some are for necessity and some for added comfort. I kept hearing the recitation from my Qigong teacher's young son's play, where he and another little one were costumed as a Monarch butterflies and at the singing of "things change" they opened their wings.

Nicole said a discussion about change then happened, trying to gently tell her son that while often good, change may not always go in that direction. But I came home to find life working in the vegetable garden between our house and the Mikes. And I'm hoping for a good change for these catterpillars.

community and gardens

I've been busy gardening the past month, and rather than publicly blogging, I've been planting and tending the "community" garden with my neighbors. Not all of them are involved with the actual soil or plants but some wander by for conversation on collard greens and cabbage, telling stories of their gardens. Gardening in the front yard is a wonderful way to meet people walking by on their way to drop off children at the school next door or who are just out for a stroll with their dog. People wander to and from farmer's market, the post office, and all the businesses on Webster Street, pausing to say hello. Some don't speak English but smile and give a thumbs up, connections are made between us. I consider myself fortunate for this neighborhood and all of my neighbors.

hail!!!

Quite a Spring we are having. Not sure what the garden will think of this.

friday the thirteenth

Sitting at home wondering what the sounds we were hearing I realized it was the second Friday Artwalk in Alameda. Not to be upstaged by Oakland, we have created our own cultural event. The sounds that drew us to the corner were Taiko drummers, but after they played Gamelan Sekar Jaya started on the steps of US Bank. We were entranced. Mike went home after the first set and grabbed his recorder.

We listened and watched. I'm working on posting the sound.

the gable brace

Installed today! Thank you JP Frary. Now we can stand in line with our other sisters.

the last day of winter 2017-2018

 

The month almost slipped by me, but I've not been idle. While Francois watches and Aero sleeps I embark on a new road in my life of crafts.

My last sweater project was less than successful, but undaunted, I put it into the washing machine on hot and felted it. I cut out squares and made a ninepatch pillow. So not terribly bothered by the amount of yarn or hours spent, it has lead me down the path of what else can I do with less than wonderful projects or maybe even purposely knit projects to be felted? I'll keep you posted.