Tulip Envy.

This is the scene that I woke up to this morning. I was not happy. In fact, I turned to my husband and said, "We need to get the *%!$ out of Maine." And I am pretty sure I meant it. Now, I have always loved Maine. It is where I chose to live ... and it has served me well. But I think enough is enough already. I need less winter.

Sure, thanks to global warming, our winter did not begin until January. But when there are tulips in Connecticut and apple blossoms in our nation's capital ... the last thing I want is another snow storm. I am suffering from tulip envy ... as well as a now-tempered "spring fever". I need to smell the mud again before I go mad!

Halis and I have been very seriously considering moving within a year or two ... but that is for another post...

As for now, it looks like we are due to get another 5-8 inches of snow by tomorrow night. I just found this out on tonight's evening news. Prior to learning this, I had every intention of writing a lovely post about the wonderful benefits of enjoying one's cousins. It was to be a reflection on my own unique relationships to my beloved cousins as well as a discussion about Isaac's newly formed relations to his own cousins. I promise, it was going to be lovely ... pictures and all... But I just could not wrap my head around beautiful and lovely thoughts tonight.

Well, that was until I tried to crawl into bed ... and this is what I found ...

The three "men" in my life were all sharing the bed together ... looking content as can be ... and I thought some most "lovely" thoughts ... the loveliest of which was regarding how incredibly blessed I feel when I remember that I am completely surrounded by love.

Love,

Jodi

P.S. Thanks to Fiona for a wonderful phone conversation today. You made a gloomy day feel so much brighter. I am blessed by your friendship.

A Legacy of Quilted Love.

We just got back from a weekend in Nashua, NH. My husband's family organized a get-together for the purpose of dividing up some of my Mother-in-Law's estate. It was a bitter-sweet reunion.

For two short days we took up residence at the hotel that my husband calls "The No-Tell Motel" (aka Motel 6). The kids just love staying at hotels because then I am not preoccupied with cooking or cleaning ... and they get more of my attention than usual. Frankly, I am thinking that we should just sell our house and live out of hotels! I, too, love how connected we all are when we have nothing else to monopolize our time and psyches.

Anyway, we spent Saturday at the my MIL's house dividing up handmade quilts, Longaberger baskets and toys from the siblings childhoods. Lots of memories - both wonderful and sad.

As many of you know, my Mother-in-Law, Patricia Sirimoglu, was an avid quilter who often expressed her love through quilts. We were blessed with receiving these treasures throughout our lives and now are even more blessed in sharing an inheritance of her own personal collection of handmade quilts. All the wives took turns in choosing our favorites ... and here are some of my choices. I am so honored to have these in our home...

I feel so blessed, honored and humbled by these works of art. These quilts come from the very woman who showed me how to sew, quilt and create art with fabrics. I doubt that I will ever be the quilter that she was, but I am sure these quilts will continue to inspire me. What is even more inspirational, is how many she gave away to various charitable organizations. Literally, hundreds. We have the "thank you" letters as proof of her incredible generosity. What a loving example for her grandchildren.

I leave you with my absolute favorite "pick" ... she pieced this quilt by hand and then hand quilted every stitch. These pictures do no justice its beauty ... but hopefully you will get a sense of the craftsmanship that went into this work of art ...

Thank you, Mom. We love you.

~ Jodi

Goodness Prevails...

I watched this today ... it gave me goosebumps ... and some inspiration :)

Life is good. Thank you Mr. Rogers.

And for some additional inspiration from a man who loves us all just the way we are ... (grab some tissues)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaJQLgiXKO0

Love,

Jodi

Snip...Snip...Snip....

Well, I have been cutting fabric in my free time, and I got to thinking that if I cut a little more than is required for the quilt I am working on, I can use the additional cuts to make some sort of additional quilted piece. Then I wondered what I might do with that piece (whatever it becomes) and several thoughts came to mind. I thought I might give it away to a random reader of this blog, just as Vicki is doing on her Turkey Feathers blog. Then I thought I might raffle it off to raise money for the Trust Fund that has been created for Josh's kids. Or maybe sell it outright to raise money for my cousin Nicole's adoption. There are just so many wonderful ways in which to share generosities that it is often hard to decide which direction to go.

So, I went back and cut even MORE fabric with the desire to do all three! I have a couple ideas in mind for what I can create with all this additional fabric ... so I will keep you posted (as always, ideas are welcome).

Love,

Jodi

Routine & Inspiration.

Hello all! Today was a typical Wednesday (thankfully).

Isaac and I attended his dance class at our friend Summer's house...

And then we visited our horse friends...

Later, we returned home for Isaac's afternoon nap and I worked on my new spring quilt project...
 

Ahhh... sometimes simple routine feels so good. I was thankful for it today.

I usually spend Isaac's nap time listening to the radio or a book on tape as I meander through the house completing various chores. But today, as I cut fabrics, I turned the television to the Oprah show. She was hosting "The Dinner of a Lifetime" for Sydney Poitier. It was an amazing show. I found tears streaming down my face through much of it. He is an absolutely incredible man ... so inspiring ... so unassuming, gracious, wise, humble, etc... And as I watched him speak, as I've done many times before, I realized that there is so much I could learn from him about how to raise my son to be a strong , loving and inspirational man. So, I did what I have been meaning to do for a long time, I finally bought his book on Amazon.com. Both Halis and I have been wanting to read it ... and I believe the Universe was reminding me (again) that it is time to take a closer look at the valuable lessons I can learn from this man ... so I am now anxiously awaiting the book's arrival.

And for some crafting inspiration, I also purchased Amy Butler's In Stitches via Amazon:

And for yet another *rare* indulgence, I purchased 2 yards of the following fabric by Heather Ross. I found it on SewZanne's Fabrics. I tell myself that I purchased it for use in creating a gift for my brother ... but I secretly want it all for my own ... shhh! (I am very open to suggestions on what I can do with this delicious fabric...for me or for my brother :)

Tomorrow's plan (so far):

laundry

baked chicken

some sewing

creation of grocer list

Ebay packaging

clean Isaac's room

go for a walk

blog

Love,

Jodi