White Sashing

 

We knotted two comforters a couple of mornings ago, this one pieced by me.  I'd ordered the fabric as a kit years ago, only to find that it didn't include instructions.  So here we are.

What I forgot - Mennonite Central Committee recommends that the comforters be made of dark fabrics.  I should have used gray or black for the sashings.

We won't do knotting in December, so there's time, hypothetically, to piece another one.

For once, today, there wasn't a fresh pile of leaves in my driveway.  Maybe it's slowed down now to every other day raking.  And maybe the leaves left on the tree will be staying there.

Which means I'll have to go back to my regular upper body exercises.

Blue Bird

 Back in June, this stained glass bird came as a birthday gift.  I was reluctant to use it outdoors, so I've been waiting until a few plants moved inside.

You can tell from the Christmas cactus on the right that it had a  lovely outdoor summer.  It even got repotted.  The leaves are very glossy.

It's been another lovely November day, sunny and temperatures in the 70's.  Unusual for me, I had a full day outside the house.  An early morning meeting, trip to TJ for moisturizer, a visitation at a funeral home, to Aldi for bread, and a quilt shop trip.  

And the obligatory leaf raking - that's out of control.  I looked to see when the city leaf truck will be coming - November 19.  I'm lucky this city has a leaf truck, some cities require that the leaves be bagged.

I don't know to whom to attribute the following, but I hope you'll enjoy it -

A Black woman, an Indigenous woman, and a Latina walked into a bar.

And the bartender said, "Hello, governors."

Come Wednesday

 

Yesterday I was a little disappointed, but not really, to not get one of the cool new stickers.  

But I could take heart at the number of people at my polling place, more than I'd seen before.  Marvel at the number of cars jockeying for a parking place.

This morning it feels good to revisit a poem Come Wednesday by the amazing Hasan Davis.  I'll share the last few lines.

Come Wednesday,  I will be here.

With an open hand and an unwavering commitment to justice.  With room in my heart for those who see the world differently.

And no silent approval for those who would deny another's humanity.  I will be right here, And hopefully you will too.

Because Tuesdays have never signaled the end of our collective story.

And Wednesdays have always been the place where the real work could begin.

Together.

Stradling the Seasons

Still straddling the seasons - summer begonias and fall ornamental kale.  The back porch flowers are still looking good, and it's Novembrr.

Day two after Daylight Savings Time.  Not quite as hard as yesterday, but still hard.

In my church small group, we're reading the book "How We Learn to be Brave" by Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington.  

I'd like to be brave.    

In the back of the book is the bishop's sermon from January 21, 2025, at the Inauguration Prayer Service, when she discussed unity and asked the president for mercy for the stranger in our land. How many of you remember her words that day?

She was brave.

Pumpkin Saga

The pumpkin saga continues.  The hole is big enough now so that you, my friends, can look inside and see that it's empty.  Apparently the squirrel has decided that the outside is delicious too.

Do squirrels munch at night?  I've never actually seen one in action.

It was another Bengals win today.  And once again I'm wondering if I'm too old to watch these come from behind wins.  I liked the game a couple of weeks ago when they just cruised.

Next week the Bengals play the Falcons in Spain at 9:30 am Eastern time.  I wonder if church attendance will look a littl sparse. 

Today is the first day after Daylight Savings Time.  It's 8:00 and it feels like midnight.

Happy Halloween!

 

Happy Halloween, everyone!

OK, Trick or Treat was a bust.  There was only one group of kids.  Who exclaimed happily over the Reese's.

I'll leave the light on a little longer.  You never know.

During the two treating hours, I finished baking oatmeal rolls for the small group potluck after church tomorrow.  And two loaves of bread, because if you're making a bread recipe you may as well double it.  And I've had baking bread on my mind for weeks now.

Thanks for Angie and the anonymous person who gave tips for keeping critters away from pumpkins.  Next year I'll know to put a dryer sheet under them and spread them with soap.

I know now to blame squirrels, not deer.  One pumpkin has a smallish hole and the pumpkin is completely hollowed out.  

Kndness

 

Because she no longer sews, an incredibly kind friend gifted me her amazing sewing machine.  

Her kindness is incredible, and I am so grateful.

You might think that because I sew many hours each week that I could just sit down and start sewing on this new machine.  You would be wrong.

It's a different kind of machine that I usually use, and things are in different places.  Both kinds may do the same things, but there are different ways of gtting there.

Luckily, she included her workbook, and that will aid in my learning.  I'll get there, and I'll love the challenge.