Being thankful.

This is Pappy Decker. He is extremely sweet and has long hair growing out of his ears. He purrs almost constantly and is always the first kitty I see when I wake up. He is so sweet but when I let him, sometimes he bites me. Gently. I'm thankful for him because although he always seems to love me, there's a little bit of bite. Of viciousness. It makes me not feel so bad that the same trait is inherent in humans. I would love to believe that humans (including myself) are kind but the truth is, no matter how hard we try there is always a little bit of viciousness.

How does that relate to Thanksgiving? I'm not really sure. I'm thankful for my family, including the canine  and feline members. I'm thankful that after this week Of anxiety, it has been confirmed that my health is good.

So many things to be thankful for. So very many things. It is wonderful to be able to share this day with people I love.

Three little kittens

 I confess that I have more cats than I know what to do with.  I feed them throughout the winter and provide them protective housing.  And they've multiplied. 

I've got 10 scheduled for spay/neuter in August, I've taken in 2 of them (in addition to Mrs. Bobbins who was destined to be a quilting cat).  I've found homes for 1 of the kittens.  So now I have 3 kittens living with me and I love all 3 of them fiercely.  3 different personalities. It does my heart good to watch them play with their cat tree and with each other.  But there are others who I am trying to keep safe until they are able to get 'fixed'.  My hope is to find homes for all of the sweet little kittens, a few not socialized at all.  I'm fine with caring with the mama and daddy cats because I'm getting them fixed so not to reproduce.  But those kittens.  They will be vaccinated and cared for before hopefully going to their fur=ever home.  But I understand perfectly that they may live out the rest of their days with me.  And I'm ok with that.

Mrs. Bobbins and Tipper

It's no secret that I madly love my little chihuahua and my cat - Tipper and Mrs. Bobbins. I love them beyond reason.  They are the lights of my life (in addition to several humans).  Because I work with the public,  I'm often  reminded of why I prefer the company of an old dog and a cantankerous cat to that of humans.  But I am really trying to be a little more social but honestly, it is just so difficult!  I find it much more relaxing spending time in my sewing room with gorgeous fabric, my sewing machine and more ideas than I could ever bring to fruition! 

It is a good time when I can spend an afternoon sewing or reading in the company of beings that require no interaction whatsoever.  Maybe it's because I spend my week talking to people non-stop.  I don't know.  I could say that it is because with Tipper and Mrs. Bobbins, I'm not judged.  But that would be a lie - anyone who has been owned by a cat knows that they are constantly being judged!

 I've been feeling out of sorts for quite a while and I think it is because I haven't written anything in a long time.  I feel as if I have no words.  But I have pictures which will suffice until I find a few more words.

Statutes of Limitation

First of all, I'm not entirely sure that is the proper phrase - statutes of limitation.  But I was wondering, as I finished up a wallhanging that I started a very long time ago.  I began a patriotic wallhanging, a door hanging actually, decades ago.  All that remained to be completed was squaring it up and sewing the binding.  It is not one of my better pieces of work. The fabric was atrocious having mixed homespuns with quilting cotton, using directional prints inappropriately.  The points in the Ohio star didn't even come within waving distance.  It was a mess.  It was also one of the first things I ever made. I was young, didn't have a lot of experience, was trying out different techniques, a different pattern, and different fabrics.  It probably wasn't worth finishing/  It will look very nice on my front door - the mistakes will be nearly invisible when looking at the door hanging as a whole.  I supposed I could pick it apart and agonize over the wrong choices I made when constructing it but instead, I think I will just enjoy its beauty, imperfections and all.

That doorhanging kind of reminds me of people.  Lots of people make mistakes - some big and some small. Many mistakes are made when they are young, especially when they are teenagers. But like the doorhanging which developed into a beautiful decoration to enjoy, people tend to overcome some of their less stellar moments and actually evolve into beautiful human beings.  It is no fun to be reminded of the mistakes along the way. It's frustrating to try and try and be a positive force in the world only to be reminded of times when you weren't your best, when you were trying to fit in, trying to have friends with the only group of people who were willing to be your friends.

So what is the statute of limitations on a creation? I've forgiven myself for the blunders I made on that first project from years ago. Instead, I will enjoy the colors and the sentiments of its whole. 

Keeping busy

Looking for native plants

A wallhanging made for my mom

It feels like forever since I've written anything here.  Actually, I've written many posts but never seem to find the time to post them.

This past weekend was the graduations of two of my daughters.  I have to say that college graduations are much better than high school graduations - at least they are for me. 

In my mind, high school graduation is the bookend of childhood.  When I saw my kids walk across the platform to receive their high school diploma, it was like a goodbye to parenthood, to childhood, and to the babies I devoted my heart to 24/7.  In elementary through high school, my kids were prodded, cajoled, encouraged, and sometimes, threatened to get up, get dressed, do their homework, and do their best in school.  In college, it is all about their choices.  It is on them.  When my sons and daughters went to college, I would pray that I or someone had influenced them in a positive way so that they were able to move forward and make good choices. And when they walk across that stage, they, not me, are the champions.  They've done what they needed to do academically to succeed as well as having a social life, and hold down jobs to help with costs. 

Despite the fact that I am an academic adviser at the University they all attended and are currently attending, they have done this all on their own.  I may have occasionally suggested that they contact their adviser or apply for scholarships or grants, but that is it.  It was on them to make sure that they completed the requirements for their degree.

So a college graduation is truly a celebration of who my daughters and sons are as well as their potential.  It is all up to them now and I have no doubt that they can reach whatever dreams they have.