It's been a long time coming

Finally. At long last. My Civil War Sampler Quilt top is done!

After making a whole stack of Shoofly blocks to fill the gaps . . . I decided against using them. And went with a mix of creams from my stash for the blocks and sashings instead.

Don't get me wrong, they are lovely. In the picture, the top with the Shoofly blocks looks beautiful, full of sparkling colour.  I laid them out. Took them out. Put them back. Such indecision. But in real life it was just a bit too busy with all the blocks. Who knows, maybe they'll become  a whole other quilt altogether . . .

But the construction process was not without . . . challenges assistance!

Between tripping over Walter (who managed to move to exactly where I needed to stand every. single. time.) and constantly having to move Squeaker (who had a knack of laying on exactly the row of blocks I needed to stitch next), let's just say a whole new dimension was added to the process. This quilt was certainly a collaborative effort!

So all that's left to be done is to send this top off to the quilter. And then some binding. It's been a long time coming!


Pattern: Civil War Sampler Quilts
Designer: Barbara Brackman
Publication: http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/

Chaos, your name is Walter

Let's get a puppy he said.

I don't think so I said.

Let's just look he said.

There are rules I said.

He must be well mannered.

No digging in the back garden.

No jumping on people.

Not on the lounge.

 

So you can see how well that worked out!

Is the problem the dog? Walter? No, I mean, he's cute as a button . . .

Is the problem his human? You betcha!!! You see what I'm dealing with . . .

This boy and his dog are definitely good for each other. But as a duo are they good for me?

The jury's still out . . .

And while it's deliberating, I'm trying to overlook the chaos, the hairy . . . everything, the muddy paw prints.

And remembering to enjoy the funny way he has to run and grab a toy to show when he sees us first thing in the morning. And being able to comfort him when he hides behind my legs when someone sneezes or coughs. And remind myself that he's still just a puppy . . . with a lot of learning yet to do. 

And that he's lovely!

Cadbury

This week we had to say goodbye to Cadbury - our big brown dog, the best kind of chocolate (Labrador). She's been our companion for 11½ years. Now she's gone. And we will miss her every day.

Even though her health had been failing of late, she still had moments where the puppy in her (we thought long since gone) showed itself unexpectedly. Like her sneaky escape through the open garage door, seizing the opportunity for a trip to the park at the end of our street - unaccompanied - and eventually returning home happier for her brazen adventure!

She, who was spending most of her days snoozing in the sun, resting her weary bones.

She, who seemed more and more like a frail, grand old lady.

She, who would never come when she was called. Right from the start. That was our downfall - causing us to fail puppy classes!

We're feeling her absence deeply, but remembering her spirit, her gorgeous velvet ears and her antics make us smile. And we'll always be grateful for the gift of having her as part of our family . . .

"... what we have enjoyed, we can never lose ... all that we love deeply becomes a part of us."

Helen Keller