I just finished reading Sarah's Quilt by Nancy Turner. She is also the author of These is My Words, which was a finalist for the Willa Cather Literary Award. When the Denver Post compared it to Lonesome Dove, I almost didn't buy it because I didn't want to read a "western". But it came highly recommended by Sharon Cutler, Kristi's mother-in-law, so I bought it. After reading about 30 pages, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read the rest. It is 400 pages, after all. I could spend my time reading a couple of other books that have been waiting in the wings for quite a while. But I persisted in what I had started and really had a great read.
My favorite paragraph is found on page 149. "My mama paid no attention, just went about gathering her scissors, thread, and thimbles. Then she set up her chair and pulled up an empty one next to her. She patiently threaded two needles. She'd work with one until in was gone , then the other, and then rethread them both. The extra chair, though, was a sad empty chair. It was for the missing woman. The friend who might call, just as you'd sat to quilt, and who might bring a loaf of bread, lend a hand, do a square. As I watched her concentrate on her tiny, even stitches, every one of them a bare eighth of an inch between, I sensed the empty chair was for me, and it filled me with an uneasy longing.
There are times I miss the things I haven't done in my life. As I stood there in the doorway, looking at my mama, needle just whipping like a tiny silver dart, that empty chair told me I'd have to make time for more. Not as if I didn't work enough, but somehow there had to be an extra hour in the day that I could spend with her."
Sarah Agnes Prine hardly had time to breathe between adventures, let alone sit down and quilt. This story took place in 1906 in and around Tucson Arizona, when they were experiencing a 3 year drought.
This book was definitly worth reading. Now I'll have to read the prequel to this book, These is My Words.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Valentine Update!
The day isn't over yet, and it's proving to be quite a nice one. My friend Katuana called about 10:00 AM to see if she could come over. I said sure, but give me an hour to get dressed and cleaned up. Then my good friend Gail called to see if she could bring me lunch around 12:00 from one of our favorite sandwich shoppes. I thought about it for a minute and said sure, why not? So then, Bruce called as he was driving home from the storehouse to change his clothes. I asked him if he minded if Gail brought me lunch today, since I thought the Valentine celebration was over.
He said he had made reservations for 11:30 for lunch, and it was a surprise. So I canceled with Gail for lunch, and called Katauna and we decided she would come over this afternoon.
Dad got home by 11:10 and showered and even put on a sports jacket. I asked him if I was dressed okay since I haven't been in anything besides sweats since my surgery last week. He was getting very nervous about the time so I felt like it was somewhere he wanted to go, because he said it gets real busy and they won't wait. We drove toward East Main, and he turned into the Safeway shopping center which has an IHOP and a Papa Murphy's. Then he turned toward The Bluffs. Well, The Bluffs is where a lot of our friends like to eat sushi and we had only eaten there twice. It is expensive. So I was really surprised he took me there, even if it was Valentine's Day.
Just as we got in the door, there were 4 of our friends, the Laceys and the Lucas. (don't know how to make Lucas plural). All of us women were so surprised. None of us knew that the others would be there, and none of us had been informed of this date sooner than 10:30 am. My friend Katauna was one of the wifes, and she had been planning to come to my house all morning. Then in walked a young man, and he serenaded each of us. And his companion gave each of us a rose and a small box of chocolates.
Then they brought us pot stickers, and another appetizer. We had a very nice time and then went home loving our very kind and generous husbands.
It was a kind of unusual combination of friends. One couple is in their mid 30's, one in their late 40's and Bruce and I are in our 60's. The idea for all of this came from the very busy young doctor who is about 37. I think this younger generation rule. The women are training their men right. But I know Dad could have done it too, but we haven't really ever celebrated Valentine's Day that much over the years.
I hope my sons and son-in-laws are treating their wifes like queens today. And you girls accept what ever attempt is made with graciousness. Again, the day isn't over yet. Yeah, and don't forget that the box of chocolates you buy today will be half price tomorrow.
He said he had made reservations for 11:30 for lunch, and it was a surprise. So I canceled with Gail for lunch, and called Katauna and we decided she would come over this afternoon.
Dad got home by 11:10 and showered and even put on a sports jacket. I asked him if I was dressed okay since I haven't been in anything besides sweats since my surgery last week. He was getting very nervous about the time so I felt like it was somewhere he wanted to go, because he said it gets real busy and they won't wait. We drove toward East Main, and he turned into the Safeway shopping center which has an IHOP and a Papa Murphy's. Then he turned toward The Bluffs. Well, The Bluffs is where a lot of our friends like to eat sushi and we had only eaten there twice. It is expensive. So I was really surprised he took me there, even if it was Valentine's Day.
Just as we got in the door, there were 4 of our friends, the Laceys and the Lucas. (don't know how to make Lucas plural). All of us women were so surprised. None of us knew that the others would be there, and none of us had been informed of this date sooner than 10:30 am. My friend Katauna was one of the wifes, and she had been planning to come to my house all morning. Then in walked a young man, and he serenaded each of us. And his companion gave each of us a rose and a small box of chocolates.
Then they brought us pot stickers, and another appetizer. We had a very nice time and then went home loving our very kind and generous husbands.
It was a kind of unusual combination of friends. One couple is in their mid 30's, one in their late 40's and Bruce and I are in our 60's. The idea for all of this came from the very busy young doctor who is about 37. I think this younger generation rule. The women are training their men right. But I know Dad could have done it too, but we haven't really ever celebrated Valentine's Day that much over the years.
I hope my sons and son-in-laws are treating their wifes like queens today. And you girls accept what ever attempt is made with graciousness. Again, the day isn't over yet. Yeah, and don't forget that the box of chocolates you buy today will be half price tomorrow.
Valentine's Day in your 60's
This morning was no different than the usual. Bruce got up at 5:30 and went walking until 6:45.
I woke up, barely, trying to decide if I wanted to get up, or just go to the bathroom and go back to bed. The house was dark, no use illuminating the way either of us looked. So I rolled (yes I'm in the wheelchair again) into the kitchen. Bruce was making hot chocolate, and I asked him if there was enough hot water for me to have a cup. It was very foggy outside. We were drinking our hot chocolate and I was wishing for a very good pastry, knowing that the only thing we had was a loaf of Sara Lee's whole wheat bread. I would have given anything for just one small Dolly Madison chocolate covered donut.
Bruce and I visited until about 7:15 about the day ahead and what had been planned. Then I went into the study to turn on the Today Show. There in the dark I spied some flowers in a vase and even a helium filled balloon in the dark shadows. I gasped! So I finally turned on the light and saw a beautiful vase full of one dozen red roses. and a red balloon, and card. Surprise again. This past year I have been totally surprised many times by Bruce and family. Luckily before my surgery last week I had at least bought him a Valentine and had it ready.
So then Bruce had to dress and go work at the bishops' storehouse. I on the other hand can spend some time and try to surprise him somehow.
Well so much for living in the fast lane. Have a very good Valentine Day everyone.
I woke up, barely, trying to decide if I wanted to get up, or just go to the bathroom and go back to bed. The house was dark, no use illuminating the way either of us looked. So I rolled (yes I'm in the wheelchair again) into the kitchen. Bruce was making hot chocolate, and I asked him if there was enough hot water for me to have a cup. It was very foggy outside. We were drinking our hot chocolate and I was wishing for a very good pastry, knowing that the only thing we had was a loaf of Sara Lee's whole wheat bread. I would have given anything for just one small Dolly Madison chocolate covered donut.
Bruce and I visited until about 7:15 about the day ahead and what had been planned. Then I went into the study to turn on the Today Show. There in the dark I spied some flowers in a vase and even a helium filled balloon in the dark shadows. I gasped! So I finally turned on the light and saw a beautiful vase full of one dozen red roses. and a red balloon, and card. Surprise again. This past year I have been totally surprised many times by Bruce and family. Luckily before my surgery last week I had at least bought him a Valentine and had it ready.
So then Bruce had to dress and go work at the bishops' storehouse. I on the other hand can spend some time and try to surprise him somehow.
Well so much for living in the fast lane. Have a very good Valentine Day everyone.
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