The Big Picture (but no pictures today, oddly enough)

Allen finally came out of the closet -- that is to say, he worked in my sewing room closet for hours and hours putting in shelves all the way around. We (he) re-fitted a different closet and moved all of his things out of my sewing room. Then I had to revamp the linen closet space from two sets of shelves to one to accommodate what his new space dislodged. Finally, now I can reshuffle all of my sewing treasures around in my sewing room to best use the new shelf space in my closet. All in all, we've spent several months on these projects. We've thrown away a good bit, moved more, and sold some (or Shannon did at her garage sale yesterday). I still have some work to do, but we've made a big change overall. We're close.

This afternoon, I spent a good bit of time moving our years and years of photos into new, white photo-storage boxes. Some of the pictures are from my childhood and ancestors. Some are from college and our early marriage. BC. Before Children. There are family birthdays, our girls at Christmas and prom and with first boyfriends. Pets, dinners, vacations. Trips to Colorado, remodeling projects, new cars, new houses, engagements and weddings. Sweet moments.

I got to thinking about how when I work as a quilter, I scrutinize each color selection, each seam, each point, each stitch. I'm not an award winning quilter, but I am pretty detail oriented, and I want it all to be just right. But I like that we use my quilts. I like that they get dirty and used. We spill things on them on the table, we rumple them when we sleep, and Ozzie walks and sheds all over them. As I ate lunch today, I noticed the quilt on the table right now as I wiped a smudge of dressing off of it. When I made it, I agonized over each detail, but you know, I think it looks good, and it doesn't bother me to have a stain here, a spot there, and the sewing details are pretty much forgotten.

It's kind of like our lives. I know I wake at night to worry about money or relationships or school or the kids or health or the house or whatever. I analyze conversations with Allen, and I plan and plan for family events. I hope that each detail of a birthday is just right, and I wonder (agonize) if I'm doing well enough at work or as a wife or mother or friend.

And then today I saw those pictures. Our almost thirty-five married years in those pictures show a rich, happy family. Day to day struggles and irritable moments are just an added layer, but they don't seem to matter in the big picture. When I look at each seam, each stitch, it is easy to see flaws or spots for improvement. But when the quilt is in use, those spots don't matter.

Is it almost spring?

Spring break project! Allen moved his hobby "stuff" out of the closet in my sewing room and into his own closet space, so this weekend, he started on my closet. He's taken out all of the old shelving and the clothes rod, patched everything, and painted the walls. He's going to install shelves all the way around for me. We think we last painted this room about ten years ago, and yellow seemed like a good idea then. Really, it's been a bright, happy room for me, but I am pretty tired of the yellow. I picked a neutral called Wicker, and I know I'm going to be happy with it, but next to the yellow, ugh. These two colors clash horribly. We have two walls with one coat. After another coat in the morning, we'll shift everything to that side of the room and do the rest.
I am proud of this little guy. He is 24" x 24" -- called a Cheddar Cheese and Crackers quilt. I found the pattern on a blog(Humble Quilts) and decided I couldn't resist trying to follow the directions. I guess it looks like a simple piece, but it was challenging enough to piece (and get everything in the right place for the colors), and then machine quilting always is a stretch for me. I finished it last night while we watched George Clooney in "Up in the Air" which is a good film, but not a happy film at all.
This last week has been a long one. It was the last week before spring break, the last week of the grading period, and Allen was gone to Denver. Last Sunday, Shannon and I decided to brighten the week with a trip to an antique store, one we haven't been to, and the pink elephant was my big purchase 0f the day. He's not in great shape, and I probably should not have bought him because of that, but he's a good partner for the blue guy next to him on top of the kitchen cupboard.
Spring? Well, almost. It is cold and dreary and wet and pretty unpleasant outside today. A little grocery store bouquet is a reminder that warmer, sunnier days are around the corner. And how bad can it be? Allen and I are both on vacation! Woohoo!!!