The Postman Arrived at 5.25 a.m.

I saw the bright headlights shining  down our driveway , very early.I knew a parcel was arriving from Grandmother’s Garden in Gordonton.

My dear friend Mary-Ann had phoned to say a parcel without a name would come in the post. It did, a panel, a beautiful cat panel and an amazing  and gorgeous  card, hand-made by Jocelyne Leath,  a renowned textile artist now living in Perth, Western Australia.

The panel is by Linda Picken for Blank Quilting Corporation 2018, Furr Ever Friends., and along the lower edge  is  a row of 18  little kitties, in the colours used.

The card is stitched with a glitter thread, and has tiny beads and more added. Stitched greenery adds to the scene. The centre piece is bound with brown thread, then glued to a gold card, a blue frame, and all on silver card.

Mary-Ann and I have known each-other for  some 17 plus years,and shared so much. Lambs born, a much loved sheep that finally died after days of being treated with injections ( yes, I learnt to  do that too), and then the triplet lambs and Mouse in the paddock.  Our loved cats that have left us,  Leo, with golden tulips planted by his grave to match his thick fur, new ones arriving, and now new lambs each day. This photo is from the archives.

This July we shared our birthday with Joyce, all in July, a few days and more than a few years apart. With 16 of us there, we all had a name tag, as there were family and friends from all around, and many had not met before.

The cat panel will be a special memory quilt for Basil, I will add a border or two, and it will be on our bed. Thank you so much Mary-Ann for this special gift, it will be a treasure always.

The rooms ,couch and desk are  quiet without our ginger boy, I have to plant some grasses and flowering plants to share his special place in our garden. A few more from the archives.

Basil  perched on the couch cushions as though he had lived here always, and  lying on the desk, surrounded by sewing fabric , pens, and the machine. That looks like a green bear there too.

He loved to sit on Joyce’s knee, and was always so gentle, never  using his claws at all.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Days shared with true friends are full of joy”

Greetings from Jean

Basil, February to August 2018

This morning Basil crossed the Bridge, so quietly, with no fuss. He arrived at our home in February, 2 days before we left for the South Island.

He walked in the front door, about 6 a.m. as though he had lived here all his life. He was an old cat, and no-one knew where his previous home had been.

The palest ginger, fluffy, and so loving.

Gentle, quiet, a meow that was almost silent. He waited for Felicity and Boris to have their meal, then he went to his bowl.A purr that you heard only if your ear was so close to his body.

A few weeks ago he was not well, and although the Vet could not give a definite diagnosis, suggested maybe Feline Aids.

He picked up, until 2 days ago. And from 3 a.m. this morning, I knew today was his last day with us.

A little over 5 months, we packed so much love and affection into that short time, and he has left a huge gap in our family.

Farewell Basil, your fluffy tail will wag with joy as you meet old friends.

Quotation of the day, from Kahlil Gibran

“ When you are sorrowful look again in your heart,

and you shall see that in truth

you are weeping for that which has been

your delight”

Greetings from Jean.

Did he cross the River Styx?

I marvel at the way some stories have comedown through the centuries. Charon, the boatman, paid with a coin. Did this person indeed cross the river or pass by and go over the bridge?

The library beckoned last week,and two books came home. One was

The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters, by Sherri Lynn Wood, I read this and  decided it was not for me.

However the second one was a winner. Great designs, fabulous fabrics, and this skull was the first to be made.You could do a single skull or make more and have a wonderful quilt.Here are all the quilts inside,look at those two different log cabins.Can you see the single skull, next to the whole quilt? I used bright pink,  similar to the colour there.

He flew on his broomstick, hanging in the Weeping Silver Pear tree,  that we planted in memory of Hugh’s Dad . Waved in the wind, after all the pins were removed and some actual quilting done. Straight lines in the skull, some FMQ in the eyes ( not easy)  and a Bernina stitch # 160,  in the outer fabric, I varied the length as the lines went to the outside edge, to mimic waves in the water.

The red eyes showed up in this last photo.

He might be on his way to another home later in the year.After all,  every good  skull  needs a loving place to rest.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Clouds might come into your life,

with rain or storms,

but they will always colour the sunset with happiness”

Greetings from Jean