Gone To The Beach

Thursday, January 7, 2021

January Walk

Good morning! It's cold today, and windy, but bright sunshine and an empty beach to explore. I always layer up and walk down to the shoreline to welcome the new year and to superstitiously ask the water spirits and mermaids and sea sprites to grant us a fine, happy and healthy year.

Yesterday I came back from my afternoon walk to turmoil in the US Capitol. Hooligans and morons attacking our democratic rules of procedure. I hold such people in deep antipathy. Contempt. A stressful event for us all.

Below the upper swale; no birds at all, just silence.

Meanwhile the beach is enjoying its deep winter serenity and solitude. Not even a bird or dogwalker. When I first arrived I passed a young parent with her toddler in its red snowsuit, bundled to anonymity, but happy and active. The sight brought back very special memories; my son was especially fond of the winter beach--age two?, three or four he could run and yell to his heart's content, then would companionably search with me for seaglass and plastic superheroes. Now years later we said hello as the mom and child went up the boardwalk and I was alone.

The wooden bench is so inviting. I sit a moment, fantasizing about a thermos of hot tea and my knitting, a quiet hour spent there. [It's far too cold to knit outside.]

Does it seem odd to be in such a large empty space, all alone....

Each year I try to leave a tiny remembrance for loved ones. This is a small pebble I found when drawer sorting, engraved with the word "LOVE". For my beloved doggy and my parents too. Both my parent passed away at the MLK birthday weekend so this winter day seems appropriate. to me.

The beach is totally barren, nothing truly ''treasure'' to be found.

A few small shells. And on the way home some BIG washers and disks.

I almost didn't pick this one up as it looks a lot like a razor sharp rotary cutter blade, the big 40mm kind. But I was intrigued by the hand engraved initials, so odd. A mystery. It wasn't sharp.

Enjoy the beauty around us, dear friends---let the ugly events pass us by as we hopefully look to the future, to someday.

*the green dot is a lens reflection, not a planet or a UFO. I still cannot edit photos on my new comp to remove it.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

PS I am quite lonely and sad because my dog walker seems to have abandoned us for good. Her cheery visit each morning was uplifting for me as I stay at home avoiding Covid 's resurgence. Mo walks about 2 miles per day, three walks totaling 2 miles, so I am looking forward to making that a positive exercise challenge in the coming winter months without neglecting my ''daily'' beach walks.

Monday was new year's bath and spa day. So sweet and fluffy! And look at that big greasy treat from the groomer, yum.

Earlier this week I went to the big store that is staffed by the cleaning robots. worth the drive for the treat of exotic cheeses. This time my treat was aged Gouda ($$$) and a brie- like creamy wedge called Bavarian Red. Very tasty. Probably the extra doggy walks are a good thing. And that store's flowers are a joy:

How quilters and other crafters say they have problems choosing colors is bafling to me, with such glorious color ideas all around us.

Bavarian Red cheese Germany

Aged gouda Holland

Monday, January 4, 2021

The Finished Quilts of 2020

Good evening! Since it is far too dark wet and dismal for our annual New Years' beach walk and blog post, I'll look back at my quilt finishes for the year gone by.

I used to think these [almost required in quilt blogland] count-up posts are terribly tacky and braggy. There is always the person who made umpteen dozens, the sewer who thinks ''the one who made the most quilts WINS!" , but I have come to understand that it is fulfilling and useful to keep a record of what was made and when. If only to make it easier to find a photo when one's photo files are lost in an electronic crash. So on we go:

Note: This past year, I only joined one sewalong, a goal I had set, as sewalongs are so tempting but terribly stressful. ///I made two quilts specifically for other recipients, including taking their wishes into consideration in the design process. ///And I gave away four quilts, the three mentioned here, plus Quilts of the American Revolution, made back in 2015-ish. It's very hard for me to part with quilts so that was a big deal to me.

2020 QUILTS ~

Final binding and presenting of the T-shirt quilt. I didn't receive so much as a text or email from the young woman I made it for. It was made for a best friend's daughter, my friend who never ever lets me down--so I decided pleasing her was sufficient.

"Bitty" It was hard for me to give Bitty away, but she is gone now. I loved making her, bringing the idea to life. Hand appliqued, hand quilted.

Little Tree, a sewalong for Holiday 2019 by TQC. Finished as planned after the hols were over.

This Fall I added the hopeful Red Bird.

Blue Baskets/ Cheddar Handles--a few years in the making, a sewalong at Humble Quilts. My pattern and design/ idea. Sometimes I like this quilt, some days it is just a big fat yawn. Took a very long time and much concentration. Setting rescue via Penny in S Africa.

**Around this time March, April, May, most quilt sewing stopped while I---we all--frantically made masks for the Covid 19 pandemic, as masks were not available to buy. It was mindless, depressing work, but supposedly would save our loved ones.

Tiny Coins, one of the Lucky Horseshoes series. Leftovers from Blue Baskets. "End of Day" quilt.

Almost Almost Amish, a Humble Quilts sewalong. I hand quilted it as summer began and was grateful for the 2019 project ready and waiting for 2020 deck time with Mo.

Tiny Baskets [of Hope and Blessings], a sewalong by Julie Porter of Farmhouse Cottons.

A Day in the Country, also known as "Year"--took two years. Vintage pattern by Sarah Sporrer, a gift from Penny. I love this quilt, has so much fun with it.

Starry Eyed Jack 💗💗💗!!! pattern by Jan Patek, wild colors by me.

Crow in The Melon Patch begun by a swap friend, given unfinished to me. I put it together, added my Crow and Flag, quilted it. Fun and successful.

Baby Pineapples a gift for friends' baby girl, her ''big girl/ someday'' quilt. My design as requesed.

Lucky ABC Sawtooth, part of the Lucky series. ABC means ''antique block challenge''; my block, treasured unused for years. Lori of HQ November challenge. I love it. My floating borders were criticised but again, they please me.

Shirley's Christmas, top by Shirley Funke: a rescued vintage top c. 1988. Found on FB Marketplace. Despite some qualms and criticisms I still love it. Yes, the green is ghastly but so what? Look at Kitty! I'll give it its own finished post next week. I sewed the last stitches as the Ball dropped in a deserted Times Square NYC.

Oher projects---below: this textile collage , a kit from French General, something cheery for dark sad days. I love the result.

A label hand embroidered by my friend L, for Tiny Baskets. We were hopeful by late summer; maybe Covid days were ending soon? [little did we know Thanksgiving would be cancelled, then Christmas Day, then New Years Eve. But for just a month or two in late summer 2020, a sign of hope?]