Astonishing!

This title was the reaction a fellow Magpie had when her gift from the Robert Kaufman company arrived after she sent them a quilt for the CA quilt drive. The hand-written thank-you card was what really made her tear up: "Lordy – these folks put in so much time (and yes, $$, too, at least from Kaufman) organizing and completing this drive, and to take the time to write a thank-you card?  I’m astonished, delighted, and inspired...."

I deliberately waited until the drive was over (12/31/2018) before showing these gifts I received from them. I didn't want to corrupt anyone's motives.

Astonishing, indeed! 

I didn't keep the note that accompanied the spool because it wasn't my gift--it was supposed to go to someone named "Aggie". The unintentional irony of that spool is this: in this part of the world there are two well-known schools. The students of one of them are called "Aggies", and that burnt-orange thread is the school color of the other, their bitter rivals. If Aggie is true to her name, she most likely would have HATED that color! It has a good, loving home with me now, and Aggie has a generous gift warming her heart in return. Happy endings all around.

I'm very grateful for the time, energy, and effort put forth by the Robert Kaufman Team that made this quilt drive so successful. Reading the comments on the #quiltsforCA Instragram account assures me the 1,000+ quilts are absolutely needed and loved by the recipients.

I can do this. I'm allowed.

I stopped working a 40 hr/week job almost 13 months ago. It stopped being the job for which I applied, for which I was trained, and in which I was interested. So I stopped doing it. We were lucky in that we could afford for me to do that; I understand just how lucky we are!

But my work ethic didn't stop, and the hardest thing I've found to do these past 57 or so weeks has been to indulge in just the sort of activity I longed for when I WAS working: sitting all day in the recliner, enjoying the rainy weather, snuggled in with my cats, reading or knitting or sewing or watching Netflix or playing word games. Essentially: doing nothing. Nothing at which I could look back and think, "Yep, today was a GOOD day. I got so much stuff done!"

So occasionally I have to remind myself: "I can do this. I'm allowed." Then I refresh my cuppa, snuggle back into my comfy recliner (the cats have kept it warm), and continue encouraging myself to just be retired!

Laptop is open, but ain't nobody logging on!

You have my permission to do this too. You're allowed.

Bye bye!

Wash on Monday

The Magpies like to remind each other every New Year's Eve to refrain from doing the laundry on New Year's Day, lest ye be doomed to repeat that action all year 'round.

Every January 1st prior to this one, I've ignored that superstition and proceeded to do whatever I felt like or needed to do that day, wholly cognizant of the fact that the calendar is a man-made artifact, signifying nothing. But tomorrow, I will deliberately do laundry.

In so doing, I will be grateful for another year of:

Having a working washing machine for my use at any time of any day or night, as suits me and my schedule.

Having enough clothing and linens that I can be clothed and dry while a load of laundry is being done.

Soap that is plentiful and inexpensive.

Clean, running water.

Ample and dependable electricity.

A home that contains it all.


Sometimes, something as fickle as an old wire in an old refrigerator, or one drop of rain too many too soon after the last deluge, can rip these luxuries out of one's life.

Tomorrow, I will deliberately do laundry, and be grateful for the privileges I now enjoy.