Our social obligations for the Spring have come to an end. At least....the more formal ones. Today we held a tea for the members of my mother's Empty Nesters group. Just seven people attended, but they were the most gregarious group I've ever seen! I visited with them as they came in, and answered some questions about the house and my quilts, and then begged off to go work in the office. I figured my Mother deserved to be the center of attention.
Mother had picked up some deli-made cookies at the grocery store, and I had intended to bake some muffins for her, but I ran out of time. Instead, I visited a more upscale bakery and brought home a dozen two-bite sized cup cakes, some raspberry ribbons, raspberry tarts, and strawberries. An hour before the tea, I learned how to dip strawberries in chocolate for the very first time.
The group obviously had a great time. I could hear their chatter from my office, all the way across the house. Mother offered tea, and iced tea. They declined coffee or soda pop, and when I returned to see them off, I couldn't resist a little teasing. There was not a strawberry to be seen, there was one cupcake left, and three raspberry ribbons. "What did you do? Lick the plate???"
It was a joy to be able to share our gardens with a knowledgeable group of gardeners, and the comfort of our house with good friends. In return, they gave us the gift of their time, and we are feeling very fortunate.
Comments (4)
I've just thoroughly enjoyed looking at your quilting posts. Wonderful. I should make more time for doing things like that.
Posted by Blue Witch | May 26, 2004 7:01 AM
Posted on May 26, 2004 07:01
Stopped by the quilting store that is about 1/2-mile from our house--a first visit. There was a pretty "stained glass" wall hanging that had the same feel of the one you picture(d some time ago). They also stocked many of our neighbor's patterns at $8.50 or there abouts. Not bad, but gad! Materials started at $6.50/yard and soared upward. I decided that $3.96/yard was enough to spend on pot holder material and went back to Wal-Mart to pick up a black-on-black quilt material that will stand in nicely for the solid black that I sought. (Didn't want to drive 15 miles to a Jo Anne's (?) fabric shop.)
Posted by Cop Car | May 26, 2004 5:53 PM
Posted on May 26, 2004 17:53
Thank you, Blue Witch. I have this unfortunate problem. All the things I love to do, read, blog, quilt, garden, take huge amounts of time if they are done well. I have scads of projects waiting for a little bit of attention. My goal is to take them one at at time and GET THEM DONE! Then, I want to learn how to size the pictures of them, so I can share the finished projects with you.
CopCar, keep in mind that you don't want to use a polyester fabric in a pot holder. Be sure you have 100% cotton. I know the fabric costs are outrageous these days. When I make a quilt, I buy my fabric from quilt shops, because they have first run fabrics designed for quilters. But, like you, I hunt for the best buys when I make curtains or clothes or craft projects.
Posted by Buffy | May 26, 2004 7:57 PM
Posted on May 26, 2004 19:57
If I were making heirlooms, cost would be viewed differently. Current projects are utilitarian. Thanks for the reminder on fiber content. All of Wal-Mart's quilting materials are 100% cotton (or, at least, all of the ones at which I looked). After the incident with my "plastic" robe and the kiln, you can bet that I'm sensitive to fiber content around heat. I'm using wool material (I have two hunks of Pendleton--bought several yards 25 years ago thinking that I'd have a real seamstress make me skirt and vest sets...but never got that done) for the inside of the pot holders.
BTW: I had told you that the fabrics that I bought were made in the USA. Probably untrue. They are printed in the USA.
Posted by Cop Car | May 27, 2004 10:56 AM
Posted on May 27, 2004 10:56