Ice Storms, Hands & Quilt-Cam!

This is what I woke up to this morning.

ICE coating everything -

(Yes,  cue the “Ice, Ice, Baby!” soundtrack!)

I made a trip to the grocery store late yesterday afternoon, the place packed as folks stocked up on food and sundry supplies for a storm that should last less than 24 hours, but hey – it’s the south. 

Winter storms here are an EVENT!

“Did you get the Doritos?”  “Yes!” “and the Krispy Kreme Donut Holes?” “Absolutely!”

I get a big charge out of looking at what other folks have in their carts.  I admit it.  I am a grocery voyeur.

As for me – I’m planning a big crock pot of chicken soup, so I simply had carrots, celery, an onion, salad fixings, bananas, yogurt, cottage cheese, Jeff’s favorite coffee creamer (Cinnabon!) in my small cart and I was out of there.

Or so I thought.  I forgot the cat food, which we were out of at home and was the whole reason I headed to the store in the first place.

Since I was already at the car, and NOT wanting to go back into the madhouse of the grocery store, I drove up the road about a mile to the easy-in, easy-out Dollar General to pick up cat food in a hurry.

Only it wasn’t.  Because they didn’t even have an open parking spot available, and I ended up parking on the side by the dumpster – fighting the slightly-pelting-not-quite-frozen-yet rain to get to the front door.

I could write a whole blog post about things that I find at Dollar General.  Our small rural communities have one about every 10 miles or so – and they are NEEDFUL.  

Imagine a small Kmart with shelves so packed and aisles so narrow that you can hardly get down them.  Still, we are grateful – or it’s a 12 mile drive to the nearest “big shopping area” where a Walmart or Target can be found.

One check-out stand – a line of about 20 people.  Get the picture?

“Have a nice storm!” says the clerk as I pocket my receipt, grab my purchase and head out the door.

It’s the South.  We get into celebrating big storms around here.

Crystal Coated!

Pretty!

I fell asleep last night to the sound of ice crystals pelting the window, and woke up to the same this morning.  And so far, the power has stayed on, for which I’m grateful. 

This can go away any time now.

I’m over it!

Hands. Let’s talk about hands.

When was the last time you really considered your hands?

I've been following along with the hashtag #amakershands posts on Instagram, each one so very inspiring.

To be honest, I never gave my nearly 57 year old hands much thought until I read @poppyprint and her post.

From the time I was little I was always making things. Paper, string, tape, staples, bits of fabric, glue, clay, paint, wax (Oh, the year I made sand candles in the sand box and sold them to neighbors - I was about 10.) cross stitch, needlepoint, macrame, clothing and finally quilting which took a stronghold in my 20s and never let go.

My hands held the hands of my husband when we were married 37 years ago. They remember feeling my babies move when placed on my belly along with his.

My hands cradled my firstborn daughter for a short 2 1/2 weeks before she left this life while held in the comfort of my arms. They remember vividly the softness of her downy blonde hair.

These hands have loved deeply and completely - made many school lunches, applied band-aids to scraped knees, wiped away tears, and tucked little boys into bed.

These hands are responsible for many tickle fights with gales of laughter, but also knew how to hold up a signal of "Stop right there, young man!" in reprimand.

They have cooked, cleaned, fixed, painted, planted, canned, played piano and guitar but mostly they long to sew.

This hand is a thimble-wearer. Always. (My thumb wears tape to keep it from bending due to a recurring issue with trigger thumb from loads of book signing.)

These hands will never forget the feeling of being warmly held in the hand of my brother Mark, wrapped in the quilt I made for him before he passed in September. These hands and my heart miss him every day.

I am grateful for the hands that have served me so well for 57 years. 

Thank you, hands. 

I love you dearly.

Today – please consider your hands and thank them for all they have helped you to do throughout your life!

This also happened yesterday – QUILT-CAM via Facebook Live!

We had a great time, and I am digging these blue 16-patches so much! 

Feel free to join in should you wish an easy project – Yes, I still have this year’s Jewel Box Stars going, but it’s up at the cabin, and I really wanted to find a way to purpose those leftover lengths of Idaho Square Dance piano key border – so what can I say?

There may be more sewing on them TODAY!

Quiltville Quote of the Day –

Vintage crazy quilt found in Boone, North Carolina.

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!