This past week found us in Mohall, North Dakota visiting my daughter, Jesse, and her family. The Song Feeling Groovy by Simon and Garfunkel came to mind as we traveled. It’s an 8 hour drive with not a great deal of scenery. But nothing beats seeing your grandkids, family and playing board games for the weekend. I was happy to make the long trek and put aside everything but family time.. I took some advice from the lyrics and relaxed with my family.
Slow down, you move too fast, you've got to make the morning last
Just kickin' down the cobble-stones, lookin' for fun and feelin' groovy
Feeling groovy
Hello lamp-post, what's cha knowing, I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me, do-it-do-do, feelin' groovy
Feeling groovy
I've got no deeds to do, no promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me
Life I love you, all is groovy
I am not much of a knitter but I love cotton knit wash cloths. It's the only thing I make when I knit. Sixteen hours in the car gets me near five cloths. Picture me singing to the tunes and knitting for all of those hours. Pretty relaxing. I may not be the best knitter but who is looking when you are using them to wash off a counter?
Dish cloth
1 skein of cotton yarn makes 2 1/2 dish cloths
Cast on 5 stitches
K three rows
K 2, YO, K to end
Repeat last row until you have 45 stitches or until desired size. K 1, K2T, YO, K2T, K to end
Repeat last row until you have 5 stitches remaining K two rows
BO and tuck ends
Each Christmas I make sure everyone in my life receives one or two so I usually get a good 30 or 40 done each year. I made a small dent in my requirements this weekend.
My husband, Dennis Nau, is known for his short stories. He has many published short stories and won several literary prizes for them While we were at my daughter's house I mentioned I was going to have a difficult time getting a column done this week. So he offered to write a short, short quilting story for me. Below is his effort.
Eve Finds The Meaning Of Life
On the eighth day God created quilts, or at least that’s what my wife tells me. This was little awkward since batiks wouldn’t be created for quite some time. Eve used to work on quilts in paradise in her cave at night and all her serpent friends would tell her how beautiful they were. Of course serpents have no taste and relatively poor eyesight. Nobody knew what these quilts could be used for, since, in the Garden of Eden it was always 71 degrees and sunny. The weather was so perfect a person didn’t even need to wear clothes.
Back then quilts were quite crude compared to modern standards. Color had’t been invented yet. A lot of things hadn’t been invented yet, sewing machines, batting, bobbins and cotton among them. Good and evil hadn’t been invented yet since nobody had taken a bite out of the fruit of that tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Well, Eve got to wondering what person she should give her quilts to. There’s only so many quilts you need lying around your cave. One day I’m going to have some sons, she said to herself. I think I’ll name them Cain and Abel. Eve was not quite sure how you’d get these kids.
“I’m sure I’ll figure it out,” she said to herself. “That’s what my brain must be used for.”
Soon, her serpent friends had all the quilts that they could use. Eve had a bright idea. “I’ll give a quilt to this Adam fellow. He’s the only other person in existence.” Gifts had been invented by then, the ninth day of creation, at least according to Genesis (1457: 367).
“He’s a kind of strange creature, though, this Adam.” Eve sighed. “He’s missing a rib. His personal hygiene is not all that good. I’ve been told he snores at night. Maybe we could have a drink together some night. I wonder if he likes apples.”
Well, we all know what happened. Outside the Garden of Eden, the temperature could get rather chilly. That’s how Eve discovered the purpose of all of her quilting. But, she thought, maybe I should give up on this quilting thing and make some clothes.
Fast forward a few million years. Batiks have been invented and rotary cutters. My wife’s quilts are still used for the same purpose: to stay warm, but color was invented on the fourteenth day of creation.
We got home Sunday evening and I am preparing to leave Wednesday morning for a quilting retreat in Okoboji, Iowa. If you fancy a trip to Iowa TQM Products has one in the spring and fall of each year, You can find more information at www.tqmproducts.com. It is eight days of sewing with great friends. No cooking or cleaning, just sewing to my heart's content. I get so much done when I am there and I learn so many new things. There are always projects going on. I will make sure to get some pictures. There are always lots of good ideas.
My advice to each of you this week is to take some time for yourself and do what makes you happy. March seems to be the perfect month for it.
I give you my Irish goodbye
Rita
Recipe of the Week
It's still a bit chilly here in Minnesota so one more great soup recipe
Cream of Cabbage Soup
1/4 C. butter 1 (16 oz) bag cut up cabbage
1 C. Chopped onion or 1 T onion powder 1/2 tsp. white pepper
1 C. chopped celery 1 pt half & half
3 (14 oz) cans chicken broth 1/4 C. flour
Saute onion and celery in butter. Add remaining ingredients except half and half and flour. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until cabbage is tender (35-45 minutes). Combine half and half and flour, whisk into saucepan ovpermediume heat. Return to boil until slightly thickened. Add to cabbage.
If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.