Just because she lives less than a mile from me or because I have issues about going to the post office at holiday time or because she has three of the most adorable and precocious little girls ever doesn’t mean that I would do something like that. I used the random number generator and Alexis‘ number just came up. Promise.
Thank you to everyone who wrote about their favorite childhood books. I was reminded of times I hadn’t thought of in decades and sweet memories of reading with my mother and I got some great ideas of books for my boys. It was suggested to me that I compile a list of the books that people wrote about (there were quite a few that came up over and over) and I plan to do just that—after the holiday madness subsides.
Hanukkah starts this coming Friday night and Niall and I took a break from the preparations this past weekend for dinner out in New York City with friends. It was snowing and The City was lit up for the holidays. We took the train in and watched the snow fall out the windows.
Not bad for date night.
If you read any blogs written by someone who quilts, chances are you’ve come across the Blogger’s Quilt Festival at Parkcitygirl.
The festival is the brainchild of Amy (whom I’m happy to call a friend) and was lots of fun last spring when she first held it. Amy asked me to design a logo and offered me a sponsor spot in return. Needing, as I do, a deadline to work off, I jumped at the chance to to the job and used her date as the ‘launch day’ for my new venture. All the sponsors are offering prizes and here are the details on mine:
To celebrate the launch of Patchwork Folio, I am offering a complete blog make over to include a custom header, 5 sidebar title buttons, custom background, coordinated fonts and colors, custom favicon and ‘email me’ button. I will work with your current platform (i.e. Blogger, Typepad, Wordpress or other) and restrictions may apply depending upon your plan level and options available with your service. If you don’t have a blog but wish to enter the drawing I will get you set up on Blogger’s free platform and include all of the above. In order to enter, all you have to do is click the graphic above and enter your name at Amy’s site.
Lest we not forget the concept behind the festival—my entry for this round:
The Roundabout Quilt. I really didn’t have much choice—I love this quilt.
Now, what are you waiting for? Head over to Parkcitygirl and link up!
I’m truly sorry I can’t send each of you a copy of this wonderful book. If you are so inclined I recommend stopping by your local bookseller or library and getting one for yourself.
The winner is:
Anna of Helylle. Anna, please send me your address and I’ll mail your package off to you straight away.
Today I am
feeling: excited for my friends
eating: junk food (please don’t judge me)
experiencing: stress related to mothering a child with special needs
loving: watching my baby tuck in his babies with scraps from my fabric stash
planning: a few projects designed to infuse color into my home
waiting: for more light
grateful: for my husband’s companionship.
Thank you for visiting.
For any of you who listen to NPR’s Morning Edition you have probably heard some of the moving stories recorded as part of the StoryCorps project. Last week I had the pleasure of attending a lunch where Dave Isay, StoryCorps Founder, was the guest speaker. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the project, I recommend you check it out. The idea is pretty simple and comes from of the time-honored tradition of oral storytelling. Their website says that their “mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening”.
During the presentation Mr. Isay played recordings of a few of the thousands of interviews recorded since The Project’s inception. We heard a ten year old girl interview her lesbian mother and ask questions about love. He played the interview of a husband and wife and listened to the story of their first date fifty years earlier. We listened to a young woman interview her Mexican-immigrant mother and reminisce about what it was like as a child in pajamas going with her mother to the night job she had cleaning office buildings. She thanked her mother for the inspiration and example she provided by attending college while working full-time and raising two jobs. And we heard a woman recount the last half-hour of her husband’s life which was spent on the phone with her from an upper floor of the World Trade Center. Two weeks ago, that woman died in the plane crash near Buffalo.
The simplicity of the concept is striking: listen and honor. Mr. Isay spoke of listening as a way to learn from those around us. “It celebrates our shared humanity. It tells people that their lives matter and they won’t be forgotten. Through StoryCorps, we hope to create a kinder, more thoughtful and compassionate nation.”
The idea reminds me a little of what us bloggers do by sharing bits and pieces of our lives on our blogs, and how comments by readers can be such a strong affirmation.
The Project has released a book filled with transcripts of hundreds of interviews of regular people. It’s a powerful read and I’ve got a copy up for grabs.
Leave me a comment and I’ll enter your name in the drawing. If you feel like it, tell me about someone who you’d like to interview and why.
Dear Molly,
I hope you enjoy your new scarf. I really loved knitting it and if I had known it was going to such a fine home when I started it, perhaps I wouldn’t have dragged my feet for two years about finishing it. It’s my wish that when you wear it you feel connected to all of the honest, creative, interesting women we have forged relationships with through blogging about our lives. And as my grandmother used to say “wear it in good health”.
Love,
Amy
