For Mama ~ April 12, 1914 ~ June 20, 1987

This must be the first hour of  your life; you are so happy.

You wait and watch for the movement, then cry out in pain and laugh

through tears as my pure soft fingers wrap around yours.

You pull me close and whisper, "Thank you, God."

You hold my hand and we take those first few steps across the floor.

You laugh with me and put new ribbons in my glossy brown hair.

We quarrel and you say, "Can't you ever remember to keep your feet off the chair?"

Now it is noon, and I am so happy and your life seems complete.

I have grown up; I have him and I have my own little ones.

We talk and visit and watch them grow,

and most of all, I need you as a friend.

But a dark cloud overshadows you and you are alone; your heart seems to break

because there can't be another love for you.

I still come and your days are better.

I curl your silver hair, but I quarrel at you now and say,

"Don't you remember telling me that twice before!"

Now I must take you in the car because you do not trust your eyes.

I grasp your hand as we cross the street for you totter and do not hear well.

You rest and I hold your worn, thin hand.  You try to grasp it tighter

but your strength won't come.

I wait and watch for the movement.  Then with tears of sorrow I pull you close and whisper,

"Thank you, God."

I am so sad.

For now it is midnight.

I love you, Mama,

Charlotte

June Addition to the Hope Chest

The June addition to the hope chest is a set of three embroidered dishtowels.  The towels, made from 100% cotton, with loops by which to hang them,  were purchased at Wal Mart.  I used a vintage pattern for the designs.  

Three things lead me to date the pattern in the late 1950s: 1)the style of clothing worn by the lady, 2)the sticker reads Ben Franklin Stores and the price is 15 cents, 3)my maiden name is written on the envelope and I was married in 1960.   From the back of the pattern: "Old kitchen friends come to life in these gay, easy-to-follow embroidery motifs designed to make your kitchen as inviting as your living room...and will bring a smile to your face as you go about your daily tasks."  Since there were three towels to the package, I chose these motifs to embroider:

The last design is my favorite; just look at the angst in the little vegetables' faces as the saucepan says, "Come with me."

Enjoy,

Charlotte

P.S.  I hate to do this, but I have put word verification back on for now.  I was getting so many spam comments.  Why can't some people leave an old woman, who minds her own business, with peace of mind!  Maybe it won't have to stay on for too long.

The latest project, just finished!

Log Cabin Lullaby baby quilt;  paper pieced, six inch blocks, made mostly from soft colored fabrics, it seems just right for a baby girl.  The backing is made from the same green print as the outer border.

Now I must get to work and finish the June hope chest things.  We got baby chickens this past week and it has rained almost every day so the hay work is at a standstill; good time to get something done.

(I have a computer fly!  Every time I put my hand on the mouse, he insists on sitting on my fingers!  Drives me crazy because I usually can't see him to use the swat!  I think he's in love with the mouse!  Ever had a computer fly?)

Charlotte

A Box Holding a Child's Game

This afternoon I took this little box from a drawer,

and inside was the wonderful child's game of Jacks.  As grade-school girls we practically wore out the seats of our pants playing Jacks on the porch at the back of the school during recess.  I think I was fairly good at playing; wonder how quick I would be at catching the ball now?

There are several different games to play, including the most common ones I remember: picking up onesies, twosies, etc., where you throw the ball up, let it bounce once, and pick up one, two, or more and put them in the other hand.  This picture shows an excellent throw for picking up one jack at a time since they are scattered far apart.  As the game progressed upward in the number being picked up, the jacks would be thrown more carefully to make sure more could be picked up easily at one throw.

Pigs in the pen required one (or more) jack to be swept under a tent formed by the hand not throwing the ball:

Eggs in a basket meant picking up one (or more) jack and putting it in the palm of the hand not throwing the ball:

I wonder if jacks can still be purchased and would little girls find it a boring game compared to the electronic games of today.  It takes a little skill and coordination to throw the ball up into the air and move the jacks without letting them touch or letting the ball roll away.

I don't feel like I've done a very good job of describing the game.  Did you play Jacks as a child?  Could you still play?  If you want to renew your skills, or perhaps teach a child, google How to Play Jacks for a good YouTube video.  There are other sites with rules for more games.  If you do decide to play, be sure the child is over three years of age and doesn't put things like this into their mouths.  AND, don't leave them out for Daddy to step on!!

Have fun!

Charlotte