Transplant's Pantry

How many women do I know that rave about food co-ops?  My roommate in college, my mother-in-law, and countless others who possess that cooking soul and demand fresh, organic products for their culinary creations.  

Since we're transplants for awhile, and I'm officially weary of the cost necessary to feed my family humanely by means of Whole Foods, I decided to do the homework on food co-ops.

Today my son and I made the trip to Anner's Pantry, a Tulsa, OK based organic, as-local-as-possible food co-op.  What a treasure, in true Glass Collector spirit!  Fruit and veggie bags, juice bags, weekender bags, meat, dry goods, spices, you name it!  

Anner and her family run the co-op out of their home in Maple Ridge, something reminiscent of  Dorothy's Kansas home transplanted to OZ.  I fully expected to find two legs in striped stockings and boots emerging from the slab as we approached the porch.  And as if this delectable discovery weren't enough, Anner maintains an enormous circular herb garden in her front yard.  Members may come to pick herbs at their leisure, day or night.  Just bring a pair of shears if it's after hours!

Last Night of Winter Solstice

            

There you lay so gentle and calm, an ease about your youthful face, not a crease or a furrow to be found.  The day’s excitement has settled, and your body has followed suit.  You lay curled comfortably with that same soft blanket that cuddled you as an infant, a toddler, and now a young boy.  It’s tattered and worn, and there is a small hole on the backing fabric that only I know exists.  You have not found it yet, but once you do, you will be intent on bringing it to my attention.  This I know.  

I kiss your face, feeling the smooth, soft surface that first took life inside me,  softened my soul and sharpened my instincts.  Your legs stretch out beyond the length of the blanket, having outgrown it many months ago.  I move your head back to the pillow, and as your eyes slightly open, they just as quickly close in comfort that mommy is here. 
My son, how quickly the time passes, and how beautiful you have become in that span.  How sensitive is your soul, and tender your loyalty to your father, sister and I.  What a man you will be, soon enough, too soon really.  I ache at the passing of time as you grow into your own person, but am equally anxious to discover him.  To see what will inspire and drive you, what curiosities will bring you to the ends of the earth, even the pains that you will surely live, just as surely as you are to pass as your father and I.  I simply cannot wait to see it all unfold as we end this last night of Winter Solstice. 

August 8, 2013

Photo by Wayne Devon
Courtesy of fineartamerica.com

WASTE LAND

Vik Muniz does something spectacular with the garbage pickers in Rio De Janeiro Jardim Gramacho landfill.  The people who sift through the trash of millions, end up enlightened and infamous.  Well worth a viewing.

WASTE LAND

Twinkle twinkle

Recently I finished up a Bernina mastery class at my local quilt shop.  As I passed the front desk on my way out, this regal beauty hung high on the wall.

They call it Amish With A Twist II.  I stared longingly at the stunning piecing and quilting, in fantastic solid-only color ways, and at 150in square, imagined it hung high on a wall in my home or on a california king.  Maybe one day...  I left the shop with a skip in my step just thinking about it

Over at a friend's house the next day, I caught a glimpse of a photo of AWAT II on her dining room table, and a fabric kit lying close by.  Could it be?  I stopped in my tracks, grabbed my friend and demanded an explanation.  Yes, she joined the block-of-the-month club to make this other-wordly quilt.    And so I joined her on this fantastic journey.

They say this quilt has a twinkle effect.  I couldn't agree more.  Stay tuned!

WIP Wednesday

Figured I'd jump on board with the rest of the quilting blogsphere and post work(s)-in-progress Wednesday.  With every quilt finish comes an intense feeling of accomplishment, yet other projects begin filling my mind almost immediately.

Wee Woodland modified 9-patch.  

This is the first quilt I pieced.  I began it after my daughter was born as I was just learning to quilt.   This was also before I earned the courage to free-motion quilt, thus credits for quilting go to Teresa.  Still needs a binding and then will be perfect for fall picnics in the park.

5 1/2 in pinwheels

I found this stellar vintage small print fabric collection at The Fox and the Fable.  Perfect 6-in charm squares of the prints and sandstone solid have made piecing these pinwheels a dream.  Stay tuned!

The day my son picked me flowers

Not long ago my son began picking flowers.  Well, gripping and ripping them low on the stems is more like it.  He gets hold of the base of a branch of vanhoutte spirea in my father's back yard, and yanks intently on the shrub, the tiny yellow, orange and red flowerettes snowing down around him as he labors to pick just one.  He looks puzzled.  

Today I am reminded of his determination when I hear him approaching me "Mommy?  I picked these for you."  His little hand grasps tightly around a small bouquet of red-orange vanhouette, three stems maybe, with a few leaves half falling off.  I kneel to acknowledge him, looking him square in the face and smile.  "Here Mommy."  He nubs the stems into my hand.  They are warm from his perspiring grasp.  My heart is heavy.  He smiles and so do I.  

DFL

Heather Spence Designs
Happy Independence Day!

Remember me?  Back in January, when the year was fresh and the air chilly, I found the Dragonfly Daze line by Northcott especially for DFL.  This is a simple double size hourglass quilt top with an even simpler border.  The hourglass blocks measure 9x9 inches.  

The temperature is only about 80 degrees hotter today than it was that day in January, yet my husband and son trekked out to the back yard and helped me take a few photos of my latest project.  See the finished product at Kumquat Quilts.