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In August, here in the mountains of southwest Virginia, the trees acquire a dull sheen that signals the end of summer. Heralded by the Dog Days of summer, it's a melancholy, bittersweet season. Daytime temperatures may soar, the humidity is sweltering, but nights are cool. In the morning, a fog rises from the mountains, reminiscent of a Japanese painting. And each day is shorter.
Stars on a late summer night are like diamonds in a velvet sky.
Slice open a bell pepper from the garden, and you're likely to find tiny pale-green peppers growing within. It's as if Nature hurries to replicate herself while there's still time.
Like squirrels that store up their winter food supply, we may busy ourselves cleaning up, clearing out, readying our homes for colder weather. Or we may spend long moments weeding a flower bed, allowing our thoughts to drift to unknown places. We wonder where summer went -- how could it pass by so quickly?
It's almost as if we didn't notice.
Nature gives us little choice but to let go of one season and get on with another. As I soak up the last rays of summer sun, I recognize all over again that the seasons are a metaphor for Life. We, too, must "let go" before we can move ahead.
Letting go is an interesting concept. It's a technique used not only in skillful fly-fishing, but in life. We let go of fear, of the past, of possessions, of a lost love. We let go of anger or a problem relationship. We let go of our children as they mature into their own lives, and when someone we love dies, eventually we let go of grief. In Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, there's an expression: "Let go, and let God." And in the end, we must let go of life itself.
More people in their 50's, 60's, and older are on meds known as anti-depressants than you might imagine. I attribute a lot of middle-age depression to the feeling that so many seem to have,and have expressed to me, that they look back on their lives and ask, "Is that all there is?" This seems to ride in tandem with, "But there was so much more I wanted to do!"
Begin today. Rekindle a few old, perhaps ancient dreams. You always wanted to play the piano? Sign up for lessons. If you lost ten pounds, you think you'd feel more in shape? Buy a brightly colored sweat suit and take low-impact aerobics. Attend a Weight Watchers group and count your food "points." Enroll in a tole painting class. Find a continuing education class at the local high school or community college about Using the Internet, or making pottery, or learning to quilt. Check with your public library and learn how to join a group of local writers who meet regularly to discuss creative writing.
It doesn't matter what you do -- just that you Do Something! Not doing anything at all is also a choice. There's an old saying: "Do what you've always done, and you'll get what you've
always gotten." The important thing is, you're never too old to learn new things, or to do something interesting just for you.
Getting older doesn't mean you have to stop living. If anything,with time on their hands thanks to retirement, many seniors say they've really started living, at last, and are having the "time of their life." Being active, involved, and interested in life keeps you young, no matter what your chronological age. Let go of your youth, and enjoy celebrating your next birthday as a major Life Milestone. You've earned it!
For a timeless lesson in life that has survived for over 3 centuries, supposedly found in Old Saint Paul's Church in Baltimore and dated 1692, remember "Desiderata" by an anonymous writer. This should be read with the heart:
"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
"Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
"Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
"Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.
"Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gen ...
Author: Stephania Munson-Bishop
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Timely help for quilt patterns quilting
About Quilting I really like Asian themed fabrics, but sometimes I have a hard time visualizing blocks that fit the look. But I love this Oriental Attic Windows design. Each quilt block is made from three pieces of fabric -- and sewn together with only two seams. Yes, the block has a mitered corner, but the easy sewing method will erase any fears beginners might have about tackling miters. I promise, it's simple, and a really important skill to learn. Give it a try! Oriental Attic Windows Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 06:00:47. Permalink | Comment | Email this Domino Quilt Block & Quilt Pattern The Domino quilt block finishes at 9" square, with small units that are a nice size for baby and toddler quilts, but perfectly fine for a bed-sized quilts, too. The Domino quilt block pattern includes instructions for making a single quilt block, for those of you who like to go scrappy, plus directions for 20-strip pieced Domino blocks. The 20 blocks can be used in the Domino baby quilt shown on page 4 of the pattern, or in another quilt of your own design. Before beginning, new quilters should make sure they're okay with sewing a quarter inch seam and with rotary cutting long strips of fabric. Domino Quilt Block & Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 06:00:00. Permalink | Comment | Email this Lost Ship Quilt Block Pattern Lost Ship is the ninth quilt block pattern for the Scrap Happy Sampler Quilt, but you can use it for any project. Two versions of the block are shown, one more scrappy than the other, but each variation helps you practice making half-square triangle units -- a good thing since those units are probably the most commonly used patchwork configuration. You might notice that the design is similar to the Rocky Glen quilt block -- the overall layout is basically the same, but Rocky Glen contains more half-square triangle units. Like other blocks in the sampler series, the Lost Ship quilt block finishes at 12-inches square. Lost Ship Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 07:50:44. Permalink | Comment | Email this Pictures of 2012 New Year's Day Mystery Quilts The 2012 New Year's Day Mystery Quilt gallery is up and running now, and illustrates the wide variety of layouts that quilters developed when designing their projects. The quilts in the gallery are a wonderful representation of the work that went into these projects, but there are many, many more quilts and quilt tops out there, and I'd love to feature them all in the gallery. Please email your photos to me at quilting.guide@about.com. Quilt by Neralie Pictures of 2012 New Year's Day Mystery Quilts originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 06:00:59. Permalink | Comment | Email this Quilt Photo Gallery Updates I updated quite a few of our quilt galleries this weekend, and am now pretty much caught up (temporarily, as usual) with the photos you have submitted. Once again I do have forms without photos and photos without forms -- all of those go into a 'check these' folder until I can find time to write (mostly about missing photos). When you submit the form, please remember that it is a 2-step process -- photos must come to me by separate email. Galleries Updated Photo is Shattered, a quilt by Sewtherequilts in memory of her sister. Quilt Photo Gallery Updates originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 18:01:08. Permalink | Comment | Email this Flock of Geese Quilt Block Pattern Flock of Geese is a traditional quilt block, but its name is a bit misleading. Take a look at the block and you'll see it does not include those popular flying geese units that we often use. Instead, the 'flocks' are made up of half-square triangle units, kind of like geese flying in formation. You can adjust the color value of your patches to make the block appear very different from mine, and you can choose a structured look or go very scrappy with the layout. The Flock of Geese block is fun to play with -- try varying the look from block-to-block in a larger quilt, because I think you'll like that, too. Flock of Geese Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 12:16:15. Permalink | Comment | Email this Patchwork Hearts Quilt Block & Quilt Patterns Quilting Forum members designed this 6" patchwork heart quilt block for a 2008 swap, and are using it again this month. The design is a natural for a Valentine's Day wallhanging and makes a lovely baby quilt. The heart block is assembled with quick piecing techniques, so it's super easy to make. For the swap, a different focal fabric was used in each half of the block (two pinks or two reds), but choose another combination if you prefer. You'll find instructions and yardage for a small heart wallhanging on the last page of the pattern. Photo © Sophie Patchwork Hearts Quilt Block & Quilt Patterns originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 06:00:22. Permalink | Comment | Email this Heart in a Snowball Quilt Block Pattern This vibrant Snowball quilt block is assembled with a white on white interior and purple tips. A red heart is appliqued to the center of the 6" (finished size) block. If you're already into applique, the gentle heart will be a breeze, and beginners will find that it's a perfect first applique project (read my Needleturn Applique Basics for technique how-tos). The block is from a 2009 Quilting Forum event, where it was sewn by numerous members. Heart Blocks by Sandy Heart in a Snowball Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 06:00:45. Permalink | Comment | Email this Reverse Capital T Quilt Block Pattern The reverse version of the Capital T quilt block isn't seen as commonly as its counterpart -- where dark fabrics create the diagonal T-shape at each corner. Both blocks are assembled the same way, it's just the color values that are flip-flopped, but the two versions are unique enough that I felt a separate pattern would be a good option for the quilt block shown here. I've included instructions to make the block's flying geese units in a couple of ways -- both are quick-pieced but one technique results in no fabric waste. Choose the method that works best for the fabrics you have on hand. I saw some examples online recently of quilts made using this value layout, but can't locate them now -- the blocks looked wonderful placed on point. More T Blocks Reverse Capital T Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 19:22:19. Permalink | Comment | Email this Hearts 'n Rags Rag Quilt Pattern Hearts 'n Rags is an easy rag quilt pattern, one that you can assemble pretty quickly. The quilt is made with a combination of block types: squares with raggy heart applique, plain floral squares, blocks cut from a border print and another unit created by sewing two bars together. Mine is lightweight, with no batting, but I've provided yardage and cutting instructions for a middle layer if you choose to add it. I machine sewed my hearts to the blocks and left their edges ragged, but didn't clip them. They frayed pretty well during a couple of washings, but feel free to clip into the seam allowance of yours to make them a little bit fuzzier. Photo © Janet Wickell Hearts 'n Rags Rag Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 06:00:51. Permalink | Comment | Email this Newsfeed display by CaRP |
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