I'm really trying...............

.......very ...... hard .... to .... keep ... up!!
 
No - don't say it.  Really.  Don't.  Okay.  I'll say it then.  Before you do.  If you haven't already said it! 
 I am very trying.

I know I try hard not be, but somehow it just happens.

Anyway, I digress... again....  What I was saying was I just can't keep up, everything goes so fast. I feel like everyone else is on 'fast forward' and I'm just about avoiding the rewind button!  An example? On the rare occasions Ralph and I are working in the kitchen together (now that's a whole other story!!!) I just seem to stand there doing ... whatever... and Ralph is rushing around me doing his version of ... whatever... like a spinning top.  It makes me dizzy!!

Here's an analogy for you. A treadmill test.  Nothing to it? Yeah ok! A white knuckle ride if ever I had one. Hanging on to the bar, gritting your teeth, gasping for breath, jelly legs.  You get the picture? I thought I was in a marathon. (Me) Can .. you .. slow .. it .. down?  (Nurse) Errm  it wont go any slower. (Me) How .. long .. was .. it .. for?  (Nurse) Errm 28 seconds.  (Me) What the ...........??!!!

See what I mean? I can't keep up! 

So what started this ... rant?  Birthdays.  Of course.


First it was Ralph's, a year before a significant one.  So to remind him that next year we'd be going out for picnics and such like on a weekday, not just for weekends. I made him a patchwork picnic blanket. You know, to go in the car we've decided he's getting as a retirement present. :-)

Lovely Butterscotch and Rose by Fig Tree Quilts backed with an old picnic rug

and hand tied instead of quilting.

 

I've had the fabric a while and knew how I was going to make it up. I was just waiting for the right occasion. I used a pattern from Camille's book Simplify.  It took a charm pack and a honeybun and made up really quickly. I decided to add an extra border using up the off cuts from the honey bun.

 

Now, here's my question.  How did it happen?  How did we go from

 

this

 

1982

 

to this ?

 

2013

 

In what feels like the blink of an eye?

 

I kid you not, this is taken at the top of the drive of the house we are renting!!  I tell you if it turns up at the next house I shall be convinced the kids did it !!

 

And speaking of kids, that was the next birthday.  Oliver's 30th.  Now look, something is just plain wrong here.  I can remember distinctly what it felt like when I first snuggled him into my neck at a few minutes old!!  I don't need to tell you it was bliss do I? 

 

It seems like only yesterday that he was like this

 

1983

 

and now he's like this

 

2013

 

with his own precious little one,

Mackinlay.

 

Don't get me wrong I have loved walking alongside Ralph all these years and hope to do so for many more.  And I'm so proud of my kids and their partners and children, so very proud.  But, in my head I don't feel like I've lived all those thirty odd years.  I go to tremendous lengths to avoid looking in the mirror but once in a while.  Out of the corner of my eye.  I see.  Someone looking at me.  Who is that  woman staring back at me???   I've got that dress!!  Well, who'd have thought it?  It must be me!!!!   

 

Like I said.  It takes me a while to catch up! :-)

 

So, before I go, a quick update on Correne. She's doing ok, it's a slow process for her, healing.  She's still mostly on her bed, rather sore still and vertigo rears it's ugly head on too many occasions. But she's going in the right direction. Thankfully.

 

It was so kind of you to drop by and chat or should I say listen to my ramblings. I'd be pretty lonely here talking to myself if not for you.

 

Take good care of yourselves and happy sewing. Xxx