I've been reflecting this morning on how ironic life can be sometimes. Following through on a New Year's resolution, I've tried to replace mindless internet surfing with working on genealogy. While working on the Shurtleff line, I came across this ironic obituary: The following is taken from a newspaper clipping of Mar 18, 1826: "Died in Carver, Mass, on the 6th of January, Mr Abiel Shurtleff, aged 93 years. So late as the 21st of December, this aged pilgrim walked to Plymout, a distance of nine miles in four hours, where he passed several days, remarking among other things, the he had reaped in his native fields eighty two summers, where in his youth he had seen wigwams and aged sachems. and that he had been a soldier in the campaigns of the ware of 1756 at Crown Point. Abiel Shurtleff Sr died on 6 January 1826 at Carver, Plymouth, MA, USA, at age 93. Mr Shurtleff walked to Plymouth on "Forefather's Day," sat upon Pilgrim Rock and took a severe cold which resulted in his death. I laughed aloud when I read this, on one level marveling the he could, at 93, walk nine miles in four hours, but also remembering how shocked I was when I saw his sitting rock for myself about 7 years ago.
I love this room I'm in this morning; it's my sewing room--my nest, my spot. My husband created the room for me a few years ago. It's reflective of my interests--computer at one end, sewing machine at the other. Soft office chair for me, old oak straight-backed chair for Tom to sit in when he drops by all through the day as he works on his own "stuff." Wine red walls, lace curtains, cluttered, scattered, unfinished projects here and there...me. Grandson Vale asks often in family prayer for God to bless me while I do "Grandma Things." If forced to define Grandma Things, he probably wouldn't be able to do so. He knows I'm busy at my sewing machine or computer in all my leisure time, and you know what they are because I've told you often in these blogs. Vale received this Grandma Thing just recently 
Until a few days ago, four large oak bookcases lined one wall. They seemed to loom large, ovewhelming the room, catch-alls for miscellaneous "stuff." We moved the bookcases into the living room and replaced them with a quilters' dream--a design wall. A design wall is a pallette for me to work on sewing projects. You can see six projects on the wall--my some days. The catch-all with the oval handle is a gift from sister filled with pins, scissors, etc. The seven red, white, and blue blocks are the beginnings of a Quilt of Valor for our son-in-law, Ben, who has served two deployments to Afghanistan. See the Mormon temple block?? It's a rough design for a memorative something--the temple is Idaho Falls where we were married 41 years ago. The small yellow and green block will find its way into a sewing machine cover I'm making for my sister, the tulip block into a pillow or machine cover for myself, and the longer piece is a table runner I started and don't know how to finish. At the top, are six little crocheted cups and saucers. My mother made those in the last few weeks of her life. I need to design something for them as well. Thank heaven for sweet ironies in life, sweet husbands and children who pray you'll have good health to do your "Grandma Things," and projects to do and enjoy to keep yourself young. AND a red room to do them in. Love from here. Mom
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