Anniversary Quilt - Our Waltz

Lately, I have been struggling with my photography. Just a temporary difficulty I am sure.

I thought, in the meantime, I would post pictures of the anniversary quilt I made for my husband and me.

These pictures reflect the two blocks that were used throughout the quilt and then the complete quilt itself. The blocks are called “Cannonball” and “54-40 or Fight.”

The Cannon ball is also called a Snow ball.

The “54-40 or Fight” refers to the battle between between the US and Canada in the northwest regarding establishment of the border, in the early 1800's. A lot of people wanted the border set at the 54 longitudes and 40th parallel which would have taken all of Southern Alaska and British Columbia. Eventually the 49th parallel was used.

When used in the pattern as I did together these two blocks make a Tennessee Waltz patterned quilt.

I was amused when I realized that the anniversary quilt is made of two blocks that seem to reflect “fighting”. However, the first time my husband and I danced a slow dance together it was to the music “Tennessee Waltz.” When I saw this quilt pattern I just knew that I needed to make a quilt like this.

It actually was intended for our anniversary a couple of years ago. However, life got in the way “so to speak”. A wedding quilt needed to be made, baby quilts needed to be made, a “going away” quilt for our Pastor’s wife needed to be made.

Our marriage was going to last and the quilt could wait, though not be left undone.

Weddings, new babies, the loss of a friend’s presence, these needed to be seen to right away.

As has been for years, our marriage, it was our support and strength through all of these.

Sunrise over Florida Bay

It is hard to know which is more beautiful: sunrise or sunset.

They each have their own merit. With a sunrise, you are greeting a new day, a new chance to . . . whatever it is that you are needing to do. Perhaps you need to forgive a friend, for you have been forgiven. Perhaps you need to mend a family relationship, this is vital to each of us. Perhaps you just need a new start.

Sunset – perhaps it means, “Whew! This day is over.” Perhaps it means: “. . . After all tomorrow is another day.” Perhaps it means, a fresh start . . . in the morning, with the sunrise.

All I know is: I love to see either one of them over the water.

This is sunrise from the balcony of our hotel on Islamorada, in the Florida Keys.

Please put yourself in this chair, I left it empty just so you could join me. I even brought you a cup of coffee.

Have a good day, whatever you new day means to you.

Sunset at Pine Island, Florida

Last night I went to Pine Island, on the Gulf Coast of Florida. From there I could see an “uninterrupted” sunset. There were no condominiums rising in the distance. There were no evening lights coming on. There was just ocean and sun, with a boat now and then. I don’t get to see many sunsets like this any more.

Don’t get me wrong, I love living on the lake: the eagles, the osprey, the quiet in the middle of the week when the weekenders go home. All of it!

There is just something about sitting and watching the sun melt into the sea that is beautiful in a unique way. As I wait for the sun to go “down” I feel myself calming down, relaxing, taking slow breaths. There is nothing else to do. The sun dips slowly, ever so slowly, down toward the horizon. My breathing slows. I am totally focused on the miracle. The colors are incredible. I can feel them in my bones. Then . .

It’s gone.

However, just sitting here writing about it brings it all back. I hope you can breathe deep and enjoy it.

Black & White Calla Lily

I realize that flowers are particularly glorious because of their color. There are some incredible colors in the world in flowers. I think of the various shades of roses. One can not merely say red, there are numerous “shades” of red, from bright to subdued. There are even roses that are classified as blue and purple.

Then there are lilies. Consider the Bible verses Matthew 6:28-29.
28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

They are as beautiful as roses and just as varied. Even some that are striped or spotted, with various colors in one bloom.

Yes, flowers have a glory all to themselves as far as color goes.

However, I couldn’t help but publish this Calla Lily. There is a beauty in its simplicity of form that I tried to capture in black and white.

So, in addition to God’s glorious work in color, consider His glorious work in form. I can but in my small way capture a representative image of His incredible, awesome work.