Fall 2025 CatchUp

How could 2025 be almost over? I knew this was the year I would turn 90 (on December 26), and this fact seemed more unreal every day. I admit it has been sobering to ponder, especially when three very close friends passed away recently. My church (University Baptist Hattiesburg) had a celebration today of fourteen of us who had reached 90, some 90+. Ten were able to attend the breakfast and recognition. 

Back row (L-R) Obra Quave, Linda and Larry Smith, Nell Nation,
Martha Ginn, Barbara Ann Ross, Jimmie Mason, Bettye King
Front row (in chairs) Graham Hales, Nancy Ratliff

Thinking back over October, getting to attend two USM Symphony concerts was very special. 

With my favorite double-bass player Daniel Magalhaes

Participating in Nuestro Arte Gallery's celebration of Dia de los Muertos was an honor. My work was on display in the Artist Way exhibit on October 31, and I decorated a skull for the sugar skull auction. Proceeds from this auction go to benefit Latinx artists in our area. A Mariachi band added to the festivities. The purchaser named her Gladys. 

My fiber art displayed in the Artists Way exhibit on 4th and Main Street

My sugar skull (a.k.a.Gladys) covered in buttons

Amazingly creative sugar skulls on auction

To celebrate our country's 250 anniversary, the US Postal Service has printed this special stamp design. There are 20 stamps to the page, four columns deep with five stamps across. A description is printed on the back of the page. So clever!

Page of 250 anniversary stamps

Description of the page of stamps

Even though fall temperatures have arrived, a few favorite plants are worth protecting. This cane begonia has lived in this heavy concrete pot since I brought it from Texas in 1971 from my mother's house. 

I took care of this little bed of chrysanthemums for about a year, and it surprised me with reblooming. Being planted near the water faucet is probably the reason.

A friend gave me this fern to take care of over last winter because she didn't have room. It lived in my garage and has thrived and is ready for a second winter in my garage.

The sasanqua bush has started blooming. The flowers begin to drop and make a beautiful pink carpet to enjoy.

Thanksgiving holds many memories of gatherings in our early home with some invited guests, in my parents' home in Lufkin, and in my brother's home on Lake Austin. We used to drive from Mississippi through East Texas to pick up my parents and go on to Austin. Although we can't gather like we used to, there is so much to be thankful for and the location doesn't keep us from reminiscing. We have friends who are as dear as family, and they have made our lives richer by their friendship.

My cats, Elizabeth and Rahrah, turned 12 this month. They are quite happy and healthy after serious illnesses a couple of years ago. Outdoor/garage cat Lacey knows she isn't allowed inside, nor does she want to be. She enjoys the sunshine in her back yard. 

Elizabeth

Rahrah

Outdoor/garage cat Lacey

Quiltfolk Cats in September

A happy event happened this month. Quiltfolk, the community-supported print-only quarterly magazine focused on quilt history and quilt culture in America, published a special edition devoted to CATS.  Cat quilts, real cats on quilts, and stories about quilts and cats. What could be more interesting?!

Quiltfolk Issue #26 featured quilts in Mississippi and my Elizabeth was lucky to appear there. My quilt "The Window Watchers" is on page 104 of the Cats issue. I took a photo of all three cats on a table looking out the window and made a collage quilt with it as inspiration. The quilt was started in a week-long class with Susan Carlson in Portland, Maine, in 2017 where I learned her method of quilt collage. This began my love of Susan's techniques, followed by several more collage quilts. Pictured below is the next cat quilt, "The Conversation."

Quiltfolk will honor a 20% discount on this CAT issue through December 31, 2025, if you use the code QFCats2025. Treat yourself! You will enjoy 124 pages of  pure cattitude featuring stories from quilters whose lives--and creative practices--are entangled with cats.

Cover of Quiltfolk CATS

"The Window Watchers" on page 104
Rahrah, Tarbaby, Elizabeth

"The Conversation," another collage quilt
Tarbaby, Rahrah, Elizabeth

We finished and gave to Forrest General several more covers for their Giraffe isolette beds in the NICU. 

August Exhibit and NICU covers

If I thought July zoomed by, that's even more true with August. It's nearly midnight on the 31st, and here goes.

It was such a pleasure having the Southern Fiber Artists' exhibit of Quilts Across Mississippi in the Downey Gallery at University Baptist Church for the whole month. The exhibit was unbelievable impressive and well-received.

I discovered an interesting new chocolate and coffee shop through an OLLI class. The owners are from Nicaragua and come from a long line of farmers. It's called Mulukakao. 

I finished a puzzle on my table--music theme with only 500 pieces, but strange and unusual shapes. 

Pine Belt Quilters have been working on Giraffe isolette covers for Forrest General's NICU. We keep altering the home made pattern hoping for a better fit (to keep the light out). The 3-yards required were layered, long-arm quilted, washed and dried (for shrinkage) before cutting out the pattern pieces. It seemed easier to cut out from the gray (lining) side than the colorful side. Each of the six pieces was serged and then assembled.

Catching Up for June and July

 As the days on my calendar zoom past, I still like to write a little report of what I've been up to--if for nothing else than to help me remember. After the four-month exhibit of Linda's and my quilting art at OLLI was over, taking a break from big projects seemed in order, and I have settled into a very relaxed routine. I even read Jane Eyre along with several much shorter books.

I had my yard guy plant caladiums about May 1 and these have performed just as I had hoped. I ordered from Caladium World in Florida, 50 green/white Aaron and 50 green/red Royal Flush. The green/white ones are taller than the reds. They came up about mid-May and have been beautiful through this writing (end of July). 

I enjoyed hosting the international college students in my home for one of their monthly socials. Rahrah tried out all the laps, while Elizabeth took a nap. While some played table games, three of them finished a large puzzle of Massachusetts logos that had been on my card table a couple of months.

I met a friend's new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at her house. Then I visited a precious little house panther at Southern Pines Animal Shelter who needs a foster home and then a permanent one. He has a mid-length tail with a little crook at the end of it. So tempting, but my 11-1/2 year old girls would have none of it. They still hiss at Lacey, the outdoor cat. 

Sir Lancelot

I'm a soft touch for black cats

Dr Ed Hafer, USM associate professor of music, taught an interesting Italian cooking class at OLLI, featuring an asparagus Ravioli with an egg inside. It was fun watching him prepare and roll out the pasta and fill the pieces, but I'll have to depend on a restaurant for this meal again.

Dr Ed Hafer rolling out pasta dough

Ready for cooking in the pasta water

Dr Hafer with Burrata fresh mozzarella cheese 
on tomato slices

There were lots of afternoons reading on the front porch. 

View from my front porch