Thursday, February 12, 2009

Dear Jane

Upstate NY
February 12, 2009

Dear Jane,

How are you? Me? I am fine. I am still in my workout clothes and should probably be doing something constructive, but I have been playing on the computer for almost an hour.

Some time during the night, last night, the power went out and the flashing of my alarm clock (powered by electricity) woke me up. I thought I had turned it off, but I had just hit the snooze, so the alarm went off about 9 minutes later. It was only 2:30 AM and I never fell asleep again. Talk about early riser!!!

Jane, this week, I began the daunting task of piecing the blocks that make up your wonderful quilt.

So far, I have completed A-6 "Uncle Homer",



A-8 "Florence Nightengale",
D-6 "Challenge", and D-13 "Field of Dreams"
And nooooo, you are not seeing spots!!!! I am going to make my quilt in polka dots and Kona Snow.


Yes, dear Jane, the thought of completing your quilt is very daunting.......I have a looooooooong way to go!
You can barely see my 4 blocks in all those empty spaces!!!!

Jane, we are finally having our January thaw.... in February! The temperature today is in the 40s and it is very foggy this morning.
The snow is shrinking and dirty...
the ground is muddy,



and every so often, you think you spot a bit of grass!Small streams are developing in our driveway, cutting through below the snowbanks...shriveled crabapples can be seen on the thawing trees...

our mailbox is slowly appearing from the large snowbank at the end of our property...


and, oddly enough, various tools are erupting from deep within the snow....

(note: Nature Boy, your father has been looking for an ice scraper!!!)

Alas, Jane, I expect winter is not yet over so I spend whatever spare moments I have playing with cheerful fabrics in my sewing room.


These two blocks are headed to Tia in Australia...
who has spearheaded the "Bushfire Quilt Project" to make quilts for those who have lost so much in the recent wildfires in Australia.

Finally, I have embarked on another new journey....

that of Homeschooling Mother...

Dear Jane, Nature Boy was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole and so.. this week began a new odyssey.

I must be going, Jane. Stay well and I will keep you posted on the quilt! (It may take me a few years!)


9 comments:

  1. Dear Lisa,
    You are one crazy mother! Hope you can keep up the endurance for both of the new journeys you are embarking upon.
    How many Dear Janes are you aiming for? I have 7 so far. I think about 12 is good for me (LOL!)

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  2. Dear Lisa, I think Jane is incredibly demanding and you will be making blocks for her for the rest of your life. You are a brave soul. I only work for bosses who accept quick, little projects. ;)
    Congratulations on your homeschooling start. So long as you keep to a routine of sorts you will get great enjoyment from being the one to open up his world for him. Cherrie

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  3. Dear Lisa, Jane should be very charming with all of those polka dots. And I think that foresaking Jane for Wonky stars was a wonderful thing. They are lovely blocks. Good luck with homeschooling.

    Michelle

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  4. Polka dot Jane - most inspired! Best wishes for the home schooling.

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  5. Good luck for the homeschooling and for the Dear Jane! although I am sure you won't need it! Good on you for recognising that the school system does not always suit everyone. As the parent of a boy who has always and still does struggle with school I applaud you for taking action.

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  6. Wow! I applaud you for realizing a problem and fixing it. I don't know if I'm brave enough to ever attempt home schooling ~ I'm just not that organized.
    Love the polka dots on Dear Jane. Can't wait to see your progress.

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  7. Hey upstate.
    I am hoping you and family have not be touched by the terrible plane crash.
    I've been through it. So sad.

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  8. I love the polka dot Dear Jane quilt idea! I've been toying with doing one myself (leaning towards black and white w/ white as the background fabric and maybe 1 accent color throughout). I just don't think I can commit to such a long term project. Is there a particular book / cd that you have to get? Looking forward to watching your progress.

    Best of luck w/ the home schooling. It sounds like a better way to go for Nature Boy.

    Enjoy the warmer weather!

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  9. i do admire you...first for tackling dear jane and second for homeschooling...i have a square peg too, but i finally found the right school for him. i thought long and hard about homeschooling, but being a teacher it was hard for me...i know that sounds crazy, but i found it hard to turn off mom and turn on teacher...i wish you all the best! great blocks for the bushfire project too...i sent mine yesterday.

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