On Any Given Day – Page 3 – One Day Wonders with JBK

Intermission IV

August 20, 2024August 19, 2024 Quilter2 Comments

Found: Buried treasure! Keep reading, I’ll tell you.

Pertaining to my husband’s project, as so often Dave says, “All it lacks is finishing.” Progress continues on the bookshelf. Soon you will see his handiwork. Right now, it requires my involvement too.

At the risk of downplaying Dave’s labor, my part is tough. Going throughout the house gathering books and fabric from forgotten places. What a delight to come across long forgotten memories!

Three grocery bags revealed good intentions. Each labeled with my child’s name. Inside were garments along with fabric from things I had made for them. The ongoing issue with a quilter, is the ability to see potential in discarded, outgrown clothes. The plan was to cut them up into a crazy quilt for them, some day. Ruthless, hard decisions must be made. Sorry kids. It ain’t gonna happen. They have been demoted to the ‘get rid of pile.’

I have never denied loving books. But as I gathered them from all over the house, had no idea there so many. This new addition is going in what used to be my quilt room. My reading material will share space with sewing material. Past comments said I could open a quilt shop. Not really, but there is a lot. Correction. There was a lot, much has been given away. By all appearances more will go.

Old habits die hard. Checking the labels on the girls dresses to see what is washable from the dry clean only, I wonder. Would the granddaughters be interested in their mom’s old clothes? Probably not. But it would be a travesty to not let them see what they may reject. That same logic must be in keeping my wedding gown. One of the girls may wish to wed in it. That did not happen. Speaking of wedding gowns, I think I have my mothers too. A brocade fabric cut in a simple, timeless style.

Right or wrong, we the people seem to feel the need to hold onto things—only for one of our descendants pitch. Such is the cycle of life. With one exception that was mentioned in a previous blog. The letter ‘L.’ It came from my father-in-law’s varsity sweater. I had petitioned you to help me come up with a new name for the room.

I had a couple of good suggestions, but decided on one I had made up myself, with a humorous history. Several years back, Dave had traced my family roots through Ancestry. He came across an ancestor from Great Britian, that was quite prosperous. Among the many hats he wore, he was a banker and shipbuilder.

My logical query was where did his money go, and why was I not informed of his ‘summer castle?’ Unanswered questions remain, but I jokingly told Dave he may call me Lady J. Hence the name of my remodeled room, Lady J’s Lair.

Intermission III

August 13, 2024August 12, 2024 Quilter2 Comments

“Break time.” Those words are spoken of often at my house. Sometimes my man and I work hard, other times we hardly work. Even so, the break times are necessary. Especially if we are in stressful moments.

What are the concerns going through your mind today? There is always something to worry about. The big ones are beyond control. This being our election year here in the US—some are concerned about who will take the oval office, others concerned who will not.

Have you ever considered that concerns can be a positive in life?

Recently, I have been reading a great book, Daniel—found in the Old Testament of the Good Book. When my address is changed to my eternal one, I really look forward to meeting this guy.

The story of his life picks up at where you and I might see his situation as more than stressful—try a crisis. It has all the makings of being unbelievable—but only truth is found between the covers of the Good Book.

Daniel lived in Jerusalem that was taken over by another nation. It happened often back then, but often does not make a situation any less worrisome. He and others were taken captive and hauled off to the victorious Babylon.

My guess is Daniel was either a youth or in the prime of his life. Only because, what profit would he be as an old man? It did not take long before his wisdom became apparent. He had the ability to interpret dreams. Wouldn’t you love to understand your dreams?

Here is the kicker though. Daniel’s ability did not come from his smarts—it was someone he was in constant communication with. Jesus. Cue the saying, ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know.’ I am not going to elaborate on the dreams. It would be better for you to read it for yourself.

The point I wish to make is that having a relationship with Jesus does not guarantee a worry-free life. What the friendship does do is keep the concerns on a back burner. They do not consume you—instead they provide an opportunity to talk to him. Only Jesus can give the peace of mind that everything is under control. His, not yours.

Faith strengthens trust, that builds greater faith that strengthens more. . .well, you get it. These building blocks lead to a wonderful place.

Intermission II

August 6, 2024August 5, 2024 Quilter2 Comments

Stay tuned for the upcoming news on a home improvement project. In the meantime, Grandma Andrews words come back to haunt me. “A housewife never gets bored—she always has something to do.”

Ain’t that the truth! At the moment I have to get started on this blog that has been circling in my head.

But I was ironing and needed an intermission to give myself a sugar boost. As I munched on a snack, I realized preparing lunch should be happening, not snacking. After lunch, the dishes and kitchen got cleaned up. Returning to the ironing, I came across the laundry that needed attention.

It was such a small load I delved into my quilt stash to see if I can add some unwashed fabric. There is a potential project worming around in my mind, only I can’t color match anything to my load of laundry. I can hear my daughter Cindy saying, “Mom, it’s okay to mix colors.” Whatever.

Only a load sitting in the washer had to be shifted over to the dryer. It pleases me to tell you the ironing did get done.

All this to say, this photo of a tree featured today reminded me of how life throws interruptions in our path. Direction changes as the wind blows. I gotta do this, but wait, first I have to do this other thing. Oh, but that can’t get done until this gets done! Who would have guessed trees depicting life going in countless directions. Take note though—they all point up to their creator.

Rolling out of bed each morning, no one knows how the day will unfold. It isn’t until our head hits the pillow at night that it all comes tumbling down in your mind. Goodbye sleep. I have read other people’s similar experiences that included letting the dog outside, only to open the door again to let the dog back in. The dog season of my life has come and gone. But interruptions are the status quo.

I am not alone and neither are you. It may be be a knock on the door, the phone ringing, or a young voice paging you for the umpteenth time. Motherhood is a calling you know.

Jesus knows and understands the stage of life you are in. Circumstances change, you will find yourself moving from one stage to another. Take a deep breath. I too, must look up to our creator, because all is well— life goes on.

Through the years I have hit upon something that makes a huge difference. Each morning, I make the effort to read some of the Bible and pray about my day. It takes time and discipline, but I have learned something kinda crazy, but true. Days are better—my time is spent with productivity and energy. What I am telling you is supernatural stuff. But it works!

Intermission I

July 30, 2024July 29, 2024 Quilter2 Comments

(Today I am taking an intermission from updating you on the bookshelf project. Let me assure you my man continues to be hard at work on it—but Rome was not built in a day, and neither is this massive bookshelf.)

In the meantime, during our more decent temperature days found me enjoying the walking path in my neighborhood. A couple trees caught my attention. I wish they could talk, because I am certain they each have a story to tell.

The one featured today seems to have been hit with some hard knocks. Look closely and you will see battle wounds—knots up and down the trunk. Not being a tree expert, I cannot explain how they got there. But do appreciate a good tree—the interesting ones catch my attention. My husband, Dave, would say it’s the scarred ones. The gangly unkempt ones reveal the most personality.

Have you had some hard knocks in life? This may surprise you, but the folks that have experienced some kind of hardship or crisis have the most to offer in empathy and compassion to a hurting world. Truth be told—and I strive always to be truthful, everyone has some kind of hurt. But not all are willing to share. That’s too bad, we can learn much from each other.

Recently, Dave and I sat down to a movie night at home. Taking turns picking out the movie, my choice was the story of a favorite comedian. Some we regret choosing, but this one held me, as I waited for it to get better. Documentary style, she opened up on her already open life.

It is interesting to see a Christian that lives in the entertainment field. They do exist—as this one makes her tragic life story a thing to smile about. She brings laughter and makes her audience feel they are not alone in painful trenches. What she does is possible due to her relationship with Jesus. All the time she points to him as the only thing in this world that makes sense.

As the documentary comes to a close, she is asked if it was all worth it. Her answer was yes and no, it cost her in unspeakable ways. As her life unfolded, she lost security in a father leaving the family, two sibling deaths very close together and a husband that died in what you and I would consider the prime of his life. Add to the mix, a child no longer on speaking terms with her mom.

How could Jesus allow this to happen? He didn’t. Not everyone experiences the same heartaches, but part of this world is to become acquainted with trouble. It is the kind of stuff that makes us hunger for a better life. One where there is no heartache or pain. It exists—in heaven, with Jesus. I cannot stress enough to establish a relationship with him.

In the meantime, bring a smile to a fellow hurting person. Everyone has a story. You have been there, bring hope.

Phase Two

July 16, 2024July 20, 2024 Quilter2 Comments

Where on earth did all this stuff come from?

Yours truly is the culprit. My accumulation of all things quilt had gotten out of hand. Ranging from long ago vacations and shop hop road trips with the girls. To set the record straight, my husband, Dave, never discouraged my purchases. Is it okay to blame him too, misery does love company you know?

But the purging process must be done-particularly when so little quilting is done anymore. It takes valuable time and sprains the brain dealing with it all. Gadgets are surfacing that I knew I had…somewhere. Several years ago, I was gifted with a sign that hangs in the room, ‘Organized people are just too lazy to look for it!’

We all have the same number of hours in the day—it’s how we use them that is important. Dave is doing good—the quilt room reno continues on. Walls are painted and flooring installed, the bookshelf is next, but construction will take time. I stand sentry at the doorway cheering him on. It’s taking on a new look and I’m loving it!

Getting back to the stuff though. Discarding of a past life is wrenching. Whether it’s baggage in our memory or accumulated stuff, all gets heavier with time. Unintended excess happens and the circumstances out of control can easily turn frustration into hate. If one is not careful, terrible things can happen.

Like an attempted assassination. That is the extreme. Hardship comes in too many disguises to determine what is a product of hate and what is not. Life is difficult to define because our story varies from person to person. How can one shake the history of their life?

Hints of that kind of change do exist. At the risk of being overly simplistic, use what I have been doing in my former quilt room as an example. Dispose of the unnecessary. Pitch the things that are no longer useful.

Surround yourself with people that encourage. Where? Try visiting your local Bible believing church. The place is chock full of people like you, in the process of making life better—not just for themselves but for others too. Collecting friends is of greater value than stuff.

Phase One 1/2

July 9, 2024July 6, 2024 Quilter2 Comments

What have I done?

The cutting table is gone, the mat along with it. They were my identity. Who am I now?

Too late I understand how my husband Dave felt selling his compressor. It was part of his identity. A valuable tool in his remodeling business.

All sold.

Time moves on and things have a way of changing. My cutting table held many a vision of quilts I would make. Most of which never came to be. Like a child standing before a smorgasbord of tempting food, everything looked appetizing. Only my stomach could not hold all that I piled on my food tray.

Likewise, my fabric stash held tantalizing visions of potential quilts—like sugar plums dancing in my head. But my cutting table was unable to make my workmanship satisfactory. Dave liked my work—except he never saw a quality quilt. What did he know? He was just a staunch encourager to my efforts.

At least Dave’s compressor provided a living. Quilting only provided me with a calm frustration.

We see Phase two coming. The quilt room will no longer be just that. The sewing machine remains, but will be accompanied with a massive bookshelf. It’s gonna be great! The walls are painted, soon new flooring will be laid.

It has been a project of mixed feelings. Never have we ripped out a perfectly good wall-to-wall carpet. The most damage it had ever seen was loose threads. Disposing of it was a conundrum. Our best means of removal was to give it away. Done. It blessed the receiver and gave us the space we needed to continue with the transition.

But I had this brainstorm of an idea that you could help me with. We are the proud owners of Dave’s dads high school letter. L. Because the quilt room will be more than that soon, I hope to frame that L and give the room a new name. But it has to begin with L.

Suggestions please.

Phase One

July 2, 2024June 28, 2024 Quilter4 Comments

Today I give you a riddle.

How can a quilt room expand and shrink at the same time?

We are up to our eyeballs in a home renovation. My quilt room is completely gutted. It has ‘expanded’ to whatever free space we have. Living room, writing room and, of all places, the shower. Not to worry, it’s the one that has never been used. We continue our hygiene as always.

The job will get done in phases. Little did I realize, with all the downsizing I’ve done through the years, how much stuff I still have. I refuse to take full responsibility. Many of the quilt shops I have entered bear a sign just inside the door. ‘Your husband called and said to buy whatever you want.’

Ideas come from so many sources, quilt magazines, the guild ladies, the projects and classes quilt shops offer is the problem. To make matters worse—fellow quilters are sooo encouraging. Never do they utter, “Don’t you think you have enough projects going on at home already?”

My turning point came by degrees. As I would sit in the guild meetings, I would realize all I am doing is keeping a seat warm once a month. All kinds of opportunities to become heavily involved were available, I just didn’t. Mostly, because of all the inspirational ideas rattling in head already. One person can only do so much you know.

Then this writing gig came forward in such a way I could hardly refuse—and I did try. It would seem my sewing machine broke down. But I really think it died of loneliness. Anyway, here I sit at the computer pecking away at keys telling stories of everyday events that might give my readers encouragement.

The quilt room is in a transitional season to be shared with an impressive bookcase. Complete with a library ladder. Be still my heart.

The answer to the above riddle is my task of weeding out, disposing, aka, getting rid of excess quilt baggage. Phase one began by throwing out tiny samples of fabric that my Aunt Jane must have saved for years. Any quilter worth her salt knows fabric of any size could be good for something. Wrong. These samples were all variety of fabrics, some dry clean only. Do not try to lay a guilt trip on me, they needed to go.

Usually, my rejects are so undesirable, no one else wants them either. If only my creative granddaughters were here to take some things off my hands! Surely they could find some useful project to make—I mean some of this could be used, right?

Patience 101

June 25, 2024June 22, 2024 Quilter2 Comments

Funny how a new lock on the door can bring a long past conversation to mind.

Me: “I can tell you how to get your fingerprints to disappear. All you have to do is…”

Table leader: “Ladies please, let’s get back to our subject matter!”

My table leader could have been rude to interrupt me—but maybe Bible study was not the best place to divulge that kind of information. I cannot even recall what brought that topic up. At any rate, now my table mates will never know.

The memory came popping up because of the new door lock we purchased. Like most everything in our home, this lock appears to have a mind of its own. Seriously.

The lock is the newest mental gadget against me. It accepts my code and fingerprint—until I try using said fingerprint to unlock the door. No can do.

The kitchen faucet suddenly needs a more competent hand than mine to turn off completely. The hose to the washing machine occasionally decides to leap out of its station and spill out leaving a souvenir puddle. Sometimes my blow dryer refuses to turn off when I push the on/off button. And my computer monitor will shut down at will. I could go on.

Have you noticed the recurring pattern? They are all things I use. My only comfort is that while the lock accepted my husband’s code and fingerprint at first. It now is rethinking the wisdom of letting him in the house too. Misery loves company.

The difference between Dave and I is he determines to master these inconveniences, refusing to allow the culprit-of-the-moment to win. My tendency is more in line with throwing the thing out the window. Anything that does not work as designed is trash to me.

It would be easy to think the world is against you. But these are everyday frustrations that happen to the best of us. Correction: The best of us may have in-house maids that do dishes and laundry. Maybe a daily hairdresser too. Since imagination is going off the deep end, perhaps the best of us have doormen to open and close doors for us as well.

I am an everyday person with none of the above. If you are too, take heart, these minor inconveniences is Jesus giving us opportunity to develop patience.

How are you doing? It’s okay, I understand.

A Story Gripper

June 11, 2024June 11, 2024 Quilter2 Comments

Have you ever read something, where the story line grips you and will not let go? This one keeps rewinding—playing over and again in my mind. It is worth sharing and may mean something to you too.

It is one that brings my friend Sally to mind—her life was a contrast to what I read. But more about her in a minute.

The story has two main characters, both men considered to be do-gooders. Cornell, a Roman soldier with high enough authority that he had men under his service. He was a praying man, sensitive to the needs of others—he routinely was a help and encouragement. But never imagined how the future was going to play out.

Having never met this Jesus, Cornell had a thirst to learn more about him. He heard the legendary stories—but wanted more. He had this dream-like vision that he should send his men to get Pete. Bring him back here and listen to what he says.

Pete was a follower of Jesus. Knowing him well enough to go around telling others the message he had for mankind. Pete too, had a dream-like vision. To do something that would have been taboo in the current society. Pete’s vision included a message from Jesus. Essentially saying, “Do it.”

Pete did—the end result was a miracle in the making. Cornell’s whole family made a personal decision, right then and there.

What I did not share with you was the full message Cornell got. Jesus told him he saw how Cornell lived his life, praying for others and selflessly giving to those in need. In certain circles, one could say his life was a blessing.

But about Sally. She knows Jesus too. Like Cornell, she has a sensitive heart. Only Sally does not live exactly like Cornell. She has a comfortable life—and prays, but not so much for others. Wondering why she doesn’t get the answers she would like. Discontent might be a good way to describe her life.

You can read the story yourself—it’s an eye-opener. Check out the Good Book, Acts chapter ten. There is good stuff to dig out of it—ya never know how it could play out in your own life..