Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement   Underground     We had to admit it was a good use of limited space. The apartment buildings, built long ago along the Brooklyn streets. were three stories high in the densely populated area. Each apartment was narrow in order to cram in yet more people. The basement

Mary’s Monday Musing to Quilt Encouragement   Delightful In-Laws   Hugs all around, joyful faces, plenty of smiles and laughter warm our hearts when we get together with in-laws. Our times are marked by good will, sincere interest and caring. For some that might seem to be an unattainable utopia, a fantasy, or a paradise

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement A Privilege What fun to celebrate a person’s birthday! Birthdays are one thing everybody has in common. We all have them. Whenever we have the opportunity to gather around someone and observe their birthday together, we can count it a privilege and go to whatever lengths possible to attend

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement   Stupendous   Along with the rows of people sitting in front of me at a symphony concert, I shook my head in wonder at the accomplishments of the featured violinist. Her instrument filled the concert hall with resounding tones, pumping our emotions as her bow stroked her violin.

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement   Dust Settles     When I was little, my grandmother often used the expression, “When the dust settles, I’ll——–” fill in the blanks. The expression meant that when whatever was stirring the air enough to cause the dust to float suspended in the air stopped and the dust

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement   Clouds   “It’s an old grey day.” A dear friend often commented whenever we had a string of cloudy, somewhat dismal winter days. The effect of days on end without sunshine has even earned a name in recent psychological writings. It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD. One cure

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement   Cheerful Red     One of our Christmas presents is still spreading its red cheer in our home. The gift of a living poinsettia spreads it’s uplifting red long after other decorations are taken down and packed away. What a beautiful flower God created to bloom at the

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Routine   Holidays are fun. We look forward to them and enjoy the change of pace they can bring to our lives.  I’m always amazed to discover that as delightful as it is to celebrate a holiday, the return to routine is also a blessing. Babies and small children

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement A Fresh Start   We tell children that moving to a new school or a change of teachers is an opportunity to make a fresh start. Adults recognize a change of jobs or a move in a new direction sometimes offers the same chance. Any time we make a

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement The Best Gift   As a child, my Christmas excitement centered around what I would find under the tree on Christmas morning. Several years a wonderful doll greeted me, and one remarkable year a puppy, wildly wagging his tail, greeted me Christmas morning. But my parents always provided opportunities