Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Music under the Stars Outdoor concerts played by expert bands provide some of summer’s nicest pleasures. As we listened to the Air Force band playing a concert in honor of the 75 years of that military branch, a cargo ship veered a little closer to the shore to hear

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Reading Aloud The children had been running, jumping, and making lots of joyful, childish noise all day long. They needed to quiet down for bedtime. Reading a story aloud worked wonders. Most parents recognize the benefits of reading aloud. We know that our libraries and stores are full of

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Simple Fun Finding an activity which intrigues children of a wide range of ages is a challenge. An understanding mama found a delightful activity that pleased children from age four all the way to age eleven. All the children were entertained by simple, colorful paper streamers attached to plastic

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement A Red Moon I’ve heard the expression “once in a blue moon”, but I hadn’t heard about a red moon. To my delight this week, I watched one take place in front of my eyes. We had the privilege of seeing a total moon eclipse in our southeastern sky.

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Virginia Highland Dancers Attractive costumes, amazing strength and stamina produced a lovely dance performance accompanying stirring Highland music. The audience responded with broad smiles and spontaneous clapping. The delightful performance raised our spirits. Both discipline and persistence were required to step, jump, and pivot in perfect formation. The audience

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Amazing bands Instrumental bands bring delight. Military musical bands inspire and leave us tapping our feet. We love to see the coordination and skill of a large group of musicians marching in step at the same time they play music in perfect unison. At the 2022 Tattoo* concert, bands

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Nature’s Example What fun to watch the giraffe family at our nearby zoo. The family is complete with Mamma, Daddy, a teenager, and a new youngster. There’s something stately about the way those tall, beautiful creatures walk or use their very long legs to lope over distances in elegant

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Resurrection Look what happened to this leaning, tangled tree I posted two weeks ago. It still leans, but tiny buds burst into leaves bringing evidence it is alive. The tree appears more attractive now that leaves conceal the tangled branches. Although it still leans, the tree offers welcome shade

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Easter What images does this word Easter bring to mind?  Bunnies, colorful dyed eggs, baskets full of artificial grass and chocolate candies? Or do you think of pictures of a man being beaten bloody, long heavy nails driven into His hands, and a crown of long sharp thrones jammed

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Bent and Tangled The tree looked dead. A passerby wouldn’t find it attractive. Its trunk leaned to the side. Its bare branches stabbed the air at odd angles to each other. A couple of taller branches looked stunted from some injury. Further away in the parking lot, other trees