tula tuesday::week 12

 block # 23 from tula pink's City Sampler, 

using scraps of fabric from this project.

 i took my inspiration for this block from the messiness

in the garden and under the bird feeders

as winter and spring continue to collide.

so many of the birds are coming back to our neck of the woods

and it's not yet time to trim up the ghosts of gardens past.

an homage to patience in vermont?

this morning every perch on both feeders were
occupied by sweet little goldfinches.
then the bluejays would swoop in and cause a ruckus.

next week the feeders will have to come down.
because...bears.

#rurallife

democracy in action...and some renewed hope

 On Thursday morning I got up early, got dressed "like a grown-up" and drove down the hill to the interstate and then on up to Montpelier.

 I spent the day at the Capitol building, "under the dome".  Commongood Vermont held a special all-day workshop in honor of Vermont Nonprofit Legislative Day, and it provided me with an opportunity to get some exposure to life in the public sector.

Vermont has a true "citizens legislature", filled with folks who are accessible to their constituents in a special way, due to the state's small size. We know our reps on a first name basis. One of them came to visit us three times when he was running for office. He wrote us a thank you note for chatting and mentioned the issues we spoke about in his follow up. Did I mention he was 21 at the time? He has taken a leave of absence from college to serve out his term.

Networking skills, grassroots organizing and collaboration were big topics in the workshop. We listened to panel discussions on all sorts of issues, including gun legislation, health care, and the budget. The Lieutenant  Governor spoke with our group, as did the  Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives. After the workshops, I sat in the House chamber and listened to debate over the budget.

I have a renewed respect for the democratic process, and I feel lucky to live in a small state where governance seems fairly transparent and collegial. I felt a glimmer of hope. But, whew, the day exhausted me!

And on Saturday afternoon I watched a bit of TV coverage of the marches around the country. Did you?

Those kids.
Their clarity.
Their fierceness.
Their passion.
Their dedication.

Their POWER.

And the way they are so inclusive...
Race, ethnicity, gender, political party, socio-economic situation, education...

They don't care about all that.

They care about safety.

(and how about Emma Gonzalez?
I hope she runs for office.
That woman is amazing.
A-MA-ZING.)

A group of our local high school students boarded Amtrak's Vermonter on Friday and went down to DC to join the march. They will be making a documentary as part of their experience, and sharing it with our community. Hear an interview on VPR about these kids here.

Last night I bundled up and took a chair out onto the deck and watched the sun set with a new kind of hope in my heart. 

Do you feel it too?

The youth.

At long last...

leadership with integrity.

tula tuesday::week 11 and an extra, just for fun.

happy first day of spring 

to all the folks who live in the northern hemisphere!

many of us are crafting our own version of spring,

because it certainly isn't happening outdoors.

here's block #53 from tula pink's City Sampler,

a push-me-pull-you combination of a springy Liberty of London floral

and some snowflakes,

and a daffodil yellow mini print.

we've had a bitter cold and snowy spell up here on the ridge.

the wind was roaring on saturday

and left some gorgeous patterns in the snow.

a few weekends ago when batman was pruning the apple trees

he cut a few stems from the lilac tree

and we plunked them in a vase filled with water.

they have sprouted tiny blossom buds.

i doubt they will bloom, but they sure are sweet

reminders that spring will come eventually.

i snapped this photo of wilma and could not resist 

stitching a tula block in her honor,

just for fun.

block # 79.

xo.

tula tuesday::week 10

from tula pink's City Sampler, block #21.

(using a smidge of Charlie Harper fabric).

we are in the midst of yet another march snowstorm

and i was inspired 

by a walk i took with a mug of tea

in the flurries.

xo

tula thursday::week 9

 (sorry for the delay. life got in the way of tuesday's usual posting).

from tula pink's City Sampler, block #79.

(using a precious birdie scrap from Ink and Spindle and some 

of the brushstroke print from Umbrella Prints).

inspired by birds out at the feeders, in a frenzy

due to an impressive march snowstorm, still raging outside.

p. s. i finally got my car back yesterday,

after 9 1/2 weeks at the spa.

this is what she looked like on new year's eve afternoon...

now she looks fabulous once again.

i really missed her.

xo 

who cooks for you?

Batman is an eternal optimist and an amateur astronomer.

He believes that spring begins on march first.

xo

Yesterday, after researching who does business with the NRA,

I had to unwind my mind and heart with a tromp 

along the boundaries here at a bit of earth.

The vernal streams were filled with snowmelt

and gurgled over and under the stone walls.

Music.

The sun hangs longer in the sky in the late afternoon

and fills the living room with the softest light.

We got home in the dark last night to hear a barred owl

hooting in the trees by the driveway.

(Who cooks for you?)

Batman saw his outline in the moonlight,

then he flew away on silent wings.