It's Only a Paper Moon

I discovered a wonderful set of vintage photos on Flickr --> Only a Paper Moon. Check out the clothes, the hair, the hats, the expressions--both on the people and the moons. I loved them.

Flag Day

Yesterday was Flag Day and I planned to mark the day by starting work on my interpretation of this element of an antique quilt that has captured the imagination of the hand piecers on about.com

The original photo comes from the book, The American Quilt A History of Cloth and Comfort 1750-1950, by Roderick Kiracofe and Mary Elizabeth Johnson.

But ... it was a perfect spring evening here last night and I had dinner outside on the deck and lingered too long, enjoying the cool air, the meal, my glass of wine ... and catching up on blog-reading on my wireless laptop.

Flag MONTH continues through July 14 and, by executive order, the Governor urges Michigan residents to observe Flag Day and Flag Month by flying the U.S. flag from their homes and other suitable places to honor America and celebrate our national heritage. Do you think I might observe and honor by having my own flag pieced by then?

Seen the USA?

"Red states" are going to mean something entirely different in a few months, but for the moment, look where I've been:



How about you? Create your own personalized map of the USA (There's also a world map, a Canadian Provinces map, a European countries map ... )

Life Imitates Art

This morning, I left the house in such a rush–I was late and I was distracted, already creating a mental checklist of everything I wanted to do before I ran to a meeting starting almost as soon as I would arrive at the office ... Once I was out the door, the sight of my Clematis vine in bloom briefly brought me back to the present.

I planted it less than a year ago when I moved into this place (I'm the Johhny Appleseed of tumbleweed renters and plant flowers wherever I go). It didn't seem very happy last year. I wasn't sure I'd see it again. I wondered if I'd made a bad choice for this zone and the location next to the porch. When it started to come alive in Spring, the resident expert gardener told me there was no way it would bloom for a few years.

In spite of all that, this morning, when I walked out the door, I was greeted by a half-dozen deep purple blooms and lots of buds holding out the promise of more. I think this little-plant-that-could deserves a trellis this year ;-)

I came home for lunch today–to grab something I had left behind in my earlier, distracted rush–and took a minute to take these photos. While I enjoyed some sunshine, before heading back to the office (and another meeting), I remembered a quilt block I'd made for a friend several years ago, long before I'd even thought of moving to this area, that bears an uncanny resemblance to the blooms in my yard .



Isn't it interesting how we're drawn to the same shapes and design elements over and over again?

Crazy Aunt Purl Explains It All

Lately I've been thinking about how how best to share my life's journey over the past month ... when I have been woefully absent from the page and disconnected from friends. After reading Crazy Aunt Purl's astrological forcast for June, I think it might be easier to blame it on the stars.

About scorpios, she says, in part:

I heard it through the Pissed-Off-At-Astrology Grapevine that Scorpios were really unhappy with the way most of last month went.

That would be an understatment. But it does feel as I've come through it and my life now has some of the qualities of a fresh start--or as Aunt Purl notes:

The best thing about you and June is your real willingness to try new things to revitalize your life. It's rare that ya'll don't dissect through the consequences or results of all your actions, and this month you will feel liberated and (mostly) care-free, willing to travel to a new place, meet new people, all of it with a who-knows-what-could-happen attitude.

If you're a knitter--or even if you're not--check out Crazy Aunt Purl ... she's a very entertaining writer and wise astrologer ;-)