Of Canadians and New Quilts

 Last week, some of my Canadian family flew into Phoenix for a visit. To this day, I can't understand why they willingly choose to fly into an inferno every summer, but I'm always excited to see them. My aunt Cindy, cousin Sharon, and her daughter Emma, made the long journey from Quebec, and the kids and I drove down to visit them for a few days.

Aunt Cindy is the closest person to my mom that I have left, and some of her mannerisms and sayings remind me of my mother so much that it's a comfort to just be around her. She came out to my dad's house to go through some of my mom's things, and she shared lots of stories and pictures of their growing-up years.

My family always comes bearing gifts, but this time they really outdid themselves. They brought us treats and gifts from Canada, including maple syrup made right in Quebec.

And then my Aunt Cindy surprised me with the MOST BEAUTIFUL quilt that she had been making me for the last two years.  I was stunned. 

Anyone who knows anything about quilts, knows that it takes a ton of time to design them, cut the fabric, and sew it all together. Plus, the one she made for me is hand quilted, and has a beautiful decorative edging on it. I know it took my aunt countless hours to hand-stitch it for me.

I love the way it looks on our log bed, and it's nice and heavy for those long, cold winters.

Now that I have a new quilt, I want to re-do the whole bedroom with new curtains, maybe a rustic oval rug for the floor, some pictures for the wall....

And while I'm at it, I'd like to buy the matching log dresser and night stands that we could never fit into our tiny old bedroom.  After almost 13 years of marriage, I think it's time to get rid of my husband's childhood dresser and the t.v. tray night stand and buy ourselves some real furniture.

 It looks very sparse, barren, and plain in our new bedroom at the moment.  It's like a blank canvas in need of a painter.

Do you see what a new quilt will do for you?  It's like a chain reaction that leads to wanting a whole new bedroom.


 Now, if I can just convince my husband that we need all of this....



Nell