The Alberta Quilt

This moment’s picture is brought to you by a moment that occurred last March.  At this moment, my computer that I use for my photography is sitting at Best Buy, spending time with the Geek Squad. 

At this moment, I am sitting in my dark livingroom.  There is a fire going in the wood pellet stove and I can see my pretty cat sitting on the porch railing in front of my big picture window.  He is gazing at me with longing on his face, “Please.  Please let me in.”  Beyond the cat, I see soft and gentle snow falling thickly from the sky. 

At this moment, I am sitting with my legs under, and my computer on top of, my beautiful flannel quilt that I finished, finally, last night at 9:15 pm.  I started this quilt over 20 years ago.  I cut the first squares of flannel when I was 12 years old and when I look at it I see memories.  I see the material my mom used to make me a beautiful twirly nightgown.  I see pieces that she used to make pajamas for my brother.  I see all the pieces she let me have from her scrap box.  I see pieces that I chose and purchased myself, from fabric stores in my home state.  I see myself, growing up, as I washed, ironed, cut, stitched and stitched….as a young teen, older teen, new bride, young mother.  A lot of time went into this blanket, it’s a quilt that is personally something that I love…the colors, the soft feel, the warmth, the memories.  My great Grandma, Alberta, helped me.  If it wasn’t for her, my sloppy first-cut squares would have never been cleaned up and made “square” so I could sew them.  She is also the one who taught me to sew a dark piece and then a light, so there was a pleasing look to the finished quilt.  I started sewing it at her machine, in her quiet house, in the corner.  She got me set up and then DID NOT HOVER…she did her own thing and let me be.  I think, maybe, that I am now wise enough to know the feeling she must have had in her heart, of happiness, to see her Great Granddaughter doing something that she also loved to do.  At this moment, I am thankful for family love. 

At this moment, the sky is white with snow and I can hear my baby girl starting to wake up.

In a few more moments, I will have let the cat in, and Sarah Joy will be snuggling with me in my arms, under the Alberta quilt.

“Making a Valentine Dress for Sarah”

Soulemama posts a {this moment} picture every Friday on her blog; just one picture without any words.  I thought I would join the fun.  Maybe you will, too?