Thank you to all of you who offered such comforting words of sympathy for the loss of my father. It was so sweet to read your kind comments. While his passing was not unexpected at his age, it still leaves a great hole in our family. It also leaves a great hole in how I spend my time each weekend. I am so used to leaving home on Fridays to keep him company and care for him through Sunday. It was so difficult this past weekend not to be with him. Besides missing our conversations, I found myself checking the time often and thinking of what we would be doing at a certain point in the day. It will be a big adjustment not to have him around.
I did keep myself busy this past weekend and found getting deep into the project of sorting out my neglected sewing room was a good distraction. I sorted out piles of leftover fabrics and did a major tidying of the closet. I will share all that with you in another post this week. I should have taken a "before" picture. It was a mess.
My quilter returned four quilts to me a week or so ago and I can't wait to share the finishes with you. She's had these for a long time due to her family making a move from South Carolina to Florida. So my quilts have had quite a journey. They even got to go through Hurricane Ian, but fortunately were not affected. Can you imagine? You send your precious quilts out for quilting and your quilter has to inform you "Sorry, my house was destroyed by a hurricane and your quilts too." Luckily that didn't happen.
That is my Sewcialites quilt in the top photo, and this is a close-up of the quilting design we chose. Actually, my quilter suggested it, and since she probably knows better than I do, I went with it. I like it. In particular, I like how the quilting thread does not stand out too much. It's tricky when you have a light background with black fabrics in the quilt top.
I hope your week gets off to a good start. Wish me luck as I adjust to my new "normal".
Hmm it's not letting me post... Nicole just one step after another while you are "adjusting". And share memories any time you like. We will be there.
Posted by: sue s | October 17, 2022 at 05:42 AM
I’m so sorry for your loss. May I ask the serendipity quilt, is there a pattern? It is quite striking.
Posted by: Mary | October 17, 2022 at 06:06 AM
I felt so numb for a long time after my father died in 2018. And we weren't as close as you were with your dad - my dad lived about as far away in the states as he could be. Anyway, give yourself grace, it will take time to adjust. Organizing the quilt room is always a great distraction. Love your Socialites quilt, the thread color and quiling design are perfect. Hang in there, Nicole.
Posted by: Lisa D. | October 17, 2022 at 07:25 AM
Losing your dad will take some time for adjustment. You were so fortunate to have him in your life for such a long time. Be kind to yourself & don't rush the 'new normal'--it will come slowly, but it will arrive. Meanwhile, your quilt is lovely! And what a story it could tell with all the moving & excitement you probably never dreamed it would experience!
Posted by: Jan | October 17, 2022 at 08:16 AM
Thinking of you. One day at a time and be kind and patient with yourself.
Mary
Posted by: Mary Kastner | October 17, 2022 at 08:18 AM
Your Sewcialites quilt has such a beautiful setting, a stunner with all the changes I enjoyed you blogging about. My father passed away at 101 on Mother’s Day in May. As an only child I had the honor to care for him and support him so that he was able to stay in his independent living apartment until about 6 weeks before he died. The memories of our time together during these last years are extra special, so worth the decreased time for things like quilting.
Posted by: Carolyn McIntosh | October 17, 2022 at 10:58 AM
distractions are always helpful and welcome. the quilt really is beautiful and it now has a story....it survived Ian.
xo
Posted by: Ina | October 17, 2022 at 12:12 PM
It takes time to adjust and grieve a loved one’s death. When my mom was alive, I spent Saturdays with her. My daughter and I would drive the 70 miles to her place and spend the day with her. After she died we had to adjust to the new normal of not seeing her every Saturday. It’s been 7 years and there are so many times that I want to call her and tell her something and then reality hits. I have 6 siblings and we each took a day to spend with her the last 6 months of her life. I treasure the time I spent with her. She was almost 86 when she died and I wasn’t ready for her to go.
Posted by: Dianne | October 17, 2022 at 07:44 PM
I hit the wrong number. My mom was almost 96 when she died.
Posted by: Dianne | October 17, 2022 at 07:47 PM