Flying Firsts

You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust.
You were born with ideas and dreams.
You were born with greatness.
You were born with wings.
You were not meant for crawling, so don't.
You have wings.
Learn to use them and fly.

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, Persian Sufi mystic (1207-1273)

On Thursday, the Museum celebrated its first anniversary with a spectacular gala featuring the Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma. The atrium radiated glamour and cheer. The staff joined in to celebrate an intense and satisfying year full of amazing firsts. We are truly flying.


And I received news that little Catherine opened her birthday present. Here are the finished quilted blocks. I am told that they not only amuse her for play but also provide a soft landing for spills as she learns to walk.

I am in awe watching her make 'firsts' and at a rapid pace. She has an amazing future ahead of her. I wish her a flying spirit.

A Little Spark

A little spark of kindness can put a colossal burst of sunshine into someone's day.

Unknown

It's a busy time around the office as we celebrate our first birthday. My role is behind the scenes organizing multiple management meetings, with which I can get just a little tense worrying about the details. The last meeting of the day was underway and I needed to take in some sweets to accompany the coffee. Trying to be unnoticeable and not interrupt the conversation, I slid the tray onto the table. The gentleman in the centre jumped up thanking me, shaking my hand and kissing my cheeks. I had been kissed by Yo-Yo Ma! We spoke for probably a whole minute and I couldn't tell you what was said except that I was honoured to meet him and that he was thrilled to be at the Museum. He put a colossal burst of sunshine into my day. A colleague reports that he's that wonderfully friendly and real with everyone, so I suspect that he spreads a lot of joy wherever he goes -- through his music and his kindness.

And, no, I have yet to wash my face. :-)

Child's Play

We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.

Author unknown

The newest quilting project is a gift for an upcoming first birthday: soft building blocks. I am having much fun with all the bright, cheery fabric, some selected for the pleasure of their soft plush feel. My inner child is enjoying playing with them as much as I hope little Catherine will.

And of course I have a little helper who also wants to play!

Revisiting the Past

You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.

Jane Austen, English novelist (1775-1817) in Pride and Prejudice

 

A friend from university days and I challenged our memories and enjoyed a grand time re-visiting a number of our former loves at the Pompeii exhibition now showing at the Royal Ontario Museum. I won't say how long ago we wandered the ancient streets of Pompeii with our professor and I can't say that our memories are crystal clear, but I will say that we laughed and had a good time then -- as now. We couldn't let pass the opportunity to have a little dress-up fun!

The exhibition has a pretty impressive selection of artifacts. Memories of my beloved Egypt were  stirred with the charming little vignette of an ibis perched on the back of a stone sphinx in a Pompeiian fresco painting. The presence of the palm tree transported me back to the lovely shaded sculpture garden of the museum at Memphis.

I subscribe to Jane Austen's philosophy: I'm so very thankful for the warmth that such memories bring to my soul. And to making more good memories, such as a day spent with a friend!

Celebrating Backwards and Forwards

With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) in The Merchant of Venice

I am blessed for all the mirth and laughter around the table this evening celebrating my birthday with family. Do birthdays celebrate the year past or the year ahead? I've thought of it as the latter but with this birthday I feel like I am celebrating both faces of Janus. The previous 365 days have had their ups and downs and yet I can raise a toast and bid adieu with a smile. I also toast whatever lies ahead in the next 365 days with a promise to myself to manage (and maybe learn from) the bad and to revel in the good with exuberance.

I decided to celebrate throughout the day. Taking a vacation day from work meant that I could sleep in (after getting up to feed Cat her breakfast at the appointed hour of 5am, without which there would be no further rest). I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast coffee before (gasp) taking Stealth out for her first road trip of the year to the bayfront where I could sit under a tree, sip a coffee, breath in the soft watery air and listen to the quiet dives of cormorants fishing for their lunch. Heavenly. Then I followed Cat's example and luxuriated in an afternoon nap before getting ready for dinner. It was a wonderful celebration.

So Salute! to the past year and Cheers! to that which lies ahead.

Let the Fun Begin (OK, Continue)

Stop acting so small.
You are the universe in ecstatic motion.

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, Persian Sufi mystic (1207-1273)

I opened the mailbox and found a touching birthday card cheering me on for a year of striving for the exciting, catching opportunities to do the special, dancing with each new day, looking positively to the future, and making a difference in the world.

The card suggested that I already do all this, yet I haven't felt that I've been such a bright light bulb in the work-a-day world recently. My splendidly stripped friend here is my new mascot, prominently displayed on my cellphone, to remind me to fill my world with colour.

And I'm already smiling!

Pioneer Spirit

Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.

Winston Churchill, British author and politician (1874-1965)

Sunglasses? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Wallets? Check. Road trip! On what turned out to be the hottest day of the summer, Mom and I headed for Black Creek Pioneer Village and the annual "Quilts at the Creek" art exhibition -- making a detour along the way to check out a recommended quilt shop in the countryside of Halton Hills. Navigational challenges licked, we enjoyed a great outing.

I haven't been to the village since I was a child and so I was seeing it with new, old eyes. Pinned throughout the village, the quilts honoured tradition while bringing out their own pioneering spirit.

The 1858 town hall, traditionally used for the circuit judge proceedings, town council meetings, concerts and other community gatherings made a perfect setting for 'trunk shows' in which a quilter presents their quilting journey illustrated with their numerous creations pulled out like magic from suitcases. Lots of oohs and aahs and inspiration shared. Robert Gutcher's use of machine embroidery amazed all.

This exhibitions has been marked in my calendar since the cold, snowy days of February or March when I spotted an advance announcement. The sun and warmth of July and the show were things to look forward to and I wasn't disappointed. Over 200 colourful and unique quilts lined the streets and yards of the historic buildings. We came away with some ideas as well as some fabric to add to the stash. ;-) I'm already looking forward to next year!