A House by the Side of the Road...

I took a little diversion from quilting today

and decide to make a pillow from a vintage sampler. I think the embroidery was done in the 1940s or 1950s. If it was in the 40s perhaps it was done by my grandmother...but it could have been done by my aunt. The margin of the sampler indicates it was a Vogue Sampler Pattern...couldn't read the number...but it says it is on 100% pure linen. The sampler is about 8x12 inches and says: Let me live in the house by the side of the road and be a friend to man in cross stitch embroidery. It fits just perfectly on this child's rocker that was given to me by a special friend who used it for her children who now live far away.

I searched out the saying and found that it was a poem written by Sam Walter Foss in 1897. It is in the public domain according to my research so I thought I might include it....what a message!

The House By the Side of the Road

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,

Where the race of men go by -

The men who are good and the men who are bad,

As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat,

Or hurl the cynic's ban;

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road,

By the side of the highway of life,

The men who press with the ardor of hope,

The men who are faint with the strife.

But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears -

Both parts of an infinite plan;

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead

And mountains of wearisome height;

And the road passes on through the long afternoon

And stretches away to the night.

But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice,

And weep with the strangers that moan,

Nor live in my house by the side of the road

Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

Where the race of men go by -

They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,

Wise, foolish - so am I.

Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat

Or hurl the cynic's ban?

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

been busy

I know it's been quite a while since I sat down to post or even visit the blogs I follow. I tried to get caught up today...and was so impressed with what everyone has been doing. I didn't take much time to comment but sure enjoyed the visits.




So here is what I've been up to...I was away for a couple of days then had my son and grandson visit for a day. It was wonderful to have them and even PopPop had fun! They love to play trains...note the Thomas shirt. Wish we had stock in that company.

I worked quite a few days and then we spent a couple of days visiting landscape companies to get estimates on a patio we'd like to put in the back yard....there are so many decisions. I so love flowers and being outdoors.

I haven't done much quilting because I broke my glasses and had to have them replaced. As a result, I had to wear ones with an old prescription and they didn't work very well for close-up work.

We got our taxes done....ouch!

Hubby is in the next theater production of the Second Street Players (Milford, DE) titled Jake's Women. He plays Jake. He has been involved in community theater for years first in PA with the Winding River Players where he did everything from board member to tickets to tech to lead roles. He joined the Second Street Players shortly after we moved to DE. He's been in three shows here but this next role is his biggest. We spent one day working on the set for the upcoming production.

Soooo ..that is the Reader's Digest version of my life lately!

Thanks to all who sent messages about my friend. She is holding her own.

A dear friend

I ususally try to be upbeat on my blog but I am struggling with news about a dear friend. I was her maid of honor and she was my matron of honor and we have stayed close since the 1960s even though we live far apart. She has gone through several clinical trials for her cancer and the doctors say there really isn't much more they can do. I just ask that you think about her and her family and if you are so inclined, include her in your prayers. This is a picture of us a couple of years ago when we were able to get together at a Delta Phi Epsilon sorority convention held in Philadelphia, PA. She is at one end of the bench and I am at the other. We laughed that our conversations just seemed to take up where we left off the last time we got together...she said in her last letter that she is glad we are sorority sisters. We planned to get together last summer but things didn't click. Now I wish we could have.

BRRR

We are in the midst of a rare Delaware snow storm....

My morning did start out well...I have two pair of jeans that are almost alike except that they are two different sizes...I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I actually put on the smaller pair and they fit. I didn't realize it until I went to put laundry away and found the bigger jeans in the basket!!! We have been watching our weight this winter since my hubby found out he had high blood pressure (that is a whole other story) and he needed to drop a little weight so we decided to do it together...I needed to lose some too so this was motivation for me.
We also spent some time planning a trip we are going to take in June to Ohio...there is a national quilt show in Columbus and since my brother lives there it seemed like a fun trip. We are planning to do some stops in Maryland so it will be a nice road trip. Hey, have to think of something other than snow.

Speaking of quilts. I do have a few more photos of the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show. The first one is just one that I liked - I'm not sure it won anything but the second one was a blue ribbon winner. It was a whole cloth quilt with some intricate cut work.

Here are Sherry and Kaye waiting patiently to eat on the way home and Linda and Pat enjoying the bus ride. Pat's picture was taken just after she won the fat quarter raffle we held on the bus...no wonder she is smiling!!

Some others have posted about their big purchases at the quilt show. I was really restrained because I made a resolution to use fabric from my stash this year...and I have been really trying to get those shelves empty but the fabric is like rabbits...it keeps multiplying. I did purchase some bobbins for my machine and a panel of quilt labels....somehow though a yard of pretty white and yellow fabric just hopped into my bag....hmmm....

Well off to fix dinner and then do some more quilting. ...what a wonderful day to be inside.