Today's the birthday of my eldest sister Joan, long gone now, so how to remember her organizational abilities, her talents? She could turn her hand to cooking for a crowd, or carving miniatures, or stitching, or running an office.
Another sister, after I'd shown Joan about miniatures, commented later "You have no idea what you unleashed!" Within a year of starting to learn, she was carving miniature furniture from scratch and running a miniature exhibit in a big city. She had drive.
Here's a small quilt she made for me in one of her textiles-as-art periods. It sits on the child's rocker for the bears.
Her lifelong mantra was "There's always another way!"
And just this week a friend in embroidery, from the Guild, died at 97. Florence was a force of nature, about 90 when I took these pictures at Guild meetings for the blog I developed and wrote for five years, at
https://princetonega.blogspot.com
Meanwhile back on earth, it's looking as if Thanksgiving chez Boud will be on Monday, to fit with Handsome Son's likely day off. We'll know tomorrow..
Just as well the cleaners were already scheduled to be here today and I had planned on a bit of grocery shopping for the holiday anyway today. We'll do it!
That means Thursday will be quiet and the dining table will be available for a jigsaw puzzle again. This one was great
It's now back in the library collection, where I'm sitting now while the cleaners are busy making the house habitable.
Happy day everyone, celebrate the great people in our lives, especially Katie Porter, another force of nature, single mother, as of last night newly reelected member of Congress from California who has gone up against a lot of corporate interests and won.
Her legislative track record is stellar, and a lot of money went into an unsuccessful attempt to defeat her re-election. When she whips out her whiteboard to illustrate her points, grilling powerful men in congressional hearings, strong men tremble. They're learning they'd better be prepared for her questions, or they'll be toast.
Enjoy today! We're all forces of nature one way or another.
Your beautiful friend looks like a force of nature, strong and confident in the photos. Your sister was a women ahead of her time. I think you come from a family of strong women.
ReplyDeleteI have my turkey ordered, sausage for the dressing bought. It will be two for dinner here, as well.
At the grocery store today I noticed a lot of seemingly rusty drivers and very slow moving old ladies reading every label on every turkey! I think it's when grandma gets out the car keys, first time in ages, and goes to shop because nobody can choose a turkey better than she can! It was sweet, if a bit slow going, but I wasn't in a hurry.
DeleteI've been privileged to know so many women with drive who are, as you say, forces of nature. More power to them!
ReplyDeleteI think you probably attract them into your orbit. And being a lawyer doesn't hurt.
DeleteAs more women claim their power do follow their bliss im convinced it will bring forth a calmer world. Enjoy your thanksgiving. We don’t have a thanksgiving holiday in Australia but I try to be thankful everyday
ReplyDeleteYes, you don't need special arrangements to be thankful. More women claiming their power can only be good, as far as I can see. Just to right the balance of gender power will take so long.
DeleteWhat a talented woman your sister was! And with a will and determination like yours.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a beautiful woman Florence was. Wow. Just...wow.
My family is, as we speak, all texting about times and what to bring for Thanksgiving. The pressure is building! I guess I shouldn't say it like that, should I?
With two people it holds down the permutations. Son: I'll bring cheeses, breadsticks, drinks, pie. Mom: I'll cook dinner! Done.
DeleteYou and your sister and your friend are/were all very talented.
ReplyDeleteOn their behalf, thank you.
DeleteBeautiful quilt, lovely things to look at
ReplyDeleteTalented women both
Happy Thanksgiving
It's nice to see what they created out of their own ideas, to give away.
DeleteA day to celebrate wonderful women indeed!
ReplyDeleteWe've all got some in our lives, and usually women aren't encouraged to toot their own flute, so we get to do it for them. Blogwriters, they don't have to die before we celebrate them, maybe you'd like to write about a couple yourself?
DeleteYour sister had drive but she also had patience to work all those miniatures. I hope your political scene settles into something more tolerable soon.
ReplyDeleteTrue about Joan. And about the political scene: we're working on it!
DeleteTalent was abundant in your family, and you were fortunate in your friends, too. Those bags are lovely. Thanks for your comment today.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Embroiderers Guild has some wonderful stitchers.
ReplyDeletePowerful women make men tremble. No wonder they instituted the patriarchy. But we women are done with that. I love that little quilt your sister made.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness but your friend certainly doesn't look as though she was in her 90's. You've written a lovely tribute to both her and to your sister. I, of course, knew about Joan but didn't realize she was an artist too (and why should I be surprised?)
ReplyDelete