Happy 4th of July
Can you believe 2019 is half over? All you have to do is take one step outside to know it’s summertime in Phoenix and that means it’s HOT! Not exactly snuggle-under-a-quilt weather, but on the other hand it’s GREAT weather to stay inside and MAKE a quilt. Turn down the AC, turn on the ceiling fan, pour a tall glass of lemonade, turn on some music, and let your mind focus on making something awesome. Sounds perfect to me.
And July is the time to celebrate our freedoms. Though one could argue that our country and its leaders seem to be in a bit of turmoil these days, we can still count our blessings here in America. We can happily celebrate the freedom to live where we want, worship where we choose, marry who we love, come and go as we please, take a walk and feel safe, buy just about anything we need (or want), etc. etc.
I volunteer at a hospital once a week with a 19-year-old young lady who came here from Iraq a few years ago. She wears a hijab and long sleeves and long pants or skirt, and admits she gets some stares now and then, but she’s not bothered at all by that. She has totally embraced the freedoms our country offers. I asked her to name 3 things she likes most about the United States. First, “it’s not as dusty.” (That one surprised me.) Second, she feels safe. Third, people are very friendly and nice. (That actually surprised me a little too.) She appreciates smiles and random hellos wherever she goes, which is a new and welcome phenomena for her. In her country people don’t talk to strangers very much because they don’t know who they can trust. It made me happy to know she feels welcome here.
But I digress. This is supposed to be about quilting. My suggestion for July is to pull out some red, white and blue fabric. Make something with a patriotic flair to it. And then figure out who in your life could use a little gift. Maybe it’s a stranger serving in the military, maybe it’s the veteran who lives next door, maybe it’s your kids or grandkids who need to be reminded how lucky they are. Or maybe it’s the new immigrant who had to leave a world of instability and is now starting over with a new language, new customs, new food, but most of all, new freedoms.
I’m not much into fireworks anymore, but I know I’ll hear some on the 4th (along with barking dogs), and as I eat my hot dog I hope to stop and reflect on my freedoms. And then when it’s a hot, hot day on the 5th, I hope to sit at my sewing machine and make a red, white and blue something.
Happy Quilting!
Kathy Neary, president
And July is the time to celebrate our freedoms. Though one could argue that our country and its leaders seem to be in a bit of turmoil these days, we can still count our blessings here in America. We can happily celebrate the freedom to live where we want, worship where we choose, marry who we love, come and go as we please, take a walk and feel safe, buy just about anything we need (or want), etc. etc.
I volunteer at a hospital once a week with a 19-year-old young lady who came here from Iraq a few years ago. She wears a hijab and long sleeves and long pants or skirt, and admits she gets some stares now and then, but she’s not bothered at all by that. She has totally embraced the freedoms our country offers. I asked her to name 3 things she likes most about the United States. First, “it’s not as dusty.” (That one surprised me.) Second, she feels safe. Third, people are very friendly and nice. (That actually surprised me a little too.) She appreciates smiles and random hellos wherever she goes, which is a new and welcome phenomena for her. In her country people don’t talk to strangers very much because they don’t know who they can trust. It made me happy to know she feels welcome here.
But I digress. This is supposed to be about quilting. My suggestion for July is to pull out some red, white and blue fabric. Make something with a patriotic flair to it. And then figure out who in your life could use a little gift. Maybe it’s a stranger serving in the military, maybe it’s the veteran who lives next door, maybe it’s your kids or grandkids who need to be reminded how lucky they are. Or maybe it’s the new immigrant who had to leave a world of instability and is now starting over with a new language, new customs, new food, but most of all, new freedoms.
I’m not much into fireworks anymore, but I know I’ll hear some on the 4th (along with barking dogs), and as I eat my hot dog I hope to stop and reflect on my freedoms. And then when it’s a hot, hot day on the 5th, I hope to sit at my sewing machine and make a red, white and blue something.
Happy Quilting!
Kathy Neary, president
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