jump cut arts

Wednesday: Fortune Cookie Roulette #11

Chill while you can, big project is coming your way.

Spring is a big project, isn't it?  Raking the yard, mowing the lawn, shopping the nursery, transplanting, fertilizing, unpotting, planting, transplanting (again), hauling, heaping . . . general sprucing.

We had a beautiful weekend and now the rain is here.  Robin mom is still sitting tight on her nest, no little ones yet.  We've been sleeping with the windows open and around 4:30 in the morning it gets pretty loud around here.  You would think there was some big news in the bird community, but no.  It's just their morning routine. 

There is so much I want to do:  I have three quilt tops in construction, one I want to baste, two others awaiting labels and one small piece I started quilting.  I'll be honest with you:  I don't really like that piece.  I'm not that far into it that I couldn't snip the stitches, salvage the batting and keep the backing, and for the first time in 20+ quilting years, toss the top.  I've never done that before.  But once I do, I guarrantee you that those three tops and two labels will get done in no time, leaving me free to baste the third and begin the quilting process that I so dearly love.  What's holding me back?

Hmm.  I guess I just chilled and found my big project.

"Just remain in the center, watching. 
And then forget that you are there."
- Lao-Tzu

 

Friday: Moving Pictures - Mother's Day

MOTHERHOOD HAS BEEN QUITE THE TOPIC OF DEBATE LATELY.  I'm not going to get into it here. I'm going to send you some flowers instead and a list of movies to lighten the mood.  I suggest you leave the tearjerkers for another day.  Get some popcorn, good quality chocolate,  a decent glass of red wine and watch these movies about some very special moms:

Aliens - well-armed mom

Terminator -  very well-armed mom

Mrs. Robinson - boundary issues mom

Mildred Pierce - martyr mom

Jaws 3 - toothy mom 

Mommie Dearest - super scary mom

Titanic - super ambitious mom

Psycho - well-preserved mom

But if you really want to watch the ultimate mom movie, I suggest Mrs. Miniver, the original 1942 version starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon.  Many people have criticized this movie for its unrealistic portrait of motherhood - as if motherhood is bound to any one description.  I like the idea of drinking tea, clipping roses, wearing sensible shoes and confronting the enemy, all while keeping the children calm during air-raids.  That's who I want to be:  cool under pressure mom!     

Speaking of which, I think I'm going to become a grandmother of sorts this week.  Outside our porch, in a clematis tangle, a robin has built her nest.  I check on her several times a day which I'm sure is absolutely no help to her.  I'm pretty impressed with her nesting skills, but with all of the rain and the high winds we've had, I can't help but worry.  I can see her from inside my porch and my driveway.  Look at the center and you will see her beak:

We had some serious wind this afternoon, and I just stood there watching as she stayed in her nest, flowing along with the wind.  She didn't leave or flutter, she just rode it out - that's cool under pressure . . . 

Take care,

Byrd