"It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both." --E.B. White, the last line of Charlotte's Web.
I think from the first time we read Charlotte's Web, we think about it as a story of friendship. But given this last line, would it pay off to start from the beginning and think about it, too, as a story about the power of storytelling to make things happen?
The community came to view Wilbur the way they did through the words Charlotte chose to describe him.
Did Charlotte, by granting Wilbur the self-confidence that someone believed in him, and giving him a goal to strive towards, also actually turn him into someone who could accurately be described in the words she wrote?
Does calling someone's attention to a quality they possess - nascent though it may be - inspire them to cultivate it?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Acrostic
When people make a donation to the surgical fund at our vet clinic, they are given the opportunity to make a dedication on a 3" x 1" plaque. There is a corner of the vet clinic set aside these plaques. It is very affecting to read the dedications and think about how much love is behind those words.
As I had mentioned to some of you before, I was pretty blocked on what to write. How do you sum up anyone in just a few words? Ultimately, I decided that if I gave myself a framework in which to work, it might come together a little easier.
I chose the acrostic form, and came up with a draft. I asked DH for suggestions, telling him a few ideas I thought we might want to include. He suggested that we substitute "noble" for my original "nimble." Here is the final result:
Funny, impish, nosy, noble,
eloquent, gorgeous, adored.
Never-forgotten.
Finnegan (1992-2008)
Eisa goes in to see the vet at the end of this coming week, so we'll take the paperwork in at that point.
As I had mentioned to some of you before, I was pretty blocked on what to write. How do you sum up anyone in just a few words? Ultimately, I decided that if I gave myself a framework in which to work, it might come together a little easier.
I chose the acrostic form, and came up with a draft. I asked DH for suggestions, telling him a few ideas I thought we might want to include. He suggested that we substitute "noble" for my original "nimble." Here is the final result:
Funny, impish, nosy, noble,
eloquent, gorgeous, adored.
Never-forgotten.
Finnegan (1992-2008)
Eisa goes in to see the vet at the end of this coming week, so we'll take the paperwork in at that point.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Appreciation
Went down to drop off the four Snuggle mini-quilts today. None of the people there had any idea what we were talking about. I showed them some information, and recognition still did not dawn. (We ended up waiting 30 minutes for the shelter manager to show up, and she, at least, knew what they were for without the explanation.)
It got me to thinking about how the way that people or organizations receive your gifts (be they material items or gifts of your time) makes a big difference.
Our Project Linus coordinator does a wonderful job with this. She sends her volunteers photocopies of the thank you letters that the hospitals, shelters, etc., send to PL so we can see that what we do is making a difference. This keeps us feeling positive and enthusiastic about the organization and about our roles in it. It makes us feel appreciated.
I think there is probably a lesson in here for me about trying to show more appreciation when people spend time and effort on me as well.
So, for starters: it means a lot to me when people respond to my posts here. It makes me feel that you are listening, and that you care. It also inspires me to keep going here, so if you enjoy my updates, know that your responses help to make them happen! Thank you all, very much!
It got me to thinking about how the way that people or organizations receive your gifts (be they material items or gifts of your time) makes a big difference.
Our Project Linus coordinator does a wonderful job with this. She sends her volunteers photocopies of the thank you letters that the hospitals, shelters, etc., send to PL so we can see that what we do is making a difference. This keeps us feeling positive and enthusiastic about the organization and about our roles in it. It makes us feel appreciated.
I think there is probably a lesson in here for me about trying to show more appreciation when people spend time and effort on me as well.
So, for starters: it means a lot to me when people respond to my posts here. It makes me feel that you are listening, and that you care. It also inspires me to keep going here, so if you enjoy my updates, know that your responses help to make them happen! Thank you all, very much!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
PJs
We went to JoAnn's last night to pick up some thread. Of course I could not get out of the store without browsing. In the sale section, I found some flannel for $3/yard, and we were able to stack a 40% off coupon on that, which made it a very good deal indeed.
The flannel is ice blue, and has little white kitty faces and fossil fishes in pink and aqua and white, as well as a non-standard rendering of feline speech - "meiow." The fabric was manufactured overseas, so I am just declaring that to be a regional dialect of Cat ;) [Found a semi-blurry pic online, if you are curious]
I bought 5 yards intending to use it to back Snuggles, but I've kind of fallen in love with the idea of using some of the yardage to make PJ pants too.
(Even Stacey and Clinton can't taunt me too much for age-inappropriate garb if I just use it as PJs, right?)
The flannel is ice blue, and has little white kitty faces and fossil fishes in pink and aqua and white, as well as a non-standard rendering of feline speech - "meiow." The fabric was manufactured overseas, so I am just declaring that to be a regional dialect of Cat ;) [Found a semi-blurry pic online, if you are curious]
I bought 5 yards intending to use it to back Snuggles, but I've kind of fallen in love with the idea of using some of the yardage to make PJ pants too.
(Even Stacey and Clinton can't taunt me too much for age-inappropriate garb if I just use it as PJs, right?)
Thursday, May 22, 2008
You are what you quilt
Here's the first round of tops for the Snuggle quilt(let)s:
You'll notice that I did end up doing a bunch of Crazy Quilt blocks in the end. They may be slower to sew, but to me, their spontaneity and randomness makes them more fun to make than Disappearing 9 Patch blocks. Plus I get to use all the tiny pieces that have been sitting in my scrap bag forever!
You'll notice that I did end up doing a bunch of Crazy Quilt blocks in the end. They may be slower to sew, but to me, their spontaneity and randomness makes them more fun to make than Disappearing 9 Patch blocks. Plus I get to use all the tiny pieces that have been sitting in my scrap bag forever!
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