How To Make A Spool Elephant...

Adorable Alert!

This is a vintage J.P. Coats - Clark card for John Martin's Spool Zoo. The copyright date is 1921.

There was a whole series of these cards including the elephant, fox, bear, zebra, lion and hippo. (Look close to the back of the card. They're all listed.)

The card is meant to be cut around the animal shape (you can enlarge the card to see the dotted lines) and then each side of the animal was glued to an end of a spool. Once assembled, the animal was free-standing. The card advertises acquiring an entire zoo. The little red square on the back of the card shows a tiny illustration of the finished spool elephant.

There was also an insert to order a 48 page book of "Sewing Secrets". Shhhhh. Don't tell anyone. lol

I'm having a wonderful time visiting with Grace, her daughters (my "sisters" by choice) and last night, one of Grace's granddaughters (Sarah) joined me at "Grammies" house to stay overnight. It was wonderful catching up with her. I haven't seen her since she was in elementary school. She's grown into quite the lovely young woman.

It's nice to remember that every cloud has its silver lining.

We're Together Again...

So, this is how I dressed yesterday morning when I left the hotel just north of Nashville. It was 27º and I had frost all over the windows of the Explorer!!! (It was 82º when I left Florida on Sunday. sigh) No more sandals until after I get back home. You have no idea how long it's been since I wore a turtleneck. I was warm and comfortable as I covered the second leg of my trip.

I drove the final miles back to Wisconsin and arrived at 5:30 yesterday afternoon. I was able to meet up with Sis so that she and I could get to the hospital to visit Grace before it got too late. Grace knew that I was coming, but was surprised that I saw her right away rather than just curl up somewhere and take a nap.

Sis told me that one of Grace's three remaining sisters died yesterday, too. And, another sister totalled her car on a short trip yesterday. It was not a good day for the sisters, but thankfully, there were no injuries with the car accident - unless you count the car. We broke the news to Grace last night. I'm glad I was there to hold her hand and as the sister who died had been in a coma for that past two weeks, it wasn't a complete shock for her.

This is a photograph I took out the windshield of my car, truck SUV as I drove through Effingham, IL. It never ceases to lift my spirits. A message to motorists that God is always watching over them as they travel. I smiled again just to see it. Seeing the "Welcome To Wisconsin" sign was almost as wonderful.

My visit with "Mom" was so nice. She's in good spirits and has gone through a barrage of tests. We still have no idea what's wrong, but while she's in the hospital, her symptoms are being managed and she's alert, coherent and funny. It's so nice to be here so that I can spend the time with her.

I'll see her again today, and I'll take my scrappy plates to work on while we chat. I'll be sure to rest and refresh, too. Thanks again for all your sweet notes. You warm my heart with your prayers and good wishes.

A Secret Revealed...

Today, I'll share a secret with you. Some of you know, but perhaps most of you do not, that I write my daily blog posts late at night the day before they appear on my blog. Sometimes, but rarely, I'll write them and schedule them to appear on a certain day, but usually it's just the night before.

I write them as though I'm writing them the day of the post, but now you know. I cheat...except for today.

Today - Sunday - I've spent on the road in my Explorer. I've left Handsome, Tag, hearth and home to go to Wisconsin to be with Mom Grace. She's been quite ill, and those of us who love her are concerned. Out of respect for her privacy, I will not go into detail, but I felt compelled to travel back into cold weather and possibly snow, rather than wait until summer, when we'd planned to go back again.

I left home at 7:30 this morning and drove over 800 miles to Nashville, TN. As I write this (7:42 pm central time - an hour earlier than home), I'm in my pj's with my laptop on my...er...lap...exhausted. It seemed that there was heavy traffic all bloody day for every. single. mile. I drove! The photo above was mostly stopped traffic in Atlanta. (There was an accident about 2 miles ahead.) Grrr!

I got to do the stop and go traffic two more times, but mostly there was just lots of humanity on the road...on a Sunday! What the...? I had expected an easy day of driving and found something quite different.

I'll drive the rest of the way to Wisconsin today, and hope to arrive early enough to get to the hospital for visiting hours. Mom said she wants me to stay at her home, so I'll accept her gracious offer. About 600 miles to go and I'll be with her.

For now, I'm tired, cold and a bit weepy (I know. Just like a little kid.) I already ate a little something hot and will close this note to you with a few notes of thanks...

Thank you, my Quilt shop Coffee friends - Kathy, Nora, Betty, Brenda and Flo (Faye wasn't there yesterday, or I know she would have helped, too!). I saw you on Saturday, a bit completely frazzled because I had things that I needed to finish for the quilt show next week. You took my quilt submissions for the show. You added a sleeve to the one quilt that needed one (because I did it wrong), delivered them to Joan today because I wouldn't be home to do it, and took a huge load off my shoulders. I love all of you and thank you again from the bottom of my heart for caring for me.

Thank you, Farmer's Wife QAL girlfriends for taking care of each other by answering questions and helping solve problems while I am unable to do so.

Thank you, Handsome, for understanding that I had to go - and for supporting my decision to drive. Oh, yes...and for caring for Tag while I'm away. I won't say more. You already know.

Thank you to my own mum and my beautiful sister, Diana for calling me on and off throughout the day to break up the tedium with stories and news.

Thank you to all my friends, near and far, for adding your prayers to mine that Grace will be alright.

I'll close for tonight before I get further "soppy".  I will tell you that I brought those scrappy plates with me so I can continue to stitch centers on the blocks once I settled in in Wisconsin. That way, I'll have some crafty posts while I'm away from home. More tomorrow. I have to turn off my brain and my lights now.