Who We Are

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Photo Tagged Again!

Woo, everypup and everycat. It's me, Dave. We got tagged in a cool game by our Navy friends, the Bumpass Hounds and Kitties. It's the Photo Tag one - where you open your first picture folder, post the 10th photo, explain it, then tag 5 more bloggers. We did this a couple weeks ago, but Stormy said I should pick the first folder somewhere else and do it that way!

I opened the first folder in Mom's Mobile Me account and here's the tenth photo:

A block from Mom's US Sanitary Commission quilt

It's a block in a quilt Mom made. Or ... is making. She put the top together several years ago, but hasn't hand quilted it yet. (Her excuse is that it's huge and she wants to hand quilt it. Woo.) The block itself is a variable star and Mom hand-calligraphed the Bible verse Psalm 27:14 on it, "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

The quilt top hangs on an antique ladder in our stair landing that goes to the upstairs. It's even in the background of one of my Haik-woos; you can see that here. Here's another look:

Me, Dave, in front of Mom's quilt

The quilt is made to look as though it's from the US Civil War era - by members of the US Sanitary Committee. That organization was sort of the precursor to the American Red Cross. In addition to providing limited medical support to the soldiers, the volunteers also collected personal hygiene and comfort items to be distributed to soldiers in the field. Among those items were quilts. Woo. So Mom made this quilt to look like one that would be sent to a soldier fighting in that war!

The quilt is made from reproduction-type of fabrics, made to look "scrappy" on purpose, and is made to look as though different women contributed the blocks. On many of the blocks, like the one above, Mom did some calligraphy. Often, the ladies would inscribe (Stormy taught me that word!) a Bible verse, a couple lines from a popular song of the day, a little drawing, or maybe a few words of encouragement.

Mom taught herself how to write using the style of penmanship they used back then, and changed her handwriting on the blocks to make it look like different people wrote them -- either with a different slant, different pressure, or even changing what hand she wrote with. Compare that top pic with this one, for an example:

Another block from Mom's US Sanitary Commission quilt

See how different the writing looks? (Compare the capital A's, for example.) Cool, huh? Oh - "Ad astra per aspera" is on the Great Seal of Kansas, which was adopted in 1861. It's Latin for ... umm ... hang on a sec. (OK. Thanks, Storms.) It's Latin for "To the stars through adversity" or "difficulties". Whatever. (To learn more about the Great Seal of Kansas - no, Marvin, Ammy said to tell you it's not a Harp Seal - please click here!)

OK... that's our photo and a very long explanation about it. If anyone hasn't played this tag yet and would like to, have at it! It's very fun!

Thanks to all the Bumpass Hounds and Kitties for the tag!

Luv,
Dave

23 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing the story about the quilt, Dave! Your mom seems like she's really dedicated to her work - the final products are always flawless. It must be nice to have a hobby like that!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh that is so beautiful. Mom you are awesome.. No more excuses ok?? We want to see the finished product. he he Just kidding mom we know how busy humans can be...
    Oh as for Louie being serious. We call that "The Louie Zone"

    Big Sloppy Kisses
    Gus, Louie and Callie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow !!!!!!!!
    Hi Dave :)

    Remy and Flash

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful! Great work! Thank you for sharing it with us!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's very interesting Davy! Your mum is very clever.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Woo, that was quite interesting, Dave! Who knew? (Obviously Stormy did, ha-roo roo roo!) We haven't been tagged for this yet, so if its okay, we'll accept your invitation!

    a-roos to yous,
    jack a-roo & moo too

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dave, that is absolutely beautiful!! Your mom continues to amaze me with her many talents and hobbies! It's lovely! Love, Debbie and Holly

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wooos Dave! love the story about the quilt but woo posing with it makes it so much more real!
    Stunning job woo Mom does!
    ~ Woos and puppy kisses~
    -Kira The BeaWootiful

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a beautiful quilt. I wish my mom knew how to make them.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow mom sure is talented...
    Benny & Lily

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a great story Dave!! Thanks to you and your Mama for sharing it!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Those are beautiful quilts Dave! Your mom is very talented! Our mommy knew what "Ad astera per aspera" meant!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi, Dave!
    The quilt is pawesome!
    Your Mom is soooooo good!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Gus,

    That's one of mommy's favorite Psalms. Very beautiful! We luuuv quilts!

    Luv,
    Riley and Star.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous9:33 PM

    Hey Dave and Guys/Gals,
    You sure did a GReat job on that tag. Boy, you sure have one talented mom to do all that work and go to such details. We are amazed and impressed. We didn't think it was too long of an explanation either. You said what needed to be said.
    - TBH&K

    ReplyDelete
  16. That is going to be a wonderful quilt Dave. Your Mom is very talented!

    Thank you for your prayers for my Grandpa. We know the Lord holds Grandpa in His loving arms and will take him when the time is right. It is very hard on Mom and my Daddy both. My Daddy loves Grandpa and Grandma too because they took him in as their son long before he and Mom got married.

    Syracuse lost tonight and Mom is not happy with how they played. Kansas State is ahead right and we are cheering for them. We hope they do better than SU!

    My Mom prefers 70 degree days too. Zeke and Sushi like the snow but not as much as you do.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow ! Thats so beautiful !!! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. You don't get to snuggle with this quilt?

    Waste of a quilt I say.

    Although Ma said "its not a doggy quilt, its a special quilt Koda, for goodness sake!"

    I still don't know what she means - not a doggy quilt? Is there such thing?

    Koda MD
    Still learning and contemplating a life of dogfree quilts....

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful work, your Mama is soooooooooo darn clever! Oh I didn't mean she "darned" the quilt.......as obviously it didn't have any holes in it.

    ;0D

    And kinda frustrated that Ammy beat me to the Harp Seal joke. Made me laugh though!!

    lotsaluv, Marvin xxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  20. I will have to make the trip to Kansas one day so your Mom can teach me to quilt. I would so love to learn!

    Sam

    ReplyDelete
  21. Those are such beeyootiful quilts!!

    Happy Weekend!
    Woofs and Kisses!

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a very beautiful quilt. Your mom is very clever and patient.
    Of course we think the quilt is looking even more beautiful because your are beside it Dave.
    You kinda just set it off.
    love
    Martha & Bailey xxx

    ReplyDelete