Quilt Time in Austin

​May 2022

It's been a long time since I've volunteered with the Quilt, while traveling away from home. The pandemic is only one of my excuses for taking a break.

I became a grandmother just over a year ago. My focus was suddenly on little Charlie, who lived 2,000 miles away in Oregon.

​I recently packed up the 30 year old quilt, along with Pickles, the Puppet. We headed 2.5 hours to Austin to spend a week with Char and her parents.

After nearly 30 years of gathering with kids on the Quilt, I suddenly had the chance to spend a little Quilt Time, with my very own grandchild!

It's been years since the Quilt traveled to a school in Guatemala, or an Alzheimer's Facility in Utah. ​Or a Family Shelter in Galveston.

It's been 18 years since my daughter first volunteered with me (and Quilt) at a local shelter. It's been a decade since the 2 of us had a spontaneous Quilt Adventure with kids at a school in Mexico. I miss teaming up with Heidi for Quilt Adventures.

With Charlie

So on a pretty day in May, Heidi planned to meet up with old friends in Texas. I've known these girls since they played in middle school band.

Heidi's friends are married now. Some with kids. I had the quilt in the car... just in case.

Cozy Quilt

I wasn't playing teacher this time. I was just a grandma with a colorful quilt. There was no program. No gym floor. 

We just put the quilt on the floor and it did what it always does. It created a cozy space. It felt like a patchwork island for a while. Pickles came out and met Christopher, the oldest. (he was a little hesitant)

Charlie wasn't bashful. At 1 year, she knows me just enough. Too young to be worried over the funny furry face.

There were just 3 kiddos. Quinny, Christopher and Charlie. And one more, in the oven. And then there were the moms...

Besides having my granddaughter on the Quilt for the first time, there was something extra sentimental about this bunch gathered together.

These girls were part of my team at the Women's Shelter for a number of years. They helped me corral kiddos onto the colorful patchwork, once a week. 

They danced and sang with the kids, who needed their attention so very much! And here they were these sweet girls... with their own little ones (& future little one) showing the same enthusiasm and tenderness I spotted years ago.

So many special Quilt Memories over the decades. This one will be hard to beat.