Hey, I'm Back, and I've Made A Block!

It's been so long since I've sewn or posted anything, I'm having a hard time remembering how to do either one almost.

Yesterday I decided I would not sleep last night until I had finished my Moda Blockhead Block No. 39, and I did get it finished about 9 PM.  I had thought I'd get another block made today, but that didn't happen; maybe I can tomorrow.  I really want to get those finished so I can get them together!
So --- here's my Block No. 39.

Moda Blockhead Block No. 39

Yesterday was the first time I've had my machine open since the end of November!  I never sew during December.  Then I didn't get Christmas packed away until January 31.  Then in the middle of January, I decided to do something that probably I should have not tried to do, but I did anyway.  So here comes the story of that event!

I decided I wanted to do something special for my 80th birthday in February!  So in mid-January, I went to my pastor and told him I wanted to have my birthday party at the church.  He said that's no problem and lots of people have birthday parties in the Fellowship Hall.  I knew that, but told him I wanted to have my party in the Sanctuary.  He looked surprised and asked what kind of party I wanted to have.  I told him I wanted to do a piano recital;  he said, "Oh, you mean a concert."  I said, "No, a piano recital, like I did when I was taking piano lessons as a child, and I want to invite some of my friends from of my past,"  such as my high school friends and friends from churches where I played piano or organ before, and of course, my cousins and family.   He asked when I wanted to do it, and I said February 18 at 2 PM, two days after my birthday.

He is one of those guys who is always messing with his phone in his hand, and was doing so all the time I was talking to him.  (I think I've shared here in previous posts that I play every Sunday for Sunday School, and also the closing invitation song for the 11 AM service every Sunday, as well as an occasional offertory hymn.  He often tells me that he loves the way I play.)  Before I could finish telling him my plans, he looked up from his phone, smiled, and said, "That's a great idea!  I already have it on the church calendar; you can't get out of it now!"  It  went out in the church newsletter the next week!

I hadn't planned on anything more than just the recital, but when I told my quilting buddies, they said I had to have a reception afterwards with cookies and punch, and they agreed to help.  Unfortunately, one of them was leaving on a two-week trip to Bermuda, and wouldn't be back until the night  before the recital!  So the other lady was left to take me shopping twice for new clothes, and all the necessary things for the serving table.   I said I was going to make ALL the cookies myself, and she and the other gal would have to handle the reception totally after I provided everything. 

Unfortunately, children's church is conducted in the room where the reception was to be, which meant we couldn't decorate on Saturday and not until all the kids were picked up by parents on Sunday morning after church!  And wouldn't you know Sunday was a rainy day!   I got all the cookies covered tightly on six of my big crystal serving plates and more in plastic containers, and loaded them into my car Saturday night, along with all the programs I prepared and printed myself, and everything else in my house it seemed!  After church, in the rain, my son and a young man at church that I call "my adopted son" (because of all he does to help me every Sunday) unloaded everything from my car in the rain!  The two gals got everything set up while I went to get the piano set up, and the hand mic, etc. all together.  This had turned into much more work that I originally planned for!!!

People  began entering the sanctuary about 1:30 PM, before I was ready really, and of course, each one wanted to come up to the piano area and talk to me; and really, I was delighted to share that few minutes with them, before the pastor called the place to order.  As soon as he said the Amen on his opening prayer, I hit the keyboard with the first note of the first song.  I had practiced every night since my crazy idea was first approved, and what I scheduled to play ran 43 minutes consistently each time through, without a word being said.  So I knew I had to hold off on saying much.  In addition, my son wanted to say a few words; I knew not what!  I limited him to 2 or 3 minutes, and he did very well.  He loves to make people laugh, and they needed that at the half-way point!  My younger son chose not to speak at the recital, but participated well  at the reception.

I had everything memorized, and no music with me at all.   Can you believe this old 80-year old would attempt such a thing?  Sometimes I question my sanity!   First I played several of my favorite hymns in my own arrangements.  Then I played a couple of gospel songs that my father had written, both words and music.  He had 63 songs published in Stamps Baxter song books over a period of 40 years, and I wanted to honor him.   He had enrolled me in piano lessons at the age of five, and had later dedicated my hands to play sacred music in the church.

Then I moved into some more difficult songs that have very meaningful words to me.  I printed the words to some of the last songs in my programs so the audience could follow along as I played.    The last songs I played were "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked",  "The Holy City", and ended with "Eternal Life".  I managed to get through it all with a very few noticeable problems.  I almost got lost in "The Holy City", but made quick recovery.  Probably a lot of the people never realized it, but any musician did I'm sure, even though no one admitted noticing.  Oh well, maybe the Lord used it all somehow as a blessing to someone.

Over 100 people signed the Register book at the reception, and I have counted almost 20 that didn't sign the book.   I could hardly believe it on a rainy afternoon, and in competition with the Olympics! I have been blessed by so many friends from so many places!  Even more than a dozen firemen, some retired, I had worked with were there.   Even a former piano student of mine was there; I taught piano lessons in my home after school, and I had not seen her in years!  What a pleasant surprise!

This has probably been a boring post to most of you, if indeed you are still reading it. But can you tell I had a fun day?    It was truly wonderful to me, and I've had so many calls and cards since from friends saying how much they enjoyed the afternoon too.  God truly is good! 

I must say this old lady was really tired by the time we got everything loaded and back to my house after it was all over!  I've tried to rest a lot since then, but life goes on, and it seems I've had to be somewhere almost every day since then! 

So now you know all about my secret project!  It's all over now! 

Today I went to a Retirement Party for the City Fire Chief; I was his secretary for many years, and I got to see all those wonderful Firemen again.  I was old enough to be the mother of all of them when I worked there, and now there are lots of new good-looking young men who were so helpful getting this old lady across the parking lot and into the Convention Center, again in the rain!

Tomorrow I quilt at the church.  Who knows what will happen next!  Maybe I'll get the rest of my Blockhead Blocks made, and actually do some quilting before too long.  At least I hope so!

I haven't taken time to comment on all the wonderful blog posts I've been reading lately, but I really have enjoyed seeing all the beautiful work everyone has been showing.  Keep it up!

---"Love"