Life Lessons, Crossroads Quilt, Mother Robin

"The times they are a-changin..." Bob Dylan

The library underwent upgrading last summer and huge new windows were installed. This was the view a couple of weeks ago out one of them. It struck me it could have been taken in so many small towns all over America with a church squarely in view. This is the Zion-Memorial United Church which would have been my church in the old days. This one is holding on but one of the other especially beautiful stone churches has been turned into apartments.  

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt last week was what were our lessons from childhood. I learned lots from Mom and Dad, of course, but here were two main influences outside the home. Below is First United Church, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador as it was when I attended growing up. 

I learned the Golden Rule, of course, and through their missionary and services, that it was important to help out people in other parts of the world. I learned about Corrie ten Boom in Sunday School and it must have impressed me because I always remembered her and what she did.  I learned how important it is to take care of our world, a wonderful creation, and we each are stewards of the world. 

 Along with the church, I was a Girl Guide and each week pledged my allegiance to God, the Queen and my country. I took those words to heart. I was also a Partrol Leader, Bluebird patrol, and this little foray into leadership gave me much needed confidence. I loved the wide range of activities, the weekly sing along and closing each meeting singing Taps. I was so upset once when I thought I would have to miss a meeting that Mom paid for a taxi to get me there and that would have been a big deal to do that. What an earnest, serious kid I was! Good Grief! Did your activities outside the home also influence you?

Ok back to the very much less serious...life here at the Wooden House. I finally got a photo of the Crossroads flimsie. This simple pattern went together without a hitch.  Ned wanted to help. 

I've been spending an hour here and there raking and tidying the garden. I'm never in a hurry to do this as I like to give all the critters that overwintered there a chance to get on their way. My robin...as she is surely mine now, has finished her nest on the front door light and is doing a lot of sitting. Note...I did remove the material twice as we are in a small forest so lots of places to nest. But she was determined to be right here. 

 I've moved our big salt bin and my stick containers further along the veranda. They were right under the nest and would have given an animal access. And we are now mainly using the door at the further end of the veranda. I took this photo of a robin on the front lawn and I'm pretty sure it is her because there is straw in the beak.

Fingers crossed it will work out. 

I showed you my toes...here are my fingers. I'm no longer surprised when I see those nails. But if you could see what my fingers get up to here with the garden and dogs and big house to clean, etc. they won't be looking like this long. 

Below is between the walks and ball playing I'm fitting in for Ned and Petey. It is great exercise for me too so I'm very happy to do it. Here they are still panting after a game of fetch. 

Don't forget either..."The present now will later be past"...also Bob.

Yes, time moves on for sure. We just have to make the most of it while we can. To that end, here is an excellent article about how to make time work for us...Ten Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Time on This Planet. 

Okay starting to ramble now, so I'll end this post. Hope you are staying focused or happily rambling- whatever suits!

Sharing this post with Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Quilt Fabrication, Alycia Quilts, Quilting Patchwork Applique and Melva Loves Scraps.