I have had some consolation in my isolation.

I have been determined to make masks for my family.

I got my supplies ready only to discover my sewing machine was broken.

I mentioned this to my dad yesterday. He said he had one in his shop.

We pulled out an old dusty case from under a workbench.

This morning I opened it to find a treasure beyond measure.

My Gran’s machine is darling. I squealed with glee for the first time in weeks.

My great grandmother taught me how to sew when I was young.

We cut patterns out of newspaper and made doll clothes.

I sat there delicately touching the machine and feeling connected to these two women.

They lived through plague and wars. They supported their families. They managed.

So I will be sewing with my Gran and my great grandmother for a bit.

I don’t feel so alone now. They are with me. I have the skills they taught me.

I am grateful for the past coming for a visit during this tumultuous present.

What a gift!

Flower

I will not be posting for a while.  I do not want you to be concerned.

I have other necessary tasks at hand.

I want you to know how important you have been to me these past years.

There is a reason for my garden. It came from pain.

My home has been a beautiful prison. My daughter’s epilepsy was its bars.

She is seizure-free now, but damage was done to us both.

I grew where I was planted. I had a secret garden that no one could see.

We live among woods, down a long drive, inside a gate along a river.

I shared my garden as the Flower with all of you so someone else could enjoy it.

My connection with nature always gets me through hardships. It will again now.

I will NOT be watching the television. I know what is going to happen.

My dream was to be a disease cowboy like Joe McCormick.

I have spent years studying diseases.

I was almost killed by my Smallpox vaccine as a baby. Vaccines were different in 1962.

Serum (IgGs/IgIV) from the Red Cross saved me. My dad tells the story often.

I wanted to go out in the world and save strangers from transmittable diseases.

Instead, I have been home saving my daughter from another type.

I will continue to find solace in my garden.

It is blooming profusely right now despite the weeds.

I WILL BE FINE. I know how to stay safe.

Take care of yourselves my precious followers. In a way, you saved me. Thank you.

Flower

My son has taken a new job. I am happy for him, but I will miss his former town. Cheraw was the homeplace of the jazz artist, Dizzy Gillespie.

Goodbye Dizzy!

Flower

 

OTHER CHERAW POST LINKS BELOW

https://floweralley.org/2016/04/13/im-getting-dizzy/

https://floweralley.org/2016/04/15/yellow-trumpets/

https://floweralley.org/2015/10/26/charmed-by-cheraw/

https://floweralley.org/2016/04/11/cheraw-in-the-spring/