A few weeks ago I indulged in a retreat with three friends in the hill country. We stayed at a "Quilt Haus" with a quilting instructor nearby, teaching and cooking wonderful meals in her home. We spent hours in front of windows boasting of a lovely daylight view of the valley outside. Cutting tables were in the center of the room and ironing tables on either side were handy as we sewed from the tables provided. The views out those windows! Oh yes, hummingbirds frantically feeding and beautiful sunrises. It would have been wonderful even without the expect instruction we received.
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Late summer in Texas Hill Country is hot and dry, but leaves one with a sense of vastness that is breathtaking. From the hillside where Emile's Quilt Haus rested, we looked out over a countryside that appeared to be endless. While our lodging was modern with air conditioning and indoor plumbing, a feel for the past was all around us. The owner had moved a cabin belonging to her grandmother onto the property a year of so ago. The view to the left was from her front porch. The tiny cabin felt amazingly spacious when standing just inside the front door, though it was smaller than a single garage. I am not sure where it was originally built, but it looked right at home here.
We spent three days cutting and sewing and enjoying the views of the countryside. Since I've been home, the quilt blocks are untouched. Winter is coming and I know I'll enjoy taking advantage of some cool weather to indulge in "indoor activity" like quilt making. I still have a lot of work to do.
I am ready for life to be normal again. Actually I'm sorta wondering what normal might be. This is the new normal we keep hearing. I don't feel any different. Ol' Abner says he still feels the same other than it's nice to take a deep breath anytime he wants and life is nice without having to drag around an oxygen tank. We've surrendered the apartment in the bayou city and are back home permanently. When he goes for those monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly clinic visits, we'll stay with friends or family and it will feel as much like a social event as a medically necessary trip. We always love spending time in Houston but this long stay has given us a new appreciation for the hill county. I love the dry sunny climate here even if we do suffer from drought issues. A golf game is seldom interrupted by rain and thunder, but the occasional storm is appreciated. Austin area restaurants are superb, entertainment is plentiful and easy to attend. Most important, we have good friends and family here. Yes, it is good to be home. I will to continue post from time to time on the Caring Bridge site, but I'm really ready to discuss life in the "normal" lane.
