Friday, May 25, 2012

Farmer's Wife Friday: Rich in Blessings

This week's farmer's wife is from Roanoke County, Virginia. It is a rather long letter, and thus, there are four blocks.

The letter writer extols the virtues of farm life versus city life, as many writers have done before her.

#97 Waste Not
So this week, I'm veering in a different direction. I find the title, "Rich in Blessings,"  to be very appropriate, so I'm going to share with you some recent blessings of my own.

#48 Homeward Bound

Carla and I started following each other's blog over a year ago. In the course of commenting, and then emailing, we started realizing that we not only had many interests in common,  we also had a lot of similarities, sharing many of the same life experiences--age, number of years married, the importance of our faith. (Someone even told us we looked like sisters.) Although I could easily chosen the title "City Mouse, Country Mouse." I'm a confirmed city girl, while Carla lives in a beautiful home in the country.

#13 Buckwheat
I can't remember exactly how we came up with the idea of Farmer's Wife Friday. Maybe it was the idea of accountability, thinking that having a partner to keep us going, making all 111 blocks would become an achievable goal.  (And we are getting really close!)


 #76 Sawtooth
When I realized spring quilt market was going to be in Kansas City this year, and Carla lived so so close, it seemed the ideal time to meet. I've been to market before (Portland, 2008), and while I was excited to see the new fabric lines, the primary purpose of this trip was to meet my Farmer's Wife Friday partner.

Carla came up with the idea of bringing some of my blocks so we could have a photo shoot with her blocks. I went through the blocks we had each completed so far, and specifically chose those with names relating to some aspect of the farm/outdoors or, more importantly, friendship.

I brought along: Country Path (24), Practical Orchard (69), Weathervane (100), Country Farm (23), Spider Web (83), Farmer's Daughter (32),  Farmer's Puzzle (33), Prairie Queen (70), Storm Signal (90), Spool (84--okay, not obviously, farm-related, but I just couldn't leave it out), Wild Geese (104), and most importantly, Friendship (39) and Friendship Star (41).

I spent the night at Carla's house (more on that later) and the next morning we had a good time going through all her blocks, choosing the same blocks as those I brought along.
 We took them out to the deck, put them in a "friendship" circle and took some photos.
The obligatory photo which includes our feet

Our blocks look great together. I think they enjoyed their time together as much as Carla and I did.

We put our Friendship blocks on top of the stacks.If you have become friends with someone through this world of blogging, I am here to tell you that if you are fortunate enough to meet in person, there is a good chance you will feel like you have known each other for a long time. Meeting in person will just cement a friendship that has already has roots.
Five years ago, I would not have imagined that some of my closest and most valued friendships are with women who are scattered all around the world.

Thanks, Carla, for your warmth, hospitality, and most of all, your friendship. I feel richly blessed.

17 comments:

05 08
Dani said... #

Hey!! I live in Roanoke County VA!! That's so cool!

The amazing thing about having friends all over the world is that it gives you wonderful places to stay when you travel. I am glad that you could meet up with your friend!

Dani (knitty34 on instagram)

MB in MI said... #

What a wonderful post! I enjoyed it very much!! :-)

Carla said... #

Cindy, I am SO glad that you were able to come to KC and that we could meet in person. Your post is lovely and expresses my feelings on our friendship as well. I have many happy memories of the time spent with you and count your friendship a real blessing to me. These farm ladies in the 1920's could have never imagined the social media as a way to connect with likeminded friends as we do!

verykerryberry said... #

So lovely to meet up like that, what an emotional blog post!

Needled Mom said... #

What a fun trip that must have been. Your blocks look fabulous too, but the story of finally meeting was terrific.

Cindy Sharp said... #

Awesome! What a glorious God....who would of thunk it?! Certainly not the ladies who wrote the original Farmer's Wife letters.

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

Oh that's what it's all about! xxx

Terriaw said... #

Your blocks are wonderful! Even better is your friendship with Carla! So great that you were able to get together.

Susan said... #

Here, here!!! What you said is very true! Your FW blocks are lovely but your friendship is what make them so special!

CitricSugar said... #

You two are too cute! I think it's awesome that you got to meet and hang out...

felicity said... #

What a lovely post - so very true about these friendships all over the world.

Carla said... #

How fun. Both you and your blocks look great!

Mama Pea said... #

That is so fun! While at Market, I bought all of Marti Michell's templates for making these. So, now I can get started! :-)

Stephanie

Unknown said... #

I love following you two!

Amanda Rose
http://sewmuchtosay.blogspot.com

sew katie did said... #

I love stories like this. Looks like you had fun!

Selfsewn said... #

Loving the friendship ring, and the friendship too!

Letterpress said... #

Lovely post, wonderful blocks! I love that your time quilting has brought you such happiness and good friends, everywhere.

E.