Many warm thanks to Abi, over at Creating Paper Dreams, whose lovely meme this is! Do pop over and catch up :).
...................................................................................................................................................................................
... or coffee, or a little herbal something? I'd be so pleased to see you, I'd tell you - we've been having a bit of turbulence here, what with illnesses (of others), torn muscle (mine), bereavement (wider family), but hoping that a calmer space is hoving into view. As I took your coat, I'd ask if I could tempt you to a toothsome morsel - I've tried a little gluten-free baking in your honour. Would you guess they contained finely grated courgette (zuccini)? If you've been reading the latest reports on sugar in the press here and want to avoid the PDW (pure, white and deadly), there are some lovely plums instead - I've been nursing them along for about a fortnight. Am I the only one infuriated by supermarket signs like "Specially selected for you to ripen at home"? I'd ask, as we settled ourselves at the table, and you'd either smile in sympathy or roll your eyes at me ...
I'd want to hear all your news, and be most apologetic about failing miserably to keep up with blog-reading and posting. What's the gossip in the scrapbooking world, I'd be longing to know - what's exciting you right now? I'd be hoping you had brought some of your lovely craft work along, for my own has been at a standstill. Fiona's quilt-square making has been the only thing I've achieved this month, I'd confide, but it has made me get out my sewing machine and I've just booked myself into a workshop next month on how to do simple free-motion stitching; perhaps my Mum's love of fabric is finally surfacing in me, I'd say, and we'd smile. Another cup? And if you asked me about the family, I'd tell you the younger ones are hale and hearty, and how glorious it was to have my dearest daughter here for five days around my birthday. We managed to get out to a nearby market town for lunch ...
... and she told me all about her own creative ventures: hand quilting and lino-cutting. Do you see the little pile of pieces over there on the window ledge? I'd ask, and bring them over to show you. These are the ones she used to make me a beautiful lino-print as a present; and that memory stick from my wonderful son holds videos and photos of our grandchildren, one for every year of my life. Plus another photo or video every day for the next sixty days popping into my email folder - I am not going to be short of scrapbooking material! The brochure? Ah, that's another glorious gift from my children - a spa weekend ...
But I'd be suddenly anxious I was boring you and doing the 'doting parent' thing, so I'd ask how any intentions you've had for the new year were going, or how your 'word for the year' was showing up in your life. Have you been managing the walking, or swimming, or gym-ing? And I'd ask if you'd like, perhaps next time we meet for a catch-up, to go for a walk in our beautiful countryside or along by the reservoir? We could take a flask and a little box of nibbles, and lean companionably over the stone walls and enjoy the view ...
As I pass you your things, for I realise you need to be on your way, we'd speculate if next month we might be able to do without coats and gloves, and how freeing that will feel! I'd walk with you out into the little paved area by the front door and you might notice that we have some leaves appearing on our clematis - it's never been as early as this. A quick hug, or a hand-squeeze, and you'd be off, and we've wave ... And I'd be thinking of all the things I meant to ask, and making a mental note for next time, hoping you'd like to come again. It has been just lovely. Thank-you :).
