- The symmetry of solstice

Patch #356 Increase

I struggled with this post at first, which seems funny now because it all became so clear in the end.

I knew I wanted to include this verse from The Writer's Almanac (recently added to the Kindred Spirits) ...

And I knew I wanted to do something that represented solstice. 

Oddly enough, it took me a while to think of looking back at my summer solstice patch, with the Strawberry Moon rising into a darkening sky ...

So of course it turned out that the solstice patches would align ...

and it was a short mental leap to seeing my way clear to a similar patch ...

Meanwhile, Don was busy hanging pictures of our grandkids, taken (you guessed it) on the eve of the summer solstice and finally printed this week. From oldest to youngest, Logan and Jackson ...

Griffin and Jace ...

with just enough room at the end of the wall to fit in one more, someday soon.

They are the light of our lives ...

and as I took a picture of the (almost) complete picture wall ...

I saw my grandmother's desk in the background, Don's grandfather's desk in the foreground, and our very first couch (remember crate furniture?) in between.

That's when my doubts about next year's cloth resolved. I do want to continue  patchplay and storytelling, although perhaps not every single day. And I want to keep trying new things, to continue playing with new ideas, even while honoring the old things that live with us in our home.

I know I'm being vague ... the ideas are still coalescing. But I do know for sure that next year's cloth will be about love and learning and light ... 

and how their increase will surely bring us joy.

- The light before Christmas

Patch #355 Nonpareil

Our St Louis daughter decided this year they would do an experiential gift for the boys instead of getting them more toys.

Research maven that she is, she found out about the Santa Express ...

and booked tickets for the family. (I love this retro travel poster).

J and J weren't aware of what was up until they were at the hotel, dressed in their pajamas ...

Then they boarded a real train and magic happened ...

Do you believe in Santa Claus? They do ...

- Blue (agave) Christmas

Patch #354 Texas Christmas cactus

It's cold. The weather app said 22 ...

but Wimberley is down in the valley. We're about 300' higher and our thermometer had a slightly lower reading ...

But the ultimate indicator is the frost weed and it was in fine form, close ...

closer ...

closest ...

Last winter we didn't get a frost weed freeze until the end of January, which means it made it on to the Remember cloth ...

You'll notice it's just to the left of a sunny day patch ... and two more patches to the right is the memory of an 80 degree day at the end of January.

So yeah, don't feel too sorry for us. Here's our forecast for the next five days ...

Gotta love Texas. Which is why we decorate this way ...

The neighbors really appreciate it, too ...

I managed to finish a trio of retro patches today ...

If you look at the original post on November 28

http://imgoingtotexas.blogspot.com/2016_11_28_archive.html

you'll notice there's no mention of an expected grandchild. But that was the day we received the news, so the secret is finally out ...

And knowing Meg would be getting the news on the 28th, we held off shopping for her birthday until November 29

http://imgoingtotexas.blogspot.com/2016/11/one-more.html

Also knowing Meg to prefer more subtle colors, we were on the hunt for corals, peaches, or raspberries rather than the stereotypical pinky pink. This is what we got ... 

Hence the patch Pretty in not-quite pink ...

And so we made it to Meg's birthday on November 30 without spoiling the surprise

http://imgoingtotexas.blogspot.com/2016/11/big-reveal.html

Process note: I was especially pleased when the bleach discharge on gray (Meg's favorite "color" long before it became trendy), turned a pale pink, because a little bit couldn't hurt.  

- Land of extremes

Patch #353 The color of cold

It's not my most inspired patch, but it does mark the beginning of "drip the tap" season in the Hill Country.  

Yesterday's high was 77 degrees ...

This morning our thermometer read 21 degrees. The math is mind-boggling: a 56 degree drop in 15 hours!

So I'm thinking a possible variation on the Land of Flood and Drought series might be a record of the highs and lows for each day in 2017, from red patches for the triple-digit days to purple patches for the below-freezing days ... and every color of the rainbow in-between.

But first I need to finish this year's projects. I'm still slogging through last month.

November 23 Turning inward

http://imgoingtotexas.blogspot.com/2016/11/peace-and-love.html

November 24 Self-titled

http://imgoingtotexas.blogspot.com/2016_11_24_archive.html

And here for your viewing pleasure is the latest addition to Don's assemblage herd ...

The end ...

Sorry, couldn't resist.

- Trip the light fantastic

Patch #352 Tree light-full

It's hard to get good pictures in the dark, but the Wimberley Trail of Lights was so magical that I tried anyway ...

By the way, that "C" floating at the bottom of the picture is the reflective patch on G's jacket!

The tree wasn't as big as the Zilker tree in Austin, but perched on top of a hill, it was definitely higher. In fact, it was so windy up there that G said, "Can I have my hat? I think we're at the North Pole" ...

And I'm not sure, but I think this is a 20' high roadrunner ...

But if you want a better sense of place, just go to the website

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zx9YfavEhhQ

There's an over-long drone sequence at the beginning of the video, but all the individual lighted scenes follow and for a little town it's a pretty big deal.

- Hands-full

Patch #351 Simple gifts

I was going to do a kitschy Santa hat patch, but after looking at the day's photos, this seemed more apt. See if you don't agree.