(Note: If you're new to this wonderful fictional group of quilters, read the first seven installments by clicking on the 'We're Still Kicking Quilters' in the side panel.)
WE'RE STILL KICKING QUILTERS - MEETING EIGHT
Ida Rose was
looking around, checking to make sure that the room was ready for the
quilt group. Feeling that everything was in fine shape, including
the buffet of left-overs from the wedding, she sat down with a plop,
sighing and smiling at the same time.
“Have you
survived?” I asked, entering the room.
“Yes I have.
In some ways, it seems like a faded memory and in others, like it
happened, well, just yesterday.” she replied.
“Well. Ida Rose,
in case you've left the building, it was just yesterday!”
Ida Rose laughed
and shook her head. “Yes, it was just yesterday. It was a
beautiful, simple wedding.”
“It certainly
was, Ida Rose.” Martha Kerine said as she entered the room.
“I've set up the
buffet table with left-overs for us today. I figured that we could
just help ourselves whenever the desire for munchies hit. Lord
knows, Martha Kerine, you managed to bring enough food to feed an
army.” Ida Rose replied.
“Well, I didn't
want anyone to go away hungry.” Martha Kerine countered.
“Oh, Ida Rose,
Jenny's wedding was beautiful.” Wanda Kay said as she bent over to
hug Ida Rose. “That simple princess style gown of embroidered
satin was gorgeous. I'll have to ask Jenny to give sewing lessons at
the store. That's not an easy fabric to sew with and I bet there are
others who would like to make their own wedding dress.”
“That's an
excellent idea, Wanda Kay.” Elsie Jean said as she too hugged Ida
Rose. Looking around she added, “I figured we would be helping you
clean up everything, Ida Rose, but it looks like it's all done.”
“Well,” Ida
Rose began, “I knew I would be tired so I hired some high school
students to help put it all back together. Money well spent, I must
say. They really worked hard and the place was in order within four
hours and that included the dishes washed, the furniture put back and
the back yard cleaned up.”
“Where did Jenny
go on the honeymoon?” I asked. “Any ideas?”
“Yes, they went
to the shore. But I don't know any of the particulars.” Ida Rose
responded.
“Well, I don't
know about anyone else, but I'm hungry so I'm going to get something
to eat.” Wanda Kay said to no one in particular.
“Munchies hit
already, huh, Wanda Kay?” I asked as I joined her to fill up my
own plate of food.
Anna Mae walked in
as all of us decided that the munchies had hit. “I see we're
already at the feeding trough” she said, laughingly, as she put
down her quilting bag and joined us. “I don't blame you. I had a
couple platefuls yesterday at the wedding and still didn't get to
taste it all.”
“Hello, Anna
Mae,” Ida Rose welcomed. “I think most of us will be grazing
today. At least I hope so. Like I said, Martha Kerine had enough
food to feed an army so there's lots left.”
We all filled up
our plates, got something to drink and found a place to sit down and
enjoy the bounty. None of us reached for our quilt bags!
“So who set up
your music, Ida Rose? It was just perfect. I loved the piece that
Jenny walked into the garden with. By the way, Daniel's idea about
the sliding door in the dining room was a great one.” I said.
“I'm not sure
which part but the actual wedding music was from Four Seasons by
Vivaldi. The background music was a mix. Actually, one of Anton's
high school seniors (Jenny's husband Anton was a high school
teacher.) set up and took care of the music for the entire wedding.
He had speakers tucked all around the yard and the house. How he
managed to hid the wires is beyond me.”
“Maybe they were
blue-tooth and didn't require wires.” I said.
“Blue what?”
Anna Mae asked.
“It has to do
with electronics, Anna Mae,” I replied.
“Well, leave me
out of it then. I can just about manage my smart phone at this
point.” she shook her head as she took another bite of food.
“Jenny really
wanted a do it yourself, small, simple wedding and I think she got
exactly that...” Ida Rose replied.
“She did with
the added bonus that it was a beautiful wedding.” Elsie Jean
added.
We all shook our
heads in affirmation as we quickly emptied our plates. Ida Rose was
right. Martha Kerine did arrange for enough food to feed an army.
And, it was really, really good food. You could call it down home
cooking with a special twist...kind of what one would do when serving
to guests.
Anna Mae finally
spoke up, “Well, how did Jenny like her quilt?”
“She cried.”
Ida Rose said after swallowing a mouthful of Waldorf Salad. “She
knew all of you helped me create and make the quilt and that made it
even more special. She asked me to thank you today promising that
she would get in touch with each of you when she got back. Maybe
she'll even join us quilting.”
“That would be
very special.” Anna Mae answered.
“Oh, the cake,
Ida Rose. How did you hide it from Jenny? If I didn't know better,
I would have said you took part of the quilt and made it into a cake.
It was absolutely perfect. The flowers were not only just like the
quilt but they were the same color.” Elsie Jean exclaimed.
“Making it
wasn't too bad. It all came back to me...kind of like muscle memory.
But hiding it from Jenny was another thing. Every time she wanted
to see how it was coming, I had to come up with an excuse. I think
she finally got the hint and stopped asking. But, you all remember
how surprised she was when she saw it.”
“I don't think
her smile could have gotten any wider when she saw it, Ida Rose.”
I said. “And when she ran over to give you a big hug, I think all
of us were in tears then.”
“I had tears all
through the wedding and afterwards,” Anna Mae said softly. “It
was like a beautiful ending to a wonderful life...”
“Ending? Anna
Mae?” Wanda Kay asked.
“You know, our
little group's last child.” Anna Mae replied. “We've each been
there for all the children's wedding and Jenny's marks the last one.”
Anna Mae then added laughingly, “Unless, one of you is expecting!”
“Well, you're
right, Anna Mae,” Martha Kerine continued, “Jenny is the last
wedding for our children. But, as Gert said, the next round will be
our grandchildren. So, I think our weddings will continue and
knowing us, we will be in the thick of things.”
By this time, all
of us had gotten up and refilled our plates with more food from the
buffet.
“It's a good
thing I decided not to worry about my diet today.” Wanda Kay
exclaimed. “If I didn't know better, I would think that you made
sure all the food was fabulous just to ruin our waistlines, Martha
Kerine.”
“So whose
dieting? Aren't those day's over” Ida Rose asked.
“Speak for
yourself, Ida Rose. I'm still trying to get rid of the weight from
my first child.” Elsie Jean laughed.
“That was a few
years ago, right Elsie Jean?” I asked practically choking on my
last bit of food from laughing so hard.
“Oh a decade or
so, give or take a couple.” Elsie Jean laughed.
“Martha Kerine,
this salad is wonderful. Who made it and can I get the recipe?”
Ida Rose asked.
“I made it
myself, Ida Rose.” Martha Kerine replied. “I can't quite
remember the whole recipe, I'll have to look it up and send a copy to
you. I think the fact that I roasted the nuts made a big difference
as well as finding really sweet seedless grapes. I also used
mandarin oranges as well as fresh pineapple.”
“I want the
recipe also, Martha Kerine.” I added. “You may as well bring it
to the next meeting for all of us. This is one salad I will be
making on a regular basis.”
We all shook our
heads in agreement. “Okay, I'll bring it with me next
time...enough copies for all of you.” Martha Kerine replied.
“And I will
bring the pictures of the wedding with me.” Ida Rose added.
“That would be
great, Ida Rose. A nice addition to our quilting.” I said.
“Changing subjects, how are the plans coming for the Fall
Festival?”
Elsie Jean
responded, “All the classes are worked out, thanks to the Grange.
The committee to hang the quilts has borrowed several large tents to
display the quilts in. That way, if it does rain a bit, those quilts
will be protected. But, they are also going to line the walkway
using quilts with permission to do so. I am giving them permission
to display one of my quilts on the sidewalk but two of them I want
under the tents. Right now they are looking for quilts to line the
sidewalk with.”
“I sure don't
mind a couple of mine lining the sidewalk.” Anna Mae said. “A
little rain won't hurt them. But have they decided how to keep
little hands off the quilts?”
“Yes,” Elsie
Jean answered. “They are going to post quilters every ten feet.
That way they can also answer questions as well as hold up the quilts
for folks to take a closer look.”
“That's right,”
I said. “I have volunteered to work on the sidewalk area for a
couple two hour sessions. And I have two quilts available for
display on the sidewalk area. I think that we have enough to line
the entire sidewalk from the parking lot to the bandstand in the
center area.”
“Are all the
groups ready to set up?” Martha Kerine asked.
“Yep, including
the carnival rides.” Elsie Jean answered. “I really think this
is going to be an annual affair, if the crowds come out. Everyone is
looking forward to a successful event. And with the added draw, I
think everyone will make enough to come out on top. I know we are
only asking for donations, but I think most folks won't mind
contributing a few bucks. We will have donation places set up in
several areas so they can't be missed.”
“Be sure to have
someone watching the donation buckets.” Anna Mae suggested.
“Don't worry, we
have folks assigned to hand out information as well as watch the
donation baskets.” Elsie Jean replied.
Every single
quilter got up once again and filled their plates. No one.
Absolutely no one opened up their quilt bags to work on quilting
projects. A first for our little group. But it was a nice change of
pace as we all took our places and continued chatting. You have to
do that sometimes. But you all know that yourselves. So I guess I
am preaching to the choir.