I'm coming to the conclusion that my favorite plants are probably agaves and ferns.  They're both so forgiving of extreme climate conditions and of neglect.  I can't control the climate around here but I'm really good at neglect.  These plants somehow manage to subsist and even thrive.  If a cold winter appears to kill off the ferns, by golly there they are again in spring, sprouting right up and seeming to flourish.  The agaves, as I saw in Mexico, don't seem to mind cold weather or searing heat.  They do yellow a bit without water.  Right now my irrigation system is awaiting servicing, so I'm keeping an eye on the plants and setting out the hose from time to time.

These are not rare or even particularly notable ferns, but they have one of my favorite virtues:  Persistence.

So, as I work on a commissioned piece with a very general theme, I'm taking my attitude from the ferns.  I'm going to keep at it, whether or not it goes together easily.  I'm going to try to be graceful, unfurling nicely in place.  I will avoid complaining about the heat, and I'll drink plenty of water.

As to the agaves, they are all transplanted from Huntsville.  Small ones are in pots, while a couple of larger ones are in the ground.  The latter are growing vigorously.  I'm debating about putting one into a tall planter that's awaiting inspiration in the garage.  I think I'll wait for a cooler day to make the decision.

While in Virginia at Sacred Threads we had time to visit Historic Herndon, where there is a really nice resale shop.   I scored a large linen tablecloth in a 1970s-type print in taupe, dirty purple and mustard. Sounds yucky when I describe it--but with the addition of some fabric paint and a little blanket stitching it has now become a nice tunic-length jacket.

I made the yoke from black cotton and appliqued several of the birds onto it.  Metallic fabric paint on the yellow, lavender and purple parts.  And I added a little light blue to the wings because I have a pair of light blue slacks i want to wear with this.

There were a lot of other things in the shop I'd like to have brought home, but my duffle bag was stuffed as it could be already.  At least the tablecloth did not enlarge my stash--I made it up as soon as I got home.

And because I was such a good girl to get that finished, it justified a trip to the silk store in Houston for some glorious colors to use in another project.  That's all washed, ironed, and fused, ready to go.  Can't show it yet.

Not long after I moved to Texas, I visited the International Quilt Festival in Houston for the first time.  And a few years later, I submitted a quilt for the exhibition, and was rejected, of course.  Pat and I attended the Festival that year, and I was talking with him about how disappointed I was at the rejection, when a "white glove lady" walked by and said, "This is the Olympics, honey.  Go home and make more quilts.  Enter some local shows."  I wanted to argue with her, but there was no point.  I went home, made more quilts, entered some local shows.  Those who follow this blog know that last year our Thread Songs group quilt, "Canopy," did get into the IQF.

And this year--this year!  Both the quilts I submitted were accepted for "A World of Beauty," while "A Good Day at Saint-Remy" will also be there as part of the special Butterfly Exhibit.  I'm really in the Olympics!  And my two partners in Thread Songs are as well--Hope has four quilts on display, and Suzan has two.  We don't have a group quilt this year; the concept didn't coalesce early enough.  But as individuals, we're certainly on a roll.  Apparently we need to get matching leotards . . . wait, no, that won't work.  But we're all eligible to win prizes (it could happen) and somebody might want to buy a quilt.  And we can run around the convention center saying, "Have you seen my quilt?  It's right over here" to total strangers.  Maybe I'll get that printed on a t-shirt.

You can tell that I'm a bit goofy right now.  Gee Gee and I came back Monday from Sacred Threads in Virginia, where we met dozens of wonderful quilters and heard their stories and told ours.  Sacred Threads has a totally different feel about it; the exhibition is very heartfelt and sincere.  The stories and their interpretation outrank the number of stitches per inch, perfect binding and square corners.  There were some shattering quilts and many wrenching stories on display (even the quilts expressing "joy" and "spirituality" often seemed to be generated out of difficulty.  Lisa Ellis and the dedicated volunteers who put this together were wonderfully hospitable and helpful.  So "Gave Up My Woolens" and "Out Into the Wilderness" will be there for a month or so, then will come home if not sold.

Here are the two pieces that will be in "A World of Beauty"

Yesterday we took the two cats, Smudge and Priscilla, to the vet.  Priscilla got her rabies shot without trouble.  Smudge, who had been failing for a couple of months, met her Maker peacefully and without protest.  She was 15, old for a cat, and had led a pleasant indoor life with a lot of lap sitting, plenty of food and water, and a big bed to share with her people. I had hoped that having Priscilla join the household would energize this aging cat and make her life more interesting, but I think I was too late.  She hissed at Priscilla and the two avoided each other.  No chases or jumping contests.

Smudge had been eating less, sleeping more and resisted being held or petted.  Since May she had lost half her body weight.  It hurt to look at her, poor little girl.  So I decided it was time.

As you can see, she enjoyed sleeping atop the cable box.  I suppose I should try to vacuum that thing out now that she's gone.  There will still be remnants of white cat hair around the house for a while.

In the meantime, I've been working on a local commission and discovering that once again, perspective is a bear.  There are some useful, free lessons online (isn't internet a wonderful thing?), though I think a lot of practice and experimentation will be involved in developing some mastery.  If at all.  And I've signed up for Susan Shie's online drawing course beginning in August.  I think that will help a lot.  Susan is a kind and skilled teacher who draws every day, a good example for people like me who are intimidated by the thought.  Adventures ahead!