Ruby Red Slippers of Quilters' Quarters: Readin', Writin' , and Blessings

I just LOVE to write. Almost as much as I love to quilt. You would never know it when you look at the date of my last blog post. Good grief, where have I been?

And I dearly love to read. I am reading a darling little book right now, actually it is about the 3rd time I have read this one. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. The book is a series of letters written between a lovely British lady and other characters in the book. Guernsey is a very small island in the English Channel that was occupied by the German army for almost the duration of World War II . They were completely cut off from the outside world, no newspapers, no radio, etc.

One of the many things I dearly love about this book is the softly lilting language and thoughts. When I am reading it, I always hear the lovely voices of the British friends we got to know while in the Army. I have always felt that the British people sound so refined. Most that I know really are, however, since they are all human beings, I am certain there are some who are not, I just have never met any.

And before you ask, the answer is "no, I will not tell you how the name came about". What is a potato peel pie anyway? I know and you can find out by reading this book. Have I ever tried one? Nope, but I might just have to someday.

The book also reminds me of just how very blessed we are each day to be in the United States where we have never known the hardships of war on our soil. Sure, during the second World War there were rations of things, but no where near what happened in Europe. We have never (9/11 being the exception) had the threat of bombs dropping on our homes and schools. We have never had to evacuate our children to keep them alive.

All this reminds me that I never say "thank you" enough to our military men and women for keeping that a reality. Tomorrow is Veteran's Day and I will thank them as they pass the shop in the largest Veteran's Day in the state of Kansas. I will remember, especially, to say Thank You to the Vietnam veterans as they have never been afforded the many honors of other veterans (In my humble opinion). I will remember to say a thank you also to my husband for all the years he spent in service to our country. Maybe I will give him his own Tea with Martha and Betsy quilt.

As I read this lovely book, I also think of my darling friend, Karen Hellaby who writes great quilt books in the UK. Karen's got a great eye for design and color as well. We are planning a time when Karen will be coming to the shop, so keep looking for that.