Tyler and I went over to Hilary and Calvin's place last night for one of our themed dinners. We had a delicious meal of sweet potato frites, African groundnut stew, chapatti bread, and a dessert of fried plantains and vanilla iced-cream (cow/coconut). After dinner, Hilary revealed that she had a big secret gift to give us: a family quilt!
Hilary is a very talented person and has pieced together the most gorgeous art with beautiful colours and a lot of thought and meaning. It is unbelievable that this was her first project doing appliqué and she had a little help (from a very artistic mother) in designing the landscapes that grace the pattern.
One panel shows two sixteen year olds on a river in Ontario. Tyler and I met on a canoe trip when we were sixteen. Little did we know that this was the beginning of the making of a bond that would lead to 11 years, four of them married, and a babe.
Another panel shows the entrance to Fulford Harbour on Saltspring Island, Mount Maxwell in the background and Russell Island in the foreground. These are all places that we have enjoyed together and "Chick" has actually been to in a way as well. Also, Tyler and I often talk excitedly about the trips we'll take with our family around the islands and where the camping and day trips will take us. We can't wait to share the ocean air and beautiful landscapes with the baby when s/he is born.
The third panel I recognized as soon as I saw it. I'm not sure Hilary knows how special the westward (or white) pine is to Tyler and I. We met at a summer camp whose symbol is this tree and it reminds us both of being kids and teens and falling in love. Intertwined with the pine in an arbutus. Tyler and I love this new tree (new to us, as it was introduced to us here on the island) which is a special part of our new home. Our past and our future, as Hilary put it.
As you all know, Tyler and I have been working overtime the last month to build a nest. This has been stressful at times because we are short on time (a couple months isn't really enough to feel completely nested and at home) and short on the means to make it everything we want right away. "Chick" is, as the midwife often says, trying to teach us to slow down, be calm and patient, and focus on what really matters. When we brought the quilt home last night the place felt more like home than ever.
As you can tell, we are very happy with the gift and blow away by the artistry and the thought and meaning that went into it. Thank you so much to all who had a hand in it! We feel pretty special and even more excited for "Chick" to arrive!
lyndze & tyler
No comments:
Post a Comment