Perfectionism Strikes Again

Perfectionism is a sneaky thing. When least expected, it slips in and stalls your plans, halts your progress, and makes you unhappy with perfectly adequate projects...such as a fledgling blog.
The blogger app on my phone will only insert photos in a group at the bottom of a blog entry, and that small blip became a wide-open door, letting Perfectionism stomp in and stop me from keeping my promise "more to come, if this works."
Did it work? Why, yes, actually.
Does anyone care if photos end up at the end? Well, maybe. But life is full of the unexpected, there are more important things to focus on, and I have decided not to let photo placement in a blog bother me. Okay, it may bother me, but it will not stop me.

"Done is better than Perfect," so here we go. First project to benefit from this decision: I plunged into hand quilting my granddaughter's crib quilt. After all, if one never tackles a new skill, no progress is possible!

There's no telling how these iphone photos will translate, but this quilt is named "Gwenyth's Tea Party," and the pattern "Teacup" is in Nancy Seeboro-Johnson's book titled Block Magic. Hand quilting turns out to be wonderfully therapeutic! And, get this: adequate stitches do a fine job of highlighting the teacups and holding the quilt together :-).

Anyone else struggle with perfectionism? Let's leave perfect to the One who is, and just do the best we can with what we have. :-)

The Rose Blooms

We recently observed the 16th anniversary of the day our family moved into Quirky Cottage. We did not refer to it by any endearing name at that time, as it had only irksome quirks, and was only potentially a cottage IF one was armed with extraordinary optimism and vision. The poor old lady was in dire need of a makeover. She sported layers of unfortunate "improvements," from the cemented-rocks-and-crumpled-beer-can path, to the pink shag carpeting nailed to the wooden floor.
Ghastly.
Hard-pressed to find beauty, I chose to be grateful for the vigorous rose bush by the front porch, rather like a vintage brooch the old gal wore, retaining some small dignity in spite of being worn out and unloved.

You've come a long way, baby.

The rose still blooms. We coaxed the house into the current century, and the old gal became Home. How could she not? We filled every nook and cranny with family, and ignored her many flaws. Every year, we celebrated the good, fixed the bad, and found ways around the ugly. Bit by bit, the house regained dignity. Little by little, my family put down roots in the rural community. We did not want to move here. But our lives are richer for it.

And the rose still blooms.

Ever find yourself in a situation you did not choose, did not want, and could not stand :-D?

Thankfully,
Melody

Hello, World!

Today marks the red letter day I join the blogging community... that is, IF I can unravel the mysteries of the iPhone app, the vagaries of an intermittent signal, and sudden writer's block prompted by this little text window spinning open at last. :-).

Welcome to Quirky Cottage.
Do come in, and enjoy southern hospitality in our peculiar little abode. Join us as we live simply by Grace, enjoy the bounty of the earth, and treasure the gift of Family.

More to come, if this works!