June 18: The day we drive to Ottawa and begin the wedding.
June 23: The wedding was a big success. We leave for Puckwana today. I couldn't find the card I wanted to give to Grace so I wrote a long letter to her instead.
June 24: We are at the cottage and the sound of lapping water and bird song are loud. Just us and the Alaska family here for a few days.
June 25: I played Racko last night with Ned and the two boys and won. Maybe I'll try to let others win that game next time. Ha ha.
June 26: Rachel Cusk felt that she had entered another world in her book about being a mother, Life's Work.
June 27: The idea that patchwork can be a way to not worry. If I make a lot of patchwork sections - a pile of them without worrying - and then just worry later whether they can fit together or not. Don't worry first. Worry last.
June 28: We had a good sleep in our own bed although I had to add my heavy velvet quilt. It worked. First we go to Mike Shain's funeral, and then back to the family, all arriving by tomorrow.
July 3: A milestone for me because I swam at the back channel. I was considering not coming back if I couldn't swim. Baked two cakes and lay on the day bed with Suvi in the afternoon. The cakes were for Grace's and my birthday. Played Clue until late. Aili won.
July 4: Jay gets up early and today he swam to Yrrah from Buffy's many times. I've been having more pain these last few days.
July 7: I go into my stitching with my daydream mind and my intelligent hand, and ignore the body.
July 8: You are here, alive, completely alive. That is a miracle.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Included in the post are fragments from my written journal in combination with the sunlight and shadow quilt I took with me to the wedding and then the family cottage. Life was turbulent and beautiful with all my children and grandchildren.
