Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

Yes, today is his birthday, and he is one year older. He's taking it a lot better than he did last year. He was fit to be tied about the big 50, but 51 seems to be a piece of cake. Then again, it's only 9:25am. :)

I finished his birthday quilt in the nick of time. I left it for him on the kitchen table, since he gets up at ridiculously early hours (4:30am), and I hadn't planned to join him. He thanked me, and asked if I knew there was fishing line on the quilt. Why yes, indeed I did. I put it there. :)

"Fish Story"
Suzanne Kistler 2009

So how about this story?

When Pete and the boys went camping a few weeks ago, I was thinking about them as I worked in my Studio. (I still LOVE that phrase: "my Studio!") A block I'd made YEARS ago swam into mind, and coalesced with the guild challenge to "include a circle." (Obviously, since I've unveiled the quilt, this is not my guild challenge.)

Anyway, one slice led to another, and the top was finished that Saturday evening. When Pete returned on Sunday, his eyes glowed as he told of catching a 13" trout. "I cast the line, and this huge fish jumped into the air! I got so excited, I yanked the line and he missed the fly. I was hoping he was still there, and I cast again. And I caught him!!"

Definitely a fish story. It was verified by the boys. Yes, indeed, Dad did catch that fish. Oh yes, they'd heard the story. They'd already "heard it at least 20 times." When I showed them the top, they were amazed. I'd captured Dad's story completely, and I hadn't even heard it yet.

Adam said, "All it needs is some line and a fly." Excellent suggestion, Adam! They make the quilt!

And here you have it, a close-up of Pete's "Fish Story."

"Fish Story" - close-up
Suzanne Kistler 2009

Today I'm going to fix the binding, because I know I can do better. And so, it's onward and upward. I am SO excited to have finished a quilt in 2009. It has been MUCH too long!!!