needlepoint

Quite a few years ago, one of my kids bought their mother a needlepoint kit.

It was after Miriam was diagnosed with Alz, and they were looking for a creative outlet.

Miriam woud take the project with her when she went with me on tile jobs. She would sit in the truck on good days, or come inside the job on bad weather days. I always carried a comfortable chair for her in my work trailer, but since most of our work was remodel work, she would often sit with the customer and talk of children and grandchildren.

We were not sure she would ever finish it, but we decided that we would give it great respect if and when she did. And, should it not be finished, we would still frame it well.

Well, one day she did finish the project, including a few changes here and there. We bought a cheap frame (she would hear of nothing else), and it hangs in our entry hall.

It is a testament to a good design and a very truthful phrase (that was part of the kit), but it is also the tribute to a great artist, who found even this to be a long time project. Score another win for damned Alz.

If only I could display the wonderful paintings she did, so well for so long, but alas they are all gone, I still weap.

But, I am so glad to display this picture in our house. Even though we are both educated as artists and have done tons of art of all kinds, there is precious little of it on display in our house. It is just the way we do things.

Rats.