Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: jacqui.c
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 05:44 PM

I'm just back from a visit to Maeve and Truelove.

Both are looking very well - they have a nice apartment, sufficiently furnished for their needs right now and were very pleased to have the banjo that Leadfingers sent back with me and some CDs that SINSULL and I got together, mostly duplicates from our own collections along with some of Kendall's and one from MGAS.

They have a lot to work through right now but have a very positive attitude to all that has happened and to all that needs to be done. Knowing Maeve, in particular, it does not surprise me that they are dealing so well with all of this. They have a very strong partnership, which will stand them in very good stead.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: gnu
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 05:50 PM

Great! So nice to hear.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 06:20 PM

Thanks, jacqui, nice to hear from someone who actually has laid eyes on them and can assess so well.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:19 PM

Their first gift of an instrument in the new apartment is a banjo?

Oh, my.

;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:21 PM

Banjo players are sexier.
Thanks, Jacqui. A welcome first hand update.
M

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:27 PM

My post diskappeared. OK, reposted...

Jacqui, am I correct that they still prefer to pre-OK anything to be sent, or can we ALL send them a banjo? I know at least one I'd love to send.... :~) (NOT Hardi's, either.)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: jacqui.c
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:28 PM

Check before sending......

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 03:51 AM

Especially banjos! Although, it would be good to have some well seasoned lumber, and those metal bits make dandy window frames....

LTS

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:31 AM

I think Maeve is being very wise in holding off donations. She is in a comfortable but small apartment with little room to store stuff. No matter how well meaning people are, some send things they can no longer use - mismatched china, used clothing, inflatable lobsters. Unfortunately, it is often true that the recipient has no use for them either.
A friend of mine who lost everything to a fire was deluged with bags of old clothes and to put it mildly crap. She appreciated the gesture - people thought that since she had lost everything anything would be welcome - but then had to deal with her own post fire mess and other people's Goodwill donations.
Maeve and Truelove are in the enviable (I am going to catch hell for that observation) position of being able to design and furnish their new home from scratch. Each room can be planned, designed and furnished exactly as they want it. And they can do it together. They have lost so much. They have gained something too.
So yes - check before sending and don't be offended if the answer is "Not just yet." Keep in mind too that Maeve is surrounded by her musical friends up north. We in southern (I know, Kendall, western) Maine have had to sit on our hands too when it is our nature to jump in and make everything better.
The one thing insurance money can't provide is the love, support and willingness to listen that good friends can. For now, that has to be enough.
SINS, packing up one more singing dancing eyes flashing chicken for when Maeve gives the word...

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:31 AM

Besides, how many banjos does one person need? Now banjo players is a different story...

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:06 AM

SINS, packing up one more singing dancing eyes flashing chicken for when Maeve gives the word...

The 'word' may not be very polite Mary.........

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:23 AM

Maeve is always polite. It's those steey eyes you have to watch out for. Then she means business.

No kidding guys. She can be...determined.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:27 AM

I think what Sins is saying is that we should not send actual banjos but rather tiny banjo players. As long as they are not dressed as nuns, they go to Jacqui to hold, but if nun-attired they go to Sinsull by tradition. In case of doubt they go to Janie who offered her services as go-between.

Right? :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:43 AM

No!!!! I definitely said "Send Nothing!" Not to Maeve and especially not to me. You can inundate Jacqui with any amount of crap you please but leave me out of it. Janie's on her own. LOL

Sorry for the thread drift, Maeve.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:57 AM

There is no escape from tiny nuns.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 11:09 AM

Well said, Sins. Night Owl had the same thing happen in her community when her house burnt down. She was still sorting through the bags of crap, as you say, several year later. Most of it was unusable, wrong size, worn out, etc. Made a lot of extra work which she did not need.

G'mornin', maeve and TL!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: maeve
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 03:52 PM

Thanks for understanding, friends. Many kind folks want to give us many things. We have the basics for now, and that's all we can handle.

My basics now include a lovely ultramarine blue shawl, a Leadfingers-trained banjo, and several music cds delivered by Jacqui. Thanks, lovely friends.

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 04:12 PM

Wrap yourself in the shawl and feel the love, Maeve.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 04:19 PM

Hey.... did you ever get to watch that VCR tape I sent you of Wingfield TV shows? You got a VCR?

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 05:50 PM

Does maeve have one of the classic Mudcat shawls? Is that what the blue one is? I can't imagine that a mudcat shawl would ever be amiss.

Except for the fact that losing a house that way must feel like going through a heart/lung/liver transplant without anesthesia, the prospect of putting up the new house, even if it is on the same footprint, to meet specific needs must be quite liberating. And any time you're building something, even in the context of re-building, there is growth and creativity.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 06:29 PM

Sins, a few posts back, maeve said TL found her a beautiful one at a thrift store. But, a gyrl can never have too many shawls, eh?:-)

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 02:32 PM

Yall's shawls always make me wanna drawl.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 02:33 PM

Hey... it beats "freeresh".

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 03:00 PM

DOH!
I hear shawl and immediately think MMario and Jacqui.
I guess she can wrap herself in Truelove's shawl and get at least as much love. LOL

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: maeve
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 04:38 PM

Cape from Truelove, blue shawl from Jacqui, no vcr, no Wingfield.

Tired tonight, but I have a sheet of banjo chords waiting. LOL

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: GUEST,WYS-out
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 05:28 PM

LOL, what more can you really need with all that! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 05:40 PM

CRAP! I wish I had made a copy!

BTW.... what I did WAS illegal, but, m doesn't get it down there and I thought she would appreciate it so much on the farm and she said she would not copy it. So, I hope the CBC doesn't... hmmm there is NO evidence...

Never happened. Nevermind.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: maeve
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 07:50 PM

I'm sitting in our apartment with internet service...no more having to walk into town to check Mudcat and email. We are sleepy, but took care of a little more paperwork today.

Peace to you all,

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: jacqui.c
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 09:22 PM

Good news! Anything that makes life a little easier for you both is to be welcomed.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 09:49 PM

Welcome back On Line !

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Janie
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 09:58 PM

Hurray! One step at a time will always get you to where you are headed - eventually.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 10:28 PM

That's excellent! Sleep well and may you awake refreshed.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Tinker
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 10:46 PM

Yeah for convience and a sense of connection.....

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 05:16 AM

Goodbye Skidompha

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: maeve
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 09:32 PM

I stopped in a local quilting shop for needles and a spool of thread...mistake. I couldn't bear to look at the beautiful fabrics without seeing my antique, burned to rags and ashes quilts lying in the charred remains of the house; just managed to pay and return to the privacy of the car before the tears started.

Better in the morning. Moving on.

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 10:37 PM

Oh Maeve - I feel for you with the quilts - I've always thought that the one thing I'd dash back for would be my photographs but in reality, it would more likely be the last piece of embroidery my grandmother did before she became too ill to hold a needle.

I'm sorry, but life is going to be a long line of moments like that for a while... Lots of sunlight and a spare packet of Kleenex in your bag at all times is all I can recommend... and a notebook to write down what it was you missed so that maybe one day, you can substitute it (how well I know that some things can never be replaced - substituted with something that looks a lot like the old one but will never have that '****'s grandfather touched this' sense of history and belonging to it).

Have a hug, from one seamstress to another.... (((xXx))) and then think of all the lovely antiques you can create once you're up and running again! I know you said not to send you anything, but I've got a few sample squares and some fat quarters that aren't doing anything constructive here... just say the word... :D

LTS

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 11:12 PM

When my mom moved near to my sister in the 1970s, my sister found quilt squares in the bottom of a trunk. Seems the ladies of the church had made them for mom when she and dad were married. As a gift, my sister made them into a quilt for mom. This was about forty years after they'd been made.

This Christmas, she took one square each and put them in embroidery hoops for each of us sisters. She said the quilt was completely worn out, but she just couldn't throw it away. What she did took my breath away and made me cry..it was so beautiful even with the worn out spots; it's that connection of knowing mom's hands were on it, etc. as LtS says.

If there is even a tiny scrap left maybe you could frame it, maeve.

Much love,

kat

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 11:32 PM

(((maeve)))

Still following this thread and praying for you and TL.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: gnu
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 05:38 AM

Awwwww.......

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: maeve
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 05:43 AM

Thanks, Susan, Kat, and Liz.

Liz- JennieG and I are thinking about a fabric in a letter" mini project.

Kat- I have a contractor's trash bag (frozen in the van) and a bathtub full of charred fabric remains. We' see what's possible once I have cut off the damaged sections and washed the fire stench out.

I haven't had many moments of unexpected despair. I know there will be others.

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: maeve
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 05:44 AM

And gnu- thanks- cross posted then!
m

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 05:51 AM

Continuing to keep you both in our thoughts.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 07:20 AM

I wonder are lost treasures like friends who have gone on before us? In some way is their true essence still with us, comforting and reassuring us that life goes on? Nothing can replace their tactile, physical presence, but your love for them remains, and love is a positive force no matter what.

I'm just rambliing, musing on the power of these treasures now lost, and so proud of you, maeve, for going into the quilt shop in the first place. You are a testament to strength and recovery, dear. I'm holding you in my heart every day.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 09:01 AM

A bag of scraps.... Oh how I wish I could get my hands on them!!!! :D

If you're going to play 'Postman's quilt', then count me in!

Keep going girl, and give TL the biggest kiss from us.

LTS

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 10:51 AM

You just reminded me of a quilt my sister-in-law's mother made when she was in grade school. Each child in her class dated and signed a square. She embroidered their name in the square with a picture of an item that reminded her of that child - a doll, a truck, a horse. It was a treasure. I'm not sure which of her daughters has it.

Rambling here.

Animaterra is right - it was incredibly brave to walk into that store.

Mary

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 12:45 PM

RE: the singed cloth, baking soda is very useful for taking out smell and the brown. My mother worked a miracle when I singed the bodice of a junior high school home ec project (apron) with the iron. You couldn't tell that I'd really imprinted that iron (probably set it down and turned away. . . this is how you learn the lesson not to do that, isn't it?)

SRS

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: maeve
Date: 17 Jan 10 - 07:53 PM

Thank you. I wish I could write more; just not possible most days.

Love,

maeve

PS Liz- The biggest kiss for TL will ALWAYS be from me. :)

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: GUEST,WYS-out
Date: 17 Jan 10 - 08:18 PM

That's OK Maeve! You don't have to jump through any hoops, here, OK?

GO MAEVE!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: ragdall
Date: 17 Jan 10 - 08:57 PM

Hi maeve,
I'm glad that you have Internet access at your home base now. You and TL are in my thoughts and prayers.   You have always had a wonderful attitude and are deserving of all the love and material help that this community has to offer you. Please, when you are in a position to rebuild, let us know what you need.

In a motel fire years ago, we lost all our camping gear and clothing, etc. that we carried for a vacation for a family of 9. The task of documenting and replacing those things took so much time and energy. I can't imagine how much work there is for you to do and how difficult it will be when you are reminded of things which are no more, as you were in the quilt store.

Wishing you many happy new memories.

   Hugs,
    rags

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove
From: Janie
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 06:47 AM

Nothing really to say, maeve - just sending another {{{hug}}}.