Afghan Airing Out on the Line

"Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of its trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse for impossibility, for it thinks all things are lawful for itself, and all things are possible." ~ Thomas Kemp ~

When I was visiting family on Thursday, my husband and I brought a bunch of things back from Mom & Dad's house. One of them was a beautiful afghan, whose colors just seemed to shine out at me and ask me to pick it up, pick it up!

Of course, some of the things I have brought back have smelled a little bit musty. So on this day, I sprayed them with fabric refresher and put them on the clothes line over the deck to air out.

It was so pretty hanging on the line that I just sat and LOOKED at it. And I walked around it, and I looked at it from the back. The light seemed to caress it. It wanted to shine through it, and light it up like a lamp. Or like some unexpected stained glass window surprise in a wild cathedral in the woods.

I posted a photo of the afghan on Facebook, and it was admired by many. I queried my little sister as to its origin. Now, I know that my mother made a lot of her own clothes. But she was not one for making things like this.

My little sister suggests that when my maternal grandmother, Grammy Carvell, used to go to the senior center, the little old ladies sat around and made things like this. They did knitting, and crocheting, and quilting projects.

I do not and will not know for sure the story of where it came from. But I like the thought of a bunch of little old grammies sitting around, making this afghan with their hearts and hands. Making it pretty. Making it colorful.

I smile to think that Grammy helped make it, and that her touch and her heart may still be somehow in it, lighting it up with the love of family. A heart light. A love light. Well, let it shine!

I could not decide between these two songs, so here they both are: Heart, with Stairway to Heaven, from Kennedy Center Honors Led Zeppelin; and Heartlight, from the film E.T., by Neil Diamond.