A Picnic Quilt for an AC Friend

As most of you know, I quilt and was also a caregiver until just recently. Through AC I've met others who are also caregivers and we've swapped stories and given support to one another. I especially hit it off with AC writer Susan Jane from Australia and you can view her articles by clicking on her name.

Susie takes care of her almost 90 year old Mum who has severe dementia. Mum used to read books and enjoy puzzles, but now she can only look at pictures in books. She can't understand what she's reading anymore so pictures are what makes her happy. Mum loves to go for picnics and Susie takes her for one at least once a week. They drive to the Australian shore, have lunch, and maybe do a little shopping in a nearby town or visit a friend.

Susie and I communicate through email and I asked her if she had a picnic quilt for her outings with Mum. Susie told me that she brings along an old blanket and uses that on the picnic tables. I decided to make Susie a picnic quilt that she and Mum could enjoy on their outings. Basically, a picnic quilt is made from fabrics with fruits and veggies on it. It's very colorful and I knew it would catch Mum's eye. I also added some whimsy to it by adding fabric with bumble bees and another with ants. Ants like picnics too.

I told Susie that I was going to make her a picnic quilt and she mentioned that she had been knitting a scarf for me. We both finished our projects around the same time and they crossed in the mail. When Susie opened her package and showed Mum the picnic quilt, Mum was elated with the bright colors. She named all the veggies and fruits on the picnic quilt for Susie. Then her question was, "Can we go visit Sandy?" How cute is that? I am thrilled that they're enjoying their quilt because that was the whole reason for making it. Of course, it was also therapy for me knowing that I was helping someone else in the same situation as I was.

Susie also quilts but doesn't have time for that right now as Mum needs constant attention. Instead, Susie finds solace in knitting and has been making scarves. She's in the process of learning how to make hats now.

I wanted to share this story with you because it's the little things in life that make a big difference. We've got a great community of writers here on AC or Yahoo! and it doesn't take much to make someone else happy. I'm thankful to all of you and I hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families.

Image Credit: Sandy James