Time

Last night, at bedtime Joe wanted to play lego and I wanted him to put his football kit away.

A deal was struck: he could stay up for another twenty minutes and do both.

But, when I came to put him to bed he hadn’t managed to do either.

So, I was cross and then he cried.

After a while, he said that he was sad because he’d ‘let his time go away’. 

 

 

I made this tapestry cushion (in 1995) for our chicken keeping friends’ wedding present.

It took me a very long time (as you know).

And I had pretty much forgotten all about it until we visited them over Easter, pulled out a kitchen chair and there it was.

Fourteen years and two children later. Squashed and slightly worn, but still in daily use.

All those hours of mine spent stitching have been truly appreciated.

And, in some way, are still there.

It’s time that hasn’t just gone away.

 

10 Responses to “Time”

  1. Pat Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 12:55 pm

    What a beautiful cushion or I should say “Piece of Art”. It is really striking. And I think that even though we get self expression from it, we also do it so that our creations have an “eternity” value. Sort of like carrying our good wishes into the future.
    So nice to visit your past.

  2. wonderwoman Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 1:30 pm

    i understand where he’s coming from! time always seems to be running away! so many things to do!
    x

  3. Georganna Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Love the cushion — beautiful! And what a perfect way your little boy expressed the way I sometimes feel about my time ‘going away’ too. Time is a precious gift, isn’t it?

  4. Dad Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 4:15 pm

    A lovely anecdote Janet.
    I know just how he feels. I often find ‘time has gone away’ and all I have done is read the newspaper and not the little jobs that should have been my priority!
    Still, I am old enough not to cry when Mae scolds me – I still sulk though!

  5. monica Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    it’s one of the hardest things to learn about the value of time… how it flies, how it doesn’t.

    something to think about.

  6. Joanna Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    Not just in our house then!

  7. Lisa Says:
    April 26th, 2009 at 9:34 am

    What a delightful little story! The cushion is gorgeous.

  8. Julia York Says:
    April 26th, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    That’s a nice sentiment …. how the items we make re-connect us to ‘times’ past.

  9. ginny Says:
    April 27th, 2009 at 8:05 am

    ‘capturing’ time in a piece of hamdmade work…lovely.
    ‘passing’ some time with you also lovely… fancy another meet up?
    x

  10. julia Says:
    April 28th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

    That’s a beautiful story. And ‘handmade’ as I envision it. Lasting a long time because someone took a lot of time and effort to make it.

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