Last night was cold. I always turn off my heat at night unless it reaches down to 20 degrees outside. That temperature is my signal to let the heat stay on through the night.
Bundling up with lots of covers is therefore a ritual I perform every night once the cold weather sets in. Last night was no different. After watching the election returns, I threw the above quilt on for an extra good measure of warmth as I settled into my bed for the night.
This morning as I straightened my bed covers my mind was still on the election. As I tossed my quilt on top of the bed, I took notice of the many cloth pieces sewn together. My thoughts became aware of its colors, shapes and patterns -- it could be used as an analogy to the election results.
The election results appeared to tell us that yes, there are issues that drive a presidential election campaign. But in reality, like the quilt, we are individuals first and foremost not chess pieces moving around on someones poll charts. That we do vote with our own reality rather than the ones that are driven at us by candidates. By us being of different colors, shapes and patterns we can become a whole. A diverse whole. Like my quilt.
Quilts make wonderful analogies and yours is a very apt one. It could be carried even further if you so chose or can be in our individual minds as we look at the many sizes and colors and patterns on the fabrics. That is a kind of traditional scrap quilt that I love. I'm sure it helped you have a comfortable night.
ReplyDeleteJune -- yes, the quilt was just the extra piece of covering to keep me warm last night. What would really warm me mentally would be to see our country accept the diversity with in country. thanks -- barbara
DeletePerfect comment!
ReplyDeleteHattie -- thanks for the comment. Perhaps we can all gain from this election last night -- barbara
DeleteBarbara, this post is ideal for the day after the election. I ditto your words 'we vote with our own reality rather than the ones driven at us..' The pieced quilt analogy is spot on. Thank you for putting my thoughts into words.
ReplyDeleteNature Weaver -- Thanks for the nice comments. I guess the old idea of a melting pot is important to me -- we are all different yet can come together as we have seen at particular times in our history. But not always have we come together. Which will it be for the future? -- barbara
DeleteHalf our country is pretty angry right now, but I also would venture to guess that most of them don't use quilts and keep their thermostats at a toasty 68 degrees every night.
ReplyDelete20 degrees? I don't know how you do it. I think I'm doing good with 55. Ah well...
Rubeye -- It really is nice to sleep in cold air -- you really feel refreshed in the morning as you race to push the thermostat back up to a decent temp. I save on my heat bill as well as save a few natural resources. thanks for the comment -- barbara
DeleteLovely metaphorical take on our election. Wake up call to all of us about what need to be paramount priorities in this country's future. My own quilt has clouds for serious conversation around climate change and chili peppers sprinkled throughout for immigration reform now--not tomorrow
ReplyDeletenaomi -- Like the idea of your quilt with clouds and chili peppers. Climate change got so little mention during the campaign. Like the idea of being an energy efficient nation -- hopefully not through more off shore drilling and fracking. -- thanks for the comment -- barbara
DeleteThat's a lovely way of looking at it!
ReplyDeletePearl
Pearl -- thanks for the nice comment. Some objects just seem to make good metaphors.-- barbara
DeleteWe turn the heat down to 64 at night but are cowards beyond that. I used to love heavy quilts and I still love to look at them. But now I prefer a lighter down comforter for warmth. Well-stated comparison.
ReplyDeleteNCmountainwoman -- It really never gets down much below 50ish at night at my home. Even though I turn my heat off -- my very well insulated home is slow to dissipate heat at night. I just don't have the cost of running any heat all night. I guess each home would have differing ways of retaining heat at night. Down comforters are great for warmth. I break mine out once in a while, especially when I lose power from a storm. thanks -- barbara
Deletevery nice...loved the way you put this together! pun intended... Also loved the tobacco barn on your other blog. Wow...
ReplyDeleteturquoisemoon -- like your pun. thanks for the comment on the tobacco barn on Picayune Photos. It is nice to have a separate space to put stand alone photos. thanks -- barbara
DeleteFirst of all, kudos to you for turning your heat OFF at night! I agree that sleeping snugged up in warm bedding in a chilled environment is great, It's having to crawl out from under warm blankets and quilts into a cold house in the morning that's tough!
ReplyDeleteSecond, I did a quilt post today too, but not with the analogy like you did. Nice! By the way, have you seen the website Patchwork Nation? :-)
Laloofah -- When I first moved here five years ago we had an unbelievable ice storm and as a result I went five days without heat. That taught me how I can live without heat. Not that I want to go five days again but I realized I could sleep very well at night without heat. My pipes even survived the five days with no heat -- I kept my fingers crossed on the possibility of freezing pipes.
Deletethank you so much for sending Patchwork Nation. I love interactive maps and this one especially for all the info it provides about who we are as a nation.
I am goinging now to check out your quilt post -- barbara
A wonderful analogy -- and the best and most interesting quilts are those with lots of different colors and some pieces that don't quite fit in but bring the whole piece alive nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteVicki -- I like your words -- "some pieces don't quite fit in but bring the whole piece alive" -- so true of our culture -- thanks -- barbara
DeleteWhat a beautiful quilt. Love them. They give warmth in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteBirdman -- Quilts do bring warmth in many ways - I could make a list of ways. thanks -- barbara
DeleteFirst: Congratulations with the result of the presidential election. Seen from Europe it seems you made the right choice. But as you say: "A diverse whole" And it must unite.
ReplyDeleteRuneE -- thanks you for sending congratulations on the results of our election. I have been hearing news from Europe that they were relieved by our choice. Now the hard part is to unite the negative factions with our gov't. But the people have spoken and that will help. thanks again -- barbara
DeleteThat is an excellent analogy.
ReplyDelete:-)
Birdie -- I feel that diversity energizes the population. thanks - barbara
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