This morning, I just wrapped a blanket around my legs while sitting at my desk writing and thought about it. One of my favorite things about fall is that I get to wrap up in my blankets again.
If there is one addiction I'm glad to admit to, it's blankets. There is nothing more comforting to me than being surrounded by quilts, throws, blankets ... whatever. And I don't want any of those boring every day blankets and quilts you can buy in the store. I like the interesting, the weird, the wild, the creative.
When I was young, we did a lot of traveling in the southeast because of all of the workcamps we attended in Kentucky and Tennessee. One of the things the women down there did very well was quilt. They could sell those quilts for a tidy profit to bring in extra money. The only problem was that there was absolutely no way I could afford those beautiful things. I would stand in front of them, fondling and touching, wishing beyond everything that I could own one, but $500-$600 and up wasn't in the ball park for any of us. So ... no quilts.
Then one day, when we were in North Dakota - at another work camp, I came upon a quilt that would be perfect. The colors were fabulous and when I looked at the price and saw that it was around $50, I was shocked. Ok ... the workmanship wasn't as perfect, but it was mine. I wore that thing out. The batting wadded up (I told you about the workmanship, right?) and the back fell off (workmanship again). But, I still loved it. I found an old blanket and promptly sewed it in between the front and the back and then re-tied all of the knots in the quilt and it was mine again.
Yup, I'm sure you've seen that picture before - but that was my quilt and I loved it. To be honest, I think I loved it so much, it has long since deteriorated and gone into the trash. See, I couldn't even recycle it or give it away, I destroyed it with love.
My favorite store on earth is the Amana Woolen Mill. I can't go in there and not buy something. So, in actuality, I avoid it like the plague. The blanket I have wrapped around me right now came from there. It's a favorite.
Over the years I have been able to accumulate some wonderful quilts and blankets. Friends have made quilts and given others to me, wonderful knitted blankets and throws have come into my life.
What is it about these things? Maybe it's the promise of warmth against the chill, maybe it's the wonderful scent of the cedar chest when pulling them out after the summer, maybe it's the weight and an idea of safety. I'm not sure, but whatever it is ... warm blankets, quilts and throws will always make me love fall even more.
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