the big finish

It seemed like there should be a little bit of fanfare or something.  I was secretly hoping for the 100,000th customer experience- flashing lights, confetti, maybe a little whooping and hollering. 

But instead, I quietly finished the very last stitch on my quilt, and nothing happened. 

I looked at the quilt in disbelief. 

It looked back, all finished and sassy-like. 

"I finished!" I yelled out the back door to Steve.

"Woo hoo!!" he yelled back. 

He must have known I secretly wanted hollering. 

This quilt has been my companion over the past eight months.  I started dreaming about it last August, when it was way too hot to think of quilts.  By September, I was choosing fabric and getting started.  In November, I finally finished cutting and piecing squares and started quilting it by hand.  January came, and I was still quilting by hand.  My hands can only move so fast. 

I have missed every single goal that I set for myself for finishing the quilt.  But on March 25th- the real date of completion- I didn't even care.  Aside from graduating from college, this may be the biggest long-term project I've ever completed.  I couldn't be prouder.

We decided that it is thin enough for spring and summer use and for that I am grateful.  Because that means that every night this week, I've had the satisfaction of falling asleep under several layers of my own hard work.  Usually with a smile on my face.