I’ve written before about my wonderful quilt group who’ve cheered me on and given me valuable, candid feedback when I need it. We meet once a month in our studio and have a year-end brunch in our dining room to discuss our plans for the New Year.
Our daughter Sophie loves these women and occasionally asks if she can play in the room while we visit and look at each others’ quilts or finds. “The Ladies” as she calls them, are like a roomful of doting aunts who have, over the years, smocked dresses for her, brought fun books and special gifts and greeted her warmly every time she walks into the room. Last year she asked if she was old enough to join us for the brunch and enthusiastically decorated the table and made place cards for everyone. We knew that this year would be especially fun because our daughter invited the daughter of another member of the group to the brunch as well. I think that it’s really heartwarming when two friends have children who are also friends. How great is that?
Anyway, this group really takes care of one another and I wanted to make them a little care package for them to take home with them this year. A non-quilting friend had given us a wonderful jar of curried lentil soup mix for Christmas in 2008 so I decided to mix up a jar for each person in the group as a party favor.
Our daughter couldn’t wait to set up the assembly line of lentils and spices for the soup. This child loves to assemble things. She loves using Allen wrenches so much that she actually said to me when she was 3 or 4 and we had just returned from purchasing some bookshelves from Ikea, “Will you promise to wait until I get up from my nap to assemble the bookshelves so I can help?” She assembled the whole set of bookcases herself with the Allen wrench with us just holding the parts in place. It’s amazing how some kids take to certain things.
At any rate, while we measured ingredients, Bill designed a cute tag for the jars. Sophie wrote names on all of the lids of the jars and lined them up down the center of the table so each person would know where to sit. We had a lovely morning together and I once again was reminded of how grateful I am for the wisdom and friendship of these women.
craftnectar.com 
I just love this! (Recipe please!)
The recipe is the link in the text. Let me know if the link doesn’t work for you. W
As being the proud recipient of one of these cherished gifts, I must say is is fabulous!!!!! Thank you Weeks for your thoughtfulness. Judy
I too loved the soup and I am happy to have the recipe.
As a group member, I can’t tell you what a pleasure it is to be a part of this group. I am thankful to Weeks and to all the group members for their support and inspiration. And Sophie is a delight beyond words. I am one lucky quilter.
Such a great idea :) Thank you for sharing it!