Last night, on his birthday eve, John looked out the window and said, I can see Orion.
The Road was lit with Moon and star –
It’s been damp lately, skies muzzy with cloud. Orion has always been his constellation, hovering over him as a young boy buying his first bow, learning the tension, the release of the arrow. I made this quilt for a grandson 7 years ago when he was turning 3, a swirl of autumn salmon, shell buttons for eyes and for the constellations present in our western sky on the night of his eastern birth crowning the top: Cygnus, Cassiopeia, and Orion. Still in the sky, as another birthday is celebrated.
The Road was lit with Moon and star –
The Trees were bright and still –
Descried I – by the distant Light
A Traveller on a Hill –
To magic Perpendiculars
Ascending, though Terrene –
Unknown his shimmering ultimate –
But he indorsed the sheen ––Emily Dickinson
...Theresa Kishkan 
Orion and the Big Dipper, two of my favourites, always. Probably because they’re always been the only two I can easily recognize! But I’ve stood alone, gazing up at them, for most of my life; often remembering past places my feet were planted as I looked up. Happy Birthday to Mr. T! -Kate
Yes, recognizing the old familiars is really lovely. We have a second storey deck, off our bedroom, and in summer it’s the place we take the grandchildren to look for the Perseids in August, with the Big Dipper just to the north of our house at that point in the year. John always took our children for starry walks at night and a couple of the grands still like to do that when they’re here.
what a beautiful creation
the skies on a quiltthe constellations to see even in daylight
bringing together night and day
year after year
lovely gift.
Sometimes they even look like snow angels! (Thank you!)