I caught a song from my friend.  Mothers do that, of course.  They catch songs from other mothers to sing to their children, to teach them how to clean up or to lull them to sleep.  Between the songs I learned from my mother and the many more I learned during our Waldorf-inspired days I had quite a passel.  But the moment I heard my friend sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to her little guy, I caught it for Eleni.

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high

There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream,

Really do come true.

I sang that song to her so often, so very often.  It was both hopeful and sad, daring to dream and yet acknowledging that those dreams may be too wonderful for earth.  Promising her a future in which troubles would melt away.

Someday I'll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops,

High above the chimney tops,

That's where you'll find me.

The only part I didn't know what to make of was the part about bluebirds...

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow

Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow

Why, oh why can't I?

It raised questions for which I had no answer.  I didn't know my little bluebird would fly away so soon.  I couldn't see just yet that it was then that it would all be worthwhile for her, and she would at last be happy.

Bluebirds fly.  They will; they do.  These fabrics are from Cotton & Steel, mostly of the Bluebird collection just released. I am contemplating a monochromatic work, all blue + neutrals.  I'd elaborate with blues from my stash.  Another winding ways quilt or a new, sharp, sparkly pattern?  Contemplating still.