I also forgot to mention that the spur to get me to finish the pillow was the arrival of a small package.

There was one of those puffy envelopes in my mailbox today. At first I thought it was from my mom - maybe more journal articles (when she finds one she thinks I might want to read, she copies it and sends it to me), as she's about the only one who addresses stuff to "Dr." (well about the only one who isn't a charity soliciting money or some kind of junk mail).

Nope. It was a package of fabric! Four squares of 1930s-inspired fabrics - two with little flowers, one with children blowing bubbles, and another with candies on it. A little gift from Diann, which was unexpected but very nice. (The fabrics now form the start of a new "to be preshrunk" pile - I had worked down the pile I had been accumulating). They'll definitely find a place in upcoming quilts.

Thank you so much, Diann! It was a nice surprise.