Happy September!

"Autumn in New York" ~ Primrose Needleworks

I hope you're all well and enjoying the beginning of September . . . which will deliver us from the Mother of All Hot and Humid Summers.

A few announcements:  we have a new design in the works -- "Stars and Stripes Forever."  I started work on it during July 4th, inspired by our nation's amazing birthday parties.   I'll announce the finished design and post pictures after it's completed and framed.

Wow, it's been a busy summer -- full of new work opportunities and "re-invention" strategies.  I'm beginning to think that "re-invention" is survival, and vice versa.  One of my summer projects (never-ending, it seems) has involved a total re-build of the Primrose Needleworks website.  We've switched to a new host, and a Wordpress platform.  The new space will offer a more robust environment for expression, photo posting, etc. It'll have a built-in blog, as well.  I can't wait to start using it!

(If you'd like, you can take a peek at the new space.)   Same ol' url:  www.primroseneedleworks.com

As long as there is an internet, this blog will remain in cyberspace.   But to keep things simple, I'll shift my new blogging to the main website.    I hope you'll join me there when it's finished.

As for new releases:  we've created an ornament ("Three French Hens") for the 2012 Just Cross Stitch Ornament edition . . . due out soon!

Have a brilliant weekend and thank you for supporting us on this journey.  Your encouragement made all the difference -- I couldn't have completed "272 Words" without you!  Stitchers make the world go round, no?

xoxo,

Liz

Memory

Good afternoon . . . I hope you're all enjoying the first summer weekend of the year.  In ultra-typical New York City fashion, summer arrived -- wham-o!  Overnight. After a very cool spring, we're looking at 100-degree days this week.

Remember the days when we used to put away our summer/winter clothes?  Not anymore.  You just have to keep your Gore Tex hip-length parka next to the tank tops with the spaghetti straps . . .  and dress accordingly.

I did a wee bit of stitching this weekend . . . nothing major.  Just a handful stars, which seemed appropriate this Memorial Day Weekend.  Do you find yourself reaching for "patriotic" stitching projects during national holidays?

We managed to see a few ships that sailed into the harbor during Fleet Week.  The ship that captured hearts is this one we spotted from our rooftop.  The USS New York (above -- click photo to enlarge) was commissioned into service in 2009.  It was forged from tons of steel recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

Is there a floss that color?  If so, surely it must be called Battleship Gray!

As you spend this day with your families and friends, I wish you a peaceful Memorial Day.  Thank you for remembering the many men and women who have served our country.  Warm hugs to you all.

651 Quilts Take New York City By Storm

Calling all quilters . . . I'm in awe of your skills!

I'm not a quilter, but I have enormous respect for this art. This exhibit of 651 red-and-white quilts (a birthday gift to the city of New York from collector Joanna S. Rose), drew massive crowds during its five-day run at the Park Avenue Armory.

To see millions of hand-sewn stitches in one place made me so darned proud to be a stitcher.  I enjoyed watching businesspeople on their lunch breaks (many of them men!) gawking in admiration at the handwork.

That was the scene caused by The Joanna S. Rose Quilt Exhibit at The Armory this week.  The multi-level, spiral display was extraordinary. My photos don't do it justice, but I wanted to share some favorite pieces.

Afterwards, I walked home inspired, humbled and dreaming of making a quilt some day.

Quilts suspended from the ceiling in a spiral formation

A simple rickrack design at eye level

Flowers, pinwheels, eight-pointed stars

The power of the repeated pattern

Closeup of hand-stitched artistry

See the airplane quilt at the lower left? 

Geometry

My favorite quilt:  Optical illusion with lush corner details

Hello friends!
An article in today's New York Times reports on a photo-editing site called Photofunia.

This free site allows you to showcase your needlework on Broadway, in a museum, 
on the Great Pyramids or any number of venues.  
"Liberty," as President Lincoln envisioned it, makes a great billboard -- times three! 

Pets and children are a natural subject source.  It's easy as pie.  Simply upload your favorite photos onto their website, and within minutes your dog or cat will be on Broadway.

  Quincy the cat is ready to put on a one-cat show, should Spiderman need some time off to regroup.  :) 

Photofunia is a cute diversion on a rainy day!

"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" ~Abraham Lincoln

Can you imagine Abraham Lincoln's Facebook page?  He'd probably share tons of pictures of his kids and pets. He'd crack jokes every once in a while.  But his main status message would probably be "Reading . . . "

It's a rainy day here . . . it's nice to stay in, pour a cup of tea and set up an official Facebook page for Primrose Needleworks.  I hope you'll come by and say hello. Thanks everyone.  Spring is just around the corner . . .

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Primrose-Needleworks/192756550757057?sk=wall

"Happy 202nd Birthday, President Lincoln!"

202 years ago today . . . a baby was born in a one-room Kentucky log cabin.  Abraham would grow up to be a farmer, rail splitter, store keeper, postmaster, flatboatman, surveyor, lawyer and 16th President of the United States.

I recently received a lovely note from Lori, who sent in these photos of her 272 Words finish (excellent work!). Lori included these thoughts about the Gettysburg Address. It's a wonderful birthday message to honor this day:

"I think Lincoln couldn't have chosen better words during that difficult period of our History to remind us that those that fell during combat did it to allow us to be free, all of us. I think as time carries on we tend to forget what has happened in the past. I think it's "All together fitting & proper" that we always remember those that gave their lives for our Freedom. The feelings that he spoke on November 19, 1863 remain true today."

Thank you, Lori.

What's a birthday party without some music?  Here's the "Ashokan Farewell" (from Ken Burns's The Civil War).  Now, how about a slice of cake?

"The best thing about the future is that it 
comes one day at a time"  ~Abraham Lincoln

President Lincoln knew a thing or two about time management. I try to focus on one thing at a time, but sometimes life is overwhelming. My mind goes a mile a minute, and in all directions.  Time to stop, make a cup of tea and . . .  breathe.

It is said that the young Yo-Yo Ma learned a Bach cello suite by memorizing one measure per day. Just one measure per day. Breaking down large projects into manageable pieces.  That seems to be the trick.

One thing that inspires me to no end is -- Stitchers Who Finish.  I love cruising the blogs, admiring the amazing finishes of other stitching addicts.  Their energy is contagious and maybe -- just maybe -- I'll get organized and finish that WIP that's been going since . .  (gulp) . . . last March.  Give me strength!

Last week I heard from Jennifer K., who finished her own version of "272 Words." She provided these pictures of her completed journey. Well done, Jennifer! Thank you for keeping President Lincoln's words alive and fresh in our minds.  

Your "272 Words" finishes are important and ever-inspiring . . . please drop me an email if you've crossed the finish line. Or . . . if you're in the midst of stitching the piece, I'm equipped with bottles of chartreuse-colored electrolyte drinks and high-protein energy bars to vociferously cheer you on from the sidelines. Compression pants and sweat bands are available, as well.

Having stitched the piece myself, I had my own "commitment" issues! (Maintain your energy levels with chocolate.)  It's tough sometimes, but we all complete marathons in our own personal way.

There's something about stitched words on linen . . . it's magic, isn't it?

"Everybody likes a compliment." ~Abraham Lincoln

So true, Mr. President. So true. Compliments reveal themselves in various ways.

When we create something -- be it a meal, a painting, an article of clothing -- we are gratified to see our work become a moment, however fleeting, in someone else's life.

And so, I was thrilled to hear from Faye of North Carolina, who stitched an ornament I designed for the 2010 Just CrossStitch Ornament Edition -- "Windows of Faith, Hope and Peace." Faye stitched the ornament a few times, changed the colors and framed it to create a new effect. I am so moved by the loving care put into each stitch.

Faye gave me permission to post this photo from her remarkable blog, Carolina Stitcher. She has an exquisite way with the needle and thread; you'll see many of your favorite designers (Little House Needleworks, Lizzie Kate, Rosewood Manor, etc.) there, among the charming stories.

Thank you, Faye, for sharing your passion for stitching.

And thank you all -- Dear Readers -- for visiting throughout the year and sharing your stitching stories through your own windows of faith, hope and peace.

May 2011 bring blessings to you and your families.

September 11, 2001

New York City

Shanksville, Pennsylvania

The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia

Nine years.

The heart that truly loves, never forgets

I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.  

~Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was famous for his love of animals, and I think he'd approve of Quincy the cat, since he bears the middle name of  John Quincy Adams, our sixth President who was in office when Lincoln was teenager.

Quincy walked into this household on Friday and with the swish of a tail, promptly made himself at home.  I adopted him (or, er . . . he adopted me) through the Washington Heights Cat Colony. (Washington -- another U.S. President!) 

Quincy's story is on the crossword blog. He is a tough little guy, a real survivor.

I'm counting on Quincy to help with the stitching.  His job is to keep all the floss in order, without even thinking about swatting, pawing or twisting it into knotted, amorphous, unrecognizable shapes.

Right.

"My evil genius Procrastination has whispered me to tarry 'til a more convenient season."

~Mary Todd Lincoln

Day after day of pounding heat . . . the result is -- I'm not sure if I'm awake or asleep.  My goal is to try to be in-the-moment lucid -- whether I'm dreaming or awake, and just "make it work," as they say on Project Runway.

Fortunately, none of my jobs require that I operate heavy machinery. Rest assured -- that person with the jackhammer, cracking open the sidewalk at Broadway and 110th Street  . . .  is not me. It's still safe to visit New York City.

But there is a problem.  It's been a while since my last post.  And between business trips and work and other challenges, I'm struggling with the motivation to stitch.  I haven't lost my love for stitching . . . what's missing is the discipline to concentrate and finish a project.  Yes . . . it's serious.

Hi, my name is Liz.  I have finishing resistance.

It would be helpful to hear from other stitchers who've been in my shoes.  I need your advice.  Is this normal? Does it happen to others?  Has it happened to you?  Will I ever get my mojo back?  (I used to stitch speeches made by U.S. Presidents . . . those were the days.)  Is an intervention in order?  Herbs? Topical applications?

Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated.

Signed,

Sleepless in NYC

"Happy 201st Birthday, Mr. President!"

It's Abraham Lincoln's birthday, and I have to think that the President would get a kick out of receiving some Hallmark cards in the mail or birthday e-cards. He liked a good joke -- I suspect he'd like the goofy humorous cards over the serious ones.

Thank you, Mr. President, for preserving the Union during a terrible Civil War. If the American House had divided, who knows where we'd be? I might be blogging from another country, writing in another language and there would be no Gettysburg Address to stitch.  

Today marks another mini-birthday --  the first stitch of "272 Words" was laid down one year ago today.  What a year it's been . . . I didn't start out intending to write a chart. I wanted to stitch the great words of Abraham Lincoln during his bicentennial year. It was a crazy dream and I thought I could wing it and improvise along the way.

But a funny thing happened in the weeks following February 12, 2009 -- I started receiving emails and messages from Lincoln fans who proudly recited the Gettysburg Address from memory. Would there be a chart?  It soon became clear that I needed to draw a map of this journey, and that made all the difference.  

Thank you all, for your encouragement and suggestions. I ripped out more stitches than I stitched . . . but the result was, I hope, a simple and respectful presentation of Lincoln's words. Today marks the next phase of the creative process -- the individual interpretations of "272 Words" based on stitchers' personal choices. I'm thrilled to hear from stitchers who have chosen their favorite linen colors, linen counts and floss colors to make the design.  

I look forward to seeing your samplers, as we honor President Lincoln in the coming year. His tricentennial is only 99 years away! I'll set up a gallery to showcase the photos of your samplers. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. You've made a dream into a reality.

"The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read"

~ Abraham Lincoln ~

Yesterday we heard a collective groan from thousands of parents who learned that New York City public schools would close today, in anticipation of the snowstorm. Mayor Bloomberg's announcement sent parents into overdrive -- scurrying to make arrangements for child care or taking a day off from work. The powerful storm has pounded the East Coast, and we're urged to stay home. The Mayor made the right decision -- it's a blizzard out there.

Snowy days make me want to read for hours on end. Later today, after I make another trip outside, earn a living and tackle the third to-do list of the day . . . I plan to do just that.  I'll read a bit of David Herbert Donald's biography on Lincoln (Lincoln). And later, it's The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. This seems like an appropriate literary one-two punch on a snowy night.

If you're planning to visit NYC anytime soon, please check out the excellent "Lincoln and New York" exhibit at The New York Historical Society. It runs through March 25. My favorite part of the exhibit was the studio set-up that featured the camera Mathew Brady used to photograph Lincoln in his (Brady's) New York studio. We were bowled over by the  life-sized hologram of Lincoln's photographed image. After the exhibit, you can take a walk in Central Park (it's right across the street) and then repair for dinner . . . what a nice way to spend a winter's day.

Thomas Fleming is one of the finest writers of books on early American history. He's a rarity among authors; his historical novels are as entertaining as his non-fiction work. Fleming's new book sounds delicious: The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers is about as good a title as they come.  I'd love to know what the wives of the Founding Fathers thought of their husbands.

Falling snow. A comfortable chair. Hot chocolate. A good book.   Ah . . . 

Stay warm!

"A capacity and taste for reading gives access to whatever has already been 
discovered by others" 
~Abraham Lincoln

I want my handwriting back! My script is a casualty of the Computer Age, its decreasing legibility directly proportional to the number of hours spent at the QWERTY keyboard. The handwriting is on the wall -- my penmanship is awful. If Costco sells Liquid Paper by the gallon, I'm buying.

Nice handwriting was once my pride and joy. There's even a Penmanship Award in my past. In high school, I loved practicing the alphabet for purely aesthetic reasons. But there was an ulterior motive: beautiful handwriting might eke out some extra points on an English or History test. I'll never know if my illuminated manuscripts helped with the grades, but it's comforting to think that I was conscious about something in high school.

If Abraham Lincoln had had access to a laptop, we wouldn't have history on paper, namely -- the five known manuscripts of the Gettysburg Address written in the President's hand. Today we might see presidential signatures, but handwritten documents of this length are a thing of the past. The variations among Lincoln's versions of the Address offer a fascinating dimension to the text of his great speech. While I'm grateful for the Computer Age (we wouldn't have blogs!), I'm glad that Lincoln didn't text, compute or Twitter into the wild blue ethernet. This collection of  handwritten Lincoln manuscripts is a national treasure.

The Electronic Age, of course, has revolutionized the art of research. Today I came across Geoff Elliott's superb blog, The Abraham Lincoln Blog. Geoff has done the heavy lifting for years; he covers every aspect of Lincoln's life, and more. I'm planning to read it bit by bit over the next few weeks.

This morning I had coffee with my dear friends Joshua and Jorge, who just returned from a trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Hawaii. They presented me with an exquisite handwoven silk scarf made by Artisans d'Angkor of Cambodia. This consortium is devoted to handmade artisanal arts -- weaving, carving and sculpting. What strikes me about this scarf (featured in the photo) is how perfectly it matches the colors of the sampler. Thank you J & J, for your lovely gift -- I'm wearing it out tonight. Not the sampler -- only the scarf!

Have a happy and artisanal weekend!

"I don't like that man. I must get to know him better" ~Abraham Lincoln

The Ott Lite I'd been eying for a while is here. It's a Christmas gift from my brother, Roman, and I just love it. (Thank you, bro!) It's small, cute, portable . . . and pink! My plan was to take it to stitching club events or use it as an extra light source during string quartet rehearsals.

But no . . . the new lamp has become the centerpiece of the worktable. I keep turning it on and off during the day, when there's plenty of natural sunlight -- just to see it in action. I love the illuminated on/off button that doubles as a tiny night light. Under the new little light, mundane tasks became mildly interesting -- paying the first bills of 2010, decluttering the overstuffed recipe file, removing a splinter from my thumb.

In the back of my mind I keep hearing the dialogue between Meg Ryan and Rosie O'Donnell in Sleepless in Seattle. "It's a sign!" one of them would cry, when ordinary events took on special meanings.

Maybe the new little pink lamp is a not-so-subtle sign for the New Year: To look at things in a new light.

To be thankful for being able to pay the bills . . . for having a kitchen to cook in . . . for having fingers to catch splinters in . . . to, as President Lincoln suggests in the opening quote, be the first to say hello.

"Happy In-Between Week!"

Don't you just love the week before New Year's? People seem less stressed out, or maybe they're just plain exhausted after the holiday celebrations. I'm moving very slowly today, reaching for plain tea, clear soups and roasted vegetables to offset the effects of some culinary "indiscretions." No more soy gingerbread lattes for a while!

With gratitude, I wish you all the best New Year ever. Let's make 2010 a year to remember. Last year was personally memorable because of your joining in this Lincoln Bicentennial celebration. As long as there's an Internet, this blog will go on. Lincoln's Bicentennial year is still going strong, until February 12, 2010.

If I may, I'd like to use this forum to announce a new venture. As some of you know, I'm a crossword puzzle constructor in my other life; I've also designed some crossword patterns under the Primrose Needleworks label. This week I launched Crossword City, where I'll blog about puzzles,words, life (and in the future, some stitching subjects).

Puzzle folks are familiar with ETUI; it's a crossword favorite. For years, ETUI was considered an obscure remnant of crosswordese, until a few stitchers reached into their stitching bags and bopped the accusers' heads with solid evidence. Didn't Caesar the Stitcher really say "Etui Brute?" on the Senate steps?  We continue to fight the good fight and I won't stop until AIDA is clued as a stitching fabric, and not only as a Verdi opera.

Crossword City can be found here:  http://crosswordcity.blogspot.com/

Enjoy in-between week and I hope you'll take time to do the right thing -- stitching is the right thing . . . right? Good tidings to all!

"I never had a policy.  I have just tried to do my best each and every day."

~Abraham Lincoln

As I write Christmas cards and reflect back on the year, I see angels. People who help you solve problems, go the extra mile and take time from their busy schedules to lend an ear.  Tawny and Don Korty, the owners of Where Victoria's Angels Stitch (a needlework shop), are such people. The Abraham Lincoln quote applies to them -- they do their best each and every day.

Shortly after I finished stitching "272 Words" in July, I took the sampler to Don and Tawny's shop for framing. They immediately mobilized into full gear. Don presented a number of frame choices for me to choose from, and this one jumped out. It looks very 19th century-ish. Don suggested this simple, but substantial frame from a huge collection of samples -- too extensive for me to look at without becoming dizzy. The top photo shows the carved detail. I love it! Thank you Don and Tawny for being my angels.  Your shop is aptly named. (Here they are in their beautiful shop.)

Where Victoria's Angels Stitch is located in Clifton, N.J. -- a short bus ride from Port Authority Terminal in Manhattan.  The bus stops in front of their store -- so convenient for NYC visitors and us car-less New Yorkers!  I call it New York City's local needlework shop because, though in New Jersey, it often takes less time for me to get to Clifton than to my friend's house in Brooklyn.

And here are the Rockefeller Center angels . . . on a recent night before the first snow.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" ~Benjamin Franklin

I'm not a beer drinker, and in lacking such first-hand knowledge, I can't attest to the benefits of beer. But I reckon that the folks at McSorley's Old Ale House concur with Ben Franklin's "spiritual" observation. McSorley's of East 7th Street began serving ale 150 years ago. It's New York City's oldest continuously-pouring saloon. Woody Guthrie, John Lennon, Teddy Roosevelt . . . and Abraham Lincoln drank there. (Not at the same time, of course!) McSorley's is a short walk from Cooper Union, where, on February 27, 1860 -- Abraham gave his famed speech. Historians believe that the impact of the Cooper Union speech set the stage for Lincoln's winning the Presidential election in November of the same year.

And so, if you drop by McSorley's for a half pint, you'll follow in President Lincoln's footsteps. McSorley's also made history in 1970 when, with a little nudging from the U.S. Supreme Court, it allowed women in for first time. After that, their old slogan, "Good Ale, Raw Onions and No Ladies" would be only two-thirds accurate.

Some sampler business: I've created a Stitching Tips 'n Sampler Stats page for the "272 Words" chart, based on FAQs, to be updated as needed (see right-hand column).

To answer Laura's question (see previous post) about stitching the piece on other counts, over one, or with one thread -- I can't say whether it would work or not. (Not a great answer, I'm sorry!) It's a very dense sampler; I therefore like the "largeness" of the piece. House guests walk over to the piece immediately upon entering the room . . . the sheer size makes a statement. The large size also makes the Address readable from a distance. I'm nearsighted, and the letters are visible from afar.

The model is stitched on 32-count linen, two strands over two threads. I'm putting out a request to the experienced and talented stitchers on this list: If anyone plans to experiment with different counts, or over-one stitching -- please keep us apprised. I'd love to see the results. Laura, stay tuned!

And to get into the holiday spirit . . . . we snapped this photo last night in Rockefeller Center, on the coldest day of this season. Keep warm!

"Everywhere is within walking distance . . .

if you have the time" ~Steven Wright

Now that the "272 Words" chart has been published, I thought it might be helpful to offer some stitching tips specific to this design. Some of these points are based on questions from stitchers and store owners. I'll update this post as questions arise, and bookmark it to the site. Here are some general guidelines:

~ TECHNIQUE: Technically, this is a very simple stitching project. The pattern calls for full cross stitches only. No backstitching, French Knots or Algerian Eyelets. Nothing fancy. Just plain old vanilla -- full cross stitches. The real challenge, I think, is endurance -- the time involved in stitching a piece that's 349w x 375h . . . roughly 22" wide and 24" high. As Steven Wright says: "Everywhere is within walking distance . . . if you have the time." I am reminded of how Yo Yo Ma first learned the Bach Cello Suites; his father instructed him to learn one measure per day. One measure! A measure here, a measure there -- after a few months, you've got a Gigue and a Courante under your fingers. So to with stitching . . . a word or two per day . . . in a few months you'll have the Gettysburg Address on linen. (Of course, we stitchers know that we can't restrict ourselves to merely one word a day . . . stitching is too darn fun!)

~ MODEL: The model is stitched entirely in colors from The Gentle Art. DMC equivalents are provided, but, using Mad Men marketing parlance . . . "results may vary" if the piece is stitched with DMC only, or a GAST/DMC combo.

~ THREADS: The colors are largely localized, with GAST Nutmeg the color of Lincoln's words. The "Gettysburg" caption part is stitched in green (Chives). The chart calls for 10 skeins of Nutmeg (I used 5-yd. skeins). This is a generous skein count -- allowing for frogging and adjustments for variance in overdyed thread color values. I used the darker parts of the Nutmeg skeins for the capital letters, as a way to accentuate the beginnings of the sentences . . . especially the opening words, and important capitalized words like "Liberty" and "God."

~ STARS: The 50 red and blue stars (stitched in Mulberry and Freedom) contain no political message in terms of red and blue states. The aim was to have "ABRAHAM LINCOLN" stitched in an "Chief Executive" blue (GA Freedom) -- suggestive of The Presidential Seal. The two stars on either side of his name are in Mulberry, to offset the blue. (Okay, so I'm a recovering Political Science major, but politics is a subject for other venues.) :) There's no doubt that our 50-state complement was made possible by Lincoln's preservation of the Union. Each of the 50 stars in the sampler is identical in size; the entire complement is included to show strength in numbers. Again, inspired by the Presidential Seal with its 50 white stars in a circular pattern.

I'll update this "Stitching Tips" list as questions arise. Of course, these are just guidelines.

Finally -- why is there an apple in the photo? I had a piece of Lambswool left over from the "272 Words" cut of linen. The apple is part of a small new design. Isn't it amazing that the same cut of linen looks completely different against an alternate color palette? It's the miracle that takes place when thread meets linen . . . isn't that why we love to stitch?

Have a good weekend! "272 Words" recently went on a road trip across town, at the invitation of our local EGA Chapter. More on that next week. Ciao!

"Thanksgiving and Abraham Lincoln"

We have President Abraham Lincoln to thank for declaring Thanksgiving (first celebrated at Plymouth in 1621) a national holiday to be observed annually on the last Thursday of November. Thanksgiving, in the President's words, would be "acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people."

The first national observance took place about a week after The President delivered the Gettysburg Address in November 1863.

And . . . it is said that Abraham Lincoln was the first President to pardon a Thanksgiving turkey.

November 1863 was quite an historic month!

Today we're shopping, cooking, cleaning, travelling . . . prepping for tomorrow, the big day. I have much to be thankful for this year, including your visits today, and throughout this bicentennial year. Thank you!

In remembrance of Thanksgiving 1863, we present the text of President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation. I'm struck by the beautiful prose, imagery and reverent tone of his words:

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the everwatchful providence of almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S THANKSGIVING DAY PROCLAMATION

(Issued on OCTOBER 3, 1863)