Grandmother liked spending the last hours of the day in her sewing room. Late afternoon sun came streaming through the long west windows, filling the room with dazzling yellow light. Everything was outlined in a haze of gold–even Grandmother wore a shimmering halo about her head.

Grandmother was teaching her granddaughter, Mip, how to embroider. But, it was slow going! Mip was laboring over a pillowcase she hoped to finish in time for her mother’s Birthday. But the threads kept tangling into insufferable knots. At this rate, it would have to be a Christmas present instead.