Allison Purcell

Lover of books, music, crochet, gardening, family, pizza, crossword puzzles, puns, & Oxford commas.

[Harrison Ford @HarrisonFordLA]

May the fourth be with you

[Governor Andy Beshear @GovAndyBeshear]

Can���t beat the first day of spring in Kentucky.

[A.A.Milne @A_AMilne]

Pooh made up a little hum that morning, as he was doing his Stoutness Exercises in front of the glass: Tra-la-la, tra-la-la, as he stretched up as high as he could go, and then Tra-la-la, tra-la - oh, help! - la, as he tried to reach his toes. ~A.A.Milne

[We don't deserve cats 😺 @catsareblessing]

The best time is coming, Christmas 🎄

[Crazy Vibes @CrazyVibes_1]

My mother-in-law kept every broken earring, every loose button, every tiny trinket in an old Folgers can for forty-three years. When she passed last spring, my husband wanted to throw it all away.

I stood in her kitchen, holding that rusty can while he loaded boxes into the truck. The morning light caught a piece of costume jewelry at the bottom - a butterfly pin missing one wing. I remembered her wearing it to my wedding, proudly telling everyone her late sister had given it to her. My chest got tight.

"Just old junk," my husband said, reaching for the can. But I pulled it closer, feeling the weight of all those little pieces. The smell of her lavender hand cream still lingered on some of the fabric buttons. I couldn't let go.

For weeks, that can sat on my dining table. I'd catch myself running my fingers through the contents while drinking coffee - finding theater ticket stubs from 1987, a child's hospital bracelet (my husband's, from when he broke his arm), single earrings from sets she'd loved. Each piece whispered a story I'd never hear.

Then I remembered seeing these shadow box displays on online shop when I was browsing for vintage frames to sell some of my own crafts. This seller had turned her grandmother's sewing notions into art. Something clicked. Maybe I didn't have to let go of everything.

My sister helped me sort through it all one rainy Saturday. We found her first driver's license, a locket with a photo of her as a young bride, keys to houses long sold. "Mom would've loved this," my husband said quietly when he saw us working, his voice catching. He sat down and started telling me what each piece meant - stories I'd never heard in twenty years of marriage.

We ended up making three shadow boxes. The butterfly pin sits at the center of one, surrounded by all her other broken beautiful things. When we hung them in our hallway, my husband stood there for the longest time, just looking. "She would've pretended to be embarrassed," he said, wiping his eyes. "But she would've loved that we kept it all."

Now when guests ask about them, we get to tell her stories. How that tarnished thimble helped sew my husband's Scout badges. How those mismatched buttons came from her father's Navy uniform.

Turns out it wasn't junk at all. It was proof that she'd lived, loved, and held onto the things that mattered - even if they were broken. And now, finally, I understood why.

[A.A.Milne @A_AMilne]

“I see quite clearly that all good things must come to an end. The summer has been splendid, but it has lasted long enough. This morning I welcomed the chill in the air and viewed the falling leaves with cheerfulness.” ~A.A.Milne #Autumn #AutumnEquinox 🍁

[A.A.Milne @A_AMilne]

"We're going to discover the North Pole," said Christopher Robin.
"Are bears good at discovering?" said Pooh.
"Of course. That's what an Expedition means. A long line of everybody. And we must bring Provisions."
"Bring what?"
"Things to eat."
"Oh!" said Pooh happily.~A.A.Milne

[A.A.Milne @A_AMilne]

It was a Special Pencil Case. There were pencils marked “B” for Bear, and “HB” for Helping Bear. There was a ruler for ruling lines for the words to walk on, and Blue Pencils and Red Pencils and Green Pencils for saying things in blue and red and green. ~A.A.Milne
#FridayVibes

[A.A.Milne @A_AMilne]

Pooh and Piglet walked home thoughtfully together in the golden evening, and for a long time they were silent. ~A.A.Milne
#SummerSolstice2025
#SummerSolstice #longestday #sun #stonehenge

[Allison Purcell @KittenYarn]

"Isn't it fantastic that you can change your mind and create all these happy things?" - Bob Ross

[Allison Purcell @KittenYarn]

My crochet helpers are working overtime helping me with quality control on things I'm making. So many biscuits, so little time.

[Caitlyn Yaede (she/her) @caitlyn_yaede]

The front page of tomorrow's @dailytarheel –

I shed many tears while typing up these heart-wrenching text messages sent and received by UNC students yesterday. Our campus was on lockdown for more than three hours.

Beyond proud of this cover and the team behind it.

[NASA Webb Telescope @NASAWebb]

Cheers to our first year! 🥂

Let’s celebrate one year of Webb science by taking a brand-new look at Sun-like stars being born, in this detailed close-up of Rho Ophiuchi, the closest-star-forming region to Earth. https://t.co/jXJgjb4mFj

[Allison Purcell @KittenYarn]

Just very, very thankful. Happy Caturday! 😻

[Allison Purcell @KittenYarn]

@beckysquestions Love does not need an asterisk

[Allison Purcell @KittenYarn]

New hope in the morning comes with the sunshine. Every word and action is a creation and has power to heal or hurt. Thankful for this beautiful yarn that was gifted to me. It is like soft sunshine.

[Allison Purcell @KittenYarn]

@beckysquestions I was going to make a joke about being unable to decide how to answer, but yes. When I get stuck, for example, with house things, I set a 15 minute timer and do something easy that requires no decision making or brain power like washing or folding towels.

[Allison Purcell @KittenYarn]

Thankful. Pausing to observe small beauties and joys sometimes brings unexpected surprises.