Feb
07
2010
I have a foster-cousin from my third foster home who I had a special friendship with, back in my youth. We were two against the world! We usually got together once a summer, on week-long canoe trips to the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. Usually, her brother and her dad came with us, as well as my foster family. Lori and I had to fend off bears (well, at least we were on the LOOKOUT for the bears), skeeters, unruly brothers and doing the dishes over a campfire. We ate together, portaged together, played games together, sang together and enjoyed the beauty of nature together. We came from two different worlds, but we got along famously.
I recently re-connected with her, and it’s been a highlight of my evenings - to be able to catch up and enjoy her friendship again, despite the miles (she’s in northern Minnesota and I’m in south central Texas).
We decided we’d make two quilts together. I’m going to piece six 15″ blocks for her quilt and the same for my quilt. Then, she’ll do the same. By the time we’re done, we’ll swap “our” blocks and put our quilts together.
A couple of weeks ago, I got her blocks cut out - she’s using the Oh Cherry Oh fabric, from AbbiMays.com. I’m using Crazy Eight fabric designed by Sandy Gervais.
I’m excited and hope I can get my blocks cut out sometime this month, so I can send her the remaining fabric and give her the opportunity to make our blocks.
Have you tried an intimate (less than a 4) block swap? It’ll mean a lot to both of us, to have quilts that we share made by each other. I hope you’ll try it, too!
Feb
02
2010
I’ve had that song stuck in my head for half of a week. Mostly because I seem to have become the go-to gal for my dad’s side of the family.
Why Me, Lord?
- I was not raised on my dad’s side, after my folks died — I was raised in foster homes and ended up with an aunt & uncle on my mom’s side.
- I do not have my whole first name, nor my maiden name as my FB profile name.
- It’s pretty well-known that I’m not a fan of a number of the people on my dad’s side of the family
- I was the middle child, and although my older brother is dead, my sister was the ‘golden child’ in our family (well, until she stole our inheritance and then refused to apologize or pay it back)
- I have been to a few family funerals, but certainly not all of them
- I’ve never been to a family reunion with that side of the family
- I do not share with people my family name, ever, unless prompted to do so
- The family defines the word dysfunctional
- Most Important: I only allow love into my home
Why Me, Lord?
This past week, I was friended on FB by a branch of our family tree that I hardly know. My grandma was married and had a child before she married my dad’s dad and had 12 more children. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of my oldest aunt are the ones who found me. I’m not saying that they’re bad, I don’t even know them! I’m just wondering how the heck, out of all of those on that side of the family who use the family name that are on Facebook, did they find ME first???
Why Me, Lord?
And then this morning, I had a revelation. I realized that I had nothing to do with why or how they found me first - God had His hand in that decision. I have a VERY biased opinion about the family, but I know a lot of the history (i.e the good, the bad and the ugly) and I am open to seeing if I can be helpful to others in the family…such as with information about our family tree, perhaps with info about where someone lives, perhaps even with a kind word, when no one else in the family had given them one (believe me, I’ve been on the receiving end of a number of bad names from the family, I know that feeling well). I definitely won’t carry the torch for family togetherness, but I’m willing to be open and understanding enough to grow relationships with those with whom I choose to. And I will be a witness for Him. How cool is that?
I get it now - Why Me, Lord indeed!
Feb
01
2010
I’ve said this many times, but we are a book-loving family. From the time that our children were their tiniest, we’ve read them books. Even before they started school, they all had the great curiosity and willingness to read. Our son went through the Kindergarten AND First Grade reading curriculum in less than 3 months. All of the kids read at grades way above their level, and the most requested adventure around our place is a trip to the library.
And my husband and I read a lot. A book a day is nothing for us, if we have the time to read. So, for 2010, you’ll notice on the far right sidebar, I’m going to try to keep track of the number of books that I read. Thus far, I’ve read 15 books in 31 days:
- “Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion” by L. J. Smith
- “The Man You’ll Marry” by Debbie Macomber
- “Worth the Risk: Partners & The Art of Deception” by Debbie Macomber
- “Second Chance Pass” by Robyn Carr
- “Temptation Ridge” by Robyn Carr
- “Paradise Valley” by Robyn Carr
- “Forbidden Falls” by Robyn Carr
- “A Season of Angels” by Debbie Macomber
- “Touched by Angels” by Debbie Macomber
- “Stealing Home” by Sherryl Woods
- “A Slice of Heaven” by Sherryl Woods
- “Feels Like Family” by Sherryl Woods
- “Welcome to Serenity” by Sherryl Woods
- “Gone Tomorrow” by Lee Child
- “Rough Country” by John Sanford
How many books are you reading? Are you keeping track? Let’s do this together - reading keeps your mind active, and sometimes helps keep your dreams alive!
Jan
29
2010
My VBFF (virtual best friend forever) Pat Sloan sent me a fat quarter bundle of her new fabric line “Georgia” - and after staring and feeling and seeing the fabric in my mind - and I designed a six-month block of the month quilt to go with the fabric line.
And, there is no way you can work with this fabric without singing a number of “Georgia” songs — Georgia on my Mind, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia, etc.
I cut the fabric out last Sunday and it’s just CALLING my name, but I can’t sew it until the weekend. But, I gotta tell you - it’s DIVINE fabric and I hope the quilt will do it justice. Hope I retain my VBFF status, too 
Jan
28
2010
Our oldest daughter gave me one of the BEST gifts at Christmas, and she made it all by herself!
I throw fits when the girls bend over pages of books (especially those that aren’t theirs), or when they break the spine of a book by leaving it open to save their page. I also have a minor breakdown when I go searching for a bookmark, only to find that someone took it and didn’t put it back.
But not anymore! Not only do I have these lovely hand-made bookmarks that DD#1 made for me, I can put other bookmarks that I find in the same box, so all of us can have quick access to a bookmark! Long live books!
Jan
23
2010
Does food and the colors in the kitchen make you want to run to your cutting table? Do you enjoy great “tried-and-true” recipes? Do you love making quilt projects?
If you answered YES to the above questions, then we hope you’ll LOVE our newest website - www.QuiltedKitchen.com!
We will offer a free monthly recipe, with printable recipe card … as well as a FREE quilt project pattern that is inspired by the recipe!
For January, the recipe is for King Ranch Casserole and the free quilt project pattern is the King Ranch Table Runner!
CLICK HERE to Visit the Quilted Kitchen NOW!
Jan
19
2010
Normally, I would put a photograph of my dashing husband up here, celebrating and commemorating (or is that commiserating?) his special day.
Not anymore.
I have found that some of my photos are being used on other VERY INAPPROPRIATE websites. NOT AGAIN! I will no longer be putting up photos of my family, unless I password protect the post. If you see a password protected post and know me personally, then feel free to email me for the password. Otherwise, I will stick to my knitting (errrr, quilting) and only post photos of my quilt or craft projects on this blog.
What a sad state of affairs. What a total drain of my time and energies. But, I will pray for those who have sinned against me and my family - because they need all the prayers we can send them.
Happy birthday, honey!
Jan
18
2010
I met with an older lady and her mother last year at a local (yummy) restaurant as they were interested in someone making a quilt for their daughter/grandaughter. The parents were older parents when they adopted a little girl. The Grandmother made all of the little girl’s clothes, and had saved scraps of fabric from those clothes and they wanted them used in a quilt for the young girl.
I was more than happy to oblige, as I thought the idea of a memory quilt, across the generations, was so special for all involved. From Grandmother to mother to daughter. That, my friends, is the goal of all of my quilt-making — sharing the love and memories forever.
This weekend, I *finally* made the time to make the quilt top - and I sure hope the customers like it!
The quilt will be sent to my quilter tomorrow and I hope it is all that the customers are looking for!
Jan
13
2010
I’ve been coding and coding and coding a website that has a deadline that I hope to meet by the weekend. Today I take off for my normal Wednesday afternoon activities with the kids at church, but I’m sure that coding will be in my head until I get the site done.
Whoa, you ever dream of web codes? Wish I could say I remember what I dream so the coding would go quicker, but all I remember is waking up and feeling like all I’ve done is WORK all night long, in my sleep!
Be back soon!
Here’s another tote I put together last weekend:
Jan
11
2010
I spent hours updating a number of my websites last night, and hope you’ll go check them out and enjoy what I offer!
I hope you enjoy all that we offer - there’s more coming, so stay tuned!
“Santorini Stars” Block #1 from the 2010 BOMquilts.com Block of the Month Quilt
