tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2853984494175038912024-03-13T21:45:15.915-04:00Work in Progress...Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-72946859975017063992013-08-11T20:38:00.001-04:002013-08-11T20:46:45.942-04:00A Big Bloomin' ProjectEvery spring I get inspired to plant flowers. Georgia is breathtakingly beautiful in the spingtime. It starts in late February or early March. My sweet Georgia Blues burst forth and cover the ground with tiny purple flowers, the creeping flox appears on the side of the roads, the bright yellow forsythias start to show up -- and show off -- in people's yards, and you've forgotten how many Bradford pear trees there are until they are all covered with white blooms! That starts the cycle. Following these early bloomers in rapid succession are the cherry trees (Conyers, GA, has more than Washington, D.C.), jonquils, dianthis, clematis and all this builds to a crescendo with the grand finale being the dogwoods and azaleas. It's like a slow-motion fire works display in pastels. And I want all of it. In my yard.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIPxPjZHpXaJHE-VnZAZ8O81A4HaIOS4b3aO5NumNZQH0pi6K4bIeBYExPjKtPwmZolYXSq9XLw3dS51Yx7BfefmkJG9usVhyphenhyphenkeoQAitTKq4W8Vcuj1phoTzpkg6jtdfXJslf16BZR3Y/s1600/IMG_4067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIPxPjZHpXaJHE-VnZAZ8O81A4HaIOS4b3aO5NumNZQH0pi6K4bIeBYExPjKtPwmZolYXSq9XLw3dS51Yx7BfefmkJG9usVhyphenhyphenkeoQAitTKq4W8Vcuj1phoTzpkg6jtdfXJslf16BZR3Y/s200/IMG_4067.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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This year I was especially excited after seeing Joy's garden in Eatonton and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens when we went with Bob and Joan. I also took the girls over to see my friend, Gail's, back yard which always makes my jaw drop. She and her husband have turned their sloping, woodsy back yard into a shade garden. That doesn't begin to describe it, though. It's more like a wonderful oasis of nature. In the summer you can forget the heat of the sun and all the time you can forget that you're in a neighborhood. It's a magical world of its own. (Her hostas could be a little bigger, though, don't ya' think?)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWbZuoKOXPS6IEVVkGXHvDFVvW_EiX1l16HtLEI0b5usQWWLndfzb32A45sASDeBjC9Vjq1rVCOGBlrPACsdGCxaGa6oDNazJTHqE2NeGG5DjfI9Pi6gKxUWhc-sHisR_cUWm9G5U8s4/s1600/IMG_4047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWbZuoKOXPS6IEVVkGXHvDFVvW_EiX1l16HtLEI0b5usQWWLndfzb32A45sASDeBjC9Vjq1rVCOGBlrPACsdGCxaGa6oDNazJTHqE2NeGG5DjfI9Pi6gKxUWhc-sHisR_cUWm9G5U8s4/s200/IMG_4047.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzihr8Ta6pD9HGZNu1EMN9QFFacX3RpnTWoop9q7eXusK-IATm6r8fuBYdcAy3FFB-4BspWh6YuJfVRKB8byEAlmttw1I0UwLW0YNQ5IUA573vHA6Q6ckwPRS1eExn-q2rFVFOrfy9-o/s1600/IMG_4075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzihr8Ta6pD9HGZNu1EMN9QFFacX3RpnTWoop9q7eXusK-IATm6r8fuBYdcAy3FFB-4BspWh6YuJfVRKB8byEAlmttw1I0UwLW0YNQ5IUA573vHA6Q6ckwPRS1eExn-q2rFVFOrfy9-o/s1600/IMG_4075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a>So after going to all these places...all of them in Georgia...I decided that we, too, could have a beautiful yard. Only trouble with that is that we have TERRIBLE, AWFUL clay soil and lots of shade. But I was determined. Gail had said that after years of frustration facing similar obstacles, they have decided that raised bed gardening is the way to go and they are enjoying vegetable gardening again -- like they did at their home in the country in Illinois. Following their advice, we put in a couple of raised bed boxes for tomatoes, peppers, etc. and they were looking good. So I wondered why we couldn't do the same thing with a raised flower bed. We chose a particularly ugly section in the back yard where nothing will grow and laid out a shape with garden hose and rope. That looked like a plan, so we started digging. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXKLYMCVpDcKEz-0eDfeYb-KHpspo9A7MP1vEumkrUMldVPFxoBCUi4_ZB8urOYGFNBSookxttqRej1cZO6Z1-N3yBX3lrmLXqHvWzjz1MbkvUisuRrkv1JA60ueRhB3JQ1SBqeihg7M/s1600/IMG_4075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXKLYMCVpDcKEz-0eDfeYb-KHpspo9A7MP1vEumkrUMldVPFxoBCUi4_ZB8urOYGFNBSookxttqRej1cZO6Z1-N3yBX3lrmLXqHvWzjz1MbkvUisuRrkv1JA60ueRhB3JQ1SBqeihg7M/s200/IMG_4075.JPG" width="200" /></a>And when I say "we" I mean it. I helped. I just took time out to take pictures of the progress from time to time. And progress was slow. It's a good thing we had cool spring temps because we worked hard at it. Sometimes Jerry would get the pointy shovel in there thinking we'd hit a rock...but it was just the "soil" we were dealing with. Ugh! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYO4R24XaEZie1BSBA4t0MWh_lzB7DdBkVkcafLWWd-_BeI4NUOhVWf5N6s06kKN2HR6zCIik_dqc8wNruRm3HjHCoXM-qEWdVcktC2sz5fD4dv3C6PDd5mpxdy0xm-oStbNA4kkKSvI/s1600/IMG_4080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYO4R24XaEZie1BSBA4t0MWh_lzB7DdBkVkcafLWWd-_BeI4NUOhVWf5N6s06kKN2HR6zCIik_dqc8wNruRm3HjHCoXM-qEWdVcktC2sz5fD4dv3C6PDd5mpxdy0xm-oStbNA4kkKSvI/s200/IMG_4080.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
But we kept at it and pretty soon it was time to lay the wall blocks. The bottom tier had to be set into the ground to keep them from shifting, so that's why we needed to do all the digging. But this part got a little exciting because it actually started to look like we were making progress. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWvgaQFwzSoheiSPmONVjxjoaM5t9q9Pz5X_E6vO43xcCvpU-bFrheQ9XhzqjdQdW4s1xaaKjVAE7-M_qv3xQNQNRU49_cIVhhX12_9e64BPexsbf0OR7rjkKai17SYrNlxFrQfMIIIM/s1600/IMG_4152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWvgaQFwzSoheiSPmONVjxjoaM5t9q9Pz5X_E6vO43xcCvpU-bFrheQ9XhzqjdQdW4s1xaaKjVAE7-M_qv3xQNQNRU49_cIVhhX12_9e64BPexsbf0OR7rjkKai17SYrNlxFrQfMIIIM/s200/IMG_4152.JPG" width="200" /></a>At this point it was still mostly a dream in my head, but Jerry was starting to get the idea. After all the stones were in place the next step was to bring in loads and loads of compost. Hot, steamy, stinky compost. After all, the whole idea is that this area of ground won't grow anything. It was hot and smelly work. I did NOT help with this part of it. But I felt sorry for Jerry and the kid who was delivering and helping shovel out 4 dump-truck loads -- plus one last load in our pick-up the next day. I kept bringing them cold water and telling them how great it was going to be. But rest assured, I did not wear a cheerleader outfit. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cewVVZ8t07fqlNezwJBSDUPLSQfxxdQkYIFtzm68HD5y-fH9z6FXH-CI1jnZ2z8aV_A8CIqkbL2uhLGZ1ayLRKqU0yAUz5K8FlYmVZ1sq9fcmXJ2niFPJvEiQHJGDloEn54ndECrIA0/s1600/IMG_4176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cewVVZ8t07fqlNezwJBSDUPLSQfxxdQkYIFtzm68HD5y-fH9z6FXH-CI1jnZ2z8aV_A8CIqkbL2uhLGZ1ayLRKqU0yAUz5K8FlYmVZ1sq9fcmXJ2niFPJvEiQHJGDloEn54ndECrIA0/s320/IMG_4176.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
So the final...and fun...part of the whole deal was putting in the plants. I'd been buying plants and planning in my head where they were going to go. There would be a spot for sun worshipers, and area for those shady characters and a middle section where the easy going bloomers would feel at home. I had to keep pampering them in their pots longer than I had thought I would because we were having a lot of rain and the compost delivery date kept getting put back. But finally it was time to plant! What a joy to take a plant out of the pot and put it in some soil without the use of a jackhammer! I told Jerry this was my new playground. I will be able to add and move plants at will and the weeds will slip right out. It was a very happy day. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZP4bN9oHbmz0kZoq464d7HvoXAm91vvRlLazDgiaqEYexmdhjSCY0-THBYUnYOlpYo72uHVlfjg1zsO-uP7hbzCzXg1BwqcGW3SfrXaBL7QTFK5zjeJBuvYA_JRkZ_fKq4b2e9SnAjc/s1600/IMG_4120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZP4bN9oHbmz0kZoq464d7HvoXAm91vvRlLazDgiaqEYexmdhjSCY0-THBYUnYOlpYo72uHVlfjg1zsO-uP7hbzCzXg1BwqcGW3SfrXaBL7QTFK5zjeJBuvYA_JRkZ_fKq4b2e9SnAjc/s200/IMG_4120.JPG" width="150" /></a>I'm so thankful that Jerry is willing to follow me down these rabbit holes. He can't really ever visualize what I'm talking about until it gets done. So for him to put all that time, effort and sweat equity into something that he has no idea how it's going to turn out (and sometimes I'm not so sure when we're in the middle of it) is something I really appreciate. And after all the hard work, we are both very pleased with how it looks. And there were even enough blocks left over to make a much smaller raised bed around the mailbox down at the road. Can you say, "curb appeal"? <br />
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<br />Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-13035134213555965702013-05-19T17:57:00.000-04:002013-05-19T17:57:35.115-04:00Local Tourists<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3YD8z9pSqilINQdkPUjhcERVjC7T5lQInzRNv1diOUbTvBi0d8hf0lpMCzUFbVRWYYuKqb1O9JHKj-Tho9eREx9dVQx2qFbnFtCOEMpoK-RdlhzZzRP8_xUSLBkSx8FgVoocEiMSqIo/s1600/IMG_3930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3YD8z9pSqilINQdkPUjhcERVjC7T5lQInzRNv1diOUbTvBi0d8hf0lpMCzUFbVRWYYuKqb1O9JHKj-Tho9eREx9dVQx2qFbnFtCOEMpoK-RdlhzZzRP8_xUSLBkSx8FgVoocEiMSqIo/s200/IMG_3930.JPG" width="200" /></a>We have taken some vacation trips over the past few years with our good friends from Streator, Bob and Joan Schmitt. They have come down here and we've gone to the Georgia coast -- Jekyll and St. Simons' islands; and we went to North Carolina -- the Blowing Rock and Asheville areas as well as the Blue Ridge Parkway. One year we went north and spent a few days in Chicago together doing all the "touristy" things. They have also stopped to see us on their way home from Florida a time or two. But in all the times they've been to our house, we've never done anything in Atlanta! So this year we decided to make Atlanta our vacation destination.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF1n05sONoFyGtvhznYnUrzkPeIYQoRigmGthyFU14VnFwKdLZf7fBreqwqE2SkCuXBT40yQSh9OaCNcfuGPxOeULz8JjwquUKm4u5puCQ16qFokOP7GHL2qkYv_CAZnvkGdCp-xcM88/s1600/IMG_3937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF1n05sONoFyGtvhznYnUrzkPeIYQoRigmGthyFU14VnFwKdLZf7fBreqwqE2SkCuXBT40yQSh9OaCNcfuGPxOeULz8JjwquUKm4u5puCQ16qFokOP7GHL2qkYv_CAZnvkGdCp-xcM88/s200/IMG_3937.JPG" width="200" /></a> One of the fun things we've done is to find bed and breakfast places to stay when we travel. Most have been very nice and made us feel pampered. Some have been interesting and make for great stories. So even though we had a place to stay for this "vacation" (our house), we planned to spend one night downtown and found a bed and breakfast that had a great location. It was a combination of lovely and amusing. I'm sure we'll laugh many times over the years about Jerry and I being Mr. and Mrs. Sinus...and about the plumbing in our bathroom. It was the Shellmont Inn in midtown and I'm glad we stayed there. </div>
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Joan is a huge Gone With the Wind Fan. So the very first thing on her bucket list was to see "The Dump"...the apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote the book. After touring there, we ate at Mary Mac's Tea Room...an Atlanta legend. Very good! That was only a few blocks from our B&B, so we got checked in and got comfortable. Maybe a little too comfortable (is there such a thing?) because we spent the rest of the afternoon in rocking chairs on the back porch till it was time to go see a Braves game. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6E0KS12EFXM7HBjt7unAYm2SP-tDMDF1GWV9sgHfS9f9MsbRz9P4G1eTjbTY6MS5uoGcQ792utzK40nTYxXGC1505CzK4q5oDzv4CzioCr3BnY2lcVuc2nffry9vH4R6S8440vIBz8I/s1600/IMG_3989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6E0KS12EFXM7HBjt7unAYm2SP-tDMDF1GWV9sgHfS9f9MsbRz9P4G1eTjbTY6MS5uoGcQ792utzK40nTYxXGC1505CzK4q5oDzv4CzioCr3BnY2lcVuc2nffry9vH4R6S8440vIBz8I/s200/IMG_3989.JPG" width="200" /></a> All that was on Monday. On Tuesday, after checking out of the B&B, we went just a few miles up the road to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Spent all morning walking around there. It's a beautiful place and we got to watch them working on several new large topiaries. The ones they're advertising a lot are the two cobras. Amazing was the word that kept coming to mind. I got inspired about gardening again (poor Jerry)!</div>
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After the botanical gardens we went to check out Underground Atlanta and get some lunch. Enjoyed fried pickles and other unhealthy</div>
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yummies at Johnny Rocket's. Then got to Cyclorama just before they closed for the day. The rush-hour traffice coming out of town wasn't as bad as we'd expected.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq47iuD_UmYIpyXYkKmF4xV4hRxZqM6CowCRrZhk_HIXjpl1fAiFfFagLgZgYadHJZqq8hgjiD6kDqyLDoqmE2e3qBedXXKfvbrqjR1IfmGNac1Uc11HyVUvj5dxln4fR_rcxdIXq_0wY/s1600/IMG_4014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq47iuD_UmYIpyXYkKmF4xV4hRxZqM6CowCRrZhk_HIXjpl1fAiFfFagLgZgYadHJZqq8hgjiD6kDqyLDoqmE2e3qBedXXKfvbrqjR1IfmGNac1Uc11HyVUvj5dxln4fR_rcxdIXq_0wY/s200/IMG_4014.JPG" width="200" /></a> On Wednesday we took a break from driving into Atlanta. We took them to see the Monastery of the Holy Spirit here in Conyers. It's a very pretty and informative place. Again...I got inspired and got a plant to try my hand at making a bonsai. We'll see how that goes. From there we took the back roads to the town of Jonesboro, Georgia. They have a Gone With the Wind museum there called Road to Tara. Margaret Mitchell's family was from there and as a child she would go visit them and hear stories and that's what gave her inspiration for the book. We missed the tours -- didn't know they were only in the morning :( -- but spent time going through the museum. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfHY3W0KKEJhimsKuVap7Nm1Ww-12lqVcu5iI7LmG_rwF4PrCRUujEpLgPIDISj0KmTEFX9O8W9OvguMTRuFDGIIWua0xaj8C7c_H20UVm5VomIMZd2cJ3TwYRJswaUs-iPqZlJLosjk/s1600/IMG_4018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfHY3W0KKEJhimsKuVap7Nm1Ww-12lqVcu5iI7LmG_rwF4PrCRUujEpLgPIDISj0KmTEFX9O8W9OvguMTRuFDGIIWua0xaj8C7c_H20UVm5VomIMZd2cJ3TwYRJswaUs-iPqZlJLosjk/s200/IMG_4018.JPG" width="150" /></a> Thursday took us back to Atlanta...but this time we headed north of town for the day. Our destination was the Atlanta History Museum. But I told them that if I was going to that side of town, we had to eat at two of my favorite places. So we had breakfast at the OK Cafe on the way to the museum and had an early dinner at Houston's on the way back home. Good thing there is a lot of walking and it takes a lot of time to see the museum itself as well as the Swan House, the Tullie Smith farm and the nature walk that ties them all together. </div>
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We were going to use Friday to be lazy again and just relax at home. But we'd been lucky with the weather all week despite threatening showers a few times. When we checked the weather forecast for the next couple of days it looked like Friday would be cloudy and Saturday a total washout all the way from here to Illinois. After having driven in some heavy rain coming down, they were not looking forward to doing that again on the way home. So they left on Friday instead. </div>
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As usual, we had a good time. We saw a lot and learned a lot and had some laughs. We didn't do all the things on our list, so we may have to make Atlanta a vacation destination again some time. And that sounds fine to me! </div>
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Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-52974310734275769592013-05-12T17:40:00.000-04:002013-05-12T17:40:17.238-04:00Taking Time to Smell the Flowers<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgrBoWQwmN_MwPs2uwZCSoGzmto3H_qeE7DHrZLbW4-BObABBvHadIR-IVhsriH9AJmaj7aX3UFnhC48kdweUFLzZ3X-jC8_p8Y5o62eEciIo9DvogL4j2kJsmKlm47DMxgZMiD3dS1U/s1600/bible+study.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgrBoWQwmN_MwPs2uwZCSoGzmto3H_qeE7DHrZLbW4-BObABBvHadIR-IVhsriH9AJmaj7aX3UFnhC48kdweUFLzZ3X-jC8_p8Y5o62eEciIo9DvogL4j2kJsmKlm47DMxgZMiD3dS1U/s1600/bible+study.jpg" /></a> Our church friend, Evelyn Brown, got up during announcements one Sunday morning and said that she was going to have a House and Garden Tour and Bible Study at the home of a friend of hers on Saturday, April 27th. My first thought was that sounded very interesting and something I might enjoy. That thought was no sooner processed than the counterpart thought came rushing in. The one that said, "The 27th? That's not good. We have company coming in on the 28th for a week. I'll have too much to do!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwU47vq0pJLRnLMRduh1qsl1OsyWdT1KDYfK0dKz26SUYRkM0AiCXNg2smcV9AFUrusYcGMpyOK4xfVm18lFufnCYz0OaMya9TJkn378m7GN3azbBUFrp6HX1_JDG0AQe7g9VTCGWEB0/s1600/IMG_3876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwU47vq0pJLRnLMRduh1qsl1OsyWdT1KDYfK0dKz26SUYRkM0AiCXNg2smcV9AFUrusYcGMpyOK4xfVm18lFufnCYz0OaMya9TJkn378m7GN3azbBUFrp6HX1_JDG0AQe7g9VTCGWEB0/s200/IMG_3876.JPG" width="150" /></a> So I sat on the garden fence for a few days. Then I mentioned it to my friend, Pam. If she had been unable to go, I probably would have talked myself out of going, too. But she said she was available and it sounded good to her. So I convinced myself that if I got my lazy butt in gear, I could get most everything done by Friday of that week except for a few last-minute fresh food things. And we made plans to attend.</div>
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Evelyn's friend, Joy, lives in Eatonton, Georgia. That is at least an hour away from my house. It was supposed to rain that Saturday, but it held off and we had a beautiful day. And I'm soooo glad I made time to go. If not to "smell the flowers" then certainly to drink them in and marvel at their beauty. What Joy and her recently deceased husband have done with this house and yard is truly amazing. They refurbished an old, 1920's house and landscaped the 3 acres or so surrounding it with delights for the senses. </div>
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We began with a tour of the house that was jaw-dropping. Meticulous attention to d<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcANhFGuwF8iIVSnLIGpl5-cVDuYGZ9klKjyGm1aAXwyzBFq6QlxxJnB2qgw4NXPwHSW38pmsoqDBNcQKQ8Gs6-xV6_-SiZvoPJkVucOD_VlCUYPA6nrxTBXSE6AMIsEuw2ciaKcKplyg/s1600/IMG_3918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcANhFGuwF8iIVSnLIGpl5-cVDuYGZ9klKjyGm1aAXwyzBFq6QlxxJnB2qgw4NXPwHSW38pmsoqDBNcQKQ8Gs6-xV6_-SiZvoPJkVucOD_VlCUYPA6nrxTBXSE6AMIsEuw2ciaKcKplyg/s200/IMG_3918.JPG" width="200" /></a>etails are the trademark of these two talented and visionary people.</div>
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Then, since the weather was nice, we took our bibles to the deck at the side of the yard and began our study. After a bit we took a break and walked around the yard and gardens. Not a moment too soon, because we were all anxious to get out among the flowers and check them out more closely. Being springtime, the bloomers were beautiful. And everywhere you looked there were little pieces of yard art, statuary, pots, welcoming paths and arches to walk through. </div>
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After another short study session, we broke for lunch. Pam and I joined the few ladies that had settled in on the screened-in porch at the side of the house. During the house tour I had said that's where I'd be spending most of my time if I lived there. The afternoon session followed pretty much the morning schedule. Two lesson sessions with another walk-around-the-yard break in the middle. </div>
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It was a nice group of 9 ladies...most of whom I knew to some degree. But as usually happens in this type of environment we relaxed, shared and enjoyed together and made new friends and forged closer bonds. All in all it was a wonderful day and I can't remember anything that I've enjoyed more in a long time. </div>
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I think that when I was fence sitting for those couple of days, God gave me the little push I needed to make the decision I made. Thank you, Father, for leading me to this wonderful opportunity for inspiration, fellowship and blessing.</div>
Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-83626097126832006362013-05-05T18:23:00.001-04:002013-05-05T18:23:19.979-04:00A Spring Tradition<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh4CTjW5MVKUqwaCWJsHcAqHo80eWm99HoIE5M_i44cfmMHKoUWehvOfOR5ZFN_Xf_5LS1Ra3LJooq2OnTTDNQuQFIZd_Fho4ogk1r8bh-yHjduK_GwRoyJybflO2jrNm_mYrUxSAJp0/s1600/IMG_2536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh4CTjW5MVKUqwaCWJsHcAqHo80eWm99HoIE5M_i44cfmMHKoUWehvOfOR5ZFN_Xf_5LS1Ra3LJooq2OnTTDNQuQFIZd_Fho4ogk1r8bh-yHjduK_GwRoyJybflO2jrNm_mYrUxSAJp0/s200/IMG_2536.JPG" width="200" /></a>Springtime brings many traditions and expectations. I wrote last time about the tradition of new clothes for Easter. The approach of spring brings anticipation, too...especially here in Georgia...of sunny, warm days and beautiful trees and flowers bursting forth to show their splendor.</div>
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Another thing I look forward to in the springtime is our annual quilters' and scrapbookers' retreat. I line up some of my quilting friends and Jodi gathers a few of her scrapbooking buddies and we retreat for the weekend to the Charlie Elliott State Park for a couple of wonderful days of fellowship and creativity.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7omLdJa5M0Vn22O28MVKeaDBC_StIc7ntNpEBxk9GIQQ6BAxy8WKBxb4KmUeAUlAym0a4Qap8yGUQkebeonzalRWjpp9-kWRk5ke_wNBxZxAlW5jl98SXaJiufUEMZ36fwhrjJkem-aQ/s1600/IMG_3828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7omLdJa5M0Vn22O28MVKeaDBC_StIc7ntNpEBxk9GIQQ6BAxy8WKBxb4KmUeAUlAym0a4Qap8yGUQkebeonzalRWjpp9-kWRk5ke_wNBxZxAlW5jl98SXaJiufUEMZ36fwhrjJkem-aQ/s200/IMG_3828.JPG" width="200" /></a>The facility is perfect for our needs. There is a large conference room where we can work with plenty of room. One wall of the room is all windows and looks out onto the wooded acres beyond. The other wall is carpeted (really) and we can pin our finished quilt tops on it so that by the end of the weekend we have our own little quilt show. There is a large porch on the window/woods side that is perfect for gathering for meals or a quiet time in the morning. </div>
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There are motel-style sleeping rooms in attached buildings to the left and right of this workroom. Our weekend starts at 8:00 a.m. on Friday and ends at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Allowing for individual schedules, we gather as soon as we're able and stay as long as we can. I won't dwell on the year that Jodi had to turn around and go back home because her house was on fire...or the year she had to make a stop at the emergency room on her way because Savannah broke her arm. I'll just focus on the good stuff.</div>
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Within our group there are, besides friends, usually one or more sets of mothers and daughters. This year was especially fun for me because Savannah (no broken arm this time!) came, too. So we had three generations attending. She brought her scrapbooks and was tickled to be part of the group and be able to spend the night. On Saturday, one of her friends came with her mother for the day and that was fun for her, too. I told Jodi she would probably never be able to go to retreat again for many years without Savannah coming along. She said that was fine with her. It's fine with me, too. :) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrT05GOy7Qfsxotrx3XPHruNEKOfh3oRj_qqMgH5QH1eyqvXrElumbaE_8FYSmd2sCLbZbTjTP-XQIgfbrif2DeOle0uL2PElRo6qB8c1JWVUY7SbAqp1IKG9iqbtAfYQzfvTA91ac44/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrT05GOy7Qfsxotrx3XPHruNEKOfh3oRj_qqMgH5QH1eyqvXrElumbaE_8FYSmd2sCLbZbTjTP-XQIgfbrif2DeOle0uL2PElRo6qB8c1JWVUY7SbAqp1IKG9iqbtAfYQzfvTA91ac44/s200/IMG_3841.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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This is a great group of ladies. Most of us have been doing this for many years, but we seem to add a few "newbies" now and then. That's always fun, too. This year, as with all the other years, was not a disappointment. We had fun, ate well, enjoyed each other and our surroundings and got a lot accomplished. And I've already made our reservations for next year. So the week after Easter 2014, we'll be back at Charlie Elliott enjoying springtime in the woods and getting lots of inspiration and finishing up our projects. Want to join us? There's always room for one more. </div>
Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-79197671718423238762013-04-21T15:16:00.000-04:002013-04-21T15:16:13.019-04:00"Happy Easter, Egg!"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1zKScedAtt3DDGsFhkdij5kXZhKJOXekhLaoYSM6x_m2zOE46SFZ0NeJf0ruvHhKTTWXd_1nWoG6u4TtMkwHSPnIbVEiL4wnJEhXV7bIIge06dNTcWjbswRbtzsyedX7j_dOW-m7BMA/s1600/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1zKScedAtt3DDGsFhkdij5kXZhKJOXekhLaoYSM6x_m2zOE46SFZ0NeJf0ruvHhKTTWXd_1nWoG6u4TtMkwHSPnIbVEiL4wnJEhXV7bIIge06dNTcWjbswRbtzsyedX7j_dOW-m7BMA/s200/IMG.jpg" width="176" /></a>That's what Aunt Leona used to say to us every year. How corny. But that was Aunt Leona. I always think of her at Easter time...as well as many other times throughout the year. When I think about Easter I also think of new clothes. I've never been a big shopper, but my mother was and always liked to dress us very well. But Easter was something special. New dresses, hats and maybe even gloves or a new purse...and always new shoes. </div>
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I think it's a little sad that we don't dress up much any more for anything. I know it's not about appearances, but still -- it was nice. </div>
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I do love springtime and so it seems fitting to deck ourselves out in something bright, fresh and new and join nature in celebrating new birth. The earth with it's <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSs9O4_Mg8EL6Ug84sBi0knA40xpEwYYUTdQX1CbWKZuDZEU5GXA5inrtTh7X-_ty_MES8wVhwNHHRhFPN3gg3qhmN0EdQXgpxWeuiSdO-jFpg9U0kEonsH-2gGYNmMcLAJVa8-8y9fk/s1600/Easter+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSs9O4_Mg8EL6Ug84sBi0knA40xpEwYYUTdQX1CbWKZuDZEU5GXA5inrtTh7X-_ty_MES8wVhwNHHRhFPN3gg3qhmN0EdQXgpxWeuiSdO-jFpg9U0kEonsH-2gGYNmMcLAJVa8-8y9fk/s200/Easter+2010.jpg" width="200" /></a>showing off -- especially here in Georgia -- seems to welcome us to join in the festive spirit of the season of resurrection and joy. </div>
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So it is in that spirit that I have taken the grand kids shopping for new Easter clothes the last few years. Jodi and I find a time when we can get together and I take us all for lunch and then a little shopping. In 2010, I bought Emery his first tie...and he LOVED it! Girls are easier...so many pretty dresses to chose from and Savannah is good to go. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1AA0jMxSXn8wH0eFfi_K6jWxazmuTfSSrlzJiTCTYu14tAoLX55sR3VavBf1xQkbIjClYDyjmabPBdkHl645s3s4Pbv7Lb3_0954FoxMrkeAO23x86KOhgvgPSpw6lrncFMG2U6eVUc/s1600/Easter+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1AA0jMxSXn8wH0eFfi_K6jWxazmuTfSSrlzJiTCTYu14tAoLX55sR3VavBf1xQkbIjClYDyjmabPBdkHl645s3s4Pbv7Lb3_0954FoxMrkeAO23x86KOhgvgPSpw6lrncFMG2U6eVUc/s200/Easter+2011.jpg" width="150" /></a> I was surprised and tickled when in 2011, Emery was more excited to get a new outfit than Savannah was. She was looking at the dresses and he dragged mom and me over to the boys' department. "This is what I want!", he said triumphantly as he pointed to a 4-piece outfit. Jodi said, "Oh. You want that color shirt and a new tie?" But he said, "No. I want all this." and indicated with his hand the whole outfit. It was a shirt, tie, pants and sport coat and he was quite excited. So that's what he got. He told me one time later that he looked like a "newscaster" when he put that coat on. He wore it every chance he got. Savannah settled on a pretty little sundress in coral colors with a matching jacket.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG43QzgvMXfrFd9wpR-fzrvz5gOeLJ-5XVE2afdSD4O9DqAUDGK394MafLG5uf6HU_cWO30CdZrkGFrRg6YHxJrfyYpYmhMydRYOaUs-Ki5c_YKCHq3BugHkOc-hSQ1DZJ7c_k2Dp9VeI/s1600/Easter+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG43QzgvMXfrFd9wpR-fzrvz5gOeLJ-5XVE2afdSD4O9DqAUDGK394MafLG5uf6HU_cWO30CdZrkGFrRg6YHxJrfyYpYmhMydRYOaUs-Ki5c_YKCHq3BugHkOc-hSQ1DZJ7c_k2Dp9VeI/s200/Easter+2012.JPG" width="150" /></a> </div>
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By 2012, Savannah was getting more into the new dress idea. She was trying on a number of pretty spring dresses and Emery just decided he wanted a new shirt and tie and some nice shorts for wearing to church all summer long. Savannah had picked a very pretty and "flowy" pink dress. But by the time Easter came, she was also sporting a bright green cast on her broken arm! But she looked lovely just the same. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTEv8GRO61XAfFVukLuH1_slMfcBaswv9k46zDbqrAmtXrM4ewpVN_6cn0wgmDSX38dNm5S8MsJ-ZJQ9jqDy18XYDsG_DjHc2a1WxVDnTCj_AP6CzNpW7VXELhjzEhW9SmJBdVmNOZC8/s1600/Easter+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTEv8GRO61XAfFVukLuH1_slMfcBaswv9k46zDbqrAmtXrM4ewpVN_6cn0wgmDSX38dNm5S8MsJ-ZJQ9jqDy18XYDsG_DjHc2a1WxVDnTCj_AP6CzNpW7VXELhjzEhW9SmJBdVmNOZC8/s200/Easter+2013.jpg" width="200" /></a> So this year we did it again. After lunch at Rafferty's -- one of my favorite places -- we went to the Athens Mall. Emery didn't seem all that interested this year. I asked if he wanted a new tie again this year and he said he didn't think so. But while Savannah was trying on quite a few pretty dresses he was getting bored. So I suggested we go over and look at something for him. His mom said he could use a nice pair of khaki shorts for church and maybe something to go with them. So I asked if that was what he wanted to go look at. He said, "No. Come here, I'll show you" and he took me by the hand. Again...he spotted what he wanted and was quite sure about it. For a boy that has trouble sometimes making a decision, he doesn't hesitate when he decides on fashion. He took me right to the suits, again, and said, "Here. This is what I want." And it's a good thing they had it in his size, because he was adamant. He wanted the red shirt, black pin-stripe vest, black pants and matching tie. Savannah chose another pink dress this year. A very pretty springtime pink -- the color of azaleas. It had pretty ruffles down the front and the look wasn't spoiled by a cast on her arm. :) </div>
Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-31723667893898089642013-04-07T19:41:00.001-04:002013-04-07T19:41:48.982-04:00Road Trip 2013<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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Last year when we got together with our good friends the Thompsons and McNelises from Sheridan we went back to Paris Landing State Park in Tennessee, which has been our favorite place for many years. We discovered a new winery in the town of Paris and enjoyed lunch at the Bistro there out in the beautiful, warm spring sunshine. And, as always, we enjoyed our time together. But the cabins at the state park have aged a bit (good thing we haven't!!) in the 13 years since we've "discovered" it and, sadly, many of the antique stores that we loved browsing in have either gone out of business or are much smaller.</div>
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So this year we decided to mix it up a bit and go to Nashville for our get-away time together. We rented a house together in Gallatin, Tennessee, which is about 30 minutes northeast of Nashville. It wasn't available on the first night of our trip, so we met in Clarksville, TN, for the first night. After checking in and visiting for a while, we went to the Beachaven Winery to sample some of their wares...and then for a nice dinner at Rafferty's. After that we had to make a brief stop at the pharmacy department at Target. Don needed some cough meds, Ken needed bandages for his thumb and I needed a bottle of Metamucil. (Like I say...it's a good thing we're not getting older!) Then we went back to our respective motel rooms and enjoyed the whirlpool tubs. Ahhhh... Especially relaxing because Jerry and I had driven in heavy rain and traffic most of the way.</div>
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The next day we set out to find the house and check out that area. We were all very happy with the place we'd rented. It was very nicely furnished and was warm and cozy. Warm and cozy was great because we had horrible weather the whole time. It was cold and windy and snow was flitting around ... but not sticking ...for the whole 3 days. I took this picture of the place the morning we had to leave. The sun was shining brightly. :(</div>
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On our first full day there, we went into Nashville to see the sights. We started out by going just a little out of the way to the Long Hollow winery in Goodlettsville to sample their wares. Then we had to go check out the American Pickers' store downtown. From there we went down to "lower Broad" just around the corner from the Reiman Auditorium. The weather was too miserable to walk around that area, but we drove around a little and then went to have lunch at the Big River Brewery and Restaurant. After that we went in search of the Bluebird Cafe. We've been watching the show "Nashville" and it's a place where they go to play their songs. We wanted to see if it was a real place. It is... and it is VERY small...and these fools were standing out in the cold waiting for it to open -- in 2 HOURS!!</div>
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After that we went to the Opryland Hotel and walked around enjoying the beauty of that place. This was the 3rd trip there for Jerry and me and I am always in awe of it. Ken and Shirley had been there many, many years ago and Don and Jean had never been. We walked around enjoying the plants, etc...Shirley used pretty much every bathroom they have...and then we took the riverboat ride in the Delta. I was disappointed that because of a private party we couldn't walk around the Delta riverwalk and go into the shops. (Stupid Aaron's.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rl5_bcUn9q2Y9Rx6d6Feaz9ei88Ko7rJESYGRbMvMbPqVhBH-ola5HNJJyADYJjUajgkiizg2YIEKWIupyC_hgMYlCyCE3v1NVO7KTCJoGrIzmMoyVYqPlxTQ8HDlububtHMo3wAhZc/s1600/IMG_3747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rl5_bcUn9q2Y9Rx6d6Feaz9ei88Ko7rJESYGRbMvMbPqVhBH-ola5HNJJyADYJjUajgkiizg2YIEKWIupyC_hgMYlCyCE3v1NVO7KTCJoGrIzmMoyVYqPlxTQ8HDlububtHMo3wAhZc/s200/IMG_3747.JPG" width="150" /></a> Tuesday was Shirley's birthday, so we had to do whatever she wanted all day. Sheesh. You'd think that after as many of them as she has had, they wouldn't be that big of a deal. We went into a couple of antique shops and then drove from Gallatin to nearby Hendersonville and had a nice lunch at Calhoun's. Also checked out a Goodwill store and scored a couple of bargains. Then we went back to the house to make a fire in the fireplace to take the chill off and watch a movie. Later we had birthday cake. That warmed us, too. :) </div>
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Wednesday was time to head home already. The time always goes too fast and I miss these precious people as soon as we all drive away in our separate directions. But to numb the pain, Jerry and I stopped at the Beans Creek Winery in Mansfield, Tennessee, on the way home to, you know...sample their wares. You can't say there wasn't a lot of "wining" on this trip! :) </div>
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Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-45666003596369057462013-03-03T14:13:00.002-05:002013-03-03T14:13:26.112-05:00Back to Guntersville<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In the fall of 2011, the family went to Guntersville, Alabama, for a week while Jeremy was fishing a tournament. This year, Grandpa and I went back again with the Yorks...for the same reason. Jess had to work and we missed having her along. The first day or two the weather was on the very cool side, but the sun came out long enough for Grandpa and the kids to go out for a while to shoot hoops on the basketball court or take "rides" in the hammock. Then each day became colder and windier. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDlSr_HlDnvofmiIX1bR6dlHTTyZeRVpC2rLDc81pkmntNH5ZbZ-5tTKtcW1aZUxjBGJry4AaENjlhoxlyD-uvg0-eAxgaUDrL7w7W3lI9TJxR9Hi-woThaR1uOxcc0IFKTjO1bmJNkM/s1600/IMG_3622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 126px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 186px;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDlSr_HlDnvofmiIX1bR6dlHTTyZeRVpC2rLDc81pkmntNH5ZbZ-5tTKtcW1aZUxjBGJry4AaENjlhoxlyD-uvg0-eAxgaUDrL7w7W3lI9TJxR9Hi-woThaR1uOxcc0IFKTjO1bmJNkM/s200/IMG_3622.JPG" width="200" /></a> One day wasn't quite as bad, so we ventured out for some fresh air in the afternoon. We checked out beautiful downtown Guntersville. It really is a nice city. It is spread out over quite a large area with the lake in, out and all around it. It has some beautiful public buildings. But the "downtown" area didn't take long to cover. We went into an antique store. The grandkids had never been in one, so they were kind of interested in all the "weird" old stuff. "Old" to them is anything from the '80s. (The 1980s that is...not the 1880s!) Savannah fell in love with a couple of old teddy bears she saw. After looking around downtown for a little while, we went out to the Walmart shopping center. They have some other stores in that area and one that we went into was Claire's Boutique. Savannah didn't remember ever being in one and I told her how her mom and aunt Jessica used to love to go in there. She did, too! She was trying on hats, glasses and all kinds of glam and striking a pose in the mirrors with each one. Emery ev<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPurym84MlBgeMzbfNsW4ZYAxxj4GkHTu4VmbguUgJqmswV1jlIPQy6Ptb45bMjswN6eznzHTSMhOMAHzVOhK2oCPw7Oj4I-zFeLGShiJW6U4SqBEyiADeQYymJMHbrz_J2ZCFoOZQ2yc/s1600/IMG_3623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPurym84MlBgeMzbfNsW4ZYAxxj4GkHTu4VmbguUgJqmswV1jlIPQy6Ptb45bMjswN6eznzHTSMhOMAHzVOhK2oCPw7Oj4I-zFeLGShiJW6U4SqBEyiADeQYymJMHbrz_J2ZCFoOZQ2yc/s200/IMG_3623.JPG" width="200" /></a>en got into the act with the glasses. Especially those that were a little "different"...like with attached moustaches. </div>
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We passed the time for most of the week with school work (like studying the phases of the moon with Oreo cookies), craft projects (the girls made hand "painted" silk scarves), games like Pick up Sticks, Dominoes and Mancala during the day...and Rummikub at night and home-cooked meals for the cold and hungry fishermen. And watching the new season premier of Duck Dynasty was a shared experience. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9BuwvgADmwPToNen2lgyDAV6sbfZHX8XND0wRHiMeFKZJmEdI2N6AIGqDAqAv4RBMtwy1zEgigoZwE00KEN1mA_LPGuu9FHypZuqe8RFKOfDtMlV3FqeTGwrAEZ5cXHpczZwD5kw_wA/s1600/IMG_3643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9BuwvgADmwPToNen2lgyDAV6sbfZHX8XND0wRHiMeFKZJmEdI2N6AIGqDAqAv4RBMtwy1zEgigoZwE00KEN1mA_LPGuu9FHypZuqe8RFKOfDtMlV3FqeTGwrAEZ5cXHpczZwD5kw_wA/s200/IMG_3643.JPG" width="200" /></a> Papa Jim came up to watch the weigh-in on Thursday and Friday afternoons. When we were there last time, we went about 45 miles northwest to Huntsville to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Since there wasn't anything much to do while waiting for the weigh-in on Friday afternoon, we decided to go back up there and let Papa see it and see how much the kids remembered. We were very surprised at how different it was. Last time there was a lot of construction going on and all that was open now. The kids spent a lot of time in the area about black holes. They could get "passport cards" and record their experiences in each interactive exhibit and they can check them on the computer when they get home. Emery scaled the rock wall all the way to the top 3 times and after he and Savannah went into the "Mission to Mars" simulator, they both came out beaming and made Papa go in with them a second time (Grandpa chickened<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZgvPmWQhy9dGWHSyFOogUjKXL5COebABe9XVEk3IjEg5rfM4OezdgZyPcvZFj-0Rx_JKqfH1bxkVR5_5Dj0fCxtD7EvAlwql93N2SBv4i3-CoebUH3Nn3aHBvttue3tfGe2K3L8VUs/s1600/IMG_3625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZgvPmWQhy9dGWHSyFOogUjKXL5COebABe9XVEk3IjEg5rfM4OezdgZyPcvZFj-0Rx_JKqfH1bxkVR5_5Dj0fCxtD7EvAlwql93N2SBv4i3-CoebUH3Nn3aHBvttue3tfGe2K3L8VUs/s200/IMG_3625.JPG" width="150" /></a> out). We left there and got to the lake just as Jeremy was about to weigh in. The timing was perfect because they got to go up on stage with him again, but we didn't stand around in the cold wind for more than a couple of minutes. After that, we ate at Wentzell's Oyster Bar, which is a York family tradition.</div>
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Friday night and Saturday morning we saw just enough snow flakes to make everyone very excited. Jeremy cam</div>
e in 37th place and got a check, so everybody was happy, happy, happy. </div>
Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-78035982646628911182013-01-15T19:59:00.000-05:002013-01-15T19:59:54.063-05:00Here We Go...Again Last January I wrote a blog post that I titled, "Reignited". I said I was fired up to write in my blog more. Then about 10 days after that I blogged about napping. Then I must have taken a nap...because I didn't write again until March! That was hardly the commitment I had in mind. Full-time retirement is very bad for my pre-existing condition: procrastination. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYraMsXgZGQ3jSbR5hWBWQTGmqHzc0NzWfh9vaj_TcKONcAyhUGRsynk6rwYAzH2XgD14_eNLane37pa4WAlSeKWBWXMgkwrVUYjoz20Obd03Az3hENXx0nTSPUYtrjnVdnxr1iXIN-jc/s1600/IMG_2744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYraMsXgZGQ3jSbR5hWBWQTGmqHzc0NzWfh9vaj_TcKONcAyhUGRsynk6rwYAzH2XgD14_eNLane37pa4WAlSeKWBWXMgkwrVUYjoz20Obd03Az3hENXx0nTSPUYtrjnVdnxr1iXIN-jc/s200/IMG_2744.JPG" width="200" /></a> In that March post I was writing about cousins. My focus was on a couple of days that Savannah and Emery got to spend with their second-cousin, Kimberly. But why didn't I write again in May when my Berry cousins came for a visit and we had such a great time? Why didn't I write about the trips we took, the fun things we did during the year (taking a new route home from Streator and finding an out-of-the-way winery, a pool party for the grand kids' friends, time out for a girly tea party, the two-tent campout), my thoughts on jury duty or the good family times we shared? It all happened...but I didn't write about it. So now I have no record of my feelings about each of these things.<br />
I don't think many people read and write blogs much any more. Facebook is just so much easier. But here I am in January again and while I'm not going to make a "New Year's Resolution" (only to fail and beat myself up about it) to write in my blog this year, I do have that intention. I don't want these "Days of Our Lives" to go by and not be commented on. So here goes...<br />
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I've been looking forward to Janaury for the last several weeks. January 9th, to be exact. On that day I had an appointment to see a neurosurgeon to get some expert advice on what can be done to take care of the horrible back pain I've been having for the past 4 months. What started out as simple sciatica became much worse. At times unbearable. After a couple of doctor visits, one trip to the emergency room, two screw-ups at the pharmacy, x-rays, a month of 3-times-a-week visits to the chiropractor, and many, many drugs, my doctor finally said it was time for an MRI. I've always been afraid of having to have one of those, but it was no big deal. (See....why didn't I write about all this??) After the results of that MRI, she said it was time to check in with a neurosurgeon to see what the next step would be. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LFgbASCwV5wiwz6RHA0zFlkGwbSF1JVS9RoW6h2YzrbaavDeI786xJzZOPAj2z2qSEy_LzO6YgrU6WghXZcaV39fqe5AIcic04BFs0rvxnvGuOSvg2rDXmDrvUPFTNW6e1kmsPZWcZU/s1600/PT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LFgbASCwV5wiwz6RHA0zFlkGwbSF1JVS9RoW6h2YzrbaavDeI786xJzZOPAj2z2qSEy_LzO6YgrU6WghXZcaV39fqe5AIcic04BFs0rvxnvGuOSvg2rDXmDrvUPFTNW6e1kmsPZWcZU/s200/PT.jpg" width="200" /></a> So on Wednesday, January 9th, Jerry went with me to see what Dr. Walpert had to say. We both liked her very much and although she is a surgeon, she sees surgery as a last option. She wants me to try some physical therapy first. Many people with back issues have great success with that. Next week I'm scheduled to go to a physical therapist here in town and get an evaluation. Hopefully, I'll get a schedule and can start trying that approach. And, hopefully, I'll take time to write about the whole thing. Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-59198961125409683422012-03-17T13:05:00.053-04:002012-03-17T14:18:35.585-04:00Cousins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHftpr0Ug8TIGZzewexRufx5nqseBKwZvTZe2WjXPSJh8wwgkK5MOMRoaTMYRgNk3MjgHjsSFzyKes3gHznkcwHDtgxEY731r6vqKsnvcCzjewJkU-UJAWcnrQ4lr-4UO-Hbkq3hWKDqg/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 127px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720922704607192530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHftpr0Ug8TIGZzewexRufx5nqseBKwZvTZe2WjXPSJh8wwgkK5MOMRoaTMYRgNk3MjgHjsSFzyKes3gHznkcwHDtgxEY731r6vqKsnvcCzjewJkU-UJAWcnrQ4lr-4UO-Hbkq3hWKDqg/s200/IMG_0004.jpg" /></a><br />I was lucky to grow up having lots and lots of cousins. My mom was the middle of 13 children and all but one of her siblings married and had children. One of them had 11! So that meant lots of first cousins...and almost all of us lived in the same town. Our annual family reunion picnic was something we looked forward to all year and it is one of the sweetest childhood memories for many of us. Several of those cousins were the same age as me, or close to it. Many of us went to school together. It was great!<br /><br />My kids were not so lucky. On my side they only had two cousins and they were younger and lived out of town. On Jerry's side, they had 5 that were older and lived out of state and 8 that lived out of town, too. So they missed that great experience.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucW0y_P4L6aMkwaC3ZoqusY0ZGYo0shXKhsi8C8MDrO2fIBVN9N5zx_5B9UT_Zi9z4GmSml2FYI7BCefNLiGfUvhVgseGtsAY7T37uvfSoHziilUYdlOPqcE7i2thwRK4NHW7CiPGQEo/s1600/York+cousins.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720927187448429730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucW0y_P4L6aMkwaC3ZoqusY0ZGYo0shXKhsi8C8MDrO2fIBVN9N5zx_5B9UT_Zi9z4GmSml2FYI7BCefNLiGfUvhVgseGtsAY7T37uvfSoHziilUYdlOPqcE7i2thwRK4NHW7CiPGQEo/s200/York+cousins.jpg" /></a><br />Moving on down another generation, we have the grand kids. They only have 3 first cousins. They live nearby but are older, too. <br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2lrpTF3MDBuKiHvEGwWKxiFYpuSXgyBF6sD58tu0ZdbwOeL8PDB95ZBjQ3a3-Nn26rEpWMqBLqIh948csoPNDntE33vZdbKRwSY_P_gm39sUHxW2gRLpJsLXy-wAmLxsfsQLrmgx-3M/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 152px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720927885772970690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2lrpTF3MDBuKiHvEGwWKxiFYpuSXgyBF6sD58tu0ZdbwOeL8PDB95ZBjQ3a3-Nn26rEpWMqBLqIh948csoPNDntE33vZdbKRwSY_P_gm39sUHxW2gRLpJsLXy-wAmLxsfsQLrmgx-3M/s200/IMG_0001.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>But there are other kinds of cousins. There's "kissing cousins", "shirt-tail cousins", cousins "once (or more) removed", etc. I'm never sure how the second or third-cousin thing goes. But Savannah and Emery recently had a great time with a girl they just call their cousin. Actually, her mom is one of Jodi's first cousins. Their grandfathers are brothers. I'll leave the math and "removing" to you. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSTIS3UuM502S6uxL_qkwGl-zvkueW_rtNRF50CBOnu5d70HfI_EiCKYpeFJJyJJU1jGDNj5uphOIWREPz16lsy8AzgxTUiLaYdYgbfE1eY_aUAMRP-wXqWvMrJbZFFMvFGZgUHVGC2E/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 154px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720928137824567826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSTIS3UuM502S6uxL_qkwGl-zvkueW_rtNRF50CBOnu5d70HfI_EiCKYpeFJJyJJU1jGDNj5uphOIWREPz16lsy8AzgxTUiLaYdYgbfE1eY_aUAMRP-wXqWvMrJbZFFMvFGZgUHVGC2E/s200/IMG_0002.jpg" /></a>Kimberly is 2 months younger than Savannah and they both think that is pretty cool. They first met when they were only about 6 months old. They stared and poked at each other as babies do. They then saw each other about 6 months later and, again, were curious about that other baby. Kimberly lives in Illinois and Savannah lives here in Georgia, so that's why their contact has been minimal.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 153px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720928962372356562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2WGJ4gUjdy0fic2QwSF7wQh0IA5KR3_zfKtBsWc8CHAS365wKviOloFDb9pNClr-DMELfNcRTP0TCopbU9QA_IexavMYRq-aLauXQjg9Ed1qACxQnK5Skj2JU7KFz-bPHjmau1s8kfk/s200/IMG_0003.jpg" />When they were about 2 years old, Kimberly's family stopped on their way home from Florida and the girls played together for a little while. I don't know if they remember hearing about that or seeing pictures, but they have remained fascinated with each other ever since then. This year, again, Kimberly's family was stopping by on their way home (It's a good thing they go to Florida from time to time!) and the kids got together. Emery was excited, too, even though the last time they saw each other he wasn't even born yet.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWIhwxfVKbC-vKZJ0jkwvlxYWClKq4bIveWpu8h3f50QOM7tX_aL4Dy9gii1uc_lfycsn8SJddi9xsfVUNDfVkKe0aLlHJXW5XGKa_ujUsatmO6mDqY74oa68mb_dPGr51eNXgr3SECw/s1600/IMG_2464.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720929412672602994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWIhwxfVKbC-vKZJ0jkwvlxYWClKq4bIveWpu8h3f50QOM7tX_aL4Dy9gii1uc_lfycsn8SJddi9xsfVUNDfVkKe0aLlHJXW5XGKa_ujUsatmO6mDqY74oa68mb_dPGr51eNXgr3SECw/s200/IMG_2464.JPG" /></a> They went roller skating together in the afternoon and then had a movie and slumber party on the living room floor. Even though they got to spend less than 24 hours together, they all had a very good time and I'm sure they'll be ready to see Kimberly again whenever she comes back by this way. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1bmMrezPRXfjgLcDLQt7KiK0vHNhKG6ng58kqjHdbFJH9Ja17mrBsvvZqHHr_TZk3-7Woebkf0-DrjKHGdtSkQzRerFmHMEkgBWLCwsI8YHMYPfO99QQNioFVVQXFuk77GgWg5hFSog/s1600/IMG_2477.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720929807499478194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1bmMrezPRXfjgLcDLQt7KiK0vHNhKG6ng58kqjHdbFJH9Ja17mrBsvvZqHHr_TZk3-7Woebkf0-DrjKHGdtSkQzRerFmHMEkgBWLCwsI8YHMYPfO99QQNioFVVQXFuk77GgWg5hFSog/s200/IMG_2477.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-52477813314413705612012-01-30T12:56:00.145-05:002012-01-30T14:26:48.316-05:00I Need a Nap<div><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703486449706810754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcoWx77iWDX8oNwQQBXXtM_Wt1KHfUlPvrDLAsaKKnVKKIdk6eCTLXA6AUpI4ITq8cFX5tgao8ym1h-qD-4UdzUjzIOYgJygFzHbsx1l8raNj_5Dz28yDsPCbjLl-ETGwfXsvXkYE9hw/s200/IMG.jpg" />Actually, I've never been much of a napper. I'm not a morning person, so taking a nap means having to wake up twice in the same day. Not something I can get excited about. There is a picture of Jessica taking a nap that has always made me laugh. It was taken the day after her 9th birthday party. It was a "slumber" party and so, as is usually the case, there wasn't much "slumbering" going on. So that next afternoon she got her silky comforter and settled in on the sofa to take a nap. Wrapped in the slick blanket, she slowly slid off the couch onto the floor...head first...and never even woke up! Now THAT'S a nap!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-sBBvQPU4WC4LTOfIQx-2Zqlcott6Qmc8GIKigEgwtOk9XhPlImaCggGG6EDH73HoMWTD8_vERpCvJNdgvH-8tjvrSE88BLYxEFjs5OISFxSflAZHe9Lvzr8pxGC3SSY2m0i8ZXyeO4/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 173px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703487249690880354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-sBBvQPU4WC4LTOfIQx-2Zqlcott6Qmc8GIKigEgwtOk9XhPlImaCggGG6EDH73HoMWTD8_vERpCvJNdgvH-8tjvrSE88BLYxEFjs5OISFxSflAZHe9Lvzr8pxGC3SSY2m0i8ZXyeO4/s200/IMG_0001.jpg" /></a>A few years ago I saw a picture frame that I liked. It says, "Nap like you mean it." I laughed and bought it and thought immediately of the picture of Jessica. But looking at it again, I was reminded of how poor the quality of pictures from the 80s are compared to what we take today. And I got looking at the pictures we have now and realized I had plenty of candidates for the picture frame. I've always liked this one of Jeremy and Emery taking a very serious nap. But I have so many others that I love, too. I'll post a few here. The last one is a little blurry, but it cracks me up. That is Emery sleeping in the bookcase! He got in there when he and Savannah were playing hide and go seek. She got distracted and didn't go looking for him and he fell asleep. <br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>Along with the pictures, I'm writing the lyrics to a song called, "I Need a Nap". It is from a wonderful CD called Dog Train that the grandkids love to listen to. We like it, too. This particular song is a duet sung by the unlikely duo of Kate Winslet and "Weird Al" Yankovic. The tune is terrific and I wish you could hear it...but here are the words:</div><br /><br /><div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703489992868704178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWI0QL0TPSZ7rEfzU5TC65jxoM8JkffSgcRlB7EW_mFmLfRPpNlluPj2KzXFTiE_W3frehRi8PWtFhYvfCB-pIz4IpkmyomTRXyAXBYIL4XlYHfBEDwlCduSLNz35uFlKChO8UTMMZVk/s200/napping+2.JPG" /><em>Well, the sun is still high in the afternoon sky,</em><br /><em>but the morning seems so long ago.</em><br /><em>I was happy before and I'm not any more,</em><br /><em>though why there's a change, I don't know.</em></div><br /><br /><div><em>I'm so tired of this day and I don't want to play</em></div><br /><div><em>and I' don't want a story to read.</em></div><br /><div><em>But I look in your eyes and at once realize</em></div><br /><div><em>that I know what it is that I need...</em></div><br /><br /><div><em>(Chorus) I need a nap! I just can't take any more.</em></div><br /><div><em>I need a nap! Can't stay awake any more.</em><br /></div><br /><div><em>No more running around I just need to lie down and sleep!</em></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCnH3Nfrq9affP1gXAXmFreNLimk15E2EHKIRvLngN8Pct4w7_TGrbV0r9_dTk_jPMlitQeO6KBoOJqUt3sebUxs1rw8FPZ-ruiMjILFlXO2rD_5D92rE9hVnG1TGpNCVo2o3YoA6HIU/s1600/napping+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703499926830564514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCnH3Nfrq9affP1gXAXmFreNLimk15E2EHKIRvLngN8Pct4w7_TGrbV0r9_dTk_jPMlitQeO6KBoOJqUt3sebUxs1rw8FPZ-ruiMjILFlXO2rD_5D92rE9hVnG1TGpNCVo2o3YoA6HIU/s200/napping+1.jpg" /></a><em>I don't know what to do.</em><br /><em>I just can't make it through.</em><em></em><br /><br /><div><em>I want something,</em></div><br /><div><em>or nothing, right now.</em></div><br /><br /><div><em>I am mad and upset.</em></div><br /><div><em>What I want, I don't get</em></div><br /><div><em>I don't know what I want anyhow. </em></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLUIB5vwnx16KRKYox82g__VRv3lviy9-QcnPD8U7Ev3LJyVQ4bXyefKq-9KAELRo-aURtQFTJkXKxaS2O94cwfLxlo3I6S841kaFrItTx5kKh913I3jmsvgVqAO275wpClS1XOwqYvU/s1600/napping+4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 178px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703500805529841874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLUIB5vwnx16KRKYox82g__VRv3lviy9-QcnPD8U7Ev3LJyVQ4bXyefKq-9KAELRo-aURtQFTJkXKxaS2O94cwfLxlo3I6S841kaFrItTx5kKh913I3jmsvgVqAO275wpClS1XOwqYvU/s200/napping+4.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>I've been doing my best,</em><br /><em>now I just want to rest --</em></div><br /><div><em>on the rug, on the floor,</em></div><br /><div><em>I don't care.</em></div><br /><br /><div><em>Now the feeling's so strong,</em></div><br /><div><em>but the song is too long --</em></div><br /><div><em>it's the wrong kind of song --</em></div><br /><div><em>and it seems to be going nowhere. </em></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLvWiX20KXuZ3aYqclGhOQlIrLVUmarajmIArFWu4apEjm48w4AudBsmf9gosFiSflfuAhb3gU4pJquyyHzSx1aV0bbSxMui92jZTYIhNrt1PfpeeqVV4b4TDfnWkdUsOYzfPF7cFFpo/s1600/napping+3.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703502583259168226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLvWiX20KXuZ3aYqclGhOQlIrLVUmarajmIArFWu4apEjm48w4AudBsmf9gosFiSflfuAhb3gU4pJquyyHzSx1aV0bbSxMui92jZTYIhNrt1PfpeeqVV4b4TDfnWkdUsOYzfPF7cFFpo/s200/napping+3.JPG" /></a><em>There are times in your day</em></div><br /><div><em>when the going gets tough,</em></div><br /><div><em>when you just have to say</em></div><br /><div><em>you've done more than enough.</em></div><br /><br /><div><em>I can't think of more stuff</em></div><br /><div><em>that will rhyme with "enough"...</em></div><br /><div><em>So enough is enough...is enough</em></div><br /><div><em>is enough...is enough is enough! (Chorus) </em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRv59vLWc4qN7MP5jfX0ojdZZCJqmxJVlkOjWKJ1amjFi10Ziuq3nyluKJEvyUG0z2St9MdLEJNby9GnYnVeUajwLWuSl6Zw2LHOBJBDeo43A2fokZdLRkAXT3gW2de6VT-BbX-pnw8c/s1600/hide+%2527n+seek.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703504996966611650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRv59vLWc4qN7MP5jfX0ojdZZCJqmxJVlkOjWKJ1amjFi10Ziuq3nyluKJEvyUG0z2St9MdLEJNby9GnYnVeUajwLWuSl6Zw2LHOBJBDeo43A2fokZdLRkAXT3gW2de6VT-BbX-pnw8c/s200/hide+%2527n+seek.JPG" /></a></em></div><br /><div><em>Why does this song go on?</em></div><br /><div><em>When all my strength is gone?</em></div><br /><div><em>Please let me close my eyes.</em></div><br /><div><em>I don't want to...harmonize!</em></div><em></em></div><br /><div><em><br /><div></div><br /><div>I just can't take any more.</div><br /><div>Can't stay awake any more.</div><br /><div>You can follow my lead</div><br /><div>as the song loses speed</div><br /><div>now I need an immediate</div><br /><div>NAAaaappppp.....................</div><br /><div></em><br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-37460126434637889792012-01-19T08:19:00.022-05:002012-01-19T08:49:02.998-05:00Reignited<div>Sadly, there hasn't been much "progress" on the Work in Progress blog this past year (or more). I'm going to blame it on Facebook. It's just so much easier to jot a note on what you're doing on there than to get into your blog and write. If it takes more than a sentence or two, then it gets put on the back burner until it's old news...and too old to write about. Except for our trips last year, I barely posted once a month. Well, things are gonna change!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnu7wy_lMak-9Zlc5ba4m8Zsjp2AztuzduoB65_aSW847STMVEQ9X-t28eCg8lEMaQCB8B62QD6Izo2u-3HSJgO2OyA-UwjrY5wajWPxxxgZ_iLzHd7oC32BO1M95nqusKB6ep-UJ-kPc/s1600/ignite.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699333103685152930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnu7wy_lMak-9Zlc5ba4m8Zsjp2AztuzduoB65_aSW847STMVEQ9X-t28eCg8lEMaQCB8B62QD6Izo2u-3HSJgO2OyA-UwjrY5wajWPxxxgZ_iLzHd7oC32BO1M95nqusKB6ep-UJ-kPc/s200/ignite.jpg" /></a>The fire was relit under me this morning. I got an e-mail from my life-long friend, Jackie. She's getting ready to retire. (In Georgia they would say she's "fixin'" to retire.) She's getting old and will be going on Medicare this year and all of that.<br /><br />For the past several years she has been very busy. Besides being a wife, mother and grandmother she has had a full-time career which required her to travel a great deal. In the time she did get to herself, she has been indulging in her hobbies of cooking, reading, painting and her latest -- jewelry making. This morning I got an e-mail from her that said she is starting a 2nd blog (!!). Her first one is where she posts all the beautiful jewelry creations she makes. That one is <a href="http://www.crowsfeetcrafts.blogspot.com/">http://www.crowsfeetcrafts.blogspot.com/</a> Check it out -- she's amazing!<br /><br />This new blog is <a href="http://www.ayearofdefiningnormal.blogspot.com/">http://www.ayearofdefiningnormal.blogspot.com/</a> She will be writing about this year of transition for her as she leaves her "business suit" behind to discover who she is without it. She started by sharing a Yiddish folk tale about a young man and his suit. I was glad she didn't choose the story of the Emperor's New Clothes! I can't wait to follow along with her this year as she shares this adventure. I have a feeling she will be equally as talented at writing as she is at painting and jewelry making.</div><br /><br /><div>Her energy puts me to shame and looking at her blogs made me miss my own. So here's to a year of better (at least more frequent) blogging for me. Thanks, Jackie, for getting me fired up to write again. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja30Ran_D0fFk4etHnvOoQInGVR7OVmg1l-VTvz6V6rzdoQb7zpUVWXyaDZ-ZPepEL3k0TWd8u4OyThLzflBSe_u_NVGrAysIMmYEujwOjcGBbg4s_EJRsvGtQE94fxh4VaX-CLmADelQ/s1600/quilt+and+paintings.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699338259509318242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja30Ran_D0fFk4etHnvOoQInGVR7OVmg1l-VTvz6V6rzdoQb7zpUVWXyaDZ-ZPepEL3k0TWd8u4OyThLzflBSe_u_NVGrAysIMmYEujwOjcGBbg4s_EJRsvGtQE94fxh4VaX-CLmADelQ/s200/quilt+and+paintings.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Before going, I wanted to share this picture. We collaborated on a project for charity a couple of years ago. With the help of some of my friends, I made a bright quilt with tulips on it as a donation to a fund raiser for the hospice that Jackie was associated with in Mt. Vernon, Washington, where she lives. Mt. Vernon is known for its tulips. She did a group of painting to go with the quilt to make a "package" item for the the auction. I thought she did an awesome job! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Best of luck on your new venture...and adventures, my friend. </div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-53666657518259201552011-11-17T07:41:00.005-05:002011-11-17T07:47:45.533-05:00What is it - Part 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipULRFeFIMkmVMEn31m3gUWimchCZ22fFaRVMybNEeCZKX9CMUoYTx3HdP5r-RzW_oy-X9dwuIhWx98Jwee4mVCglkmHqFo9E-HXVvsR-PzkzUu81n5TYEqdjXdrSoiQlW4511MOztNeM/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675944507448015794" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipULRFeFIMkmVMEn31m3gUWimchCZ22fFaRVMybNEeCZKX9CMUoYTx3HdP5r-RzW_oy-X9dwuIhWx98Jwee4mVCglkmHqFo9E-HXVvsR-PzkzUu81n5TYEqdjXdrSoiQlW4511MOztNeM/s200/IMG_2204.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Haha. No, you're all wrong! (Doesn't ANYBODY read my blog any more???). </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I would have thought it would be some kind of a weapon. Probably a laser-type thing to send out deadly rays to foil the bad guy.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But no.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In Emery's mind it's a sandwich maker! He held it by the smooth part (on the right) and aimed it like a weapon of mass destruction, but then explained to me that the WHITE bread hangs on the hooked part in the center and the peanut butter comes out of one side and the jelly out of the other side. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So there you have your answer. Now you can sleep again.</div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-76924253747685038082011-11-10T15:03:00.004-05:002019-11-10T19:50:42.495-05:00What is it?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxrFR238h0X7IKOltvMp92zhxsW9z6G2-5G3CvRWogd0ZPGuF0N6oLrXg3TeED5Dmm3rEASZWfPSGKD8iF2MonLkbllau3-WvmiBZabJLr7sxTu_kf0itEL16RcSTaFNXDsyoaE_ZaL4/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673460513188733970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxrFR238h0X7IKOltvMp92zhxsW9z6G2-5G3CvRWogd0ZPGuF0N6oLrXg3TeED5Dmm3rEASZWfPSGKD8iF2MonLkbllau3-WvmiBZabJLr7sxTu_kf0itEL16RcSTaFNXDsyoaE_ZaL4/s200/IMG_2204.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Okay...obviously, it's a piece of a tree root. But in the hands of a 6-year-old boy with an imagination who comes across it while hiking in the woods -- as Emery recently did -- what do you think it "became"?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Answer next week. </div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-28232283811550291382011-10-31T11:43:00.034-04:002011-10-31T12:21:48.799-04:00Family Time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cqrYm_g3jIe6A6Ytd5fanA00V0USSMtUx3eGilz8Fy8K8ERFfvzP-ZEMpmgVJbQD4SXN_cQbyEUYDUVysr7UbSQr0W6ooRGu7jnEDLnnferEyzmV2iIBPWg61VYYmDyziUvt-m3k2zI/s1600/Lake+Guntersville.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669682898656179890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cqrYm_g3jIe6A6Ytd5fanA00V0USSMtUx3eGilz8Fy8K8ERFfvzP-ZEMpmgVJbQD4SXN_cQbyEUYDUVysr7UbSQr0W6ooRGu7jnEDLnnferEyzmV2iIBPWg61VYYmDyziUvt-m3k2zI/s200/Lake+Guntersville.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>We had our "family fall getaway" the week of October 16th this year. We started out doing a weekend...then an extended weekend...and this year we made it for almost the whole week! Jeremy was fishing in the last FLW series tournament of the year at one of his favorite places -- Lake Guntersville, Alabama. So we decided we'd get a cabin and tag along to support (and feed) him.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VSnesx3EwzYK126n-jD8JjjNLdjl3_gM3yu3PqCU5tKGBH_E5_FvlU2KHok9TkP1IhQJbnaURiTCdbz-TOq5veqDWhqIxnFKarFa-aEMKd0Jl_ab8_nu8j62-3QA6x_-8E3okJag5ck/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669683900107682562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VSnesx3EwzYK126n-jD8JjjNLdjl3_gM3yu3PqCU5tKGBH_E5_FvlU2KHok9TkP1IhQJbnaURiTCdbz-TOq5veqDWhqIxnFKarFa-aEMKd0Jl_ab8_nu8j62-3QA6x_-8E3okJag5ck/s200/IMG_2101.JPG" border="0" /></a>We've been getting away together this time of year for 8 years now and we have gone to a variety of places and had a variety of weather to deal with. The year we went to Pigeon Forge, TN, it was downright hot; and the year we went to Blue Ridge, GA, it was cold and drizzly and we spent the whole weekend snuggled up in the cabin. This year we had a little bit of everything as far as weather was concerned. The first two days were unseasonably warm and the kids loved playing basketball on the court next to the cabins. And Jeremy enjoyed practice fishing in the beautiful lake. It was also great for a bonfire after dark and making S'mores.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_oQEC2udhRYt6arkD_sTmPnoJ9HSr2jae64jDc2Po9p-6514q72Kb2O5rJr9YiD5M-eaejCjT8MPwWz0AXnBeaVAi782TVGSvW224hcwp8zLjGu3thkrE62Nb3PL7tOV7RGL5zUJujs/s1600/IMG_2130.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669687089312987938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_oQEC2udhRYt6arkD_sTmPnoJ9HSr2jae64jDc2Po9p-6514q72Kb2O5rJr9YiD5M-eaejCjT8MPwWz0AXnBeaVAi782TVGSvW224hcwp8zLjGu3thkrE62Nb3PL7tOV7RGL5zUJujs/s200/IMG_2130.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div>Jodi was home schooling the kids that week, but that means field trips are an acceptable way to spend the day. On Tuesday we went about 45 minutes northwest to Huntsville to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. That was very educational...for all of us. Grandpa and Emery got to see what it was like to ride in the nose cone of a rocket. They were hitting all the switches, but didn't come up with the right combo to get them launched into space. Good thing or not? We report -- you decide. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkXblW6i7Tp_fKmqv_V5vtH6hkFdD1bjEhYETIGmQC4n_LtV8vT7prx54fmerQBqENIJHes73ZkHp2pVeDhvhyphenhyphenXrXoseBn4VukWZvqfcjojw2ftrzboavGv6u02Q8DO8Eyxgrv2HoJd4/s1600/IMG_2158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669688204264289362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkXblW6i7Tp_fKmqv_V5vtH6hkFdD1bjEhYETIGmQC4n_LtV8vT7prx54fmerQBqENIJHes73ZkHp2pVeDhvhyphenhyphenXrXoseBn4VukWZvqfcjojw2ftrzboavGv6u02Q8DO8Eyxgrv2HoJd4/s200/IMG_2158.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>By Wednesday, a cold front had come through and changed the weather dramatically. We just stayed hunkered down in the cabin all day and Jeremy got his boat ready for the start of the tournament on Thursday. We went down to see him weigh in and the lake was choppy and cold. All the fishermen were saying it had been a miserable day out there. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sBhMTu5dlHFO78MI0VEZzrpJ6KcxqDV04XBmQq0EaEA-qfEpxuReJXDTAzo2CLHTswwtpFq5LMjGUStpbi3TrqehHYPiyUt3ELedqWGndKSrJJFOSR1jZ-82h4xO2K4djfbLmPa8_sg/s1600/IMG_2155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669689187717508626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sBhMTu5dlHFO78MI0VEZzrpJ6KcxqDV04XBmQq0EaEA-qfEpxuReJXDTAzo2CLHTswwtpFq5LMjGUStpbi3TrqehHYPiyUt3ELedqWGndKSrJJFOSR1jZ-82h4xO2K4djfbLmPa8_sg/s200/IMG_2155.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>But by Friday it had moderated and was just very nice fall weather. Great for relaxing in the hammock with Aunt Jess and a better day on the lake. We took another field trip on Friday. This time we explored a huge cave...at Cathedral Cavern State Park which was just up the road from where we were staying. It was neat and we got done just in time to go to the weigh in. The kids love to go to see daddy weigh in his fish because they get to go up on stage with him and get to be "interviewed". The get to say their name and give an opinion on wha<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4NkG7DtaqP1JsIe-GSGPi4PH0d3zHbEJE08ro9ZwT3M1ZwSJFomsdtD86R8VyDSkB3T4QO0xcXvwdQ1EMpo_hHgwBvtIzNTVKfzL5iMdMu98Rkq5lSGSovbGDZrmPiW-asZD2uiT9gg/s1600/IMG_2174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669690266281561250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4NkG7DtaqP1JsIe-GSGPi4PH0d3zHbEJE08ro9ZwT3M1ZwSJFomsdtD86R8VyDSkB3T4QO0xcXvwdQ1EMpo_hHgwBvtIzNTVKfzL5iMdMu98Rkq5lSGSovbGDZrmPiW-asZD2uiT9gg/s200/IMG_2174.JPG" border="0" /></a>tever is asked. They aren't intimidated because it seems like a small audience there -- but they forget that they're on TV and the internet. They just have a good time...and so does dad. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So the family fall getaway for 2011 is now one "for the books"...the scrapbooks, diaries, blogs and photo albums. We look forward to it for so long, it's hard to believe it's here and gone already. Can't imagine where next year will take us. </div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-56856949414793415032011-09-08T11:43:00.037-04:002011-09-08T12:33:05.127-04:00Zippity Do Da<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUStJWxH2SyhlVsh83kVubNHs5w7vM2jiMl7sEA9UIpAFWLh8ePotf_yvvfdBTSsNd0j1UOUEDmYFSm9NdqhUBoZxTpgI8kLelvDDRrwtP4UZBL-ZFQgPyvv9KQLnpCQOY9kQVEjuxjs/s1600/IMG_1831.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650017221742320418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUStJWxH2SyhlVsh83kVubNHs5w7vM2jiMl7sEA9UIpAFWLh8ePotf_yvvfdBTSsNd0j1UOUEDmYFSm9NdqhUBoZxTpgI8kLelvDDRrwtP4UZBL-ZFQgPyvv9KQLnpCQOY9kQVEjuxjs/s200/IMG_1831.JPG" border="0" /></a>Last year Jerry was reading an article in the paper about zip lining. Where you put on a crash helmet, strap yourself to a wire and go zipping along between the trees. The fact that that sounded like fun to him and sounded terrifying to me just goes to show that sometimes opposites do attract. Since the place he was reading about was somewhere in North Carolina, I just said, "Oh, sure. We'll have to do that some time." In my mind a go<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9OvXmpu_RSkmBbWWBhZBPzLJzs3rFb7my0Q1r0KR6_Q57zEzYltVT5sqU-k9HIxd8NiyZ7AiMLId28943XcEetCF1YcwfxbPpKo90t8o5QDZykKOTso8sIHyDdG0SPEXIV_1Rt8wib0/s1600/IMG_1819.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650017651931975522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9OvXmpu_RSkmBbWWBhZBPzLJzs3rFb7my0Q1r0KR6_Q57zEzYltVT5sqU-k9HIxd8NiyZ7AiMLId28943XcEetCF1YcwfxbPpKo90t8o5QDZykKOTso8sIHyDdG0SPEXIV_1Rt8wib0/s200/IMG_1819.JPG" border="0" /></a>od time to do that would be just as hell was freezing over.<br /><br />But early this year I got one of those coupon deals in my e-mail that was for 60% off two rides on a zip line at a place here in Georgia. I knew he would love to do that, so I got it for him for Valentine's Day. But I also knew it would be fun if he could share it with somebody. Somebody other than me!! I knew right away who that "somebody" would be. Jessica. She shares her dad's love of being off the ground. She went in the open biplane ride over Atlanta with him (when Jeremy chickened out) and she and Emery accompanied him in a helicopter ride. So I got a coupon for her, too. (Is it just me, or does that picture make you start singing "Coal Miner's Daughter"?)<br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7E1Xvd6CPA19OARVgpt0N7NtxXjAD4W3cvL8Vb33GgDOxa9bo2zl773IVQKRIH1y_7AsD4oSpcUqqY1QIbk7STHaIBD3djWkOnwcp-1J60clI3eU2MWZPR3KE0SjOScyFA8524XvgKA/s1600/IMG_1838.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650019687661332514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7E1Xvd6CPA19OARVgpt0N7NtxXjAD4W3cvL8Vb33GgDOxa9bo2zl773IVQKRIH1y_7AsD4oSpcUqqY1QIbk7STHaIBD3djWkOnwcp-1J60clI3eU2MWZPR3KE0SjOScyFA8524XvgKA/s200/IMG_1838.JPG" border="0" /></a>One hot day this summer, we drove up to Blue Ridge, Georgia so they could use their coupons. I rode along because someone has to be there to take pictures and bring the body bags. After a summer with drought -- like so many lately -- we picked a day that was threatening rain. We hadn't had rain at home, but up there in the mountains they'd had a lot of rain the night before. So when we got there, they told us it was too muddy for the vehicle that takes them up the dirt road to the top of the line. They said to come back in an hour or so and give the sun a chance to dry the road. We went into town and had lunch. The town of Blue Ridge is neat and we walked around a little and went into some of the many shops. But for most of this time, it was still cloudy and we couldn't see the sun coming out any time soon to dry anything up. Just as it was looking like we'd made the 2 hour (one way) drive for nothing only to come back another day, the sun did come out. Then it got hot as all blazes. We called the place and they said we could come <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYiJYEa8zyh5C7F3p9vrMTvaOcXvnigfha9B4yhl9pOFAtoNRyis95kCeeCxK8tVGgAmI3zNA5IegMY77VtYsYOzIZFBPgzhyphenhyphen6Ld_WUjfYbuRN6G_c_snrWZwE7v7Nv0oJAalHpylcak/s1600/IMG_1840.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650022580637984194" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYiJYEa8zyh5C7F3p9vrMTvaOcXvnigfha9B4yhl9pOFAtoNRyis95kCeeCxK8tVGgAmI3zNA5IegMY77VtYsYOzIZFBPgzhyphenhyphen6Ld_WUjfYbuRN6G_c_snrWZwE7v7Nv0oJAalHpylcak/s200/IMG_1840.JPG" border="0" /></a>back and they could take their ride now. Jess said the scariest part of the whole thing was the ride up that dirt road!<br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>It all worked out and they did get to go zipping after all. The information for the place looked and sounded very exciting on line. It is called Fire Wire Zip Lines and says "Exhilaration overcomes you as you soar 1500' while reaching speeds up to 40 mph. For anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to fly, your wait is over." In reality it was short and, except for looking at the beautiful mountains in the area, not very scenic. They "flew" over an open pasture. But they did have two rides, so they got to take the exciting trip up the dirt road to the top again. </div><br /><br /><div>What they did get from it, though, was a burning desire to do it again. We picked up some brochures about other places. One is closer and looks like a lot more fun. That place has you go through the trees and then hike over bridges, etc. and then ride again. This goes on for quite a while and then you take the last drop to the exit platform. So they want to do that some time this fall when the weather is cooler and the trees are pretty. I'll ride along again to take pictures, but I'll take a good book for the 2 hours I'll be waiting while they zippity do da one more time. </div></div></div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-41406933803504666532011-08-10T15:48:00.013-04:002019-11-10T19:50:42.449-05:00Big Boy
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x3emPdHxW1cZYJSTc3Tq-yvknjN-B7K3FzFltDpX7GjB5MfJ-1zR-cFrEpjmJxb4rrHWQtzqWHh3xc-0ptOtKy96DwCuJLCOA6LWyYRkhrfnf6vMBUDqmQC8UDw6w5r5DoztvfDD1YI/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639318087651976162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x3emPdHxW1cZYJSTc3Tq-yvknjN-B7K3FzFltDpX7GjB5MfJ-1zR-cFrEpjmJxb4rrHWQtzqWHh3xc-0ptOtKy96DwCuJLCOA6LWyYRkhrfnf6vMBUDqmQC8UDw6w5r5DoztvfDD1YI/s200/IMG_1799.JPG" border="0" /></a> Emery turned 6 years old this summer. Ever notice how birthdays are much more exciting when you're in your sixth year rather than your sixth decade? He's been talking about this event ever since he ate the last piece of birthday cake when he turned 5! He's told me many different ideas over the past year about what kind of party he was going to have when he turned 6. But when the big day came, the only "party" he had was one with family. He didn't seem to mind a bit, though. </div>
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<br />We all went bowling and had a great time. I really don't remember the last time I was bowling and it felt pretty awkward. The next morning some of my "bowling muscles" were saying, "What the heck???" It's fun to go bowling with kids now because they have those little guards that pop up and block the gutter and it gives them a little bit of a chance. I do<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyugvgRWX0CVNdQKUe1hp7Ps1i5EEEBp2_lgyvW2xgsfD575rvIgXbmMv2I88al1JL76kuTaHJG6YSMzCl6W-4VJx9IpIo-CZSlcdp0D5Y1cYr3dfR9nQXOuYYnfRGv7qc6AI97dhCEo/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639319078103404514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyugvgRWX0CVNdQKUe1hp7Ps1i5EEEBp2_lgyvW2xgsfD575rvIgXbmMv2I88al1JL76kuTaHJG6YSMzCl6W-4VJx9IpIo-CZSlcdp0D5Y1cYr3dfR9nQXOuYYnfRGv7qc6AI97dhCEo/s200/IMG_1788.JPG" border="0" /></a>n't know what the age requirement is for those, but they ought to be put up for geezers, too. </div>
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<br /><div>Savannah and Emery have been bowling before, so they were like old pros. Telling us where to get our shoes, what kind of ball we needed, and how to do almost everything. Emery cracked me up...but then, he always does. His form was "enthusiastic" if not "perfect" and he can really deliver the ball. It was their family as well as Jerry, Jessica, me and Papa Jim. </div>
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<br /><div>After bowling we all went out to eat. Emery's choice...Mexican. He's all about the chips and cheese. (Me, too.) Then we went to Chick-fil-A and he opened his gifts and the kids played on the indoor playground for a little while. A good family fun evening to usher in this special date.</div>
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<br /><div>Happy Birthday, my little man. I hope I can help you celebrate many more!
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<br />Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-38114395853282926482011-07-31T12:51:00.023-04:002011-07-31T13:25:53.259-04:00Week One<div><br /><div><br /><div>The week of June 20 - 24 Emery was signed up for C3 camp. It's a summer camp at a church near their house. The kids just go during the day, but it's all day. Savannah didn't want to go, so Jodi asked if I'd like to have her for a week by herself. That way, after she dropped E<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefBPAAJYKaejL8ZxC6m0rWD4WgTrp5u13GZgS6qtYM09FGGboYmKBH4VwXLSWexZ8N28rtNjOloiUuc50RwgPW1AUctpySbnCH21VyFtBaPiQNxxsjI-6117I0KrhIibFoKkP0tmelVI/s1600/IMG_1768.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635561929396215794" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefBPAAJYKaejL8ZxC6m0rWD4WgTrp5u13GZgS6qtYM09FGGboYmKBH4VwXLSWexZ8N28rtNjOloiUuc50RwgPW1AUctpySbnCH21VyFtBaPiQNxxsjI-6117I0KrhIibFoKkP0tmelVI/s200/IMG_1768.JPG" border="0" /></a>mery off each day she could (and did) get a WHOLE LOT done at home. That was fine with us.</div><br /><br /><div>We had a good week. She got into the daily routine of things around here and helped out when asked and then we did some "special" things. We ran errands one day and had lunch at Cici's pizza. A few days that week my friend, Gail, and her granddaughter, Laney, came over to swim. Savannah wanted to give Laney swimming lessons...and she was very sweet and encouraging to her. Okay...so they got a little silly, too, but that's okay. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5QhhhdQFt5z86nV4kxBusGOcu8v1R9oRLJCFTVMSO2G25w-LRaYuKBd52UuWsD7oRtkjmdBS_ISlEbK4Uf-MAr3lTsoIc_KQZVqCMQHL7xZTB7S1Nnui0-IHFGRAO2AMgumkR9ZGPEA/s1600/IMG_1775.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635563910351262498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5QhhhdQFt5z86nV4kxBusGOcu8v1R9oRLJCFTVMSO2G25w-LRaYuKBd52UuWsD7oRtkjmdBS_ISlEbK4Uf-MAr3lTsoIc_KQZVqCMQHL7xZTB7S1Nnui0-IHFGRAO2AMgumkR9ZGPEA/s200/IMG_1775.JPG" border="0" /></a> On Tuesday Savannah and I rode along with Grandpa when he went to get some mulch. The place where he gets it also has various rocks, gravel and stones for landscaping. We took sandwich bags and I asked the lady there if we could get a few small, smooth stones. She said yes. Savannah enjoyed climbing in the rock pile and picking out some "special" stones, even though she didn't know what we were going to do with them. But I knew. I had a plan. :) When we got home I explained to her that we were each going to make our own Fairy Garden and those stones could be used for paths between our plants. She really got into it and it turned out great. I had found some little things we could use. She chose a couple of fence pieces, a small watering can, a shovel and a tricycle. For some reason, she laid her tricycle on it's side in the "grass" (moss) and Jerry said that was his favorite part. I had gotten a little metal angel for each of us and sh<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKelIbJuemQ4LJQzRrXSdTt2OgqoJZWYjQed9r6r8aOUdb-EDEGhWM1ExztKaK7e9mUomGB1-8oAFSVhU1-QwffwrY5gu7j9WmzMTFW4WOUpvvR6ZkAlt_X49Z_hI3rhhNxZhLybNCbDM/s1600/Judy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635566080411381202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKelIbJuemQ4LJQzRrXSdTt2OgqoJZWYjQed9r6r8aOUdb-EDEGhWM1ExztKaK7e9mUomGB1-8oAFSVhU1-QwffwrY5gu7j9WmzMTFW4WOUpvvR6ZkAlt_X49Z_hI3rhhNxZhLybNCbDM/s200/Judy.jpg" border="0" /></a>e came in and rooted through her toys to find a dog to visit her garden. (You can see the stones of her path behind the angel's wings.)<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>On Wednesday I took her to the Covington library to see Barry Stewart Mann, a story teller. He was really good and we both enjoyed him. On Thursday afternoon we went to the movies to see Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer. It was cute. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So before we knew it, Friday was here. Aunt Jess picked her up after lunch and took her back home. It was a fun week and we each have our Fairy Gardens to remember it by. </div></div></div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-40640283981129944362011-07-19T15:45:00.014-04:002011-07-19T16:08:45.222-04:00New Twist on an Old Favorite<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrUFLl-X3SOAmu2HOhqFp3t8dbceup4efp58rsT_XiFLIteOvJVQPdrhAgqdJ1xkZzLwAQXxZCpdFlWzUWx96ufMNyK-ftZuXZqFgOwQzOO7eAvMKMVvyKOF_NNesUjeenqLfu8yxOMY/s1600/IMG.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631153701426935810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 157px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrUFLl-X3SOAmu2HOhqFp3t8dbceup4efp58rsT_XiFLIteOvJVQPdrhAgqdJ1xkZzLwAQXxZCpdFlWzUWx96ufMNyK-ftZuXZqFgOwQzOO7eAvMKMVvyKOF_NNesUjeenqLfu8yxOMY/s200/IMG.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>While in Rockford, I got to go to two new quilt shops! Cathe took me to one by her house and Melissa took us to one that her neighbor owns. Both were loaded with inspiration and, of course, I always have to take something home with me. The one Melissa took us to is called Quilter's General Store. One of the "souvenirs" I picked up there was a pattern that intrigued me. </div><br /><br /><div>Like many quilters, I am a fan of the classics. Like at least a couple of quilters I know, I have started a traditional Cathedral Window quilt. It's just another "work in progress", and probably will be for several years. That's just how much time goes into making that design. But the General Store had a pattern for a "mock" Cathedral Window. In this version, instead of all the sewing, flipping, inserting and hand stitching...you just sew squares together. After you've gotten it the size that you want, you cut out and sew these little white football-shaped pieces over the seams. Just leave a little seam allowance and when you're finished -- in no time at all! -- you wash it and shake it out. The footballs fray a little and it gives it a soft, vintage look. You layer the backing and batting behind th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfnDFT2krcWK3Yd-zQQ5lOAXmAUMfqyljUdDQBVhXGkHXKk5AMc2PolqAM8EUIW7K3-AcPyXt-ooQlqeGxIyMlqjhettS_YRv6CTimjUdkhuUP6KvzK39XG5o8MXi3D9jI4jKdkZ9aSs/s1600/IMG_1873.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631156246782420514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfnDFT2krcWK3Yd-zQQ5lOAXmAUMfqyljUdDQBVhXGkHXKk5AMc2PolqAM8EUIW7K3-AcPyXt-ooQlqeGxIyMlqjhettS_YRv6CTimjUdkhuUP6KvzK39XG5o8MXi3D9jI4jKdkZ9aSs/s200/IMG_1873.JPG" border="0" /></a>e squares so that as you sew the footballs on you are quilting it as you go. So when you're done -- you're done! Voila! A finished quilt in very little time. </div><br /><br /><div>I started mine not long ago and finished it yesterday. I'm very pleased with how sweet it looks and how easy it was. Whoever thought this technique up is a genius and I thank her. I'm donating mine to the Healing Hugs ministry for cancer patients. It's a nice, snuggly quilt and I hope someone will enjoy it and it will bring them comfort.</div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-31063340671634594902011-07-16T11:13:00.042-04:002011-07-16T12:20:32.808-04:00Inspiration<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHQ4sEqhH2ZO1Q5cxkQcDdDR4ag9YWI9BdvywupIcTPBUGEitXM4poVTQ2AaPuTxHtNj7U9LiogNQ7eN_EkJnJ14Pr2Yo3rFJRLTO0PMJzf-IMhYrhSzWktJmgNdj920j1m7t0JLtsNc/s1600/IMG_1641.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629970391728505138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHQ4sEqhH2ZO1Q5cxkQcDdDR4ag9YWI9BdvywupIcTPBUGEitXM4poVTQ2AaPuTxHtNj7U9LiogNQ7eN_EkJnJ14Pr2Yo3rFJRLTO0PMJzf-IMhYrhSzWktJmgNdj920j1m7t0JLtsNc/s200/IMG_1641.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />When my cousin, Melissa, was telling me some of the things we could do and see when we were in Rockford and she mentioned the Anderson Gardens, I told her we love that kind of thing...but it might cause Jerry some concern. Because when I go to places like that, I get inspired. I think, "Why can't we do this in our yard?" I have a long history of coming up with these grand ideas and expecting Jerry to make it all look like it does in my head.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5raQh9Qgcv8Kmhy3enkADfnFWycBo5KWhb0vgti8rQkvD4FVOl_9q2lvdvtxAu7HeW5Enh-90geebcsXKKUkoygbhXIRkl9Mubz_dQvr2ETCKk-quunOD9983IKap8h0ugRGdfmY7swM/s1600/IMG_1755.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629971627306375394" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5raQh9Qgcv8Kmhy3enkADfnFWycBo5KWhb0vgti8rQkvD4FVOl_9q2lvdvtxAu7HeW5Enh-90geebcsXKKUkoygbhXIRkl9Mubz_dQvr2ETCKk-quunOD9983IKap8h0ugRGdfmY7swM/s200/IMG_1755.JPG" border="0" /></a>Well, before we even got to Rockford that had already happened. When we went to the plant nurseries in the Millington area while we were in Sheridan, the first idea hit me. The mailbox! The nursery that had everything laid out so temptingly had their mailbox surrounded by plants. (That's it in the first picture) I really never thought of it before, but our mail box sits on a bare patch of ground and has for all the years we've been here. I've never thought to landscape around that. And why couldn't ours look like that? The rest of the trip I kept imagining how great our mailbox was going to look once I got home and got going on that project. When we were in Rockford, I kept taking mental notes of how they had big rocks everywhere (ROCKford) and plants snuggled in around them. I thought I knew where we had a couple of large rocks in the back yard that we could add to the area. I was very excited. Look out, Jerry!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispxw2Lzh-DN7qdtL_69BXRxPU5GxJtZjt3giInF2vgCwpN6MjgaHAfWFyYbJp_ZHA2nVKKhW4kpduxxvNgfukPS8aeVGQBVetEHuOHneauuseCp4zWuPCz6wqacvt5aNOh3OBdeWDcRY/s1600/IMG_1757.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629973539135490210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispxw2Lzh-DN7qdtL_69BXRxPU5GxJtZjt3giInF2vgCwpN6MjgaHAfWFyYbJp_ZHA2nVKKhW4kpduxxvNgfukPS8aeVGQBVetEHuOHneauuseCp4zWuPCz6wqacvt5aNOh3OBdeWDcRY/s200/IMG_1757.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>So in the first week that we were home, Jerry got busy and took out the old mail box post and got a new one and reset it in concrete. While he was doing that, I went out and bought plants and scouted out the back woods for large rocks. So on the following Monday, June 13, our 41st anniversary....I was "good to go" on the mailbox project! The plan for the day was to get busy before it got too hot. Get the mailbox looking wonderful. Take a little break and then go out for a nice dinner. Isn't it funny how plans can change?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1E7okfedfbcGk7sVSMb4yYDfaafd-6kC4cFFbGh8cXDzjC-5Z-c2gqR5AaCmaKX6j0BQ4quhs6M9RX8ldib5NT1ENt81R391dvVO8ihsEr5FJrYHw3XsuUG6p6GcDhpx90Dd9x1Jo8oM/s1600/IMG_1758.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629975438642221570" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1E7okfedfbcGk7sVSMb4yYDfaafd-6kC4cFFbGh8cXDzjC-5Z-c2gqR5AaCmaKX6j0BQ4quhs6M9RX8ldib5NT1ENt81R391dvVO8ihsEr5FJrYHw3XsuUG6p6GcDhpx90Dd9x1Jo8oM/s200/IMG_1758.JPG" border="0" /></a> We started by me -- the project coordinator -- showing Jerry -- the muscle -- where I'd found some rocks I thought would work. The first thing that happened that wasn't in "the plan" was that in transferring them to the work area he dropped one on his foot. Being the trooper that he is, he continued with the work and it was only later...when he was limping...that I realized how badly he had hurt it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr0RZiQyhdSDbDCDoX_csctSNb4E0zqv1WTClKwgQAIoVSQ2hVe5niKyRblDHuCkGAiCPWcphnGX6d7KACtwv2BpUd8GjNnhfxwerzmGMCoCh58a21fQGkC73_xga7xYf92jvdNQQmPw/s1600/IMG_1761.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629977190256997570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr0RZiQyhdSDbDCDoX_csctSNb4E0zqv1WTClKwgQAIoVSQ2hVe5niKyRblDHuCkGAiCPWcphnGX6d7KACtwv2BpUd8GjNnhfxwerzmGMCoCh58a21fQGkC73_xga7xYf92jvdNQQmPw/s200/IMG_1761.JPG" border="0" /></a>The second thing that didn't exactly go as planned was the preparing of the garden bed. In my enthusiasm I had forgotten a couple of things. 1...Illinois has black dirt. We do not. 2...Illinois gets rain. We do not. While I was standing by with my carefully selected plants and waiting to put them into the soil, Jerry was chopping, picking and tilling at the dirt. After sitting on a slant in the sun since the age of dinosaurs, that particular patch of clay was like concrete. I was reminded yet again of why they use clay to make bricks. The neighbor commented on how nice it was looking and I told him the ground was a little hard. He said he had to get his drill out the other day to put something in his back yard.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>So after several hours of trying to get down deep enough to plant something, we had to just give up and settle for as good as we could get. It wasn't what we'd have liked to plant in, but it was as deep as we were going to able to go. We put a bunch of soil amendments, additives, etc. in and worked them in as best we could and then put the plants in. Jerry wasn't convinced at all that anything would grow in that hard dirt, that shallow of a "grave" or in all that full sun. Ever the optimist, I assured him that all those plants call for "full sun". After we got cleaned up and were sitting on the porch (and he had taken some pain pills), I told him what we SHOULD have done was to make a raised bed and level it back to the slope behind it. He just leveled a look at me and didn't have an opinion on that. I said, "Maybe in the fall if this doesn't work". Again...just a look from him. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhm3h9ZCWPFBF1Wts1kjs-aSl6f-ykMP5H3rV8wKZQHlilxjkWZ878dPk4uQeUAMnv1nqFYyDUFbZlb3N7y4pukti5_Cy3L-ZeVxXJPF_QVgVdNW-gGpw5iF5MhDvsTNTnehNv1wzdL5o/s1600/IMG_1868.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629981030777026370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhm3h9ZCWPFBF1Wts1kjs-aSl6f-ykMP5H3rV8wKZQHlilxjkWZ878dPk4uQeUAMnv1nqFYyDUFbZlb3N7y4pukti5_Cy3L-ZeVxXJPF_QVgVdNW-gGpw5iF5MhDvsTNTnehNv1wzdL5o/s200/IMG_1868.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But here we are a month later and the few little plants we put in seem to be very happy there. So are the rocks. And Jerry isn't limping hardly at all any more. Don't compare it to the first picture of the lush plants all filled in around the mailbox. Compare it to the second picture of what was there before. See? Improvement! He has spent 41 years trying to make all my dreams come true...even the goofy ones. Happy anniversary, Honey, and thanks for all your help.</div></div></div></div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-32330582350552542372011-07-13T07:24:00.050-04:002011-07-13T08:36:19.382-04:00The Main Event<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeUpI38VVjgMfolAKOTq-x0O9mZFoEVS3tc6jCtnO272FIujD5vH4O9-nf5NIRJpJ_K0Kh5sOp1eVuzNBp0R4jgQAfZD3ZgvZoxzQjvGjtf7n8HV6gefnFUATZFiIFmCEz56nsgba0hM/s1600/Erin+playing+bride.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628797409302349186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 126px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeUpI38VVjgMfolAKOTq-x0O9mZFoEVS3tc6jCtnO272FIujD5vH4O9-nf5NIRJpJ_K0Kh5sOp1eVuzNBp0R4jgQAfZD3ZgvZoxzQjvGjtf7n8HV6gefnFUATZFiIFmCEz56nsgba0hM/s200/Erin+playing+bride.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The main reason for the trip to Illinois at this time was to be there for my niece, Erin's, wedding. Remember the bachelorette party only a week before? Like many little girls, she's been dreaming of ... and practicing for ... this day for a long time. I was so glad I got to meet her fiance, Will, and his family the week before. He's a real sweetie and the whole family is very likable. So it was fun to celebrate with them all.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQJWwu0mezrS9v5sps4vu7fqt50rfRemvt7q_sbhvtE0Z5rjcRCx2yBa0C4qBmgmbnpgDXsADsW2Ss0QBNIF2tJbVU5D3srPWkPuQS5u3HdS90aRMiMgd5Uxjr_VVUjME1exI5JHf3sQ/s1600/s+and+flower+girl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628799737754880850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 75px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 75px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQJWwu0mezrS9v5sps4vu7fqt50rfRemvt7q_sbhvtE0Z5rjcRCx2yBa0C4qBmgmbnpgDXsADsW2Ss0QBNIF2tJbVU5D3srPWkPuQS5u3HdS90aRMiMgd5Uxjr_VVUjME1exI5JHf3sQ/s200/s+and+flower+girl.jpg" border="0" /></a>We left Rockford on Friday morning and took the direct route to Chicago. A little frustrating that almost that entire route is under construction! But we checked into the motel in plenty of time and started reuniting with other family. Jodi, Jess and the kids had come up and since we hadn't seen them in a week it was good to lay eyes on them again and know they'd made it safely. (You know how moms worry.) My sister, Karen, and her roommate, Diane, had come from Tucson and their room was just a few doors down. I was given the privilege of reading some scripture at the wedding, so Jerry and I went to the rehearsal. As has become the custom, all the out-of-town guests got to go to the rehearsal dinner and so we all started partying there. It was held at a really cool pub and the food, drinks and fun were great. Savannah found out that the flower girl was just about her age and so they became instant buddies.<br /><br />The wedding was at 3:0<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWGVYU8V6iRnPxoSPt-BlbekEE-5fT5rYHmVe8A2yZ9WyziY1bzVRB2IPF7jE51igFkH_MHT2hUbLNft3BtWXuPUbLoIvmomNHwlrw2JoVBdsfw3ZjvGjDfVMCiSPHB31KWNGrIgaiJ4/s1600/IMG_1679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628801951517092818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWGVYU8V6iRnPxoSPt-BlbekEE-5fT5rYHmVe8A2yZ9WyziY1bzVRB2IPF7jE51igFkH_MHT2hUbLNft3BtWXuPUbLoIvmomNHwlrw2JoVBdsfw3ZjvGjDfVMCiSPHB31KWNGrIgaiJ4/s200/IMG_1679.JPG" border="0" /></a>0 p.m. on Saturday, so that gave us a morning to find something to do. It just so happened that Lego Land is at the Woodfield Mall which is about 5 minutes from the Double Tree in Arlington Heights where we were staying. It also happens that Emery is crazy about Legos! So guess where we went to kill a morning. My favorite display was the city of Chicago all done in Legos...from Navy Pier, Sears Tower and downtown to Buckingham Fountain. I loved it. After you walk through a good-sized area of displays, you can go upstairs to a big room where you can sit and build things with Legos. Jodi entered her cat in an animal contest...and she won (she was the only entry), so she got a paper hat. You can build cars and race them on tracks and ramps. While Emery was busy doing that, Savannah became very fond of a ride they had in that <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfGaWxaceckUKnY3oyIht89ezu9ILlPRqkWBzMxT_IdCLKPDUA_rOJV9VtNWufglarWropVmOV6z74UK7hh-4geIZiIbuqwiytFqm99BJv3W49K4tnFw8vFleoQKOZ4wA_3ImPSSTbps/s1600/IMG_1700.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628803302161183650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfGaWxaceckUKnY3oyIht89ezu9ILlPRqkWBzMxT_IdCLKPDUA_rOJV9VtNWufglarWropVmOV6z74UK7hh-4geIZiIbuqwiytFqm99BJv3W49K4tnFw8vFleoQKOZ4wA_3ImPSSTbps/s200/IMG_1700.JPG" border="0" /></a>same room and she rode, and rode and rode.<br /><br />Lots of fun, but then it was time to go to the wedding. We all went back and got dressed in our wedding finest. Emery likes to get dressed up and he loves wearing a tie. I bought him his first sport coat for Easter this year and he gets excited when he has a chance to wear that. He says he looks like a newsman in it. Savannah had gotten a very pretty new dress and she looked like a princess. (The newsman and the princess. What is this...a wedding or Halloween??)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFVXErLJhkB2JNJrUSr2bTcfFlwylf3_iO6pqfGYScx24ub2TAjMq0SF5MOZA9pyuJcZd5_pn7KMF6QDndIhEfYFlvOzkEjTrsf3kka7euvzZtdySYQ99AZ8fpIhdMRkc5gBkr4ILDnI/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628809790453970338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFVXErLJhkB2JNJrUSr2bTcfFlwylf3_iO6pqfGYScx24ub2TAjMq0SF5MOZA9pyuJcZd5_pn7KMF6QDndIhEfYFlvOzkEjTrsf3kka7euvzZtdySYQ99AZ8fpIhdMRkc5gBkr4ILDnI/s200/IMG_1736.JPG" border="0" /></a>The wedding was beautiful. The bride was beautiful. The weather was warm and little muggy when we went in and just as the bride started coming down the aisle we heard a little thunder. My brother, Chuck, said as they were standing in the back waiting, it did get stormy outside. He said Erin looked a little apprehensive. So he said to her, "You look nervous. Let's take a walk." She grinned and he walked her down the aisle. But after the service the storm had passed and it turned out to be a beautiful evening. The reception was at the Metropolis Ballroom in Arlington Heights. It's a really nice facility and there is a balcony along side the ballroom, so it was very pleasant to take your drink and go out there and visit for a while. Again the food was great, the place was great and it was fun. And I was so glad to be there. I know I've been using the words "great" and "beautiful" a lot, but what else can you say? That's what it was. They had a room for the kids to go into and play and eat "kid friendly" food and watch movies while the adults had a cocktail hour, introduction of the wedding party, toasts, etc. But once the dancing started the kids joined us and they had a ball. Savannah and Emery both love to dance and took full advantage of the festivities. The evening didn't end well for Emery, though. He was cutting a rug on the dance floor and a lady was jumping and jiving near him but lost her balance and fell on him! He was mad, embarrassed, and hurt his leg a little (but he wouldn't talk about it) and by then he was exhausted. It was late by that time, so we all caught the shuttle back to the motel. But that was the least thing we will remember about the wedding. The rest was lots of fun.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtzGpzUYWYtXBxJ7tlPaR8x3Smaa9cWRtasQ_e6-erBmFwitV6Z0yWIAbzHNda7JIYwoIrXYRQ2ZWc_TdxYWvj36O_wB1sW61YlhFoIwGv_gFN9eu6z45yMAiqJDsBkAbPZvZCKb059A/s1600/IMG_1744.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628814562499566402" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtzGpzUYWYtXBxJ7tlPaR8x3Smaa9cWRtasQ_e6-erBmFwitV6Z0yWIAbzHNda7JIYwoIrXYRQ2ZWc_TdxYWvj36O_wB1sW61YlhFoIwGv_gFN9eu6z45yMAiqJDsBkAbPZvZCKb059A/s200/IMG_1744.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div>In the morning, the grooms parents invited all the out-of-towners who were staying at the Double Tree to breakfast. So we got one more chance to be together before we all headed back home in various directions. This is me with my big sister and my "little" brother. We don't get to be together very often any more, so this was nice. Jodi and Jess were determined to drive back home in one day. That's 13 hours from Chicago. We almost always break that drive up into two days now, but we drove through as well. It didn't feel all that bad, but we got home at 2:00 a.m. to find out we had no air conditioning! The unit had gone out and it was 4 days (in the mid to upper 90s) before we got a new one. Oh, well. Great vacation....now back to reality. </div></div></div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-11511432925196914342011-07-07T06:45:00.056-04:002011-07-07T07:55:24.108-04:00On The Rocks<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkTt0OcBp0_q8a2hMl8-f_tGPKDtk93w-JnlwhNGD4VhKUhqkSsiGuaSNoQWv69YPy0URpDFgNgDzEvpbPlxHr8GFh7eru6TRbbSkR3Xw0GNlog5xcKpwBcXXBurw8wojVWqIKW97eHk/s1600/IMG_1655.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626561937866280498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkTt0OcBp0_q8a2hMl8-f_tGPKDtk93w-JnlwhNGD4VhKUhqkSsiGuaSNoQWv69YPy0URpDFgNgDzEvpbPlxHr8GFh7eru6TRbbSkR3Xw0GNlog5xcKpwBcXXBurw8wojVWqIKW97eHk/s200/IMG_1655.JPG" border="0" /></a>I was very lucky to grow up with lots of first cousins. Two of the ones I was closest to were Melissa and Cathe. Melissa is my age and Cathe is a year younger. I would ride my bike to Melissa's and play on her jungle gym and borrow her Nancy Drew books (she had them ALL). And I would ride over to Cathe's with the Sears, Penney, and Montgomery Ward catalogs in my bike basket and we'd cut out paper dolls all afternoon. Great memories. It's been a long, long time since we'd gotten a chance to spend time together until a few years ago when, thanks to modern technology such as e-mail, Face Book, etc. -- we reconnected. In a somewhat strange coincidence they both live in Rockford, Illinois, now. In 2009 they got on a plane and came down here for a visit. We had a wonderful reunion and it was decided that it was then my turn to visit Rockford to see them next. The plans to do that last year fell apart, but when we were going to Illinois again this year, the Rockford visit<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626566854723278290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLPFSEKP3qhmjltAId1H-ZOMYK6gZeKVIvyjl5E1BkUU2nrVsugyxHlexUNdrDYesVPkyhOGHdtTICOfjrag8evbMBeAhpYARSBBhEtRg0cfgGLSuP6Y5fPmcZVaabcQmO2msjYx3ZvE/s200/IMG_1643.JPG" border="0" /> was a MUST!<br /></div><br /><div>So on Wednesday morning we bid adieu to the fine folks in Sheridan and headed up route 39. We went first to Cathe's house. Melissa and her husband, Duane, came over for lunch. We sat in Cathe and Rum's newly finished sun room and enjoyed lunch, beautiful weather and a great visit. After lunch we went to Anderson Gardens. It's a gorgeous Japanese garden and, again, with all the rain they've had it was lush and beautiful. Later on, Cathe's kids and grand kids, as well as her sister, Jean, and her brother-in-law came over for dinner. (We're all about the eating.) It was so nice to get a chance to see her 4 darling grand kids in person instead of just in the cute pictures she shares. After everyone left, Cathe and I looked at photo albums and scrapbooks and I taught her how to play Monopoly Deal.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOteVRQYZ1JV-vCjEU_FzD5G_0NsAmIrOgrNkgoOOmGyKLGd0zUmCfXNnL8vRVcuIo-ZtkTUoZ6Xw4tG1VJEa81dENeNWS_EVAGTT9tCpcmLwGOSbGuZiSXb628sVCUeQ9QLygoN-44OI/s1600/IMG_0005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626568475844590818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOteVRQYZ1JV-vCjEU_FzD5G_0NsAmIrOgrNkgoOOmGyKLGd0zUmCfXNnL8vRVcuIo-ZtkTUoZ6Xw4tG1VJEa81dENeNWS_EVAGTT9tCpcmLwGOSbGuZiSXb628sVCUeQ9QLygoN-44OI/s200/IMG_0005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Thursday morning, the girls took me to a store called Gordman's. I'd never heard of it till Shirley was singing it's praises. Ken had a neat bug zapper fly swatter that they got there and I thought Jerry needed to have one. Plus...I heard it was just a really neat store. It is. The guys went out and hit some golf balls and then we all met for lunch (eating again) at BeefaRoo...a local favorite where they have -- tenderloins! :) Then Jerry went home with Duane and the girls took me to a really nice quilt shop in a big, old house. Lots of inspiration! Then we swung by and picked Jerry up and Melissa took us on a driving tour of Rockford. It's a very nice city with a lot to offer. I can see why the Wisconsin senators chose that as a "hiding" place while they were avoiding doing their jobs a couple of months ago. </div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLY_EPSyNWd6ndGJ1ZLbgk4l3BqIDoXPHTdMr5DGCt-u7sNE1xAIgYa8vfHkQZ0aarf2x86JoePxG9Zct5fB7sSlM8CAaF8Fa81BFGy2sRrNIzJ1hgnO9V9y-pcLLH7XWkwWOmeLTU40/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626570826264118898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLY_EPSyNWd6ndGJ1ZLbgk4l3BqIDoXPHTdMr5DGCt-u7sNE1xAIgYa8vfHkQZ0aarf2x86JoePxG9Zct5fB7sSlM8CAaF8Fa81BFGy2sRrNIzJ1hgnO9V9y-pcLLH7XWkwWOmeLTU40/s200/IMG_1663.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>On Thursday night it was Melissa's turn to show off her two adorable grand daughters...Amelia and Sofi. It's so nice to put voices and personalities with these cute kids that I hear stories about and just see pictures of. We had a very good dinner out on the screened-in porch on a picture perfect evening enjoying the view of their back yard. After everyone else called it a night, Melissa and I looked at a cookbook and I taught her how to play Monopoly Deal. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-Xpm6KYbv8jL0OGhjMVmxH5Htbl23QjJ7YAUE7ulD2_bESxt7XlFsqW-qYHmYx_rkYEHMf50K37vdUN5Wsw87DO9zakMGpy6QvJyNhj-WbYjCBCEaKp1tRK9HvBRsZ3Got4oTLMYYV4/s1600/cousins+with+monkey.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626572264748713810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-Xpm6KYbv8jL0OGhjMVmxH5Htbl23QjJ7YAUE7ulD2_bESxt7XlFsqW-qYHmYx_rkYEHMf50K37vdUN5Wsw87DO9zakMGpy6QvJyNhj-WbYjCBCEaKp1tRK9HvBRsZ3Got4oTLMYYV4/s200/cousins+with+monkey.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Before leaving town on Friday morning, we all went to breakfast at a Rockford institution...The Stockholm Inn. The (large) place is really neat and the food was wonderful. They like to go for the Sweedish pancakes with linginberries but everything that everyone had was really good. They've recently remodeled the bathrooms and the ladies' room was so cute we took pictures! Rockford is home to the original sock monkey and the Stockhol<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sEKIIDHBgBxO13QIu5h5shjZ8aqscrw97R3YmtlzsJFm0F_t7S9d4VtIxsf2Ej2wPAUZBr-w2u57_U69XoBF_djmOVQlmUIAJOS9aU7XAeVZFKgqkoGwTZm3wI9j2w5hloRsMhoiMtc/s1600/bye.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626577300665341234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sEKIIDHBgBxO13QIu5h5shjZ8aqscrw97R3YmtlzsJFm0F_t7S9d4VtIxsf2Ej2wPAUZBr-w2u57_U69XoBF_djmOVQlmUIAJOS9aU7XAeVZFKgqkoGwTZm3wI9j2w5hloRsMhoiMtc/s200/bye.jpg" border="0" /></a>m Inn proudly displays a large array of monkeys. </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>So after a couple of days of eating, visiting, sharing, eating, laughing and...did I mention eating?...we had to head on to the next stop. So glad Rockford was on my "bucket list". </div></div></div></div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-71026052624248942542011-07-06T07:14:00.038-04:002011-07-06T08:03:02.026-04:00Home for the Holiday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQlgBKNzhf9SCkGMk6PUAYWDaUHehvOmZSjzlxM0GzWKSHWOW19BuVB7otEGorIxHV18QoRQx1IcW2mHsE9RYjvraOeCvjB95dmZ4aoEoCZAzWKRb6y2E4zDTG1NlCUJRXtt94kC-rmI/s1600/IMG_1611.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626197931197525090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQlgBKNzhf9SCkGMk6PUAYWDaUHehvOmZSjzlxM0GzWKSHWOW19BuVB7otEGorIxHV18QoRQx1IcW2mHsE9RYjvraOeCvjB95dmZ4aoEoCZAzWKRb6y2E4zDTG1NlCUJRXtt94kC-rmI/s200/IMG_1611.JPG" border="0" /></a>On Monday morning -- Memorial Day -- we left Streator and headed up the road to Sheridan. As much as I love visiting friends and family in Streator, it's when we roll into Sheridan that I feel I'm coming "home". We always stay with our BFFs Ken and Shirley. They had a cookout and we got to see their kids and grandkids and several old friends came over, too. The food was great, the people were great and the weather was great. In the evening we decided to go for a walk and burn off some of the brats, sides and adult beverages. There were 8 of us (4 couples) and we walked around town. Gotta love a small town where you can walk 8 abreast down the streets and only have to get out of the way of traffic (one car) once. :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTf0AT4mmYvrqrNsrEhZP4TLB13yb6dRhnGexZBU6_BwrwESPR9Our-sG-_ndDR0MDZ7hZXn3L6aGvsU7QCPqbHTKUmP4UaBrRGIEFx_k2GdF06I14htNe5ZnPxOQ2jrCpXhNkeJcLBHs/s1600/IMG_1621.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626200688980063746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTf0AT4mmYvrqrNsrEhZP4TLB13yb6dRhnGexZBU6_BwrwESPR9Our-sG-_ndDR0MDZ7hZXn3L6aGvsU7QCPqbHTKUmP4UaBrRGIEFx_k2GdF06I14htNe5ZnPxOQ2jrCpXhNkeJcLBHs/s200/IMG_1621.JPG" border="0" /></a>On Tuesday morning Shirley and I were visiting and Ken and Jerry had disappeared. Not surprising since neither one of them can sit still for very long. When they came back, I asked where they had been and they said "visiting". I found out they'd been visiting the lady that lives in the house we used to live in! Ken saw the look on my face and said, "Don't worry. I asked her if we could come back. I knew you'd want to go see the house, too." The people who have lived in the "home of my heart" where we raised our girls have made a great many changes to the place. A number of years ago I saw from the bottom of the driveway that they had taken our plain little brown house and painted it yellow with white trim and put a nice porch on the front. I loved it! This year we'd heard they put a landscape wall along the bottom of the sloped front yard that followed the curve of the driveway -- another great improvement! They have also added a sun room on the back and changed what was our living room to their dining room! The lady was so nice to take her time (twice) that day and let us come and see. My childhood home is a wreck and Jerry's is gone, so I love that someone is doing such nice things to the house I have so many fond memories of.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GR0apJEfXybtYB1Jbf8Q9xQnSEl4bTjKLmKDwebyE4psSgdV7XGrjfNCs2nA41C2BEdbvd5HYiml9hXa7cLY1q3n-g5Rg-1SUR623QPnlJlJgqZb3fKRUIuhNtrteJspuHLeQBexR9o/s1600/IMG_1628.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626201596342616226" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GR0apJEfXybtYB1Jbf8Q9xQnSEl4bTjKLmKDwebyE4psSgdV7XGrjfNCs2nA41C2BEdbvd5HYiml9hXa7cLY1q3n-g5Rg-1SUR623QPnlJlJgqZb3fKRUIuhNtrteJspuHLeQBexR9o/s200/IMG_1628.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>After visiting the old home place we went south to the little country town of Leonore. Again continuing my quest for tenderloins. Shirley assured me these were the best. I have to admit the girl knows her tenderloins. It was awesome! Since we plan much of our visits and travels around food, we had plans to go to a small country town north of Sheridan for "cheap chicken" for dinner. So we worked our way back up there by way of Ottawa first. We stopped and did some antique shopping. Jerry bought a neat old rake and we spent the rest of the trip packing and unpacking the trunk and back seat around it. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OaBHL0FFoEB0-4SZWZ9RpqauVdAry7rT7jOIo8rhmoTTbxgUC2tAoPuR6lTygbjEABEl-iwWz6kttrCnx8f_IyShyz3T1e6F0fJgV_jCIjxsKzUDu9iKqgaO-0YSMgTTFGWqinJmIzE/s1600/IMG_1640.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626203358007089346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OaBHL0FFoEB0-4SZWZ9RpqauVdAry7rT7jOIo8rhmoTTbxgUC2tAoPuR6lTygbjEABEl-iwWz6kttrCnx8f_IyShyz3T1e6F0fJgV_jCIjxsKzUDu9iKqgaO-0YSMgTTFGWqinJmIzE/s200/IMG_1640.JPG" border="0" /></a>Then we went to a couple of plant nurseries. Illinois has had an extremely wet spring and early summer and although it's sad to see the water standing in the farmers' fields, everything is lush and green and beautiful. One of the nurseries is where we used to go for plants and it was great to see that it's still a thriving business. It may even have grown in the time we've been gone. I just had to buy a few things to bring home. So, along with the rake, we packed, unpacked, and tended the plants for the rest of the trip, too. The second nursery we went to is new to us. I don't remember the name of it, but it is laid out beautifully. Potted plants for sale are nestled among those same types of items planted in the soil and blooming and looking so inviting. By then it was time to go to the tavern and get the "cheap chicken". I don't understand how fried chicken is associated with the south when they have no taverns down here. Taverns have the best fried chicken and, again, Shirley knew what she was talking about. When I went to the restroom, there was a sign on the wall that advertised some upcoming events. Some time in July is the "Testicle Festival". Sure hate that we're going to miss that!!Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-18329165690018066112011-07-05T07:31:00.012-04:002011-07-05T07:47:57.236-04:00Family Ties<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC4sjgkMrmlSmFJY3tZ6QFGrlk0KgbrBdO6BovUMdbrEKxglwxVvxzbvW1TXcbqmJt49ZGhQz1KFEYCKXDu-OELUNpYl2Q8IqL0RPenKt2tESHsm5m2RIiLaSqCNG-8XM3wowp-C51Ok/s1600/IMG_1585.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625830850474623890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC4sjgkMrmlSmFJY3tZ6QFGrlk0KgbrBdO6BovUMdbrEKxglwxVvxzbvW1TXcbqmJt49ZGhQz1KFEYCKXDu-OELUNpYl2Q8IqL0RPenKt2tESHsm5m2RIiLaSqCNG-8XM3wowp-C51Ok/s200/IMG_1585.JPG" border="0" /></a> When I returned to Streator on Sunday, we went to visit with Jerry's side of the family. Whenever we're in town his ex-sister-in-law, Marie, gets the nieces, nephews, spouses, kids, etc. together and we get to visit them all at once. Always a lot of fun. This year his brother, Curt, and his wife, Sharon, were there, too, so it was a nice get together.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyoUcZH2N5GhOvlxC05guZ98Lf3cLMeY8LzZcBjF78ULR12TOq_UW0mCji7o9-qk3_TPUSTswlIIv_Hglol1U30Ufzs6mo7NW89fcEndX6oqa3nujvTFdJxYwc3fmvzHmlZPsy24dB8I/s1600/tornado.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625832569626389282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 79px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 79px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyoUcZH2N5GhOvlxC05guZ98Lf3cLMeY8LzZcBjF78ULR12TOq_UW0mCji7o9-qk3_TPUSTswlIIv_Hglol1U30Ufzs6mo7NW89fcEndX6oqa3nujvTFdJxYwc3fmvzHmlZPsy24dB8I/s200/tornado.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>After lunch and a nice visit with them, we went back to Bob and Joan's. They took us on a "tur" of south Streator to see where the tornado had gone through last June. The apartment building where they lived when they were first married is now gone. We walked around Oakland Park school grounds where they lost many of their big, old trees. Then we went for pizza and went back to their house and watched a movie. Spent one more night enjoying their hospitality (Joan puts a big Cunningham's chocolate whip on your pillow instead of a mint!!) before moving on northward.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thanks for a great visit, friends and family! </div></div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-1494971574793657962011-06-21T16:08:00.038-04:002011-06-21T16:55:17.720-04:00Big City Bound<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67T7ir1UIIJt6hzhD09m0pGP7V36SuT6YQ3AfctIfTR_aH9QY0RzNZy73X4NGD1g5HilHOPxcc3yTpCpsf3UVzD7Q2SMLBXRtzuvMfUoMy4LJH4HqSw_iNhDMZB2TJWrsSdn6gxTyQgY/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620768143376259474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67T7ir1UIIJt6hzhD09m0pGP7V36SuT6YQ3AfctIfTR_aH9QY0RzNZy73X4NGD1g5HilHOPxcc3yTpCpsf3UVzD7Q2SMLBXRtzuvMfUoMy4LJH4HqSw_iNhDMZB2TJWrsSdn6gxTyQgY/s200/IMG_1572.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>On Saturday I ditched Jerry for 24 hours. I left him in the capable hands of Bob and Joan and I went to Chicago to spend the day with Erin and "the girls" for her bachelorette party.<br /><br /><br /><div>A few weeks before that, Linda and I were talking about travel plans, etc. for the wedding weekend. I told her I wanted to take some extra time either the week before or the week after to visit with some family and friends, but hadn't nailed down plans yet. She said that if I was in the area the week before, I could come help the girls celebrate at the Cubs' game. Well...I made my travel decision right th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTjkbBqiYxNTxG0XHI8431e9f2fMY1Sw5Exw8jvb9D5UGiTo3aCqY_a8MTmUzpY5dr-0JiqAjQ-p6p75I-IviQnVORqTYFL8msnafG3BZI3EKCWJpytDtqjVOOBvhGcqAVnqTjVR7ThI/s1600/IMG_1580.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620770086107486690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTjkbBqiYxNTxG0XHI8431e9f2fMY1Sw5Exw8jvb9D5UGiTo3aCqY_a8MTmUzpY5dr-0JiqAjQ-p6p75I-IviQnVORqTYFL8msnafG3BZI3EKCWJpytDtqjVOOBvhGcqAVnqTjVR7ThI/s200/IMG_1580.JPG" border="0" /></a>en and there! I love the Cubs (I know...there should be a support group somewhere) and I've never partied on one of the rooftops before and it sounded like a grand idea. So that was the plan. It was windy and cold and rained in the 9th inning...the Cubs lost 9-0...and we had a wonderful time! :) </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-UIp4_A0xjPtyFmETXY352RD10O0uOtjFFnQraXb9bPQRv7m14nT5aiKfByTsN8fyCZXuo9hNK5lGe5PrN1-FVHTn75frn2VsP1h-6FoHKGZ8ce8mZcqQww4THkfv_3iyvdi-5sbSNw/s1600/murder.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620774528493879554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 174px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-UIp4_A0xjPtyFmETXY352RD10O0uOtjFFnQraXb9bPQRv7m14nT5aiKfByTsN8fyCZXuo9hNK5lGe5PrN1-FVHTn75frn2VsP1h-6FoHKGZ8ce8mZcqQww4THkfv_3iyvdi-5sbSNw/s200/murder.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>After the game, we met up with the guys who were doing the bachelor thing on another rooftop. Just a short time trying to talk in a crowded, noisy bar and we parted company with the "youngsters". Linda, her friends, Ann and Barb, Nan (the mother of the groom) and I went to get Linda's car and go downtown to the Embassy Suites where she had booked rooms for us. One of the wonderful things about getting older is that you get smarter. I have no idea how long the younger crowd hung out in Wrigleyville, but we had a great evening. Linda had gotten us tickets to see a play at the Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. Hmmm...a play--okay..."Shakespeare"?--well, let's see..."musical"?--try to keep an open mind. It was called Murder for Two and it was hilarious!! There are only two actors...one is the detective and the other is all 6 suspects and a couple of little kids. I don't know when I've seen more talented actors or when I've enjoyed anything so clever. If you get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn27znnFmL7UykqQ68rsaDuxXrKWmBGxaG_ds-Jl8bjvJ7yr96DJyw1r9PdcPfLSzaksXI6ein8wZbGgKTzY6Srz2x0K2YpDQvMP0hxe4k9d2kgCotZNgSymqT7Mfz3jmnUSCE1XKY_4k/s1600/IMG_1583.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620775652489127682" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn27znnFmL7UykqQ68rsaDuxXrKWmBGxaG_ds-Jl8bjvJ7yr96DJyw1r9PdcPfLSzaksXI6ein8wZbGgKTzY6Srz2x0K2YpDQvMP0hxe4k9d2kgCotZNgSymqT7Mfz3jmnUSCE1XKY_4k/s200/IMG_1583.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>By the time the play was over, it had stopped raining. So we stayed on Navy Pier to see the first Saturday night fireworks of the 2011 season. All I can say is..."ooooo" and "ahhhhh". Beautiful. Then we walked back to our hotel and stopped to get something to eat. So there we were eating French onion soup and sipping margaritas (mine was a rum and coke) at midnight. Ahh...the good life. </div><br /><br /><div>I got up early and enjoyed a full hot breakfast at the hotel and then caught a cab back to Union Station and the train back to Dwight and was picked up by Jerry, Bob and Joan. Wow...I felt like I almost met myself coming and going on those train tracks. But what a fun 24 hour visit to a city I love with people I really enjoy. Nan, Barb and Ann were all new acquaintances even though I've heard enough about them to feel like I knew them. But they are all a lot of fun and once you meet them you feel like you've known them forever. So the following week at the wedding, I felt like I was seeing new friends again instead of meeting strangers.</div><br /><br /><div>Thanks, Linda, for inviting me to join you all for that weekend. It was great! </div></div></div></div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285398449417503891.post-28672734926334891622011-06-18T07:24:00.017-04:002011-06-18T07:52:51.786-04:00Two for the Road<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5w_rIRJxyoxsjbo2LdSgQon6K13xLLcQCApJR6qHJfELoGrCCUUA1jnj8vQf6k0BzluGHotno-IvWEG1d77Y4JYNnrgx-STwRpXxidY18AxiwmDuB2SznQpiXWHOHuGcj4an1EIcxXc/s1600/highway.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619520870188373282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 95px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5w_rIRJxyoxsjbo2LdSgQon6K13xLLcQCApJR6qHJfELoGrCCUUA1jnj8vQf6k0BzluGHotno-IvWEG1d77Y4JYNnrgx-STwRpXxidY18AxiwmDuB2SznQpiXWHOHuGcj4an1EIcxXc/s200/highway.jpg" border="0" /></a> Day two of our trip got us to Streator...finally. Most people driving from here to there take I-75 to I-24 to I-57 to Champaign, Il., and then take I-74 to Bloomington and go north on I-39. But when we get on I-74 just a little west of I-57 we turn north on state route 47. It's a decent road and even though it's only 2-lane it just feels nice to slow the pace a little after all the interstates and start to enjoy the familiar farmland. This year lots of those farmers' fields had standing water in them. As soon as we get as far north as highway 116, east of Pontiac, we start to see the wind farms. Even though the residents are now used to the sight of them, they still fascinate us. There were none of these when we moved away 20 years ago and now they are plentiful in that area.<br /><br /><br /><div>When we got into town, we drove by the house where I grew up. It's in a sad state of disrepair. My mother always kept the place neat and pretty. But we didn't linger we went on to happier things...like the house of our friends Bob and Joan. They know that when I come to town I'm on a quest to eat pork tenderloin sandwiches. So for dinner they took us to a place that has go<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X8bGpJQixRgZUaOCVR2uTv7LrRxE_O21nBTA8LNBIiYwpVvGb8Ip0GN94XVeRmPLtMr7q9WY0311r16YFNp228Rg3Pf0Bve8BnhWVDycAy49R5q7PkKMWZqCnx_9aLKog1QNNltOtsc/s1600/sharon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619524765582885666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X8bGpJQixRgZUaOCVR2uTv7LrRxE_O21nBTA8LNBIiYwpVvGb8Ip0GN94XVeRmPLtMr7q9WY0311r16YFNp228Rg3Pf0Bve8BnhWVDycAy49R5q7PkKMWZqCnx_9aLKog1QNNltOtsc/s200/sharon.jpg" border="0" /></a>od ones. Yum. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>The timing of our trip was such that we rolled into town just in time to catch our sister-in-law, Sharon's, performance at Engle Lane Theater! She has been active in local community theater in Streator and Morris for many years, but we've never seen her in anything or seen any of the shows she's written and produced. Engle Lane began as a community playhouse in 1960 and has been going strong ever since. Last year it was badly damaged in a tornado on June 5th. They had their grand reopening in April of this year, so it was exciting to see the new facility. It's beautiful. The performance we saw was "Pop"...a very up-tempo revival of songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s. It was a real toe-tapper and I'm so glad we got to see it...and Sharon. Bravo! </div>Quilting Beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845384174277700050noreply@blogger.com0