A very sad day indeed........

Well it was a sad day here at the homestead. In preparing to go on a quick visit to see my mom, we decided to take down the redneck pool.... The professor had to get into the pool to unplug the valve inside the pool. Then after getting out.... he had to dawn his lovely kilt towel.... a special pressie from friends in the UK.

Doesn't he look....Scottish???? I finished up a lovely quilt ....and even tried "McTavishing" or at least my perversion of it. The photos don't show well, but it is pretty in person. I am delivering it tomorrow..... I have also finished another quilt to be sent off...but can't share it...until she has seen it first. Hope you have a great day.... I am off to see a spectacular trunk show tomorrow.... more pics to follow.

The 4th, more redneck pool shots...and family fun.

Well, Happy Belated 4th to everyone. We had all the kids and the grands..and what fun. We even enjoyed phone calls from our special Italian exchange student, Francesco. It was fun hearing from our UK buddies and texts from South Africa. It really is a smaller world we live in. June and July saw many family members birthdays...so we had to have cake...and a cookie cake...er...well ....lets just say the kids "really got into it!" And leave it at that.

Now the redneck Pool was a huge hit. All of the kids and babies loved it! Even most of the grownups made a dip or two. The Princess and Wee One, had their own little paddling pool...but seemed to enjoy being in the big pool too. While we had the kids all here...we went through some of the many stored things of our grown up kids...and DS2 found some of his swimming medals.... Michael Phelps.... probably looked like this after the last Olympics... the kids were sure impressed with the medals... and now they are no longer at my house....more room for fabric!

Since it was the fourth of July... we had sparklers and glow sticks.... I even found these very cool glow stick balls that the dads put together quick quick. And because I don't want anyone to get in trouble...but a certain Aunt and Uncle.... set off some pretty awesome fireworks.... and sparklers and charcoal snakes. We ate and grilled and sat out on the deck every night until quite late. The fireflies were fun for the kids to try and catch. WE even managed a couple of games of horse shoes! It is the best 4th I have had in years. And all thanks to my family. I did manage to do a few quilts... this week after all the company left

The pictures don't do them justice...but they were both lovely quilts. I also completed a sweet baby quilt for one of these gals..but the photo is way out of focus... I have that affect on many things. Hope you all had a great weekend. I am off to a visit a new quilt group... tomorrow.... new to me...hope they show some pretty things.

Quilts for Africa, Warm Feelings and being Blessed and more ...

When I left Africa about 15 1/2 months ago.... I thought it would be like most moves.... YOu leave, then slowly but surely your new home takes over your thoughts...but I find that hasn't exactly happened. I am not sure if it was because of the caliber of ladies whom I felt privileged to call my friends...or just because I did volunteer work with them, and had no close family or job to distract me. I love these ladies because of their wonderful hearts.... never thinking anything is too big to get accomplished, or not important enough to do. I have to post this photo...as of course ..being a quilter, and living there for 4 years, I did accumulate a stash. I had to leave much more behind than I was able to bring back with me.Just before I left, a dear lady donated some more fabric to me, so I bequeathed them to my dear quilting ladies. Well, they have outdone themselves. They made 24 quilts...with the bits and pieces and have delivered them to the Komani Hospital in Queenstown South Africa. The email and photo I received said they were snatched up, by the long term patients there. More will hopefully be made in the future for the rest of the mental health patients there. They live very sub-standard with little more than a bed in their rooms, and It is very cold there at the moment, so I know they were appreciated. How could I not be nostalgiac for these dear, caring ladies. And I am so privileged to have known them, even for a short time.

I also can now share the finished photos of Toni Brenker from PA's quilts... she has received them now. One is the Orange Crush and the other is the Double Delight quilt from Quiltville. com .

We are preparing for our children to come for a visit over the 4th. Of course, we wanted to have someplace to cool off..so last year at the end of the season we purchased a large pool..... and tried to set it up this week...only to find out that the ground needs to be way more level than our back yard is.... a dilemma...it capsized... ( I wish I would have had a photo of that one!) So undaunted we went back to the store to see if there was a slightly smaller one... well we didn't find one that would work...or that wouldn't break the bank...so back home...and after much swearing and gnashing of teeth...we decided to go redneck!!! It is only temporary...( or will it be????) but here it is...... set up on the only level area we have.... ON the CARPORT! I know.... now I am thinking of hanging some mosquito curtaining..... along the front just to give us a little privacy while the kids are here.... I really don't want to expose my bits and pieces to the neighbors either!!!!! But it will be wet for the grands when they come. Until we sort something else out.

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