Friday, August 22, 2014

Stop and Smell the Roses

Here it is, mid-August already.  I can't believe how time goes so fast and you don't realize it till its gone.


We had such a busy summer this year.   Preparing for our son and daught-in-law's wedding, traveling to PA, seeing family we didn't see for years, our Nephew's wedding, etc.  Well, this past week I just sat back and said Ahhhhhh!


Tamo and I just enjoyed sitting on our porch and enjoying nature. 



Sometimes I tend to do too much and well, my body said "Knock it off".  So this week I spent time outside, enjoying my flowers, watching the birds, etc.



I am glad they survived while we were gone.  I placed water bottles in each pot before leaving.  The bottles were all dry, ground was dry but flowers were okay. 




I got a lot of my hand sewing caught up while relaxing on my swing.  (Something for "See you in September")  It was the perfect spot, that is early morning and evening.  



These last few weeks have been really hot.  In fact this week is to be the hottest so far this year.  (Time to get caught up with wash, unpacking and get back in my sewing  room, lol)


Oh, and our son and his wife got in some fishing in our pond this week.


Yeah, we do have some fish left.  My husband was afraid the neighbors would fish us out while we were in PA.  We ask that no one fish without our premission.  Ever since we were broken into, my husband does not like anyone on our property while we are not home.  (some people just don't understand or care.)  Anyway, all is well and we have fish.

I sure hope you are all enjoying your summer also.  It is going fast, so stop and smell those roses....and have fun!





Next hop,  "See you in September".
Starts September 3rd

There are going to be sooo many 
GREAT projects, plus
GINGHAM! !!


Hope to see you all there!

Till then,

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE! !






Tuesday, August 19, 2014

What a Ride!

What a Ride!   From our house to Hershey PA is aprox. 932 miles.  When we came home after the weddings we were all tired, relieved it all went well, and ready to go home to our own beds.  


As driving through Hershey, I did notice that they added quite a few new rides in their park since we were there last.
Including a large Roller Coaster that carries you upside down.





The Ferris Wheel is still at the same place. 


Unfortunately,  the traffic was heavy so my hubby took another route to Harrisburg.  I missed some good pictures but was told that next time we go to Hershey we will stop.

12 hours later, we were on the bypass around Nashville.





After driving all that time and through the night, some of us just couldn't stay awake no longer.

(This is Wayne, one on our son's friends that came along back to visit.  We teased him cause he couldn't wait to see Nashville and here he is sound asleep.)


All went good.  We were all glad to be home and in our own beds that night.

Wayne got to visit all around West TN for the rest of the week.  Then the day before he flew home they went to Nashville.  From what we were told, they had a blast.


Vincent playing his harmonica with another guy while waiting to get in the "Wildhorse Saloon".


Not sure which Honky Tonk they are singing in here.

My husband and I sat this one out...I got caught up on wash, putting everything away and he did yard work.  Then just kinda recovered from the trip and all the relatives,  lol.

Now, time to get back to quilting.  I was being teased that I was going through withdrawal,  :)

Till next time,

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE !!




Monday, August 4, 2014

To Have and To Hold

Such a busy month.  I ended up making 27 small toppers, 9 each of yellow, pink and blue.  These were the colors that my son's fiancĂ© picked for their wedding.


Then I made a special one for the bride & groom's table. 


(Please excuse my picture,  I forgot to take one till it was all packed away)

Then instead of a bag to carry and put envelopes in, she wanted a basket for on their table..  So I made a liner to match her dress.


But this past week was exhausting, fun, exciting, well I think I actually had all emotions hit me at one time or another.

Well, we packed everything up and we had a full truck full headed to PA.  We left on Tuesday evening and drove straight through.  Took us 15 hours but we had so much to do.  Wednesday we picked up the rest of what we needed,  paper plates, table cloths, etc.  Then visited my mom & dad and my husband's mother.   It was another long day but that's okay.  (Oh, our little neices came over and wanted to fix my husband and make him look good for the wedding.)  




Then Thursday the rental company came with the 30' X30' tent with sides, tables, chairs, and the port pottys.  We were having the wedding in her father's back yard.   So we needed to set it up, make our centerpieces,  decorate, etc.  But by 7 pm a lot of their friends started coming.  See, my son did a lot of DJ gigs and singing up there and met a lot of people.



Need less to say it was another long night.  

Next day we worked on food all morning, then went to get out hair, nails and makeup done,



We got back and wouldn't you know it...it started pouring down raining.  That got us all scrambling to get everything under the tent.  I told Missy to stay inside so her hair wouldn't go straight again.  Which is just what mine did!  All in all it ended up fine.  It stopped raining but most all the people were tgere.  So I grabbed every man I could and had them caring food out.  It all ended up fine, we were about a half hour behind schedule but that didn't matter.  One thing, the rain cooled things off for us.

Didn't they look good?




(Guess you can tell I am a proud mom)


See, due to time, cost, and their wishes, they were married the Friday before.
So they wrote their whole wedding ceramony with their vows.
They were together for a little over 13 years so they had a lot of time to plan this out.  It was Beautiful!  I was never the type who cried, but they sure did get me.


(from the left)
My oldest son Wes, my daughter Cyndy, then my oldest grandson on the far right, Matthew.


Her bouquet. 




Another long night, we went to bed and I looked out the window...gee, the sun was coming up.  

The next day we had lots to put away but also another wedding to attend   our nephew was getting married.  I was never at a Mennonite wedding,  so this was going to be a first for all of us.  

After the bride walked up the isle there were 3 people come out and a screen came down.  We sang 5 "long" songs,  then an elder from their church spoke on how women should submit to their husband.  (My husband said it was enough for them all to turn an run, lol)  Next the paste gave his sermon,  then 3 more songs.  Then another pastor came out to do the ceramony.  It lasted almost an hour.  





It was very nice.  I gave them the green "Buzz Saw" quilt.  They did not open their gifts at their reception, so I hope they like it.  Oh, their reception,  that was really different also.


My parents


Our nephew and his daughter.

We are now on our way home, I can't believe it is over already.  Our oldest son lives in the state of Washington.  We put him on the plane before we left.  It was so good seeing him again.  Our daughter and her husband live in York, PA.   Goodbye can be so hard.  Especially to my parents.  Neither are good health wise.  My dad just turned 87 and my mother will be 89.  I miss them already.

Ahhh, but on the other hand, there is nothing like your own bed.

So on that note,  

(you can tell I am tired) I am saying goodbye. 

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE! 









Thursday, July 17, 2014

Weddings and Mennonites

As I am sure all my readers know, August 1st our son is getting married to his long time girlfriend.  We are all excited.  Ever so often we have dinner and sit outside at his fire ring going over all we have to do.


It is getting close now.  Her gown has been altered and ready, his suit, my dress, flowers, etc.  It is just to do all the odds and ends.  We will leave for PA early Wednesday so we have plenty of time to set it all up.

Now the next day our nephew is getting married.  I asked everyone's opinion as to which quilt to give them as a present.  Well, with lots of thought, research, and help from all my fellow quilters.  I decided to give them this quilt:


See his wife to be is Mennonite and our nephew is going Mennonite.   I learned there are different orders of Mennonites.   She is old order from Ephrata,  PA.  I learned that Mennonites are a branch of the Christian church,  with roots in the radical wing of the 16th century Protestant Reformation.   Part of the group known as Anabiptist (because they re-baptise adult believers)


(Our nephew Shawn, and his fiancé)

Mennonites got their name from Menno Simons,  a Dutch priest who converted to the Anabiptist faith and helped lead them.

The Mennonite were of German heritage.  The Amish separated from Mennonite in the late 1600's.  Known for their plain dress and complete rejection to modern technology.   The both came to America in the 1800's, first settling in PA.

Anyway to make a long story short, unlike the Amish, they have electric, they do drive vehicles (but everything on the vehicle must be black, bumpers, grilks, etc.)  They dress plain, with plain darker colors (not bright colors nor prints), their head dress is smaller, and they have interest in English outside the church.  (Amish are a tight community in themselves).  

So knowing all this, I know they will use this quilt.  They are not into the bright colors nor the newer, brighter fabrics.

It is going to be a very busy weekend.  After their wedding our son has a gig planned with his friends.  We will be going to listen to him and the others sing.

Look out.....their will be lots of pictures.

Two weddings.....oh, lots to do....later,

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!






Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Help, I need your Opinion

HELP, I would love to have your opinion on this.  

You see, my son is getting married on August 1st in PA.  So we have a lot to get and organize.  It isn't easy, getting it all together living 956 miles away.  But my son and his fiancĂ© are troopers and all is getting done.



My problem is my nephew is getting married the next day.  (Gonna be a busy weekend)  Well, I would like to give him and his wife to be, one of my quilts.  But it seems as we each have a different opinion as to which one.  We have no idea as to what their colors are.  The only thing we do know is he is marrying a Menonite girl.  (and she is sweet, a school teacher)

I would truly appreciate your input as to which quilt you think would be appropriate.

First,   is:  
"Buzz Saw",    79" X 83"


Second, is:
 "Proud Honeysuckle"   79" X 79"


Third, is:
"Scrappy Batiks"   72" X 78"


Last but not least...
Forth, is:
"Wonky Stars"  60" X 72"


Ok, these are the four that each one of us picked to give as a wedding present.  I only wish I had more time to make a special one just for them.  My family says one of these will be perfect.

NOW, which one do you think I should give them?

Thank you all for your help.  Now I got lots of table toppers that I am making.  Then I need to find a dress.  Oh, then to make a silk pouch.

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!










Friday, June 20, 2014

Busy, Busy, Summrer

What a BUSY summer so far.  We not only are getting ready for our sons wedding in August, but have been busy with our dear Amish friends.  See, we drive them where they need to go.


My husband drove 6 adults and 10 children to up state WI.  As you can imagine there was not enough room for me.   What a cool place he was in.  It reminded him of were we are from in PA.  They went to a wedding.  Unfortunately, he could not take any pictures.  But he sure learned a lot.  

Unfurtunately, a week later "grandma" passed away and he had to take them all to a funeral in MI.  At least she got to see her youngest granddaughter get married.

Me, well, I was as busy as a bee.  I have been going with my future daughter-in-law to find a gown.  (Oh, she found a beautiful one)  since then we have been going to the lady that is altering it for her.  Tomorrow we pick it up.  Oh I also found a dress for myself.  YEAH!!   I think that was harder than finding her gown. 


I also got some beautiful fabric to make 30 little table toppers for her and one large one for the bridal's table.  

So off I go to get them done.  I never knew there were so many things to think of and do.

So till later....

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!








Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Come join me on my "PICNIC"




A BIG thank you to Mary Winegar and Madame Samm for all their hard work and for coming up with this great idea of having a picnic.  "THANK YOU"

Now...come see mine.....

(First...let me remind you, I think out of the box)

Remember Sally?  Well, she decided to enjoy the sun, the warm summer breeze, beautiful flowers, hear the birds singing, etc.  So she packed her basket with fabric, sissors, cutting mat and her quilt book with a pattern she wants to make.  Oh, a sandwich and lemonade. 



See her basket of goodies?  (You can't have a picnic without ants. )


Here is Sally.  (Looks like the bees want some of her lemonade)



Now this is only her pre-picnic.  See she got a phone call earlier from her boyfriend.  He wants to take her out later that evening.  But what she don't know is he wants to take her to the beach to watch the sunset.  I did get a peek at his basket.


Oh look, he is going to bring the crazy quilt she made him and is that a red rose I see?  Gee I wonder what he is thinking????

Hope I didn't bore you too much.   Now it is time for me to pour my glass of lemonade and find a comfy spot.  Come join me and see who else is having their picnic today.  

Thursday June 5


(Here is the rest of the schedule)

Friday June 6



Monday June 9


I sure hope you are enjoying yourself as much as I am.  I love picnics!

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE! !!