More Thanksgiving photos

All right, now that I have the photos, I'm going to put them here--so Liz can see them! Aha! I know Liz peeks in here from time to time, which is the reason I've been sucked into BlogLand...all for love of Lizzy. Here you go, Liz! Notice Uncle Karl has grown fuzzy on his chin? I think it's because he's retired now and doesn't want to shave everyday. Your father was looking longingly at his brother's beard. I think he misses his.

Holiday at Karl and Sue's

Tom snuck my computer away...again...and gave me a new one. He really likes to rebuild computers. Unfortunately, I can't locate my photos yet! Still, I thought I'd tell you about our Thanksgiving holiday and perhaps later I'll be able to figure out where he hid my photos...sigh! (Note from "later" I gave up and reloaded the photos!)

A gourmet feast was prepared by niece, Kristi. Here is a photo of Kristi slaving over the hot stove on our behalf. Kristi is almost ready to graduate from culinary school, so I am not kidding when I say "gourmet!" It was fantastic! She soaked the turkey in brine (what that does, I'm not quite sure, but it was delicious) There was stuffing with hazelnuts, carrots and broccoli with a butter sauce, sweet potatoes with pecans and for dessert, a pumpkin delight with a chocolate truffle on the side. All had fancy names, I wish I had picked up one of the menus she had at each place setting... Kristi is doing so well with her chef-training that her instructors have been bragging about her. She has several job offers already. One is in Spain! Doesn't that sound like an adventure!

Attending the feast were Jim and Sheena, Jeff and Frieda, Kristi's brothers: Steve and Scott, Scott's girlfriend, Angela..and of course, Karl, Sue, Tom and me. We were missing a few family members, but there were certainly enough of us there to make the usual family din. It gets SO loud when you get a bunch of this family together that one time, at my house, the clock actually vibrated off the wall! Okay, maybe it was something elses besides the noise that did it, but this is my story and I'm sticking to it! Tom always comes home hoarse--and I'm sure the other "boys" have the same problem, as everyone is very loud trying to make themselves heard. Phew! They are a noisey bunch, but I love them... Certainly a chance from my side of the family who hardly talk to each other at all.

Hitty and Friends

Last summer, when I was making doll clothes for my sister's approaching 60th birthday (she is really into Barbie and other dolls), I was looking around on the internet and came across a group of Hitty-fans. Hitty is a small wooden doll from a book by Rachel Fields. I remember reading that book when I was a little girl. It is about a little wooden doll and all her adventures. At the time it made perfect sense to me, that she would be writing her biography like that. I always has a suspicion that my toys came to life while I was asleep! The ladies in the group collect Hittys, dress them and even more amazing, some even carve the dolls themselves! Their Hittys travel around quite a bit, getting their photos taken in different locations. For some reason, I found this appealing and decided to join the group. The second photo here is my first ever carved Hitty. Yes, I carved her from wood myself and managed to keep all my fingers intact! Poor thing, she lost her nose three times before I gave up and called her done. As you can see, she still has kind of a square look about her. She was my contribution to the Traditional Hittys Halloween Swap and the gal who received her was very kind with her comments about my efforts. I am having fun with this group. We do lots of swaps of miniature things that we make, not all carved dolls, thank goodness! I found, when making those doll clothes for Sis, that I like sewing the wee clothing and quilts! I also like furnishing the doll house that Hitty lives in. My "main" Hitty is from a kit--not carved, all I had to do was paint her. Her name is Hitty Liz, named of course after daughter, Liz. If Hitty Liz has at least half the adventures that the REAL Liz does, she will be well traveled indeed. Hitty Liz has her own park ranger outfit, although I haven't mastered the Smokey the Bear hat yet. She might remain hatless, poor thing. The other photo here is of the Hittys, who have moved into my younger daughter's doll house (might as well play with it since it is here, right? That's my excuse anyway) Hitty Liz is sitting at the table on the right. The Hitty I received in the Halloween Swap is at the table to the left. Notice she has a very nice nose and doesn't look square like mine did. I was lucky enough to get a Hitty from an experienced carver! So what is ahead for Hitty Liz? She has traveled to Redmond, Oregon....to Mt. Laguna, California...and is looking ahead to a real adventure not related to traveling to radar sites when we tag along with Tom and his job. We are going hiking in the Swiss Alps! I am looking forward to that, as we will be with the REAL Liz! Now if I can just figure out a wee backpack for Hitty Liz and some other hiking gear..hmmmmm If this is the start of my second childhood, that's fine. It is a good distraction from some of the low points in my life right now.

Gratitude

With Thanksgiving this week, I've been thinking about all the blessings in my life. My family, friends, good health, a home to live in, a beautiful world to explore, activities I am passionate about and enjoy, and most of all, faith that God is in heaven and all is right with the world. Okay, maybe not all that "right," but He is in charge and I know things work out the way they are supposed to--according to a greater plan. His. Not mine. Many things are delegated to the "beyond my control" department because of that faith. That is such a relief when I feel overwhelmed. I can only do my best and hope it is enough. Sometimes it isn't. That is just the way of things. But life really IS good! Sometimes I forget that. In the "For the Strength of the Youth" pamphlet (given out to LDS teenagers, but good advice in there for everyone) it says "The Lord wants you to have a spirit of gratitude in all you do and say. Live with a spirit of thanksgiving and you will have greater happiness and satisfaction in life. Even in your most difficult times, you can find much to be grateful for. Doing so will strengthen and bless you."

That is obvious, we are happier when we think of our blessings, rather than dwell on our problems. A slight from a friend, a misspoken word, can turn from a molehill into a mountain if we think about it long and hard enough. What is the point of that? I know I am happier when I appreciate the blessings in my life, be it a new yard of fabric, a RAQ (Random Act of Quiltiness) received in the mail from a friend, a hug from a loved one, the smile of a child, and especially, right now--the thought of Jeff and Frieda coming all the way from Utah tomorrow! It will be wonderful to have them here, and I am extremely grateful for that.

Here's one last quote from the pamphlet I am pondering: "You can also express gratitude to the Lord by the way you live. When you keep His commandments and serve others, you show that you love Him and are grateful to Him. Express appreciation to everyone who helps you in any way."

Another nice idea. It reminds me of a quote I read somewhere, years ago--which I probably won't quote exactly right, but it went something like this, "I read in a book that a man named Jesus who went about doing good. It is very disconcerting to me that I am so easily satisfied with just going about."

Are we satisfied with "just going about?"


Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Goals

Here are some I'm working on!


To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

--- inaccurately attributed to
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Although the line...."whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition..." Can we insert in there something about a multitude of QUILTS to warm body and soul? Obviously Emerson (or whoever wrote that) wasn't a quilter.

Silly Quiz

Linda in London posted this on her blog. LOOK, Linda! We must be twins, we have the same "inner color." LOL

Your Inner Color is Blue

Your Personality: Your natural warmth and intuition nurtures those around you. You are accepting and always follow your heart. You in Love: Relationships are your top priority, and this includes love. You are most happy when you are serious with someone. Your Career: You need to help others in your job to feel satistifed. You would be a great nurse, psychologist, or counselor.

What's Your Inner Color?

Cleaning up!

I tell myself that creative people are messy...that the mere act of creating something, like a quilt, means there will be stuff everywhere! I often "audition" a piece of fabric, only to toss it aside as not being quite right. Not taking the time to refold it and put it back where it belongs. Of course I could clean up after I finish a project, but what fun is that? There are so many ideas for quilts that are bouncing around in my head, it is difficult to stop long enough to clean up the rubble from the last quilt. However...when ignored, the mess grows until it isn't any fun to be in my quilting studio anymore. My fabric cupboard, for instance. Here is a photo with the doors open. Notice how nothing is falling out? True, some of the piles aren't terribly neat, but if you had seen it before--you would be impressed! Sorted by color for the most part, there are also boxes by theme, like "holiday" and "kid prints." I like the clear plastic boxes the fabric is in. I can see more easily what is there, although you can tell by the photo, I have a lot of green and was recently rummaging through that pile! The other photo is of my Juki98E and on a Grace Quilting frame. It is my favorite toy. Underneath are tubs of fabric, also sorted by color or category. I'm posting these photos to remind myself of how nice it is to have it organized and clean!
I know it won't stay this way for long....

Small Friend

This is HaiLee. HaiLee is 7 years old. I am 54. Yet HaiLee, who is not related to me at all, knows I am her friend. How did this happen?

Earlier this week I got a phone call from her. HaiLee and her family; two brothers and an older sister, just live up the street from us. Seems HaiLee's brother was going to celebrate his 8th birthday with a sleepover. The house was going to be filled with lots of "icky boys." HaiLee asked if she could come over here and stay the night. I was surprised, but flattered that she would rather hang out with us (my husband and me) than spending the night with one of her friends. But wait, I AM one of her friends! This strikes me as sweet, but funny and I have been thinking about how this came about. I've had little kids--besides my own offspring, nieces and nephews--like me before. In the past, those children have been in my class at church and I am "teacher" to them. But HaiLee has never been in my Primary class. She was, however, one of the dozens of babies at church whom I gifted with a quilt at birth. She loved that quilt and took it with her to daycare where, when she was about 4 yrs old, someone stole it. She was devastated and when I heard---well, of course, I made her a new one. But bigger...since she was bigger by then. She was thrilled to have it and still tells me it is her "favorite blanket."

I think what caused HaiLee to see me as a friend, rather than just another friendly adult in our church family, was due to what happened after she fell out of a tree and broke her leg, about a year and a half ago. When it was time to have her cast changed, HaiLee's mother was very pregnant and unable to do any lifting--like lifting HaiLee onto the examination table. She asked a mutual friend to come along to help at the appointment, but when that friend had something come up--I was asked to do it. No problem! I found out that, besides lifting--I got to wash off HaiLee's leg before the new cast was put on. I hadn't realized what an extremely stinky undertaking that would be. All that sweat and dead skin made it pretty gross, but I did a good job with her leg and before the new cast went on, it was smelling nearly as sweetly as the rest of her. She was relieved as it had been very itchy. That was a turning point in our relationship and since then, sometimes on Sundays, she asks if she can sit with us during church. Her parents don't mind and she is very well behaved.

So...last night was our "sleepover." What fun to have a normal little girl around! I'd forgotten what a 7 year old is like. The last "normal" 7 year old we had around here is now 25 years old and living in Utah! At Tom's suggestion, we had a Shrek Marathon, watching all three Shrek movies, one right after another. HaiLee was delighted. (I had the weirdest dreams last night! I think I've been Shrekked...) This morning after breakfast, HaiLee asked if I'd play with her. We had some fun with Liz's dollhouse and HaiLee was very nice to it. I told her how Liz used to let her hamsters and gerbils run loose in the house. I don't know if I remember how to play---but we talked a lot, mostly with me listening--and I think that is what HaiLee likes. someone paying attention to just her. She kept thanking us for letting her stay and said she wished she had five more days to stay with us!

All in all, it was fun....and good practice for "someday" when we have grandchildren.

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

I confess, I love fabric. I love to chop up perfectly good pieces of fabric, sewing them back together into patterns--and turning it all into a quilt! Walking into a quilt shop makes my heart pitter patter a little faster. All the colors, all the FABRIC! There is something satisfying to me in turning piles of brightly colored fabric into something useful, attractive...and cuddly. Here are photos of my most recently finished projects.

Most of the quilts here are baby quilts. I started making baby quilts for the newborns at church in 1996 and have made about 10--12 every year since. Everyone seems delighted to have one and it is kind of a thrill for me to see so many of the quilts I make with those cute little babies at church each week. Baby quilts are my favorite. Quick and easy, with bright fun fabric--I can't resist making them. The quilt on the top, with the monkey (in a reversible matching vest, no less!) was just given to Jacob King, born last month. I loved that yellow banana fabric. The blue bed-sized quilt was made with five inch squares of lots of different prints. That was a fun way to use up fabric left overs! The last quilt here is made from Christmas fabric, all theme-related, "The 12 Days of Christmas." I am mailing that one off to a Canadian cousin soon. Hope she likes it.

While I love to make baby quilts (and have been putting some aside for the "someday" when I get grandchildren...who won't lack for quilts, that's for sure), my all time favorite quilt that I've made was "Liz's New Zealand Adventures." I don't have a digital photo of that one, but it was made with blocks that represented things my eldest daughter had seen--or things she had done--while in New Zealand. One block had legs and feet on it, the fabric was pink with pink spots--and I made little flies with embrodiery floss. Just tied knots with the ends hanging for the "flies." To remind her of the beach with the annoying sandflies! There were blocks with flora and fauna, a horse (for the horseback riding she did), Liz in an inner tube looking up at a speckled ceiling of a cave (the specks being glow worms) and more. It was really fun to create my own blocks and put everything all together like a puzzle for that quilt. I quilted it on my quilting machine (home version, a Grace frame with a Juki 98E) and at the very bottom, I quilted words like "Liz's mom loves her" Not sure if that was exactly what I quilted, but it was a message...that she didn't find for a couple years. On the floor one day, doing push ups, she happened to glance over at the quilt on her bed and spotted the secret message! HA!!!! Gotcha, Lizzy! (snicker)

If I wasn't a quilter, I guess I'd have to go out and get a job---I'd need something to occupy my time. I feel fortunate to not only have a hobby I enjoy, but the time to pursue it.

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Since posting this, Liz posted photos of her New Zealand quilt on HER blogsite! If you don't feel like going there (although I would recommend it, as Liz is very interesting!), here are the photos. Thanks, Liz!

Happy Veteran's Day!

I thought today might be a good day to start a blog, and to post a photo of MY favorite veteran.

This is Tom. We've been married 34 years and 22 of those were spent with him in the Air Force. He retired in 1992 and we moved "home" to be closer to our extended family. (that had both good and bad aspects to it but that's perhaps a story for another time...) Our Air Force years, while sometimes difficult, were interesting. I love to travel and this was one way to do it! We've lived in Montana, Maryland, most of the desert areas of Southern California, Nevada, Oregon, and Ohio. Uprooting our family every few years, saying goodbye to the friends we'd made, and moving to a new place where we didn't know anyone, wasn't the easiest thing to do. It was particularly difficult for our children. Even worse, Tom spent a year away from us when he was in Korea in 1980. We were lucky, he never had to go to war, although he was part of the support system for Desert Storm. But despite the difficulties, the military was good to us. Whenever Tom had the opportunity for schooling, he took it. He went from radar repair to machinist, to electrical engineer--all on your tax dollars! Thank you, btw. For your investment, you got someone helping to protect our country and making it so you are safe in your bed at night. I think it was a pretty good deal for all. Whether or not you support the war in Iraq, it is important to support our military. The young men and women who are sometimes giving their all, to keep us safe. They are someone's child....perhaps someone's father or mother...husband or wife. They are us. But the brave and courageous "us." They deserve our support. What can you do to thank them? Today, hug a Vet. I know I'm going to.