They've moved

It took me about a week to get myself back together after they left.  We've been so blessed to have them here for almost three years.

My son took a job out of state, but still within driving distance.  He will be working in his field, New Testament manuscripts. I've very happy for him.  You can imagine how narrow the field is but he's found a niche and it is perfect for his blend of talents and abilities.

Still, the grandchildren.  Oh, I know so very many grandparents have never had their grandchildren live close, so I'm not complaining, just acknowledging my feelings.  So here are some pictures to commemorate the last few weeks.

Decided to put up some tiny solar lights on the swing set. Not perfect, but still fun at night.

We had some lake time at the local park. The kids love the lake!

Graduated from Kindergarten and third grade.

Lots of car rides with Puzzle girl, who loves these kids just like I do.

Saying goodbye with my best friend.

Pictures and more pictures of the day they left.

I hope and pray they remember these three years as some of the best of their childhood.  We have tried to be intentional with teaching them things and just having fun being together.  Lots of play days at our home, swinging, playing with the pup, making up games, scooter rides, easy-roller rides, lawn tractor rides and scooter and even push chair rides. Then there's been cooking, garage picnics, races, tag in the house, and our beloved and somewhat irreverent nightly made up stores of Wind and Prime finger shadow puppets.  There have been times when I've laughed until I cried.  I won't dwell on the times they drove me nuts and I yelled at them, although there were a few of those too.  This has been real life, but real good life. Times I will cherish all my days. And I hope they are old enough for these memories to meld into them so that when they are old they will still smile when remembering.

We will still make memories with them I'm sure, but it will be different.

 

Spring 2023

 Not a lot of quilting has been going on since the last post.  Just too busy! The grands are both playing soccer, so that's practice twice a week and games on Saturday.  They are having fun and we know our time is short with them before they move in about 6 weeks, so we don't mind the busyness.  It will be all too quiet around here once they are gone.

So, here are some pics of today's adventures.  Started off with soccer but I didn't get any pictures.  They played their best friend's teams.  Next Papaw took them for pancakes at the annual pancake breakfast to benefit the Lions' Club.

After that, there was a boat ride.  All I heard was "faster, faster!"  And even though it was rather cold, we stopped by the local marina for some ice cream.

Next was some play time at the park while Papaw got the boat hooked back up to the trailer.

And back home for some fun and games with Puzzle.  She adores these children, but really she loves all children, and for that matter she loves everyone!

And while I'm sharing photos, I need to add some from Easter.  The kids, and their parents came by for some photos on their way to the other grandparents for Easter dinner.

My brother and sister-in-law came to eat with us, along with a widowed childhood friend and a neighbor. We all enjoyed a simple meal and good fellowship.

I finally got the new lavender quilt blocks made, but they still aren't put together.

I hope to custom quilt this one.  Next week we are going to the Paducah Quilt Show to meet up with some long time friends. It will be a fun time and I hope I return with some new ideas and fabric.

Started the year off right

 I'm now working on my fourth quilt of the year - 2023.  Did the quilting on the Chilhowie (Bonnie Hunter mystery), and went right into a Valentine's quilt, much like the one I did last year for my brother.  It, too, has some of his birth mom's hand embroidered blocks in it.

Both of these new quilts have been on the beds for a couple of months now.

When I finished up the red and white one I decided to do another Bonnie Hunter complex quit pattern for a Christmas quilt.  I have it finished but it hasn't been quilted yet, still awaiting the backing. I loved making this one.  It is called On Ringo Lake and was one of her annual mystery quilts a few years ago. I even learned to miter the corners.

I upgraded my design wall this year.  I saw these acoustic tiles and loved the idea of no damage to the sheetrock, removable, and just really pretty.  I love, love, love the new design wall.

The last quilt I'll show is one I just started today.  It has bigger pieces with 4" HSTs and is called "Fresh" by Thimbleblossoms.  I am using a lot of a line called Lavender Blessings and will add some other like colored fabric.  I was inspired to make this springy quilt by the beautiful watercolor my precious daughter-in-law painted for me for my birthday in January.  I was so touched!  She is so talented.  I cried when she gave it to me, it is SO SPECIAL.

This one will be another for a king bed at 96" square without a border.  I will probably make it a bit bigger with a 4-6" border.  There will be 16 of these very large 24" star blocks.  Hope it turns out pretty!

In other news, the kids are playing soccer this spring.  We can't wait to watch their games.  We are helping by getting them to some of their practices, while momma and daddy start the packing process for their move to New Orleans in a couple of months.  :(  just can't dwell on that....I know the Lord will be there for them just like he is here.  We've tried to have them over for fun days, knowing our time is short with them.

Pets and grandkids playing a little electronics.  The pup loves them so very much, and it is likewise.

Mamaw sure loves this sweet puppy....and can't you just see the love in the picture below.  She adores her "daddy" and got to go for a boat ride recently.

So that's a little recap on what's been going on here in East Tennessee since the new year,

First quilt finish of 2023

I got the last clue and reveal of Bonnie Hunter's 2022 mystery quilt last friday.  I loved it!  I worked on it Friday, Saturday, and today. It is finally finished. It is definitely one of the most complex quilts I've made but it wasn't that hard. She had great instructions and I learned a few things from a friend recently to also help my piecing. Isn't it a beauty? My friend's secret for piecing?  Starch your fabric before cutting and while pressing the units.  It really does help to make more accurate cuts and seams.

I'll try to find or order some backing tomorrow.  Haven't a clue what I"ll use.

Our new custom dog crate was delivered.  As you can see the kids loved it as much as Puzzle did.

We had such fun with the kids last weekend when they spent the night.  The raided our closets to dress up like us.

Emma is giving me the "look" I often give her, ha!

They enjoyed playing "puppies" and we named them Polly and Patch (to go with Puzzle).  :)

I discovered my mom's old sewing machine.  My sister said I had it but I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out where it was.  Duh!  It hit me that it was inside the cabinet that I use for a table in our bedroom.

I opened it up and it worked!  This machine is a 1948 model and the one mom made all of our clothes with.  She evidently wore out the original cabinet, and I think maybe 30-40 years ago they found this one and refinished it for her machine. This would be such a great little set up for someone who sewed or quilted but didn't have a dedicated sewing room.

And one more of the kids....they don't have iPads at home but get to play games on Papaw's when they visit....which they love. He's keeping an eye on them while watching TV.  Fun times and memories made.  Hope they never forget.

 

As 2022 ends, and 2023 is before us....

 I usually do goals and a recap of each year as a final post.  It's been a busy year, but aren't they all.  They go faster and faster as I age. I've had a couple of interesting projects this year.  We got a puppy!  My hubby has wanted a golden retriever ever since we married 20 years ago. I finally caved :) Puzzle is her name.  She is named after a search and rescue golden retriever that worked with Susannah Charleson and is in her book, Scent of the Missing.  And yes, she is a golden retriever.  We are in love with her, although the first few months were terribly hard.  My husband Jim, has a bad leg and can't easily get up and down or walk. He walks with a cane, so he could not get up quickly to take her out in the night. He does his best, but will agree that most of the work initially was left to me. Top that with her getting a parasite when she was very young and having to go out 4-7 times a night for about 12 days with diarrhea.

She is absolutely crazy about the grandkids and they feel the same towards her. The next big thing I did was teach a rock art class for the local homeschool co-op.  It was enjoyable but time-consuming.  A bit more than I expected.  There are some budding artists in the group though.  I prepared a rock each week and directions for them to copy.  We used paint pens. Below are a few we did, and a couple of others I did in the year.

Now, to the quilts.  I made a lot of smaller quilts this year.  I sold my Gammill long arm machine and purchased a Bernina and absolutely love it.  It is so user friendly. Computerized. And the great thing is, one of my friends has one just like it and is so smart and always ready and able to answer any questions I have regarding how to do something on it. Included in the quilts I made this year are two for friends who lost their husbands in 2022.  :(  Made from their shirts and both were big UT fans.

Another project I started in 2022 was to let my very short pixie har style grow out.  I've spent hours  on Youtube/blogs/instagram trying to learn how to manage my very curly hair. I cut it short about 18 years ago when I let it go grey and have wanted it longer every since.  It is now longer than it has ever been and I am loving learning how to deal with the curls. The top left pic was one I found online and a friend put my face to it!  The grandkids thought it was hilarious and said I'd look like a witch. Neither wanted me to grow it out. But that is often how our family wants to see us - the way we've always looked.  The husband was supportive although I know he didn't like it at first.  He has come around now. It's amazing to me the hair growth of only one year, with three tiny trims.

I purchased a new rug for our dining room this year and really love it.  Wayfair has great rugs.

We had a great time with the kids over on Christmas Eve.  SO happy to still have them here, but we know that is changing in 2023.  My son is taking a position in New Orleans at the Seminary.  Makes my heart so sad for them to move, but I knew it would probably happen and am trying to focus on the memories and joy we've had with them for the past two years here. I just hope the kids will always remember these times.

Since getting the pup, I've been wanting to build a special crate that is more like a piece of furniture.  I finally decided I just didn't have the skills to do it right. I found a local craftsman that agreed to build it for us.  It should be ready soon.  A crate on one side and a drawer and shelves on the other, with a removable top.  Can't wait to get it.

As 2022 ends I have two quilting projects going on.  I am doing Bonnie Hunter's annual mystery quilt.  My first time to do it. I'm have a great time and learning lots.  Can't wait to see the finished quilt.  Right now it's still a mystery.  She gives out clues on her blog weekly.  She is a great pattern designer and teacher.  This is where we are right now, but I'm pretty sure there will be an alternating block to go with these.  Love the colors!

Another project I am currently working on is a red and white quilt. I made this same pattern in 2021 for my brother.  His birth mother had hand embroidered a lot of flower designs in red.  I used most of them in his quilt.  He had given me lots of her hand embroidered pieces a few years ago.  When he told her I quilted she said, "she will know what to do with them."  I assume her other children weren't interested in them.  His quilt turned out beautiful so I'm making another with the leftovers and a panel I bought that has some redwork flowers on it.  I am using them as fussy cut squares, as I won't be embroidering them.  I just hope the red print isn't designed to wash out!  Didn't think of that until recently.

And here we are on December 27th and we had our first snow fall of the season.  Maybe 1/2 - 3/4" of an inch but still pretty and kept me from going to work today.  

I'll end this long post with my book list I read in 2022. I re-read several I've read in the past so I won't list all of those.

- Why The Universe Is The Way It is by Hugh Ross (loved this nerdy book, read it 3 times! He is a Christian astrophysicist)

- A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking (the above book caused me to want to read this also)

- The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

- I Survived the Children's Blizzard of 1888 by Lauren Tarshis

- Jimmy by Robert Whitlow (read this years ago)

- Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone by Diana Gabalden (Outlander Series)

- The Shephard's Wife by Angela Hunt

- The Auschwitz Escape by Joel Rosenburg

- Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayen (true story of immigrants)

- A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman (supposedly a great book, but I didn't like it the much)

- Churchill by Andrew Roberts (absolutely loved reading the true stories of Churchill, a fascinating man)

- The Rooster Bar by John Grisham

- The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (great true story of the 1936 Berlin Olympics)

- Code Girls by Liza Mundy

- Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (loved this one too)

- The Secret Keeper by Amanda Cox

- The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

- The Undoing of Saint Silvanus by Beth Moore

Goals for 2023?  I'm still thinking about those.