He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6
This year I made Pillowcases for the kids for their Easter Baskets.
Only DS-1, DIL-1 and family and my mom were here for dinner today. I had an apron waiting at Kasey's chair for her. As soon as she was certain it wasn't a bib..She loved it! I have aprons cut out for Tatum and Jessa...Hopefully finish them before next weekend.
This grandma just had to add a new picture of my youngest grandbaby at 4 months..Growing fast.
Before DIL-1 arrived home to pick up the kids, they had baths, clothes were washed and dried, the only remaining evidence was wet boots! I have always maintained that kids and clothes wash!
Last week I saw this quilt in McCall's Quick Quilts. I decided it would go together quickly. Also it would give me a chance to try applique.
With a few revisions, here is mine. The flimsy is ready to be sandwiched.
That will have to wait until my wrist heals.
I was pleasantly surprised how easy the applique went on. Now I am ready to try again!
Sunday afternoon this baby girl quilt will be opened by a mom to be. I think I will have to look for another pattern. I have made this several times and have liked it each time.
Not only did I not "Spring Forward" when daylight savings time started last week. I also discovered that I don't bounce! I wiped out on the ice walking into school last Thursday. The clinic did an xray of my left wrist and put it in a brace. I found out today there is a hairline crack.
Question. How do you determine what to charge for a quilt? I have requests for my John Deere baby quilts. It uses approx. 3 1/2 yards of fabric plus batting. I posted a picture of the quilt I made for grandson #3 on a facebook page for quilters when they asked for photos of quilts made for sons or grandsons. Several people asked if I would sell them. I have enough of the tractor fabric to fussy cut squares for 2 quilts. It is not available any longer. All suggestions will be appreciated! Thank you!
I finally finished Conner's quilt. All that was left to finish was the binding. I had planned on using the red Lightning McQueen fabric. However, when I saw the black and white check I decided to use it. I think I like it.
I needed to spend some time tonight to relax my mind from the week. This really helped!
We celebrated Granddaughter #3's second birthday on Sunday. Her princess cake was slid across the table a few times before I was able to snap a picture. Notice the tilted doll.
She was our special miracle to survive the last three months before she was born. We continue to be so very thankful that she and her mom both were fine after her birth.
Grandson #3 is now three months old. He weighs over 15 lbs and is wearing size 6-9 month clothes.
My mom enjoyed loving up her youngest great grandson.
Granddaughter #2 made sure she had her share of the frosting on the doll! She already placed her order for her princess cake this summer.
Do you know where to find the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) where you work or places you may go? A friend's life was saved last Saturday when he collapsed while officiating at a high school basketball game with his son. A coach or trainer at the game ran for the AED to shock Tim's heart. It was able to restart his heart. He had quadruple bypass surgery on Monday. Today he is home with his family thanks to the AED and the quick response by someone who knew where it was and how to use it!
I should finish working on farm taxes today. We have Monday off from school and I am planning to spend it sewing!!!
I am sitting at the computer doing farm bookwork and trying to prepare for taxes. Agriculture/Farm income taxes are due the end of February. I have been working since 7:30 and needed a break.
I haven't been able to spend much time quilting yet this year.
I did finish a quilt for our neighbors new baby. He is the newest addition to the young family whose three year old was killed in a car accident last January.
My "sister" (college/forever friend) oldest daughter is expecting her third any day. Since Dar and Len both grew up on Wisconsin farms, I made a John Deere quilt for the baby. That is if he's a boy. It is the same pattern I have used before. I used some different fabrics and backing.
I have to finish free motion quilting border of the "if the baby's a girl." Yes, again I used a pattern I have used before!
The day after Christmas a former neighbor "boy" who grew up with our boys came with his girl friend to announce they had become engaged two hours before. They hadn't even called her parents yet. He has been an extra son to us most of his life. I had tease them before that they needed to give me enough time to make their Christmas Tree Skirt between engagement and the wedding. Their wedding is being planned for May. I have the flimsy ready to sandwich and quilt.
"And
the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling
and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came
without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled
and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of
something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come
from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
This year Christmas came without any baking, very little decorating,
not much shopping, and very few cards were mailed. (And NO sewing or quilting time!) However, as the
Grinch discovered Christmas still came. It came in the form of the
smiles and laughter in my grandkids faces, in the look of their great
grandmother as she smiled at their actions, the look as they all gazed
into the face of baby, Colby, and through the lighting of candles as the
light was passed around the entire church family on Christmas Eve.
The last time I posted was following my MIL's funeral. It has been a challenging two months dealing with her estate and family dynamics. It has been even more reinforced that we are completely blessed having our sons, daughters-in-love, and precious grandchildren. Things are only things...others may argue and fight over things...we are blessed with our family.
Now the the exciting news! Colby arrived on November 30. He was delivered through emergency c-section following several hours of labor. He weighed 10 lbs, 22 inches long, his head measured 14.5 and his chest was 14.75. He became stuck in the birth canal.
Kasey decided it was ok to have another brother.
Cole still isn't sure about a baby. He was more excited about the two little John Deere tractors that came in his big brother bag at the hospital.
I had two quilts ready! The front is similar to Cole.
Cole had thought it would be ok if the baby's brothers
quilt was almost like his.
Hopefully, I will now find time to finish or begin Christmas gifts!
Yesterday after MIL's funeral the kids were at our house. I went out with my simple camera. I know this is blurry...after I saw the picture I thought of the Lee Ann Womack song, "I Hope You Dance."
A couple of days after my last post we received a call from the nursing home where my 97 year old MIL has resided for the past 5 years. Her kidneys had shut down. She was asking for her family. I sent a text to my kids..DIL-2 was able to be there in a few minutes with Tatum and Jessica. Grandma knew her and the kids. By the time our DS-2 arrived she was in considerable pain. DH and I got there she was talking, but incoherent. DS-1, DIL-1, Kasey and Cole all were able to see her.
I spent part of the night and left with the nurses telling me they would call. The next day at 1:50 I was sitting beside her holding her hand and talking to her as she took her last breath. DH's brother and his wife have been on a month long trip to New Zealand on vacation. They will be returning the end of this week. The services are scheduled for Sunday evening and Monday. We said our goodbye to her on Sept. 30 and now will have to do it again.
October 3rd was the 31st anniversary of Travis's death. This year we again were day sponsors at the Life 97.3 Christian radio station. A few weeks before Travis was killed he sang during an evening church service the Gaither song, "I Wonder How It Felt." The lyrics of the chorus go:
"I'm just a child, my life is still before me.
I just can't wait to see what God has for me.
But, I know that I will trust Him
and wait to see what life will be for me."
We didn't realized that in a few short weeks we would learn what God's plan for our precious 4 year old would be.
My school year is very busy and challenging. I try to be at school by 6:45 and usually leave about 5:30. I need to plan for the 17 students with disabilities and my three 1/2 para educators. Finally this week my SpEd director and principal have worked it out that I am able to leave my classroom for 30 minutes for lunch. (I had been eating lunch while teaching students.)
One of my new aides has been working with my four fourth grade students reading the book, "Little House in the Big Woods" This novel is read in the general ed 4th grade classrooms with many activities and projects. One of the suggestions in the study guide is for the students to draw scenes from the book to make a quilt. When she asked if I would help with it...How could I say anything but yes!
They each drew a scene from the book and a picture of them if they lived in pioneer days! It felt so good to spend some time quilting.
I did finish a quilt for our neighbors new baby. He is the newest addition to the young family whose three year old was killed in a car accident last January. 
My "sister" (college/forever friend) oldest daughter is expecting her third any day. Since Dar and Len both grew up on Wisconsin farms, I made a John Deere quilt for the baby. That is if he's a boy. It is the same pattern I have used before. I used some different fabrics and backing. 
A couple of days after my last post we received a call from the nursing home where my 97 year old MIL has resided for the past 5 years. Her kidneys had shut down. She was asking for her family. I sent a text to my kids..DIL-2 was able to be there in a few minutes with Tatum and Jessica. Grandma knew her and the kids. By the time our DS-2 arrived she was in considerable pain. DH and I got there she was talking, but incoherent. DS-1, DIL-1, Kasey and Cole all were able to see her.
