Memories

My first memory of Calvin was when I came out to help for a few days after he was born. He was soft and cuddly. He seemed and was so perfect, especially being our first grandchild. He had 10 toes and 10 fingers and everything else he was supposed to have. At that time, I wasn't making quilts for our grandchildren yet. So, we went to Joann's Fabric and bought flannel. We made two blankets and we were very happy with them. I remember one was red on the back and white with dogs on the front. I think the red bleed to the front. My first experience with red and learning to not put red behind fabric with mostly white on the front. I know those blankets were used a lot. I remember the day he received his name and blessing. We went to the Hansen's across the street for a little celebration. I remember sitting for what seemed like hours holding and rocking him in the rocking chair in front of the fireplace. What enjoyment that was: Holding our first grandchild. It was a wonderful day. Several years later I made quilts for each of our grandchildren I hadn't made quilts for yet. Calvin's was a design of bottles with insects and bugs inside. I had so much fun making that quilt. We all have great memories of Calvin and he lives on in our hearts. We all love and miss him, just like Donna, Chris and the boys.

A few days after Calvin's passing, Cole asked me to make him a quilt about Calvin, so he would never forget him. I told him, of course I would. Then, Clayton asked if I would make him one also. Of course I would. Jeni was there and we decided I would make one quilt and she would make another quilt. We thought the quilts would help the boys heal. We had old pictures which she printed on cloth so we could include one picture of Calvin on each row of the quilts. These were really hard quilts to make for both Jeni and I. Now the boys have their quilts to remember Calvin, but I know they also have great memories in their minds that won't be forgotten ever.

Labor Day is Family Time

This weekend, which was Labor Day, we actually did some traveling. Yes, Donna, we were on the roads of America. Was it because there was no work at home to do? NO. There is always work to be done at home, because I can find lots of other things to do and so the work is always hanging around. We were at Charlotte's blessing in Idaho.

We were also enjoying the cool weather. Such a nice change from Las Vegas. During the blessing, Charlotte didn't utter a peep. She looked beautiful and so well behaved. She is such a cutie. She has plump little cheeks and is a real smiler. Look closely at the photo and you will see Charlotte and Chas have the same cheeks. She loves smiling whenever you pay attention to her. While being held by everyone at home later, she would listen for her mother's voice. I wonder if babies keep track of their families at this young age of two months. Somehow she is patient with all of us adults and older cousins who get to hold her. We all love to hold her and feed her the bottle. I know she will change and become a normal little girl, but right now she is a little angel.


Of course, we took pictures. It is hard to get all the children together. Let alone look the same direction. That seems to make the picture all the more real. A happy day.

My Handyman, He's the Man

Over the years, 42 now, things around the house need replacing. Like faucets, door knobs, windows, screens, and wooden floors. Each of those items bring back memories for our family. I left out the inevitable wall behind a door knob and the unavoidable huge hole. It makes me laugh just thinking about some of the replacement activities. Oh, and the words that accompany these activities, just some of them. We really don't need to think of them. Sorry, I'm digressing. I'm so thankful for a man who knows how to repair and replace these items. The latest is the kitchen faucet. When we left for Boise and Charlotte's birth, there was a drip. We or my man hadn't had time to fix it. By the time I got home, the handle also had a lot of problems. It was time to replace the whole thing. One Saturday, I suggested we just purchase the faucet and he could install it at a later date. We did that. Yea. Dan had a meeting that night, but thought he could get it started and finish it when he got home. He just couldn't let there be a faucet in a box at home that needed to be installed. Well, the Man did it. It looks wonderful and it works wonderful! I even got the cupboard under the sink cleaned out and organized. Plus we have new tools. You know, every project needs new tools! Thank you honey!!

The Ann Connection

We are all so happy that little Charlotte Ann Bradley has arrived safely in Idaho. We are equally happy that Sally is well and is recuperating. Jeni mentioned Charlotte's middle name Ann is Jennifer's and Sydney's middle name also. That got me to checking in my family history. Back a few generations we have a Julia Ann Longcor born in 1842. She had a brother named Timothy Longcor. There were eight children in Julia's family. Names do have a way of going around.

We are excited to be leaving tomorrow late morning for Idaho by way of Spanish Fork. We'll be staying at the Hansen's extended guest cottage, that is across the street. Then up to Idaho Monday morning.

I'll have little Charlotte's quilt on line next week. Sally gets to see it first. I do love sewing baby quilts. I don't think I have made any from the same pattern. They are all different, just like the babies are all different. Babies are blessings from heaven.

Eye Candy

Last month, Dan and I visited the Dunn's in Albuquerque and the Allen's in Denver. It was a wonderful visit with daughters and their husbands, grandkids, cats and dogs, too. We always love to stop at quilt stores while visiting, plus along the road and highways coming and going. I'm always on the look-out for new quilt stores. Quilt stores are my candy stores. When you walk in a store, the colors jump out at you and the fabric feels like silk. Of course, quilts are displayed beautifully and you are sure you can make a quilt just like it, in every detail. We wish.

This trip was no exception. While in Albuquerque, Dan and I visited two of our favorite stores. One of these stores is advertised in many of my quilt magazines. That knowledge makes it fun to know "I've been there." The owners know their customers, because they have an area for hubbies to sit and read or work on their computers, while waiting for the cash register's total. It's fun for everyone. What a great husband I have, he knows what I need to be happy.

New Mexico inspired design and colors for friends of ours who just had a new baby.

On the way home we stopped in Williams, Arizona for gas. It is a very cute little town off the main road. Guess what was right next to the gas station? A quilt store! What luck. We had been driving for awhile, so while stretching my legs, I discovered it. Of course I, we, found treasures we couldn't do without. What fun. We won't forget it's location.

So, three shops and lots of eye candy to keep me happy. For how long? Oh--- a while, till I need some more fabric to match this piece or that piece. It might be that extra dark fabric that will make the quilt. There is always a quilt just on the horizon that NEEDS to be made. I have even enlisted daughters in the search for the perfect group of fabrics I need. They were more than happy to help their mom find what she needed.

The Spanish Fork to Denver to Las Vegas Fabric Express

The things heard while exercising

Today while exercising at Curves I heard some interesting tidbits.

1. Today is National Doughnut Day! and you get a free doughnut at a doughnut shop.

That would have been good to know this morning instead of 2:30 p.m. Instead, I made homemade (from a box mix) pancakes on my new griddle for Dan and myself. The griddle is round to fit a burner on the stove. The griddle has seven 2-inch wide depressions with various cute insects. See the photo for a more visible description. This way you have an insect on your little pancake. It tastes better than it sounds. Kids would like it. The trick is to turn the pancake over into the same spot. Most of them made the turn this morning.

2. A lady is going to the Melting Pot tomorrow evening and then to The Lion King show on the strip. That should be a fun evening.

3. There is a new store in town like the melting pot. It is called "White Mountain."

We all must have been hungry. The conversation usually doesn't revolve around food.

After coming home from a mini vacation last weekend, I don't need the Melting Pot. I just need the melting part. It didn't help that Dan and I went out for pizza for lunch. Oh, well. It was good.

Finally Square with the Quilting Squares

About five years ago I started meeting with a women to help another lady learn to quilt. We meet for just one year. We had lots of fun sewing, gabbing and just being together. Some weeks other women joined us, but it was the three of us that made the full year. The quilt we were each making had twelve squares. At the year's end, I had only six squares finished. These six squares have been just hanging around, waiting to be made into that bed quilt. They came with us from Terre Haute, Indiana.

I have another purpose for them now. I'm sharing them with my six daughters. I started to do that last year, but couldn't decide how to display them. This year I found hangers with a star at the top. It was perfect. You see each of my 6 daughters (Lonita is included) are stars in my world. They are the new generation and each is doing great! They are wives and mothers. Each is different and doing her own thing. I'm so pleased with them. They are my Stars. I love all 6 of you girls. Keep up the good work.

The hard part was deciding who gets which square. The BIG decision has been made. Now, each girl will receive one of the squares. You can guess which one is yours, but I bet you will be surprised.