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.

Where are you Meagan?

This past weekend our home was full of fun. We shopped, ate, went to the movies, slept and really enjoyed each other's company. One daughter even bought a 1000 piece puzzle to put together. Yes, 1000 pieces. The box was opened and pieces divided between inside and border pieces. Several of us worked on the puzzle. We got the outside frame put together. We then proceeded to the inside pieces. The flag and lady in the puzzle was constructed and connected to the outside frame. But, before we knew it, it was time for all the sisters to go home. The puzzle sat on the living room table waiting to be finished. Well, I got several more pieces connected, but then other concerns crept into my mind and time.

We needed my granddaughter Meagan to finish this puzzle. She did a 500 piece puzzle in about 1 1/2 days during spring break this year. Meagan, where are you?? We needed you.

Today, I started another baby quilt and needed room to cut fabric. Dad and I sadly put the puzzle away--till the sisters come back next year. We'll start it over then.