Friends are lifes frosting

I gave a talk recently sharing my antique quilts and their stories to a local Guild, as I talked about a signature quilt I had, detailing how little I knew about the quilt and the many signatures that were on the quilt dated "1899 ladies Aid society bought by R T Fryer for his wife" that was all I knew. A friend was sitting in the back of the room she lit up with great smiles and she was surely hopping in her seat; after my talk she came to me and told how much she loved genealogy and could she please do some checking into this quilt, I have five different ones and she wanted to see what she could find out about the people who made the quilts. All I can say is yahoo she is a wonder. She took the first one and found out where it was made, the year, the families represented on the quilt and the local history of the town and counties around it. there were 273 signatures and many are all relatives of R. T. she took photos of each signature and the one X and started a six month journey into the past. She has finally finished R T's quilt it is all cataloged into a binder three inches thick. She is still working on the other four. The work she has done equals hundreds of hours of work and a passion for genealogy far more fierce than mine for quilts, the glowing smile on her face is so wonderful, you just feel good all over listening to her talk about what she has found and the excitement of the hunt. Friends are so special and when they share a common passion mountains can be moved. The quilt is old and tattered but now with the history that goes with it. A treasured piece of history that I will some day give to the towns Historical society and R T Fryer's family will remain an important piece of history. Thank you so much Sue you are a treasured friend.

Cruising the Ocean Blue

The vacation of a life time as we celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. When Jerry proposed I said no cruise for a honeymoon, this lady gets sea sick and I did not want to spend our honeymoon in the bathroom.....So twenty five years go happily by and a 14 day cruise to the Panama is planned. Jerry has always wanted to go and the Holland America line are really great, so I think it will work with the patch and first aid station right on the ship, you see I checked them out seven years before. We went on a short cruise down the Mexican Riviera and the first aid station did wonders for this sick puppy.
The trip was wonderful the first twelve days the last two were not so fun, we hit the California record storm s three of them and the ship did the rock and roll, slamming and banging for thirty six hours of hell, I was so sick I could not leave the room. It will be a long time before I consider going on cruise again.
Other than my sickness, what a lovely time we had snorkeling in Aruba, taking an eight passenger Tram over and through the rain forest at the top of the trees it was lovely. We also went on a road trip to Mayan ruins outside of Acapulco, however the drive thou the city was amazing, there were people, cars, trucks, buses , taxis, bikes, a mass of people everywhere bumper to bumper all merging and moving along in the most unbelievable congestion possible and yet it all seemed normal to the people everyone was on a mission and they just worked their way through the crowded streets it was amazing to watch. Now I know why so many are up here the crowded conditions are unbelievable.
We had five course meals every night with the most delightful people, I am going to miss those stimulating conversations with John and Betty from England and my cousin Gail and Fred we talked about everything, John was a retired Head Master and so very interested in America.
Now we are home and the house and cats faired well without us, however they both follow me around like sick puppies, walking on my desk and rubbing their wet noses on my cheek up and down my arm and just plain in my face, I hope this faze wears off soon....I did a bit of beading and played bingo, trivia and we eat the most wonderful food. I will be going on a diet once I settle in at home, clothes are a bit tight. The twenty seventh is the actual day of our wedding I am giving a lecture in the morning and we will go out to dinner, nothing fancy just plain ordinary food and a movie. We are so glad to be home.
Once we got home I received the sad news of a dear friends death, Maureen Sorenson was a dear lady and I will miss her sweet smile and soft laugh, she had a lot of hardship and pain in her life yet she was as sweet and dear as if she had been protected all her life, the pains of sadness never tainted her sweet spirit, I will miss her friendship. Family and friends are the sweetness of life what would we do if we never shared their love and lives, how lonely our lives would be. I know as the years go by there will be many more sad good beys, as loved ones fall. Loss is part of our experience how we deal with the pain is our own test of faith and we will all be tested before our lives end. I pray for many friends and the time to watch my family grow. Having a dear friend like Maureen enriched my life, losing her is a deep sadness but I will remember her smile and the friendship she gave me and I thank God she was my dear friend, even for a little while.

It is funny how fast the holidays fly when you are trying to get everything for everybody and trying to make sure nothing is forgotten, yet there is always that last dash to the store for some special ingredient, oh the holidays I love them. I love having my house full of family and friends the sound of children running around the house and the sweet little voices asking if it is time to open presents. Those last frantic hours were tiring and once the party began in four hours it was over. The good byes and kisses prayers for safety and then silence. I have to admit the last two days I have been in my robe all day, the left overs have kept us fed and movies held our attention between naps. Tomorrow will be different I will get up early and go to town shopping is hard work and I must rest up. New Years will be quiet I will take some sparklers out on the deck while Jerry sleeps and hoop a la the new year in alone as usual, then hop into bed with cold feet and remind my love it is the new New Year. My heart breaks when Jerry takes down the lights, I just hate it when we go back to everyday life. The Christmas tree well that is different
I put it up and I take it down if I please, last year I did not take it down and what a breeze it was getting ready for the festivities. I am still pondering whether to take it down or not, I polished all the crystal ornaments so the tree does sparkle, I will let you know later whether I take it down or not for now it stays and I will light it every night if I please until I am tired of it. So for now cuddle up and keep warm and have a Happy New Year

Christmas coming fast

Christmas seems to sneak up on you until the 9th then it goes into warp speed, the flu is dropping family members like over ripe apples off a tree. As I write there are 3 down, it is always a worry when the little ones start running 103+ temps and they are so lethargic poor Mommies and Dads .
For the older set we are fairing well, and planning a bash on the 20th for the whole family plus friends, I guess that means we will have to clean house, well at least clear the hall ways, seems I am leaving debris in the halls; Jerry is always neat if he leaves anything it is always neatly folded then piled in odd places, thank goodness he is neat this place would be a disaster if he was not.
For so many the Holidays bring memories of loss, why is it so many family and friends die during the Christmas season, are we just more aware or is this a seasonal curse? I pray for the ones left behind and hope they can let go of the pain and find joy with the family and friends. My theory is if you do not have family here for the Holidays adopt them or let someone adopt you there is too much sadness going around. We all have to pull together to help bring some sunshine into the lives of those alone during this season of lights. Do not take " no " for an answer, if they will not come out, go to them take some special food, talk to them about their grief, share their grief and help them come out their disparaging depression...Yes it takes time and this time of year does not allow much time but there is a magic that happens when you give time to others somehow you find you still have time for yourself. The magic of giving, yes there is a magic and this time of year it is there for you, so try it, find the magic and the promise of love shared. Isn't that what this season is all about. Give love, not pain, there is so much to gain; wow is that poetic or what?
We are all in this thing called" life" together, reach out and start a chain reaction of love.
Look at how much of an impact was made by the thousands who stood with the families of those fallen Officers, something good will come from that "sharing of love and concern" it will change hearts, and change the way we look at those who serve and protect, that negative event will bring a positive reaction, and I want to be part of that action. God bless America.

Getting ready for Christmas

This season holds much sadness in my heart, we lost four of our finest, shot down in cold blood.
I think about what Christmas will be like for their families from this year on memories of lost loves, the pain of grieving returns with the season. There is always a death of someone close during the holidays it just seems to happen, but this was different these good people were shot down by a man crazed with hate for law and order. The fact they were white justified the hate; there seems to be a deep under current of hate from our fellow black people. I know this is only a few but their numbers seem to be growing, their young are being taught to hate and they know every hip hop song by heart but do not know the Constitution or why America is free and they are not proud to be Americans. God bless them, they do not understand they are blessed to be Americans. I know there are many conservative noble black men and women who are going against the tide of hate and struggle to be heard; they are out numbered by ignorance and hate. We must stand with them and do everything we can to change this evolutionary trend by being involved in our schools and communities and by making sure we are teaching patriotism and love of country. We are Americans first, not Nordic, White or Black Americans we are" AMERICANS" first, our race tells where we came from not where we are.
This will be a sad Christmas for so many; lets each one of us set a goal to help someone in need and to reach out to our neighbors no matter their race. No matter what your religion is the truths Christ taught are as relevant today as they were centuries ago,"Love one another" and may your God and mine Bless this nation. Make it a Merry Christmas season of sharing and love.

Gig Harbor Quilt Festival is over and we did good, Nan the new Silent Auction Chair pulled it off she made $1,134 more them mine did last year, all in all I think it will be around $24,000.oo by the time all is counted, yahoo for our little team. Working is so much fun and we need more volunteers so keep us in mind when you are wondering what to do with your self next year. Now I am getting ready for my Featured Artist show, a "one woman show" It is a lot of work dragging half of your house into a 20x10 booth deciding what to bring to make it look interesting is a challenge. One never feels succure about showing all your creations to strangers I am always asking family, and friends "what do you think" I'm a bit compulsive in that department, but I know it is my own insecurity that makes me do it and my family and friends understand,
they know who I am and are patient with my compulsion; but strangers well I will just have to think of them as my new friends and try not to worry too much. So for a fun afternoon drop into the Westsound Quilters show in Silverdale at the Fair grounds it should be a great show there will be over 400 quilts we are also featureing a"A Thank You to the troops" display of quilts made just for them and the books are also available, I believe it is going to a great show so come on over. For Now Be Happy

Well it is Friday Oct 2nd and the Podcast will be up I am so excited to see what it is all about, Matte & Ester would be so surprised that their story is being told on the web and in a podcast. If you want to see it go to Wholelotasingers.wordpress.com Episode 3.

What has been going on in my life, well a lot. my friend Maureen has been in and out of the hospital this last week I spent the night with her Tuesday and the next day she was back in the hospital, why the doctors can not or will not say, she will be going home or somewhere possibly as early as tomorrow, please pray for her comfort and recovery she is a dear lady and I mean "A Lady" and a quilter to boot. I have been blessed with so many wonderful friends and so many kindred spirits

The International Quilt show in Houston will start soon, they have a new show called the Eye of the Quilter it is a photo show, they feel the quilters eye is not just for quilting, a quilter sees beauty everywhere. Isn't that the truth anyway I submitted three pictures and two were picked, or juried to hang in the show. Can you believe that I am so excited to be choosen it is almost like having a quilt in the really big show, well not quite as exciting. Thelma Moyer has a quilt hanging and she is going to the show so she will take pictures of the Eye of the Quilter Show, I can hardly wait to see how they are presented.

Have you seen the Quilting Gallery contest Natures Best Quilt show, go to the web site and vote on your favorite, nd I hope you vote for mine I am in the small quilt catigory the competition is really great so far I have 12 votes and the best one has 147 I think she might wil anyway it is fun hoping around the web and finding new friends so for now Be Happy