THE GIFTS WITHIN

Belonging to a quilt group or guild connects you to a special group of people all nice and crafty in their ways, it is funny being artsy just ooze out of some and others just do not have it. For me I have no musical talent I say I have the gift of appreciation when it comes to music. I guess that is the way it is for all of us, we all have gifts, they are not the same, the secret is to find out what your gifts are and to not be afraid to experiment and let your heart create.   My father used to say he was a jack of all trades and a master of none. I know I have gifts but they are like a shot gun blast my mind scatters every which way and perfection just is not in my bag of tricks, I love to create to make something with my own hand. It is almost impossible for me to follow a pattern without doing something different, modifying it to my imagination is just natural for me. I admire the ones that can make something exact you, their points are always perfect, everyone of them consistent, they can do piece after piece that are just perfect; I can not do three yo yo's alike believe me I have tried...
What a wonder how different we all are, I just love watching everyone doing their own special thing and finding pleasure in it.
What makes me sad is to see someone afraid to experiment, they are so intimidated by the talents of others that their creative juices freeze and they are unable to find real pleasure in their own work whether perfect or not. I was like that for so many years, insecure and feeling inadequate in everything I did, there were outside influences that intimidated me but it was my own inner fears that restricted my growth.
I did not accept myself for being who I was. being ill and having my life come to screeching halt taught me the value of self. I learned so much from that experience, it was a real life lesson that made me strong. I learned who I was and finally I accepted my imperfections plus I learned the magic of giving to others.
Why does it take so long for some to accept who we are. I have finally became comfortable in my own skin.
I approached my art for myself, I am no longer afraid to be judged because what I do I do for my satisfaction, and that freed my spirit, I have been so creative ever since. I can now accept rejection, I do not like it but I do understand, it is part of my growing experience, I know now what ever comes my way I will learn from it and I will grow stronger within.  I also understand I will never be able to make perfect points it just is not in me , and butterflies strategical placed are a great tool.

YAHOO I HAVE MY NEW LAP TOP

THANKS TO MY DEAR SON-IN-LAW DONALD I AM NOW WORKING ON A UPDATED SYSTEM, YES IT IS SMARTER THAN I AM, BUT I CAN STILL LEARN NEW TRICKS.  IT TAKES A BIT LONGER AND I AM SO SLOW A SNAIL COULD PASS ME, BUT IT WORKS SO MUCH FASTER TRIPLE YAHOO.
I WENT WITH A FRIEND TO THE  KITSAP QUILTER'S QUILT SHOW IN SILVERDALE YESTERDAY  IT WAS GREAT.  I AM SO AMAZED AT THE TALENT WE WOMAN HOLD WITHIN.
 THE QUILTS WERE BEAUTIFUL AND A NICE TREAT THERE WAS A CD AVAILABLE FOR $6.00 OF THE COMPLETE SHOW, I CAN RETRACE MY STEPS AND TRULY ENJOY THE SHOW OVER AND OVER .  CLEAVER LADIES  I KNOW THERE IS TALK ABOUT NOT DOING THESE  SHOWS BECAUSE OF LACK OF VOLUNTEERS BUT IT WOULD BE A GREAT LOSS TO LOOSE THE VENUE TO SHARE THE TALENT AND CREATIVITY OF
OUR LOCAL ARTISANS.  I AM SO PROUD TO BE A QUILTER IT IS A GREAT SISTERHOOD WITH A FEW GOOD MEN.

Another great idea did not work

I had a wonderful time in Squim with the Sun Bonnet Sue Quilters, what a great guild they have over 200 members and they meet every week,  and what fun they have.  The room was buzzing with chatter and enthusiasm I gave a talk on my quilts it was not my best day, but as usual the my quilts talk for themselves and everybody loved seeing them. 
Their Annual Quilt show has been changed to coincide with the Lavender Festival it will be a fun week end excursion and well worth the travel time.  I highly recommend it and plan on going that is July 20,21 and 22nd 2012.  I thank all the ladies of the Guild for the warm welcome and great time I had: they are the true meaning of a quilting bee.  They were truly buzzing the whole time with friendship and creativity, chit chat and laughter; I enjoyed just watching them interact what fun they all were having.  Thank you all for a great time.
After showing my quilts I got the great idea of making an album of my quilts, well so far it has not worked that is why I have so many quilts as posts, this will change I hope to make an album where people/friends can see my collection, but sadly I have not figured it out yet.  I entered 50 quilts and they all came up before my posts, so I had to remove them dang a lot of time lost on that one. Anyone out there want to help teach an old girl new tricks?  I think an album would be great fun.

We just celebrated 27 years of marriage

May 18th 1980 the moon was full and my broken heart was forever changed.

Honeymooners

Happiness and love walked into my life when I met Jerry.  I knew that first night, you see I fell in love with him even before he kissed me.  I am a practical woman not known for snap decisions or foolish behavior, but I flipped over him, I have loved every minute with this man.  He is the most trust worthy and honest individual, always caring and generous.  His love for his children made him shine like gold, you see my first only cared about himself.  A wife and children were just baggage to him. Now our children are adults and he has discovered what wonderful people they are, he did change, I am so happy for them...................................Jerry never changes he has been a sterling man from the beginning I am no longer alone, afraid or angry I'm just in love with a wonderful man named Jerry.

The stars are not as bright nor the sun

Did you ever meet someone who was radiant, with sunshine and laughter, someone that no matter when you saw or talked to her; she was always happy. In my life there was one - dear lady who could carry that off and it was my cousin's wife  "Char" Charlotte Stafford, we lost her this past week.  For her family and friends a bit of sunshine will be forever lost.  I knew Char since I was a little girl and that is a long long time, and believe me I never heard a disparaging word or anger from her lips, My cousin Lee married her  in 1945 and brought her into our family and what a joy she was.  She will be missed like the sun lost in the clouds her memory will warm our hearts.  Lee and his sons Mark and Kirk were so blessed to have been able to share her life and so was everybody who knew her.  Good bye Char I will miss your happy voice and laughter and We will meet again in another place. Say a prayer for Lee for he has lost the love of his life, he said he was doing okay but every once in a while he will catches him self looking for her, he remembers then he cannot help it he weeps.

Wow we have snow

Last week foot steps in the sand this week snow

neighbor playing with his big snow toy

While I was walking in the snow taking pictures Jerry was snuggled up taking his morning nap, I thought it would be fun to get my feet really cold and jump in with him but my sweet guy was sleeping so sound I could not do it.  I guess I am getting soft in my old age I have the ideas but no energy to follow through. I think I will go bake something, we canned 4 qrts and 12 pints of apple sauce yesterday we had stored the apples in the cold trailer, it worked real well we just did not have the time when they were ready.  We gave Karol a lug I wonder if she is playing in the snow or canning what do you think?

Lots to tell about our travels

Flights were very bumpy both ways I am not a happy flyer I used to be but the last few flights have left me whizie and wobbly for days but once we landed I was better.  Honolulu is like going to the fair people everywhere, we were so tired from the flight we could not stay awake for the new years eve fireworks and I was really looking forwards to them, oh well just my luck.  I was sick twice on Oahu  so I did not go to Pearl Harbor or the Iinterpretive center with the family, I had already experienced them so it was okay, once we got to Kauai we had wonderful facilities and the water was wonderful. Our two little grand-daughters Kayla and Katie went with us they were dolls.  The only thing that really bugged me was not having access to the web and no cribbage I did not realize how much I would miss cribbage, so I will be getting a WiFi something or other soon funny how we get used to those little emails from friends and family. Everyone has cell phones and those little things in their ears and it is something I am going to try to over come.  Cribbage is just a game not my life, I am trying to over come I think, I can I think I can..

Hawaiian quilting class with Carol Kamaile a very talented lady at Merritt Waikiki

A young Banion Tree

Our beach in Kauai

Snorkel Beauty how fun even for old broads

It is winter in the Islands and even so the flowers were wonderful the hibiscus oh they were so big and colorful. One thing they do have is chickens everywhere, hundreds of them and many many crowing roosters; as long as we kept the sliders shut the crowing was not to bad.  In the morning  breakfast on the deck was quite noisy those roosters were very busy fellows.