About Me

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I enjoy sewing, knitting, and quilting. I have a adoring husband of 43 years, 8 beautiful children and 13 grandchildren (so far). I also enjoy studying my Bible and practicing yoga. The LORD is Good All the time.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

A Quilt for Lauren



This is a thank you quilt. I made it for my niece, Lauren and her husband, Dustin. He is a navigator in the USAF. Lauren was in the Air Force for a little while also. I wanted to make them a wedding quilt but I am very far behind so this became an anniversary quilt instead. I want to say thank you to them for sacrificing for our freedom. They are a young couple struggling to have a marriage in a time when finances are precarious and our country is at a war. They sacrifice to live in a place they may not have chosen, to be on call for a mission at a moments notice, and they do this for our freedom.......yours and mine. And I thank them. Honor all who serve and to me that includes their families.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

What is a farm/garden?

I have a secret pal affiliated with my Dear Jane quilt, I received a wonderful gift package from her this week and she spoke of her garden. Where she lives her gardens are growing well. I am not a gardener of flowers or vegetables. I have planted and weeded, fertilized and watered to very little avail. I think we picked 5 tomatoes. Last year I sprinkled some wild flower seeds in my "flower garden" and this year some beautiful black eyed susans did come up. But if I calculated how much money I spend on my plantings each year I would certainly give up.


When I was a little girl in Missouri my father worked 150 miles away from home in the big city of St. Louis, we grew up in the country. Each Friday when it was time to make the drive home he would tell his co- workers or drinking buddies, he was headed to the farm. When asked what he raised, he replied,"Cats,dogs, kids, and h_ll." An appropriate answer.

Several years ago I went to Sears and bought 5 rose bushes $1.00 each. The next morning I worked very hard to plant them before I had to leave for the airport. I dug the holes, fertilized, and watered each one very carefully. I was digging the last hole when my ride arrived. I dropped the bush in the hole, kicked the dirt over it, and said,"This one is yours God, I have to go." You guess it! This was the only one that survived. This rose bush bloomed with the most beautiful, full , huge roses. Each flush of new roses would be a dozen or more. Everyone would ask for cutting from this bush and of course I would share because the name of the rose was 'Peace". God's Peace.

I am not a gardener but I know the Master Gardener and His crop is well tended. We have eight children and the seventh grand baby will be here next month. When asked what I raise I would have to reply Cats, Dogs, Kids, and praises to heaven. I want to plant seeds of anticipation, fertilize creative thought, weed out negativity, and generously pour out love. God will grow the crop, and a bumper crop it is.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Mariner's Compass




This past week I had the fun and pleasure of taking a class on Mariner's Compass from M'liss Rae Hawley. We had a wonderful time and I learned some more about color placement. I have never really "learned" the color wheel and have become inspired to do so. Color theory is a mystery to me. I "see" but i have no idea how it really works. She also challenged me to learn stitch in the ditch with my longarm. I am intimidated by this, it requires a steady hand and good eye sight. Two things I lack. I have so many gadgets to help with longarm quilting but I really do not know how to use the gadgets. So many things to learn.
I also had the pleasure of reading an article about her son Alex who is a Staff Sargent in the Marines stationed in Afghanistan. The article was very moving for me and once again I was aware of the sacrifice of others for us, for me, for freedom. This young man is the cream of the crop. I am in prayer for my nephew Erik and the soldiers in Iraq because he is mine. Suddenly I looked at each soldier as mine. I wish they didn't have to be there but I am grateful they are willing, and my prayers are more specific for them and their safety, comfort , and conviction. So many things to learn.
If you have the opportunity to meet or have a class with this wonderful lady, go. you will be blessed.