Quakie Lane Quilts

Break from Winter - Ontario California

2012-02-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

Don't we look like we belong in blue skies and palm trees? It was crazy to leave home and come to the green grass and blooming flowers. Crazy Good! What a welcome break.

It was a business trip for me, a Quilt show. But we still enjoyed the break from winter and being together. We had great weather, got up every morning and walked in the sunshine, fresh air, and DAIRY smell. Go figure. The manure smell was strong every morning. We were in farm country. We were close to LA, but it was such a clean area and not too much traffic, and very friendly people.

I even got a chance to soak up a bit of sun by the pool. Jerry spent a lot of time with his guitar and reading by the pool. He would meet me for lunches, and we had dinner in the hotel or a nearby restaurant.

We left in the rain. A drizzly day to get us back to reality. The airport was so funny. It was pretty much closed when we got there. They only had morning flights and evening flights. All of the shops but one or two were closed until just before our flight left.

Family and Stuff

2012-02-12T18:57:00.000-08:00

We never get enough time with Jami while she's here.... but we try.

Maddie and Amelia have grown up so much. All of the grandkids wanted sleepovers...turned out Amelia got sick on her way to Jodi's house and Jami and Kolby had to drive back at midnight from Farmington to pick her up. Then the flu went through most everyone... which is what usually happens when you travel and spend a lot of money to be with family and then are too sick to be with them.

My dad had a dr's appointment for his eyes but mom didn't come with because she had surgery on her foot. We all went to Jolie's to see him.

And we had a day of shopping and lunch! Good times for all!

Christmas

2012-02-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Jerry and I went on Black Friday and fought for all this flannel. There was a great sale at JoAnn's. Jerry found a cart and took a seat. I went around and grabbed bolts that someone else sat down, or left yardage on, I filled the cart and he stood guard. We had #I-231 and they were on like G-260 when we got there. People had been waiting since 6 am. We didn't got until 10. It took about an hour but it was a great deal. Almost all of the kids got a flannel QUILT for Christmas... Quilt because I quilted them on my new machine. Maybe not their funnest present, but they will be using them for years.Back Row is Payton Conley, Macady, Cody Aidyn, Morgan

Front row is Brielle, Logann, Caidence, Macy and Strider.

We had everyone over for Christmas Eve. We did white elephants and got some really crazy gifts.
Like the GIGANTIC purple cricket Brielle took home. It was off of the Murray City parade float.
Jerry got this pull my finger Santa...and he makes the appropriate noises.
Alex got this DARLING pink steering wheel cover. We had lots of family, food and laughs.

Christmas morning we went over to Michelle and Zach's and the little girls were so excited about their Barbie Jeep. We watched them open all of their toys. Jordie lost interest fast.

We got season tickets to Hale Theatre for our Christmas to each other. Then Jerry "fessed up" that he had got me ONE thing. So, he had a few presents under the tree... slippers, a recipe book, and shirts.

I got a new camera!

All the Kids Together

2012-02-11T20:36:00.000-08:00

Jami and Kolby and the girls came on Christmas. All of the adults went out to dinner together and the kids all partied at Jer and Brit's. Then we all went back after to visit some more.

We waited for a table for all of us but ended up a two different tables. The manager sent over free appetizers for each table. We wanted them to feel bad they weren't at our "FUN" table so we all ordered Chocolate Malts and told them the manager sent them to our table too.

Don and Jodi... and empty malt mug. They almost fell for it.

Glad to be together?

The cause of all this fun! Jerry and I.

A Chocolate toast to a great new year!

Christmas at our House

2011-12-18T15:28:00.000-08:00

A new Christmas quilt and a Candy House that Kalee and Alex made with friends.

After about 5 years we finally got new decorations for our Christmas Tree. Wahlen's had us over to pick from the left over inventory and we got these very cute pine balls and Santa's.

New lights! Jerry was tired of wrestling the lights and trying to make them ALL work at the same time. We've been leaving our decorated tree in the closest all year and then just pulling it out for Christmas. But we stripped it down and started over. Jerry bought a bunch of lights at the end of the season on sale. When we got them out to put on the tree, they were a big NET. I made it work to save Christmas.

We decided to cut back on our decorating and get rid of a lot of stuff but some things are just tradition.

This is my first Christmas Quilt. Our Stockings hung on the railing. Nativity set from Jerusalem that Brit brought back when she did Study Abroad.

This is the Nativity Set Lesa Green's family gave us and we have had it on the mantle ever since.

This is Gr-ma Eldredge's Swedish Christmas Candle Holder, one of the few decoations she put out every year to the end.

My Santa Collection. A lot are gifts from friends, some from After-Christmas-Sales with Lora.

And my snowman collection.

Christmas Banner on the door, you can never have enough quilts!

My mug rack and Christmas dishes. We are using the Christmas glasses with our favorite Christmas Drink... CranRaspberry and Fresca. Also the Christmas Dishes Brit gave us for Christmas one year. Lots of these mugs and dishes are gifts from famiy and friends.

We went to see the lights in the shuttle van with the old folks at the Care Center. Jerry drove those who signed up to go and I rode along. The first lady was getting in and she either passed out or tripped and dropped. Jerry was right behind her and caught her. She never hit the ground. He sent me to get a wheel chair for her and she got a pretty good gash in her leg, but she was ok. She did go to the hospital for stitches, which is important to know for the rest of the story.

They had one more night for people to sign up to go see the lights. Jerry invited me to ride along, and then called me to say the shuttle was full, sorry no room at the ..... Anyway, then he got there to pick them up and only 2 ladies showed up. He takes Mary to get her hair done EVERY week. He put his arm around her and said, "Mary, don't you want to go see the lights with me?"

She said, "NO! A lady fell last time and had to go to the hospital!"

"Mary," he coaxed her, "you ride with me every week. You know I won't let anything happen. Don't you want to go?"

"No! A lady fell last time and had to go to the hospital!"

We took 2 brave souls to see the lights.

Need a ride to the Dr? Hair Appt?

2011-11-07T05:53:00.000-08:00

Here's your man! Jerry loves driving the old people at Millcreek Retirement. He only does it 3 days a week and he goes from the U to the South End of the Valley almost every time he's out. He really enjoys the people.

It is just enough days to keep him busy, but not too busy.

Or do you need your stroller fixed? Your furnace isn't working? Just call.

Or do you need your back porch closed in for the winter?

What? You didn't ask for it? Well, guess who just thought it would make things nicer for you?

I think he likes having them and wants to keep them. After all, the payment is like this...

Jerry was carrying Caid to the car after the Halloween parade and she was going to gymnastics when we got there. He asked her what her favorite thing was to do there. She gave him a huge big hug, held him real close and She said,

"Be with You, CRAP-PA!"

So he asked her again, and she must think he's losing his hearing, she hugged him tight again and said

"Be with you, Crap-PA!"

And then they get all dressed up for dinner and wear their heels.

OR do you need your new Sewing Machine put together? Yes, Jerry can do everything. He had this out of the box and half put together before I even got home from work... and he picked it up at 4:30!

And Yes, I had a Quilt on it the same night!

There she is! "BB" My last machine was good, but this one is BETTER!

BETTER BETTY!

Trick or Treat 2011

2011-11-07T05:19:00.000-08:00

Halloween was ushered in with a Trunk or Treat at the Church and it was a ton of fun because the little girls were there with Michelle and Zach.

I got a picture of Caid with a leg up pose, so then Jordy had to pose the same way, but couldn't quite keep her balance. Mom came to the rescue with a little help. Nice shot of Caid in the back with a straw up her nose.

And THIS is Michelle! My child that went to hair dresser school. Honestly, there were times when I went to her school to get my hair done and her class mates looked just like this!

This is the girls being good sports one more early morning.... I had Friday off and we went to the Halloween Parade at Herriman Elementary and saw Morgan, Aidyn and Logann. And my camera battery went dead just as we got there. Then Monday morning we went to see Strider and Payton and met Jodi at their school.

And it could have been me 30 years ago. I totally looked like this in about 9th grade. She had on a pair of shoes just like my old "Do-nut shoes". Big Wedge with a hole in that I still have and had she known, she'd have borrowed them.

Payton

Strider

Waiting for the Parade to start turned out to be so hard for Jordy. She pitched a major tantrum.... because Michelle SAID she was going to wipe her nose.

Halloween we went out to Cory and Heather's for soup and bread sticks. They decorate their garage and put up lights and serve hot chocolate, rootbeer and do nuts. Cory brings his big TV out and it makes the night for the guys because the Football game is on!

Look how cute Aidyn looks! Her hair is the perfect cut for her TinkerBell Costume that Jodi made her.

Logann. We all got a text from Heather a while back asking if anyone had stuff for a clown costume. Brit answered back she could borrow Cody's size 13 shoes!

Morgan was Minnie Mouse with a big hat, just a cute smile here.

Heather never sat down all night. She kept the hot chocolate warming and the donuts stacked and welcomed everyone. Cory was at school for most of the night.

Kalee, Bottoms UP! She loves halloween costumes. She had a plastic had and plastic scarf to go with her plastic bull!

Jeremy and family and lots of friends were there too. Jeremy had a do nut out of a NEW box! He was not going to have one out of the stack of donuts available for kids to touch and breathe on. We love him. He's our germ phob.

Macy had a costume but the big kids just played football in the front yard and went to haunted houses in the neighborhood, even Mac and Cortney. Halloween changes when you grow up.

This is Amelia and Maddie...as Jami said...."all dressed up and ready to beg for candy from strangers."

Last Chance Weekend

2011-10-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

...for the deer hunters probably.

Jeremy, Cody and Conley can all hunt. They went out and sat in the cold and came back in nearly frozen. But we had a nice fire going! The fall is the best time at the cabin... sweatshirts, fires and blue, blue skies. They saw a lot of deer, but no shots.

Check out that SMILE! Look mom, no braces!

Last chance for the dog? Well, he lost out. He watched Jerry eat every bite of breakfast and didn't get a scrap.

Last chance for Jeremy to still be able to TAKE his son? They kept teasing him he was getting old and wouldn't be able to take them for long. Jeremy had to make sure he understood as long as he lives in his house Jeremy will still be able to take the boys. Old? Not 40 yet! Kids! Cody got a good wedgy for his remarks.

Last chance to sit still.... theres still frost outside and the kids have been wanting to go ride 4 wheelers since they woke up at 7.

Last chance to still make points with Strider. He said I should make a treasure hunt and hide CANDY. No? Well, ok then , we should ALWAYS have a BEST Candy BUCKET contest every time we come to the cabin! No?! He was so funny he could sniff the stuff out no matter where it was hidden. He found a wrapper and took a big WHIF just to get his high. In all fairness he comes by his sugar tooth naturally, we all have it. And it doesn't matter how good you've been... when you get to the cabin you eat treats and snack. It's what you do at the cabin.

Finally, Gr-ma. We thought you'd never say it was warm enough to ride 4 wheelers!

And the deer hunt really interfered with the Horny Toad hunting! They had to be quiet and stay inside while the hunters were out. But it was too cold for them to be out even in the middle of the day.

And Payton knows, he looked everywhere all up and down the road and all over horny toad hill.

He wanted to know if he won for the dirtiest face at the cabin!

It was so nice to just sit out in the sunshine. This time of year the front deck is so nice... and warm. Without TV, everyone sits around and talks and laughs.

And enjoy just being out for the last chance at sun and fun?

Still no coverage! Well, these kids are all so funny. Everybody had an electronic gadget. They love to tease us old farts. Jerry asked Macady if she was playing a game and listening to music out of the same gadget. Jodi translated that to: "Hey is your game box a music box too?"

They complain about it, but every year we need a family photo for the stairway. We all love looking back at all the fun times we have had and how much everyone has grown.

The Girls were singing up a storn. Mac knows the words to EVERY song.

And another year at the cabin comes to an end?

Well, there is still one more weekend to hunt. They had the game camera set up by the watering tub. There were some nice buck, some doe and even a couple fawns. But we had snow a couple of weeks ago and there was a shot of a young elk in the snow and two more elk in the background. Way cool!

Finished Room

2011-10-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

The guitar room and quilting room is perfect!

Jerry loves it and I love it and we are in there ALL the time!

AND there is lots of quilt stuff happening... still working on my ship quilt. It's not quilted to death...YET!

This is the center of the quilt. I love all that blank quilting space that is calling to me.

It's pretty much still divided in half, quilting on my end and guitars and cars on his end...

But that's just until I get my new sewing machine! Then I'll be in his half a bit, which was partly the reason for taking out the wall.

My Story Celebration at Work

2011-10-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

We got to work about 6 am and started filling helium balloons for the big bash.

Then all of the employees filled our entry way armed with silly string. Fourteen Quilters had been chosen for our ad campaign this coming year. They each wrote their quilting story and submitted it. They were chosen from all over the country and got an expense paid trip to a retreat at our studio.

It was pretty fun when they came in and each one got introduced. That was just the start of the fun.

Every hour or two they got a new gift from a vendor or Handi Quilter. They got fabric, rulers, magazines, batting, scissors, calendars and day planners.

All the Rulers was the one thing that really brought them to tears, but then they got "Go Baby's", which cut fabric in shapes. Anyway, they were all overwhelmed and really a great bunch of people. Now they will each be in quilting magazines all through the coming year.

This is just part of the "loot " they got one day!

The last day we had a class on how to quilt your quilt and each of them brought a quilt top. This was my favorite.

picking OUR own PumpKins

2011-10-18T20:57:00.000-07:00

I met up with Jami and the girls Saturday night after we closed down the show and cleaned up.
friends/coworkers stayed at the hotel for dinner and watched all the gay getups and had a great night.

We went to Italian dinner at NW 23rd, Sals. The girls shared an order of mussels and then the typical spaghetti and pizza for dinner. They crack me up how much they love mussels. I had butternut squash ravioli! It was awesome. And of course since there was a Ben and Jerry Store right next door, of course we had to have dessert. Jami got a room at the same hotel as me and the girls did get a chance to swim.

We started the day with breakfast at a little ma and pa restaurant in Jami and Kolby's old neighborhood. Beaterville. It was like a little old house with a few tables in every room. A restaurant like you would have found in the old days in Park City. We drove around their old haunting grounds where there are so many cute little houses and yards.

Then we got this big idea, which turned out to not be so unique. We went out to Sauvie Island to a Farm. We had gone there with Maddie for Preschool when Amelia was just a baby and Jami took a picture of her just like this... propped up in the pumpkins. It turned out we weren't the only ones with this idea. Half of Portland came for the fun.

We took the hayride behind a tractor out to the field and found the PERFECT pumpkins. Yes, there were plenty of picked ones that were not in muddy fields, but not as fun as finding the ONE just your size.

Maddie picked one so big she couldn't carry it. Jami said "Next year the rule is you can't get it if you can't carry it." We'll see. She's pretty much a push over as you will soon see....

"Oh, mom, Look! They have elephant ears and caramel apples!"

And man were they good! Jami and I bought a couple to share with the girls but by the time they came back from climbing all over the hay stacks... well, let's just say we had to get in line again. Somehow they disappeared.

And one of the best things about Portland is the bridges. I really like Portland. It was really hard to say good bye to Jami and the girls. I kind of felt bad they had so far to drive from Seattle, but so glad they did. It made my trip worth while!

Portland Quilt Show

2011-10-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

I went to Portland for the MQX West Quilt show for work. I left on Monday and didn't get home until Sunday... Jerry missed me lots. I hate leaving him. The best part of this show was that I got to spend a day with Jami and the girls. I also bought some really cool stencils and didn't have to pay sales tax. Our hotel was very close to the convention center and was also the hotel for the Drag Queen Event. Not fabulous gays, just men in drag. BIG hairy guys in ball gowns and wigs. AND when I got on the plane to come home I sat next to two gay guys. It was killing me to ask if that is what they went to Portland for. It was. Just before we landed the guy next to me told me they stayed at the same hotel. They really booked all of us old grandma quilters with the gay gatherings.

Favorite QuiltsThis crane flying was incredible. Every feather was stitched out and it was sewed with different thread colors on the back side. It was beautiful!

This quilt was nothing really without all the quilting!

I love quilting on plain fabric and especially on white.

Favorite Teachers. Claudia Pfeil is from Germany and she brought chocolate from home to share. She was so good and she did not spend any time just chatting... all teaching.

Dawn Cavanaugh writes a column about machine quilting in one of the magazines, I love her articles. I got the chance to be in her classroom and I was so excited. She taught for 2 hours straight without stopping. Then the next 2 hours she helped students and did demos.

I spent about half the day on the floor in the vendors booth talking to quilters... and selling quilting stuff. I had time to look at all the quilts in the exhibit. We hit the mall, walked in the pouring rain, ate at Burgerville, but I didn't really see Portland until Jami got there.

A GQ Make Over

2011-09-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

I need more room for a bigger better quilting machine....

And he loves me.

So, he said he was going to knock out the wall between his Guitar room and my Quilting room. I kept thinking it was not the best idea... what if we EVER sell our house and the new people want bedrooms. Like we are EVER going to move.

And in true Eldredge spirit, once decided, it has begun. AND I love the bigger room. It looks great all one GQ room. We're excited to have space for us to be together to enjoy our hobbies.

Eldredge Bros

2011-09-11T05:58:00.000-07:00

We have the most wonderful couple in our ward who host the High Priest Party at their cabin above Oakley every September. This year the entertainment was the ELDREDGE BROTHERS.

The first song they sang was the "Streets of Laredo" and they changed the second verse to an old Smother's Brother's Version...

Mike sang: "I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy."

Then Dick sang: "I see by your outfit that you're a cowboy too."

Then they all sang:"You see by our outfits that we are all cowboys..."

And Jerry came in with the punch line:

"If you get an outfit you can be a cowboy too!"

They had a dress rehearsal the night before and Jodi found out about it and invited all the cousins and neighbors too. BUT the dress rehearsal did not go so good. They haven't been together but a couple of times this year to even practice. However, their performance was incredible. They sound so good when they get that harmony just right. All three voices just blend like one. Two of them together is pretty good. But all three is GREAT.

They sang lots of old songs and gospel songs, Abilene, How Great Thou Art, Crying in the Rain, Cool Water and Tumbling Tumbleweeds, On the Wings of a Dove and the one that got them started, I Loved her First which they sang at Kalee's wedding. Then Jerry sang a song that got the women all tearing up and wishing they were me, because he introduced the song as how he feels about me. It's a Garth Brooks song ,

"When evening shadows and the stars appear

and there is no one there to dry your tears

I could hold you for a million years... To make you feel my Love!

I know you haven't made your mind up yet,

But I would never do you wrong.

I've known it from the moment that we met,

No doubt in my mind where you belong.

I'd go hungry I'd go black and blue, I'd go crawling down the avenue.

No there's nothing that I wouldn't do... To make you feel my love!

There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do,

go to the ends of the earth for you,

Make you happy, make your dreams come true

To make you feel my love!"

What a hunk! Right?

And he had all kinds of jokes like... Once they were singing together at the rest home and some little old lady kept making LOUD comments after every song... not quite heckling them but kind of. Anyway after one song the little old lady shouted,

"What key was THAT in?"

And Mike kind of gave her a bad time and said, "The key of L."

And she shouted back,

"Sounded like Hell to me too."

They are good. They all have their own style of music and Mike and Dick really like the old ones, but this was an OLD crowd and lots of people were singing along. Jerry told them at the start he'd love to have them join in and if they didn't know the words that was fine. He told them to just try to finish the same time as they did. He was very fun and interacted with the crowd and sang incredible and look at that mustache! He makes a great cowboy.

This is Hal and Arlene McEwan Their cabin is right on the river and there are pines all over. It is beautiful, and they are the nicest people you'll ever meet. He's just a good old cowboy himself. Gotta love a cowboy... and I do, mine!

Grandkids next door

2011-09-11T05:09:00.000-07:00

We love having Michelle's family living in the old house. Michelle has done a lot to update it... but it is still a hundred years old and falling appart. But she and Jerry have done a lot to fix it up.... Starting with the kitchen. And Michelle is like her sisters, there's not a one of them afraid to take a hammer and saw and a paint brush to a project. AND in Eldredge Tradition... when they want it done, they want it done NOW!
We were convinced this old house HAD to have an incredible wood floor just waiting to be restored... NOT! There were so many layers of wood and pounds and pounds of nails and glue that Michelle had a hammer and chisel at it forever until Jerry finally went and rented some big power tool to ge the job done.Michelle keeps busy and has lots of little helpers.... AND now so does Gran-pa...Jord will take grandpa's hand and walk him into the garage and point to the lawnmower. If it's not time to mow the lawn, they get to go for 4-wheeler rides instead. They sing and laugh the whole time.

Granpa's girls! He is training them young. They both have a little guitar that Caid ran to get when she saw Jerry out on the front porch "Jamming."

Isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen? I love this picture. First thing in the morning they shot out of their house and when Michelle caught up with them they were at our front door.

Springville Museum of Art Quilt Show

2011-09-07T06:52:00.000-07:00

I entered a quilt in the Springville Quilt Show because I love this little museum and I've gone to quilt shows there for years and been amazed and awed at the show. This wasn't really a "Show" quilt but it was the last one I finished.

BOYS of FALL - and the girls who love 'em!

2011-09-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

We are back to football. Jeremy is coaching Conley's team and Don is coaching Payton's team. And the football field is just down the street from Cory's house so they make it a family outing and come for the games.

We are a football loving family. The kids have all been involved in lots of sports but football is the all time favorite and the one sport we all love. But the boys, they can't get enough of it. They love all the hard work that is required and spend a ton of time practicing. Cody's team looked HUGE this year. These boys are growing up.

AND Logann had my camera and got some really great photos... except of herself. So there are still more games and more to come.

We had a bunch of games on Saturday and we got to see Strider's game...

AND his new teeth. Or new fixed teeth. If you were wondering why he would be wearing a mouth piece in flag football, it's because he got one broken off and 2 others cracked.

So now he's saving those and protecting what is left. He played a great game.

Thirty Nine Years, Happy Cowboy Anniversary

2011-08-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what the 1st or 2nd anniversary or any of that stuff is like a silver etc. But this was definitely our Cowboy anniversary. We went out for dinner to Texas Roadhouse and then to a lawn concert of country music and cowboy music. These are two of the guys who sang... "In Cahoots" The Marshall and Creek Johnson

We are very happy, we've had a great 39 years, some hard times, but mostly we've been able to get through it all together. I still love Jerry more than ever. He's still the love of my life, even though he sometimes wonders if quilting has put him in second place. We are sitting in our favorite chairs on the front porch and Jerry has his guitar and is singing an old favorite Chris LeDoux song, "Thank You Cowboy for the Ride." What a catch I caught. I love to hear him sing and play.... as I sit her sewing a flower on a patch.

Jerry surprised me with these beautiful flowers

And here is a an oldie... Both of us in our prime!

There's Jerry without a mustache and me in my HUGE curlers. So now I need a new picture of us together.

Perfect Cowboy Anniversary Picture.... taken September 10th at the Eldredge Bros Concert.

QNNtv.com Filming at our Studio

2011-08-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

Quilt It! The Long Arm Quilting Show.

We moved all of the sewing machines out of our studio and filmed about 18 upcoming episodes, plus my boss, Vicki does a short take, or a 5 minute spot for each guest. The guests are professional quilters who did teaching and demonstrations about quilting with Jodie Davis as the host.

It was pretty cool to see the TV monitors and the lights and camera guys.

This is Lisa Calle, she showed some great ways to quilt your quilt to death... Beautifully. Here's another quilt she did.

This is Vicki, my boss. She is great to work with. It's been incredible. Every day is something new. She is a natural. She really knows her stuff. And all of her takes were done pretty much with no stops... AND she showed a couple of my quilts in her bit on thread choices... it's all so crazy new to me. I'm blown away by all of it.

Check out the detail she has quilted in ....

Family Gathering in St. George

2011-08-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

My mom decided since none of her kids would get a reunion planned she'd have to do it herself. So we all got aobut 2 weeks notice to be in St. George and be fun!

We are fun! We all got together at the park and had lunch and Jerry and his brothers played and sang for a while. Jerry got mom to come up and sing one song with them. She is very sad her fingers just won't hold down the strings any more and she says her voice is also shot. I still love to hear her sing, she sounds awesome. I still remember as a little girl when my mom put on her red and black cowboy boots and took her guitar to sing at the prison. She was so worried about what songs to sing and they requested all the ones she was worried about singing like "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and the like.

And of course the food was great, my sisters are all crazy fun. We missed Jolie....She ended up coming down the week before because the had something on the calendar they couldn't get out of. Lee is working for the VA now full time, Jolie is at Harmon's in the pharmacy part time still, but looking for a better offer. Carly just graduated and Katie loves softball. They live in Murray by me but I hardly ever get to see her.

Nan came with 2 kids and no husband, Steve was getting hay in Salina. Nicole and Courtney are married and couldn't make it, Zach was helping with hay and he is big enough you want him helping. Nan and Steve are still at the family pharmacy business, but Nan works from home. Still have 4 horses but they are down to only 2 dogs and only their family under the roof... for the present.

Kalleen is a nurse with a lot of management responsibilities. And she is on the family HOT Line for any medical problems or questions, plus she is dad's personal care taker. We are so glad she keeps a good eye on him. Her kids are still doing home school and love it. But Alex does NOT sound like a kid he has a really deep voice now. Roger is back to the same business for a different business and they love living OUT.

RaeJean says her hair is blonde so it isn't gray, but she still never takes a bad photo and always looks darling. She is now working for Ron as is Sara, at Peterson Medical. She and Richard take good care of mom and dad. She is thoughtful of everyone! She has an awesome house that she has an open door to one and all for weddings and family gatherings.

Ron moved to St. George around the first of the year to manage Peterson Medical and he lives in the same condos as mom and dad. He is good to check in on them almost every night and has been a big help to them. His employees ... RaeJean and Sara.... say he is great to work for and they are all VERY busy. Brian and Celeste are good to come to the reunions and they were here for this one too. Taunia, Valerie and Janelle also came with their families. Daddy is starting to look his age.
I think he is 89 and feeling it. Mom and Dad are the best parents ever and we have an incredible family. I love them all a lot.

Trucking through Life... New Job and a Road Trip!

2011-08-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

These are the Educators in the Salt Lake Handi Quilter Studio...

UNTIL JULY 18th. And then I joined them. It is my dream job! Quilt EVERYTHING! These are the people who trained me. I rented in the studio for 2 years. I made 25 quilts going up to quilt once or twice a week and then they moved to a new studio and quit renting time on machines and I had to BUY my own machine.

So I had only been on the job about a week when they asked if I could go on the road.

MILWAUKEE Quilt SHOW...

I wasn't so sure about the whole thing. It meant I had to make all my flight connections by myself. No one else went from Salt Lake at the same time I went. But I got it figured out....

THIS IS HOUSTON.

Houston is where they have the big International Quilt show every year. When I got my laptop computer I put a picture of Houston on the wall paper. My goal... get to Houston on quilt business. Pretty cool everything worked out the way it did.

Most of the time in Milwaukee I was in a classroom with 12 of our sewing machines set up. I made sure everyone had a good running machine, thread, bobbins, good tension, etc. AND since I was in the classroom I got all the good quilting ideas and techniques the teachers were doing. A couple of the teachers gave me their books. I learned a lot, good stuff. I also spent some time in the Vendor booth selling and demonstrating and answering questions... but mostly just had a great time talking to people who love to quilt as much as I do. I think this job might turn into a job at some point, so far it is just a whole lot of fun.

It could be worse. I may end up with my mug on the back of a moving truck, so I have to tell myself ...It could be worse. Although, I'm pretty much loving everything about this JOB!

Remodeling, updating, saving the farm....

2011-08-07T18:33:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not sure it needed it after 26 years, but we got a new roof anyway. They came and stripped off the old one morning, delivered the shingles the next day, and had the roof done the next morning.

AND because they took the roof right down to the wood we had to remove the siding, which we then updated. And these were your typical workers, show up one day with the equipment, spread their tools and ladders and junk all over the yard and leave. Back the next, and worked in the shade for a couple hourse. Work a day, rest a day, leave for the weekend. Then they said they couldn't get enough supplies so they wouldn't be back for a week or two to finish... BUT the boss found some more supplies and they were back. They must have wanted the check.

Jerry had to put in a new chain link fence to keep the dog in. For some reason the elelctric fence quit working or the dog quit caring that he was getting buzzed. Anyway, fence up , fence down, new fence old fence... now we have a chain link fence.

And not to be confused with our headstones, although you kids are welcome to use them if you want to, this is our new address. These rocks used to be Gr-ma and Gr-pa Eldredge's hearth. When they tore down their house on Creek Road, Jerry and I rescued this rock. We had it in the garden for a while... when we had flower beds and rock paths, which now we don't. Now we just have a lot of grass and this great rock address.

Another Project at the Cabin....

2011-08-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

First off, we were greeted by tons of blue wild flowers all over the mountain.

But Don and Zach came to help put a wall up in the hole left from tearing down the falling down part of the well house. Jerry gave them hammers and nails and few instructions... And then a demonstration. After a bucket of bent nails and one smashed thumb, they got it figured out.

And from the inside looking out... A great wall!

And this is what the girls did, Michelle chased babies and pushed them in the swing. Jodi got a minute to play her guitar... that was after she and Michelle Painted the deck.

And I gave rides on the 4 wheeler to keep the kids out of the paint! Jodi and Don wanted to go to the cabin again before summer was over and football had started. Payton brought a friend. Cody and Conley asked Gr-pa if they could come and help...., Macy and Logann came for the fun. The boys got some shooting ing, all the kids hunted horny toads and none of them EVER got tired of riding the 4 wheeler.

And one afternoon we were all playing Ticket to Ride and looked over and saw Jordie having Cabin FUN!

OH, NOW I GET IT, Cody showed them how to build the wall....

ANd look how grown up he looks. How did that happen?

EAST CanYon BOATing... and watching.

2011-08-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

Cory and Heather invited us to go boating and we all drove up separate Saturday morning. We met up with them at the turnoff from Parley's and followed them up the canyon which is so GREEN and so pretty. When we were almost there Kalee asked us, "Do they ever limit how many boats can go on the lake?" "Oh not here is UTAH." I replied like I know everything. Well, guess what? We couldn't get in the parking lot until someone left! So this is all of us having fun...

Caidence loved it, Jordi laughed and laughed,

Cory's kids are boat rats! They love the water and the beach. We had to coax Morgan to leave the sand toys and castles and pot guts....

This is the only picture I got of these three, Michelle, Kalee and Heather. It was almost their last picture ever! Cory really tried to dump them off, but Heather knows just when to LEAN IN and keep the tube from flipping. They were all sore the next day from using all their strenght to hang on and not bump each other

... WHAT? You can't see Jerry and I? Well, we watched. Sat on the lawn in our chairs and he did crossword puzzles and drank pepsi and I read quilt magazines and drank diet coke. BUT, I did go out on the boat so I could get some good pics of the kids. I love the boat! Love the water and sun and the smell and the spray, and the fun. And Jordie was a good girl and did what babies always do on the boat...

Jer and Brit came up at the end of the day because they had football signups.... But they couldn't get in either, still had to wait for some one to leave so they could come in. Jeremy said, "Boy, look at all the boats and people... and we are in a recession? Looks like a real economic down turn!"

Don's Division

2011-07-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

Now this is stacking up to look like a REAL Winning Team...

Caid, Aidyn, Payton, Amelia, Macady, Zach, Brit, Don and Cortney.

Well, So Don said we lost because I made everyone do great poses...

We should have gotten extra points on this dog-sniffing-butt shot!

Proof Blondes have more fun!!!

And out we got with a great partying shot.... and still not enough points to win!

Kolby's Team

2011-07-25T06:08:00.000-07:00

So, is this why Cory shaves his legs? It's Heather who Gets him to do it?

And this game just went from bad....

to WORSE for Jordie!

No Wonder she quit the game!

And None too soon. The whole team went from bad to ... to... to KOLBY!!!!

Back to something the girls could do... change a lightbulb.

Team CoRy

2011-07-25T05:52:00.000-07:00

Jami, Maddie, Cory, Logann, Brielle, Macy Cody, Alex, Jodi and Jerry must both be holding cameras? No wait I think that might be a bum on the end of the teeter totter.... we won't say whose.

The Better picture was probably how he got in and out of the BABY SEAT, which we kind of all thought maybe their team shouldn't get credit for this picture, but they did and they won anyway.

And how did this team end up with all the muscles?

Well, either Logann was a poor sport
or they didn't need her anymore...

Love ya though, see ya later, hope you had a great family vacation????!!@#$%

RoundUP and the LaZy E

2011-07-09T20:43:00.000-07:00

This is ALL of us!

We worked and played and ate and laughed and sat around the fire and talked and had so much fun all being together. We love our family! They are the best! We love being together.

We did have some projects we had to get done with lots of help and first on the list was to knock down the part of the well house that looked like it was going to fall down. And EVERYONE helped.

It is KID PARADISE! They play all over the whole 40 acres. They love catching horny toads. We brought up an old aquarium we got at a garage sale and the kids outfitted it with sagebrush, twigs and shells and dirt and ants. The horny toads seemed pretty content and the kids love playing with them. This is Amelia and Strider trying on a couple....

"It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt!"

It's what Jerry always tells the kids. AND this is how it all started. We were filling up water balloons and the moms and dads were all sitting up at the fire pit. Then I got the bright idea to get out the balloon launcher and aim at the dead beats. Well, we woke them up, showered them good. But Cory snuck down and got a bunch of balloons and went back and armed all of the parents. Next thing we knew...

The parents attacked! They came armed and dangerous and plastered the kids with water bombs.

This is Maddie going after her dad, and then right after this the dog went after Kolby, who then ended up in the ER at Price hospital and had 10 stitches. But we waited to start the next game until he and Jami got back. Then Kalee had us all on a picture scavenger hunt in three teams.... which lead to some very crazy pictures

Strider's Baptism

2011-07-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

We had Strider's Baptism Saturday morning

July 3rd, 2011

and he was baptized by his dad.

We had the WHOLE family there, even Jami and Kolby and the girls were here. Even Don's whole family was here. We had quite a crowd for lunch after at the church across the street from Jodi and Don's. Strider looked very handsome in his suit and tie. Strider is quite the LEGO fan. That's about all he got for birthday gifts and he stayed up as late as he could the night of his party trying to get them all put together. He ended up having to get up early and finishing before school the next day.

Water in the WELL! Black Gold! Well, it kind of looks black on the floor, whatever!

2011-06-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

First trip to the cabin. It's been cold and wet and it was a surprise to get there for the first time and see the trees covered with leaves and the grass all grown and green.

But the best news of all was WATER IN THE WELL! It makes all the difference in the comforts of being at the cabin. You have enough water that there is water pressure. You can flush the toilet more than once a day, You can wash your hands with warm water and don't have to heat water to wash dishes. You really come to appreciate water.... and WE GOT IT!!

But not without a lot of work from Jerry. Down the stairs, up the ladder, down again.... etc. Then he has to climb under the cabin and turn all the right valves the right way which is not easy with a flashlight in the spiders on your hands and knees AND because the plumbing system is crazy nuts.. put in by a ...

We appreciate all your hard work, Jer to make it nice for the rest of us!

Oh and look who came along for the ride... so to speak. Macy wanted to do all the things they always do ... she wanted to stop at Wendy's, stop at the gas station for treats, stop at the railroad tracks and put pennies on the tracks to get smashed, stop at the gate and ride on the 4 wheeler (out of the truck with a seat belt). AND she wanted to ride 4 wheelers to the pit, play cards, drink pop, have treats.... None of which we could do. I tried to tell her we were going to work.... So, she had to entertain herself, she tried throwing a frisbee to the dog but he wouldn't give it back. We tried riding 4 wheelers but we didn't gas up before we left town. She just decided she'd go find souvenirs... broken beer bottles, dried deer bones, broken clay pigeons, a tiny bottle and a few pretty rocks. BUT she said she was going to go catch a horny toad. AND she did!!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

My dad stood up real tall, so he'd at least be as tall as me for the picture. My dad is getting pretty bent over with age, but he's always been a big man in my life. I Love my dad. I love being with my dad. He's lots of fun, always good for a laugh or a story. He always takes an inerest in what you are doing and asks lot of questions. Mom and Dad came up for an eye appointment for Daddy. He has cataracts that they are scheduling to have removed.

We all went out to Jer & Brits's for Father's Day.

Daddy loved Jeremy's "MAN CAVE." He loved the mounts on the walls, checked out the bows Jeremy makes/sells/uses and wanted to see the Turkey Tails the boys got on their latest hunt. AND watched Jeremy in his latest hunting movie.

Happy Father's Day

to the Best DAD ever!

You kids are the luckiest kids in the world and I am the luckiest to be able to be married to my best friend. Your dad is the most caring, unselfish, thoughtful, funny, hard worker. He loves being your dad and would do anything for any of you. He's always there for all of us. He truly makes my life so happy.

It's just to hard to gather everyone up for a photo on one Sunday, so I had to spread it out. We love our kids. Love getting together and there's always lots of laughs. We are all trying to get Jordie to walk. But as soon as you let go of her finger, she drops to the floor. But today she stood up and just stood there. Conley walked her, Kalee tried, Aidyn tried, Mac tried... just about everyone tried playing with her and trying to get her to forget we were tricking her into walking.... she will. When SHE's ready.

Jer & Brit had just gotten home from a Pioneer Trek, Cody and Macady went on it too. But after 2 weeks of trying to gather their kids into a picture with them, I gave up and just got the two of them. And did I mention they just got back.... AND still invited us all over? Thanks Jer and Brit for a great time. What a great family we have.

CraZy LoUD and Fun Sunday afternoons...

2011-06-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

Strider's 8th Birthday... and Jodi and Don weren't going to come for dinner

BUT I got her to come because we had incredibily good white confetti cake with Gra-ma Eldredge's fluffy white frosting and covered with what else... candy legos!

AND the lego decorators were the girl cousins...

Aidyn, Logann and Caidence

Everybody came for something... the cake of course which I have to say was one of my best. And I don't do much cooking any more. Some just came for Jerry's good Sunday Dinner...
Cory, Heather and the girls...
But Cory ended up digging up some quakies to take home and plant.
Jer and Brit came for the logs that used to be our fencing, but ended up filling their trailer with rocks that used to be our rock path. Now we mostly have grass where rocks and fences and flowers used to be.

Quiet Sunday Mornings

2011-06-13T20:34:00.000-07:00

Summer has started. We had breakfast on the deck! We've got the flowers planted and the weeds sprayed. Trees are trimmed which made room for a wagon under the pine.

The Ferns seems like they grew over night and the grass is very green, it's been a very wet spring. Birds are every where AND we've heard the owls in the middle of the night. But no more Sunday newspaper and no more house phone. Both are from the days of the past. Now we just have our cell phones and look up the news on the internet....

Some things don't change... the clematis are beautiful!

Nicole's Wedding and my crazy seesters...

2011-05-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, I really gave some away.

2011-05-24T20:52:00.000-07:00

On Mother's Day I had each of my daughters and daughters in law pick a number out of a cup. They thought they were going to choose from treasures we'd picked up at a garage sale. BUT they really got excited about their numbers when Jerry carried in an armful of quilts. Michelle got # 1 and she had no trouble choosing since she and the girls come over for dinner every night and then the girls play with toys in the sewing room and Michelle plays with her phone and I quilt and we all visit. We were a little worried about how to pick for Jami since she is in Seattle, but she ended up with # 5 anyway... last to choose. Now, Kalee is the one who got it all started, she told me she wanted her name on a bright, flower quilt.... and I got thinking I really am ready to share my treasures... with my treasures. I love ALL of my daughters, and I include daughters in law. They are the best! Best moms, best wifes, best daughters, friends, best to be with for lots of fun, food, and great times. Love you all.

And Jami had to wait until she came to town to pick hers, it turned out she got the last # in our pick. So this is the one she chose. But she's such a good daughter, she forgot to put it in her suit case when she left so I am still babysitting it. YEAH!

Award Winning Sex Machine Quilter

2011-05-24T20:41:00.001-07:00

So, when I found out I'd won a ribbon, I texted all of my family... took a chance and texted even Macady. Everyone sent congrats, but Macady sent the funniest reply:

"I'M PROUD OF YOU GRANDMA, GOOD JOB WITH YOUR SEXING!"

So, I'm getting lots of texts in and trying to answer questions and all at the same time, and Jodi sends one wanting to know what I won it for. I wrote back. "Sexing." Jodi wrote back something about not knowing times were so rough for Jerry and I. Then for Mother's Day I got this bag. Pretty funny kids I have.

HMQS ...2nd Place at the Quilt Show

2011-05-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

I got a voicemail ..."Do you have tickets for the award show? If not you might want to get some and come, it could be really fun for you." So I was so excited to go up and get my Ribbon, when I got back to my seat I was even more excited to open my envelope and see what I had won. It was a note in the envelope that said "Your check or CERTIFICATE is in the mail." They bill this national quilt show as giving $ 24,000 in prize money. I checked the mail and checked the mail, all the while really expecting that since I was only 2nd place I wouldn't be in the money. But... $300. And the ribbon. I am VERY excited about this ribbon at THIS quilt show.

THE Elderly Brothers

2011-05-24T19:59:00.000-07:00

Dick and Mike have been singing every other Saturday at the Care Center where their mother spent the last days of her life. Every once in a while we get down to St. George and Jerry gets to join them. They love singing together. They sing mostly old cowboy songs, a few Everly Brothers and old folk songs like Tom Dooley which really brings the crowd to their feet! Well, since most can't get out of their wheel chairs, it gets some toes tapping and a bit of clapping and even a few singing along. They really wish they had started doing this when their mom was there, but I'm sure she is listening.

Ready for some SPRINGTIME...

2010-02-21T20:10:00.000-08:00

This quilt is made from more of my "Nickle" Exchange from the Quilt Guild. It's from 5 inch polka dot squares. All of the flowers are appliqued circles.... Big ones, little ones, lots of em or just one, but they all look so cheery and happy I want some in my yard right now.

Panama Quilt

2010-02-15T20:11:00.000-08:00

I finally had a sunny day to take pictures of quilts. It almost took longer for that than to quilt them. Nah, I've been working on this one for about a year. One of my favorite things about this quilt is that Maddie, my 8 year old granddaughter helped me. When I was in Seattle last year I was working on the border. She wanted to help me....so one of the flower centers was done completely by her. Amelia, started to do one, but didn't get very far. Maddie's will be there for the life of the quilt.

Back in the Groove...

2010-01-18T17:18:00.000-08:00

We "UNINVITED" our children to Thanksgiving dinner and left for two weeks on a cruise through the Panama Cananl. We had two weeks of fun, lots of food and plenty of time to work on a quilt while enjoying the sun.

I made the blocks for this quilt and then before I sewed them together, I needed something to work on while we were traveling. I sewed and sewed on the border and then when I got the blocks sewed together they looked like swastika's. I was so bumbed. I took the quilt on my cruise and worked on disguising them.

It turned out to be a magnet. Other quilters would see me sewing and stop by to visit. I met quilters from Texas, Michigan, England and Seattle. Lots of quilters just pulled up a chair and sat and visited. It was fun to meet so many people with the same love.
Now I have the quilt on the sewing machine and I've decided to call it PANAMA. It kind of has that look to it anyway. Cruise was fun. I got the blocks done. And now I am slowly quilting it to death.

Blue Ribbon, "FAVORITE" and $50!

2009-12-14T06:11:00.000-08:00

All in all, a pretty good night. They did just vote for the favorite. I got $50, second place got a book, and third got announced and then they realized they didn't have a prize for her-- so she got a hug.

I do love belonging to my quilt guild. They've taught me so many things. There are a lot of very talented women in our group who encourage the rest of us and share lots of experience and knowledge.... and it's just a lot of fun and laughs when we all get together.

Shiny and Bright

2009-12-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

I think I'm done. I love it! And tonight is the unveiling. This was for our quilt guild challenge 2009. We were to make a quilt one half meter by two meters. Tonight is our annual Christmas party and deadline for this year's challenge quilts. It's a contest, sort of. They try to come up with enough categories so everyone wins something just for making a quilt.

It's kind of crazy the way things come out and what makes you do them. I couldn't figure out what I'd do with a quilt that was only half a meter wide. This is going to be a Christmas decoration and I'm going to hang it on my door....

To BLing or not to bLING?

2009-11-22T06:44:00.000-08:00

That's pretty much what I'm doing.............Trying to decide where to put the little jewels. And I had to ask my husband to take pictures, so this is how it went. Picture for me... wait 'til a commercial. Picture for me. Wait for a commercial. Then I get my camera back, and look who else was a "jewel"?

"EH, WHA'D YOU SAY?

2009-11-18T04:47:00.000-08:00

Most of my friends are in the same boat as me, about the same age, same hearing capabilities...

This is us trying to figure out where to be-dazzle my quilt.

"So, did you come up with this quilt all by yourself?"
"Just me and my graph paper."
"Who are your craft friends?"
"My 'craft friends'?"
"Yes, you said your craft friends helped you make your quilt."
"Craft friends?"

Craft friends?? Craft Friends. Graph Paper. I guess they sound the same if your hearing isn't what it used to be. You hear the first word... sort of and assume what the next word ought to be.

Anyway, these are my quilt friends and they have be-dazzles. My be-dazzles are on back order. I'm borrowing theirs if mine aren't here by Thursday. So, hang in there. Soon. Soon I will have my first quilt with "Bling."

Meanwhile, I finished my Christmas quilt.

2009-11-13T05:28:00.000-08:00

It's like having the toilet---

without the toilet paper!

I'm so BUMBED!

Waited all this time for my bedazzler and then it comes without the BE-DAZZLES!

2009-11-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

Our Quakie Lane in all its glory!

Fall was beautiful, but it's about gone. Snow is in the forecast for tonight. Darn. Then I'll just have to stay home and find something to do.... maybe sew?!

2009-11-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

Never say never....
or prepare to be
BEDAZZLED!!!

So I've seen all these quilts with rhinestones on them, and I thought, "Not on MY quilts. Never. No way!!" Guess what's in the mail? My own Bedazzler! Be prepared to be surprised, you're going to say, "Oh yea, that quilt needed the bling."

2009-11-01T05:04:00.000-08:00

Do You Quilt EVERY day?

Some one actually asked me that. I have 6 kids, 13 grandkids, one acre of flowers and grass and trees, church jobs, a house to clean, a husband and a dog that need walking, meals to cook, laundry, ... and yes, that's what I do. I have to find some time every day to sew something. Well, not EVERY day.

But this was my first quilt I came up with on my own. I love it still, so I decided to do the pattern for it.

Every day... like I don't have a life. LOL

2009-10-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

Seeing Dots....

This was a nickle exchange with my quilt guild. A nickle being a 5 inch square of fabric. Everyone bought a yard of bright fabric and cut it into squares and then we traded. This is what I came up with to "spend my nickles."

To quilt it, I went around every single one of those little colored dots.... a pebble design... I was seeing dots every time I closed my eyes for a while.

2009-10-12T04:45:00.000-07:00

This quilt was made by my Grandmother Ivie before she died in 1950 from old clothes!

My sister asked me if I had any idea how many quilts I'd made since I got started in 1972, which is when I got married. I took pictures of a lot of the quilts I'd made and put them together in a book with as much info about them as I could remember. This was the first picture and that was the first line.... So, not sure how good my documentation is.... well, I am sure and I'm just a little worried.

I've made over 50 pieced quilts of all different sizes, all hand quilted. I would put one on the quilt frames and then it would take all winter to quilt. My mom, bless her heart helped a lot. Sewing and sitting still are just not her thing. She'd rather build something.

I think that's why I've gone crazy making so many quilts since I decided it was ok to quilt with a long arm machine.... you can get a WHOLE bunch done and you don't have to wait for winter.

And I don't have to use old clothes! Apparently, that's deadly.

2009-09-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

I WON!!! I entered my "Love at Home" quilt in the Utah Quilt Guild Show for 2009 and won for "Excellence in Machine Quilting." I was so surprised and shocked and excited I got tears in my eyes and had to hurry out of there so I wouldn't cause a huge big scene. I was afraid someone would say something to me and then I'd just really fall apart. I tried to send a text to everyone I knew but that doesn't usually go very good even when I can see and don't have my glasses all fogged up with emotion. I didn't even think to take a picture of it with my phone and send that. Then later I was wishing I had taken a picture because it just didn't seem real. I worried all night that I'd told everyone and I hadn't really won. It was real. Pretty exciting.

Love At Home

2009-09-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

So my sister called and said, "Did you think about this being mom's 75th birthday coming up? I think we ought to have a big celebration." Then after the party was under way, she called me and said, "Got any good ideas for something SPECIAL we could give mom?"

I'd been working on this quilt for quite a while. First I made some houses like this for a friend in my quilt guild and decided I wanted a quilt with some houses. So I made a bunch of houses and then decided to put the hearts in.... then I needed some handwork while we were driving .... Any way, hearts and houses made be keep thinking of Love at Home. It's a song my mom always sang to us kids when we would fight. But the whole time I've worked on this quilt it has said to me...MOM, MOM, Mom. I knew her birthday was coming up. I just got so attached to the quilt I wasn't sure I could part with it. .... She loved it. We had everyone at her party sign the label on the back and write a special memory about mom. I still love this quilt.

Pumpkin Fun Quilt

2009-09-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

These pumpkins are just a simple snowball block. You have a 6 1/2 inch square and sew a square of background fabric across each corner. I put the stems and stars on after the whole quilt was quilted... so easy. I glued them on with a washable glue stick and then scrap stitched around them in black thread with my long arm quilter. I love the flower border print. I found it at Clover Patch in St. George.

I quilted all the pumpkins in a different style and a different scrap stitch aound each stem. I love each one.