Post-Thanksgiving Family Time

Neither my husband nor I grew up with guns in the house.  My husband's previous profession required him to be ready to use a handgun at a moment's notice.  He also had to be familiar with rifles. 

I've taken a women's handgun safety course promoted by the local sheriff's department.  ( I have a certificate and everything!)  Alas, still no gun.

My husband was given my father-in-law's .22 rifle, that no one knew he had, when his mom passed away this summer. 

We share a common problem with our eldest son and his family--groundhogs.  We lent the gun to him to use to try and clean up some of his problems.  It is with great pride that I can report that my daughter-in-law actually hit a groundhog twice (she doesn't think she killed it right away).  The funny part of this story is that she called her dad and my son in tears that she didn't kill it.  Her father said that it was so sad that she didn't kill it right away and the poor thing would suffer and he understood her soft heart towards animals.  My son told her she was wonderful and that it was a groundhog--and she needed to call me.  When I heard her news, I told her that she was amazing and that I had never shot a critter and that I was so very proud of her.  I also told her that it was a groundhog--they will eat your children--and have destroyed everything you have ever planted.  She did OK.  I bought her more ammo.  She has also become a legend among the men at church.

The day after Thanksgiving, our son invited us and our younger son to come out to enjoy some shooting.  My husband brought his "professional" weapon for us all to shoot as well.  Our target:  A very large pumpkin!

It was a great bonding time for the boys and their dad.  He was able to give some great tips and make sure we were doing everything safely.  And, realized that I was using my left eye.  It was no wonder I couldn't hit anything!

My youngest son admiring his shot.



My husband shooting and my eldest son watching.



Our target...and yes, I actually surprised myself and hit the bulls eye!  It is amazing how much better I did when I used my right eye!!!

My youngest son put and apple on top, but it was my husband that blew it away!  As you can see, some of us need a bit of practice yet.

We had a great time and hope to enjoy this family fun more often.

It is Ready for Ada...finally

Ada is now over a year old. 

Since my only daughter was expecting her first child, I wanted to make a special quilt.  Emily loves the reproduction 30s and 40s fabrics.  So I chose some of those.  Em also likes "random".  This means that, unlike her mother, she prefers the abstract.  She does not like the standard quilt block designs.  Being someone who needs a pattern for any project no matter the difficulty, this presented some problems for me.  The first was working outside my comfort zone for most of the piecing of this project.  Triangles are easy, right??  RIGHT??  Well, not for me, it seems.

It wasn't long into my quilting career that I discovered that my piecing abilities were shabby at best.  But give me a piece of plain muslin marked with a beautiful design, and I'm in my element.

This project was begun not long after we heard about the upcoming blessed event.   Once I came up with a pattern, I was able to get the thing pieced.  I really thought it would be easy enough.  So much went wrong and I nearly threw the thing away twice.  Then came summer and garden and outside chores.  It is rather uncomfortable to quilt in the summer...so warm with all that fabric in your lap.  Hence, the delay.

It was my hope to have it done by Christmas, but that didn't quite happen.  But, today it is done!!

Here are some pictures of my progress:

Since this is just a small quilt, I like to do it in a big hoop.  The pins are basting pins that hold the whole thing together while it is being quilted.  Here I'm working on the outside border, which is a Celtic braid.  Emily and her husband had been to Ireland, so I thought the border would be appropriate.

Here is a view of the "random" triangles and leaf design down the center panels.  The hoop needed to be moved to work on another area.

This is the binding that is being pinned on to the edges.

 Sewing the binding to the edge.

Now the binding is turned to the back side to be sewn by hand.  (The corner really is quilted.  It just didn't show up on the picture.)

Done!

I hope that Ada enjoys her quilt.  It was certainly a joy to stitch for her.  One blessing about quilting is that it is easy to pray for the person receiving the quilt.  My stitches were made with prayers that Ada will come to know Christ at an early age.  

Emily's next baby is on the way, so I need to get to work.  The next quilt will not have this much quilting.  At least I don't think so.  It doesn't look like it will be done before the big arrival in July.  I have started marking it, though.  At least that is a start. 

Let those that are united to me in tender ties

   be precious in thy sight and devoted to thy glory.

Let not those of my family who are amiable, moral, attractive,

   fall short of heaven at last;

Grant that the promising appearances of a tender conscience,

   soft heart, the alarms and delights of thy Word,

   be not finally blotted out,

   but bring forth judgment unto victory in all whom I love.

--an excerpt from The Family in The Valley of Vision

Quilting Season

Most of the Christmas decorations are put away--only the tree remains. The days and evenings are quieter and chillier. Time to get back to my quilting.

It is shameful to admit that I am behind before I even get started. One baby blanket is close to being completed. It should have been done months ago and the little one for which it is intended will be walking before I get it done if I don't get busy. Our new little Zachary's quilt is pieced, but needs quilted. There is another baby quilt that is in need of being started for a friend who's baby is due in the spring. Then there is my big project that was started almost two years ago. A replica of a dear friend's quilt that has been in her family since the late 1800s.

There is something relaxing to me about the feel of fabric, especially a good cotton fabric or a good muslin. It is calming. If I were a knitter or a crocheter, I think that the yarn would work the same magic.

Since most of my quilts are smaller, I do them in a 12 inch hoop. I have a smaller 10 inch size for smaller spaces. This keeps my project mobile--from comfy chair to Amish rocker or quiet corner. It also helps to keep me warm. Our big old house is a bear to heat, so to have my work covering my lap helps to keep the chill off. I've done a couple big quilts in my frame. It is, obviously, not portable and takes up a chunk of the dining room.

The baby quilt I am in a hurry to finish is all white or a whole cloth quilt. My Amish friend, Sarah marked it for me on white muslin. (Since then, she has started a little business marking quilts for others.) It isn't difficult, but I let it sit during the summer with gardening and grass and that is how I got behind. I'm also pretty slow. Whole cloth quilts are my favorite. The design that shows up on the fabric from the stitches is beautiful to me...not that my stitches are all that beautiful. I just enjoy the process.

Both my grandmothers made quilts. My paternal grandmother is famous for making lap robes for elderly folks as well as quilts for all of the grandchildren as we were growing up. My cousins and I would always look for patches that were made from the scraps our mothers would send to Grandma from their sewing to use for quilts. There was Suzanne's dress, or Paula's shorts, and even my own or my sister's dresses. I still have a few of my grandmother's baby quilts that she made our kids. These quilts were not prize winners nor were they hand stitched. She tied them with colorful yarn and bound them with love. I've kept them so I can pass them on to my grandchildren so they can have a piece of the family's past.

While I can never be the quilt maker my Grandmother was, I hope to give my grandchildren something they can enjoy and use to keep warm. It is a connection to my own past and reminds me of the love my grandmother showed to her family in her sewing.

Christmas Joy and Surprises

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

The holiday week has been one that has been full. Not only have I enjoyed the children and their families around the same table for more than one evening, but also family game night with the in-laws and visiting friends.

The night after Christmas we had all of the in-laws over for the traditional Game Night! All of us pitched together and brought what ended up being enough food for a small army (it was just supposed to be easy leftovers). The In-laws have no concept of a small meal. We played several games all evening. Everyone left about one a.m. Jon and Stephen and I stayed up until 2:30 playing Speed Scrabble. Had I known that the phone was going to ring at 5:30 a.m., I would have gone to bed much sooner.

Aaron called at 5:30 requesting that I meet them at the hospital to pick up little Daniel...their second baby was on the way. This little one was not expected until mid to late January. I sped--literally--off to meet them at the hospital. I could not imagine Aaron waiting with a tired toddler in the Birthing Suite and a wife that was in full blown labor. Providence would have it that I actually met them along a side street and followed them up to the parking lot. We traded car keys, and I took Daniel to our house. The phone rang later that morning with the news that Zachary Pierce was born at 7:30 weighing 7 pounds 1 ounce. Not bad for a little guy that was supposed to be early. (Just my opinion, but I don't think he was all that early when I saw his chipmunk cheeks!)

It was delightful to have Daniel with us for a couple of days and Aaron came and slept here, too. Poor Uncle Steve was gracious enough to give up his room for them and sleep in the Living Room. So our hearts and house were very full. Emily was a great help with meals and, even though we didn't get to visit like we had hoped, it was wonderful to have her here.

We learned, too, that my father-in-law, who is going on 91, has lung cancer that is not treatable. He has been struggling with 'stuff' for several months, but has been his usual stubborn self in getting treatment. We are now in the process of seeking what care is best for him. My mother-in-law, who has been trying valiantly to care for him at home, has finally determined that she cannot do this (thankfully) and is pleased with his new doctor and his current care.

My husband, at the very last minute, has decided to wait to retire until May. It seems that the State is not going to be replacing employees until then and he is reluctant to put his wonderful department members in a pinch because of him. I agree that this will work out best. These men have been great for him to work with and we hate so see their families suffer.

May you all have a rich and full New Year full of the realization of God's richest blessings.

O Lord,
Length of days does not profit me except the days are passed in thy presence, in thy service to thy glory. Give me grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour, that I may not be one moment apart from thee, but may rely on thy Spirit to supply every thought, speak in every word, direct every step, prosper every work, build up every mote of faith, and give me a desire to show forth thy praise, testify thy love, advance thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year, with thee, O Father, as my harbour, thee, O Son, at my helm, thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.

Guide me to heaven with my loins girt, my lamp burning, my ear open to thy calls, my heart full of love, my soul free.

Give me thy grace to sanctify me, thy comforts to cheer, thy wisdom to teach, thy right hand to guide, thy counsel to instruct, thy law to judge, thy presence to stabilize.

May thy fear be my awe, thy triumphs my joy.

from New Year in The Valley of Vision

Early Family Christmas

Yesterday my dear sister, Ann, and I had our annual Christmas lunch. She takes a day off work and we get away for the day and talk and laugh...alot. We enjoyed lunch at Panera, Target shopping for the "little boys" in the family and a few more errands and then finished with a Pepsie at Arbi's. Nothing fancy, just relaxed and fun. It's just us. We can be ourselves and discuss whatever. It is something I look forward to each year. Our Christmas gift to each other.

Since our mom's remarriage several years ago, she and I have been a life line for each other. And now that our mom's second husband has died, we depend on each other for some sense of sanity, which with me can be a stretch. Mom can be quite a handful for such a little thing. She has a hefty dose of stubborn Irish temperament.

And for those of you who think that your kids will never get along; I tied Ann to the clothes pole when she was young because she was always getting me in trouble. See, there is hope.

O God, I cannot endure to see the destruction of my kindred. Let those that united to me in tender ties be precious in they sight and devoted to thy glory....Grant that the promising appearances of a tender conscience, soft heart, the alarms and delights of thy Word, be not finally blotted out, but bring forth judgment unto victory in all whom I love.
An excerpt from The Family in The Valley of Vision

A Thankful Thanksgiving

The Blairs got together for a delightful Thanksgiving feast at my sister, Ann's. She and Sarah (aka Martha Stewart, Jr.) had the house looking so festive! As with most of our family celebrations, everyone brings something to help out. We had quite a bounty from which to choose. Ann's turkey was beautiful and delicious. She worked very hard keeping the ole girl based. We had a smaller crowd than normal with Aaron and family with the Padron's in Atlanta and Keith and Nathan working and then Sam got called out and never made it. Still, I am so thankful to get together with Stephen and the rest of the family. It was so fun to see Taylor and Spencer, too.

After the Blairs, Stephen and I ran into Butler because Eric and Grace made an unexpected visit. I stayed longer than I really planned, but it was wonderful to see so many of the Johnsons...especially from out of town. Grandpa was at the VA and the Bodens were at his brother's. Of course, it was typical of the Johnsons to have enough food to feed most of the apartment complex! Cynthia sent over wonderful pumpkin pies for us to enjoy!! The Colwells were the only ones all present and accounted for and I am thankful to them for picking up the slack.

Poor Keith didn't get much of a dinner by the time I got home, but I made up for it last night with his own turkey dinner with some of the wonderful leftovers sent home.

Yesterday, I went Black Friday shopping for the first time in my life! That was an adventure! I was able to get some bargains, but you certainly can't be in a hurry! It was surprising to see so many people, but yet only run into the Wilsons and Jeannette, Emily's friend from volleyball, that I knew.

Today I did laundry and have most of it on the line. We have had a couple of decent days. Still chilly, but today we may almost hit 40. I am grateful for the sunshine...at least there is a bit of it today. After I came home from shopping yesterday, the sun was out and there was a good breeze and I hurried to put sheets on the line. Well, the neighbors started a fire not long after I hung stuff out. My blanket smelled of smoke, but the rest seemed fine. I rinsed it today, and so far, no smoke from the neighbors.

I would like to get a start on decorating for the holiday, but my sleds are put where I can't reach them, so Keith will need to do that some time soon.

This coming week is a busy one with something almost every day!

Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent! Time is flying!

"The tender mercy of our God gleams with kindly light. I see in His mercy a soft radiance like the matchless pearls that form heaven's gate. Mercy is a melody to my ear as well as to my heart. Mercy is music, and to the brokenhearted, "tender mercy" is its most exquisite form.

If you are desperate and depressed, "tender mercy" is life from the dead. think of this in connection with God, and you will be struck with wonder that One so great is so tender.

God is love. Not only is He loving, He is love itself." excerpts from Charles H. Sprugeon, Beside Still Waters