Road Trip and more

My stitch group took a little road trip "shop hop" a couple of weeks ago.  We met at Coleen's for coffee and yummies, then loaded up and headed for Beggs, OK.  Only a half an hour away but there is a shop there that most of us had not been to before.  Grannie Annie's.  It was cute and chocked full of fabric.

Here are the 6 of us who got to go:  Emma, Leslie, Coleen, June, ME, and Donna



I liked this flannel quilt (hand quilted with big stitches).  It was SOOO soft.

We made a stop in Winchester where my oldest daughter lives so the group could see the property.  Wesley was happy to have company and modeled one of the hats his mother was making.


Calista has been very busy using up her yarn scraps:

This is part of the huge patch of irises on the property.  Unfortunately, you can't see very many of them.  Every time Calista visits she brings me a boquet.

We had lunch near Keifer, OK and then went to Leonard, Ok where we visited the Log Cabin Quilt Shop.  Dianna always has lots of new stuff for us to see there.





Donna had to leave for a doctor's appointment so we continued without her (we're not mean, we just have to shop!)
The last stop was Quilt Styles in Glenpool, OK (the place that made Tulsa famous) and then back to Coleen's.  It was a great day!



Look what I found growing in my little iris patch.  It's a Wesley!


And just so you'll know that I've been busy, I finished this:



It's 17.5" square.



Close-up of the quilting.  The background around the leaves and vine is finely stippled.  I plan to enter this in my guild's upcoming show June 8 and 9. 



Until next time....

Happy Thanksgiving

I wanted to take the time to say Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in blogland.  May you have the blessings of family close to you and take time to thank God for all He has given you.

We're postponing the actual day of the get-together due to a stomach virus that has been "running" (literally) through my family.  We all got together last Friday night to pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  My youngest grandson (who has tummy troubles all the time that are currently being diagnosed) apparantly had a virus.  I couldn't resist kissing his precious little face (or maybe lips....yes, probably lips).

He got worse.  By Sunday I was VERY sick.  His dad was VERY sick.  By Sunday night his brother Timothy was sick.  On Monday night his Auntie Dre got it.  It only lasts about 24 hours but leaves you "wiped" out (Pun intended) with no energy or appetite.  Today is the first day that food really sounded good to me.  So after5 days of cleaning up after 2 sick kids and a sick husband, my other daughter came down with it tonight.  And did I mention that my son had it, too?

That only leaves husband, other son-in-law and oldest grandson who haven't had it.  So we're going to wait a day and see what happens.  So in everything I'm (trying) to give thanks.  I'm thankful that my Operation Christmas Child party fell through last Friday night and that the only people who showed up were my family.  Otherwise, all of my guests would now be sick for Thanksgiving.

I have SOOOO many things to be thankful for!  As my son said tonight when I asked him if he minded postponing the day "It's the people, not the day"!  Happy Thanksgiving to all you people who help round out my life!

Road Trip

I just got back (last night) from a trip to Missouri to see my youngest neice graduate from high school.  Since she was the last of my mom's grandchildren to accomplish this goal, I felt it would be proper for me to be there (besides, I WANTED to be there).  My mom was the first in her family to graduate from high school.

Dear husband was unable to make the trip with me so I roped Leslie into the idea.  It didn't take much to convince her since I promised a stop or two at a quilt shop.

The (normally) 6.5 hour trip stretched into about 10 hours and the couple of quilt shops turned into ---well, let's just say more than 2.

We've been to several of the shops along the beaten path--especially between Tulsa and Springfield, MO, so we decided to visit just the ones we hadn't seen before.   Here we are at Bittersweet Quilts south of Joplin, MO.  Very nice shop.

This one is in the heart of Joplin.  We enjoyed it, but the name DIDNOT fit the shop!  haha

This one is located in Lebanon, MO.  The ladies there were so friendly to us.

We basically shopped our way up Interstate 44.

This one is in Rolla, MO and is a yarn/fabric store. 

We arrived at my sister Greta's house Thursday evening.  I made Lora Beth a quilt (of course) for a graduation present.  Here's the label.  I also gave her my mom's senior class ring and she wore it to graduation.

Here's Lora Beth unfolding the quilt.  That's her boyfriend Adam with her.

And here it is....her not so PINK quilt.  I had started a quilt for her and when my sister was here in December I showed it to her.  It was mostly pink.  Turns out Lora Beth hates pink so my plans had to change.
I found this pattern in a magazine and decided to try my hand at 60 degree diamonds.  It was lots of fun to make and I'm very pleased with the outcome.  As was Lora Beth.

The next day Leslie and I took Lora Beth into town (they live out in the country) to buy a dress for graduation.  And shoes...very tall shoes....very tall shoes.  Okay.

 Very tall shoes.  Then that night was graduation.  It took place at my old alma mater--only in the new gym.  Sure brought back memories.  Wait, I don't think I remember much about it because it's been so long ago.  Lora Beth's mom was 5 months old and screamed through the entire ceremony so my mom had to sit out in the hall with her.  I behaved much nicer at Lora Beth's graduation than Greta did at mine.   I saw 2 classmates that I graduated with.  It was a lovely ceremony and we were all so proud of Lora Beth.







Afterwards, we drove back into town for an "after graduation dinner".  Here's Lora Beth with Adam.  Thanks Greta and Joe for dinner.

The next morning Leslie and I let Greta sleep in and we went to the cemetery to see my mom's gravestone.  It had been installed since I was there a year ago.   It was an emotional time for me.  We also visited Tim's mom's grave, but it was raining so hard I forgot to take a picture.  Notice the litle quilting lady on the lower right. 

We left the cemetery and forced Dolly to open her shop for us.  haha.  We didn't notice she wasn't open until we had opened the door and found her standing there cutting fabric.  She was very nice about opening up and we may have purchased some fabric from her.

Another trip to town to see my husband's step-dad and brother and to ...eat some ice cream.

We left early on Sunday and stopped in Springfield to see Tim's dad and step mom.  She has lovely flower beds.

Every where we looked in Missouri the peonies, roses and irises were blooming.

Linda also has a talent for cooking.  Baking to be exact--coconut cake to be specific.

 I'm exhausted from the trip.  But so glad I went.

The Little Lighthouse Quilt and Garden Party

On April 30 a bunch of us attended The Little Lighthouse Garden Party.  It's an annual event to raise money for the school which is for children with disabilities.  It's a wonderful place and the event is always so touching.  We always go away from it teary eyed.  The kids learn so much that they can't get anywhere else in the Tulsa area. We first learned about it when our own little grandson Timothy was diagnosed as blind when he was an infant.  WELL...miracles later...Timothy sees well enough now to attend a regular school.  And I just want to jump up and down and try to help the others who can't see, walk, comprehend, etc.

Anyway, this is my 5th year to make a quilt for the silent auction.  Calista helped me this year and last year.  The first one was a group effort with my stitch group.

Here's the quilt.  And it was bought by good friend Crystal Grantham.  Here she is with her lovely daughters, Katherine and Julia.

Did I mention that this is a fancy affair with hats and dresses?

Here's the group that sat at my table, thanks to the generosity of my husband.  Included are his secretary Melissa , his former secretary Annette  and another lady from his work, Jessica; my two daughers, Calista and Andrea; my bff Leslie;
and Crystal, Katherine and Julia.  We had a wonderful brunch and a great time.  Lots of money was raised for The Little Lighthouse.  Notice some of us have stuffed animals.  Another part of the fund raiser.

While my hat is not as elaborate as Leslie's and Calista's I DO have my grandmother's brooch pinned in it!

Calista won the prize (potted plant) for the most creative hat.  She crocheted all the roses.  I was impressed since there were hundreds and hundreds of people there.

 I must end with the best part of the party.  Someone had donated a play house for the live auction.  It was huge. Something you would put in your back yard for your granddaughters (if you had any--I'm just sayin')  Tall enough for adults to stand up in.  It was pink with gingerbread decorations and copper on the roof.  It was no ordinary play house.  The value was placed at $10,000 and the crowd went wild when it was sold for $30,000!  I've never seen anything like it....until....a few minutes later it was announced that the person holding the winning bid had donated the house back to The Little Lighthouse for the kids!!!!  Then the crowd really went wild!  Imagine...in these tough economic times....there are still people out there doing great things for those who are disadvantaged!  What a blessing!

Happy Birthday

Today is my BFF's birthday.  I'm posting this under Family and Friends, because she really is not only my friend, but like my sister.  Everywhere we go together, people ask us if we're sisters.  We've even been asked if we're twins. ( maybe it's because we shop together, like the same clothes and many times show up wearing the same outfits).

We've been through a lot together.  I could tell you stories.  But I won't.  Let's just say that we've laughed a lot of laughs and cried a lot of tears.

So in honor of Leslie today on May 2, 2011 when the world is celebrating the death of a very evil man, I'd like to celebrate the birth of a very loving, caring, gentle, wonderful friend.  Leslie Lind Hale.

Sadness

This is a picture of my friends Sue (right) and her daughter-in-law Theresa. 

A couple of years ago I helped Sue get this quilt ready for her to hand quilt.  Her mother had hand pieced it. She finished it and I helped her bind it and make a label for the back.

Sue passed away Thursday after a sudden illness that kept her in the hospital for almost 5 weeks.  I got to spend some time sitting with her there, but missed her last week because of my bad back.  My husband has been asked to speak at her funeral and I've been asked to play the piano for a couple of our friends to sing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "It Is Well With My Soul".  I know that to be true for Sue.  She's resting in heaven now and is greatly missed by her friends and family.  I'm glad to have known her and counted her as a friend.  Good-bye dear friend.

Good Times

What a day!  Leslie and I took a road trip to Hennessey, OK.  There's this guy--Kent.  He's special to me (now).  He tunes up sewing machines and he spent 2 hours tuning up mine.  It sings like a canary! 

And ya know what else?  Leslie and I got to shop at the store where he works while he did his magic.  That's
Prairie Quilts.  And do they ever have some lovely fabric (a bit of which found it's way into my car). 

Then...we drove home through Stillwater, OK, home of blogging buddy of mine, Ranette.  She met us at The Quilting Post (another fabulous shop) and we got to meet some of her friends and partners in quilting crime.
And then....SHE INVITED US TO HER HOME!   We got to see her quilting room(s) and many of her beautiful quilts.  Boy, was that fun! 

Unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera.  So for your viewing pleasure...
GRANDKIDS!  Doing what they do best....

Looking like his Aunt Dre and being cute.

Looking like his Uncle Aaron and being silly.

Looking like his Popple and reading a book.

What's been goin' on

It seems like the month of September is flying by.  And even though it's still very much summer here in Oklahoma, there are a few signs of fall.  And I'm ready for it after the extreme heat we've had this year.

Over Labor Day weekend my sister Greta and her daughter Lora Beth came to visit so that my (extremely lovely and talented) daughter Andrea http://www.amurphyphoto.com/  could  take Lora Beth's senior pictures.
Even though my husband tried to spoil the weekend with a bad case of infectous colonitis (2 trips to the E.R.) we managed to sneak away and have some fun shopping and doing the photo shoot.  (He tells the story a little bit differently--I DID after all, get him a babysitter).

That's Greta and Lora Beth in the top pic with me; and Lora Beth and (extremely lovely and talented) daughter Andrea in the middle of the bottom pic.

Last post, I forgot to show you what my friend Leslie has been up to.  She's been VERY busy making quilt tops.

She and I took a hand applique class from Jane Green at the Cotton Patch.  Here's Jane.  She does absolutely beautiful hand work.  It's hard to see from this picture, but trust me,  it's really good.

Here are some of the other class members with the block we did our first week.

This is mine.  I've decided to add some brown to it.  Working on that now.

Well, Tim did get over his illness and for the first time in ages he had to dress up for work.  It was such a rare occasion, I thought I should document it.

Many of his co-workers thought he was a stranger trying to break into Tim Marler's office.  His boss hasn't gotten over it yet.  I think he "cleans up real good".    Off to find some oil and gas.

Last week I made these name tags for a challenge from Green Country Quilters' Guild (http://www.greencountryquiltersguild.com/) .  The tags had to be mostly green and had to be readable from 4 feet away.

I finished my quilt!  It's quilted by Kat LeFevre.  I'm very pleased with how it turned out.  I got the binding on just in time to take it to the fairgrounds on Saturday to be entered (along with 3 others) in the Tulsa State Fair.  You can see them there starting Sept. 30 through Oct. 10.

You all know I have ANOTHER (extreemly talented, lovely) daughter.  She's been busy getting her knitted items and pickles ready for the fair.  And oh yes, she raises boys (3 of them) so you know she's got her hands full.  We all think the last one looks like her.  What do you think?

1979 (although I'm sure she wouldn't want you to know that) and 2010.    Same pouty lips.

Since I've mentioned everyone else in my family, I'll conclude with the fact that I'm very proud of my son.  He's going through some major changes in his life.  We pray for God's leading.

Until next time...