On the Frame

Many of my Quilty friends know that I have a love/hate relationship with custom.

Love to look at it, hate to make it happen.

Give me mindless freehand edge to edge and I'm in heaven. 

I like to fly along on a whim with my hair on fire.

I like the freedom and no pressure. 

If you have no plan, then there's no way to fail.

Yup, I'm the Cowardly Lion of the quilting population. 

Custom, well, it scares me. 

I avoid it like the plague.

Planning, consistency....yikes!

Barb gave me a pretty sampler flimsy when I was pregnant with baby boy.

Ok, that's an exaggeration, but, it's been here a while. 

I've used every excuse...shower, wedding, dirty hair, house hunting, rainy weather and Obamacare. 

On Wednesday, I took it off the hanger & loaded it on the frame so I couldn't avoid it.

For Pete's sake, I've been looking thru DeLoas Sampler Solutions for months trying to figure out what to do.

I had a few drawings done.

I have only used 1 so far.

I guess I'm not a planner. 

I'm surviving...barely.

I AM THE SLOWEST CUSTOM QUILTER IN THE USA.

I'm a quarter done...and I don't hate it.

I hope it keeps going well.

I hate to return quilts that I am not happy with. 

Your prayers for my survival are encouraged and appreciated. 

Grayling Retreat

I've been a bad blogger. 

Life has been so busy that blogging has been put on the back burner.

I had planned a quilt retreat to Grayling, MI, in the winter. 

Of course, a million things are happening.

I considered not making the trip.

It seems every time I plan a Quilty trip, the same thing happens. 

This time, I just said...I AM GOING.

I'm so glad I did. 

I went with a dear, old friend.

Actually, it's Gail who cultivated my love of all things Quilty. 

We also enjoy wine together, our kids are the same ages. 

We've been known to stay up all night solving social issues. 

Like me, she is a transplanted Jersey girl.

It was so wonderful to be with her again.

Kay rode up with us....I think Kay could sleep ANYWHERE.

She's a sweetheart. 

We went to Hanson House, a B&B in Grayling, MI.

It's a great, old house.

And, it's for sale.

Gail, Donna & Kay in the Hanson House kitchen.

Donna (& her hubs Dave) are the proprietors. 

Donna also joined us at the Icehouse for quilting.

I can't believe I don't have pic of Dave!

They're newlyweds...really warm people.

They made me feel welcome & comfy.

Jaguar, the dachshund, was also in residence at Hanson House. 

He's as lovely as his parents. 

I wanted to put him in my suitcase, but decided that wouldn't be nice. 

I still regret this decision.

Each day after breakfast, we'd head over to The Icehouse quilt shop.

We took over the whole second floor. 

Kim is recovering Tom shoulder surgery so she worked on panels and read lots. 

Sandy & Diana did garment and bag sewing. 

Linda...she has an APQS Lucey!

Linda's elephant quilt and Donnas project, a UFO of her late mothers. 

Gail's quilt...it will hang in a special exhibit in a show.

Gail & I took daily walks. 

We missed peak leaves by about a week.

The ground was covered in bright colors!

Judy made lots of projects...this tumbling blocks is just one!

Here's a group shot. 

Back...Sandy, Judy, Linda, Donna, Gail, me.

Front...Mary's friend (ugh, my memory), Mary, Linda, Kim & Kaye. 

On Friday, Mary came up for lunch en route to the UP. 

Mary used to be in the group and suffered a severe stroke.

Mary is a walking, talking miracle and makes you happy by just being with you.

I loved Linda's elephants!

I made 2 RWB laps for 2 of Phil's honor flight friends and started a bed quilt from my Marmalade stash.

We also went to Delphines & quilters Biz in Gaylord. 

On Saturday, we left early and Gail took me to my 2 old favorite quilt shops. 

Viking Sewing Center in Ann Arbor (batik heaven) and Quilt Patch in Tecumseh (heavenly).

It was really nostalgic. 

Even with all this fun, for me, the best part was reconnecting with my Gaily.

We vowed to get together annually from now on.

I hope we do.

Murray's Honor

'We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by.'  Will Rogers

I'm so happy for my Murray.

His company is a big sponsor of the Honor Flight Syracuse.

This year he got to make the trip.

I dropped him at the airport at 430 am, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

He has been busting with excitement about this for weeks!

The Honor Flight takes veterans down to DC to see the memorials.

They charter a plane, prepare boxed lunches and show these old heroes around.

I know he has always wanted to take his dad to DC on such a trip.

He's asked many times, even including our sons to try and intice Tony.

But Tony always says no.

Perhaps this trip was given to him to put that dream to rest.

I guess you never know...

This guy was in the same signal corp as Tony.

The world is so small....

And big....

And cosmic.

We were lucky enough to run into him at the end of the ceremony. 

Murray introduced me to him.

He was too sweet, I wanted to rub him all over my face. 

With the government being shut down, all the monuments were closed.

Phil said there was a group of Vietnam vets on Harley's waiting for them.

They escorted them to the WW2 Memorial.

The cops rode in to shut down the Lincoln Memorial.

Phil said one of the vets from his bus argued with them, and they got in.

I have to say, I would NOT want to be one of those cops.

Talk about doing someone else's dirty work.

Arlington National Cemetery.

Just look at them all, so reverent, watching the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Later in the day, 10 of the staff had to knock down 2 water filled barriers to get these guys into the Iwo Jima Memorial.

Honestly, what good does closing these monuments do?

On the news, they interviewed one of the vets about this very thing.

He spoke very plainly, saying they needed to get it done and stop this nonsense.

You could see the disappointment in his face. 

That's not what he fought for all those years ago.

Ugg.

I went to the airport to see the post trip ceremonies.

They made a water arch over the plane as it taxied to the gate.

Then we moved inside.

They gave everyone a flag to wave!

Some folks made signs.

I wish I'd thought to make one.

There were cheerleaders from a local high school.

While we waited, the crowd sang patriotic songs. 

After a long wait, the vets and their guardians paraded in, accompanied by soldiers. 

I think you call it a color guard, but I'm not sure. 

There were bagpipes playing....

These vets were so emotional.

And grateful..I hope they know we are the grateful ones.

It's the least we can do...honoring their sacrifices. 

They were adorable.

One of the vets even stopped in the parade & gave me a hug when I said, 'thank you' to him!

There were speeches. 

And no one dared get political.

I might be a bit biased, but I think Murray's was the best one!

It was brief, filled with gratitude and a touch of humor.

And he mentioned both of our dads.

He & his caution tape made the 11 o'clock news!

There was a group of Irish singers.

They sang 'An Irish Blessing.'

One of the members was a vet who made the flight.

He was 92 years old!

The kids all came ... They were proud of their dad. 

I know he loved this.

I've been fortunate to have time to make volunteering a regular part of my life. 

At schools, nursing homes, hospitals & hospices.

With my kids, and alone.

You always get more than you give.

It changes you...

shows you how lucky you really are....

puts things in perspective.

Murray worked so much over the years, it never happened for him.

I'm glad he got this awesome chance to experience the joy of volunteerism.

And spend a day with these true American heroes. 

It meant so much to him.

And to me, too.

Congrats to you, Murray!

You done good.

house hunting, dodging bullets with a mouse chaser

You ask why I've been absent from blogging for a while.

well....
I was away, house hunting.
I looked at a LOT of houses.
Found a nice one, that will suit our needs.
We put in a bid, I hope we get it.

Of course, while I was away all hell broke loose here.
My #1 son's fiancé called off their wedding.
The were set to be married Memorial Day.
I'm sad for his broken heart...
But, I gotta say, I'm happy they aren't married.
And, I also wanna say, SHE IS A FOOL!
I'm not surprised, I'd been smelling a rat with her for a while.

I love this kid...he has a heart of gold.
He's not perfect, but pretty damn close.
He's kind, smart, and loves animals.
He's funny and an avid sports fan.
He goes to work everyday without complaint.
He owns his own home at the age of 26.
And, he's easy on the eyes!

I hope his heart heals quickly and he remembers how wonderful he is.
In the meantime, I'll keep reminding him...
When the time is right, I have no doubt he will meet someone who will think he's the greatest thing ever.
And that, my friends, is how it should have been from the start.
He dodged a bullet.

and, lastly....Murray swears there were no mice while I was gone.
NOT ONE.
But, of course, I made him check before work this morning.
And, another of course, there was one in the trap.
Holy Mother of God, what the devil is going on?
Are you kidding me?
Is it me they are coming to see?

Please, if you are so inclined, say a prayer for my sweet boy....I love him so.



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