Something’s wrong with this picture.

 

 

He noticed right away that I got the numbers in the wrong order.

 

 

Thank-you Holly for having us in your  home for this special Birthday lunch.

My two girlies!

 

 

Jessica sent me this picture today saying, “Misty is like her Grandma!”

 

Today they were watching Shad and Grant play ball and Misty took her quilt along to knot.    Misty I would of loved to be there helping you.   I love your quilt.  The colors go together so well.   Primary colors are so eye catching.

 

Ethan, Queena, Dorie and James are making final preparations for their move to Malaysia.  Plane tickets are bought, suitcases are waiting to be packed.  I’m excited for them but when it comes right down to it half way around the world is a long way away.

 

 

But the big news of the day is:

 

This is wedding week!

A busy week indeed!

 

 

Next post will be of the big event!

 

~ Spur of the moment trip to Virginia ~

 

Last Wed. I got a call from my sister Barbara inviting me to join her for a sewing event on Friday.

 

 

With Mark’s blessing I packed my bags and headed down the road the next day.    This trip would also give me some time to spend with my mother as well as some of my sisters.  Coleen was coming up from Ga. and I thought this was great timing.

Saturday we joined forces and made quick work of Mother’s cleaning.

I did the floors.   Sweeping, vacuuming and washing them clean.   Did you know that Bernina also made vacuum cleaners?   Mother got this one years ago when they were dealers of the Bernina Sewing Machines.  It still works great!

 

 

Coleen took on the job of washing mother’s china dishes.   This cabinet is open and does get dusty.  Mother painted most of these hand painted china pieces.

 

 

Just look at these pretty butter dishes.

 

 

June did all the dusting, including Mother’s arsenal!

 

 

Now let me back up a bit to Barbara and my day of sewing.    The sewing event was a twelve hour sew-in to raise money for breast cancer.   We bought table space to sew and the monies were given to a local cancer program.

 

 

This room hummed with twenty-five machines and ladies talking and laughing with one another.   That day I was able to FINISH the wedding quilt!  I still have the binding to hand stitch down.    Tim and Diana’s wedding is in two weeks.  I think I am going to get it done in time.

 

Here are a few projects that different ladies were working on.

 

 

 

 

Barbara taught a sampler class a few months ago and this lady brought her quilt along and was putting the finishing touches to it.

 

 

This gal was making an all over cream quilt.  She first did a lot of handwork with candlewicking.

 

 

Here is a close-up.  It is beautiful!

 

 

Part way through the day Mother and Coleen stopped in to see what we were doing.

 

 

I love the way they went around the room and talked with each person, showing an interest and asking about their projects.

 

 

 

They were fascinated with this ladies pin cushion and how organized she was with it!

 

 

Coleen and Mother went to various thrift stores while we continued to sew.

Their best “find of the day” were these new wheels for mother!

 

 

She is still very mobile but when on a trip where there is a lot of walking this new “Chariot” sure will come in handy.

 

Saturday afternoon we make a stop at the Virginia Quilt Museum.  We were told that they had an old “Farmer’s Delight” quilt that was hanging.   Our family is especially fond of that pattern because of Grandmother Vera’s love of it.  Grandmother made over 10 in her life time.    We were given permission to take this picture.

 

 

 

Sunday was a day I want to forget about.   I was planning on heading back to DE right after Sunday lunch, but could not find my keys.   I searched over four hours, (the time it would of taken me to drive home) and could not find them!!!!   They still haven’t shown up either!   I’m gonna blame Sanford and Sheila’s dog Louise.   I gotta blame someone!

Sunday night Sanford had to drive to Dulles Airport to pick up his wife.   Mark got our spare set of keys and drove the two hours to Dulles to meet Sanford and give him the keys for me.    I’m still shaking my head wondering just where can they be.    No more being hard on Mark when he looses his wallet or glasses!

Monday morning Sheila and Sanford joined us for coffee and donuts before I headed home.

 

 

~ Parting Shot ~

 

 

I love this picture of my niece Rebecca with her boyfriend Abe.

 

 

Spring Break  ~  The Kids are Home!

Spring break we enjoyed a visit from Chris and Alicia.   They are winding down their time in South Carolina.   They will be finishing their teaching jobs and then spending the summer in Europe under Christar Missions.

 

Their plans in the fall are to move to Delaware for a period of time.   While here they were able to line up a furnished apartment to live in.  We are happy and excited for this next chapter in their lives.

Alicia loves reading to the children.

 

The board games always come out when Chris and Ethan get together!   They talked me into a game of “Bang”.

 

 

Taco salad supper hit the spot!

 

 

Mark’s sisters Alma Jean and Sarah Jane putting on the finishing touches of our Yoder Easter Dinner at Daniel and Mary Anns.

 

 

These times are great times.   I’m so thankful for the many cousins our children have.   Dorie looking on as Carmen and Deborah start the salads.

 

Holly and cousin Edie

 

 

Holly and cousin Rachael

 

 

Time for the egg hunt!  Maybe we can get a head start up here on the roof.   “James do you see where all the eggs are hidden?”

 

 

“I found one Grandma!”

 

 

“And here is another one!”

(Don’t you love that crooked smile?)

 

Dorie’s coming up with a haul as well!

 

 

Don’t know where the children get their energy.   Mark and Daniel taking it easy in the house.

 

 

Later that evening Jeremy and Cheryl arrived.

Here Maxwell is showing me his mighty golf swing.

 I was mighty impressed when he hit a couple balls across the ditch to that first tree.   It’s further away then it looks in the picture.

 

 

 

 

 

Who are all these people waiting on?

 

 

A car in coming.  Could it be her?

 

 

Surprise!

 

 

A bridal shower for our future daughter-in-law Diana.

 

 

 

 

There were gifts, family, friends, laughter and food!

 

 

 

Our prayers are with you Timmy and Diana as you continue to plan and prepare for your special day and future life together!

 

 

By the way, today is Diana’s Birthday.

Happy Birthday Diana! 

So glad you are joining our family.

 

 

Sewing Circle has come and gone twice now without me putting my pictures up.   This post will be a combination of the last two times so if you see some gals with two different outfits on don’t get any bright ideas that we have a dressing change part way through the day!

My job at sewing is to keep the ladies who want to sew at the machines busy with some project.   We finished our last quilt so for the next few sewings I decided to root through our limited fabric stash and see if I could come up with a simple comfort/quilt idea.      I like the greens and blues together so I started with that.

 

 

I just cut everything in 3 inch squares to be pieced in 16 piece blocks in any random order.

 

 

 

 

Last year I had picked up two full bolts of the blue and white fabric below at the Goodwill Store.  One bold cost $2.00 for about 8 yards of fabric and the other $3.00 for about 10 yards.   I decided to use it in my joining blocks and think it works well.   We have enough cut to keep us busy for quite a few more sewing days.

 

 

~ Love around the quilt ~

 

 

~ Getting some advice ~

 

 

Allison is this grandma’s pride and joy.  She has taken such an interest in sewing and now she is really into crocheting.  She took a free day off from school so she could join her grandma at sewing circle.

 

 

For Sew-N-Tell Allison shared some of her latest crocheting projects.

 

 

She just made up this pattern as she went making some clothes for her brothers stuffed animal.

 

 

 

Queena K. showing a quilt she finished from blocks given to her from a relative.

 

 

 

 

A comfort top being bound and another one being knotted.

 

 

Erica’s Great Grandma giving her pointers as her mother Diane looks on.

 

 

Grandma  loves piecing these string quilts.  She is making one for each of her great grandchildren.  Erica chose the beautiful colors for this one.

 

 

~ Parting Shot ~

 

 

Last week we had some sweet visitors at our house.  Little Bo playing with the tractor that we gave our son Christopher many years ago for his birthday.

 

 

Maxwell enjoying one of my recent “Goodwill Finds”.  

 

 

I didn’t know what I was getting at the time but it looked like a quality, educational toy and it was only $1.50.  Uncle Ethan even got in on the fun.  The different parts snap together all different ways with different results.  Motors run, lights blink, horns blow, music plays, siren blare.  It really is a COOL toy.   I checked it out on Amazon and I did get a bargain.

 

 

Bo kept going over to the deer head on the wall and reaching up to it.   I guess his daddy knew that he wanted to pet it.

 

 

A little later in the evening I noticed Bo and his Great grandma Yoder were deep in conversation.  Wish I knew what she was telling him.  They both look a little troubled.

 

 

I love this picture.   They spied a blue heron out at our pond.   Only Timmy is looking in the wrong direction.

 

 

After supper Mark reading to the family.  Brings back memories when our children were small and we let them play quietly during our devotional time.  They didn’t seem to mind if it got  long and were always amazed at how much they are listening even tho they are playing.

~Wish I could do handwork or sewing in church!  I know I’d get a lot more out of the sermon!~

Don’t tell Mark I said that!

 

 

 

I still have a Bridal shower to post and sewing circle pictures but I’ll leave that for another day.

 

 

Happy Birthday to my dear Mother!

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Mother for all the sacrifice and love you give to your family!  

You’re the BEST!

 

 

I went back in my camera and saw a bunch of pictures I haven’t shared yet.   I’m way behind but I’ll see what I can do.

Last months sewing circle pictures will have to wait.

 

 

Last Sunday we enjoyed a lazy Sunday afternoon doing some reading.  Queena enjoying Ann Voskamp‘s latest book.   She then did a little drawing with her chalks.

 

 

We sure have been enjoying the warm, warm weather here in Delaware.   Mark made the yards look so nice with all the mowing but first he had to gather up all the white balls laying out in our lane and driveway.

He even did a load of wash.   Notice I did not say laundry.

 

 

 

All clean!   It works great but sure does make a racket!

 

 

Some of you have wanted an update on how the wedding quilt is coming along.

 

 

I am having so much fun machine quilting this quilt!   My goal is to quilt a fourth of it each week and I can now say I am half done with the quilting.  Two more weeks to go.

 

 

Last evening our church youth group had a Mall Hunt.   For those of you who don’t know what that is, folks will dress up in a disguise and the youth are to walk the mall and try to find people from our church.   Holly, Queena and Ethan stopped in before going to drop off Dorie and James.   I quick snatched up my camera to document their looks.

 

 

Holly later said that two guys came up behind her and started talking to her in Arabic.  She said she just quickened her pace and moved to where a group of people were.    I was impressed with Ethan’s beard.   He said all it takes is hair gel and tea bags!

After Dorie and James’ bath they decided to disguise themselves and see if they could trick grandpa in knowing who they were.

 

 

 

 

Birthdays, Balloons and Baby sitting!

 

Really, taking care of Dorie and James should not be called baby sitting because they are NOT babies.

On  March 9th I took care of them while their momma went out with some friends.

 

 

How about making a birthday surprise for momma!

 

 

OOOOOhh this is fun! and good!

 

 

I think we can do this all by ourselves.

 

 

Happy Birthday Momma! 

These balloons are for you.

 

 

We even made you some cup cakes!

 

 

These last two days have been amazingly warm outside.   I hear bits and pieces about people taking advantage of this warm weather and doing yard work and pulling weeds.

I put on my garden gloves as well!   These Atlas Garden Gloves are the best!

 

 

But look what I did with mine!

 

 

Yep, I cut two of the fingers right off.

 

 

Just look at all the grip they provide while I machine quilt!  

Forget about all that yard work,  it can wait!   I have a wedding quilt to get finish!

 

Bahama Cruise

Mark and I have been needing some time away from the fast lane in life.   We found a cruise leaving out of Baltimore and decided to jump on board!

 

 

Since we were heading South my dear husband booked us a private balcony room.   The balcony was approx. 8′x10′.  Wonderful!

 

 

The room was spacious enough and became our “home away from home” for the next 7 days.

 

 

We were up on the 5th deck and had a wonderful view of the ocean from our room on the front right side of the ship.

 

 

We were actually out at sea for three of the days and then at different ports for three.   Lots of Rest, Reading and Relaxation!   Holly had just given me the first two seasons of BBC’s “Downton Abbey“  and Mark and I enjoyed watching this series together.

 

Our first Port was Cape Canaveral.  We spent the day touring the Kennedy Space Center.

 

 

I especially enjoyed this  bringing back many memories of a trip I took there when I was in the 7th grade with my parents and sister Sheila.   I remember we watched one of the Apollo’s take off.  I think it was one of the first ones but just don’t know which one.   It was in 1970 or 1971. 

This capsule was Apollo 14.

 

 

I wonder if it was the one we saw head up in space to the moon those many many years ago?

 

 

Late afternoon we were back on ship.  There were three swimming pools on the top deck of the ship.  The ship was HUGE and really a floating city!   Lots of shows and night life going on.   We skipped out on most of the shows but did take in a magician who still has my head spinning with his tricks.  How in the world did he do that!!!

 

 

Each evening when we got back to our room we were greeted by a different animal.

 

 

 

 

My favorite was the monkey hanging from the ceiling!

 

 

The second Port was Nassau and was my favorite.   We took a shore excursion that day on the Seaworld Explorer.

 

 

After taking a bus tour of the city we were taken by boat out over a reef.  

 

 

Our guide pointed out different location on the way. 

~ Alantis Resort ~

 

~ Oprah Winfrey’s Bahama home ~

(one of them)

 

 

~ Tom Cruise’s vacation house , his yacht was there as well! ~

 

 

Once we got over the reef we docked alongside the seaword explorer.  After boarding it we went down a flight of stairs into a narrow room that was 6 feet under water with windows all around.  It was like snorkeling without getting wet!

 

 

 

 

We went over several different reefs and saw a lot of different marine life.  I loved it!   Before long it was time to head back to port.  The day we were at Nassau there were 4 different cruise ships at port.

 

 

We had a couple hours before we needed to be back on ship so we hired us a taxi to take us to his favorite eating place on the Island.

 

 

He didn’t just drop us off but took us inside and disappeared back in the kitchen.  When he came out he said, “follow me!”, taking us out back of the building.

 

 

This restaurant is known for their Conch fritters.   There was no shoreline but just conch shells everywhere!  He proceeded to pull out a string of conch snails from the water and show us how they get them out of their shells while they are still alive.   They tie them together like this so they won’t get away.

 

 

 

 

Taking us back into the restaurant he ordered us a sampling of fresh conch fritters.   I did NOT like them, not one bitty bit!    I did enjoy a meal of fresh fried snapper fish before heading back to the ship.

 

Back on board there were many things that inspired me with my quilting.  This is the main entrance on the ship.   Wouldn’t that make a wonderful quilt?

 

 

From this room there were three glass elevators that went up the 12 floors of the ship.  A beautiful room and simply amazing!  There were probably 3 or 4 floors below as well!

 

 

Another quilt inspiration.

 

 

I did find lots of time to snip, snip, snip away on that wedding quilt!   What a wonderful setting to work! (play)

 

 

This post is getting way to long but I did want to show a few pictures of our fancy dining room where we had supper each evening.    I’m talking about fancy, fine, five-star dining!   We ate with the same 3 couples each evening and enjoyed getting to know them very much.

 

 

 

Thank you Mark for this wonderful vacation!  A time I’ll forever cherish!

 

What is going on at our house?

 

 

The title gives it away… we are enjoying a game of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears!”

 

 

Here’s an update on Timmy and Diana’s wedding quilt.   You know I spent 9 days at sewing retreat piecing their red and white Burgoyne Surround Quilt.   I then spent the next week marking it getting it ready for the next step!

 

 

These blue Fine Point Mark-B-Gone Pen’s are wonderful.

And yes, the blue will wash out when the quilting is done!

 

 

That step took a whole week.   Then this past week I spent sewing thin batting pieces on with water soluble thread.

 

 

Yes you heard me right, water soluble thread.  I did the stitching just inside the blue lines sewing from the front side of the quilt.   This will make since after I show you the rest of the fun steps!  

 

 

Now for the next two weeks I’ll be using my little sharp scissors! Snip, snip, snip!

Cutting as close to the sewing line as I can.

 

 

Remember I am doing machine trapundo. 

 

Other happenings at our house:

   Holly has moved to a new location and is excited about buying her first home.   She has invited Ethan and Queena to move in with her until their time to leave for Malaysia.  

The other evening they invited Mark and I to join them for a delicious Indian meal!

 

 

I forget the name of the dish but some of you might recongize it.   Ethan made the fry bread, Holly the rice and Queena the main dish.

 

 

We were happy to hear that all of Ethan and Queena’s support has come in.   We’re not so happy to realize that soon we will be saying goodbye to Dorie, James and their mommy and daddy and knowing they will be moving halfway around the world!

 

 

Keep this dear family in your prayers.   It is an exciting time for them and it is a joy seeing how God is leading and knowing He will be with them each step of the way.