Photo of the Week

Lincoln Co., KS Courthouse.

Photo of the Week

Good morning, Hutchinson!

Photo of the Week

Hummer from last summer!

New pages added to blog

I have removed some items from the side bar and placed on its own pages. Look for these new pages:

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This allows for a cleaner format.

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The other half

In 2008 I wanted to learn to quilt. The first thing I did was buy some fabric and learn to cut using a rotary cutter. I ended up with a lot of squares that I patched together - see below.



This was bigger than I desired so I cut it in half and made 2 lap size quilts. I knew I would give one to my older sister, Denise and keep the matching one. The day I took them to be quilted [I only did the piecing], we found out she had cancer. Sadly, she would leave us six months later. We spent those 6 months talking and reliving a lifetime.



I mailed her quilt to her once I had the binding finished. She kept it near.



What I did not know was that she had made a wish known and that was for the quilt to be buried with her. She entered eternal slumber covered with my love. I miss you, Denise.

The other half? It's here. I plan to pass it down with memories I shared with Denise.

Old blog posts

Today I pulled out some quilt tops to measure and that reminded me that I had posted some of my sewing projects on this blog in the beginning. One day I decided to delete the blog only to change my mind a few days later. Well, those posts are gone so I'm going to re-post some of those pictures.





Note: I will never be an expert at quilting. As long as I enjoy doing it I'm sure I'll be happy with the small quilts I make that will be used in places like: Clay's house - the one pictured here for his 25th birthday, the garden swing on early spring days or the front porch sofa on cool nights, a picnic, in the car or just cozy warm on a winter night by the fire. In other words, they will be used and used well.

Photo of the Week

What a sweet face!

Why is Sophie mad?

Keep looking and you'll see...

Sophie & Sidney

Kicked my addiction

At the end of 2009 I made A LOT of changes to my diet. One of those changes included reducing the number of Diet Coke's I consumed. While I won't confess that number let's just say it was WAY too much. There are a lot of opinions on the ingredient Aspartame and I'll just say that with anything... moderation... moderation. Having said that, I decided to give up the sodium, or at least the volume I could control. High blood pressure runs in both sides of my family and that was what I received the year I turned 40. It was a sad parting since my morning started with my old friend. I love the taste! I went through the caffeine withdrawal and have survived the change.

This lone can has been sitting in the garage for a while. I see it often and think I should drink it just to get rid of it. I think for now I'll leave it. Will I ever have another Diet Coke? Sure, from time to time - in moderation. I'm sure my body appreciates the volume of water it now gets but my taste buds sure miss our old friend.

Are you my mother?

Garden visitor Summer 2009

I really enjoyed my garden visitors last year and hope I am treated to their appearance this year.

Online Albums - Monument Rocks

Here are some photos from our trip to Western Kansas to see the Monument Rocks. They literally rise up from no where.

Mama

Saturday, February 27th, was the one year anniversary that my precious Mama died. I had thought about blogging about it but the pain is still too great. I miss her so much. Instead of dwelling on the sadness I took time to notice all the things in my home that connect us. Small things, silly things, things made with love. The oven mitt shown below was a gift from Mama over 10 years ago. I love my cats and this mitt has been in my kitchen ever since. And, no, I never use it.

Mama is buried back home in Georgia, over 1,100 miles away, so I can't visit her grave. On Saturday we took new flowers to Elmer's grave [Barry's father]. We took him bright Orange & cheerful poppies. With the last of winter hanging around they were a happy spot in the cemetery against the dormant brown grass and leafless trees.



Mama, my love for you lives on with your memory. Thank you for... everything.