Friday, November 6th, Creative neighbors!!

Recently, our neighbors took their kids to Apple Holler in Wisconsin and they had a little kiddie hay ride pulled by a riding lawnmower. Aaron came home and decided that for his oldest daughter's birthday party, he would make something similar. Isn't it the cutest?

Thursday, November 5th, Another old quilt

The only thing I know about this one is that it was made by my great-grandmother. It is super scrappy and some of the seams are coming apart. Maybe made in early 1900's or late 1800's? The horrible thing about these old quilts is that they weren't labeled, so we know very little about the makers.

Wednesday, November 4th, Seeing steady progress

I haven't lost much weight in the past month, but also haven't gained any. However, my fat percentage has dropped. I am OK with it and am comfortable with my body right now. I can't slip!! It's too much work!

Tuesday, November 3rd, wondering about the past

Since the quilt appraiser was at our guild meeting, I was interested in looking at the quilts that I own that are considered antiques. The one pictured was made by my grandmother. She is the reason that my sister and I quilt. She used all scraps and only made one quilt with new fabric, which is hanging at the farm and for which she got grand champion at the Illinois State Fair. I know now that the blue and white quilts were made around the 1920's during the Temperance movement. That would make sense since my grandmother was born in 1894 and would have been in her late 20's and mid 30's in that time. Unfortunately, there is much staining on it and the blue in the inner blocks is discoloring. I am itching to hear more about it and will get it appraised sometime.

Monday, November 2nd, 2009, Met the dealine

My manager, Raeann hired me to make a baby quilt for her niece's baby. It has been a month long process and I finished it today, label and all. I found the fabric on a sale day and was inspired by the nautical colors to call it "Ahoy, Baby!" Thankfully, the baby was born on Friday, the 30th, so it was right on time.

Sunday, November 1st, Nursery duty

I had the very difficult job today of working in the nursery. We have been blessed with three new babies and they are now old enough to be downstairs during worship. We were a little short staffed today and I was there by myself. We have a paging system should I need mommies, but amazingly, it worked out fine.
This is Sawyer, the first to arrive. We walked around for a while and then he was rubbing his eyes so I put him in a swing where he fell asleep for the entire hour. His mom says at home he screams every time she puts him in a swing.
This is Matthew. We didn't interact at all because he came in his car seat and he slept the entire time. He woke up right when Patti walked in after the service to nurse him.
This is James, the busy, busy boy. He rolled around on the floor for the longest time and played with some toys that Tricia brought. When he got fussy and started rubbing his eyes, I picked him up and we rocked. He fell asleep and every time I tried to lay him down (only because my arms were completely numb) he fussed. So, we bonded....very hard for me!!

My friend Pat, who checks in during the service to make sure all is in control stopped by and this is what she found. Me and the boys hanging out....
I noticed how they were dressed like casual Friday in corporate America. James in his khakis and oxford button down shirt.....
Sawyer in his wide whale cords and plaid button down shirt. So cute!!!
Man, can't wait to get my hands on grand kids someday, but for now, I get a baby fix doing this job.

Saturday, October 31st, Missed out on the trick or treaters

We made the decision not to give out candy this year for Halloween. I felt a little guilty, but with me working tonight and a needed nap right in the middle of the afternoon and Chuck going on a planned bike ride with some buddies, it was an easy choice. Then I don't have candy in the house either. For my sake, Chuck disconnected the doorbell so my nap wouldn't be interrupted. It didn't matter because when they found out that I wasn't responding to the doorbell, they opened the storm door and pounded on the inner door. They even pounded on the side light windows. I felt like a prisoner and had to stay either in the basement, the kitchen or our bedroom where they couldn't' see me from the front window. I thought the universal sign that you had candy was the front light is on. Well, we didn't have it on and they still came!!