Tea Party at Grandma’s!

There are 8 of us siblings all together. When you add in spouses and children, it’s a whole gaggle of family, just the way we like it!

Only --- the older I get, the tireder I get and I’ve come to realize that

1.) My mom is TIRELESS as a Grandma

and

2.) I’m glad I had my kids when I was young enough to keep up with them!

This afternoon all the girl cousins ((plus my nephew Porter who wouldn't let his sister have all the fun and not join in too!)) were treated to a tea party on the back deck of the house.

Being as all REAL tea parties consist of white gloves, fancy hats and lots and lots of fun necklaces, the girls were anxious to play dress up for the festivities! This has become a much looked forward to event at Grandma’s house ---tea party time.

Tea parties are serious business. You have to use your best manners. You have to eat your food with care. You must not splash or spill your tea ((aka. lemonade!)) on the table cloth or on yourself, and you must say please and thank you.

It’s a hoot to watch the kids trying so hard with their polite manners --- but play time is how we learn real time. There are lessons to be learned through tea party play!

Knowing that all these cousins are building memories to last through their lifetimes – and that these memories will keep them connected long after we adults have passed to the next tea-party-in-the-sky makes me smile!

My memories of growing up with my cousins are so vivid and so important to me --- this next generation will hopefully keep these kind of special activities going on with their children as generations come and go ----

But we aren’t thinking that deep right now --- we don’t need to tell them WHY we are doing this ---we are just out here, having fun together!

Revisiting Memories---

Stepping into Mom’s house is like going back in time.

The first night, before the onslaught of the many ((They weren’t to arrive until July 5th in the evening)) Jason, Joy, Andrew, Rick and I stayed at moms. There are SO many of us that the small mountain top house can not contain us ALL – but the first night there was room.

Jason, Andrew and Rick stayed in the borrowed 5th wheel motor home in the driveway –on loan from a neighbor who offered it to provide more sleeping space for the multitudes!

I stayed in a downstairs bedroom – and when I walked in I was greeted by this quilt I had made mom circa 1990-something. The block pattern is called Mountain Thistle. I do not have a pattern for it. I may re-write it up at some point – but that’s way back burner right now. ((I only say this because I know there will be a slam-dunk of emails saying they have searched the website and can’t find the pattern for it and where is it. Not now. Not yet! Someday. :c) ))

I made this while living in Burley, Idaho – and I had my quilting frame set up in our bay window of the house so I could sit and hand quilt after kids left for school in the mornings. It took a LONG time to quilt! In fact, this is the last quilt that ever adorned that 3 rail frame….I learned that I do better on a sofa with a hoop in my lap. Being at the frame kept me in another room from family, and I prefer to be able to turn a hoop to quilt in multiple directions.

I searched the archives and found this pic of the quilting in progress:

Having that quilt in a frame sitting in the bay window area also caused some fading to happen to those lovely 1980s and 1990s fabrics ---OH WELL! You can’t keep a quilt safe from sunlight forever?

Even in the 1990s I was brave ---I quilted this whole quilt with navy thread. You can’t see it in the photos, but there are double lines of quilting echoing the squares in the paw areas, both in the burgundy and the navy.

There are other evidences of my early quilting years hanging around Mom’s house…some pieces have my early machine quilting on them ---and those quilts have been loved and used and loved and used and washed and dried and loved and used again – their fabrics fading to a very soft and gentle patina that only a well loved quilt can attain. It’s fun to see them after so many years ----most of them I had forgotten about! But they still are there visible every day in my mom’s house.

I also love the abundance of family photos all over the walls – some of my ancestors dating back to as early as photography was available. Humble people I never knew, yet their blood runs through my veins. Many many pics of all the grandchildren –and in this huge family, I find my place amongst them.

The “Younger” generation ((which means anyone younger than me, but older than 12)) are out on a white water rafting trip.

Feeding this multitude takes a lot of time and planning --- so I’m headed to the kitchen to help feed the army.

This afternoon my inlaws, my brother and sister in law, my nephew and his family all belonging to DH’s side of the family are on their way up to visit. Can’t wait to see them!

Needless to say --- not a stitch has been sewn since I left the airplane in Boise! And that’s perfectly fine with me.

Oh yeah, and before you think I am homeless without a place to sleep now:

We’ve overflowed into the cabin of a friend just down the road!

Joy, Andrew, Jason, my brother Mark, his son Spencer, and myself are bunking HERE! We only have one rule ---no one under 17 allowed ---us old folks aren’t used to dealing with so many young ones! LOL! My Sister Mary, her hubby Kelly and their 3 kids have taken over the 5th wheel – and the kids like “Camping” in Grandma’s driveway. Mom’s house is now wall to wall air mattresses as everyone else arrives and covers every available floor space ---Yes, this makes for a CLOSE knit family!

Welcome to Sherwood Forest!

Summer in the mountains above Boise is a season of magic.

It can get HOT in the afternoons with temps reaching close to 100 – but it doesn’t feel like it.

You know that whole “It’s a dry heat” thing? If you’ve ever thought it HAD to be hogwash ---there IS a difference. I can feel the difference between 100 degrees in Winston Salem in July --- and 97 degrees in the high mountain desert of Idaho in July – and the humidity thing is the key!

I’ve been here 2 days and already my lips are so chapped they feel like they could fall off! It’s a good thing I stocked up on the carmex ahead of time. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize --- and then don’t forget the BUG SPRAY!

It’s buggy in the mountains – and those little blood suckers are vicious!

The magic is what happens once the sun has gone past the trees in the late afternoon when the cool of the evening sets in, and even in July – you have to throw on an extra shirt or a sweater, because the temps drop so quickly.

In the morning it will be down right chilly --- and that is perfect for wrapping up a bit warmer and sitting on the deck with a hot cup of tea, or wandering around the garden while the dew is still fresh on the flowers.

Come take a walk with me through my mom’s garden – it is one of my most favorite places on earth!

I will be the first one to tell you that I am not a gardener. Being the kind of gardener my mom is –that’s a full time seasonal job, and I’d never be able to do it with the kind of travel my life has dished out to me lately – but I have dreams – oh yes I do ---of some day having a beautiful garden to wander through.

In the mean time, I go home to visit mom’s ---and my senses are filled with color, and fragrance and texture, each plant thriving in the environment provided for it by the loving hands of my mother.

Mom’s house on the mountain top ---I’m standing toward the back of the garden beds…standing next to the strawberries looking back toward the house. The little cart you see is a favorite of the grand kids – they run each other ragged, some one riding, someone pulling round and round and round the yard – keep em busy, keep em tired is a slogan well known around a house with this many grandkids running loose!

Addie pulling Kenzie and Logan around the yard!

Along with the cart are log stools and benches…..they encircle the fire pit that will be used this week for making s’mores, singing around the bon fire, and late night chatter and laughter --- the smoke is a good mosquito deterrent! Many memories are made around this camp fire.

A tall electric deer fence keeps local 4-legged grazers away from the veggie beds, fruit trees and berries!

Walking along groomed pathways will take you past a wide variety of perennials. Many of them have been traded back and forth from Minnesota to Idaho and back between my mom and her sister who is also an avid gardener.

Everywhere you turn scenes are set with little vignettes – here we have a turtle on a rock and a sign that reminds me to BREATHE!

Find the sign that says DREAM!

The purple puffballs are my favorite --- and that isn’t heir real name…but LOOK at that intense color! We thought it might be in the "campanula" family, but after searching them it doesn't look like it is -- anyone know?

One cluster is almost as big as my hand!

Here mom is explaining to her sister Joy about the different ground covers she grows – every year she has a “garden sale” and people come from miles around to purchase shovel-fulls of the various things she is famous for growing.

Foxglove is a favorite --- and my Aunt, a nurse – simply calls it for what it is most known as …DIGITALIS! Love this pink color!

Star-shaped bellflowers in a periwinkle blue…

I think Joy called this one a “cherry bell” and it is one that mom brought back from Joy’s garden in Minnesota to see how it would do in the mountains of Idaho. So far it is thriving!

Inviting benches and pots dripping with viney blossoms.

It’s interesting to me that a gardener will also go for things that have contrast – planting shorter things next to things that are taller, and varying where the blooming plants go to create a landscape of endless interest and new things for the eyes to discover. It is much like designing a quilt ----and not wanting all the greens to be the same shade, but planting something with variegated leaves next to something with spotted leaves, and that next to something that has really LARGE leaves ….next to something that has long spokey spikey sharp leaves.

This is where I am spending my days. This is where we all gather for walks in the garden, to watch the grandkids play, to sit at tables and talk about what has gone on in our lives since we saw each other last.

These are the moments we will remember forever.

Today there will be more siblings and spouses and cousins arriving – the party increases!

Kelli the Movie Star ;c)

Family is just the best there is!

Mom’s got the Hexie Bug!

When I arrived yesterday, mom had already left to go to the airport to pick up my aunt Joy and cousin Andrew.

We settled in to visit and relax while waiting for the call to go meet them in Crouch for the fireworks and festivities ----

I look over to mom’s chair side table – and what do I spy??

A gazillion pre-basted hexies just waiting to be assembled into the project she is working on !

Like Daughter, Like Mother!

Of course I had to spread it out and see how far she’d gotten on it. She is doing scrappy reds, blacks and neutrals.

She is telling me about a hexagon group on facebook she has become involved in --- the woman is hooked hooked hooked!

**Note to self** I do NOT have time to join a hexie group on facebook!!

And to think that her hexie love started just last August on a trip to Minnesota while we were sitting in the dentist’s office waiting for my Aunt to have her tooth fixed!

Like Daughter --- Like Mother!

Independence Day–Idaho Style!

This little mountain community where my mom and step-dad live is like no other. The Garden Valley/Crouch area is nestled in the mountains about an hour’s drive north of Boise.

After arriving in Boise, we went to visit with my brother, Scott and his family, we met up with my brother Mike and his friend and all grabbed lunch at a local Chinese place--- we were starving and chatting up a storm.

From there we stopped by the home of one of my highschool friends who had moved up here from California years ago --- they caught the update on my face book that I had landed and the message came through that “You BETTER include a visit to say hello while you are in town!” – so we bee-bopped over there because I don’t plan on spending time down in Boise at all—the next time I am down there will be Monday to catch my flight to Oregon!

From there we went to Mike’s where I got to meet my niece Elizabeth for the first time. What a doll baby! She is 14 months old now, walking everywhere –she says “hi!” and waves..and loves running away with everyone’s cell phones and car keys. My sis-in-law has been teaching her sign language ((teach them young to be bi-lingual!)) and she will sign when she is hungry, and she will sign “thank you!” It is the cutest thing!

And then --- up the mountain we went.

That’s where we stopped to take yesterday’s photos along the Payette River. THis is the most beautiful country up here. I’m not a fan of high desert, brown hills and no trees and stark naked rock where the only thing growing is sage brush --- but get into the mountains and you discover paradise!

My Aunt’s flight arrived into Boise at 7:30pm – so the instructions were for Jason, Rick and myself to meet Mom, Joy and my cousin Andrew in “town” just before fireworks time.

They do fireworks REALLY BIG up here! Honestly! I have never seen anything like it.

You KNOW you are in Idaho when you pass a pick up truck with a wooden camper on the back – adorned with a cattle skull complete with bling and mardi gras beads! Mom had to have her pic taken! LOL!

Let’s just say that in this little mountain town --- there is NO SUCH THING as illegal fireworks! This is the center of town ---and instead of everyone doing their own thing at their own homes, they bring their fireworks into town and everyone lights them off in the street!

The smell of smoke is heavy in the air – it’s a big family time and everyone gets involved.

As darkness descended, the band started up ---music filling the air. Everyone rushed out to dance! Grab your mom, your brother, your friend ---you don’t even need a partner! Just let the music take you and make you move!

At 10pm we all gathered on the bridge ---the MAIN ATTRACTION was about to start --

((Can I tell you how much I love the summer nights up here? Cool temps, fresh air – even if it was 90 during the day, by now I was grateful for an extra denim shirt!))

The fireworks went on and on and on --- over this lovely mountain setting.

What a lovely way to end a long travel day!

Once the “Big Ones” were over – the grand finale exploding to cheers and applause all around us --- the “renegade” fire works display took over, back in town. As I said – NOTHING is illegal as far as fireworks go ---the party got a bit louder, a bit more rowdy ---we decided we’d had enough – we were tired, and it was time to return home.

Today starts the onslaught of the rest of my siblings driving in from all directions --- 3 siblings and their families are driving up from Utah – one brother and his family are coming up from Arizona – two brothers and their families live in Boise – they have to work today, but will be up by weekend.

As expected, wifi is pretty iffy up here ---I have to laugh at the fact that my parents are from the generation that the wifi is turned off at night. I’m writing this offline and trying to find a way to ask that it be turned on so I can post this – it reminds me of being 14 and having the shower hot water turned off after 3 minutes in an effort to teach us to be responsible and frugal. Funny how being in a family situation takes you instantly back to your growing up years!

Soooo – I’ll post as I can, and if I don’t post as regularly – just know that I’m busy and surrounded by family and unwinding in fresh mountain air ----and that the wifi is turned off. LOL!

iPhone-o-gram! Hello from Idaho!

We are sitting around chatting and enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery!

We stopped along the south fork of the Payette River.

The guys have white water rafting and later in the week---but I think as close as I'll get is to pull over to take pics!

I haven't seen my mom yet because she is now off to the airport to pick up my aunt and cousin who are flying in from Minnesota.

Other brothers and sisters and their families will start arriving tomorrow.

I live being up here---relaxation is happening in full force!

These pics are of Jason, me, Andy brother Rick.

PS---I bought the pink shirt!

iPhone-o-Gram! Chicago to Boise!

I met Jason's plane and the first thing he said was "what?!!! Enough with the camera already!"

What's a mom supposed to do when she sees her son ready to join her on an Idaho Adventure??

I also brought my purple "sit upon"--- plane seats are just terrible and the flight to Boise is 4.5 hours. Something has to give with the burning leg pain. I think I'm in for an MRI when I land at home long enough to get one.

Next stop---Boise!!

Happy 4th!

Or as my Star Wars loving friends are apt to say:

“May The 4th Be With You!”

I’m pecking this out on my laptop at the Greensboro, NC airport. Dang, 3:45am came early this morning --- and it hit me as I was drifting off to sleep last night that I didn’t put anything in the blog queue for this morning!

No worries….I have an hour until my flight so I can sit here, go through some show photos from last week’s Vermont Quilt Festival and occupy myself until it is time to board.

As often happens with really early morning posts – my mind starts to wander and ponder about many things.

I have come to realize that I would never make a great quilt judge. Some of the judging I just do NOT understand.

I know it is all about the numbers, and how things add up on "paper". But some things I just have to go with my heart on.

And what I say isn’t “against” any one’s quilt or the judges themselves ---it’s just how I feel.

There was a quilt that won “best reproduction quilt” or something like that. Big award. Lots of applause at the awards ceremony. I hadn’t seen the quilt yet, but when we were allowed into the show and I saw the quilt….all I could see was that yes, it was a beautiful “civil war” array of fabrics, but that the quilting itself was so over the top and the quilt itself so stiff that it in no way represented to me what a civil war era made quilt would look like.

It was “just this short” of having crystals glued to it. And there was a lot of discussion about how many quilts had crystals glued to them, and I hope it is a fad that will go away ----but that’s a subject for another time.

((See, I told you, I would make a BAD quilt judge!))

Too much is too much is too much. I’m a quilter who makes quilts to cover the people I love. Crystals are not part of the equation, and neither is over-the top machine quilting –especially when it comes to a reproduction quilt. How would that Quiltmkaer have quilted her quilt in 1865? That’s what I want to see if it is a true reproduction.

I want to share with you my favorite quilt of the whole show ----it is named “Oh My Stars” by Sue Freeland of Hanesport, NJ. It's perfect to share for 4th of July!

I loved this quilt in its complicated simplicity!

All of this close quilting is done by hand. The quilt has a softness that an overly machine quilted quilt is just not going to have. To me --- this is more in keeping with the time period of a civil war era quilt than any amount of machine micro-stippling and over-feathering can give.

I adore the close diagonal quilting! And the curved design quilted over the star blocks to add another dimension to them. what a labor of love!

((Look Ma! No Crystals!))

The quilting found its way into the border to enhance the flying geese.

My favorite element! The zig zag lines in the open areas of the border.

What great texture!

Here is another shot showing that great border cable with 5 lines ((FIVE LINES!)) of hand quilting!

While I was standing there photographing the quilt, the maker happened to come by and I was privileged to talk to her, to tell her my feelings. It was wonderful that her quilt was recognized as worthy enough for a second place ribbon.

If I were a judge, I probably would have pushed it higher than that. In my book, this IS a blue ribbon quilt ---it got my viewers choice vote! It was quilted to match the era and style that the maker was wanting to capture.

Have a great 4th of July everyone! I’m off to Chicago to go meet my son at his gate – and then we are off for our Idaho adventure.