If you can imagine this crew -
My mom, her 2 sisters and brother, and 2 spouses. And me with the boot removed from my foot only the day before picking them up at the airport.
My mom at 81 with some hip and sciatica issues, my aunt with bad knees, my uncle with leg/heart issues, my own foot being slow to cooperate - it was quite hysterical, but we got out and did what we could and I'm so glad we didn't let our various ailments and challenges stop us from trying!
We took a short walk along the New River - and while some wandered and looked at scenery others pulled out phone apps to determine which plant was what. Isn't technology amazing?
Uncle Steve & Uncle Tony at the river's edge.
It was a gorgeous morning, and yes - the leaves are just barely turning! Over the week they were here we saw quite a progression.
Checking out the various plants with the phone app!
I think the app they were using was called SEEK. It will identify all kinds of things from plants to insects, etc.
Wave, everyone!
And YES! There has been some progress on the Round House reconstruction. The "long long trailer" has even been moved into a new position.
And the backhoe has been doing some digging!
(Every time I see one of these I think of the children's book "Are YOU my mother?" LOL!)
Big pile o' dirt.
There is SOMETHING going on here!
Steve & Kathryn.
Steve & Kathryn are the ones who live "ON RINGO LAKE!" in Spicer, Minnesota. Kathryn is the recipient of my own On Ringo Lake quilt.
Back home at the inn - my darling mama let her inner 10 year old out to play - isn't she precious at 81?
Seeing these photos and writing the captions - I'm missing them all already, but especially my mom.
We live on opposite ends of the country. The past 3 years of Covid have been very difficult. to have her here has been the greatest gift.
Son Jeff even came up to spend time - I am so grateful.
There is more to come, but I will admit to not taking as many photos as I normally would have. I set my phone aside and just participated with family, living in each moment instead of trying to capture them all from behind my phone.
And of course you saw that yesterday was the pattern release for Ditch Lilies!
Yesterday was a 6 hour round trip to the airport in Charlotte and back so I didn't even know how things were going before I returned home last evening.
WOW! Just WOW! I am so thrilled that you are liking this quilt!
I've given you a few teasers on this quilt - you've watched me work on Ditch Lilies as it came to be, and even helped me decide on the name (Which I love!) and now it is available in PDF pattern form for you to make too.
If you love bear paw units, blocks that chain, and log cabin blocks - this is the quilt for you!
And yes, I know the gift-away sign up was a bit different. My regular way of using a 3rd party app to collect names and email addresses was not working. That site must have been having issues.
So on the gift-away post you'll find a google docs form. Just put in your name and email address. The only thing it doesn't do is tally the total number of entries we've had so that you can see - but I can on a spreadsheet.
Please only enter once.
Such a great way to enhance your own stash of yummy oranges!
Summer Sunshine!
Ditch Lilies has been added to the digital pattern section of the Quiltville Store and the Quiltville Etsy Store.
The introductory price has been marked 25% off - no coupon needed. Sale price good through 9/30/22.
Scrappy Summer Blossoms in sunshine colors from your scrap stash! Easy to follow instructions, full color photos and graphics to guide you from beginning to binding!
Quilt Size: 90’’ X 90’’
Optional but helpful: Bonnie K. Hunter's Essential Triangle Tool and either the Simple folded Corners ruler, or the Simple Folded Corners Mini.
Traditional rotary cutting methods are given for those who don't have access to these rulers.
And don't forget that Appalachian Autumn is ALSO on sale at 25% off through 9/30/22! Hurry and save on both!
Today - as I try to put the pieces back together and get back to my regular routine, my heart is full of memories and love of family.
There have been a few tears shed since dropping everyone off. It's all good!
Today is for finishing up the laundry and returning everything to its place to make ready for Susan's Quilters arriving on retreat tomorrow afternoon. (Here we go again!)
I may even sew today - wouldn't that be lovely?
How about you? Any plans?
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
In the unforgettable words of Mary Poppins, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!”
Carolina Chain quilt from my Addicted to Scraps book available in the Quiltville Store.
It's Tuesday! Let's make the most of it!
10 comments:
Welcome back! and so glad you had a chance to be w/family! I so miss my mom and am so glad you could spend time with yours... I'll bet they all loved loved loved the Inn and being together and fire pit and porch time... i vicariously enjoyed being with family myownself and love Ditch Lilies... am waiting just long enough to see if i win!!! otherwise, the card comes out and i have yet another lovely to create... 's'funny, i never knew how much i like alll those oranges!!! Love and happy gratitude from Cats in Carlsbad CA
I'm so happy for you, even though it was a lot of work and lots of emotions, it will never happen again and they will cherish the memories as much if not more. I love your latest pattern, am nearly finished with Quilts for Ukraine, hoping to send it to someone who needs it, glad your boot is off and you got to enjoy the freedom.
SNORT! 😆 I'm so glad that you had a good visit.
Oh to spend a day with my momma. Gone over 40 years. It's great to think of what we would do as I read this post. Family is everything! I have a project to work on. Mystery is coming up soon. Thanks for sharing pics with your Son, precious memory saved!
Thought about you yesterday as my family and I traveled down the Virginia Creeper bike trail. It was so peaceful and enjoyable. I wouldn't have know about it had I not found your blog.. thanks for sharing your neck of the world with us!
So glad you had this wonderful time with family!!!! You will cherish this week forever! And seeing Mom on the swing was priceless!!!! I think I know where you get your zest from!!!!!
Such nice family pics. So glad you had a great time with your family 💓
I just finished sewing the 4 borders for Rhody . Now to sew them onto the quilt.. maybe tomorrow as it's so humid here yuk.
Most of my family has passed on. so you are very fortunate.
You look so much like your mom!
Your mom is so vibrant at 81. What a blessing to still have her. She reminds me of you!
Good to see you again. Your family photos are great! And your mom reminds me of mine. At 82 my mom was driving my husbands four wheel ATV around our yard. She wasn't afraid to try to do anything. Your mom has that same expression in her face. Are they in Minnesota? My mom was from there. I wonder if that's the strong Swedish or Norwiegan blood they have!
Great photos and wonderful family. By the way, if I were younger I'd be chasing your son around - handsome kid!!
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