Memories Are Stitched.....

I recently came across this free stitchery from Kerryanne
while browsing the internet and fell in love with it.
I had just the place for it and couldn't wait to get
it stitched and framed.
 


















In my living room, I have a wall of pictures that
depict my parents, their parents, etc., when they
were young.  I wanted my children to know
that their grandparents and great grandparents
were young just like them at one time.

Also, have several pictures of me as a young
child to adult hood with my mother and sister,
plus a 5 generation picture beginning with
me and ending with my gr. gr. grandmother.
My four generation history books can also
be found there that my sister and I have
compiled.

So, I knew this would be a perfect little
addition...and it is!  I just love it and am
so happy with how it turned out.

Gratitude Sunday

Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.

This week I am grateful for:

Family 

I am grateful my daughter is feeling better after being
diagnosed with influenza.  Their whole family have been
quite ill and I'm so grateful they are getting on top of things.

I am grateful we could spend time together yesterday,
Saturday, celebrating Valentine's and my daughter's
birthday.  We had so much fun playing games:

Heart Stack

How many conversation candy hearts can you stack
in a minute without them falling over?

Cupid's Arrow

Blowing q-tips through a straw into a red heart-shaped
bowl.  Mom and Dad tied!

Cereal Rings on a Straw

Using one hand and a mini straw trying to get as
many cereal rings on it and into the cup in one
minute.  Harder than it looks!

Mitten Race

Race to put on over-sized gloves, unwrap candy, chew
and grab a "bubble" packing square, place on chair
and then sit on it to pop it.

Snow Shovel Race

Using a plastic spoon and only one hand, "shovel" as
many "snowballs" (cotton ball) into bowls as you can
in one minute.

Roll and Draw a Love Bug

Roll one dice and draw a love bug.  Each number on the
dice indicates a body part to draw...legs, arms, nose, etc.

Candy on Pre-Printed Paper

How quickly can you match candy to pictures on the
paper?  Yeah for Hailey!  She's our winner!

Thanks for choosing Pizza for your Birthday dinner!
We LOVE Pizza!

Getting a little help blowing out the candles!

I'm also grateful for these first two little blooms on
my crocuses telling me that Spring can't be too
far away.

I truly have much to be grateful for on this Sunday.

Kids and Bloggers Can Make A Difference

I have been so touched by my daughter, grandchildren and 

their friends desire to help a family in their neighborhood 

with medical bills incurred when their baby son, Cru, arrived

6 weeks early and the father lost his job and insurance. 

Julie and my daughter Kerri have been friends since Jr.

High and I am good friends with Julie's Mom, thanks to

our girls getting us together.

During the first two weeks of February my daughter, her

sons and some friends set up a fund raising activity by

making and selling “band” bracelets, key chains, pencil 

toppers, etc. for a small donation of $5.00 for each item.  

We have all been overwhelmed by the generosity of family,

friends and bloggers who have responded.  I cannot 

thank my friend, Karen enough for posting about this on her 

blog and for the response that was received through her 

kindness.  Thank you so much, Karen!

 

There have been many tender moments as children have 

worked to earn their allowance and then dropped it off 

in little handmade envelopes, families who have donated 

jars of coins that they were using to save for family 

vacations, money received from a neighbor serving in 

Afghanistan who saw Kerri’s post and more.  Many donated 

who do not even know the family and do not live around here. 

My grandchildren and their friends have been blessed to be 

able to serve and do something for someone else.  It has truly 

made a difference in their lives.  They have learned lessons

that will stay with them throughout their lives.  They have 

loved using their rainbow looms to create simple little

bracelets as a way to say “thank you” to those who have so 

kindly encouraged them in their efforts.

My daughter posted on Facebook, Feb. 14, the above picture

 with this comment:  "Feeling the love.  Thanks to all those 

who have donated so far!  Together, your generous donations 

have raised, $1,292 in 14 days.  Let that be your Happy 

Valentine's Day!   THANK YOU!

The children have decided to keep this up until the end

of February. 

My daughter was also contacted by Amanda Grow

  http://studio5.ksl.com/index.php?nid=71&sid=28309718 

who has offered to do an ACT Strategy Workshop  and

Charity Benefit to help raise money March 1.

Needless to say, my heart is overflowing with thanksgiving

to each and everyone who has so kindly and generously

helped in any way.  "Thanks" just doesn't seem enough.

And, to my daughter, grandchildren, and their friends, I

want you to know how proud I am of you in your efforts

to bless the lives of your friends.  I know you are being

blessed.  Thanks, also, for the lessons I am being taught

by your kindness and selfless service.

Wishing You All A -----

It's That Time Again!

Valentine's is almost here and that means it is
time for Grandma's Valentine Party!  I love
getting together with my children and
grandchildren, playing games, eating, and just
having fun.

Tonight I've been on the computer (way too
long) searching for new games.  We love the
Minute to Win It type games.  And, I'm excited
to say I have found several new ones to add
to our old standby's that the kids never tire of.

This afternoon I made simple heart-shaped
envelopes out of card stock.  Attached stickers
and chocolate hearts to the outside. 

For the invitation I die cut a long string of paper
hearts, then wrote the information on each heart,
folded them and placed it inside the envelope.




I will hand deliver the invitations
Thursday.  Every time I think I will
discontinue the invitations
and just tell everyone when the
party will be, my grandchildren remind
me that it is tradition to receive
a invitation!  Makes me happy that they
look forward to receiving their very
own invitation.






Made this sweet little stitchery as a Valentine gift and
since it has been received, I can now share it.  The
pattern is from Michelle Ridgway

Well, my eyes are rather blurry from sitting at
the computer, so guess it's time to take a
break.

Gratitude Sunday!

"Gratitude Sunday is a time to slow down and remember those 
thankful moments that graced our week.”

I can't believe how fast this week raced by and here it is Sunday 
once again.  Time to reflect back on the week.

I have much to be grateful for this week:

Safety and protection as Jo Ann and I traveled to and from 
our class in Salt Lake.  I really don't enjoy driving in the traffic 
much any more, so I am always grateful when we make it to 
and back from our class without mishap.  

Tuesday was World Cancer Day.  A good reminder to me of 
how blessed I am to have had my life extended and how grateful 
I am for continuing research in an effort to overcome this 
dreaded disease that affects so many.  

Chili.  I love chili.  Wednesday was a cold and snowy day 
and coming home from work a big, warm bowl of chili 
sounded wonderful!   I quickly made a large recipe, ate some 
for lunch, and froze the rest.  When I was a young girl and 
my parents would go hunting in the fall, mother would always 
ask what I wanted her to leave for me to eat....and it was 
always chili.  I loved her chili and could eat it hot or cold.  
Still like it hot or cold today! 

New walking/running shoes.  Mine have seen better days
and really needed to be replaced.  There is a wonderful store
in Bountiful where we all go.  The man that owns the store
just looks at your feet, without shoes on, and can tell 
exactly what type of shoe you need.  He is always right on
and the fit is perfect.

We have been blessed to have the high pressure that has
been keeping storms from reaching us move out. We have
been blessed to have snow mid-week and rain yesterday and
today with snow in the mountains.  It has been an answer
to our prayers as we are hurting for snow pack so we can
have water this summer.

I'm grateful for the life of a great woman who passed away
this week.  She truly was an example to all of us in the way
she lived her life.  She was a good friend and will be missed.

 

New Project!

A year or two ago, I purchased a pattern and fabric to
make a Patriotic Flag wall hanging.   Every once
in a while, I pull it out, look at it, and then put it
back, thinking it's too much work, or that it is too
late in the year to get it done.

Today I decided it was time to get it out once again
and work on it.  The blocks are easy to do and I
quickly pieced seven.  There are nine different red
blocks pieced in three different fabrics, making a
total of 27 blocks.  They are about 6 1/2 inches
unfinished.

















I'm hoping that this is the year I will be able to
finish it.

Wear Purple Today

Today, February 4, is World Cancer Day.  It is a day to
wear purple as a color of cancer survival.  It is a day
when the entire world can unite together in the fight
against cancer.  You can read about it and the myths
and misconceptions here:  World Cancer Day

2014 marks the beginning of 8 years of being in
remission.  In 2006, I was diagnosed with Inflammatory
Breast Cancer and am and will always be grateful for
good doctors, advanced methods of treatments and
continuing research that will and have helped me and
others to have"another day" with our loved ones.

Gratitude Sunday

Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.

Throughout the week I've felt grateful for:

1.  That I have made it through another week....and my
how fast this week has flown by.


2.  That the days are getting longer and that it doesn't
get dark until almost 6:00 p.m. now.  I do not enjoy
the long winter evenings when it is dark by 5:00 p.m.

3.  For friends who have pitched in to help my son
with some painting and cleaning projects.  They have
really lightened his load and reduced his stress levels.


4.  That I was able to attend the temple with a friend
and enjoy lunch afterwards.

5.  Grateful that I found my Sunbonnet Sue patterns
that had been hidden away for over 10 years.

6.  Grateful that my grandson, Ian,

and I were able to spend an evening together...and
more importantly, that this was his idea.  We went
to dinner at the Dairy Queen, then bought ice cream
and took it home to share with his family.

7. A long distance phone call that lasted two hours
from a dear friend.  So very important to keep
in touch.

8.  Movie night and dinner with my daughter and her
family Friday.  The boys invited me to watch "Cloudy
with a Chance of  Meatballs" on their new big
screen TV.

9.  I am grateful that my grandsons and some of
their friends want to help a family in their
neighborhood by selling "bands."  Julie, the mother
of Cru, and Kerri, my daughter, have been friends
since Julie's family moved into our area many years
ago.  Stacie, Julie's Mom and I are dear friends.

"Hi Family and Friends

Ian and Kohler are participating in a fundraiser for 

some good friends of ours.  We'd love your support!  

Here's the information in case you didn't catch it on 

 Facebook:

Let’s “Band” Together and Bless the Miller Family!

Starting today (Feb. 1) through Feb. 14, donate $5 to the 

Miller family website (Miller Family) and one of these

 cute kids will create a rainbow loom wristband to say 

Thank You in return!  Donate $10, and they will send 

you two; Donate $15, and they will send three – and

 so on! 

Each one of these kiddos is hoping to make at least 

10 bands!  Help them reach their goal by blessing the 

Miller family with your generosity!  So please donate 

even anonymously) and then message Kerri Stuart and 

we will deliver your rainbow wristband – either by 

hand or by mail! (We’ll cover shipping!)  

100% of your donation will go to the Miller Family!!"

10.  That the sun is shining brightly in our bright blue 

sky and that the wind has cleared out the inversion. 

You can find out more about   Gratitude Sunday  here.

I'm So Excited!

As you know, I love anything with snowmen and
hearts, right?  But, did you know that I also LOVE
anything "Sunbonnet Sue?"

A couple of years ago, Little Quilts
 http://www.littlequilts.com/
offered a free December block which I enlarged and
stitched in redwork.  I kept hoping I could find
more blocks, but never seemed to find them.

Then when I was on Pinterest the other day, someone
had posted pictures of the monthly Sunbonnet Sue
Calendar blocks.  So, naturally I pinned them for
me.

Anyway, during the night I kept thinking of them
and felt impressed to go to my sewing room and
get out this little sewing trunk that I had stored
things in during the past.  As I thought about it,
I was pretty sure that I had some Sunbonnet Sue
patterns and books stored in it, but just couldn't
remember what exactly.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I lifted up
the lid and the first pattern I saw was the "December
Sue."  Oh my goodness!  I was sooooo excited
to see that underneath were more patterns.  I was
almost in tears as I thumbed through them.    I had
all twelve of these:

But, even more exciting was that I had written on
each pattern the colors I planned on using.
January and February were all stitched with
most of March completed.  Apparently, I
started stitching them in 2001.

Decided to place February's completed stitchery
in a frame so I could enjoy her for now.  I'm not
sure that I want to make a quilt as the above
pattern suggests.  May just stitch each one then
frame it or make it into a mini quilt.  But, for now,
I'm doing the happy dance!

And BTW. I completed my 12-inch mini quilt,
offered by our local quilt shop, on Friday.  The
pattern is from
http://buttermilkbasin.blogspot.com/

Not really sure if I like the one "more dark"
piece in the lighter fabrics, but when you
purchase a kit, you work with what you
get.  Also, I changed the "strawberry"
accessory to a heart and like it much better.
Seemed more appropriate for the February
quilt.  Glad it's done!