8 posts tagged “family”

I have been very poor again at keeping up with posting here.... The past weeks have been filled with preparing for and vending at a quilt show, preparing a lecture for another guild, gathering  items to deliver for a sale, and more. I am also preparing to head back to  Fillmore, NY the end of this week to spend a few weeks with my grandmother. My parents Really need a vacation, so I will be staying with her while they are gone. And to add even more excitement.... Our son Zack who has been deployed in Iraq popped in unexpectedly last night on a 2 week leave!!

Zack

I have also been trying to add little bits here and there to my Facebook Fan Page. Follow the link to become one of my fans!

I will probably be MIA from the web a lot while at my gram's.... there is only very slow dial-up service there unless I go to my brother's house. I will be taking all my items listed for sale in my shops along with my shipping supplies so that I can fill any orders that come in while there.... It's really hard to teach Ken how to do that, and my storage units are portable.... Printing mailing labels online makes shipping packages so easy from anywhere....

Here are a couple photos from my gardens a few days ago....   The trees still have leaves, and a lot are still green....

October 16 Snow 5

October 16 Snow 3

Here it is the final day of August, and I am wondering where it went.... The month was full of visits from various family members, and here is a quick look back. My last post was written while my stepdaughter was visiting.... the day she left, we left for my sister's house and my family reunion. The reunion just happened to hit my birthday, so my sisters surprised me with a beautiful cake. The candle lighting didn't work with the outdoor breezes which was probably a good thing.... there are getting to be too many candles!

Reunion 5

Marriott Reunion 2009

Back home, I spent the next week weeding flower beds and cleaning and organizing the construction zone we are still living in so that our son had a place to stay while he visited for a week. The bathroom remodel got done enough so that we could use it again and move back to the bedroom temporarily. There is still much more needing to be done.

Nick on Bike

Here is a photo of Nick on his Motorcycle. This mom worries about him driving it, but I guess driving anything is not always safe. We had a nice visit with him, it was nice that he was home on vacation without things he HAD to do.

Watkins Glen Falls 01

The day Nick headed back to Georgia, we left home again. This time to New Jersey to see our granddaughter, Eva perform in a musical not far from Atlantic City. Thanks to busy traffic and an accident, we missed a few minutes of the performance, but saw most of it. The next day, we brought both granddaughters home with us for a week long visit. They live in a city, so staying with us in a rural area was an experience. I guess there aren't as many bugs at home. One day they were here, we took another local Vacation Day. We traveled just over an hour away to Watkins Glen, NY. I have traveled through the town many times, but had never stopped to check out the beautiful gorges and waterfalls.

Watkins Glen Falls 1

There are trails that take you hiking along the edge of gorges to see many waterfalls, and even places where you walk under them, too. The brochure says there are 800 steps in all the trails.... that's a lot of step climbing!

Watkins Glen 2

There are also a few tunnels where you walk right through some really rocky areas. Most of the walkways are like this one above, with natural or man made stone walls and walkways.

Watkins Glen Falls 3

This photo shows some waterfalls with deep pools cut out of the rock. The trail follows along right under the water you can see falling in the distance. Many areas of the trails were wet from water weeping out of the rocky walls. The weather was perfect for trekking up these trails with many steps... not too cool, or too hot.

Watkins Glen Falls 4

Here is a view of the falls that were in the distance in the previous photo. The gorges have been cut very deep and the walls are very steep.

Watkins Glen 5

A view of another part of the trail with little waterfalls flowing beside it. As you can see, there were a number of other people enjoying the sights that day, too. It wasn't too crowded, so we could take our time taking photos and occasional rest breaks.

Watkins Glen Parking Lot

When we got to the end of the most scenic falls, we took another trail that went trough the woods high above the trails we climbed up on. I did amazingly well walking the steps, probably because we took our time going up, resting often. Most of the way down was much faster with 2 pre-teen girls and a husband who seemed to run on the trail with no steps...

Watkins Glen View from Top

This photo shows a trail below we had already traveled. The water is realy a long way down from here! My fibro decided that quick walking downhill was not a good thing.... Then we arrived at the steps we had to take to get all the way down to the parking lot.... (for anyone who only wants to go up and not back, there is a shuttle available at each end of the park to take you back...)

Long Way Down

This view made the trip down those last steps look very daunting. The girls are way ahead of Ken who is way ahead of me in this photo.

Fern in steps

Little treasures like this fer growing in a crack along the steps. These little guys had to be pretty hardy to survive here.

Eva on Stairs at Watkins

This is Eva posing on a set of steps.... this was not too far from the beginning.

Watkins Glen Gift shop building detail

The gorges and falls weren't the only interesting things to look at.... This painted stone and brickwork is on the gift shop building at the South entrance of the park. I loved the colors and patterns....

Eva, Maia at Corning

After our trek through the park at Watkins Glen, we drove on to Corning, NY and the Corning Museum of Glass. Here are Eva and Maia applying tape to glass pieces that were sandblasted to leave designs on the glass. I also gave flamework a try by making a bead. I have trouble doing more than one thing at once, so it was a bit tricky, but I loved the experience. I love glass, and would love to play with it more in the future... The exhibits there were fantastic, too. Lots to see and do.... It made for a very long, but enjoyable vacation day. We are very lucky to live in an area with so many beautiful places to visit not too far away.

Fungus

A couple more Flora photos.... Above is an interesting fungus that was growing in a yard near where our granddaughters live.

Datura

My Datura flowers have been hard to photograph this year with all the rain storms. Most of the flowers have been flattened onto the ground by rain. Here is one that didn't get rained on.

Maia and Eva's Quilts

Here are Eva and Maia with art quilts I helped them make using photos of them with friends. They chose the photos, fabrics, yarns, etc. and I helped with some construction. They even did pretty well with the rotary cutter. Maia created a collage of photos for hers. She was really good at using the photo program to arrange the collage.

Bee Hole

Now things are pretty quiet around here with no one visiting.... except for the local wildlife..... We were finding bees flying around our livingroom for a few days, and finally noticed the little hole in my office ceiling (in the center of the brown spot). There was a huge nest of them between the ceiling drywall and the roof between the rafters. Another nest was above the ceiling in my studio, but they didn't come through to the inside. Hopefully they won't return....

In my last post I was attempting to find a way to overcome a creative block that has been bothering me for too long. A lot has happened in the past couple weeks that has really made me think about life in general, and start looking through old family photos.

Very early on Sunday morning March 15, 2009 my stepson, Tad Bagley who lived in Port St Lucie FL was killed in a car accident on his 44th birthday. The call I received was a total shock... notifying his brothers was even harder, especially with one in Iraq. Thankfully his wife Bonnie, who was injured in the crash, had non life threatening injuries and was released from the hospital after several days... very sore, but alive. My husband, Ken was to spend a week with Tad and Bonnie in FL while I was at a fiber artists retreat. Instead we were attending his funeral here in PA.... Tad loved the mountains up here.

A tragedy like this makes you think a lot.... Here are some photos and thoughts about the first "kid" to ever call me Mom. Tad was 18 when I married his dad, and called me Mom during a dance together at the reception. It felt odd having someone only 4 yrs younger than me calling me mom, but was great to feel accepted.

Tad's Wedding W Marla, Ken, Sue

Tad, Ken, Aaron, Zack 1987

Here Zack is a pretty new baby, with Aaron not quite 2.

Tad & Aaron 1987

Tad sharing his shades with Aaron on his little bike. In later years, Tad would impress his little brothers with his motorcycles.

Boys W IJ Stunt Guys

This photo doesn't have Tad in it, but would not have been possible without him. He worked first as a stunt man for Disney World, then after injuring his knee worked with sets and lighting. He saved up his passes and made it possible for his  little brothers to visit. The first thing we did was to visit the Indiana Jones stunt show he worked on and the boys got to go behind the scenes after to meet the stuntmen they watched.

Ken & Boys Fishing

 

We did more than just visit Disney on that trip to FL. Here Ken, Aaron and Zack are fishing in a canal Tad took us to. It was a  fun afternoon for my guys with their big brother.

Zack & Tad w Fish

Here is one of the "big" catches of the day.

Nick & Tad W Fish

Somehow, Nick always seemed to catch the bigger fish. He still loves to fish anywhere he can. During that trip, Tad also took us on a canoe trip on a river where we saw an alligator, and Nick was scared the canoe would tip over.

5 Kids

Here is a family photo taken 6 years ago, at our son Aaron's wedding reception. From left to right- Zack, Nick, Marla, Aaron, Tad.

Family Group 2003- 1

This is the whole gang... almost. Missing was our granddaughter, Ally and Tad's wife Bonnie. Aaron's wife is by him, The tall guy beside Tad in the back is our grandson, Derek. He is 9 months older than our Nick. Marla is with her then husband, Eric, and their two little girls, Eva and Maia are in front.

Ally, Eva, Maia 3-2008

Here are the 3 granddaughters together a year ago. From L-R- Maia, Ally, Eva. The two little ones really have grown up!

Aaron, Zack, Nick 0309

This is a photo I never expected to be able to take for a long time.... my 3 guys together for the funeral in their uniforms. The military was so great, helping to get Nick and especially Zack home.

Family Pic 0309

Here is our little family group with baby Jenna added. After looking through old photos, I realize many that I wish I had taken in the past. It makes me think more about getting photos of family every chance I can. I also need to begin organizing those photos better so I can find them. I have only looked through about half of what is packed into a couple file drawers. 

The past weeks have made my creative block seem a pretty small thing in life. I need to continue to be thankful for all I have- My husband and my family, especially. Eventually, I will be able to create again..... The mountains here in PA that Tad always loved, seem to be calling.....

Happily, I have been stitching for the past week! I haven't done too much that is very artsy, but have been playing  with those scraps and strips I cleared out of my cubbies and other places.

Now to the running part..... I am leaving for Western NY to stay with my 95 yo grandmother for a week or so. She is coming home from the rehab center where she has spent 3 weeks, after a week in hospital after nearly dying from hypothermia after a fall. She spent a very cold  night in an unheated porch, and came through very well. I am looking forward to having the extra time to spend with her. We are not sure how much help she will need... She has been really independent, and still has her own home.

Whew!! Were did the past 3 weeks go???? Christmas with it's visits and cooking and everything else passed sooo fast, and now we are over a week into the new year!

I had a post started where I was going to give you the recipes for some of  my "must makes" foe every Christmas. Life happened, and all I did was get some photos posted. For anyone who may have popped by and found some odd photos, here is what they go to, even though the holidays are over, these treats are great any time, especially in the winter. Here is the recipe for my popcorn, this would be great packed in a pretty tin for Valentine's Day.

Popcorn Pan

I ALWAYS have to make  my Molasses Popcorn-- My Dad's favorite each year. I try to disguise it by packaging it and wrapping it differently each year- He usually guesses, but some years he gets it open without knowing :) The first photo shows one of my roaster pans full.
The popcorn is coated with a mixture of brown sugar, molasses, butter, and more. When I make this, I don't always keep strictly to the measurements listed, and will add extra molasses and corn syrup, and use more popcorn. With some playing, you may find you want more heavily coated popcorn. The recipe is for my large batch- You may only want to do half to start. 

Sue's Molasses Popcorn Recipe:

10 quarts of plain air popped popcorn- no salt or butter
1 cup butter
1 cup molasses- regular (if the dark or "robust" is used the end result is darker, but still good)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 Tablespoons cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 teaspoon baking soda
2-4 cups Peanuts or other nuts (optional- see notes below)

You will need 2 large foil roasting pans. I spray these lightly with cooking spray.
Preheat oven to 250 F.  Pop corn, and place half in each of the roasting pans (I use more popcorn sometimes, too).
Sprinkle nuts over the popcorn in one or both  pans- 2 cups or more in each. Plain peanuts or mixed nuts- whatever you like best, more if you really like nuts. I don't like nuts, so I only put nuts in one pan and leave one without.
Place butter, brown sugar, molasses, corn syrup, vinegar, and cream of tarter in a 5 quart or larger heavy bottom pan. I usually use a bit extra of the molasses and corn syrup, depending on the day- Place over high heat and stir with a heavy wooden spoon until butter is melted and sugar dissolves. Place a candy thermometer in the mixture, and allow it to boil rapidly until it comes to 250 F. Remove pan from heat.(The temperature will rise some after taking pan off heat) Add the baking soda and stir rapidly until well mixed and foaming.
Carefully pour half of the mixture over each pan of popcorn, gently stir to coat popcorn with candy mixture. Do this quickly, and Be Careful of the hot mixture, it can burn your hands.

Popcorn in Oven

Place both pans in preheated oven. The photo above shows both pans in my oven- a tight fit- they will fit better in a newer full size oven. Heat in the oven stirring occasionally until the candy coating the popcorn hardens to a crispy texture when cooled. I usually stir after the first 20 minutes, and again 15-30 min after that. Stirring will help to evenly coat the popcorn, and will separate the kernels. After an hour or so, place a few pieces in a small bowl to cool.

Popcorn Closeup

The popcorn is done when it is no longer sticky when cool. (Yes, you will have to sample this as it is made- I eat way too much when I make it- done when it doesn't stick to your teeth) When your sample pieces are at that stage, remove one pan at a time from the oven, stirring constantly, breaking up and separating the kernels from each other. Once cool they will no longer stick together. Allow to cool completely and store in airtight plastic bags or containers. I line tins with plastic bags. This will keep for a long time if not eaten right away, but it doesn't last too long around here. The closeup photo shows how it should look when done.

I will share my recipes for my hot fudge sauce and sugar cookies in another post. Both are great any time of year.

And now the family photos:

Family 2

These photos were taken at our first Christmas gathering at my step-daughter, Marla's house. We were missing only one son, Nick who had to work on Christmas and was still in GA, and our oldest granddaughter, Ally.
From L-R: Maia, Me, Ken, Marla, Derek, Zack, Aaron holding Jenna. In  front- Jackie, Eva and Andrue. Derek, Maia, Eva, and Ally are Marla's kids(Marla is only 5 yrs younger than me). It is pretty odd seeing a grandson taller than my sons (Zack was slouching, too). Derek is between my 2 youngest in age. Our Daughter-in-law, Jonelle took this photo.

The Guys 1

To those who thought I may have dropped off the face of the earth.... I really think I did!!! It has been over 2 months since my last post. I didn't even have time to keep up with much of my email or anything.

Since last checking in, I finally have found life outside the greenhouses and much prefer to keep things that way.  So much for part time..... The job did help me get the money to attend QSDS a few weeks ago, and QBL next month. The month of May and first part of June were filled with just about every day at the greenhouses. Thankfully, the worst is over, and I am hoping that more of the flowers and plants will still sell there. It was super stressful, making all the purchasing decisions for someone else. Also scary was being the only one who knew what needed to be done. Good thing for fast learners, I still have a bit of teaching to do before working out of that job, but next year, I will not "live" in a greenhouse again.

Mountain Laurel 1

This is a photo of Mountain Laurel flowers I found blooming along our road. They were just opening their flowers before I left for Ohio, and a few were still left when I got back. These didn't escape the hail, but mostly just battered leaves.

QSDS- the Quilt Surface Design Symposium, was held in Columbus, Ohio. I earned a scholarship that paid for a 1 week class that I took with Rosalie Dace from South Africa. I really enjoyed my time in the class. We were encouraged to go in our own directions, trying new techniques in our work to add textures. It was great fondling the many fabrics and fibers everyone brought and that were available for purchase. The only thing I would do differently next time, would be to rest up more before going.

To be sure Ken had the least extra work while I was gone, I spent every daylight hour for over a week before leaving, planting all my new treasures acquired from the greenhouses. OK, really bad for me to work there- too many neat, fun plants I want to take home. On top of being tired from gardening, my plan of arriving in Columbus early, checking in at the hotel, and napping before things began, changed due to a bit of car trouble 90 miles from Columbus. Don't you just love it when you are tooling down a 6 lane highway at 65 MPH in traffic, and the car decides to die!! Roll off the road, check vital fluids, will it start again?? It restarted, but died again many times before finally getting the last 40 miles to the hotel in 1 run. So much for the nap..... At least it was "just" a fuel pump problem- not the first time for this car- formerly our son's. When I called him about it- he just said "pull over, let it cool a bit, start again, go until it dies again" and repeat until my destination. 20 year old VW Jetta- needs some work... or replacing....

On The Way To QSDS

This is what it looked like as I was ready to leave from home. The cooler was bungied to keep it from falling into my lap around corners. the trunk was full as well. You need a lot of stuff for a week of quilting. I also had a bunch of stuff to drop off at my sister's house on the way, for a garage sale she was having, so not all went all the way to Ohio. Amazing what that thing will hold.

Oenothera Siskyou w Sky 4

This was taken at a rest area in Ohio on the way to Columbus. I always carry my camera in my purse for just these occasions. The rest areas have some pretty impressive gardens. My travel day was very nice, sunny and a bit hot, but OK with the windows down. Yea, no AC.

My QSDS Wall

My great accomplishments at QSDS. I really felt discouraged the first couple of days. I was too tired to begin with, and my fibro was trying to flare up. For some reason unknown to me, I began to work with fabrics I consider to be muddy and not so pretty. I guess I had the pictures of the Mountain Laurel on my mind. The plants looked like there were barely hanging on to the rocky, vertical roadside. The road we live on was widened to 2 lanes many years ago, and like many PA roads, is cut into the side of a mountain. I ended up with the top left rocky piece first. A little piece trimmed from that is what inspired the piece on the right with the sunflower photo in it. You never know what you will need at one of these things, so I packed everything I could think of to fit in, and had a selection of photos printed onto fabric with me. This was perfect. I added rocky looking beads, mossy yarns, and stitching to the piece, and as soon as I get a canvas covered with the fabric it is displayed on, I will have a completed piece. I'll get a better picture later. The lower piece began on the next to last evening. I actually had the energy to stay and play late one night, and this piece got well on it's way. I found the fabric for the sky and middle green piece at one of the vendors there. OK, I didn't have "Everything" I needed. We learned to look at our fabrics in different ways, and to consider different types of fabrics to add texture and interest to our work. I came home very tired, but very happy to have had the chance to spend time with a great teacher and great classmates.

Upon my return home, I was discouraged to see that a severe hailstorm had shredded much of what was in my gardens. My front planters looked like someone's little kid took off all the leaves and mashed the flowers.

Hosta before Hail

This was a photo of a Hosta and a spirea flower I took before my trip.

Hosta Devastation 2

The next photo shows the same Hosta plant after I got home. The leaves were in ribbons. Amazingly, the flower stalks are now starting to rise up out of the mess, so I will have flowers at least. Not sure if there will be many new leaves or not.

After the Hail 2

The square planter was quite full of flowers and foliage when I left. Only one lonely Pansy flower looked very good.

Deck Planters

At least my deck planters were under a roof, and still were OK. I have some good looking plants at least.

The great thing about coming home, was that my son and his family were home from North Dakota. I have a new baby granddaughter!!! She was 5 weeks old when I first saw her and took these photos.

Jennavive Ayron 5 wks in Cow Dress

Andrue and Jennavive 1

Here are photos I took the first day home.  My sister gave me the dress we have her in. My mom made it for one of my niece's baby dolls. My sister thought I would like to have the outfit for Jenna to use for a future baby doll. She was so tiny, we tried it on, and it fit!! Her brother is 4 1/2 yrs old, and loves his baby sister. It will be even better, now that they will be in PA instead of ND.

After the Hail Rhubarb

This is what Rhubarb looks like after a hail storm. They have new leaves, now. Fast growers!!

After the Hail Lilies Reblooming

My lilies look battered, but had some flowers opening. the plants look ragged, but the flowers only have a dent or 2 in them.


I guess this gets you caught up with me. I plan to get back into regular posting again, along with re-starting my web stores, and maybe even being able to get my website updated. It's hard with my tech support in Texas on an Army base. Maybe he can figure out how to teach me long distance what I need to know.

I am finally getting back to my blog. With making wreaths, and then cleaning house for Christmas, the past month has flown. It's hard to believe Christmas has come and gone, and a new year will be beginning within hours.

With our income, there is not much shopping done for Christmas. I had one thing I wanted, and I got it. I wanted to have my 3 sons together with my parents and grandmother. I wanted to get pictures of them in their uniforms, also. By Christmas morning, all 3 were in the area, and one uniform bag had finally arrived a day after my oldest son, at the Ithaca airport. After Aaron drove to Ithaca, and then to my sister's house near Rochester, all was good.

Here are some of the photos I took. I had to do a lot of photo fixing, due to some water spots I didn't notice until printing out a couple of the photos. My lens got a bit water spotted during the ice photo shoot. The spots aren't noticeable in  my landscape-type photos, but the uniforms really showed me the problem.

Guys 2007 1

1 comment

Well, here is the first of many that I and my sisters took. The poor guys were seeing a lot of spots. I am also very thankful for my digital camera. I took over 100 photos on Christmas day.

From left to right- Aaron, Zachary, Nicholas

Guys 2007 2

It is a little easier to get them to all behave for photos now, but hard to get good smiles.

Guys with Andrue 2

In the middle of this one is Andrue, Aaron's son, and my first flesh and blood grandson (we have 4 more grandkids, my stepdaughter's kids in NJ). He is really hard to photograph because he is always saying cheese and making goofy faces if he sees a camera.

Guys with Andrue 3

As I got ready to shoot this photo, Andrue jumped up on the hearth to join in. The 2 Air Force guys were kidding their Army brother that their hats were better than his. I just think they all look so great in uniform.

Guys with Gram

My guys with my grandmother, on my dad's side.
Nick with his stern, no nonsense military look. My grandmother will be 94 in a month, and still lives on her own in her house across the road from my parents.

Guys with Mom and Dad 1

The guys with Mom and Dad and Andrue. I really like this one, Andrue is so interested in the book Mom is reading to him that he doesn't realize I am taking the photo.

Zack, Kids and Cootie

I think it is great that the old games we played as kids are popular again. Cootie entertains all ages.









This is enough bragging for one day. I will post soon, showing what I am doing now. It's really dangerous going to a Michael's store with a friend. We ended up spending 2 hours there, and I found a simple paper making kit. It's fun to see what happens when you grind up paper that would have been thrown away, and turn it into new paper. I've been adding all kinds of fun things such as glitter, fabric pieces and scraps, threads, flower shreds, and more. A couple pieces will be perfect for a FFFC piece.

Well, It's official, We have now been Empty Nesters for a week. Last of 3 sons now in the military. Zack is in the early stages of basic training in the Army, while his younger brother, Nick is enjoying the Air Force more now that he is out of Basic, and beginning training.

I finally finished a quilt for the "Remember Me" Quiltart challenge. We were to make a quilt depicting what we thought others would remember us for, or how we want to be remembered.

I thought this would be an easy project, I have my degree in horticulture, and my life has centered around flowers, plants, gardens and my quilting and fabric painting and sunprinting. My initial idea was to include many flowers, sunprints of leaves and flowers, and use my favorite colors- pink and blue, with a bit of green.

While beginning, I began thinking about my life, and thought it would be neat to include a picture or 2 of our greenhouse business. It was that business that brought me to Towanda, PA in the first place- My first job out of college. I had worked in or owned greenhouses for 25 years before in different businesses, including the past 8 years back where I began as an owner with my husband. The greenhouse has had a lot to do with who I am and what I have done in life.

Well, you know how things go....... While looking for greenhouse photos, I found some family photos, and decided that family also has had a lot to do with who I am. I ended up filling up a whole page of small photos that I printed onto fabric to include.

Remember Me 2

Here is one greenhouse photo included- a shot of the front of the main retail house as seen from the parking lot, in full bloom with hanging baskets. Sunprints of flowers and a hummingbird accented with crystals are also shown here. The beading arount the photo is done with various glass beads in cobalt blue and shades of pink. I love cobalt blue glass.

Remember Me 3

Across the top is a group of photos including one of a planter of flowers that was in a greenhouse that has since collapsed. The center is my parents, enjoying my grandson during s visit to our house. They don't get to see Andrue much, as he lives in ND with with our oldest son. The right is my grandmother, who is 93 years old. I grew up in rural western NY, on a dairy farm with my grandparents living across the road. Grandma has been the typical "cookie baking Grandma" You can still find cookies and brownies when you visit.

Remember Me 6

Down the left side are My Guys. Top- husband Ken, oldest son Aaron, grandson Andrue. Next- middle son, Zack at his HS graduation. 3rd photo Ken, youngest son Nick, and me at Nick's HS graduation.

Remember Me 7

Finishing the left row, Andrue again, with his mom and Aaron's wife Jonelle. Below them, the first granddog- Kenai, a long haired Dachsund. I am missing the newest addition the my son's family- Bear, a beautiful white granddog.

Remember Me 5

The right side of the quilt has photos of the other set of grandkids. My step-daughter is only 5 yrs younger than me, and we were having babies at just about the same time. Top photo is my youngest Nick with oldest grandson Derek, who is 9 mos. older than his uncle, with Ken at Derek's 18th birthday party. I was a REAL young grandma the first time! Next in this row, oldest granddaughter Allie, with her sister Maia. Following that is a photo of Zack a bit younger, with Maia again, and youngest granddaughter of this group Eva. We don't get to see this group of grands too much, as they live in NJ.

Remember Me 8

This is a photo I try to take any time we can get this group together. 5 generations. Aaron with Andrue, Me, my Grandma, and my Dad. My grandfather died when Aaron was 6 mos. old, and I never got a photo of them together, so I try to get a photo with Gram and the guys any time I can.

My Favorite Things

The whole quilt- 24"x36 1/2" in size. I quilted around the photos with my favorite pastel variegated thread. The vine design has become one of my "signature" designs- I began in HS by doodling vines and flowers on my papers. I love Delphiniums, and Iris, so have added them. The sunprints are of some more favorites- I guess any flowers are my favorites. There are a few commercial fabrics included- 3 Hoffman hand dyes, and an Asian influenced floral. The ivy leaves are from a "silk" bush, I removed them from the plastic stems, and quilted them over the couched yarn vine.
I guess in a nutshell, these are most of my favorite things and people, in one quilt.

Below are a few small pieces I made to sell at upcoming shows

Green Grouping

The largest is 11"x14", the others 5x7" and 8x10". I randomly arranged sunprints with the green Hoffman hand dye I purchased many years ago, and had never found a use for. It coordinated well with the sunprints done in blue and green.


The bottom left fern piece is now displayed over a pale green covered 11" x14" stretched canvas.

Small Green Ferns