Monday, May 30, 2011

Monday's Design Wall



These were Pineapple Blossoms from Bonnie Hunter, finished for the Block Lotto for May. Other than that, I'm working Second grade classroom projects, like averages, book projects, end of year awards, you know, that kinda stuff.

School is out June 17. SoOoOoo ready for summer, but so-o-o many things to do to close up the year. Ah, well... just wanted to say hi.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone ~


bpSignature2

Saturday, May 21, 2011

This Week ~



I've been wanting to post the roses Larry got for me the day before Mother's Day. They lasted through the next week! I took this picture on Sunday, May 15th (also being our anniversary).
I could tell a little story on Larry here. He's always been tenderhearted towards me on our anniversary. On our 20th, he upgraded my 1/4 ct. diamond solitaire to a 1 carat total wt., with the 2 side stones being 1/4 apiece and the center a 1/2. He's a sweet guy, extremely thoughtful, and a great listener.




I digress. Roses. I love flowers, I often give cut flowers or arrangements, but seldom do I allow the purchase for myself. I'd rather have a plant, or perennials to bloom in the yard. My thought is that they will hang around longer. Larry thinks garden flowers are not romantic. If our anniversary falls on a school day, he's likely to have flowers delivered to the school. (The ladies in the school office think he is the best...I agree of course.) One year, I saw the bill for the 25 roses he sent to me, and let me just say, they took him to the cleaners!! I talked to him about what that much money would have bought in real life (I know, about now some of you are saying how terrible I am), and reminded him that when he comes with me to get flowers we go to a flower mart, or Sam's Club, rarely to a florist. Shoot, that costly arrangement wasn't even in a special vase!

So, fast forward 10 years. These beautiful, long lasting blooms? He went and purchased them at Albertson's Grocery store. And they stood beautifully for almost 2 weeks, amazing. I love him. He doesn't give up on me, and we both continue to learn about each other.


Here are pictures of a few antique quilt tops that were shown in our quilt class. They had such interesting fabrics in them!








~ ~ Well, this is a hard share, you may not want to keep reading. . . I felt the need to write it out for myself. Forgive me for the indulgence. ~ ~

So, May 15th was a special day that I shared for many years with a teaching friend, Jacque Ryan. We worked together for 20 years, she taught in our school's individualized learning center. Our school has morning devotion meetings, and for about 12 years, I belonged in a small prayer group on Wednesday mornings with Jacque, bff Beth, teaching partners Donna Davis and Ginny Bakan, and our friend Ginni P. There was also a few others, but over the years we were the 6 that stayed constant. We'd pray, share little gifts on seasons, have "teas" usually done by Jacque. Her birthday was the same as my anniversary, so we'd share cards each year. She has many homemade items that I'd give to her, or sometimes she would purchase from me (as I had a craft business called "Pure Heart").

The last thing she got was a rag style quilt (similar to this one) that she commissioned from me. Hers had more red florals, and no yellow (she loved Victorian, roses, reds and pinks, but yellow was "just ugly", she said, lol).

Jacque arrived early to school every day, usually before 7 a.m. She made the coffee in the teacher's lounge. If I went to her classroom before school, I'd usually find her reading. Books of her choosing were Women's Devotional Bible, Victoria magazine, or garden books. Country Sampler sometimes, but her style wasn't as primm as my art was. She was a good teacher, I'd seek her advice on my students with learning difficulties.

I missed her when she left 2 years ago, it was abrupt, and we didn't have a proper party or goodbyes. I've spoken to her only 2 times in this time passing. Well, 3, if you count Thursday night's visit. I was told 10 minutes before school started Thursday morning that Jacque had cancer, and was in hospice. I told Ginny, she was able to visit Jacque, she was comatose. How hard it was to hear! Jacque had only been told on Mother's Day it was stage 4. I cried every time I wasn't in front of my kids that day. It was also the day that we had our school wide musical, so I was at school until after 9 pm. Ginny had said that she could be visited at any time . . . so I went. Her grandaughter and ggd's were there, her shift, I guess. I was so glad to visit with her and tell her of the times that we had prayed for them all. Jacque never stirred. I held her hand as I've done before, in prayer. This time, I didn't let go for the whole time I was with her. I was blessed by the opportunity to tell her gd of my love for her precious Grandmother. We shared a bit, I prayed with her and the oldest ggd. We hugged and I left. I was so glad to have stopped by.

Jacque went home to be with her Saviour that night. What if I had not gone? I didn't get to be with my Momma. I didn't get to go to Daddy. Some day, I hope to see them all.



We have four more weeks of school. It seems so long, even for California, but oh, well. I'm so ready for the summer. I'm closing with some photos of another antique quilt top that was shared, it's so cool, again with such tiny pieces and well done. I wonder if the creator had always planned to finish it...?






bpSignature2

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is." Jeremiah 17:7

Friday, May 13, 2011

Quilt Finishes




Just showing a few finishes. Seems like the quilts always get given away in a hurry, and I never show them bound.



This one was a simple 4 patch with a border and cornerstone sewn on only 2 sides, not all around.




For some reason, the men who see this one choose it as one of their recent favorites in the completion. That's cool, since it's going to Ginny's oldest grandson Weston, who will be 14. Funny how time passes, I remember when his momma was in 3rd grade...!



Can you see his name sewn into this one ?



The cowboy quilt was a hit with the girls at quilt class this last week.

Ginny was so cute holding it up, peeking over the top.






Remember the "neighborhood" exchange Beth and I participated in? This is my house, but not my quilt top!



One of my "neighbors" is working on her quilt, and she built a little park in the middle, love it!
Speaking of my friend Beth, and Jerry, we have shared anniversary dinners over the years, and went to our favorite fish restaurant, Market Broiler. Theirs is May 17th, and ours is May 15th. Tomorrow! We have been married for 35 years.
w.o.w.

Hope your weekend is going well, too!


bpSignature2

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Happy Mother's Day ~ in Flowers




This is the only creative thing I've done for a week:


this was my sample for the kids

For Mother's Day, the students painted a water color floral arrangement. Ginny inked in their artwork lines, and we put them into a black 8" by 10" art mat.


Wednesday was Teacher Appreciation Day, and I was blessed with this pink miniature rosebush, a bouquet of peach Gerbera daisies, and this sweet orchid.


Lydia's church had a beautiful Ladies Tea today, her pastor's wife and the women of the church had made the church gorgeous, with borrowed teapots, cups and dishes, tea cozies, everything!! It was over the top, and a blessing to attend.






The floral arrangements with the lilies came from there today, they sold them at the end and we were happy to purchase.




When we came home, Larry had these roses waiting for me on the counter.



It's a garden in the kitchen! I love the blooms everywhere. Tomorrow, I'll be directing the Ladies Choir in the morning service, we're praising the Lord with our "joyful noise"!
I'm hoping you all have a wonderful Happy Mother's Day!

bpSignature2