An afternoon ride into the clouds

Great-Grandma Hood's quilt

From the stitches you can tell some were by made by hand and some with her treadle sewing machine.

The colors and combinations are....well......
...not exactly pretty.
The pieces are remnants of previous sewing projects. Odds and ends joined together with fabric from flour sacks.
The quilt top has sat around for many, many years. After my grandmother passed away, I asked my aunt for one of Grandma Hood's quilt tops. I envisioned one of her beautiful Wedding Ring quilts or one of her Star of Bethlehem quilts. This quilt wasn't what I had in mind.

I brought it home, gave it a good cleaning and tucked it away. For some reason, I happened to think about it the other day. I thought that maybe it might look good on Adam's bed. I brought it out and looked at it with new appreciation.

For the past week it has been sitting on the back of my sofa. I've decided that it is perfect for my living room.

I smile every time I walk past it.

PS. I took the quilt to the local fabric shop today. I've decided to try and finish the quilt top. The lady at the shop said the cream fabric is feed sacks and the pink calico print (in the picture above) is from a flour sack... I just fell deeper in love with this quilt.

Knitting frenzy

The frenzy started innocently enough....just one hat.  I knitted it on the way to New Orleans over Thanksgiving break.

Then I decided to knit a hat for each of the boys. Finished those and decided I had enough yarn to make a hat for each of the twins. Realized I couldn't leave out Seth and Avery so I knitted two more hats. Before you knew it, everyone had a new hat for Christmas.

Back row: Clay is holding Cage, Zach, Avery is holding Colton.  Front row:  Seth & Adam - Christmas night at Granny & Papa's house.

Merry Christmas

The boys modeling their new knitted hats-Christmas morning 2009

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends

A family in need and two teenage boys who recognized that need

Someone asked if they knew of a family in need and they immediately stepped up to the plate. They went shopping, personally selected each item, and delivered them on Saturday.

More often than not, I'm fussing at them about their grades, homework, messy rooms, and dirty laundry.  I worry that they don't "get it."  ("It" being responsibility, maturity, and/or helping others...basically not being self-centered but Christ-centered)

Watching them carry their presents to the truck on Saturday reassured me that they are "getting it."  

An afternoon sewing project

A thrifted bolt of fabric becomes a new Christmas tree skirt. 

Sunday Thoughts....

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

2 Corinthians 9:15

Driver's License

Zach took his driving test this morning.  He passed.  He can now take himself back and forth from football practice and weight training (happy dance).  Also, I have about three months where driving to the grocery store to get a gallon of milk for your mom is still a novelty and not a chore.   Better take advantage of it while I can.....

December Snow

College applications

He's getting serious about applying to college.  SAT's, college essays, GPA's, extra-curricular activities are all topics heard around our house.  
As a teacher, I know these things are important (well.. not so much).  As a parent, I resent him being reduced to a test score or a grade point average.  
He's grown a lot this past year.  We are in new territory here.  He's on the verge of adulthood and we are going through the growing pains of learning how to parent an adult child.  It's not easy.  You constantly have to juggle when to let them be independent and when to step in and help/instruct.  It's hard to stand back and let them be independent. Really, really, hard...

Everyone relates a child leaving home to a baby bird flying away from the nest for the first time.  

I'm sure the momma bird feels a mixture of relief and fear.  Relief because the nest is getting too small.  The constant flying practices and feedings are wearing her out.   But then the time comes to take that first official flight and the second-guessing begins.  Is he ready?  What if (blank) happens?  Will he know what to do if (blank) happens?  Can he fend for himself? Maybe I should have spent more time working on (blank).

We watch the baby bird stretch its wings and we take it for granted that it will always turn out OK. 

It sounds so simple and easy.  Reality isn't so simple or easy when it's your nest and your baby bird.