Mother's Day

My mom, Marcella Mae Pontious McNally was born in 1918.  Here she is in 1944.  Big smile, fancy hairdo of the times.   She looks like fun.  And she WAS fun!

My mom did so much for us as we were growing up.  The family finances were such that vacations were camping/fishing trips to the rivers, forests and mountains from CA to Yellowstone Park.  I'm certain she would have loved to have stayed at the resort....being served her meals instead of pumping up the Coleman gas stove and fixing us three squares a day.  She made life around the campsite fun.  We would go on scavenger hunt hikes, fish in streams, play with the worms (!), look at all the wildflowers and feed peanuts to the squirrels.  There are family pictures of myself and my two younger brothers...some in diapers.....those were cloth diaper days and our campsites boasted a family-sized canvas tent, a fire ring and a wooden table.  Down the road somewhere there was an outhouse and a cold water spigot.  Mom did the laundry, cooked the meals, tended to the diapers, bandaged up the scrapes, cleaned the fish AND had us bathe in the tent each evening before we went to bed.  And I think I rough it with a 30' trailer complete with microwave, air conditioning and a nice shower!

 

Mom was a whiz at cards. Pinochle, Gin Rummy, Bridge, Shanghai, Spite and Malice.  Oh, my, was she good at cards.  Here eyes would light up and she'd hear all the news, get you to bare your soul while she played cards.  She could to the Sunday New York Times Crossword puzzle in INK. She also loved jigsaw puzzles.

 

Mom was involved in our activities...Camp Fire, Little League, Room Mother, you name it...she participated.  She was a good cook.  Not a gourmand, but she cooked good, solid food well.  Growing up we loved her Tamale Pie, Chili-mac, Jello Poke Cake.  She made marshmallows!

 

She excelled at being a grandma....I learned so much from her in my life: how to live honestly, to be kind and a good friend to others, to serve those less fortunate.  How to be a good mother and wife.  I miss her each and every day.



 

In 1992 Bill and I began a tradition of yearly visits to Maui with my parents. We cherished those 2 weeks in Paradise with my folks.  Mom and I had so much fun visiting with each other, sharing family news, trips to the Farmer's Market to get whatever was fresh and cook it  up.  We'd eat on the lanai, on the beach, wherever.  Dad and Bill snorkeled and explored as guys will do.  They did do the barbecuing.  I think we were able to make 7 or 8 trips together. 

 

Mom---you enriched my life in so many ways.....I am who I am because of you and I hope I made you proud.

While the cat's away.....

The other night Liz and  I went to a "Ladies Night Out" craft fair and to Quilt Guild.  Sydney and Gampa had a fun night too.  They ate dinner at Sydney's favorite place (Sizzler) and when we came home this is what we found!  I guess when the Moms are away.....the accordions they will play.

Our Staff Retreat

I didn't realize that I hadn't posted the pictures of our staff retreat in April.  It was so much fun.  We rented a beach house in Brookings, OR, we closed the store and took our staff on a lovely quilting retreat.  Liz and I planned the meals, did the shopping, prepared little surprises and gifts. One night we all opted for ice cream from Dairy Queen instead of dinner....it was that kind of trip.  In no particular order here are some shots:



One night we made authentic Carnitas....and so there were Margaritas, complete with tiny umbrellas.

Kathi taught a zipper bag class....here she's conferring with Liz.



Kathi & Geri....does our staff love each other or what?

Several of the gals made matching flannel PJ bottoms....Scottie Dog Fabric, of course!

Laura taught everyone how to make Pico de Gallo!  I'll never buy it again...so good and so easy!

(L-R: Laura, Geri, Kathi, Katie, Liz)

Judy sewing away...our machines were smoking

 Geri and Katie were good students and finished their "Little Glam Bags" from Kathi's class.

Morning comes early when you stay up late watching movies!  Crystal & Laura.

 

I think Katie sums it all up, "What could be more fun!"

 

We all said many times, "Why don't we do this often?"  And why not?  We are a bunch of ladies who love to quilt, love to have fun & laugh, and genuinely like each other!

April: Where has it gone?

 Today is the last day of April and I wonder where the month has gone.  I was sick (I bet my family is tired of hearing me say that!)...a nasty virus that just held on and on and on.  I did get several quilting projects done though.  This one is from a pattern called Pandora by Whirligig Designs and made with a Stonehenge Jelly Roll and a few little extras.  I really like it...simple to make too.  The border fabric is part of Maywood's Serenity line of fabrics.  I'll be teaching a class on it next month.

 

Another fun thing this month was the wedding of two of my favorite people.  Dale and Tina Lloyd sure do know how to put on a fun (!)  wedding.  Tina danced down the aisle in her lace dress and red boots and hat!  We were told that no one needed give this bride and groom advise on marriage....between the two of them they had 92 years marriage experience.  Lovely to find love again in the golden age of life. Can't tell you how much we love them.  Thanks Dale and Tina for sharing your special day with us.

 

I heard that Patty has received my doll quilt for our Monthly Doll Quilt Swap for the month of April, so I can show the whole quilt now.  We both love Civil War fabrics and went to town for each other.  I have no idea why this photo sets sideways....I've told Blogger several times to turn it.  But you get the idea.  I had fun making it and I hope she likes it. You can pop over to the Doll Quilt site and see her much better photo of the quilt.

The store has been hopping the past few days and yet I've still gotten a few things done.  I made a bag last week. I'm going to teach a series of Bag Lady classes....a new bag each month.  Also I've started a baby quilt...new grandson coming this summer.  When it's done I'll post a pic.  Off to fix dinner, Mr. Scottie Dog is on his way home.

My Monthly Doll Quilt Swap

 A few months back I began to participate in the Monthly Doll Quilt Swap.  You can connect with them using the Button on the Sidebar of my blog.  I've had so much fun.  Of course it's really nice to receive a quilt you didn't make (and I've received some really neat quilts!) but it has been fun to create a quilt for someone else....someone you haven't known and to spend a bit of time getting to know them.

Last month I got to know Karen and I decided to fore go the suggested theme of "animals" and go with SPRING.  I had an idea for a daffodil quilt and was quite pleased at how it went together.  Here is a pic Karen just sent to me of the little quilt with her own vase of daffies and a pic of her grands.  Looks pretty good, I think in its home.

This month Patty and I were teamed up and since we both like Civil War Reproduction fabrics we went with that as a theme.  This blue bordered quilt was made by Patty and sent to me.  Isn't it wonderful?  I love the fabrics and the little baskets of poseys.  I shall treasure it.

Patty hasn't yet received my quilt yet (it's in the mail.....!) and I'll post a full photo when she receives it.  But here is a tiny sneek peak.

I'm taking a break for the month of May (super busy for me), but I'll be back in June.  I enjoy the making, sending and receiving of these gems.

Sewing Day in Ferndale

Today I went to the little Victorian Village of Ferndale for "Pieceful Days."  This is a wonderful quilting/sewing retreat held monthly by my dear friends, Weezie and Angela.  They are a great Mother/Daughter team and remind me of Liz & me.  I was picked up by my friend Geri....she had a blended Chai drink for me waiting in the car.  What a great girl friend.  The drive to Ferndale takes about 20 minutes. Once you cross Fernbridge over the Eel River the landscape turns to dairy lands....cows and lush green grazing lands.  Down the road is Main Street full of colorful Victorian storefronts.

 

Mostly I worked on a quilt I'm making for Shiloh.  I'm using a Row by Row pattern I found here.  It's from Bee In My Bonnet Blog.  Just click on the sidebar button on her page that says, "Bee In My Bonnet Row A Thon."  There are many more rows that I may or may not use.  I adapted the house row with the addition of Shiloh's name in wonky letters and the little trees.  The bottom row of "Asterisk" blocks is my addition too.  I also made a row of mugs/cups today.

 

 

See the great portable design wall my blocks are on?  I know, it looks just like a piece of gray flannel.  But it's really quite slick the way it just pops together to hold my blocks on.  I've wanted one for a long time and now we sell them in the store...great, huh?

 

Judy and I walked to the quaint Ferndale Grocery for a deli sandwich at noon....mine was so big and wonderful I could only eat half....which meant I had dinner too! About 7:30 it was back to the grocery for ice cream bars!  Some of the gals walked to some of the restaurants for lunch and dinner....me, I was there to sew!

 

This next photo is just a sneak peek at the little doll quilt I made for my my partner in the monthly Doll Quilt Swap.  When I know she has received it, I'll show you the whole thing.

So that's it....a day in the life.  Sewing from 9 am until 10 pm.  A dream of a day.!!!