The Case of the Disappearing 9 Patch

First meeting of Love Apple Quilters in January I handed in my membership application and was set for jumping headlong into - image that - quilting.
Disappointed to find the speaker was to be a woman selling beads.
However, once the mind-cobwebbingly long dissertation on "Beads" was done, show and tell was something else again.  Some wonderful offerings - among which were some quilts having been done in the "Disappearing 9 Patch" method.
I'd never heard of it, and the ladies did not share any information, so the next day I looked it up on line.
It looked intriguing and fairly easy, so I gave it a try.

Start out with 9 squares - in this case 5" ones - tho I cannot see any reason why they couldn't be any size you choose.

Sew them together into a 9 patch.

Slice the 9 patch down the middle.

Then slice the two halves across the middle.  And flip each quarter into a different direction - supposedly so that no seams adjoin - I wasn't able to get that exactly right.

And this is what you get - lots of little pieces - looking quite complicated - without any of the tedious work!
I love it!
How about you?
I'll be machine quilting this little quilt (shh it's to be a baby gift) and will post that picture when it's done.

People Say the Darndest Things!

They really do!  Today during my walk, I came up behind two men walking their dog.  As I neared them we saw an ambulance coming past us.  As it turned, one man turned to the other and said, "hmm, wonder if it's going the the ass-hole's house?"  (sorry for the actual words, but you need to know the impact it had upon me.  the overwhelming sympathy and compassion.)
Later in the day we went to Ponzio's Diner for lunch.  I ordered a cup of soup and a small house salad.
What was delivered was a cup of soup and a gargantuan salad - just a head or so of ice berg, a couple of sad tomato wedges, one hard boiled egg cut in half and three olives.
I said, "I can't eat all that!  I ordered a small house salad."
Server said, "yes, you did, but I decided to bring you this."
I finally decided, ok, I'll keep it, bring me a box, I'll take 3/4 of it home.
Bill came.
Full dinner salad price.
I hope I never ask her for a band aid.  She'll decide I need a hysterectomy!

Half a Century!

I guess I've probably said before, I was in nursing school in 1961-62 and quite intent upon graduating and becoming a missionary nurse.  I was a Methodist - at a Methodist Hospital school.  I was pretty sure that my future was laid out just right.
And then my "big sister" - an upper class man, came to me with her plight.  She had made arrangements for a double date to see the Ice Follies and the other couple were no longer a couple.  Would I fill in?
No.
My simple answer.
Not interested in dating.  Gotta keep my eye on the goal.
Bottom line....
I finally agreed.
The only way the day worked was for most of the girls on my floor to combine their various wardrobes to come up with two outfits suitable....one for the ice skating start of the day...the other for the evening Ice Follies show.
And the Nursing Supervisor, upon finding out I was asked to the Follies, gave me extended leave time.  She was excited for me to have this experience.
So off we went.
He mumbled!  And to make matters worse, he talked "Philly".  I'm not sure how to explain, but I understood only about 1/2 of what he was saying the entire day.  He seemed quite a nice chap, so I would nod and smile and hope for the best.
The day - exactly 50 years ago today - was lovely.  I think we all had a great time.  When they dropped me off that evening, he promised to call.
He didn't - not for more than a week.  
I guess you know the rest.
Happy Anniversary, Lar - the date seems to still be going on. 

Remembering the Reason We Just Went Through the Season

 Brother-in-law Dan sent this out and while I watched it I was thinking about how "wrapped up" we get in the gifting, the shopping and so forth of the Christmas season - so much so that we might easily forget to share the heart of the day - the love of the day - the true reason for the the day.  In my mind, it isn't about being Christian - it is about learning to be truly "human" - learning to express support, love and goodness to each other and to the entire being of creation.  Watch this - and if you don't get a tear (how about when the little boy kneels?) then, oh, I don't know, maybe you should watch it again!  Posted with love.....

Sharing the True Reason  click here

Flurry of Days and a Little Snow

 Our New Year's Day table was much less crowded this year - we missed those not present, but we had a lovely time together.

 We once again enjoyed a few days with my sister Carol here, and the three of us went to see son Larry and family during the excitement of a Flyers' game.                                                                 

 It was kind of a dream come true for me, as Carol's visit went on, she began to express an interest in quilting and we went to JoAnn Fabrics together.  While there, we had a bit of a crazy reunion with dear friends we haven't seen in such a long time.  They have begun to quilt too, and mentioned a new Block of the Month going on via Facebook.  I'd joined the group, so decided I'd participate too.  What with all the quilt-y talk, Carol really got bitten with the bug!
Within the next two days I have gotten the two January blocks done - and Carol learned how so she is going home to make her own.  I couldn't be happier than to share this past time with her.
We got up this morning to say goodbye to her and we were all met with the surprise of snow covering everything.  That delayed her departure a bit, so we went over quilting things, watched an episode of a show to which we have introduced her, and finally it looked as if the roads should be quite passable.
Pretty much as soon as she left I began to clean my sewing/crafting area and about every 5 minutes or so I would turn up some picture or other that demanded scrapping.  I got a lot of sorting and cleaning done and 5 scrap pages as well!

Darling grand daughter Jessica - "Lovable"

First Communion of our Grandson Larry

Grand daughter Jessica

 Larry 4

Our youngest son, Patrick's ornaments - a present for Jesus, an ornament with his picture, and his brass engraved ornament from his Great Aunt Mary and Great Uncle Fran.
Such heart wrenching memories....representing tremendous blessings.