Thanksgiving

Almost time to peel the potatoes - the house is smelling good!  Pies- (apple and 2 pumpkin), corn bread, cole slaw, fresh cranberry relish made yesterday.  Turkey is stuffed and roasting - a lot more stuffing in the crockpot.
This year some of the sides are coming with daughter-in-law - appies with another daughter-in-law.
Although I've been feeling really under the weather for about 2 weeks, finally went to the Dr., I have gotten through most of the preps and can now just enjoy...enjoy the little ones - enjoy two of our three sons - their wonderful families - my hubby who does so much to help -
I usually don't eat a lot of the Thanksgiving meal - but I sure enjoy watching others do so.
Thanksgiving....such a lovely day for just simply stopping to think about ones' blessings - about the people in our lives - the basic needs we have met - and to think, too, about those who don't have those luxuries - luxuries of simple needs met.
And to know that one doesn't have them because of merit - but usually because of dumb luck.  
Please God, touch the lives of those living with loss, in pain, in darkness, with Your blessing and Your love.  
And don't let me think of these things just on Thanksgiving....these are sentiments for every day of every life.

Down on the Farm(stead)

Signed up recently to volunteer time in the "quilt room" at the Barclay Farmstead.  See by clicking HERE
I'll be quilting on an old quilt donated to the historic home with two goals intended - getting that quilt quilted, and providing education to the elementary school children touring the farmstead.
During the tour to "my" room, kids get to see me in action, but they also get to put their hand at quilting - the Barclay Friends always have a quilt on a frame with threaded needles available for the kids to use.  Once done, the kids' quilts get bound and hung, on a rotating basis throughout the farm house.  
I've always found boys (and their grown-up versions!) very appreciative of sewing and quilting...and the kids touring at the Farmstead are no different!  During one tour, recently, a young man attending with his class of special needs kids had to be convinced to move on to the rest of the tour!  He was kneeling and intent on his stitches.  I would have liked to hug him!

The elderly quilt on which I've been working.

One of the completed Kids' Quilts

View from where I sit, quilting.

Another look at the antique quilt being quilted.

 As a member of Love Apple Quilters, I'm happy to be providing an example to the kids of the art of quilting.  And I love even more, seeing the interest kids show in it.  I've had several of them turn to me, as they leave, and thank me for being there!
But, of course, there's always a twist....as one group was being toured through another room, several of the boys saw me in the quilt room and showed excitement at getting into what they called (in whispers to each other) "the sewing room."  When they departed the other room, the tour guide said, "now we'll go downstairs and out side."  The boys asked, "aren't we going in there?"  And her reply?
"Oh, no, that's just the quilt room."
And off they went.
Ummm, huh? 

Hold It!

Project for next Love Apple Quilter's meeting, make a pot holder for a swap.
Have never made this kind of pot holder, but bought some insulating batting and whipped up what I think is a pretty cute pot holder....do you?

This is the "business side".... I actually had fun making it and might make a couple more.