tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11372384383623316752024-02-25T01:29:56.064-06:00~~~ finding joy in the little things ~~~the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.comBlogger1680125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-66589016985926767232020-03-19T11:33:00.000-05:002020-03-19T11:33:33.767-05:00quilted clothes<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9Gf8Wopx7rV5GUyNrJ1CTIe4kB5M4dAK31c_uNLfMhU_9moMjNzdpGNy790nLipBQaZyh83tYQRQxay-4SYP078xEb6_oYBm4wtqZ8KM1z3j-Vyl9CGsBJsgCjtJeGieSPIMKr_B4ck/s1600/90344316_204020037363636_9078587920507469824_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9Gf8Wopx7rV5GUyNrJ1CTIe4kB5M4dAK31c_uNLfMhU_9moMjNzdpGNy790nLipBQaZyh83tYQRQxay-4SYP078xEb6_oYBm4wtqZ8KM1z3j-Vyl9CGsBJsgCjtJeGieSPIMKr_B4ck/s640/90344316_204020037363636_9078587920507469824_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Knowing that I take on custom orders, </div>
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and use my earnings to help rescued women learn to sew, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
sweet <a href="https://www.instagram.com/redbirdquiltco/">Karen</a>
contacted me last fall </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
to ask if she could pass along my contact info</div>
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to a woman interested in commissioning a quilt out of baby clothes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I
said sure!</div>
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(and thank you!!) </div>
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and that started a series of messages
and plans, </div>
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and in January I told Katie she could ship the clothes! </div>
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<br /></div>
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We'd decided on simple patchwork,</div>
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and planned for the more colorful
pieces to form a heart,</div>
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and the lighter clothing and blankets and
towels to be the background</div>
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(I'm not sure I'd do that again, </div>
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as Half
Square Triangles out of stretchy fabrics were kind of a beast, </div>
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even
if they <b>had</b> been severely starched. </div>
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But then, it does look awfully
good....)</div>
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<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvqI8Ez0_H3Tnc0sgNvm-AB1g6PZIrqOaF9pjibRFmpyacpJdqCjS18CMD1Njc3sAch1AOUQ68B3h9hSbSmf5NbgnOP-NC5rRUxF-XPUNzFtOop5t88gvppmqAz3Hij5EMvi5WdyBUbo/s1600/90104759_222880782241666_231675818756014080_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="1600" height="609" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvqI8Ez0_H3Tnc0sgNvm-AB1g6PZIrqOaF9pjibRFmpyacpJdqCjS18CMD1Njc3sAch1AOUQ68B3h9hSbSmf5NbgnOP-NC5rRUxF-XPUNzFtOop5t88gvppmqAz3Hij5EMvi5WdyBUbo/s640/90104759_222880782241666_231675818756014080_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I got all cocky </div>
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with how quickly
cutting apart, starching, cutting 4 ½ inch squares</div>
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and laying out
the quilt went, </div>
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and I texted Katie </div>
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that we probably wouldn't even hit </div>
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the lowest end of my estimated price range.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Halfway through sewing
the thing together, </div>
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I had to text again and say,</div>
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Ummmm. Maybe not... </div>
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<br /></div>
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When it came time to sew the rows together, </div>
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I got smart and pulled
out the walking foot, </div>
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which sped piecing up a little </div>
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and I'm fairly
certain helped (most of) my seams to meet up nicely.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuiyidIMPWfBS8LjA7zR6QPiFNl7UuYKZPZpRHsZy28tx-oN3LBwiX61BMaAxW1ImB1Ll-01A_XKYXmS6-q33rKdt-pJvCwxnPwgjSiU1gAIM-QGMYzmO2uv90ZJBcK4ydNB9066YmF0/s1600/90202492_192257755559280_8514923417672089600_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuiyidIMPWfBS8LjA7zR6QPiFNl7UuYKZPZpRHsZy28tx-oN3LBwiX61BMaAxW1ImB1Ll-01A_XKYXmS6-q33rKdt-pJvCwxnPwgjSiU1gAIM-QGMYzmO2uv90ZJBcK4ydNB9066YmF0/s640/90202492_192257755559280_8514923417672089600_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The backing was a treasured jersey
childhood sheet</div>
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– about as un-square as it could possibly be. </div>
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All
four sides were angly. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I folded it into fourths as best I could </div>
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and
cut it into a fairly decent rectangle</div>
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and starched the heck out of
it, too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-gyiUyWIwWBV2TGa-XVHlffqmgkxY5IBxuOfl8Uocah0kPVDZG_xuI9XBhTel_BgKt_rUeR0D-G5MjxbAApRg5Lyi3SrCXnGayAWEHsKukWCWm4nj4LfUx_4cNPKxVUUUoiehL4_nvM/s1600/90558276_205241307486204_9137337352220311552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-gyiUyWIwWBV2TGa-XVHlffqmgkxY5IBxuOfl8Uocah0kPVDZG_xuI9XBhTel_BgKt_rUeR0D-G5MjxbAApRg5Lyi3SrCXnGayAWEHsKukWCWm4nj4LfUx_4cNPKxVUUUoiehL4_nvM/s640/90558276_205241307486204_9137337352220311552_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once the starch was mostly dry, </div>
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I
pressed it and loaded up <a href="http://pursuingjoy.blogspot.com/2019/03/everyone-meet-lucy.html">Lucy</a>, </div>
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then layered Quilters Dream Puff
batting and the top. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNIDWS9Z5cK-6igKOzm9zSDHmCO6tqSK7y2wQOZefJmcEH96hmJqj7Iz0vVd6FJJWuwm9QrG1b8sL_WUo948uDyK0JqiUKtUHUQxz3shjagdHi72N1tt1mMVfGYzfeureVraNcuHyBQg/s1600/90170452_569611210319659_1127088058005454848_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNIDWS9Z5cK-6igKOzm9zSDHmCO6tqSK7y2wQOZefJmcEH96hmJqj7Iz0vVd6FJJWuwm9QrG1b8sL_WUo948uDyK0JqiUKtUHUQxz3shjagdHi72N1tt1mMVfGYzfeureVraNcuHyBQg/s640/90170452_569611210319659_1127088058005454848_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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The quilting only took 3.75 hours,</div>
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and I'm so so
tickled with how it turned out. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphen5sm5SlTMCSqLpH_PU9L-hFovUJ9l17v1gSjBDM1jcApvrK0inTaSRHfsGeozPPjRz_1SJvOxLj_-2y6J4_Q5hxP6zuOgtPzSsb7wv4GtoVk4GWtmpp9m_R-EGQfqcJ9swlk5XncQOk/s1600/90615549_2710126322550720_5575585093214273536_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphen5sm5SlTMCSqLpH_PU9L-hFovUJ9l17v1gSjBDM1jcApvrK0inTaSRHfsGeozPPjRz_1SJvOxLj_-2y6J4_Q5hxP6zuOgtPzSsb7wv4GtoVk4GWtmpp9m_R-EGQfqcJ9swlk5XncQOk/s640/90615549_2710126322550720_5575585093214273536_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Jesse likes nature stuff, </div>
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so I
quilted in suns and seashells and leaves and flowers. </div>
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And of course
feathers, and even a few butterflies. </div>
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Maybe some other things. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
It's
been a few weeks, so who knows?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Silly me forgot to take pictures of
specific motifs.</div>
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Ah well. </div>
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I did think to snap a picture of her name
so they'd be able to find it.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KRBU_hyphenhyphenEZnAo_2vdERz99esadC7aTlPLZs4QYQFnOQ7p2uZxa2Fkv5dbBhox0jfOvsav2DyYbnpMXm-zxWoiJpf3QpnpYU_d2n0O2Vk_NcvWLMWqKuy3SodJSLNpzqy_Fy70BkwKrKs/s1600/90054652_1124483757906473_3660086810853244928_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KRBU_hyphenhyphenEZnAo_2vdERz99esadC7aTlPLZs4QYQFnOQ7p2uZxa2Fkv5dbBhox0jfOvsav2DyYbnpMXm-zxWoiJpf3QpnpYU_d2n0O2Vk_NcvWLMWqKuy3SodJSLNpzqy_Fy70BkwKrKs/s640/90054652_1124483757906473_3660086810853244928_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I used the skirt portion of a 3T dress
for the binding, </div>
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and supplemented the length with a couple of strips </div>
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from a Winnie-the-pooh blanket.</div>
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I cut one lengthwise, and one
width-wise, </div>
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so put the join at the bottom left corner of the quilt. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I'm famous for <i>accidentally</i> getting a seam in the corner, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
so it was
no big deal to handle extra bulk of one <i>purposely</i> put there.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevT5Kf9lIPQQrwZ4SPCNMbgFP53CKLHtjAVmmBs3fC2jjvyUSpkBmI7l0SDt1HwoEu-wGAFj3Cifgcm5p7Ljgq88sbAziJMEx9QQFZvlk3EmRGbzZRZ3Hp12IUQPJVnxwcGYTi3rh_Uw/s1600/90509617_3129712460392554_224348329671131136_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1490" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevT5Kf9lIPQQrwZ4SPCNMbgFP53CKLHtjAVmmBs3fC2jjvyUSpkBmI7l0SDt1HwoEu-wGAFj3Cifgcm5p7Ljgq88sbAziJMEx9QQFZvlk3EmRGbzZRZ3Hp12IUQPJVnxwcGYTi3rh_Uw/s640/90509617_3129712460392554_224348329671131136_n.jpg" width="596" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
We'd discussed adding a bit of hand
quilting, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
but I was so pleased with how the longarming turned out </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
that I'd told Katie I'd be happy to add it,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
but I didn't really think
it'd enhance the quilt</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and she agreed. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
So I decided to add it to
the binding, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and sewed it down by hand with navy perle cotton </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
–
which was a huge pain in the patootie</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and a super slow process. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
The
needle just didn't like the knit. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
At all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Stitching through the
flannel blanket went just fine, though. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I was a little bummed I
hadn't used more of that. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
But then I remembered</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
that Katie had told me
that dress </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
was one of the really special pieces of clothing, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
so I
quit my whining, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and focused on how much they'll love it.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
As soon as I finished the binding, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I
popped it in the washer</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
that was already waiting </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
with nice warm water
and a touch of Dawn Pure Essentials. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I wasn't going to bother with
color catchers </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
since this was all worn clothing, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
but I noticed the
water started turning a pinky purple right away, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
so I threw in a few,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and some salt, too, for good measure. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
They came out saturated, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
but there
was no misplaced dye on the quilt</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
– whew! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I dried it about ½ way
in the dryer, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and then blocked it on Brandon's bed</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and let it air dry
for 24 hours the rest of the way </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
before snapping a few photos with
Josiah's help, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and sticking it back in the mail.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dtau-BROZV2zAT6ompEydzMg2AWY8_E2q1zigJnNIoDay-lK_m7AN5oUH6Unu7Azh6616-yiEi_l2UuX1mWZDGL3ZSA9ztCXEcuLF423GTpQnyPeQhajcfexz_HgWFFircImU6KG00c/s1600/90308827_864561133957200_8307678231889182720_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dtau-BROZV2zAT6ompEydzMg2AWY8_E2q1zigJnNIoDay-lK_m7AN5oUH6Unu7Azh6616-yiEi_l2UuX1mWZDGL3ZSA9ztCXEcuLF423GTpQnyPeQhajcfexz_HgWFFircImU6KG00c/s640/90308827_864561133957200_8307678231889182720_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I'm really pleased with how this turned
out. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I was a little worried</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
that a quilt made out of an assortment of
special baby clothes </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
would, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
well,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
scream - BABY CLOTHES,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
but I don't
think this does at all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
In fact, Josiah said, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
“if you didn't <b>know</b>
it was made from baby clothes, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
you'd never know.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgrHrc1CRJvpF4MfUwzIDn0gZI7MEGhtSREpB_8ZKx95ERv5CnvM-uCCPta5oD3ecf-4xGi9A64tPVT4xVtkB23Y21voEtBwTptbqgKTr_rkiqPUW7ECOELEhn0GgCwNqtslXb8d8U2E/s1600/90114105_518811429061328_1941155557993873408_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgrHrc1CRJvpF4MfUwzIDn0gZI7MEGhtSREpB_8ZKx95ERv5CnvM-uCCPta5oD3ecf-4xGi9A64tPVT4xVtkB23Y21voEtBwTptbqgKTr_rkiqPUW7ECOELEhn0GgCwNqtslXb8d8U2E/s640/90114105_518811429061328_1941155557993873408_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I hope they love it</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and it brings comfort and lots of smiles for many years.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRr1PbZHtP9LnAr_Js-zgy688NSmcieaWYt86En2Lf1dYLigALsHwcd87NJdrUTnfz1mfCX_PlpFDuSrnnImL0Le-RtyswLWA7VlY1VkNgZjb5IKFF67d1cPJyWGSavRQFb60gZPT2-BQ/s1600/90266353_142402110475806_194031740371599360_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRr1PbZHtP9LnAr_Js-zgy688NSmcieaWYt86En2Lf1dYLigALsHwcd87NJdrUTnfz1mfCX_PlpFDuSrnnImL0Le-RtyswLWA7VlY1VkNgZjb5IKFF67d1cPJyWGSavRQFb60gZPT2-BQ/s640/90266353_142402110475806_194031740371599360_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I was able to make this heirloom quilt </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
for just $36.74 more than my low-end estimate</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
(and, to be fair,
$29.85 of that was postage, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and I hadn't calculated that into my
bid...) </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
and best of all, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I get to give 2 more sewing machines to
Rahab's Rope 💗</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-65513435710384729292020-01-15T14:00:00.000-06:002020-01-15T14:00:13.078-06:00stellar mosaic, squared<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSaH1j7C5NF6HUAuaDGsbpuY43ORSyjf19pzP7MCFUxyuc2fR6wfoEVUA6SZXKoBKEgxIi4K-OSIXUYcpYWNaIsLJZsgaTZcWth4a0DVkQ_rWdjKHUoynCayUcEe-uqax3BOxvJWH6jE/s1600/82937143_472628730303084_7646709634350186496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSaH1j7C5NF6HUAuaDGsbpuY43ORSyjf19pzP7MCFUxyuc2fR6wfoEVUA6SZXKoBKEgxIi4K-OSIXUYcpYWNaIsLJZsgaTZcWth4a0DVkQ_rWdjKHUoynCayUcEe-uqax3BOxvJWH6jE/s640/82937143_472628730303084_7646709634350186496_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I got to pattern test for <a href="https://www.cottonandjoy.com/">Fran of Cotton and Joy Patterns</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(this is actually my second time testing for her;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the first time I never posted about it here...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0R136XEkvgCJBlUoezpVz4DCNWl8akGzlAgTYd35Utae1kBxX2hBARvviRJjZo-uiqri85bVQhEtlYVL640WyHtYDzZVZ8o_8mGFhTK5Zb814JTiHcSiRKQn17FJ1YqjIgqP0RGiElU/s1600/82063004_607721336725284_2326307544831623168_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0R136XEkvgCJBlUoezpVz4DCNWl8akGzlAgTYd35Utae1kBxX2hBARvviRJjZo-uiqri85bVQhEtlYVL640WyHtYDzZVZ8o_8mGFhTK5Zb814JTiHcSiRKQn17FJ1YqjIgqP0RGiElU/s320/82063004_607721336725284_2326307544831623168_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but you can find quite a few photos on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ztilGHZky/">Instagram)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8cMKCGsmB8HWmQS7QXFucVF10upeGjiofZVQaMMy-JhQASvb9SU1hRvajgX9tupnszEUEnSZ5b-q99Ep5YbLD6BEtt6zBpVGuDXoV_3XONyG_msJS1j4HPZMFzJ21Fqe4L7s00QO_1o/s1600/82338067_2578551139138052_9157251921570955264_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1256" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8cMKCGsmB8HWmQS7QXFucVF10upeGjiofZVQaMMy-JhQASvb9SU1hRvajgX9tupnszEUEnSZ5b-q99Ep5YbLD6BEtt6zBpVGuDXoV_3XONyG_msJS1j4HPZMFzJ21Fqe4L7s00QO_1o/s640/82338067_2578551139138052_9157251921570955264_n.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been on a mission to create lots of Christmas / Winter quilts</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for our home for a while now,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I knew this striking design</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
would be perfect for Brandon's/the guestroom's bed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5QkC2X_XVbask02mevVQCSVt67dUfNvWwGxSe395XwVGHyoDALO0X_Twk2wJZW1bEltP-IDyYFKrwGx-jBIRTw43KpyjssWfKnuWGC45-83UPjcGl4WUnXJhPd5D6eWR5vmm_0kF80Y/s1600/82162814_467565224186358_5078317056743440384_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5QkC2X_XVbask02mevVQCSVt67dUfNvWwGxSe395XwVGHyoDALO0X_Twk2wJZW1bEltP-IDyYFKrwGx-jBIRTw43KpyjssWfKnuWGC45-83UPjcGl4WUnXJhPd5D6eWR5vmm_0kF80Y/s640/82162814_467565224186358_5078317056743440384_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started with <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/688254018/holiday-bundles-by-alison-glass-for?ga_search_query=holiday%2Bbundle&ref=shop_items_search_2&frs=1">a fat quarter bundle of Alison Glass' Holiday fabric</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of course</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
added more,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because we all know</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am just not a '1 fabric line' kind of girl.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7XuBno9MTUBYFsEMmL8UItC1Pe_pP7kl370ipldL1ShNqi3Kq70yYidE8mMcYjggjEJbwQNHZ1Fiou3m5pTA-S4q53Npf563DjdEF6rJ6fSWUcauGrSr-KIrIOLbMmLIMGUd12Fmmwo/s1600/82139314_1262042643981635_7115761692704768000_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7XuBno9MTUBYFsEMmL8UItC1Pe_pP7kl370ipldL1ShNqi3Kq70yYidE8mMcYjggjEJbwQNHZ1Fiou3m5pTA-S4q53Npf563DjdEF6rJ6fSWUcauGrSr-KIrIOLbMmLIMGUd12Fmmwo/s640/82139314_1262042643981635_7115761692704768000_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I <i>reeeally</i> wanted to use the gray metallic brushed fabric</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from Ruby Star Society</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as my background.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I thought it was just enough 'directional fabric' </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to be a challenge,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but there weren't actual stripes to have to try to line up.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The gold would add a festive bling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
without being too feminine on that steely background.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycZecIopqqr-wQPQWttfyb5KzCZ6RXpclcZK41f76bOtwNMdK5Kz5xS3zGQATrSQDA7_bcXmbA9YH460lPf6mjVBcDiyeRQLC8Fi558D5LMvZMNGpJEQASxm49wKvV7UZOhMAD7-fn_8/s1600/82774149_2461658634150937_1113833965023657984_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycZecIopqqr-wQPQWttfyb5KzCZ6RXpclcZK41f76bOtwNMdK5Kz5xS3zGQATrSQDA7_bcXmbA9YH460lPf6mjVBcDiyeRQLC8Fi558D5LMvZMNGpJEQASxm49wKvV7UZOhMAD7-fn_8/s640/82774149_2461658634150937_1113833965023657984_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was worried about it matching</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(grays can be tricky)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but didn't really have time to order a fat quarter</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and wait for it to arrive</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(after paying exorbitant shipping costs)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
check it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and order the yardage I needed,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I reached out to the 2 Etsy shops I found</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that carried both fabric lines.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They were both unwilling to assist,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I bit the bullet and ordered 3 yards from<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/StarlitQuilts"> a different shop</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(no way those gals were getting my business!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it turns out it goes<i> perfectly</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and created the perfect bold and glittery backdrop,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I want to order more and make something else with it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because I love it so much!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmwV7xLbXuF_LVg3ZbffyRRNqfCWFXbfklqJYK6Fd9HXP9viD_Ft-aNlTQcqovdgbEtgWzDEGNb4yP4DJWWM_jcJKqG6i2nKyq1oQixClOHH7BqnLRChKoTTAAHXUFtQzeifV68x2muE/s1600/83327818_593531581439798_7679976866182070272_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmwV7xLbXuF_LVg3ZbffyRRNqfCWFXbfklqJYK6Fd9HXP9viD_Ft-aNlTQcqovdgbEtgWzDEGNb4yP4DJWWM_jcJKqG6i2nKyq1oQixClOHH7BqnLRChKoTTAAHXUFtQzeifV68x2muE/s320/83327818_593531581439798_7679976866182070272_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wasn't able to get started on it before Christmas,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
except for getting my fabric pull finalized,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but I started cutting my fabrics after presents had been opened</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and brunch was made and consumed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Day</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I spent the next week</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
slowly turning them into a stunning quilt top.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeszjpKwn06XVC8IiA5DucgP6s2ypafNJPYFDpl8eLkpwQxIC3yXznFwt7GRe1FJAXHbKtKzkqUVkGGfTDjHLRkcnmUWoA6MaHaZt7FQK3loB2qljTS0vtUdDTpuQCjW-S4SifygPuvj0/s1600/82523122_1597800387024453_1042507142491275264_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeszjpKwn06XVC8IiA5DucgP6s2ypafNJPYFDpl8eLkpwQxIC3yXznFwt7GRe1FJAXHbKtKzkqUVkGGfTDjHLRkcnmUWoA6MaHaZt7FQK3loB2qljTS0vtUdDTpuQCjW-S4SifygPuvj0/s640/82523122_1597800387024453_1042507142491275264_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even though I made the top in a week</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(which, in my opinion, is pretty darn fast!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but - I had lots more sewing time than usual</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thanks to a houseful of miserable sick people </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who didn't need much food)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I worked slowly and methodically,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
never had the pedal to the metal,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and just really</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thoroughly enjoyed the process.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I did have a bit of trouble on my first few blocks</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with my points,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but once I figured out what my seam allowance</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
needed to be for sewing on those corners</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to make the diamond in square components,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
everything was golden</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I had sharp point after sharp point.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMX6S21FTWfIROiEon_5xqCv6ebgyfU_Z3Cnt0KOZ7zELhmu1cmDRgYJc_nKlnXyVznHEqOvORahaEtPurZ-DwZYtIeKNv_Ju_WpKf_lIA2gnNEHPvR7eVadwcWbsciHQPh7O2RJIsmIk/s1600/82032790_611439659656580_2687300727176429568_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMX6S21FTWfIROiEon_5xqCv6ebgyfU_Z3Cnt0KOZ7zELhmu1cmDRgYJc_nKlnXyVznHEqOvORahaEtPurZ-DwZYtIeKNv_Ju_WpKf_lIA2gnNEHPvR7eVadwcWbsciHQPh7O2RJIsmIk/s640/82032790_611439659656580_2687300727176429568_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you make this quilt</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(and you should! It really makes a striking quilt!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd recommend that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before you 'batch sew' your components,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you make 1 block at a time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
until you're pleased with your points,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
just in case, like me, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you need to stitch that portion </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with a little bit of a different seam allowance.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Although - I do seem to be the only tester</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who had this difficulty </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
there's that, too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(In case you're wondering </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I sewed the corners on with a .2mm wider SA</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
than my normal 1/4" seam allowance)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Since I <i>did</i> figure out my points</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(by the 3rd block)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am thoroughly thrilled with this pattern!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xAo59Bral1568SSmqmuTeaHjNALpwoFdV5E8f7FKKkMmLaflTbsgjEPbhYQyO8q6GUYAYi3KlAjLhaDS427G-zuqhplrufUooecFnef1fmXq2UiqT7NHhkfao_caP2cCaB_z6qMqf3Q/s1600/82337803_1030847707261905_1451858147600760832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xAo59Bral1568SSmqmuTeaHjNALpwoFdV5E8f7FKKkMmLaflTbsgjEPbhYQyO8q6GUYAYi3KlAjLhaDS427G-zuqhplrufUooecFnef1fmXq2UiqT7NHhkfao_caP2cCaB_z6qMqf3Q/s640/82337803_1030847707261905_1451858147600760832_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So much so,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I made a second one</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I could test and see just how quick it'd be</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if I wasn't incorporating directional prints</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or (much) fussy cutting.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqlJdyhjsBY450RTigFWYcsj-KY-8ZzJfE1KrONA5GbWgHIY2bSVB5MNXp6-cxtvP9LrYDxk_qr2UAR6NrmJqoWqevoenKw3cXLW7nKTc6Do9uhwv1L9490jZjwHzdy8ouB6zpP06DgQ/s1600/83322625_2720250298196207_5529335541046181888_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqlJdyhjsBY450RTigFWYcsj-KY-8ZzJfE1KrONA5GbWgHIY2bSVB5MNXp6-cxtvP9LrYDxk_qr2UAR6NrmJqoWqevoenKw3cXLW7nKTc6Do9uhwv1L9490jZjwHzdy8ouB6zpP06DgQ/s640/83322625_2720250298196207_5529335541046181888_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pretty darn.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaA2V1u5NdzNM2i3jxgHAUGAVmDK_XUG9maAca7QCCzviZvA8jWGrXYPdN-nvetednTUHw3152VRzGbbdkQHDlJfzS-SL1tljE-6pw6C-udNUvaAGwdS25mzA_fk5nX0PEUtqh-5a1g-0/s1600/82590818_3030250716993341_1089081634705113088_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaA2V1u5NdzNM2i3jxgHAUGAVmDK_XUG9maAca7QCCzviZvA8jWGrXYPdN-nvetednTUHw3152VRzGbbdkQHDlJfzS-SL1tljE-6pw6C-udNUvaAGwdS25mzA_fk5nX0PEUtqh-5a1g-0/s640/82590818_3030250716993341_1089081634705113088_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The <a href="https://www.cottonandjoy.com/product-tag/stellar-mosaic/">pattern is now available </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and, thru Sunday the 19th,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is 20% off when you use code STELLAR</div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-20871284831789725992019-12-20T08:28:00.000-06:002020-01-06T08:31:24.641-06:00December 18th, in (somewhat blurry) pictures<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Congratulations, Brandon and Taylee!!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>We love you both so much and are so excited for your future together</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">💘</span></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-90825910597784715232019-12-12T11:48:00.005-06:002019-12-12T11:55:45.342-06:00woodland surprises<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05sM4eiAcBfW5BG69MXCSw_SRczLnzQaspzfo19_9HIEM56AwATgO5GsR09s9w1xCBItvwP347YdBW8krMu7H8Bg1SEJMR1o34ZM39g0o-U3qm2EVVf-iKA4Gb6jyfrGm6NIHyyqVZmY/s1600/79308007_584391225455648_7037957574158712832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1549" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05sM4eiAcBfW5BG69MXCSw_SRczLnzQaspzfo19_9HIEM56AwATgO5GsR09s9w1xCBItvwP347YdBW8krMu7H8Bg1SEJMR1o34ZM39g0o-U3qm2EVVf-iKA4Gb6jyfrGm6NIHyyqVZmY/s640/79308007_584391225455648_7037957574158712832_n.jpg" width="618" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jeremiah has been pretty desperate for a new quilt,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so in October</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I decided he'd be getting one for his 16th birthday</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Dec 2nd)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I drew up a pattern</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that was basically large patchwork,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but included some chaining 4 patches</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a few diamond-in-a-squares</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and several somewhat hidden stars,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and promptly started adding 'Jeremiah' fabrics</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to my <i>teals</i> collection.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(though - to be fair, it stretched from aqua to navy)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcx_Tsnb-aoEDfXV7MCh4JQpeq1kYAHyL6mNiAVGkNlX6aT42Pzpq7PqIn44f2lTLH_y6wDOoAit5EOFgz9EybLS8XA0mCUQht-H_705YMFhNGbnXD3iEaj0XYWyK6yksCt2fO3Czzag/s1600/79309913_736112976887140_5512802859009179648_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcx_Tsnb-aoEDfXV7MCh4JQpeq1kYAHyL6mNiAVGkNlX6aT42Pzpq7PqIn44f2lTLH_y6wDOoAit5EOFgz9EybLS8XA0mCUQht-H_705YMFhNGbnXD3iEaj0XYWyK6yksCt2fO3Czzag/s640/79309913_736112976887140_5512802859009179648_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In November,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as soon as I'd finished <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4s20h0H4Pb/">a pattern testing project</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started cutting fabrics,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and sewing them back together.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aC1EtOBP-XOGShUq-XAgLKsmpGKVdcI0v10IlR_sBMAXBobTw7iXO0QCy5h7aeeQudfJQahcxIKhClXSTAk4HedVXG62KaAGAlbfKtOe9uGeGSz9FGJ3HsjdKLqZelk4GXN1z_8z0S4/s1600/79508084_624670704941848_7219069245450092544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aC1EtOBP-XOGShUq-XAgLKsmpGKVdcI0v10IlR_sBMAXBobTw7iXO0QCy5h7aeeQudfJQahcxIKhClXSTAk4HedVXG62KaAGAlbfKtOe9uGeGSz9FGJ3HsjdKLqZelk4GXN1z_8z0S4/s640/79508084_624670704941848_7219069245450092544_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I did this in secret,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in 10 -15 minute bursts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thanks to the knee injury</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was (and still am) nursing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkrmyOwJvB633KftKgBsm1ddt_uUSyFm7LIlN1DkRUTlSiSSrLuSc1grte62Fe0kRbFwisWldYU7lhPSnyFK3X2FLVR1jTJBPSI5_Iv7ZcjVJpQMNjweEU6S6pTYRLPG0_-ryf2nIWzY/s1600/79945320_3872327846126559_2708213829178753024_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkrmyOwJvB633KftKgBsm1ddt_uUSyFm7LIlN1DkRUTlSiSSrLuSc1grte62Fe0kRbFwisWldYU7lhPSnyFK3X2FLVR1jTJBPSI5_Iv7ZcjVJpQMNjweEU6S6pTYRLPG0_-ryf2nIWzY/s640/79945320_3872327846126559_2708213829178753024_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">remember, we homeschool, so secret sewing gets a bit tricksy.<br />
I set up in our closet, because this was one that was going to have to be laid out for a few weeks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It all worked out though,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we were able to give it to him</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
partially quilted on his birthday,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thanks to the Sunday afternoon</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he spent at a friend's house</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on December1st.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG2DtWouSGxwG9caYK2Z6kPPM-n3i7rUw02ioFGw0XcXZJD2qKp_I1K3oa_E7SkRGPQEtAMTIkjgNg5fbrPpXMzYZts8CuXPfz_9g9jbg-x0MoV1OxdAo8W0V_q417G_TPtND30gbWII/s1600/78832610_810922189346070_5028404107925258240_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG2DtWouSGxwG9caYK2Z6kPPM-n3i7rUw02ioFGw0XcXZJD2qKp_I1K3oa_E7SkRGPQEtAMTIkjgNg5fbrPpXMzYZts8CuXPfz_9g9jbg-x0MoV1OxdAo8W0V_q417G_TPtND30gbWII/s640/78832610_810922189346070_5028404107925258240_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
without having to be sneaky,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I re-loaded the quilt on Lucy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and added horizontal quilting.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then hand quilted around the stars</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and diagonally through the 4-patch chains.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then added the binding</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and hand-stiched it down to the front</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
using chunky stitches.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1g_TxrPkYEmQnu5SsMlksDsqu1PcPiQ6fS64GvC3AHtBmvJuPN1OuQBMH36j3WsUZ2VKKiiDYQ_lr6z7zSGwrEmCc9vbwjO2UJmWWlkzuVpdO6m0Jo-r8gJJNXn-5l5ozyzYUjUwYZAw/s1600/79256672_555097361735181_1135774625066647552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1g_TxrPkYEmQnu5SsMlksDsqu1PcPiQ6fS64GvC3AHtBmvJuPN1OuQBMH36j3WsUZ2VKKiiDYQ_lr6z7zSGwrEmCc9vbwjO2UJmWWlkzuVpdO6m0Jo-r8gJJNXn-5l5ozyzYUjUwYZAw/s640/79256672_555097361735181_1135774625066647552_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I finished it yesterday morning,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
9 days after Jeremiah's birthday</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblR10PQ1MlQ91usDYBHAeitpLlTUbuaSnhmvtbG8Yqs9bI-J9VmFuC1m7U6cO3uGuTizayqof-h7dUUD5wpiaD6v8JivSUkYhWRnbfEg1dy4uMW6eiB_pdsjl4yDhErCkEmDVFTLWGR4/s1600/79424728_468397950527544_449056100860297216_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblR10PQ1MlQ91usDYBHAeitpLlTUbuaSnhmvtbG8Yqs9bI-J9VmFuC1m7U6cO3uGuTizayqof-h7dUUD5wpiaD6v8JivSUkYhWRnbfEg1dy4uMW6eiB_pdsjl4yDhErCkEmDVFTLWGR4/s640/79424728_468397950527544_449056100860297216_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the boys and I </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
took a little walkabout</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on our property in the afternoon</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to snap some pictures</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in some of the places Jeremiah loves.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqOA5j6TAIFGucWSJzPTDHlZ2t-Y5DPooMhcYAenw8HDj44gL7miVufPvimdBe2z7z0qZBkY7XFeLCcao8Fup90gdCk95nmKWnWtz7KHibYTnEY4J1PqHQIE8Uj5m817OmeMcRycs-AM/s1600/79777478_515479469051365_4478326381943455744_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqOA5j6TAIFGucWSJzPTDHlZ2t-Y5DPooMhcYAenw8HDj44gL7miVufPvimdBe2z7z0qZBkY7XFeLCcao8Fup90gdCk95nmKWnWtz7KHibYTnEY4J1PqHQIE8Uj5m817OmeMcRycs-AM/s640/79777478_515479469051365_4478326381943455744_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jeremiah is our nature boy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and his quilt is full of (some of) the outdoorsy things he is so fond of.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4r9iNhL3JSAB_4bng73xSzLMqntP0gwGSdrPgcukMGzLGvCl2s6NiWO8qfe724Su2Lnn1aCNJmReKROuLIGTtkVxZSuNE2OQPglJCKY5N5ZBIekKdb9XeHl9jCR-_-2V3J97fmx8iC-I/s1600/78755693_811753069275747_8811015529595666432_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4r9iNhL3JSAB_4bng73xSzLMqntP0gwGSdrPgcukMGzLGvCl2s6NiWO8qfe724Su2Lnn1aCNJmReKROuLIGTtkVxZSuNE2OQPglJCKY5N5ZBIekKdb9XeHl9jCR-_-2V3J97fmx8iC-I/s640/78755693_811753069275747_8811015529595666432_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>We love you so much, my boy!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>You add laughter and fun</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(and a few head shakes...)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>to our family.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76w1UsnnSyAdKiEDlWBPxV3sNp3Lm7L3dIm0KGCeAhqCFv7YhP8sGtjrcjAFUDVL4n2NVPvLBPagaz3fY6vIUWNXL5ptfAsKSk3bY4n96d6q6Qh2VNEPvksRc-9MpKh3cSrJxNjDOAm0/s1600/79976219_2390572494525920_8036079214648098816_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76w1UsnnSyAdKiEDlWBPxV3sNp3Lm7L3dIm0KGCeAhqCFv7YhP8sGtjrcjAFUDVL4n2NVPvLBPagaz3fY6vIUWNXL5ptfAsKSk3bY4n96d6q6Qh2VNEPvksRc-9MpKh3cSrJxNjDOAm0/s640/79976219_2390572494525920_8036079214648098816_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>You are kind and gentle. Silly and smart.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Tough and teasing.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>You love your mom and dad.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And most importantly,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>you love our Lord.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>You're well on your way to becoming an awesome man.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5uZoZhKR4nHTABSn2-dBjbegZjVF7wT_sOWqTlvHW6FAsyD0Ev74-X5e_ncU7HwVKKX2IRYkGyxypZzOLCQvZpIAq1Teir5zW7lTTYZZWVX1ycTy7j0ccYzTr2EFh2C5vmjiq_TOV5k/s1600/79521155_1035089120160666_7679955490129838080_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5uZoZhKR4nHTABSn2-dBjbegZjVF7wT_sOWqTlvHW6FAsyD0Ev74-X5e_ncU7HwVKKX2IRYkGyxypZzOLCQvZpIAq1Teir5zW7lTTYZZWVX1ycTy7j0ccYzTr2EFh2C5vmjiq_TOV5k/s640/79521155_1035089120160666_7679955490129838080_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Happy Birthday</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46eLeTX0Kvhlu6d9Jvs3RR1tf4Y1XQOkVL1PwPbOWYDf_5Il32DYs_vHG_aC3JpsVU0NS5XIAczELixH00zTF_LfUABVUadAs-1uF-pU7RGuaierBi3ySU6CbNuSG7gWVRs_jDOe04Jw/s1600/78598808_2500238043632689_2499491015732232192_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46eLeTX0Kvhlu6d9Jvs3RR1tf4Y1XQOkVL1PwPbOWYDf_5Il32DYs_vHG_aC3JpsVU0NS5XIAczELixH00zTF_LfUABVUadAs-1uF-pU7RGuaierBi3ySU6CbNuSG7gWVRs_jDOe04Jw/s400/78598808_2500238043632689_2499491015732232192_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-74261869638373515532019-11-25T12:33:00.000-06:002019-11-25T12:33:03.011-06:00Terry Frey's jeweled butterly, a finished quilt<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
drumroll, please!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After 145 hours</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of cutting, sewing, pressing, and quilting,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a 4 day battle with bleeding dye,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
lots of sweat,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
maths</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and even some tears,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we have a finished</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one of a kind</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
quilt.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This quilt contains</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
117 different fabrics,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(many of them fussy cut)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 battings</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Quilters Dream 100% wool on top of Pellon 80/20)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
6 different threads,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and is</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- quite possibly -</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">the most epic quilt</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will ever make.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4IH_BHqwrvtdCXec0KSuHNGBl7oqRNrTI9IDkypa-D4_NnYSIxawmQWyBQdl-4VBoJLqCTkcuyl6BOU491r1_pAvnTqtbXRrmCGuRD2KhdcT0L2zKaLhucwcSqbv5JUiLXNLW3gkQ9I/s1600/76902293_422673781746185_808188802156724224_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4IH_BHqwrvtdCXec0KSuHNGBl7oqRNrTI9IDkypa-D4_NnYSIxawmQWyBQdl-4VBoJLqCTkcuyl6BOU491r1_pAvnTqtbXRrmCGuRD2KhdcT0L2zKaLhucwcSqbv5JUiLXNLW3gkQ9I/s640/76902293_422673781746185_808188802156724224_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Terry contacted me Oct 23rd, 2018</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and asked if she could commission me to make a butterfly quilt.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We messaged back and forth,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it turned out</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that what she really wanted</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was a jewel-tone version </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ZYj_RyKDtc/"> Tula Pink's butterfly quilt</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So that is what I set out to make.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q2CZS_v9xcGJXo634D4Qz9fETEM8LLjj-FrrZhicGWkqr5ZpjN_HPIVgv3keyvlOBdgiu0A5bRB5K2EIg3lnykyu9XwsHFBsSbmsH2jxFv65Swb3pRulkF1GFWdsqpW4sZtlENKZu50/s1600/78648408_1344738915705984_4095409444546936832_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1375" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q2CZS_v9xcGJXo634D4Qz9fETEM8LLjj-FrrZhicGWkqr5ZpjN_HPIVgv3keyvlOBdgiu0A5bRB5K2EIg3lnykyu9XwsHFBsSbmsH2jxFv65Swb3pRulkF1GFWdsqpW4sZtlENKZu50/s640/78648408_1344738915705984_4095409444546936832_n.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I spent a little over a month searching for</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and collecting fabrics,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and made my first block</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on Nov 28th</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4iiBdzsc8qRB0YVvkch69RdGFjjhQI2nnBNYncCmliOySsGoPCVVUz-U7MY1A7y_oeko0lrZEUXZHXJJiLB27-247QK-jhjhoGrhrV0BcGK3Fk97Ks8pNoB9bKLED0vDFVJeLwXUM34/s1600/77108666_760894534409188_2657195733735702528_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1600" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4iiBdzsc8qRB0YVvkch69RdGFjjhQI2nnBNYncCmliOySsGoPCVVUz-U7MY1A7y_oeko0lrZEUXZHXJJiLB27-247QK-jhjhoGrhrV0BcGK3Fk97Ks8pNoB9bKLED0vDFVJeLwXUM34/s640/77108666_760894534409188_2657195733735702528_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Terry wanted me to </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
'put my mark' on her quilt,</div>
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which I very much appreciated,</div>
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because,</div>
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as you all know,</div>
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I'm not so great with patterns in general.</div>
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And honestly,</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm not the biggest fan of that particular pattern</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(shhhhhh).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZhJx57d9iJ0PfqoOzTN4dsf2d_kG6WOtV-OPss2jT_wS_YhI1Ukk4ngQaYTXGBrZU_rCGZAkfMDbXDzpefoFatJGHsTq8qjUhvyWBN1Q8w1VzVag2RiIDnlqtcSRZHlykVuqCTdyLzE/s1600/75576349_529935751184807_682157500866232320_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZhJx57d9iJ0PfqoOzTN4dsf2d_kG6WOtV-OPss2jT_wS_YhI1Ukk4ngQaYTXGBrZU_rCGZAkfMDbXDzpefoFatJGHsTq8qjUhvyWBN1Q8w1VzVag2RiIDnlqtcSRZHlykVuqCTdyLzE/s640/75576349_529935751184807_682157500866232320_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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I bought the pattern,</div>
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but I took an awful lot of liberties with it 😉</div>
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<br /></div>
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(And then,</div>
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thanks to cutting mistakes,</div>
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bad maths,</div>
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and who knows what all,</div>
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I took several more liberties...🙄)</div>
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<br /></div>
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I swapped out blocks I wasn't crazy about</div>
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and replaced them with a bunch of self-drafted ones</div>
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(and self-drafted versions of others)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJhAdN9f6GoNJlSICF_nDp0DxcQhADVkZwg0_hyphenhyphenXCL2dUH6hUW-edJXneNOUeW2CMZql6EnPRZXpG-31ciapDimE87sW-0l25NO3RMtkDDarO_TB1va86Ulx9zJ7KrS3b9jqWDoEZJ_8/s1600/74667325_2801592849883822_2600985684256751616_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJhAdN9f6GoNJlSICF_nDp0DxcQhADVkZwg0_hyphenhyphenXCL2dUH6hUW-edJXneNOUeW2CMZql6EnPRZXpG-31ciapDimE87sW-0l25NO3RMtkDDarO_TB1va86Ulx9zJ7KrS3b9jqWDoEZJ_8/s640/74667325_2801592849883822_2600985684256751616_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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that were either meaningful,</div>
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or would help me create the look I was aiming for,</div>
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for the butterfly.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-79BRKIXSId1UzdJ_L2N4yVGgWQ6_Nhn6HIiAFH6yRiNFvI2KwM2sTeUyNW1lhK6xKr4vG-6rsOeOfhtUAwaiqEEeED6wO6IDEOyXMa86W0HZvB49wE3SJmTnsL6lTWoKI8iZsRLF0oc/s1600/75540285_2351385518324044_5423554787218030592_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1462" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-79BRKIXSId1UzdJ_L2N4yVGgWQ6_Nhn6HIiAFH6yRiNFvI2KwM2sTeUyNW1lhK6xKr4vG-6rsOeOfhtUAwaiqEEeED6wO6IDEOyXMa86W0HZvB49wE3SJmTnsL6lTWoKI8iZsRLF0oc/s640/75540285_2351385518324044_5423554787218030592_n.jpg" width="584" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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At a glance,</div>
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the quilt looks like most of the other </div>
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<a href="http://instagram.com/explore/tags/tulapinkbutterflyquilt/">Tula Pink Butterfly quilts</a></div>
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but when you look more closely,</div>
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you can see I changed things up a good bit.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MATLj7Lwd_1RE6188sbp4_miUoTf1xyhcf8VZKC81KONyNEwuIQDpiIyF63Qv4MR0M_lCxhz_HrXrRgWSQ1sskNplt6m3Vl1IIVYoV3DPGUwiaSj6frXRnRdbtxRyj_Vntb1de5bj2w/s1600/76693319_421485418548246_2446524263562215424_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MATLj7Lwd_1RE6188sbp4_miUoTf1xyhcf8VZKC81KONyNEwuIQDpiIyF63Qv4MR0M_lCxhz_HrXrRgWSQ1sskNplt6m3Vl1IIVYoV3DPGUwiaSj6frXRnRdbtxRyj_Vntb1de5bj2w/s640/76693319_421485418548246_2446524263562215424_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I worked in pairs,</div>
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making mirror images of each block,</div>
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and made the heart borders </div>
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when we couldn't find a fabric that would work.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4NcWPVfEyV61WzhLNxB8Rx36XsDSCPlduXQBsUT8fbVgkoPdrSWhPLOdXGWPmRY0lHbRRKItGB5-_WOTieT1wqclnJ4v6MygUnr2itcj32lng3k-QvPAPT2n27uqu08MzHEpnGdN_As/s1600/77192886_463784977847113_8199782120768405504_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4NcWPVfEyV61WzhLNxB8Rx36XsDSCPlduXQBsUT8fbVgkoPdrSWhPLOdXGWPmRY0lHbRRKItGB5-_WOTieT1wqclnJ4v6MygUnr2itcj32lng3k-QvPAPT2n27uqu08MzHEpnGdN_As/s640/77192886_463784977847113_8199782120768405504_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I finished the (3 sections) top</div>
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in mid-February.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZae7_P6jOXboYT9ZY_6PjJwCEs19T-wvHjyKocHi_vok6QS9o1cZJl-PKIXwKPQ2Vwc2XScvPHvwjUDURpne31-GoocB0GSrC2-wjhp5dk7syzf65stQRo1oSw8ttiCjty2kvQBVvuU/s1600/78955363_664241820649414_4421161161802645504_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZae7_P6jOXboYT9ZY_6PjJwCEs19T-wvHjyKocHi_vok6QS9o1cZJl-PKIXwKPQ2Vwc2XScvPHvwjUDURpne31-GoocB0GSrC2-wjhp5dk7syzf65stQRo1oSw8ttiCjty2kvQBVvuU/s640/78955363_664241820649414_4421161161802645504_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I basted each side separately</div>
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because there was no way </div>
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I was going to attempt to quilt</div>
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a queen-sized</div>
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double-batted quilt</div>
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on my domestic machine.</div>
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(little side note:</div>
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I thread basted one side</div>
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and that took for-e-ver,</div>
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so I spray basted the other.</div>
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The thread basted side has several small tucks and folds</div>
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quilted into the back.</div>
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So - unless you're hand-quilting,</div>
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I'd recommend spray basting with 505)</div>
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<br /></div>
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I started quilting the wing portions on February 26th</div>
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(doing my best to quilt mirror images on each side)</div>
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and finished them March 7th</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2Xngh92_O6cwLzVZFPQb58nVZRIVzDeaYAZ2eo6mVSKO5g7wkTU8-N91ejZO3clDRSXbcS2pQpJUw_rU9RKXjymBtmhBhYLQ-pWqbS3fdGIbRx2oQmUul9fNz19ksLx1ZNKTbF1cyFQ/s1600/78365561_1429590560541730_9149557053868474368_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2Xngh92_O6cwLzVZFPQb58nVZRIVzDeaYAZ2eo6mVSKO5g7wkTU8-N91ejZO3clDRSXbcS2pQpJUw_rU9RKXjymBtmhBhYLQ-pWqbS3fdGIbRx2oQmUul9fNz19ksLx1ZNKTbF1cyFQ/s640/78365561_1429590560541730_9149557053868474368_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
We<a href="https://pursuingjoy.blogspot.com/2019/03/everyone-meet-lucy.html"> purchased an old longarm on March 8th.</a></div>
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For a few weeks,</div>
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I quilted the background fabric on my Janome</div>
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while also practicing quilting on the longarm.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Every time I finished a section of background,</div>
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I'd add hand quilting with silk button twist</div>
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to outline the butterfly.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPpzQ-6wZ031NFIv1_9P-k6RwL7hx3jWL3LaL3qEOxwxIldPu-OeM_ZX25nyg4Ghv5ArGFEcUyMG7tsKiMo2nnqsqytrW6xgDugwlR0XgCeYEQs5IvDvQc8d4YO_QxnCtCVQTJfXNjms/s1600/78142075_587989058623211_2703649743526952960_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPpzQ-6wZ031NFIv1_9P-k6RwL7hx3jWL3LaL3qEOxwxIldPu-OeM_ZX25nyg4Ghv5ArGFEcUyMG7tsKiMo2nnqsqytrW6xgDugwlR0XgCeYEQs5IvDvQc8d4YO_QxnCtCVQTJfXNjms/s640/78142075_587989058623211_2703649743526952960_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Terry could take or leave the hand-quilting,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but I figured it wouldn't <i>really</i> have my mark on it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if I didn't add a least a little 😏)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9THNqH2wol4XfNt5r38QXH6rr9xo7n2ZTrA_neKzxIldWhZqBV71UueqPmiEdkY43exfPiEJUpI-MD9qYHtgsQh8qWGoqYsMBWZgPIckd_9DaO_Ib8fKqRyAUIoDdys38ZSPPhqLHuYc/s1600/74240111_1862923207186873_1335171441015914496_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9THNqH2wol4XfNt5r38QXH6rr9xo7n2ZTrA_neKzxIldWhZqBV71UueqPmiEdkY43exfPiEJUpI-MD9qYHtgsQh8qWGoqYsMBWZgPIckd_9DaO_Ib8fKqRyAUIoDdys38ZSPPhqLHuYc/s640/74240111_1862923207186873_1335171441015914496_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Terry was in no rush for the quilt</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I had some other quilts that needed to be made</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to celebrate a niece's graduation</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the arrival of a new nephew,</div>
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so I put hers on hold</div>
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while I worked on those.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Somewhere around that time,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my left shoulder started hurting really badly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I had seriously reduced range of motion,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which made pushing that quilt</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
through a domestic machine near impossible.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It suddenly became <i>really</i> important</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to improve my longarm quilting,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because the longer my shoulder hurt,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the more I wanted to be able to finish the butterfly quilt</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on the longarm.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I focused on getting my longarms skills</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on par with my domestic machine quilting skills.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuqlfq_iyrZKrnQ_4DpLdEqQQLf6rO6jYgZ8fQorkSD24FmBGsnW32387mdNsvpDy9S35F8hw5mQm4GKq9Stibi6TRH421ssIEOPQG07LClCulHa4fXLQCR_QZKZAVm7FxrSq2fFr_VQ/s1600/76994379_689406444921966_3988962498341502976_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuqlfq_iyrZKrnQ_4DpLdEqQQLf6rO6jYgZ8fQorkSD24FmBGsnW32387mdNsvpDy9S35F8hw5mQm4GKq9Stibi6TRH421ssIEOPQG07LClCulHa4fXLQCR_QZKZAVm7FxrSq2fFr_VQ/s640/76994379_689406444921966_3988962498341502976_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Longarming was a little painful,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but not nearly as much as regular machine quilting,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it had the benefit of being soooo much faster.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When my longarming was<i> finally</i> up to snuff,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I loaded up the unfinished side</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and completed it amazingly fast,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and even achieved reasonably decent symmetry.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpIDa87yZ2TT_MRoesAXP8DbKYwDWFVcD_IDOGAqrlbMG50Mt0JU9DBxVnKd_hMl20kuK1Ty9mlWRgsI3y4avySp7zw0DVwoxjRED97vUjygQbI2fk-eKLPfptp6A-ABb1hUmhumxgD0/s1600/77009926_1383099775225598_7165844610558722048_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpIDa87yZ2TT_MRoesAXP8DbKYwDWFVcD_IDOGAqrlbMG50Mt0JU9DBxVnKd_hMl20kuK1Ty9mlWRgsI3y4avySp7zw0DVwoxjRED97vUjygQbI2fk-eKLPfptp6A-ABb1hUmhumxgD0/s640/77009926_1383099775225598_7165844610558722048_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then I <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt34_4rH7dG/">joined the sides to the center</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and finished the rest of the quilting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in just a few days.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVup-FWwrobn8CRmc7xmwhtQ-ye4kJ-9jrL19-AN2xu4TZo5TReGqFAen10wbgdm0MDGa4b6xw81H0J0G3BfcJ37N-Fs47UWU7BVy9Nckghds3-UXbTXsXK26rGVFwlhKU3QWbuu9gwQE/s1600/76705155_443800633206867_967161995801395200_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1272" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVup-FWwrobn8CRmc7xmwhtQ-ye4kJ-9jrL19-AN2xu4TZo5TReGqFAen10wbgdm0MDGa4b6xw81H0J0G3BfcJ37N-Fs47UWU7BVy9Nckghds3-UXbTXsXK26rGVFwlhKU3QWbuu9gwQE/s640/76705155_443800633206867_967161995801395200_n.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(this color is soo wrong 😑 )</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because I quilted the remaining background so fast</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had lots of hand quilting to catch up on...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdLw3t1NXmQrWYwG0DMHtGsWyY4Syzf24aSKbDrqPJNTIHlofcF7s77HLD9T-G7jzhHiivc6jlbFL-ImxNOD-uhofwyzbutdrrQ-dOaOsiwNncoAjNQMV8Kgjt81vqIDUUPUYWXTS2nc/s1600/74911776_429423431069252_1310035411204046848_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdLw3t1NXmQrWYwG0DMHtGsWyY4Syzf24aSKbDrqPJNTIHlofcF7s77HLD9T-G7jzhHiivc6jlbFL-ImxNOD-uhofwyzbutdrrQ-dOaOsiwNncoAjNQMV8Kgjt81vqIDUUPUYWXTS2nc/s640/74911776_429423431069252_1310035411204046848_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then I made and attached the binding over the course of a few days,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and sewed it down with big stitches.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNNnrJGkLmzdr-GzgIw4XNcczmJ6AgnIuK_OxCZLyXrk-PkVV2tHMkiS6q6aJtYsEf_odO10JQL-uGNxjc3c1SWleN5O7j_gLrKoS-K2kY8zFdN5TBKk-FDdsT2667jWKohHEs1eQ0-4/s1600/78032816_2475449816061646_5022359323708227584_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1390" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNNnrJGkLmzdr-GzgIw4XNcczmJ6AgnIuK_OxCZLyXrk-PkVV2tHMkiS6q6aJtYsEf_odO10JQL-uGNxjc3c1SWleN5O7j_gLrKoS-K2kY8zFdN5TBKk-FDdsT2667jWKohHEs1eQ0-4/s640/78032816_2475449816061646_5022359323708227584_n.jpg" width="556" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I finished the quilt on Tuesday, Nov 19th,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
took a quick celebratory photo,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and tossed it in the wash.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6EnC8nKKSloXtKzPixcZgvK5xG9tIrrfcgV6TJd7DFTaLpPxK94yvBLN8dFnYeezSmk4YcMijTkK7WPvJXD58ZElVCFxEl8ZgdPeWir82eQkVuoMG4qLrvtL3KHYYD5nj6nZ4AI6NWo/s1600/76782739_2831342633654822_4660797981614669824_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6EnC8nKKSloXtKzPixcZgvK5xG9tIrrfcgV6TJd7DFTaLpPxK94yvBLN8dFnYeezSmk4YcMijTkK7WPvJXD58ZElVCFxEl8ZgdPeWir82eQkVuoMG4qLrvtL3KHYYD5nj6nZ4AI6NWo/s640/76782739_2831342633654822_4660797981614669824_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To my absolute horror,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it came out with pink splotches </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
where there shouldn't have been any pink.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After many soaks and washings</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it was restored to its proper glory on Friday.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTJM6paUpeGJGXK7y6CwRsC-_9Z42Y90dmHGwNlbx6FW43p7c4u32LBgHeek29Ar0rTtEITb7jWXnfLqi_MARs5vIBmUGac6RDf_wfV_lwtl7-klZK2pSPQLI3dZGCjjHow4igsgokaE/s1600/78483430_557830984765065_8495291233831223296_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTJM6paUpeGJGXK7y6CwRsC-_9Z42Y90dmHGwNlbx6FW43p7c4u32LBgHeek29Ar0rTtEITb7jWXnfLqi_MARs5vIBmUGac6RDf_wfV_lwtl7-klZK2pSPQLI3dZGCjjHow4igsgokaE/s640/78483430_557830984765065_8495291233831223296_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Whew!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScekzw19BqvNFcgCP46L65MwelAplO4c_PQufkjn-AewoD-vLreYb1F5-E6-G4JdXGf5-EwYdWN_tbVIwDy3qoBTo9oIsKci-fb3HXdC_i7rBgigr4Y7KELAhJc4Jc-CV0TfwOkpD8nU/s1600/78555545_438513387073974_2754871935815909376_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1133" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScekzw19BqvNFcgCP46L65MwelAplO4c_PQufkjn-AewoD-vLreYb1F5-E6-G4JdXGf5-EwYdWN_tbVIwDy3qoBTo9oIsKci-fb3HXdC_i7rBgigr4Y7KELAhJc4Jc-CV0TfwOkpD8nU/s640/78555545_438513387073974_2754871935815909376_n.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And now </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
almost exactly one year after I started it,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Terry's Jeweled Butterfly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is finally ready</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to go home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
💗</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I will be able to <a href="http://pursuingjoy.blogspot.com/2014/09/my-dream.html">donate 3 sewing machines to Rahab's Rope</a>,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and start saving for the next one 😁.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-AdE7CE80s1dvfY79rfQF_8NHsMD-OcECfCTBEpE4ocvwQUOJK0y5MNxQt1SJ6A88yoJx96kHy5xLWQoFZ1JhWUKaz0eIKmSGXJYO-MhyphenhyphenlEi3p0dViP7R9x6PTHVP9zvxxyQcwgffUU/s1600/78227886_1114346298774058_4666884302460420096_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-AdE7CE80s1dvfY79rfQF_8NHsMD-OcECfCTBEpE4ocvwQUOJK0y5MNxQt1SJ6A88yoJx96kHy5xLWQoFZ1JhWUKaz0eIKmSGXJYO-MhyphenhyphenlEi3p0dViP7R9x6PTHVP9zvxxyQcwgffUU/s640/78227886_1114346298774058_4666884302460420096_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(You can find progress pictures</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with associated stories, whines, celebrations</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and thought processes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
under the tag <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/terrysjeweledbutterflyquilt/">terrys jeweled butterfly quilt</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/terrysjeweledbutterflyquilt/">(all one word though)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/terrysjeweledbutterflyquilt/">on Instagram</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxLQwI4_KbBkdsMmtOO-4CsV1S1nzeRS_EbuaTl9Q535U2cZSrdxxRj0ey1Vy18DQ91miYyl4bxUcQgO-JhWWYad536PQOFWDxccyyxH_N_79hnUcWZQjbMLZVOR5yjGYovIEFT1sM2k/s1600/78396618_769024100231056_4302484553919889408_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxLQwI4_KbBkdsMmtOO-4CsV1S1nzeRS_EbuaTl9Q535U2cZSrdxxRj0ey1Vy18DQ91miYyl4bxUcQgO-JhWWYad536PQOFWDxccyyxH_N_79hnUcWZQjbMLZVOR5yjGYovIEFT1sM2k/s640/78396618_769024100231056_4302484553919889408_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Terry ~ this quilt is filled with love and hope and prayers</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and fond memories.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Thanks for hiring me to make it for you </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and helping me save lives.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I love you!!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mbkYUjH-7gtjL_0X15CbX4GtDPaaMYRadZxP88_yr4VIvwKsZKX_yfCNYLeHgzcj-9kl5A3GBzOb7FGgNAZDMJtvzkMnynLP14IXHzsm2VFxrNDORx9v1QrUfobPq76FmQ5QzEnmbaA/s1600/78091511_498730337653974_8086019685616713728_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1418" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mbkYUjH-7gtjL_0X15CbX4GtDPaaMYRadZxP88_yr4VIvwKsZKX_yfCNYLeHgzcj-9kl5A3GBzOb7FGgNAZDMJtvzkMnynLP14IXHzsm2VFxrNDORx9v1QrUfobPq76FmQ5QzEnmbaA/s320/78091511_498730337653974_8086019685616713728_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-75494057635829324752019-11-07T13:53:00.001-06:002019-11-07T19:40:51.819-06:00becoming a longarmer<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Picking up where we left off yesterday...<br />
(this lying around all day is good for something, I suppose)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDMeL3JTVdT9EFXoOoN2P1u5Edv4SBb1QMVzACAi2uV1AtLlqpGIn6IDMftvOySPdX6zC1jCl8o7usgEhn7lOOvDwHmlfafjBWRwMEP22KV9JZqLGXsW_SES7ZZHalwXsmc2yIb06BHg/s1600/76722741_1684693131666149_6090359158685564928_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDMeL3JTVdT9EFXoOoN2P1u5Edv4SBb1QMVzACAi2uV1AtLlqpGIn6IDMftvOySPdX6zC1jCl8o7usgEhn7lOOvDwHmlfafjBWRwMEP22KV9JZqLGXsW_SES7ZZHalwXsmc2yIb06BHg/s640/76722741_1684693131666149_6090359158685564928_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="638" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
While <i>deeply</i> grateful for the opportunity to practice and learn</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on other people's tops,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was starting to feel </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that if I continued this much longer,<br />
I was going to be getting the short end of the stick.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I totally recognize I could not have gotten to where I am</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as a quilter</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
without these ladies allowing me to quilt </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
less than amazing quilting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on their carefully pieced tops.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but<i> because</i> of that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was actually starting to get</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- dare I say -</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">good</span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DbKTwU2Qo8neOo5CEqy6pVKbzN3dUpSakRHiQKifVFAekHAuMw8g56wTysnA9ntLNEJVOXFcd0g2PbqcOp-9PTVWhRYLtkxLp5hfF3BPA2dQ6-rt3Rw7-aKn3YYxUDnm6GcUiJp2zow/s1600/74335768_2358200137777374_4089218957859356672_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DbKTwU2Qo8neOo5CEqy6pVKbzN3dUpSakRHiQKifVFAekHAuMw8g56wTysnA9ntLNEJVOXFcd0g2PbqcOp-9PTVWhRYLtkxLp5hfF3BPA2dQ6-rt3Rw7-aKn3YYxUDnm6GcUiJp2zow/s640/74335768_2358200137777374_4089218957859356672_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't feel like I could just go on </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
indefinitely</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
quilting for free,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
no matter how badly I wanted</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to be able to continue to practice regularly.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2EOX3-0bll35_qq10JozA7lrQHEbIFK_u6ZiVuOQ37DxijK_0JOiaBHNWG8xA7a_v8lxFEJnYS0PDRI_C77e3XGRgdC8whEOP4MsXwDQnQ-07Fak3iATA0iwiKyQahpGpf6G_tYzvzU/s640/74269991_394515471433388_8928653889264156672_n.jpg" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are only so many hours a week </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can dedicate to this hobby/ministry.<br />
and while I was loving the improvement to my quilting,<br />
I wasn't doing anything to help improve lives for my RR ladies.<br />
(Not that I always have to be - but it<i> is</i> always on my radar)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mjxVEMPrzuvdtnIG9E7esgG2rwX3wuQZJOLpBkhiYVqZlmuSADyu-fdNZB5W2EBAh91TwLGKWNUv-PuII9_BfUubBmuMfq2A3xLgbyMAHpO1_RBA1f2ufct4kJ_fMN9kzlE1oYeFDuw/s640/69540312_448785049048485_4879860318940954624_n.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
I started thinking about maybe quilting for pay,<br />
but at a reduced beginner rate.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It'd be a win for me,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because I'd still be getting practice,<br />
but I'd also be able to earn some money</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for more machines for Rahab's rope,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it'd be a win for clients,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because they'd be getting decent quilting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- with a little more character </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
than computer generated edge to edge </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or pantograph quilting -</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for less $$</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(and that money would be going to a good cause!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIK0keW1VGkAx_VojYlpayDp_WWJudjTpgRHqVbxfwaTh4Y1B_Rimqt3PJV8AqKOosh56hnomzpZd3HHXklk2E8DkYRXplX_DRhYsjo2T_3AoJvr9_qgBqmCTHufAjEFZELtVMXAEHHQ/s1600/74794290_545773499599034_3374766622936924160_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIK0keW1VGkAx_VojYlpayDp_WWJudjTpgRHqVbxfwaTh4Y1B_Rimqt3PJV8AqKOosh56hnomzpZd3HHXklk2E8DkYRXplX_DRhYsjo2T_3AoJvr9_qgBqmCTHufAjEFZELtVMXAEHHQ/s640/74794290_545773499599034_3374766622936924160_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I also had been thinking</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as much as I love Lucy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and am<i> so grateful</i> and thrilled to have this old longarm,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd really like to be able to do ruler work.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(translated - I'd like a different longarm someday</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">in the not too distant future)</span><br />
<br />
It's something that I'd been looking forward to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
about owning a longarm machine.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't realize</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that without a stitch regulator,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ruler work would be difficult (at best)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and when you add a very heavy machine to the equation,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it's next to impossible.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
So I wondered -<br />
would it be okay if I saved some of that money<br />
<i>for myself</i><br />
??<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqLoL1V1AugQxki3Hyc6BuoATgG1mRMKD3fO-JYnMZ5aQ-8IX4UtDMNJCmB5pZadijQbAhsFXL8eHPKF3fcaSEz834a8Yu-Z9n95bmHzIQ8hbrObYpTJVPm1mChWJzsSAGtTMlxixW7I/s1600/74910720_682629652265501_1500303716547297280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqLoL1V1AugQxki3Hyc6BuoATgG1mRMKD3fO-JYnMZ5aQ-8IX4UtDMNJCmB5pZadijQbAhsFXL8eHPKF3fcaSEz834a8Yu-Z9n95bmHzIQ8hbrObYpTJVPm1mChWJzsSAGtTMlxixW7I/s640/74910720_682629652265501_1500303716547297280_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
God is always so good to us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Every big decision we've had,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
where we might be inclined to not see exactly eye to eye,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He has brought us -separately- to complete agreement.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Where one of us starts the conversation</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(with perhaps a bit of trepidation)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the other one says,</div>
"Yes! That's exactly what I was thinking too."<br />
<br />
The end of July,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tyler told me he'd been thinking.<br />
<br />
He thought that I should think about </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
quilting for pay.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And that I shouldn't donate all of the money,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but keep some of my earnings</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to save for another longarm.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgglXtxZP332ZeLitE1SNvNDC4Un3LEtsnC9-ZupBrlV7Moy5Mn-fQF5s4t42YzoSN1SYemRQ-TubVuLDeKY1krebrNQycfhCR7Nx7ARuaf3a_Yzmh-DCMrlT1ub0a5KkOO8SvmkXagcc/s1600/73200134_2164467707192477_6007892363513430016_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgglXtxZP332ZeLitE1SNvNDC4Un3LEtsnC9-ZupBrlV7Moy5Mn-fQF5s4t42YzoSN1SYemRQ-TubVuLDeKY1krebrNQycfhCR7Nx7ARuaf3a_Yzmh-DCMrlT1ub0a5KkOO8SvmkXagcc/s640/73200134_2164467707192477_6007892363513430016_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a horribly pieced and badly cared for vintage quilt top I purchased off Etsy.<br />
Quilting this showed me that I just might actually have<i> a gift</i>!<br />
I'll share more about this one when it reaches the top of the to-be-bound stack ;-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't want to just throw myself out there.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I don't want to spend my precious sewing time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
quilting ugly tops.<br />
Just being honest here.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I was thinking and pondering and praying </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
about how to proceed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqtJeQmgKiCID_3UqLSZLq9vfp6dnT5xcoBtrq0XM27Qbm8iASM3VsBtohFhNbuIztnzfPcUp0vpougd4yEFOQiZpXoAUlJ2B9aKxLhaemAlKPxLnDGTUx-Z0J87aHMs1GhEB8KEHqiM/s1600/73423422_556152751812632_8489712354781560832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqtJeQmgKiCID_3UqLSZLq9vfp6dnT5xcoBtrq0XM27Qbm8iASM3VsBtohFhNbuIztnzfPcUp0vpougd4yEFOQiZpXoAUlJ2B9aKxLhaemAlKPxLnDGTUx-Z0J87aHMs1GhEB8KEHqiM/s640/73423422_556152751812632_8489712354781560832_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the quilting on the colored portion and the right side background fabric was done on my domestic.<br />
I finally got good enough, and brave enough (and tired enough of this quilt <i>needing to be finished</i>...)<br />
to figure out how to put the partially quilted thing on the longarm.<br />
The top portion was done by Lucy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Three days after Tyler and I had that conversation,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I got a message from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mcgewa/">Mary</a>.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She wanted to discuss<br />
hiring me to quilt for her.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
💗<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7c0uKNSBwPSv316K8riFjGPUQGK6hNifTzCy5CXvqoDtNhjcSRYrnZLHVRBT-JRP6rBoboBzVScBxlEjEPfpu4ESJ7ol9Zfb1tnNsRY_uCyluZJcUeQ11wJmIzE5VQtx5TPzpKQV2Xk/s1600/74790881_429440391087229_5435858262203301888_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7c0uKNSBwPSv316K8riFjGPUQGK6hNifTzCy5CXvqoDtNhjcSRYrnZLHVRBT-JRP6rBoboBzVScBxlEjEPfpu4ESJ7ol9Zfb1tnNsRY_uCyluZJcUeQ11wJmIzE5VQtx5TPzpKQV2Xk/s640/74790881_429440391087229_5435858262203301888_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-41261297561097652182019-11-06T19:10:00.000-06:002019-11-06T19:10:34.319-06:00lovin' Lucy<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6w-EC9WgnnJs_J-_684qSmA7ifpa4Mu5J2Aq9UjPripFivXsKCE7eSTRrS4io2G6muUGTyOnHGRzYx7W7KmqCnEZ3Uw93FPaw-ZUOkaSBcO9z3b2HMu1FflFDl3Z2jplnzC2TpjyG8Os/s1600/74323319_715846912268284_9152886868998619136_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6w-EC9WgnnJs_J-_684qSmA7ifpa4Mu5J2Aq9UjPripFivXsKCE7eSTRrS4io2G6muUGTyOnHGRzYx7W7KmqCnEZ3Uw93FPaw-ZUOkaSBcO9z3b2HMu1FflFDl3Z2jplnzC2TpjyG8Os/s640/74323319_715846912268284_9152886868998619136_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I just can't even express how much </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am loving</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
having a longarm.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRS1hqb2wM9BV6WfCsYL3jxF3I6oG6ywhWAOCL_E_fC9I6Xg5NofOGOZ6k0BikjtodT1enfhTp5s6XCTBJHbRQs4nrnWJYSHQRVdgSP7mCQVmtbE2mjF64mpNR8fEE34tMkFzsdYiSak/s1600/73528634_431533317556083_4985992435453657088_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRS1hqb2wM9BV6WfCsYL3jxF3I6oG6ywhWAOCL_E_fC9I6Xg5NofOGOZ6k0BikjtodT1enfhTp5s6XCTBJHbRQs4nrnWJYSHQRVdgSP7mCQVmtbE2mjF64mpNR8fEE34tMkFzsdYiSak/s640/73528634_431533317556083_4985992435453657088_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes I'll be in the middle of quilting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and just feel </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>This!</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This</i> is what I was made for.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgug_eYO95CtE1IRp1xyq67l3wjpgGkc6uCo3HeOLVpHXDdyddMgrUtAXFYUwOyj1OuqAkT0sd5iPyais_7bx4LeXNUNwdnx8etXUl9FTBvzRBpf7rR-HGrMjzkoYxs4gQYdMYHszxLxXg/s1600/75435773_2152833935020873_8759335429368446976_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgug_eYO95CtE1IRp1xyq67l3wjpgGkc6uCo3HeOLVpHXDdyddMgrUtAXFYUwOyj1OuqAkT0sd5iPyais_7bx4LeXNUNwdnx8etXUl9FTBvzRBpf7rR-HGrMjzkoYxs4gQYdMYHszxLxXg/s640/75435773_2152833935020873_8759335429368446976_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the first few days after buying Lucy,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had several moments of </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"What have we done?!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I just wasted almost $2000!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but then Tyler replaced the wheels</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(which we sort of expected he'd need to do)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I bought a Towa gauge</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and got in a little more practice</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUywsNTtpzUPyOBwDUbsqqri_Jp-UgloQmAWIhEexG6vSmDIh1iyCBpDARlPNMPFFM-2dYsfgpVD1bl4cc9Gmuwg1Ez1E2vRTYzOHhPyUlXyH35rZ54jxjsh30b-F0WKtfkMmnIDZC5M/s1600/75264940_535421460337911_3108155952512106496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUywsNTtpzUPyOBwDUbsqqri_Jp-UgloQmAWIhEexG6vSmDIh1iyCBpDARlPNMPFFM-2dYsfgpVD1bl4cc9Gmuwg1Ez1E2vRTYzOHhPyUlXyH35rZ54jxjsh30b-F0WKtfkMmnIDZC5M/s640/75264940_535421460337911_3108155952512106496_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started having so.much.fun.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8G63jUHeAEAqkkp0S_KxmTyW_dUQKR70r9sFP1-5puAa8R-9G09NkzJtCEbXzQcLQFw9JfAo3Z-xQnzmRNsp75J17RwAZqiMGpQl5bUu5tQdW9fpunUcusbG6aPu-1Vkx4S3so720NE/s1600/73472788_2393717460895182_26637851026259968_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8G63jUHeAEAqkkp0S_KxmTyW_dUQKR70r9sFP1-5puAa8R-9G09NkzJtCEbXzQcLQFw9JfAo3Z-xQnzmRNsp75J17RwAZqiMGpQl5bUu5tQdW9fpunUcusbG6aPu-1Vkx4S3so720NE/s640/73472788_2393717460895182_26637851026259968_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I quickly figured out </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I would better retain my improvements</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if I could quilt fairly regularly.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But I couldn't quite figure out how to </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
piece lots of quilt tops</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in order to practice quilting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at least once every week to ten days.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMV9UWe9YaOBLSGH3f4iymy2ZPCHRQP1ZavQVsKEFyiO688muwpp5-UwXpADoxe5kjT2Vmyqdp3kbRjbPDktskvY5RrnpfB8v_hlv4wU2WPEYLx39iAtSqniYYqKCAUswhEqYjaRuWyg/s1600/76248602_419343498758530_2336699196729458688_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMV9UWe9YaOBLSGH3f4iymy2ZPCHRQP1ZavQVsKEFyiO688muwpp5-UwXpADoxe5kjT2Vmyqdp3kbRjbPDktskvY5RrnpfB8v_hlv4wU2WPEYLx39iAtSqniYYqKCAUswhEqYjaRuWyg/s640/76248602_419343498758530_2336699196729458688_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then, some Instagram friends</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
lovingly and generously sent me some of <i>their</i> tops</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to practice on,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and assured me that they would cherish any imperfections</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(of which I had assured them </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
there would be plenty!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will always be <i>so</i> grateful for those women.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Their faith in me,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and their graciousness towards me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
allowed me to increase my skills</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so much more rapidly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
than if I were 'going it alone'.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQteYKE8Up_aGUJDcJHqPSEoL3LBeJnh1TIDxTK6d3AXz0H450W0nGtvkjKOf_eY7mbbIMPQG3RfgWY71F2iF5NkqEgNkxJfK1cOlbO_Neu9hhHEwQRBbMq6KWdW_Ru3sxw0ifRVd1eTk/s1600/74617591_941279166258722_4915273969268948992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="1600" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQteYKE8Up_aGUJDcJHqPSEoL3LBeJnh1TIDxTK6d3AXz0H450W0nGtvkjKOf_eY7mbbIMPQG3RfgWY71F2iF5NkqEgNkxJfK1cOlbO_Neu9hhHEwQRBbMq6KWdW_Ru3sxw0ifRVd1eTk/s640/74617591_941279166258722_4915273969268948992_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When I didn't have anything to quilt </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it'd been a week or so,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd throw a yard of fabric on the frame</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and just play.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I've amassed quite a stack of quilts to be bound)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlAsXjYiM6EKjQPUpeUYVXnd_ws4zpq_is9maUDJ_aCKoCyb9plxTyENnOZOz_LN-hnmlCawvLMpUidCrzyUUruiEywozO82E0BlwZTht03t6KbvXqFgyv1RjnTNxaL6WeOEeQq2b1Vw/s1600/75348933_510850963103097_5308313337128288256_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlAsXjYiM6EKjQPUpeUYVXnd_ws4zpq_is9maUDJ_aCKoCyb9plxTyENnOZOz_LN-hnmlCawvLMpUidCrzyUUruiEywozO82E0BlwZTht03t6KbvXqFgyv1RjnTNxaL6WeOEeQq2b1Vw/s640/75348933_510850963103097_5308313337128288256_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My quilting went from</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
passable</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwgncScFBoiaMTc3sOcYwQS-Bzh4FnPVo6WdZ_-_1O-zehLLUIvZJgw05i7PkZQX3LbPoSUrRBdw6hzco7dsfaKFJZV9OPunVQ2RCQTwksmYqk6Db4UZ9eEqaBC0BVcxDhrG9fRKhMNo/s1600/74218947_971627673222372_801350819084500992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwgncScFBoiaMTc3sOcYwQS-Bzh4FnPVo6WdZ_-_1O-zehLLUIvZJgw05i7PkZQX3LbPoSUrRBdw6hzco7dsfaKFJZV9OPunVQ2RCQTwksmYqk6Db4UZ9eEqaBC0BVcxDhrG9fRKhMNo/s640/74218947_971627673222372_801350819084500992_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXilz0asEmu47O7mnH54V_Wqk9hrzAkXjjwG59PK2yCzV1zYHdCu8QCg9ua9JYT8kf_6ASreJCmAVijy6LfCZRWIiZrjRrGgFo-c_JVwwULxHnxi_sAcOyt71Zario0N0CNf35PJbhp8/s1600/73182453_1404344953058498_3051830153664528384_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXilz0asEmu47O7mnH54V_Wqk9hrzAkXjjwG59PK2yCzV1zYHdCu8QCg9ua9JYT8kf_6ASreJCmAVijy6LfCZRWIiZrjRrGgFo-c_JVwwULxHnxi_sAcOyt71Zario0N0CNf35PJbhp8/s640/73182453_1404344953058498_3051830153664528384_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to decent</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6sKyKGbaM22_Ivo8EQ7uBlJU9zIfBWRV7MzjIzSUq7uPsfE0gasplHmWGRXHhIrrZ7r_SINY6vgUhI7AnRw91tdQ_3TZhR-y-1JIRAyy2Z84nSLUHiN5NqwY8otk28xvoRF4c_gGlkM/s1600/75497669_2849100135129820_1493478523887681536_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6sKyKGbaM22_Ivo8EQ7uBlJU9zIfBWRV7MzjIzSUq7uPsfE0gasplHmWGRXHhIrrZ7r_SINY6vgUhI7AnRw91tdQ_3TZhR-y-1JIRAyy2Z84nSLUHiN5NqwY8otk28xvoRF4c_gGlkM/s640/75497669_2849100135129820_1493478523887681536_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCosAMPmNIKJQ1btUvkibKi81q6Yzei0tKuRKQ90He8TCwELdKQOLspiSRg37xqXVwzADy-4qwFEL8SsJvgre-Iglezs2bybX3MoBMVJcrbDnLrWXsG5Sp8A5xk-PyDC6JoTPvg_AQUU/s1600/76601298_595899980948531_83819177294430208_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCosAMPmNIKJQ1btUvkibKi81q6Yzei0tKuRKQ90He8TCwELdKQOLspiSRg37xqXVwzADy-4qwFEL8SsJvgre-Iglezs2bybX3MoBMVJcrbDnLrWXsG5Sp8A5xk-PyDC6JoTPvg_AQUU/s640/76601298_595899980948531_83819177294430208_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to actually kinda good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rXRn6mA8gjKiZhqovgfUTsHRgCS-Fg05UQThXab0evwl4FTYgorw4QHqk2-jGnLzocftY9SBIxoD7unsVH6JtrknJbnXuOMwySjiRNpTR0LYkG4WRh0Wrg8cEOPs1KpFNsYWavIe6uQ/s1600/74887167_480322742692229_8107434280885420032_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rXRn6mA8gjKiZhqovgfUTsHRgCS-Fg05UQThXab0evwl4FTYgorw4QHqk2-jGnLzocftY9SBIxoD7unsVH6JtrknJbnXuOMwySjiRNpTR0LYkG4WRh0Wrg8cEOPs1KpFNsYWavIe6uQ/s640/74887167_480322742692229_8107434280885420032_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6C49Ooqv3QYVIx3rCH3IKQPdOjoRKIGehuT80lbwzr8G2fNc6Pn5pnAIZOYTKgqmA7d_DmKGGaZAa2k14PutJp0sVzUiTdhEuiHW97pNowhrjC2A0HcAsfNBzmrlBEcTxJEIA5O7Ph0/s1600/74271961_1277207809149388_923414554140999680_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6C49Ooqv3QYVIx3rCH3IKQPdOjoRKIGehuT80lbwzr8G2fNc6Pn5pnAIZOYTKgqmA7d_DmKGGaZAa2k14PutJp0sVzUiTdhEuiHW97pNowhrjC2A0HcAsfNBzmrlBEcTxJEIA5O7Ph0/s640/74271961_1277207809149388_923414554140999680_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And Lucy and I were loving every bit of the learning.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkR2AwsgsUzINTRou931Bo-4F1aKzWD_-ptp_i46PfplE3T6q_1LGb2PGiSWrCCUjLUVFgZK21s5abGTMRspcO7fGwAZ85a5ddLpHhnSPXf3KL-BFv35LWayF1SxIV0sBiZ4E0fpFTxs/s1600/75061080_2486592488085989_4773156722669780992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkR2AwsgsUzINTRou931Bo-4F1aKzWD_-ptp_i46PfplE3T6q_1LGb2PGiSWrCCUjLUVFgZK21s5abGTMRspcO7fGwAZ85a5ddLpHhnSPXf3KL-BFv35LWayF1SxIV0sBiZ4E0fpFTxs/s640/75061080_2486592488085989_4773156722669780992_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well.<b> I</b> was anyways,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I can only assume from Luc's wonderful compliance</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that she's lovin it too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYpQE7_ZbFip_V83CgcWbx-2t7IEmnwp909AgOHF25OIF3Uk8FAcMPZ6u6FSiR7HWZmhs8Qs8Boo9RFCIFqhcWROQjtm6a4epR24wQPrdT6-hOfra7BtQlTcjWnsWNRu6FY2PdO9RcwY/s1600/75336310_3211196168921654_8556009388358238208_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYpQE7_ZbFip_V83CgcWbx-2t7IEmnwp909AgOHF25OIF3Uk8FAcMPZ6u6FSiR7HWZmhs8Qs8Boo9RFCIFqhcWROQjtm6a4epR24wQPrdT6-hOfra7BtQlTcjWnsWNRu6FY2PdO9RcwY/s640/75336310_3211196168921654_8556009388358238208_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I still love piecing quilt tops,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but man,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm loving quilting them more than I ever expected. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vQ2CBPRsPwuWlki9PNSmAsI7Y6-EHutgJF69VJd8jHauMiuKbuFh-FcugC418SZhGGWr3VkqljpwbxksiN3i4_4LEBlmBJrGU4UUTjh7iNTl9530Jk3tVCJomqtqOpVhq4AH4xrNttw/s1600/75327065_811437769270410_1800908554903748608_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="640" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vQ2CBPRsPwuWlki9PNSmAsI7Y6-EHutgJF69VJd8jHauMiuKbuFh-FcugC418SZhGGWr3VkqljpwbxksiN3i4_4LEBlmBJrGU4UUTjh7iNTl9530Jk3tVCJomqtqOpVhq4AH4xrNttw/s640/75327065_811437769270410_1800908554903748608_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-33768550389055935552019-11-05T15:54:00.000-06:002019-11-05T15:54:16.508-06:00life in the fast lane (not)<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What I didn't tell you in my last post</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
shortly after I took that picture,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I went in the old house</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
through what had been the doorway to the LEM</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(and before that - the kitchen window)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and then exited</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with my arms full.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I misjudged quite how deep of a step down it was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and with no hands available to grab onto the opening</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to help ease my way down,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I ended up sort of falling out of the house,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
landed hard on my foot (on unlevel ground)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and tore my dadgum meniscus in my right knee.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You might remember</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had a slight tear in my meniscus several years ago</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and only went to the doctor </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when I had to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
use my hands to move my leg</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to move my foot from the gas pedal to the brake</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
while driving.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or that I went months after injuring my achilles</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before going to the doctor.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't even wait 24 hours before going this time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-91284383493017864662019-11-03T19:17:00.001-06:002019-11-03T19:17:50.794-06:00know what this means??<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClJ9gH40V_XJqYnN2eVtMicl57PDXkeVlI6QOSPRJmB9E3K-3smyOTqrfylWDGuo4GiF8BpEMMUqKCr3Wz6g8H-NyK1bWoNZnM_PhEnViX3D8KVDAGzDlCIF_esd5ePNjD6L1RPoWWCg/s1600/74164592_465775677618055_8541006431938150400_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1212" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClJ9gH40V_XJqYnN2eVtMicl57PDXkeVlI6QOSPRJmB9E3K-3smyOTqrfylWDGuo4GiF8BpEMMUqKCr3Wz6g8H-NyK1bWoNZnM_PhEnViX3D8KVDAGzDlCIF_esd5ePNjD6L1RPoWWCg/s640/74164592_465775677618055_8541006431938150400_n.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
<br />
This means<br />
that the <a href="http://pursuingjoy.blogspot.com/2010/12/building.html">LEM</a> will soon be moved over<br />
and attached to the new house.<br />
Wooohooo!!</div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-80453221407988876622019-11-01T15:33:00.001-05:002019-11-01T15:33:09.264-05:00halloween octopalooza<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_FqYv-DzGMeOsDYP41_dE6C3vhhTbE7-uC9W0dUAgMY5vL_l8tXLLbVJkvAEOOs0Nc1-H1aXsrhXxRR1bBFIXs-htYcvCFxHQqs42wReVDU9odwbGsspqs2hyn1IFX25ICTJYPAbxTQ/s1600/73274608_499887380603036_6224108670825791488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_FqYv-DzGMeOsDYP41_dE6C3vhhTbE7-uC9W0dUAgMY5vL_l8tXLLbVJkvAEOOs0Nc1-H1aXsrhXxRR1bBFIXs-htYcvCFxHQqs42wReVDU9odwbGsspqs2hyn1IFX25ICTJYPAbxTQ/s640/73274608_499887380603036_6224108670825791488_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily and Lexi made and hung these decorations in the middle of the night Wednesday<br />so we'd wake up to them on Halloween.<br />There were also little ghosties in our coffee cups. Sweet, sweet girls 💗</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jeremiah, Josiah, and Lily dressed up for Octopalooza</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at church on Sunday.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OUlJHRakwv1UGHHF3omsvchqj6Gp9PX6eubUDeg-RKriZ1T7N3ZVjL-hIhe65oL01Cf-_YT3y_MXA1LHjJ704goD3E4w7n01pkJxvs5GVNbqAOFwZofFZaETEdt-eELAs8SvzzWQxpo/s1600/73286213_2503119963307049_2460804638979391488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OUlJHRakwv1UGHHF3omsvchqj6Gp9PX6eubUDeg-RKriZ1T7N3ZVjL-hIhe65oL01Cf-_YT3y_MXA1LHjJ704goD3E4w7n01pkJxvs5GVNbqAOFwZofFZaETEdt-eELAs8SvzzWQxpo/s640/73286213_2503119963307049_2460804638979391488_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jeremiah went as The Invisible Man</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsLJQDFRlTK2ARszOCoRDwVXeeQ5jnsTfHmFzbbBWV5tC1VfPRPiwPPP1ggLN0JxMwtgup3Rb0P750tzHxbBuvddu_gK8QblPzUwFasII80mthRSEEdev9QYvIiQnZXQec78NF04eXE8/s1600/74431998_393494654892312_1497674483597574144_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsLJQDFRlTK2ARszOCoRDwVXeeQ5jnsTfHmFzbbBWV5tC1VfPRPiwPPP1ggLN0JxMwtgup3Rb0P750tzHxbBuvddu_gK8QblPzUwFasII80mthRSEEdev9QYvIiQnZXQec78NF04eXE8/s640/74431998_393494654892312_1497674483597574144_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Josiah was Flat Stanley</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigz6T7t2LjsueumUDoYy9kwMrUtr3pNPJw8ar4vZ78Ikuf8rO0Mfo2aEUm-eh_EuAnWYRytglz6P3xh-pYS8iVFfGiQ6iiXuicwojCZ0XxElGs5-CSO-g6naTzuzon4N_rLHL22TVNnUo/s1600/75496024_820864501703186_6700043995579416576_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigz6T7t2LjsueumUDoYy9kwMrUtr3pNPJw8ar4vZ78Ikuf8rO0Mfo2aEUm-eh_EuAnWYRytglz6P3xh-pYS8iVFfGiQ6iiXuicwojCZ0XxElGs5-CSO-g6naTzuzon4N_rLHL22TVNnUo/s640/75496024_820864501703186_6700043995579416576_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">interestingly, the invisible man cast a very visible shadow ;-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and Lily (who made her entire costume herself!) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dressed up as Maleficent.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9Q8DDqbJm7TSHzSN9rfE5d7S0YpTiFXsdsFMXoHV7YpSjbW2feAEWv3mwMNEg1R19rM4Ll81_1_WiwJ6AExVTMWIkQsQs0LD18zSiiB11raf8krY_msNX3M5a_R3SrwCVkPlin3ryzs/s1600/74169932_575561193186908_4126252304779182080_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9Q8DDqbJm7TSHzSN9rfE5d7S0YpTiFXsdsFMXoHV7YpSjbW2feAEWv3mwMNEg1R19rM4Ll81_1_WiwJ6AExVTMWIkQsQs0LD18zSiiB11raf8krY_msNX3M5a_R3SrwCVkPlin3ryzs/s640/74169932_575561193186908_4126252304779182080_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Daddy surprised her and Lexi </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and took them to see the first showing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of the movie on the night it was released 💗)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMlc89FnRt0xEGDjtjFgpQmvubcH6XGq1TIvmGkBfZWf1c_j9KFVrVHlAdSuqw5AB7_Oez0MpXBk2P6xlJRphh19bLmNmFyBFZGkI0keEfq2j5lDTX4BAvjuUIAcIxeJfMw47eqaBPOQ/s1600/73109870_777786539337871_6162595775550324736_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMlc89FnRt0xEGDjtjFgpQmvubcH6XGq1TIvmGkBfZWf1c_j9KFVrVHlAdSuqw5AB7_Oez0MpXBk2P6xlJRphh19bLmNmFyBFZGkI0keEfq2j5lDTX4BAvjuUIAcIxeJfMw47eqaBPOQ/s640/73109870_777786539337871_6162595775550324736_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She made the horns by shaping tinfoil, then adding paper mache'<br />Taylee sweetly came over and did Lil's makeup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHEK6T7kMj19I2FVHt1Wv3TlEmzs5DXwDnW9A7CQN2_FuTwcSIYpjfTALGtjuxplbv0HYfBQUEd2BXkaiQ4W0OOC_vlDZSxUAOvWVfrYZSvCkLrD65Ddr9PWjJWB1APRsaDixQ6p9ivs/s1600/73513676_2607707905959862_1154435188520910848_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1136" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHEK6T7kMj19I2FVHt1Wv3TlEmzs5DXwDnW9A7CQN2_FuTwcSIYpjfTALGtjuxplbv0HYfBQUEd2BXkaiQ4W0OOC_vlDZSxUAOvWVfrYZSvCkLrD65Ddr9PWjJWB1APRsaDixQ6p9ivs/s640/73513676_2607707905959862_1154435188520910848_n.jpg" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the cape she made from a fitted sheet, and the skirt from a matching pillowcase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here she is with Jeremiah</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF8FbceuEy0dYNzk5GlPGHLiPlnihehqzzpBKuf2vrGnfhzbsDo3xbBedcJ2WlM1UMZi1iwl3xfHwl18OxBqF-pZZSwpLgsb_k_bDmdzbKOAXK9oomecoTdgCl2yQJnAabfRN_4jvIgs/s1600/75540248_429128297639579_7145003036941746176_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF8FbceuEy0dYNzk5GlPGHLiPlnihehqzzpBKuf2vrGnfhzbsDo3xbBedcJ2WlM1UMZi1iwl3xfHwl18OxBqF-pZZSwpLgsb_k_bDmdzbKOAXK9oomecoTdgCl2yQJnAabfRN_4jvIgs/s320/75540248_429128297639579_7145003036941746176_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
heehee</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTz-rhDG5J0mZouTqU2GJihfdgVpi6aLatT7gD61e8hIobWn4eSgufEifkKxWa-QXiuhmmeYOzwXc2WFRwXEPza7SGDSs74c4CRy6RhMfZm_wk9jQH7wWHsBDXLPBTqjohbvBdTthfeA/s1600/75315975_2372549179672811_9076261289478586368_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTz-rhDG5J0mZouTqU2GJihfdgVpi6aLatT7gD61e8hIobWn4eSgufEifkKxWa-QXiuhmmeYOzwXc2WFRwXEPza7SGDSs74c4CRy6RhMfZm_wk9jQH7wWHsBDXLPBTqjohbvBdTthfeA/s640/75315975_2372549179672811_9076261289478586368_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For the Fall Festival, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lexi was a Pop Star</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(we'd ordered rainbow-striped over-the-knee socks</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that matched her <strike>ukulele case</strike> candy bag,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but they <i>still</i> haven't arrived<span style="font-size: x-small;">😠</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRhN9CKZyKEHxAZf-bYva1aGuw9Hm0Dzbsc1Y1BH9pobLpbZaP4fWentMHWSN5QeQAJ_EQ0TTEzSXJCX5EWtwvOMVZNb6hbVsIeUsBEgK_Ce7Y08UgwwJgmBgXdRj1d6nBGx5Hq5yz3I/s1600/74579802_453993545229060_7156011480503025664_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRhN9CKZyKEHxAZf-bYva1aGuw9Hm0Dzbsc1Y1BH9pobLpbZaP4fWentMHWSN5QeQAJ_EQ0TTEzSXJCX5EWtwvOMVZNb6hbVsIeUsBEgK_Ce7Y08UgwwJgmBgXdRj1d6nBGx5Hq5yz3I/s640/74579802_453993545229060_7156011480503025664_n.jpg" width="624" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She made the earrings after Dad freaked out about her first choice of large hoop earrings.<br />Then she decided that they were <i>way</i> better than the hoops :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQd38g6mhLXEVi0jDZdmyQq9piRnv75vO8x-Y2Fv_lZ9v5HZTzv0XaOVlWhYtcq1eOSuQYtgdksTSJSFEwOHA77eB1E0HPzZB0jmjbz_0yQlW7IgZLxl5si1Ji6vtNj-PqNtsJBmOexI/s1600/75429555_500335990552244_3065060907794038784_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1373" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQd38g6mhLXEVi0jDZdmyQq9piRnv75vO8x-Y2Fv_lZ9v5HZTzv0XaOVlWhYtcq1eOSuQYtgdksTSJSFEwOHA77eB1E0HPzZB0jmjbz_0yQlW7IgZLxl5si1Ji6vtNj-PqNtsJBmOexI/s640/75429555_500335990552244_3065060907794038784_n.jpg" width="548" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWFo4spieQNQwjKW8MTxKLlMxsNrKumWU3PDOjQ5H881TVPYK8zU4kovCVydLYgVz5Ppyar6LDmcHJ95rit7qdpdAgmEXRu0hiwun1rg2IhZHujN0748qtR5erERpEpdeJgHS2F6pY4E/s1600/73321693_1416839638493070_2429399090786729984_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1532" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWFo4spieQNQwjKW8MTxKLlMxsNrKumWU3PDOjQ5H881TVPYK8zU4kovCVydLYgVz5Ppyar6LDmcHJ95rit7qdpdAgmEXRu0hiwun1rg2IhZHujN0748qtR5erERpEpdeJgHS2F6pY4E/s640/73321693_1416839638493070_2429399090786729984_n.jpg" width="612" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the jacket was a 50% thrift shop find, and we added some clearance (and a few not on clearance) sparkly patches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJdnrTiaWCKRx8QlR_wu7ZzraBAXg-6VB-OrkyKNCaC7DKnYVyLIiUwAzrsLywQOhiz560AE_oEwEk_Udt2elLV2URLW1r7fIf7ZihRshkBLgXm0c3vnHT9MlpKheWI1KkjS3cOvv_Vw/s1600/74161213_2520733974827022_449383145440018432_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1279" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJdnrTiaWCKRx8QlR_wu7ZzraBAXg-6VB-OrkyKNCaC7DKnYVyLIiUwAzrsLywQOhiz560AE_oEwEk_Udt2elLV2URLW1r7fIf7ZihRshkBLgXm0c3vnHT9MlpKheWI1KkjS3cOvv_Vw/s640/74161213_2520733974827022_449383145440018432_n.jpg" width="510" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lily was (obviously) a scarecrow,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-G41hyphenhyphenY_mhdAq2OVGMwRhbG4YCB23sLbav7us7CwCAbXjqAmr5LTe9OP5HV3fPg_8TeSA2pvJILbSHJ7E-Edr2GS8TlUZjrorgbvYn59A_mEAxOt8vpxuZm97HyF3357g2zChV_WP32g/s1600/73515648_1153887554795649_6130842919122239488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-G41hyphenhyphenY_mhdAq2OVGMwRhbG4YCB23sLbav7us7CwCAbXjqAmr5LTe9OP5HV3fPg_8TeSA2pvJILbSHJ7E-Edr2GS8TlUZjrorgbvYn59A_mEAxOt8vpxuZm97HyF3357g2zChV_WP32g/s640/73515648_1153887554795649_6130842919122239488_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily made this costume by herself, too<br />except for the<strike> 5 hr cornrows</strike> straw hair - that was my contribution ;-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4_5ETyv-dKyQcxRuBE75dVTbKCQ8GWHvYab5-vffN1gT8-NmiuaARFT9Wi0D8Gq-JcT3QjqECm5_8AFmj4OPc1qk9pPKaNeoeRNRTev82t09x3lfSF7itVtMH8jFZV33yt6d6ZjsZj0/s1600/75580297_481025209289721_7430612525265190912_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4_5ETyv-dKyQcxRuBE75dVTbKCQ8GWHvYab5-vffN1gT8-NmiuaARFT9Wi0D8Gq-JcT3QjqECm5_8AFmj4OPc1qk9pPKaNeoeRNRTev82t09x3lfSF7itVtMH8jFZV33yt6d6ZjsZj0/s640/75580297_481025209289721_7430612525265190912_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Josiah was a tourist from the nineties</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN53V-MlbiqKabZg7H_pJTNEArDkpLW9ArGb0ZYl_pusHu3JPWifSvRy2zslFqYjBz1eFQpPH_0XLJ46vY4htchGNnHX2abwmduHbqe3IWNac8dLLCCMLPLOmrr3uIKgh5SJZIGbZ8yg/s1600/74883045_525551814934540_7592711059236978688_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN53V-MlbiqKabZg7H_pJTNEArDkpLW9ArGb0ZYl_pusHu3JPWifSvRy2zslFqYjBz1eFQpPH_0XLJ46vY4htchGNnHX2abwmduHbqe3IWNac8dLLCCMLPLOmrr3uIKgh5SJZIGbZ8yg/s640/74883045_525551814934540_7592711059236978688_n.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and Jeremiah was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-well-</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm not entirely sure 😂</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMajk0PECIQNwwXsqWStbN4rdyIHi6nhqG_iacADRanKJj2Z4ZoaCklZAmQg0IF0s1VussGL1YAlZ_5C9jLNJ5HrWWma3FhUe4Qo7yEwm-2m0OmEhvSld9KvOb0xqsASXTKEkle89wPE/s1600/75262110_546621689446259_8693766482942754816_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMajk0PECIQNwwXsqWStbN4rdyIHi6nhqG_iacADRanKJj2Z4ZoaCklZAmQg0IF0s1VussGL1YAlZ_5C9jLNJ5HrWWma3FhUe4Qo7yEwm-2m0OmEhvSld9KvOb0xqsASXTKEkle89wPE/s640/75262110_546621689446259_8693766482942754816_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tyler dressed as he's dressed for Halloween</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for the past several years,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a farmer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3EG5r6241D-8J5ptJ-zuH4lz_CerBZNCQHE_rDGLzb2pdZpc28v4mhrdxhfTRVqyeEwBLoyeYpO95jbeB4Zq36UsBRxxgFqqyfSdCbuWvjB6YZpfAZM5iEYnqF_P0GOaQKTaDe8rBSc/s1600/74341575_2304178439804602_3388336542043865088_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1256" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3EG5r6241D-8J5ptJ-zuH4lz_CerBZNCQHE_rDGLzb2pdZpc28v4mhrdxhfTRVqyeEwBLoyeYpO95jbeB4Zq36UsBRxxgFqqyfSdCbuWvjB6YZpfAZM5iEYnqF_P0GOaQKTaDe8rBSc/s640/74341575_2304178439804602_3388336542043865088_n.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlNV56QoQMlEBfNoXKmYGc1-11WfMpY3rg9RAIaHreXKxtW4agxAsFTCCwbRjnNET4RhMYESGLODUt8YPcVoRM589_oMVG95HBfbgyWD7YiOM3V2yzP3B0RUWjuSqDWJIN8iEsOQ-WOA/s1600/74209113_1039996089665269_4094877426947981312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlNV56QoQMlEBfNoXKmYGc1-11WfMpY3rg9RAIaHreXKxtW4agxAsFTCCwbRjnNET4RhMYESGLODUt8YPcVoRM589_oMVG95HBfbgyWD7YiOM3V2yzP3B0RUWjuSqDWJIN8iEsOQ-WOA/s640/74209113_1039996089665269_4094877426947981312_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">I do love that man!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brandon and Taylee</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
were Flynn Rider and Rapunzel</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbr5S6Z3FU48tqalgD_bSwkILf6jAKqVPqNjJ4iZDEvuyVTxUCDn8lHEi1EkUtqGGC2OHXDtpr_whoWeOCBNs3xgNwngJoC2H60SAttktuYA3jsjeQmzzf0RcJkIlhvrdAZqfy3MGrSAU/s1600/75576555_2566895610055738_7824102400834142208_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="640" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbr5S6Z3FU48tqalgD_bSwkILf6jAKqVPqNjJ4iZDEvuyVTxUCDn8lHEi1EkUtqGGC2OHXDtpr_whoWeOCBNs3xgNwngJoC2H60SAttktuYA3jsjeQmzzf0RcJkIlhvrdAZqfy3MGrSAU/s640/75576555_2566895610055738_7824102400834142208_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouPMLqOnu6VWgt0MWfrHnWtyRr9EVAXG2iw6-GEKDbqwxMuCG8Ha94BUjV0i-x2q8X0JfrsGsG0yjQLZv8834tmN43m3e-KphClt9toj4orn1njuWqZmFKt6cD_TG363huf8ZOOzv308/s1600/74214612_971527309850596_1334180823988961280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1507" data-original-width="942" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouPMLqOnu6VWgt0MWfrHnWtyRr9EVAXG2iw6-GEKDbqwxMuCG8Ha94BUjV0i-x2q8X0JfrsGsG0yjQLZv8834tmN43m3e-KphClt9toj4orn1njuWqZmFKt6cD_TG363huf8ZOOzv308/s640/74214612_971527309850596_1334180823988961280_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I made his vest out of a $4 long-sleeved turtleneck shirt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and buckles that he made with a 3D printer,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and his bag from a $2 and 50 cent </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">vinyl remnant from JoAnns</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The annual <strike>buy back the candy</strike> Halloween Candy Sale</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is already set up</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8kp05EZjHYBiHiahFCXPcy3QYNg1pKaNYwhEMX2y8Yqoo2OBLzmAyFEvTwgtlyzbHfie4BMyAD-ghN0072O7ht0KBMY9MUsSqAAHEjwjtKNDjVwQogoKS5oIYqDCZHG3sJOqknVCfk8/s1600/75572084_556787348405977_5262940134382239744_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1468" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8kp05EZjHYBiHiahFCXPcy3QYNg1pKaNYwhEMX2y8Yqoo2OBLzmAyFEvTwgtlyzbHfie4BMyAD-ghN0072O7ht0KBMY9MUsSqAAHEjwjtKNDjVwQogoKS5oIYqDCZHG3sJOqknVCfk8/s400/75572084_556787348405977_5262940134382239744_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we've made plans to <a href="https://pursuingjoy.blogspot.com/2015/11/tricks-and-treating.html">go to Scott and Jackie's</a> next year.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0T4ucrGl6PP6ZLT_14pTfrSDl3wykvxVxXpINyhCUS8aYXpcR0sw9eED6cNWjUznZftAhvNKTjXYz6z5UD-pF-ErokRIvyvqjWaBaMlRei18Ec1WojYtgZ6yJGFTCFMn_bDUrxON61Jw/s1600/73504839_339255400244497_3390594092818759680_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1600" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0T4ucrGl6PP6ZLT_14pTfrSDl3wykvxVxXpINyhCUS8aYXpcR0sw9eED6cNWjUznZftAhvNKTjXYz6z5UD-pF-ErokRIvyvqjWaBaMlRei18Ec1WojYtgZ6yJGFTCFMn_bDUrxON61Jw/s640/73504839_339255400244497_3390594092818759680_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
XO</div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-46996789085886888492019-10-21T11:48:00.002-05:002019-10-21T11:49:06.427-05:00windows and wall arts<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e7PPoMTjWSCVZZOrOmQMFVIJw_M6QTleWfZSt4u2LwU-8o9KaUo8oZSlpp522oho8sDjSTaKb-vL5GcUJaRMtmdDTrQ39MSZYsF3Idjb_G9-zwp-tH7T5EItUm4Iq2mwqIK7LdA8444/s1600/74530956_2602627830015391_5450611028188463104_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1600" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e7PPoMTjWSCVZZOrOmQMFVIJw_M6QTleWfZSt4u2LwU-8o9KaUo8oZSlpp522oho8sDjSTaKb-vL5GcUJaRMtmdDTrQ39MSZYsF3Idjb_G9-zwp-tH7T5EItUm4Iq2mwqIK7LdA8444/s640/74530956_2602627830015391_5450611028188463104_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
For my birthday a few weeks ago,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tyler put up window trim in the dining and living rooms</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXjgNaWHIMQfGIkUSnDBn_8NCQt_-FX1zekOSy8T25x90ha0vR86jD3ms_cXvyFygS2NiB3YAG8I1k1gyGIKJPusHzHRaJ42h7K1GBc7_JwZ_5HCCMGGVnNbMinj3dYD9c3DKYZWSiAI/s1600/75210822_608997866302580_4755736382561845248_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXjgNaWHIMQfGIkUSnDBn_8NCQt_-FX1zekOSy8T25x90ha0vR86jD3ms_cXvyFygS2NiB3YAG8I1k1gyGIKJPusHzHRaJ42h7K1GBc7_JwZ_5HCCMGGVnNbMinj3dYD9c3DKYZWSiAI/s640/75210822_608997866302580_4755736382561845248_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(He did such a good job)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I <span style="font-size: large;">love</span> it!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxgU1w1dUa-YrNZRE5nm_exV2o8dlAvOGzKeIM136ZUeH-tVDerULTmPJ1OY1oaRKnwX2TAK-G0j7vgIPDMYg-MDIThFaeOKCsHB6VvEwO70AHjdLHhDLGj79uFeOhfbA04AnqVNeoVM/s1600/72698616_667637320428066_8222028092856598528_n.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="1600" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxgU1w1dUa-YrNZRE5nm_exV2o8dlAvOGzKeIM136ZUeH-tVDerULTmPJ1OY1oaRKnwX2TAK-G0j7vgIPDMYg-MDIThFaeOKCsHB6VvEwO70AHjdLHhDLGj79uFeOhfbA04AnqVNeoVM/s640/72698616_667637320428066_8222028092856598528_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We still need to caulk and paint the final coat,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it looks sooo much nicer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJa-3ZGkOsyFD8Ju5rxDIlTWBVLe3nDyuAqDs-26W2YEW9giFwd5Lytyi6dyqVCw5UrhlZ5EVUyMj4ofCfHksBKKCEpYbtDvTfBj7d9wVrCATO2QFUoUfu3R9c7SUCNKpn0VFkRfQcwd0/s1600/73137149_2442072609247307_6887643786202054656_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1271" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJa-3ZGkOsyFD8Ju5rxDIlTWBVLe3nDyuAqDs-26W2YEW9giFwd5Lytyi6dyqVCw5UrhlZ5EVUyMj4ofCfHksBKKCEpYbtDvTfBj7d9wVrCATO2QFUoUfu3R9c7SUCNKpn0VFkRfQcwd0/s400/73137149_2442072609247307_6887643786202054656_n.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Ignore the mess in that little nook. We do...<br />
It will one day be a desk and shelves)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd been waiting for trim to hang anything on the walls.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(had to make sure everything would be perfectly centered,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> ya know)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now it feels even more like home</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
💗</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3vXK8rCn-xcclaCWNK7xpv2G8zdDF4K7Plif_yEeo2XtBChTZID9Ezq4khf4Fz5cs0w9vRIjTSs95V-xlTCS48Ba78LD1REdE1Efc-sBjPDmw8j6E7uh3e-Aj09xq3Mk4G4INGLF-ZY/s1600/74680743_989723164704656_7774984583606435840_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3vXK8rCn-xcclaCWNK7xpv2G8zdDF4K7Plif_yEeo2XtBChTZID9Ezq4khf4Fz5cs0w9vRIjTSs95V-xlTCS48Ba78LD1REdE1Efc-sBjPDmw8j6E7uh3e-Aj09xq3Mk4G4INGLF-ZY/s640/74680743_989723164704656_7774984583606435840_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-45085897037982426092019-10-20T16:14:00.000-05:002019-10-20T16:14:42.554-05:00hiking cedar falls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mgXqTzCWOiTGULWaa72aLi1KwMbjfaiuinQPduDr-U4fYU4zfowvcUukywyZMWFPD10FdEoMeLhsJAANQbMiYikbLxO9CkeX95jvyKuq8-MPB9F9B7AitPjaw7FR0_Baf8_4dq0RFNo/s1600/72659692_465069237436782_8916979914750558208_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mgXqTzCWOiTGULWaa72aLi1KwMbjfaiuinQPduDr-U4fYU4zfowvcUukywyZMWFPD10FdEoMeLhsJAANQbMiYikbLxO9CkeX95jvyKuq8-MPB9F9B7AitPjaw7FR0_Baf8_4dq0RFNo/s640/72659692_465069237436782_8916979914750558208_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
So.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I might have been a tad hasty</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in saying that it was already winter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeK0E07JZv1bG_83dFthjyMdxAikyF3YTmj7vFzecSsRXXFtdZUQVt76xnix2EwdZ6RdL8H2O41P9qPozPMLYT5EFvQCduWlhqsgZWPlET3Nse822RFivGY6W8vppNcLY5d0KlcLK9hI/s1600/74955603_500745957322972_1158006582676553728_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeK0E07JZv1bG_83dFthjyMdxAikyF3YTmj7vFzecSsRXXFtdZUQVt76xnix2EwdZ6RdL8H2O41P9qPozPMLYT5EFvQCduWlhqsgZWPlET3Nse822RFivGY6W8vppNcLY5d0KlcLK9hI/s400/74955603_500745957322972_1158006582676553728_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We <i>did</i> have a couple of cold days,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but we've also had some really lovely autumn days too,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and Friday was one of them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjzDOH9WHgBziLsNMMfL6XeVpqWDASd6vXWFJCEy93edctzMs8Wfi0lm_fBC2HOLi9qmlf5FNu6GxCCBrTSOO-mRwuxoGaWjYorBKSI2_QwwLwkNDZxg6YbO6CNsfJFzhR5rHAERp4Q8/s1600/74391508_2648783448517009_6439615887627517952_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjzDOH9WHgBziLsNMMfL6XeVpqWDASd6vXWFJCEy93edctzMs8Wfi0lm_fBC2HOLi9qmlf5FNu6GxCCBrTSOO-mRwuxoGaWjYorBKSI2_QwwLwkNDZxg6YbO6CNsfJFzhR5rHAERp4Q8/s640/74391508_2648783448517009_6439615887627517952_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Tyler was going to be off work,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I had suggested maybe we take a short trip out to <a href="http://pursuingjoy.blogspot.com/2012/11/natural-dam.html">Natural</a> <a href="http://pursuingjoy.blogspot.com/2017/05/nature-god-reset-button.html">Dam</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for some nature therapy,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI3yn_Kwv33yC1yaCwpJUQgqUnGNJv7hfMaLpk6iIpm-DwOhpeCf-koa_YbmERTwk_zDBDpvsrQo8COJuh5HJqEnO3FKRJpx8dBAalH4SnEFbUasEhl7yXyyx-bI-O59e01w3VzRPBqA/s1600/74831326_544113092798994_5496673753574146048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI3yn_Kwv33yC1yaCwpJUQgqUnGNJv7hfMaLpk6iIpm-DwOhpeCf-koa_YbmERTwk_zDBDpvsrQo8COJuh5HJqEnO3FKRJpx8dBAalH4SnEFbUasEhl7yXyyx-bI-O59e01w3VzRPBqA/s640/74831326_544113092798994_5496673753574146048_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but we decided to drive 2 hours</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
east to Petite Jean instead,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and hike down to the base of Cedar Falls.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaftQQ4msOFKCvzMirxl75Avc4hquQhOiAK2HpXnJJAiJke6jKjynJtbnOWWUBluMacEgAtj9qvV4TsMWdIBHqEVEVP-aguKc-18UActUW_7lhBChJExs_kt1lD01WHH8ukAjhOqHGkw/s1600/74797339_537877690280552_4673014552231673856_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1340" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaftQQ4msOFKCvzMirxl75Avc4hquQhOiAK2HpXnJJAiJke6jKjynJtbnOWWUBluMacEgAtj9qvV4TsMWdIBHqEVEVP-aguKc-18UActUW_7lhBChJExs_kt1lD01WHH8ukAjhOqHGkw/s640/74797339_537877690280552_4673014552231673856_n.jpg" width="536" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've had a decent amount of rain lately,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvWxdej4axeBSQizS01-n46ZrqP3YUdjSGz5pYk2XAiQa39-c_I8wBD3MQ-pB53QLaffLy6SeA1VgPWe62VhjQXJ_9MsJLxy1YjC7M2AoNasjeqBeyyUbM7THqtBI_qWbvJ5U6m4FODo/s1600/74506121_712283499249523_5661573233288151040_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvWxdej4axeBSQizS01-n46ZrqP3YUdjSGz5pYk2XAiQa39-c_I8wBD3MQ-pB53QLaffLy6SeA1VgPWe62VhjQXJ_9MsJLxy1YjC7M2AoNasjeqBeyyUbM7THqtBI_qWbvJ5U6m4FODo/s640/74506121_712283499249523_5661573233288151040_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I figured the water would be flowing pretty good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pzAhsre9OYf-06QV_H_kFrliA7cAj1qYcst9Z_LIldmTUMG3EVB8Ny13RgV1WmQhnYZQsdGSMw56PICvOwPro5rMQ5rRDaTgoLszQ1kDpMjFIA69s3NQrsXB8_oV5EJNV9CTfDswHk8/s1600/73066821_2579095025511092_4930116680459223040_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pzAhsre9OYf-06QV_H_kFrliA7cAj1qYcst9Z_LIldmTUMG3EVB8Ny13RgV1WmQhnYZQsdGSMw56PICvOwPro5rMQ5rRDaTgoLszQ1kDpMjFIA69s3NQrsXB8_oV5EJNV9CTfDswHk8/s640/73066821_2579095025511092_4930116680459223040_n.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It wasn't.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGv_LBPsQcuXOeuowetHeIjcU-ji36s1-UXBd_uxDSJMXWLg_vUyj2un1h-ZXHprhzfw5dO7SR41HD5IOvABOgb6pK3sgSGrq4jyfn-K4B_win8COMSjn_3PIIjDe7_fEmcGMKBXqzz8/s1600/73010836_2405654863086981_1854602878828675072_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1114" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGv_LBPsQcuXOeuowetHeIjcU-ji36s1-UXBd_uxDSJMXWLg_vUyj2un1h-ZXHprhzfw5dO7SR41HD5IOvABOgb6pK3sgSGrq4jyfn-K4B_win8COMSjn_3PIIjDe7_fEmcGMKBXqzz8/s640/73010836_2405654863086981_1854602878828675072_n.jpg" width="444" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it was still worth the hike down.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFRevPOsNs_vFFAP0C5DeAnrjzeGNkFtu_j_uoPX-cCuhHgKrps6LPlPFKWDuNCLhcux3qseG7bn0jE5-YgaHocjQzfg5y4-Y3gle_2JYkkF-Zkh7d1MkliSSKZ3484ZmHG654T_pDJY/s1600/72779227_2525105144393812_5409853081334579200_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1368" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFRevPOsNs_vFFAP0C5DeAnrjzeGNkFtu_j_uoPX-cCuhHgKrps6LPlPFKWDuNCLhcux3qseG7bn0jE5-YgaHocjQzfg5y4-Y3gle_2JYkkF-Zkh7d1MkliSSKZ3484ZmHG654T_pDJY/s640/72779227_2525105144393812_5409853081334579200_n.jpg" width="546" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(The hike back up liked to kill me though)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_58-1TYEMXjEof2cY8bdGcKbRg_i659QJG_ZE8BeihRWOBbWmU2nYhIogxWqKogbzhIkLyfKkolObN95fZ0Z3eankhLhjSprHLaAL5-x_dJRfWKQ3GMq50wxEk91LdcKVtvdSocRI2g/s1600/73105943_697807330703978_6965557426414157824_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_58-1TYEMXjEof2cY8bdGcKbRg_i659QJG_ZE8BeihRWOBbWmU2nYhIogxWqKogbzhIkLyfKkolObN95fZ0Z3eankhLhjSprHLaAL5-x_dJRfWKQ3GMq50wxEk91LdcKVtvdSocRI2g/s640/73105943_697807330703978_6965557426414157824_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Everyone was sore </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by the time we made it back up the huge mountain</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-lPEmz2JZzSsL-wbJyE8K3tquDX9YcUmVTQpC_Qgdckm1pcxJwdtIY94QFS7USXxUi3Zj0-km9YUHvYFHh-5IbhKV4cQ_1SZjLTE0di4OFrFHaUUaxUwVgZGaADEVpRNxuN4n82F_eI/s1600/73063963_600033484180713_7563136060465610752_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-lPEmz2JZzSsL-wbJyE8K3tquDX9YcUmVTQpC_Qgdckm1pcxJwdtIY94QFS7USXxUi3Zj0-km9YUHvYFHh-5IbhKV4cQ_1SZjLTE0di4OFrFHaUUaxUwVgZGaADEVpRNxuN4n82F_eI/s640/73063963_600033484180713_7563136060465610752_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it was good to spend a day together out in God's beautiful creation.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_iJkdaOheKR0AAbxtgp-Euh5j5wB7zOVPRkCY-pxOCivczC1eI8e6VYdfssrj4CiFPpacK56VwjIZdZVRT5PqZ5OyIfbvGlGRM9q4JbAhddagHNLx9DdPd30BLd3MNeXMwc2u5XiNFI/s1600/73066821_2579095025511092_4930116680459223040_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_iJkdaOheKR0AAbxtgp-Euh5j5wB7zOVPRkCY-pxOCivczC1eI8e6VYdfssrj4CiFPpacK56VwjIZdZVRT5PqZ5OyIfbvGlGRM9q4JbAhddagHNLx9DdPd30BLd3MNeXMwc2u5XiNFI/s640/73066821_2579095025511092_4930116680459223040_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And it truly was </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a perfect fall day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhZ6xkZ3cW6S5iGG1Fy-yeJRgJR-Q9OkljQc898N2x5RNyKkaglwdsww3JsPosndagiMJlqDTR3AiKvJ-koHRwkFMdpVvJ_gr1H-mda_gg8V0NFb53Zi8dtCBbJlKZMAFR0vqHGszz_o/s1600/74357523_2521950121369069_5032478296722374656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhZ6xkZ3cW6S5iGG1Fy-yeJRgJR-Q9OkljQc898N2x5RNyKkaglwdsww3JsPosndagiMJlqDTR3AiKvJ-koHRwkFMdpVvJ_gr1H-mda_gg8V0NFb53Zi8dtCBbJlKZMAFR0vqHGszz_o/s640/74357523_2521950121369069_5032478296722374656_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-69719660499721404192019-10-11T09:29:00.000-05:002019-10-11T09:29:04.887-05:00what fall?<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW1jrDAWajgtkKoezoYE9sBXbpum-I8T-X5z8rOeeCLbb02wqSVaxe-ZuBimcAhCo8ADcgxOIEj-sd7RzLJtlRPy25O42UCKGPHipLCMgunrpXonGyrNPB1MIwlQHXUtBTzdiZn4WorI/s1600/72672447_513273772570506_2871870173558603776_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW1jrDAWajgtkKoezoYE9sBXbpum-I8T-X5z8rOeeCLbb02wqSVaxe-ZuBimcAhCo8ADcgxOIEj-sd7RzLJtlRPy25O42UCKGPHipLCMgunrpXonGyrNPB1MIwlQHXUtBTzdiZn4WorI/s400/72672447_513273772570506_2871870173558603776_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
9 days ago, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was in the pool.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Last night</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it dropped below 40.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We seemed to have skipped Fall entirely</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and gone straight to winter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Josiah and Lily both grew a few inches during the summer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Josiah is a smidge taller than me now,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and Lily is already over 5 ft)<br />
and have no pants that fit.<br />
zero.<br />
nada.<br />
none<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-34574534291705585022019-08-27T23:44:00.001-05:002019-08-27T23:44:15.254-05:00like mother; like daughter<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were playing six dice,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and when it wasn't her turn,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lily stayed busy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
making a fluffy jacket for her Barbie doll.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tyler mentioned that Lexi plays just like him,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and Lily said, "I play like Mom"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which I thought was odd -</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because she takes more risks than I do,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and has been known to say,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"It's only a game"<br />and we all know </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm just a tad too competitive to say <i>that</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"How do you figure?" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I asked.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I sew while I play."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As Andrina would say,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Touche'</i></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-29856345671683482082019-08-14T08:22:00.000-05:002019-08-14T08:22:05.329-05:00significant dates<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday, I felt off and out of sorts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for no good reason.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sure,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
life's been busy lately,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and<br />I've got some hard deadlines looming</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(one of which is to turn in </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Intent to Homeschool forms - today!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
nothing that should be causing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the severe grouchiness</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and heaviness in my chest.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I snapped at kids,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and deep sighed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(not the good kind of deep sighing,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
like when you get to the ocean).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wanted to lay in bed and kick my feet</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and have a big ol' fit</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(thankfully I stopped short of that one).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I tried to cry,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because maybe then I'd feel better.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What the heck was my problem?!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I went through the calendar.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No, it's not the 19th (date Dad had the accident)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's not the 27th (date he died)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's the 13th for goodness sake.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have no issues with the 13th.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then it hit me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gramma.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gramma Joyce died one month ago yesterday.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know why my body and heart</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
are so affected by significant dates,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
even when my mind isn't aware of them,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but that's how I'm wired.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Once I recognized the occasion</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and grieved my loss (again)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was fine.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oJ7CACG6lA9SkAqKSWZZdMowM80H11Zc9Tg-IIVH3XJiIezSwmTSEdyyQd_28F2WMAVs0QBEz78HsUgahsvcmHIzyj4ajE1B4Bs6I2sH0oGxzpLJXSVmSgH1cMlwiJgsjgUmrGE5x6o/s1600/67938495_1375732402602234_5543702094982152192_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1397" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oJ7CACG6lA9SkAqKSWZZdMowM80H11Zc9Tg-IIVH3XJiIezSwmTSEdyyQd_28F2WMAVs0QBEz78HsUgahsvcmHIzyj4ajE1B4Bs6I2sH0oGxzpLJXSVmSgH1cMlwiJgsjgUmrGE5x6o/s400/67938495_1375732402602234_5543702094982152192_n.jpg" width="348" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love you, Gramma!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm so happy you are in heaven now</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
💗</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-23135161476520457162019-06-24T15:37:00.000-05:002019-06-24T15:37:26.048-05:00It's been awhile<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I never meant to stay away so long.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGSJ9iVPbkQCnxyBVECFS_CcrI3LYHZNFiFgGj4-3IExfbbQiFvmTIPyJwLaJcuI2Lj-OVlrMpzx2Aaw6zhyphenhypheneW8enH6Sq4XpJtyKBIt38Q2b4h4zS6YjjO4LAHKQwjxCnE7L3tMrml78/s1600/64902663_2355213218058389_6743134753920122880_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1195" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGSJ9iVPbkQCnxyBVECFS_CcrI3LYHZNFiFgGj4-3IExfbbQiFvmTIPyJwLaJcuI2Lj-OVlrMpzx2Aaw6zhyphenhypheneW8enH6Sq4XpJtyKBIt38Q2b4h4zS6YjjO4LAHKQwjxCnE7L3tMrml78/s640/64902663_2355213218058389_6743134753920122880_n.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the many blurry photos I snap and send to Tyler of a new bird at the feeder<br />(this one is a house finch)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The thing about being away</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for a long time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it's hard to come back.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There's all this pressure....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm just going to ignore the pressure,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
forget about trying to play any sort of catch up</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(as if I could even remember...)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and leave it with:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's been a long (rather rough) year,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but we are here,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we are well.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm sorry if you pop in here regularly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
only to find,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
yet again,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
nothing new.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'll try to do better;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but no promises.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As always,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you can find me <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tracyloukota/">here</a>, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on the Instagram.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
💙</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-24037422300357652692019-03-21T17:39:00.000-05:002019-03-21T17:39:10.655-05:00everyone, meet Lucy.<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm not a big wanter,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but when I want things,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
they're big.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8lM2RnBaY10TVKnUj22CyGURNEe-v85L9pccJcOkMBdIE82gHfxsPnTmgRyciA-r1u5BfwHbLZw8rjdD1ky_-OxvN6H1YF8XUUOl5e7xiKmwcXA4YjqDJewS2PEvojHtGQIlo2cNhv0/s1600/54256367_339387886685978_8860152794435289088_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8lM2RnBaY10TVKnUj22CyGURNEe-v85L9pccJcOkMBdIE82gHfxsPnTmgRyciA-r1u5BfwHbLZw8rjdD1ky_-OxvN6H1YF8XUUOl5e7xiKmwcXA4YjqDJewS2PEvojHtGQIlo2cNhv0/s640/54256367_339387886685978_8860152794435289088_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's no secret that I've hoped for a longarm</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for years.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And Tyler has wanted one for me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for even longer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But - longarms cost lots of money</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(and take up lots of space)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I was fine with the knowledge</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that it was going to be quite some time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before I got one.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even so,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for well over a year now,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've regularly popped in on sites that sell used longarms</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and occasionally do a 'quilting' search</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in Facebook sales groups</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and Craigslist.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Which is how,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 weeks ago tomorrow,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I came to be the owner </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of a 28-year-old</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
no frills</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gammill 24" longarm quilting machine</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on a 14-foot steel frame.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDM4x5GJmh0sOCZ_sh8hiw1kKeY7b6cVRhFjLRmP2iRjFHDve74qjTXukJQVh-MaisdsxwsS7AWGmEExeMV4DCbMfZyi1N7iYj6gghFXBXJdK9WWCyPEct5z6VmwXbrrr6Bp8H5Z5gscM/s1600/54436042_1210592059099873_6221631969344618496_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDM4x5GJmh0sOCZ_sh8hiw1kKeY7b6cVRhFjLRmP2iRjFHDve74qjTXukJQVh-MaisdsxwsS7AWGmEExeMV4DCbMfZyi1N7iYj6gghFXBXJdK9WWCyPEct5z6VmwXbrrr6Bp8H5Z5gscM/s400/54436042_1210592059099873_6221631969344618496_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Everyone,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
meet Lucy:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyawEBD9AgIQHoDEQSXWO4kCdxp4AkUWX-vqMHiHkiQ-1L6xGr9wQEPWbml06atuuj0sTELYJJ3WUmv62xybh4Fzr2IsI6-UVDjevizos48O1mxpLgBx0aHDOYcyRBNP3smVtWH3zR2cs/s1600/53869322_2207292872920175_6595760364271435776_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyawEBD9AgIQHoDEQSXWO4kCdxp4AkUWX-vqMHiHkiQ-1L6xGr9wQEPWbml06atuuj0sTELYJJ3WUmv62xybh4Fzr2IsI6-UVDjevizos48O1mxpLgBx0aHDOYcyRBNP3smVtWH3zR2cs/s640/53869322_2207292872920175_6595760364271435776_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can still hardly believe she's mine.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Thanks, Love!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-16798050577359563712019-03-03T19:02:00.000-06:002019-03-04T07:12:15.310-06:00all of February<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wow.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That went by in a <i>whoosh</i>, didn't it?!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3yEhxAyUZqY1X8t8iWpwWLB-MQ9-dB8bIzKJwEhmW3QAljZkcX6-at-cqSS3LjAQM74aW1dw9VbZb_oV-oZYTlfaZ-AEq3S7t1NO4IKoDC8fhQ1x3P1igSkdJibUulLlw7ommJmMBPM/s1600/53182992_2053575551404978_1660814946570600448_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="640" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3yEhxAyUZqY1X8t8iWpwWLB-MQ9-dB8bIzKJwEhmW3QAljZkcX6-at-cqSS3LjAQM74aW1dw9VbZb_oV-oZYTlfaZ-AEq3S7t1NO4IKoDC8fhQ1x3P1igSkdJibUulLlw7ommJmMBPM/s640/53182992_2053575551404978_1660814946570600448_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ordered this from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/charlieandella">Charlie and Ella</a>, and it arrived on Valentines Day. I love it so much!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let's see.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There was Groundhog Day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuM2o_fT5PH3VG60KVsyv1hNyCad9ogiACjEY4_DmAoZ9oSWp7y3CPaeL5rov13yXNFT_XwyPH2v2sCUSNP-OzoI33jalhj62he1XNv-CSS48jNJpXbRPGp9c96qPhSliGr5uY_Hd0yXI/s1600/53082597_272633910316869_277576735543787520_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuM2o_fT5PH3VG60KVsyv1hNyCad9ogiACjEY4_DmAoZ9oSWp7y3CPaeL5rov13yXNFT_XwyPH2v2sCUSNP-OzoI33jalhj62he1XNv-CSS48jNJpXbRPGp9c96qPhSliGr5uY_Hd0yXI/s400/53082597_272633910316869_277576735543787520_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brandon joined us for the festivities :-)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the Super Bowl.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Which for us really just means </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>snacks.)</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ1Td4X03R0AFu5-Kj2V9as1aYgtQ-aiwv2VPBYEdGJ1JPNEZ84kSlso7D7db8yjpxCEGvIYgdfVncBej28PMqLN5s_tbQvlBuHhNCejQDRMYSwCUOmRUJPKaxx1XjpHHwxbLvXq9_VQ/s1600/53160219_2329897687283169_914605387238342656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ1Td4X03R0AFu5-Kj2V9as1aYgtQ-aiwv2VPBYEdGJ1JPNEZ84kSlso7D7db8yjpxCEGvIYgdfVncBej28PMqLN5s_tbQvlBuHhNCejQDRMYSwCUOmRUJPKaxx1XjpHHwxbLvXq9_VQ/s400/53160219_2329897687283169_914605387238342656_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>~</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some friends gave us tickets</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- enough for all of us! - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to go to a Razorback basketball game.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUPhmEKyx3hkdQtlhZgdM3wcR44RloJyZaxJ95hysPFaCZz20q1TtZr4onJeRxGoYO90iD1GVLwzwPjC_eixfAMXYjXdWaqnElKtKEOwW2f3mHLtMS2nKO0plUTFT7sZHqyUN0tcmrFY/s1600/53316621_421524931725245_368569775237890048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1361" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUPhmEKyx3hkdQtlhZgdM3wcR44RloJyZaxJ95hysPFaCZz20q1TtZr4onJeRxGoYO90iD1GVLwzwPjC_eixfAMXYjXdWaqnElKtKEOwW2f3mHLtMS2nKO0plUTFT7sZHqyUN0tcmrFY/s400/53316621_421524931725245_368569775237890048_n.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That was fun,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but I realized I should explained </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
some of the rules of the game to them beforehand.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I worked my fingers to the bone</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
trying to finish</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/terrysjeweledbutterflyquilt/">Terry Frey's butterfly quilt</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I could enter it in the upcoming NWA quilt show.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gAS_C8ODhQ3Vi0gsJZ57mhlrhzP6vm5ZUOS9ZuGPAQKEUEDAaSnILmCkpKnBUkGIw1zYBZ7LMr_pv4RjXMTqfg18eUYEObOh_Tx4mmxvyCw-8jULF64ddrzSstQi5CbV7T9CneZ3XiU/s1600/51765973_251112312491646_4410804913320230912_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gAS_C8ODhQ3Vi0gsJZ57mhlrhzP6vm5ZUOS9ZuGPAQKEUEDAaSnILmCkpKnBUkGIw1zYBZ7LMr_pv4RjXMTqfg18eUYEObOh_Tx4mmxvyCw-8jULF64ddrzSstQi5CbV7T9CneZ3XiU/s640/51765973_251112312491646_4410804913320230912_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When I still had about 50 hrs of work left</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and only 2 weeks to do it in,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I knew I had to give up.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's kinda bummy,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if Instagram is any indication,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it would have been <i>really</i> well received,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I feel like my chance at a ribbon was pretty good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtSTqtMfZPxzFZwD0U7uFvBRY_k7i3BTPF1kyPB7VVsSMU0nfioMwlHbHWxvj4cGk833luhjlrIHBJQBuFE_tUhU2h5vBz8yt14IumYZ6y_Eylu3FFwHOol3UPcVMAuAFRGV46eR8Lrw/s1600/53619749_2106448222779207_185155511849582592_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtSTqtMfZPxzFZwD0U7uFvBRY_k7i3BTPF1kyPB7VVsSMU0nfioMwlHbHWxvj4cGk833luhjlrIHBJQBuFE_tUhU2h5vBz8yt14IumYZ6y_Eylu3FFwHOol3UPcVMAuAFRGV46eR8Lrw/s640/53619749_2106448222779207_185155511849582592_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ah well.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Speaking of Instagram,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hit 500 followers a few weeks ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J51PXeVFOo93PQx37NCrTeJQx2BtDjcE3XhNz2utm11QOIDSBcnwmhSSkPOvjEUWavt5yv8prSJP-RiCEbw2ckC-2BTz867LNgujWwOGkaDXaZ7SFhf5OSkI7JozblMqqJ9fD0T10y4/s1600/53008435_2303482256358112_4207537202260869120_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J51PXeVFOo93PQx37NCrTeJQx2BtDjcE3XhNz2utm11QOIDSBcnwmhSSkPOvjEUWavt5yv8prSJP-RiCEbw2ckC-2BTz867LNgujWwOGkaDXaZ7SFhf5OSkI7JozblMqqJ9fD0T10y4/s320/53008435_2303482256358112_4207537202260869120_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's humbling that <i class="">that</i> many people </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
feel like I have something to offer in this crafty community.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It sure isn't my glamorous, well-styled photography 😆</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tyler has continued work on the porch railings</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as he's had time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the weather's been cooperative.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It looks so nice when I drive up!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(It'll <i>really</i> look nice when we paint / stain them!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The girls went to SuperStart</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XATBnnvhDMGKg8WdgmYJLqIspaf5XbwoSp5cEkJi2hV7cWtLwXILv1wK3yV9O7XXEvHUPEZduuGeR4Vy5ghP4hedEReG89c4hAX5D6Ou7naJ_FLv12lMIDb4GZHkplugVLqtzJYao9Q/s1600/52999894_408024066631330_4322412038237192192_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XATBnnvhDMGKg8WdgmYJLqIspaf5XbwoSp5cEkJi2hV7cWtLwXILv1wK3yV9O7XXEvHUPEZduuGeR4Vy5ghP4hedEReG89c4hAX5D6Ou7naJ_FLv12lMIDb4GZHkplugVLqtzJYao9Q/s640/52999894_408024066631330_4322412038237192192_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we <strike>babysat</strike> kidsat for some friends.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_d9KjHrIjI7USaluqGvX9dB_ey_Kmilq7NDWHuAxgFJcHlUhqdoqurivU_nML5N1tqrROWbvf5pafoYQXXb3v1zqVivbgcruEYxp-GF0WQ5B8WbP7YXUXnUkzx4z511fGD4fZ6UVPOCA/s1600/53008479_867054796965808_7750198091118018560_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_d9KjHrIjI7USaluqGvX9dB_ey_Kmilq7NDWHuAxgFJcHlUhqdoqurivU_nML5N1tqrROWbvf5pafoYQXXb3v1zqVivbgcruEYxp-GF0WQ5B8WbP7YXUXnUkzx4z511fGD4fZ6UVPOCA/s400/53008479_867054796965808_7750198091118018560_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The biggest news of the month</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I went to Quilt Con!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4FlnsGEpUsvJkfTEOL5fzB1LcfmHgGHNpHtg7LB9wDc8IjT0eTC31nn8IToR5Ii4HS98oTdejdFI07ci9iqy83zoykc6gL40Bi0y-XtUD-mRGpWnyMJv6NWNBSMTnbTqynSXLvROSr8/s1600/52940762_2304834669752186_4690974911462637568_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4FlnsGEpUsvJkfTEOL5fzB1LcfmHgGHNpHtg7LB9wDc8IjT0eTC31nn8IToR5Ii4HS98oTdejdFI07ci9iqy83zoykc6gL40Bi0y-XtUD-mRGpWnyMJv6NWNBSMTnbTqynSXLvROSr8/s320/52940762_2304834669752186_4690974911462637568_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Long story short,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
about a week and half before the trip,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one of my good blogging friends</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
messaged me to say that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
God told her husband </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that he was supposed to send us to Quilt Con.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was rather humbling to be on the receiving end </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of such an extravagant gift,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but who am I to get in the way of someone obeying God??</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We met in Nashville -</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her coming from Arizona, and me from Arkansas.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She was exactly what I expected </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we pretty much talked non-stop the whole weekend.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We saw <i>hundreds</i> of quilts,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fpYiyVo4w9WtWnpGmD5w3k5E7MtnH9HX4fpsOp_CK5jid-sKWELLOqfVYe6mEjLC_gorv88-sog8o1QpzLjV4zZxMQy7KpZW0BWiuTcl7nGRVCNYGjc6wIsctSDJ-DPPgKx0STQ4viQ/s1600/53048052_394233291310601_1136264625000546304_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fpYiyVo4w9WtWnpGmD5w3k5E7MtnH9HX4fpsOp_CK5jid-sKWELLOqfVYe6mEjLC_gorv88-sog8o1QpzLjV4zZxMQy7KpZW0BWiuTcl7nGRVCNYGjc6wIsctSDJ-DPPgKx0STQ4viQ/s640/53048052_394233291310601_1136264625000546304_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this was my favorite - made by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wendyquilter/">Wendy Hill</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and met a few other quilters.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrA1ZUsooMC5zZd7TRppfgXsWAa4LA3oJn03lZc3Ft_S9XzXQnu3MpBJPLqsjp8lV4OqjEYr7nQaYUUoEQ3eNsOAUwEgGLn4JkWJlDKg6Q2WV6wvSTIqb1fI3ae2UnEuo7rh-Q6valkUA/s1600/53761003_627856901004374_3605405026702327808_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="639" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrA1ZUsooMC5zZd7TRppfgXsWAa4LA3oJn03lZc3Ft_S9XzXQnu3MpBJPLqsjp8lV4OqjEYr7nQaYUUoEQ3eNsOAUwEgGLn4JkWJlDKg6Q2WV6wvSTIqb1fI3ae2UnEuo7rh-Q6valkUA/s320/53761003_627856901004374_3605405026702327808_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I tried out some longarms.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had icecream for dinner.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(yum)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wish I'd have been more 'myself'</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because I feel like I wasn't really much <b>fun</b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All in all though, it was a very nice trip</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I'm so grateful for her and her husband's generosity,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and that my man was willing to let me go off </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for a weekend with a 'stranger'.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I'm grateful that God uses technology</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to bring people together.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-45612709244724984382019-02-03T18:03:00.000-06:002019-02-04T00:12:15.767-06:00and then there were two<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When Tony and Andrina came down </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to help out when my dad was in the hospital</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(and they were a <i>huge</i> help!!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
they gave me an Ember.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
An Ember is no ordinary cup.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's ceramic,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so it feels rather ordinary,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
though a bit heavier than normal,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it keeps your beverage as hot as you like it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from 130 - 145 degrees!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No more microwaving coffee every 8 minutes!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have loved </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and enjoyed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and appreciated</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
mine <b>so</b> much</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that they gave one to Tyler</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when they were down just a few weeks ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And he has enjoyed it </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
far more than he imagined he would.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnwbNpVF2vgBm4VwHe24rNYJbY7iQwpKKGtJz45jUMXNNG61Inm5VJUSRC1NLAEHwtkxwtfMCCavV0ZYizbJGuQv5pR-v9cVz1cSNcu0TD9Sb3E2dxsbRdKwPIfFfMCWkangdSnl1BKU/s1600/51327401_317740112202161_1469008686453096448_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1600" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnwbNpVF2vgBm4VwHe24rNYJbY7iQwpKKGtJz45jUMXNNG61Inm5VJUSRC1NLAEHwtkxwtfMCCavV0ZYizbJGuQv5pR-v9cVz1cSNcu0TD9Sb3E2dxsbRdKwPIfFfMCWkangdSnl1BKU/s400/51327401_317740112202161_1469008686453096448_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks, Guys!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We love you</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
even more than our cups </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
💖</div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-78293152984608510182019-01-27T19:17:00.002-06:002019-01-27T19:19:54.032-06:00well - that sucks!<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I consider myself to be fairly low-maintenance</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as women go.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm not terribly<i> <b>needy</b></i>...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or even <i>wanty</i>,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as a general rule.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And as we've made house building decisions</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've tried to make mostly modest choices</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in keeping with the </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
'Simply Gracious. Graciously Simple'</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
theme that we chose.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I<b> reeally </b>wanted a central vac.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't push and beg;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I just made my wishes known</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and left it up to Tyler to decide.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He decided he really didn't want to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
bother with one. more. thing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But then,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he decided that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really don't ask for much,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it wouldn't be terribly expensive,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or too much work...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So one day,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
waay back before the drywall went in,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he asked me to come out to the house and help him with something.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He unwound the hundred foot tape measure</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to 30 feet</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and had me hold it in the coat closet,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
then he took the other end</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and went all through the house</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
making vacuuming motions</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(testing what size hose we'd need</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and where all we'd need outlets)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
until I finally realized I was getting my vacuum after all!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He and <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I think)</span> Josiah ran most of the pipe,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and that was that for awhile.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A few weeks ago,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he ordered the vacuum,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and installed it over the course of a weekend.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(He's been soo busy,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I honestly expected it to sit in the box for a few months</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before he'd get to it)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And now,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have a simply gracious central vac.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I love it so much!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQuwgnSUr-vJk_L6khgxX1_TgjOQQW3LDpWKd_T6wI2tQ6nyJR0KGWUU_WKkXsrIzzDk8_Zp_acKEutiqOe7C5yDWseMb-yKwIPrD0QYzd5aAgIewqGfucTEdWUQHbfV8-xYWfipVKw8/s1600/51233339_768086026894677_8036736628112228352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQuwgnSUr-vJk_L6khgxX1_TgjOQQW3LDpWKd_T6wI2tQ6nyJR0KGWUU_WKkXsrIzzDk8_Zp_acKEutiqOe7C5yDWseMb-yKwIPrD0QYzd5aAgIewqGfucTEdWUQHbfV8-xYWfipVKw8/s640/51233339_768086026894677_8036736628112228352_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As added bonus,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it's Canadian made,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I get a nice little reminder of my <a href="http://freshofftheframe.blogspot.com/">dear friend</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(also Canadian 😊)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
every time I use it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-85993898054804756212019-01-25T14:07:00.001-06:002019-01-25T15:26:23.655-06:00in January<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
It's cold!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But at least the sun is shining.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tony and Andrina came to visit for a week!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
😃</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We celebrated Andrina's birthday,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6z7mJEHkXcVOK37VWLt4pVPDYc_Ns3rEHS-lbwXIWwItQsFbtQQbEG0AzsdgNRpQgUTgXdAg9lg3FZImYMxZf5vyPJiZvFkE-TKsbEbo2N18D798l8uqKno3ZL6MGwQCIc7A6sdVtKk/s1600/50928378_350049652507760_1781576254269423616_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6z7mJEHkXcVOK37VWLt4pVPDYc_Ns3rEHS-lbwXIWwItQsFbtQQbEG0AzsdgNRpQgUTgXdAg9lg3FZImYMxZf5vyPJiZvFkE-TKsbEbo2N18D798l8uqKno3ZL6MGwQCIc7A6sdVtKk/s400/50928378_350049652507760_1781576254269423616_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and Lexi's, too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No more single digit kiddos!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_CrnXJoOAwbyCf3krAUxmwR1b1JWvLI_bfzjH-yp73EnpeUkiP87SVZkjffu36L5RxnpioN_Gc5wCzcRiZeKB5CCvb-4Fl37O9Yer1MQhMSSN6ryUSF7-IsP8vsBGSP4Ac_Qz6Cwzms/s1600/51225872_2090800990985228_2843369457777115136_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_CrnXJoOAwbyCf3krAUxmwR1b1JWvLI_bfzjH-yp73EnpeUkiP87SVZkjffu36L5RxnpioN_Gc5wCzcRiZeKB5CCvb-4Fl37O9Yer1MQhMSSN6ryUSF7-IsP8vsBGSP4Ac_Qz6Cwzms/s640/51225872_2090800990985228_2843369457777115136_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tony and Tyler braved the frigid temperatures</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and worked on the back porch railing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xCp5RlZG_WKguuinKGmnguiZDYYyEhtTaHf-JE4aIUrurNzu2IlsQSBxfMqFkfLy0mEUJ_g73G69toxqfiRX7eOcsjsbN1F2IfnVVSQ9bLbjxJtIEQHYMUHBuWwRVB1dUl_MSGg1gE0/s1600/50497998_297713300944031_3798163451004583936_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1562" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xCp5RlZG_WKguuinKGmnguiZDYYyEhtTaHf-JE4aIUrurNzu2IlsQSBxfMqFkfLy0mEUJ_g73G69toxqfiRX7eOcsjsbN1F2IfnVVSQ9bLbjxJtIEQHYMUHBuWwRVB1dUl_MSGg1gE0/s640/50497998_297713300944031_3798163451004583936_n.jpg" width="624" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't pull out the camera,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but TJ and one of his boys came down on Sunday afternoon,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and brought Matt, Marin, and Milo with them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
💙</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't work on it while people were here, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of course,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but here's a picture<br />
(taken on one of the many <i>not</i> sunny days...)<br />
of where I currently am</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/terrysjeweledbutterflyquilt/">Terry's Jeweled Butterfly</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCI1bm1hkiS6VzUj9MKuIwMy5afwinEmojE-7pJCVLmjx0o693vcu5iS9S08MvxSSJVllMDttXTL69O4Key5Qz3CC_Z2UAN804QHbJKZCpQyBux4rlw_n9h3RWO15IwnYea0jJjodnuM/s1600/50762610_982825791923704_122048191569854464_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCI1bm1hkiS6VzUj9MKuIwMy5afwinEmojE-7pJCVLmjx0o693vcu5iS9S08MvxSSJVllMDttXTL69O4Key5Qz3CC_Z2UAN804QHbJKZCpQyBux4rlw_n9h3RWO15IwnYea0jJjodnuM/s400/50762610_982825791923704_122048191569854464_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
It's going to be pretty dang amazing<br />
if I say so myself.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm considering entering it in a quilt show in NWA,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but I'll need to discuss it with my client</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before I make any decisions.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brandon started a new internship on Monday.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's pretty cool</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and pretty <i>top</i> <i>secret</i>,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I'm not sure if I can tell you where...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We're excited for the opportunity for him!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And thankful he got to spend a good bit of time here, too,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
while Ton' was visiting.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was so nice to have all of my boys in the house</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at the same time!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Work continues to be absolutely crazy and rough</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for Tyler</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we are sooo ready for this season to be over.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Basically, he's been working 2 jobs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(for the price of 1)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for almost a year now)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started a new crochet project.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyBsgN6nlolo2oNuhKNetCmpfzsvPBmoD0tPSMOPBx8mJg9-SeS5NmhW0n7H1pqU-PZ51c7wA3fTGDmIClfxYB6f7BSJsTDGsFLEd0tAKc0iT_4oWONpIH3hrvw29h6jaRpQFpF3REwo/s1600/granny+stripe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyBsgN6nlolo2oNuhKNetCmpfzsvPBmoD0tPSMOPBx8mJg9-SeS5NmhW0n7H1pqU-PZ51c7wA3fTGDmIClfxYB6f7BSJsTDGsFLEd0tAKc0iT_4oWONpIH3hrvw29h6jaRpQFpF3REwo/s640/granny+stripe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This one will be much faster than the last one for sure!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd rather be English paper piecing,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but I just don't have the gumption</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(or the space)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to collect fabrics for a new project just yet...<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
The males in the household<br />
all have wild hair.<br />
<br />
That<br />
will be remedied<br />
today.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-37359984606317757882019-01-18T16:37:00.000-06:002019-01-18T16:37:51.851-06:00Star Bright, a finished quilt<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When I started this one</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I thought I could <i><b>may</b>be</i> piece the top</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in a day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbViQ7p6cqPfEnoDclWcN7gx00FJCC7-RQb2ht09jNFzCkS15Z4zm3a7qU7bPCNqYAcOHwbEl5XQ_5Xse2gBp-ULyspVpK0VUo1rPHth8gccnbtg27eWFhSC1W8ez12lh6amOwMFO1Mw/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1384" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbViQ7p6cqPfEnoDclWcN7gx00FJCC7-RQb2ht09jNFzCkS15Z4zm3a7qU7bPCNqYAcOHwbEl5XQ_5Xse2gBp-ULyspVpK0VUo1rPHth8gccnbtg27eWFhSC1W8ez12lh6amOwMFO1Mw/s640/IMG_1877.JPG" width="552" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's only about 50 x 60 or so,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so it seemed doable.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumMQNpS6YQvFP9wnwiZOMPfO0SZyrnkOyTiQzujx3SLjPqTuv8E4k2ToQwdfmZsNhQApOXPJMZlX1ZKDUevcxC4KDe_BCEiRIGiX8fVRi3AQ1NYCLpXbP6s9CotAC4EWu0LKtVXoACU4/s1600/IMG_1898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumMQNpS6YQvFP9wnwiZOMPfO0SZyrnkOyTiQzujx3SLjPqTuv8E4k2ToQwdfmZsNhQApOXPJMZlX1ZKDUevcxC4KDe_BCEiRIGiX8fVRi3AQ1NYCLpXbP6s9CotAC4EWu0LKtVXoACU4/s640/IMG_1898.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It wasn't.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(at least for me....)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ah well.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuoz1spoqX2bOsTZNFZePCaOJnk5DaDgQEm0BYk2SOig85ro27iwvQBPUVM-h49VcxO7etMtgR8L-lNbzi2QJUlRJWp4V9gr4kfeKjNTvUbKAtYjhj-P3ng7qTNys1iKF3OKyUejKLBM/s1600/50458334_539964106501827_2855294344280145920_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuoz1spoqX2bOsTZNFZePCaOJnk5DaDgQEm0BYk2SOig85ro27iwvQBPUVM-h49VcxO7etMtgR8L-lNbzi2QJUlRJWp4V9gr4kfeKjNTvUbKAtYjhj-P3ng7qTNys1iKF3OKyUejKLBM/s640/50458334_539964106501827_2855294344280145920_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I basically copied<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BeogDasFemh/"> a quilt</a> that </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Melissa of Sew Shabby Quilting posted about a year ago,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
except I added in feathers and onion peels and ribbon candy,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because I could.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(It wasn't all that long ago </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I couldn't quilt any of those!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aVbM9FJrG2j2OkCH6wNhxXqEu7GSsLGwVz6iDqzAhiq3Dli783JUth6Ie7dBQuf1GFwEZo6QFPdKCpyPWZ93WhxRtW71WlD2mpfg9Bf9tZB6V53qrQAdIBG-wcX-JUhGAmTjcbtZhGA/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aVbM9FJrG2j2OkCH6wNhxXqEu7GSsLGwVz6iDqzAhiq3Dli783JUth6Ie7dBQuf1GFwEZo6QFPdKCpyPWZ93WhxRtW71WlD2mpfg9Bf9tZB6V53qrQAdIBG-wcX-JUhGAmTjcbtZhGA/s640/IMG_1888.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The colored fabrics are all Kaleidoscope</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by Allison Glass -</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
woven fabric</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with different colored threads for the weft and weave.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To be honest,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wasn't all that impressed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was expecting a much more shimmery and iridescent look,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but the two colors are only evident </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in a couple of them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They'd probably be nice for bags,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but not worth the price for quilting.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJH52fz40Z26jEH6RRRukLw0E0VuSpsx5pv9OVy7wH1x9EWc4drqIDfrwJ2OxMGKeR522LOhVqpNsji02trbSbH04xzzJgVFwOABW8eddT7bzgdX5mrbaJaNj74_2q2WAUYpDtyk_qzY/s1600/IMG_1916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJH52fz40Z26jEH6RRRukLw0E0VuSpsx5pv9OVy7wH1x9EWc4drqIDfrwJ2OxMGKeR522LOhVqpNsji02trbSbH04xzzJgVFwOABW8eddT7bzgdX5mrbaJaNj74_2q2WAUYpDtyk_qzY/s640/IMG_1916.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even though I'm not thrilled with the Kaleidoscope fabrics,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm quite thrilled with the quilt.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYG40Us6bAVf4dq8ubgRF4TW2ny2SNTIisceEm-f6Jgso5HAIb5vmcQEA-TvFwMRhqWuagt6pVtI58zgQsLMwxADEg-Q4b4JdTjtaSWFyexDRQBWD8y6WFhZlKBCcHrNiQ7KjZWIJqdiM/s1600/IMG_1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYG40Us6bAVf4dq8ubgRF4TW2ny2SNTIisceEm-f6Jgso5HAIb5vmcQEA-TvFwMRhqWuagt6pVtI58zgQsLMwxADEg-Q4b4JdTjtaSWFyexDRQBWD8y6WFhZlKBCcHrNiQ7KjZWIJqdiM/s640/IMG_1897.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think the quilting turned out pretty amazing,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if I do say so myself,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso3Nbup_M8dw1i3SmV8KZ6BytIWvZCGlgCosy7HxMjObN3MnX_cvh9x4E2-zb8F5EyeG4hFqxrAt1IlnTdfxsVHUmPm_tVWQ1TvnpPJwqW3KcTbVnguDNy0lX97J_1pv4FwKQztQhhcg/s1600/IMG_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso3Nbup_M8dw1i3SmV8KZ6BytIWvZCGlgCosy7HxMjObN3MnX_cvh9x4E2-zb8F5EyeG4hFqxrAt1IlnTdfxsVHUmPm_tVWQ1TvnpPJwqW3KcTbVnguDNy0lX97J_1pv4FwKQztQhhcg/s640/IMG_1915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it washed up <i>quite</i> nicely.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I was pretty amazed when I pulled it out of the dryer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was like - <b>I</b> did this?!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanx2spH-b_WQlYXhF_05hQycIW-CT7X-vEVKwbj9dBGNVv4HbEitiUB2QsZwb9pztpMVFMTRFRuwlX-uwJ8GVJU_4npseSv98IuT4h0ZUQYi9lnqr8iR92qMW7mhDLC8uEROm92RCPeI/s1600/IMG_1878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanx2spH-b_WQlYXhF_05hQycIW-CT7X-vEVKwbj9dBGNVv4HbEitiUB2QsZwb9pztpMVFMTRFRuwlX-uwJ8GVJU_4npseSv98IuT4h0ZUQYi9lnqr8iR92qMW7mhDLC8uEROm92RCPeI/s640/IMG_1878.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The wool batting </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with minky backing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(a throw size blanket that I bought on clearance </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for $5 a couple of years ago</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for just this purpose)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
make it extra scrumptious.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtL6vY8s-sQo80p-u18IR40j9OuRDuAWPjOVobp0x4Km_igcdcJTrUhduxUH9HmqWqIlbNQKSB6A0hEethljGp-r3G16Iscls0Od4pRLX5nC2GYrJQsTsESUG5BtcS8EKl3yQ_tbFE8EE/s1600/IMG_1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtL6vY8s-sQo80p-u18IR40j9OuRDuAWPjOVobp0x4Km_igcdcJTrUhduxUH9HmqWqIlbNQKSB6A0hEethljGp-r3G16Iscls0Od4pRLX5nC2GYrJQsTsESUG5BtcS8EKl3yQ_tbFE8EE/s640/IMG_1892.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
plus - the minky shows the quilting really well </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
😊</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKU6BieeRABOGExm7m-nu5NCct8rttzPDmUc_xBBzJjOZXLPbLD3ye2ysN8UA3KAjtFW3ueJdVCgEys0V4RZMfwQpOm_l6DhVuX6ZTHX7K1of8Igy6ZfMm42IjYpEA7hks91fkkZWaSo/s1600/50614950_341461390030117_2671606895202009088_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKU6BieeRABOGExm7m-nu5NCct8rttzPDmUc_xBBzJjOZXLPbLD3ye2ysN8UA3KAjtFW3ueJdVCgEys0V4RZMfwQpOm_l6DhVuX6ZTHX7K1of8Igy6ZfMm42IjYpEA7hks91fkkZWaSo/s640/50614950_341461390030117_2671606895202009088_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My friend<a href="https://karensquiltscrowscardinals.blogspot.com/"> Karen</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
always says that thread matters,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I repeated that to myself many times as I was quilting;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really prefer a thread with a bit of shine to it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I used a spool of Coats and Cotton quilting cotton thread</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I bought back when I started quilting,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it's just <i>dull</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When I got to the border,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I switched to Aurifil </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- still 100% cotton, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it has a tiny bit of sheen -</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I liked it much better.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Really, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think I like a 40 wt poly best.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But if I had a 50 wt poly,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that might be the very best.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It'd be thick enough to see,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but thin enough for travelling.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(do they make a 50 wt poly?)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGNk4seh5DPmdOV2rWU_30hMtcqCKdNhO3wnzKLli5_xOr2_S3Z8Q7MwPijFF2EXmCGRKsuAEYNgZvRHHAR6phd8BzL6jl4QjSV_-9Tv2etQzSubJrkhQqjviuo2WDUuKuKY2gnDPEG0/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGNk4seh5DPmdOV2rWU_30hMtcqCKdNhO3wnzKLli5_xOr2_S3Z8Q7MwPijFF2EXmCGRKsuAEYNgZvRHHAR6phd8BzL6jl4QjSV_-9Tv2etQzSubJrkhQqjviuo2WDUuKuKY2gnDPEG0/s640/IMG_1919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even with</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dull thread </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and my displeasure with kaleidoscope fabrics,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
this one's a favorite.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoZncJXag66xSBaJ4C8ItowWlj2VAFEJE-p8IxA6TmKTLpf7Oo8ry5QI2FhVG1UkQRUr9b42M7FupkEqDAN3EQnZM7zC_d6nq3RiHQBz7tFdTSrvy5qQGegebnjBbvD99Qmr0kxmffj4/s1600/50249833_392250858009313_5583271654450003968_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoZncJXag66xSBaJ4C8ItowWlj2VAFEJE-p8IxA6TmKTLpf7Oo8ry5QI2FhVG1UkQRUr9b42M7FupkEqDAN3EQnZM7zC_d6nq3RiHQBz7tFdTSrvy5qQGegebnjBbvD99Qmr0kxmffj4/s640/50249833_392250858009313_5583271654450003968_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-36220727374256731262019-01-08T15:48:00.000-06:002019-01-08T15:48:39.423-06:00calling all the messengers<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW2fbZEbz3bUDF_abtN-zfZ2g9P7XblXhG3rgLNbYDGsxHhgt7YQ5NN-baAi5RJmtuvywo07BaOvP1LTrcGhy_ldAn5Qu99KolPGTqIbkB8efGv2V71oajRPSlKYdR2LzDjW5G2lJ4WA/s1600/49543290_378164432761099_1644552074379132928_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1235" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW2fbZEbz3bUDF_abtN-zfZ2g9P7XblXhG3rgLNbYDGsxHhgt7YQ5NN-baAi5RJmtuvywo07BaOvP1LTrcGhy_ldAn5Qu99KolPGTqIbkB8efGv2V71oajRPSlKYdR2LzDjW5G2lJ4WA/s640/49543290_378164432761099_1644552074379132928_n.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We got this fun message board for Christmas.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(and the little felt box of letters and words)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sits on the bar</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and every day</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(or even more often)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the 'message' changes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We <b><i>are</i></b> a big awesome family.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
💗</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I get so weary I forget</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sometimes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-24505447933991447592019-01-04T17:08:00.000-06:002019-01-04T17:08:52.056-06:00the sun will come out tomorrow<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It finally stopped raining this afternoon.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the sun came out!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I feel ever so much better.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCHxNnEOh_y7pJw13oPv7LTYo9vDTf5CBGLrre8SSrrzedbXtPiWVt_ADhLVYP-if_Q2lL6ee3TXiZ2yVGd9Nw10BkcjcWTKAz5uZpjxGSfg3qLCuBYZUYr8SbvvMOIIBg8xzu8Pv14E/s1600/49343034_2270489899892199_3448831658919198720_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1257" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCHxNnEOh_y7pJw13oPv7LTYo9vDTf5CBGLrre8SSrrzedbXtPiWVt_ADhLVYP-if_Q2lL6ee3TXiZ2yVGd9Nw10BkcjcWTKAz5uZpjxGSfg3qLCuBYZUYr8SbvvMOIIBg8xzu8Pv14E/s640/49343034_2270489899892199_3448831658919198720_n.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've toyed around with the idea of buying one of those lights</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that are supposed to help with SAD</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but I hate the thought of wasting money, you know?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I probably don't have <i>actual</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seasonal Affective Disorder,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but man do I crave the light.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The instant,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I mean</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>instant,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I walked through the kitchen </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and caught sight of the sunlight in my flowers on the table,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I could fully breathe again.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or maybe I could let my breath <i>out </i>all of the way.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know which;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
all I know is</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I could feel the benefit of the sunshine in my chest....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In other light news - the tree is still up</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and so far, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am in no hurry to take it down.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3V523Lw_ysdvgt1gZ8OPahVb5lS_j1m87Ke0meJXnMT1SG-BUbn1oap3d7SpWfoJejLRtwYwQAkG-NxJ71jjHkE-kd5tzeBQx4NRSEWWZrBcuZMZL76fpjYzux_nP-ljJ1rNuPRPLbG8/s1600/49327524_350697552430037_7600924037434310656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1174" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3V523Lw_ysdvgt1gZ8OPahVb5lS_j1m87Ke0meJXnMT1SG-BUbn1oap3d7SpWfoJejLRtwYwQAkG-NxJ71jjHkE-kd5tzeBQx4NRSEWWZrBcuZMZL76fpjYzux_nP-ljJ1rNuPRPLbG8/s400/49327524_350697552430037_7600924037434310656_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137238438362331675.post-73859734635721288742019-01-03T17:02:00.000-06:002019-01-03T17:46:15.745-06:00and --- that's a wrap<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's that.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another year down.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can't say I'm sad to see 2018 end,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
though.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's been gloomy and rainy for days,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so it's sort of hard to even think straight.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have made no plans for the new year.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No 'word', or 'intention', either.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can tell you though,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd really like to do more than just survive.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've already had plenty of years of <i>that</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Looking back over December:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I sold the Razorback Quilt,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExlst3MgFsKPik8x6g2jwOuHdZku6-Bs0Chy-_WGy6PEOlcCXN8JJ327Wcopeaua7ig54kXe5bKjegCAQOi8JZTv8r6y64EnrQoZPLBvtm_lMrzfdI5V5Swyl5TjNQcv4Cha00T_9Cm8/s1600/49327495_395857204290243_7089314916183572480_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExlst3MgFsKPik8x6g2jwOuHdZku6-Bs0Chy-_WGy6PEOlcCXN8JJ327Wcopeaua7ig54kXe5bKjegCAQOi8JZTv8r6y64EnrQoZPLBvtm_lMrzfdI5V5Swyl5TjNQcv4Cha00T_9Cm8/s640/49327495_395857204290243_7089314916183572480_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm so tickled with where it went, who bought it, and how the purchase came about.<br />
And I am continually humbled that it isn't the <i>wealthy</i><br />
who partner with me, but ordinary people - with hearts bigger than their wallets 💝</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
made excellent progress on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/terrysjeweledbutterflyquilt/">current commissioned project</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe1RL7zvrqLP80oxH2rn7I6tsbYBSHqzWNLeVJguIevcegOEppEpHCKgNxm75QPBIESDalJmZl15tVyR2XJGihMErAMCcxNv3aoOeFb6Pq97OIm9goud_81fY-_N-oBdhnu-p0i1h4MI/s1600/49210863_1188687901294390_8042306126953316352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe1RL7zvrqLP80oxH2rn7I6tsbYBSHqzWNLeVJguIevcegOEppEpHCKgNxm75QPBIESDalJmZl15tVyR2XJGihMErAMCcxNv3aoOeFb6Pq97OIm9goud_81fY-_N-oBdhnu-p0i1h4MI/s640/49210863_1188687901294390_8042306126953316352_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
finished the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqz5xGPHfnR/">circle centered granny square blanket</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I<a href="http://pursuingjoy.blogspot.com/2017/10/grannies-going-in-circles.html"> started in September of '17</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiqrDM1qK4EsQneVo8DzOeV8KnTKhsMIAt8DnHPLsyzrObwzyiHzwoqo3RvEOMWn8a81e03-5TUTAex7gDLu9DE0Hv7xmVz5-Uuh47R1yx-18p5wrGykHwwePajJDtV5yU0eUSw1hGbU/s1600/49525662_222408595355087_2427540310545399808_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiqrDM1qK4EsQneVo8DzOeV8KnTKhsMIAt8DnHPLsyzrObwzyiHzwoqo3RvEOMWn8a81e03-5TUTAex7gDLu9DE0Hv7xmVz5-Uuh47R1yx-18p5wrGykHwwePajJDtV5yU0eUSw1hGbU/s640/49525662_222408595355087_2427540310545399808_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm pretty proud of myself - learning something new,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and having it turn out so beautifully.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But then I remember that I am 50</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<i>Fifty!?!</i>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I feel a bit silly about being proud </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I learned a little bit of crochet.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
House-wise:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We finally hung a mirror in the <a href="http://pursuingjoy.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-upstairs-bath.html">upstairs bathroom</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(which sounds way easier than it was...)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTH0HnXtMfdy2HBDpGwM2GADvdTHcP8oBAlAmralnbyUvwLNkFWN0zdXDpLekGQgm-3GxAfDc2NapcFux5D4801qFwgpzfWDiuec6_0mnfJEkTMd-JFmiwZ5-owTaBT3mEVAjtybncDTA/s1600/49690732_587099211711325_7178134229979496448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1198" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTH0HnXtMfdy2HBDpGwM2GADvdTHcP8oBAlAmralnbyUvwLNkFWN0zdXDpLekGQgm-3GxAfDc2NapcFux5D4801qFwgpzfWDiuec6_0mnfJEkTMd-JFmiwZ5-owTaBT3mEVAjtybncDTA/s640/49690732_587099211711325_7178134229979496448_n.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but the island/bar received most of the attention.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaABDqBmBQ84arkz_O1ZZHP2eMZlfeOcCetS1AR9KfTIzWjYdP0B6IcEAXfD8igTXXKwkNAyUr-Og4c5IBlQunRRTQ6eN7rbuWuYjcgch9fUJnX7Ut29ga7-Bdt0KvI0PzotSKAxdGTM/s1600/49690711_359846748161491_8093987691764383744_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1302" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaABDqBmBQ84arkz_O1ZZHP2eMZlfeOcCetS1AR9KfTIzWjYdP0B6IcEAXfD8igTXXKwkNAyUr-Og4c5IBlQunRRTQ6eN7rbuWuYjcgch9fUJnX7Ut29ga7-Bdt0KvI0PzotSKAxdGTM/s640/49690711_359846748161491_8093987691764383744_n.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was a multi-phase project, and still not complete,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it's completely usable already :-)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some day, we'll put black walnut on the bar top,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but this pine should serve us well for many years.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the benefits of the bar</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that came as a complete surprise,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is that it invites people</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(my man, guests....)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to sit and visit with me as I work.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That makes me so happy!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And, of course, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love working in the kitchen</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGpR-Y7yyIxx-cJ7RMzIy1cWr9sCF-X2kbOuTQ24o2AP7-_rNLaKiq-7eptOm_8DetohwGslfQs7f2VhZ9lCWYHd4hPDz9OSbO0SWh8YCOBZDxHvB9At7SiSBEFXsZmdUg1eW6V3hNyU/s1600/48388592_306600469951267_5552662393194020864_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1314" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGpR-Y7yyIxx-cJ7RMzIy1cWr9sCF-X2kbOuTQ24o2AP7-_rNLaKiq-7eptOm_8DetohwGslfQs7f2VhZ9lCWYHd4hPDz9OSbO0SWh8YCOBZDxHvB9At7SiSBEFXsZmdUg1eW6V3hNyU/s640/48388592_306600469951267_5552662393194020864_n.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
while people I love</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
play games at the table</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
across the bar.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We also spent a bit of time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
adding just a few things to the mudroom </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to help it function properly.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We did okay without a bench and coat hooks</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
spring thru fall,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but they became more important as the temperature dropped.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0N09L9kkPfnnjgYOT-KrWEbFq0HK_dS8naUGbFOBPCHKG1yNUqERyuBF0nhCV7TbHvB9qeTEijYSGh1GAD9QHXRGMp-m4xcSyTdJMB0LD5U0zoPjWpBX5my8k0T2cCYWTc9O-JJh04a0/s1600/49900337_2212810805640685_9097251795381518336_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0N09L9kkPfnnjgYOT-KrWEbFq0HK_dS8naUGbFOBPCHKG1yNUqERyuBF0nhCV7TbHvB9qeTEijYSGh1GAD9QHXRGMp-m4xcSyTdJMB0LD5U0zoPjWpBX5my8k0T2cCYWTc9O-JJh04a0/s400/49900337_2212810805640685_9097251795381518336_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know. <br />
Y'all are so envious of both my 'styling' <br />
and my photography skills.<br />
When I tell you the picture of the other coat rack was too bad to post, <br />
you know it's <i>really</i> bad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We hosted (most of) Tyler's family </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a few days before Christmas</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it thrilled my heart to look in there</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and see the coat racks loaded down</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and 25+ pairs of shoes in a jumbled heap.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Interestingly,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
there was exactly the same number of people</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at my sister's house the next day,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when she hosted our side of the family.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBSJN7aiMiS2bkeF4wrKNUkTVcBjobp_QajM8DLAzrFnml3Ijo6IG-voZF3MCfBEN7HKePKV2HdeIJz6PwIAQN2jx7Aeq9sZo5_lCVdPtRVjYZ3k3WLqQnN1QnfoiRI4gDIx5trrTfbE/s1600/49411222_2043380572423677_4496143856202416128_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1013" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBSJN7aiMiS2bkeF4wrKNUkTVcBjobp_QajM8DLAzrFnml3Ijo6IG-voZF3MCfBEN7HKePKV2HdeIJz6PwIAQN2jx7Aeq9sZo5_lCVdPtRVjYZ3k3WLqQnN1QnfoiRI4gDIx5trrTfbE/s640/49411222_2043380572423677_4496143856202416128_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I"m not going to do an end of the year round up post; </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
there's just not enough energy for that.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But in scrolling through my blog and Instagram feed</div>
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I am reminded of just how much we accomplished this year,</div>
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in spite of what a long, and challenging year it's been.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I would've liked for the end of 2018</div>
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to have felt more celebratory,</div>
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as there really was a lot to celebrate.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I mean -</div>
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we hadn't even moved into the house a year ago!</div>
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And when we did <a href="http://pursuingjoy.blogspot.com/2018/02/one-week-in.html">(all) get moved in</a></div>
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in February,</div>
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it was another couple of months</div>
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before we had a kitchen...</div>
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<br /></div>
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Instead,</div>
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I just feel worn out and weary.</div>
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The loss of my dad has just sort of made everything </div>
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flat.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Don't misunderstand - I *do* feel blessed,</div>
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I just also feel very flat </div>
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(it's really the only way I can describe it)</div>
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<br /></div>
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I find that, </div>
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after almost 11 years</div>
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(can you even <i>believe</i> I've had the blog this long?!!)</div>
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I am <b>still</b></div>
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pursuing joy.</div>
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<br /></div>
the mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06442659609532682275noreply@blogger.com0