Uncle Gene ...

"Wreaths Across America" provided Christmas wreath placement on several soldier's graves on Pearl Harbor Day. Uncle Gene was fortunate to be one of the recipients.

This is what it's all about ...

Not a good picture ... was using the cell phone. The "Man Cave" is also dimly lit ... but you can see everyone's expression. I especially love the way C is looking up at Gramps.

Christmas Gift?

Sam has found a new place to "chill"! A few ornaments needed to be "rehung" to make her new accommodations more suitable.

Note To Self

I think the secret is to not leave a car seat sitting out if you don't want it taken over! Sam has arthritic hips so climbing into this "chair" isn't as difficult for her!

Jake

Boy meets pizza ...

"missing"

Woke up this morning to discover that 4-6 inches of snow had disappeared overnight! Aftermath of melt is not as attractive ... quite mushy underfoot ... messy driving also! Of course we still have our snowpacked/icy lane as a reminder.

A frosty morning in PDale land ...

Whether I want it or not ... "Old Man Winter" is making his presence known!

Avalen and Pati

My two beautiful Rapid City nieces!!!

Black Friday ~~~

It's become a tradition ... "Egg Brunch" ... recipe compliments of Judi ... Yummy!

A toast to mother ...

Today mother would have been 85 years old. In her memory we made a toast with her favorite wine "Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill". Not the finest wine but it sure brought back some funny memories!

Love you and miss you ...

Wildwood Tree

Picked up a fabric panel at quilt shop in Victoria BC last spring. Shop showed it stretched over canvas frame. While it was a nice look I knew it could be better. I found a cool curtain rod with leaf finials ... I think it complimented the panel.

Our new wall hanging is centered above east window in living room ... I love it!

Scotch Blocks Quilt

My next project "Scotch Blocks" is a quilt for grandson Noah. Last spring I collected over 50 fat quarters to use in his quilt. I'm really good at procrastinating, dragging my feet, putting things off ... whatever or however you want to describe it. I could use the excuse that all of the fabric needed to complete it was not yet purchased, which is partially true. I found sashing fabric in Rapid City in August, the backing in North Platte in September and the corner stone fabric in my stash last week! Now I had no excuse to get started. Everyone who quilts knows that cutting the fabric is the most tedious/arduous part ... standing for hours is really a back breaker ... not to mention avoiding cutting your fingers with the rotary cutter or mis-cutting! So far, so good.


I liked this pattern as it used several different fabrics to complete one 12 inch block. Of course I opted for fabric combination in the background as I didn't think pink was Noah's color!


Every pattern designer has their own technique for fabric layout and cutting instructions. This particular pattern had few written instructions only black and white pictures for sewing ~ which were not helpful. So, I got out my graph paper and worked out my own fabric layout and wrote down cutting instructions.


Thirty fat quarters, pressed and ready for cutting ...


One fat quarter down ~ 29 more to go! If I've laid everything out correctly (knock on wood) then each 12" block will be unique ... no two should be the same ... and there will be 30 blocks to complete this twin sized quilt.


I have successfully completed five blocks. I am so happy to have a quilt wall to lay them out on .. so far I'm pleased with my progress ... I have all ten fingers and didn't lose any fabric due to inaccurate cuts.

Now back to my sewing ~~~

Grandma "Care" ~

Had the opportunity to stay with grandson Cooper for a day. What does one do with a one year old for nine hours? Well ... you babble and drool alot (him, not me, yet!), wipe a drippy nose (his not mine), bang on some pots 'n pans (makes a really cool noise), read books (over and over and over), and you take two naps (Coop, not grandma!). He walks now and while very mobil I can still outrun him. He's still short enough that his little noggin' will still clear tables and counters. He likes to open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors and drawers, and understands no and will gently close avoiding pinching his little fingers. I think we had a great day together and while I love spending one-on-one time with him the thought of getting to do it 24/7 is a very tiring thought ...

Breakfast of a Banana, Pancakes and Scrambled Eggs -- Yummy!!!

For whatever reason I am fascinated with my Belly Button!!!

I love my little Coopie ... breakfast, lunch, naps, snacks, diapers ... he is a really cool little dude and always so happy you just love hanging with him --- even when lunch prep is taking a little to long ---

Waste Not ~~

I was fortunate enough to have parents that used their resources wisely. I remember nothing going to waste, especially the "hash" dish mother would prepare made up of all the week's leftovers ~~ not our favorite dish, but it was nutritious!

As I was cutting fabrics for the "Snapshots" quilt there were some usable strips remaining. I knew I could do something with them ... but what? I loved the look of the finished quilt, the bold colors and fabric textures. Ah-ha!


So, the "throw" pillow was born! A place to rest your head, prop up a good book, or to use for a good pillow-fight ... whatever, your call.

Journal-Star Printing Co. ~ circa early 1950's

There are very few people today who will remember this piece. It was a recruiting tool for paper carriers. I recall seeing it several times over the years as a one page ad. I love that spell check was not available ... just a Webster's ... note lower right hand picture tag line!


I love my chubby little fingers and look at that head of hair ...

~ Oh Danny Boy ~

Mad Hatter

Move over Johnny Depp ...

Trick or Treat!

Silver Thimble

Finally got around to sewing this wall banner kit I purchased in Ketchikan Alaska this past May. I was super excited because quilt shop name was "Silver Thimble". Ironically there is a "Silver Thimble" in Ogallala, which I visit when at Michelle's. When visiting in Montana I happened to notice a "Silver Thimble" in Bozeman, but I've never stopped. I have since discovered that Snelleville, GA, Green Bay, WI, and Springfield NH are also home to "Silver Thimble" quilt shops. What are the odds? Now I'll need to locate all of the "Silver Thimble" quilt shops and plan a road trip!!! Anyone game?

R.I.P.

The District School Board voted in March 2011 to close the elementary school in Pleasant Dale due to budgetary cut backs. The town had consolidated with Milford in the 70's. The district continued to support two elementary school buildings and a middle/senior high school. Forty years later it was no longer feasible to support a facility that served fewer than 35 students. So-o-o-o when the 2011/2012 school opening day arrived ... the Pleasant Dale building sat empty. The school district held an auction on October 8th of building, property and contents. A Hastings ethanol business purchased the building and land ...






Life marches on though ... new life may be pumped into the community ... with a business providing employment opportunities.

Only time will tell ~

... can I lick the bowl?...

Nebraska Huskers vs Wisconsin Badgers

Saturday, October 1st was Nebraska's first Big 10 football game. Thousands of "loyal" Nebraska fans made the 500 mile trip to Randall Stadium in Madison WI. There was a lot of media hype all week long ... Go Big Red.

We were camping at a nearby State campground, which was full considering time of year. All day Saturday campers were setting up for the "big game" and "tailgating". Everyone was energized. Campfires roared, radios blared and big screen tv's were set-up outside. I was snuggled up with my Nook by the campfire and Larry watched from comfort of camper. Media coverage can be very one-sided, so hearing the campground cheers, etc. was a more pleasant experience for me.Huskers didn't win ... lost by a large margin. Nothing to do now but look forward to this Saturday's game with Ohio. Go Big Red.

Camping...we're gona go camping!!!

Sometimes you don't need words ... pictures are enough.

Go Big Red ~

Finally, after 4+ years, got up my nerve to attend a UNL football game. It was made easier by attending with sister Judi.


Our dad began purchasing season tickets in 1946 ~ and was able to maintain the same seats. Wish I had kept tabs on the number of times I got to attend with him. He always sat on the left with the 50 yard line running between us.


Judi and I arrived more than a hour early so had the opportunity to watch the stands fill up.



I love my Nebraska Cornhuskers ... and look forward to going to many more games. Thanks HHBB for having the best seats in the house!!!

Camay Soap

"Camay all over ... arms and legs, b**bs and b*tts."

Overheard this little ditty being sung by youngest daughter when she was around 3-4 years old. I don't know if Camay is even available anymore, but her tune still remains in our minds!

Dust?

Okay ... I'm not a domestic diva, nor do I pretend to be. There are to many other important things to be doing in life than constantly focusing on dusting and vacuuming on a regular basis. If I can see accumulation I do dust, and do need to vacuum to keep cat dander and fur down to a minimum. However the other day, for whatever reason, I was in "nesting mode". I dusted every nook and cranny in the dining room...even went so far as to thoroughly clean silk flower arrangements (paint brush and vacuum~the whole nine yards). Imagine my surprise when this little origami crane was plucked from the stems! Don't know how long it has lived there or who is responsible for it. I can say it is a label from a wheat beer, so I have my suspicions.

Thanks for making me smile ...

Fort McPherson National Cemetery (Maxwell NE)

For years we have traveled the I-80 corridor westbound and always commented "we need to stop off there...", and we usually drove on by. The "there" was usually some attraction posted by local, state or federal governments. The most recent road trip took us to Imperial for an 8th grade football game (Go Warriors), and an overnight in Ogallala. Returning home the "we need to..." became a destination. Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell Nebraska was an enlightening stop.

Fort McPherson was established in 1863 to ensure peace between the immigrants traveling along the Oregon Trail and Native Americans. The 20 acre Fort McPherson National Cemetery (established in 1873) afforded the space to reinter remains from cemeteries abandoned by the Army when conflict between settlers and Native Americans decreased.

An automated gravesite locator kiosk is located in the public information building. Out of curiosity we keyed in family names: Bach, Sengstake, Nootz (Nutz), and we had success with Cameron. William Cameron died on August 19, 1854 and was buried in Section B; #625.


Marker read: "In Memory of Enlisted Men Company G 6th Infantry Killed in Action near Fort Laramie Wyoming (Grattan Massacre) 8-19-1854"

Excerpt from cemetery brochure reads: "A large marble monument in Section B marks the group burial of the 18 enlisted soldiers killed by the Sioux on August 19, 1854 in what became known as the Grattan Massacre after Lt. John Grattan, who commanded the soldiers during the fight. Originally buried at the battle site near Fort Laramie, Wyoming, the soldiers were reinterred at Fort McPherson in 1891 and Lt. Grattan was reinterred at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Historians consider the fight to be the opening salvo in a 36 year period of intermittent hostilities between the Sioux Nation and the U.S. Army, ending with the massacre at Wounded Knee, South Dakota in 1890."

We are currently researching the name "William Cameron" to determine if he is an ancestor, and did find Grattan Massacre on Wikipedia which provided alot of background information leading up to the massacre.

The side trip was worth the stop ~ the cemetery is beautiful, serene, and well-maintained ~