... marching right along ...

Whenever completing a huge project and before beginning another I like to "wind down" by working on something easy. I decided on a simpler and "already started projected" gifted to me when #2 daughter moved out of state. A easy block pattern using up some of her stash. Luckily she had cut blocks, labeled the rows AND provided layout pattern ... Yeah, my type of project (no thinking required)!

I got this far ... she had only laid out the center of quilt. It only measures 30 inches square so will become a lap quilt. All I need to do is search through my stash and find fabrics appropriate for two borders ... darn ... I need to focus ... guess I didn't think this project through after all!

2013 Nebraska Independent Fabric Shops - Shop Hop

This year's hop offered five Nebraska fabrics by Timeless Treasures.

a border - featuring Nebraska's assets

a backing fabric - with scenes featured in border fabric

and three featuring Nebraska counties in rust, tan and green colors

 

39 shops participated in this year's hop. My goal was to visit all of the shops, collecting the necessary card stamps to enter the annual drawing. I did visit all 39 shops, collecting all of the stamps AND dropping a little $$$$ at nearly every shop!

 

~~~ more later ~~~

Sent and Received

The Blanket Chest

Favorite Most Beautiful First Born ...

Today our "Boochie Dootz" is one year older ... if I state how old I will have to acknowledge my own age, since I have said I am "39" for many, many years. (Yes, I'm following in my mother's footsteps!)

She's such a beautiful, strong, self-assured and smart young "woman". I love her more today than yesterday.

Happy Birthday, Michelle ...

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!

Happy Birthday!

Melissa Ann

On this date, in the early morning hours of our nation's bi-centennial year, our youngest daughter was born. Happy Birthday Melissa ...

2011 Lincoln Marathon

This past Sunday Michelle, Lisa and girlfriend Heather participated in the Lincoln Half Marathon. The three of them met in the staging area near Memorial Stadium at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday morning ~ yawn ~ Thank goodness Larry is an early riser and able to get Michelle into town in plenty of time!

There were over 10,000 registered participants this year; they were three of the 8,000 doing the half marathon – that’s a lot of people! Participants ranged in age from 8 to 84 … what a feat regardless of age and 62% of total registrants were women!!! Rather than run the "girls" walked the route … they were really hoofing it when I met up with them.

I got a late start on Sunday so didn’t catch up with Larry until Mile 10 – near my childhood home at 10th & Plum. By then they were on the downhill side of the walk and going at a pretty good pace. They were not as “fresh” looking as they had been at 7 a.m., but were all grins and waving. I was glad I got to see them walk past – they were hoofing on towards the Memorial Stadium finish line.
We were able to find parking on campus and get into stadium before “the girls”. Got to see them on the robotron screen as they made their way on outer walk on west side of stadium and would soon enter through southwest tunnel!!! What a sight to see, our girls running onto the field and crossing the finish line. They did it!!!

Now to rest up. I wonder if they will contemplate doing it again?

Happy Birthday Lisa

On this date we became a family of four.
Happy "29th" Birthday to our middle daughter Lisa Marie.
We love you!!!

Our Montana Family...

A Beautiful Family

(Melissa, Esmé and Mitch)

Our Youngest...

Youngest daughter Melissa and her daughter Esmé.

Who's who?

I'm beginning to see some similarities between mother and daughter.

Farewell Missoula...

Earlier this month Melissa, Mitch and Esmé moved to Anaconda Montana where Mitch had accepted the position of Library Director at the Hearst Free Library. This is a wonderful opportunity for them and I wish them the best. They have purchased their first home and will be putting down some roots.

I really enjoyed visiting Missoula...when flying in I found the surrounding countryside absolutely breath-taking.


On one of our earliest visits, when kids lived on Front, we were able to sit on their front porch and hear the "Rolling Stones" concert at the University of Montana football field! It was great AND inexpensive!


There were many, many unique restaurants...


Staggering Ox - for unique sandwich design!


Iron Horse for burgers...

Finnegan's Family Restaurant which was built over a creek offered a fun dining experience when seated at booth to watch fish and ducks floating by...the fact that they served good food was also an enjoyable experience.
Paul's Pancake Parlor offered best pancakes ... and had a really cool hand painted mural of the Grizzly football stadium on an entire wall.

Or course Missoula was where granddaughter Esmé was born so it will always hold a special place in my heart.


Carousel at Caras Park along river...nice walking paths and picnic areas...fun to watch kayakers run the rapids too!


Dragon Hallow is adjacent to Carousel area and allows for children of all ages to have a great play area.

So, for now, I will bid adieu to Missoula and the alphabet mountains!

and her many rivers...

...you were a great place to visit and for a short time a great place to live...