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 ~

Facets of Time

Found this pattern in the September/October 2011 McCall's Quilting magazine. Of course it was shown as a quilt with a 'simple project' as a table runner. Because I am not that proficient with the matchey-matchey (yet) of stripes and points I chose to practice on a table runner. I purchased the fabrics at Quilted Kitty in Lincoln -- batiks are not a part of my stash. I'm on the fence with this one ... pattern was outside of my comfort zone ... but I took the challenge! I think I'll stop at the table runner ~ a quilt would really be more than I want to take on at this point. I am however pleased with the end results, it fits nicely on the media center in the living room. I love the colors (duh, I chose them) and believe they compliment some of the other tones in the room.

The chair ~

Several weeks ago when meandering through the sale aisles at the fabric store I came across an upholstery remnant that immediately reminded me of my youth. I had flashbacks of something similar only from the red/burgandy family. Without even thinking of the why's and what's I purchased it.

While cleaning up my sewing area I came across it (after moving it from shelf to cutting table to bookcase and back again) and decided this week something was going to happen with it. I knew just the project too.

Years ago mother divided up her parents worldly possessions. My family inherited Sky and Grandma's desk and chair. It was very much a 40's era purchase with the label on chair stating "Gold's". Those of you who remember the days of "downtown Lincoln" will recognize the name and know the block.

Both pieces have seen better days ... a scratch here, a chip there, and a finish that could use some re-finishing. Because I believe that some pieces need to remain as original as possible I opted to ignore "scratch n' dents" and focused on chair cushion cover. The chair had been recovered many times over the years to keep up with the current fashion trend. While my choice of fabric may not have been what originally adorned the cushion, the fabric I purchased reminded me of my maternal grandparents.

I hope I have done them and their "Gold's" purchase justice.

"Gama" & Sky's desk and chair

The "Donald" Finale

Raggedy quilts are a simple design, no fancy angles to deal with. However simple does not mean easy. As stated earlier cutting flannels and batting is no picnic. Sandwiching fabrics, etc. was a breeze. Even sewing each block crosswise (corner to corner) was an "enjoyable" task. Laying out the blocks for correct textures and color combinations was a bit of a challenge -- but accomplishable. Sewing the rows of blocks and connecting those rows was laborious, not to mention the bulk and weight. At that point I was 24 hours into the quilt ... I felt I was on the downhill side! Reality finally set in when I spent seven hours doing the clipping which would give the quilt the raggedy appearance once laundered. My neck and shoulder muscles were so-o-o-o sore! The joy of seeing the quilt laundered and dried made all the achey-ness worthwhile. Today I am a little "stiff", but the finished product is oh so beautiful (if I do say so myself!).

Quilt got the approval of Little Bit -- clipping and laundering had not yet occurred.

Dee-dah!!! It will soon be on it's way to Montana. Whoot-Hoo!