Thanks Jamie

Just a quick post to thank Jamie for changing my background. I love Americana. This blogging thing is really a challenge for me. I am proud to report though, that I downloaded all the pictures myself on the next two posts. I did have to call Mick at work for assistance though on one tiny problem.

Jersey Projects

This is a close up of the previous post. I thought I would never get done with this quilt. There were so many half triangles that made up a 2 inch block. But it turned out great. Look at the blue star fabric to see the awesome quilting. i love this stars and loops pattern.

This is a darling Halloween quilt that still needs to go to the quilters. I haven't decided if I'll tackle it myself or send it out to be done. Some custom work on it would be awesome.

More projects done in Jersey

This one is the baby blanket I made with lakehouse fabric scraps. I did the quilting myself on the machine. I love the prairie square edging.

This is a Christmas quilt I love because it looks like wrapped Christmas packages. I used the left over fabric to make a table runner.

This is one of the baby quilts I have done. It is from the American Jane fabric line.

Happy Flag Day

As most of you know, the company didn't move any of my decorations in this 2 year assignment. But you all know me, I have lots of decorations in Brea and just couldn't let Flag Day go by without some here in Jersey.

The little American wall hanging is above the phone desk, I finally finished the Americana table runner I started last year and it is now home in the foyer with the vase full of flags and the famous tree is full of flags, red, silver, and blue tinseley garland with stars, and white twinkly lights. Happy Flag Day......

Happy 4th too, the same decorations will be up for that too!!!

What do you do all day.....Quilt!

This quilt ended up being huge. It is done with the guitar fabrics and I backed it with cordoroy. See the fun fabrics up close. Between rows I also used the black cordoroy.
It is quilted with a guitar and treble cleff and notes quilting design. My friend Joyce Brock did the quilting on my last 5 quilts. She is awesome. More to come.

A friend from California wanted to know what I do during the day. Well quilt for one. So decided to show you some of the quilts I've done since moving here. One on the left is a strippy done with a jelly roll. The one in the middle is a baby quilt with Lakehouse Fabrics. It really turned out cute and I did the quilting myself. I'll get a closer up shot. The one on the right is a quilt done with 2 inch squares of fabric. Not my typical quilt. I like Gina's Afternoon Delights that you can do in an Afternoon or Two. This definately wasn't one of those and it is twin size. Check out her website at ThreadedPearStudios.com

The Food Chain...Should we be on alert?

Last weekend two deer were hit just yards from our home here in Jersey. The buzzards were out in full force staking claim to their prizes. The thing that cracked me up, was these buzzards just stood there protecting their find, just staring at the other buzzards who were staking claim to their deer. I kept thinking what is the point!!!

Well the very next day in the afternoon, this is the point!!! They cleaned that poor deer up in less than 48 hours.

The scarry thing is, there are 4 buzzards that like to sit on the chimney of our home. Is this a sign? Are they staking our place out?

Statue of Liberty

My cousin Merrilee and her family came to Jersey for the big New Years Celebration for 2009. Her son Brenn , who is in Junior High School, did this picture of the Statue of Liberty for us as a thank you. I love the details and perspective he has done. Upon receiving it I immediately hung it in the hallway where we go to and from the house. It is also visable from our kitchen. Thanks Brenn, I love it!!!!

Womens Conference

Another tradition I have is attending Womens Conference at BYU in Provo Utah. My cousin Kim and I attended BYU together as freshmen, so it brings back fond memories of living together in the dorms. We usually stay in the dorms and eat in the cafeteria where we put on a few pounds during the 3 night stay. I don't remember the food being that good while in school. Well this year there was only 3 of us. My aunt Eleanor couldn't make it due to a last minute surgery. But we still had fun and laughed and had great memories. Over the years we have had my sister Karen, sister in law Sara and Sharon, my HS friend Chris and cousin Lynette attend with us. There has always been the four of us every year, Cousin Kim, my Mom, her sister Eleanor and myself.

One of the highlights this year was Kim getting the coach of the Highland Rugby team autograph for her son Andrew who plays rugby. He is the guy behind the movie "Forever Strong". He was one of the special guests at the thursday night concert that is held in the Marriott Center.

This is us at the concert. We had front row seats which we planned in order to get the autograph. L-R Cousin Kim, myself, Aunt Pat, and my mom. It was a 2 1/2 hour concert that we all enjoyed so much.

Friday night Jamie was having a recital for the performing group "Foot Poetry" that she dances for in Utah. We were so excited to finally get to see her perform with this company. We got a short preview at rehearsal on thursday evening up at BYU. Well it was held at Thanksgiving Point in an outdoor theater for the Tulip Festival. The grounds were absolutely beautiful with flowers and the famous tulips. But it started to pour down and the concert was cancelled. We were so sad to not be able to see her dance. My Uncle Albert and Pat, Uncle Bob, cousing Leslie and her daughter Kenzie drove all the way to see her dance also. We love having family close that are so good to support Jamie and also have her over for meals.

It was a wild trip for Janelle and I. We left Jersey two days after company left on April 21st. We flew into Orange County and spent 2 days at the Brea house. Jamie flew in on the evening of the 21st from BYU to be with us. On friday we headed out to Palm Springs to pick up my mom who flew in there from Seattle. We spent two days at the desert home getting it ready for the long hot summer. On saturday evening we headed back to Brea where we attended church on sunday and then monday morning drove to Utah , Janelle, Jamie, Grandma and myself, so jamie could make her 4pm class for Spring semester. We spent time with family and Cousin Kim arrived on wednesday. Kim and my mom flew out of SLC and Jamie stayed for school, so Janelle and I made the trip back to California by ourselves. We made excellent time, getting to St George in 3 1/2 hours from Springville and then it was stop and go and 37 mph headwinds to Orange County after arriving in Vegas. We made it safe and sound and met Mick at the hotel in Anaheim where we spent the next two days doing dentist, doctor, hair, eye and all those appointments that we do while in California. We also were able to secure a place for the open house for graig and nicole. It will be august 22nd at the North Hills swim and tennis club on Woodcrest. It is just up the street 6 houses from the Brea house. A great big Thank You to our neighbor Jane O'Brien for sponsoring us. Come on up on the 22nd for an In and Out Burger.

The three of us then flew out of sunny California on the morning of may 6th to arrive in New Jersey to rain and cooler temperatures. When we left everything was still naked as I call it. Now all the leaves are out, flowers, lilacs and dogwoods are in bloom, and it is beautiful and green.

A must see when visiting The Wards

Great news. They have opened up "The Lady" so you can go to her crown again. Since 9-11 the farthest you could go was the base. We have learned the tricks to get tickets, so let us know at least 2 weeks in advance when you come to visit so we can be sure to get you to the top!!! Our family made the climb back in 1998 and what a memory it was.

One of the "Must Sees" while visiting NYC is the tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. We have learned that you park at Liberty State Park on the Jersey side and take the ferry over to the sites. I love the tour of Ellis Island and always get teary eyed hearing the stories of families and what they went through when entering the United States. Relatives on my mothers side eneteredthe country through Ellis Island and almost were sent back because of an eye infection. I've been reading the book Covenant of Fire and have a greater appreciation of what these pioneers in the Martin Handcart went through and their trip across the seas to come to the land of Freedom. This is a picture from Liberty Park in Jersey, so you see the back side of "The Lady".

Easter Traditions

Growing up my mother always made a bunny cake for Easter. It was tradition. I loved that cake. It brings back fond memories of easter egg hunts, easter basket contest at the Country Club, a new Easter dress and sunday shoes. So since we had a large group at the house I decided to make the bunny cake. Well it just didn't turn out like the memories I have of it as a child. My mother asked if I made the homemade 7 minute icing...what?...homemade icing....are you crazy? I guess the store bought in the can just didn't cut it this time.

Another Easter tradition is coloring eggs. I have to admit, this is an activity we have not done in years since we usually take our big family trip during easter break. Coloring eggs in Japan, England, Hawaii, Italy, just didn't make the "to do" list while traveling. So when we had the biggest majority of the family here.....guess what?....we colored eggs.

Jamie also colored eggs, check out her blog at A Day in the Life on my blog list.