Hikes, Blueberries, and a Smocking Sneak-Peek

Hubby and I took the five younger kids out to my Dad's place today.  We hadn't visited in a while, and the kids love going out there.  His property borders forest land, so there are plenty of trails to explore.

We decided to hike the trail that takes you to the top of "the mountain".  It's pretty long and steep, but Sophia hiked along just like the big kids.

Here's a peek-a-boo view from the top...isn't it pretty?  Actually, there used to be a much better view of the entire valley beyond, but the trees have grown up quite a bit since the last time we came up here.

Coming back down the mountain...Sophia was getting pretty tired by then and wanted me to carry her, but I convinced her to just hold my hand.  She did great!

It's so pretty back in these woods.  I wished we could just pitch a tent and camp there for a while.

Someday I hope to live in a  place that's as wonderful as this.  In the meanwhile, we'll just have to visit my dad more often!

My dad has wonderful blueberry plants that were ripe for the picking.  We must have picked at least 15 pounds.  And that's not counting the pounds we ate straight off the bushes!

And lest you think I haven't been doing any sewing, rest assured that I have.  Here is a sneak peak of the smocking and embroidery I have completed on both the flower girl dresses.  They are almost finished.  The fabric is so pretty.  It's a Michael Miller print called "Fairy Frost" in a 100% quilter's cotton, but it has a lovely sheen.  Just perfect for a wedding.  The bride chose robin's egg blue as one of her colors, and this fabric was exactly the shade she wanted.  I hope to have both dresses finished by tomorrow and will definitely post pictures more pictures then.

Hope you had a wonderful day.  My shadow bids you good-bye!

My Daughter Quilts!

Isn't the dream of every mother who sews to eventually have a daughter follow in her footsteps?  Well, I finally got my wish!  This week, my 15 year old worked off and on for three days to piece the front of this beautiful quilt, with NO HELP at all from me.  I'm so proud.  When she announced last week that she wanted to make a quilt that she saw in a book, I took her out right away to my favorite fabric stores and let her pick out the fabrics.  Yes, I have plenty of fabric in my stash, but I really wanted this to be HER quilt, and her tastes in colors and patterns run a bit different from mine.  So we bought the majority of what she needed.  However, she did find a few prints in my hoard that worked into her color scheme.

Here's the book which features the quilt she did on the front cover.  We found it at our local library.

And here's a close up of the squares.  Didn't she do a great job in matching up all the corners?  I'm so impressed.  This quilt isn't finished yet--it still needs batting and a backing.  We will head out again tomorrow for a cozy flannel for the back.  I always back all the quilts I make with flannel...they are just so soft and warm.  She plans on "stitching in the ditch" to secure the layers.  I will be sure to post more pictures when it is completely finished.  This is one proud mama!



Birthdays and Storms

Thunder rumbled, lightening flashed, and the rain came down in sheets as our family gathered together last night and today to celebrate two birthdays.  Son #3 turned the big "18" yesterday, and little brother celebrated his 6th today.

We put Landon's candles on one corner of the cake, and Jackson's on the other.  We don't always celebrate their birthdays on the same today, but it just worked out easier that way this year.

Seven of my eight children together...that makes me so happy!  The days are getting fewer and farther between when that happens anymore.   Everybody seems to be growing up so fast. Two of my "chickies" have already flown the nest, and the third is getting close.

Late this afternoon, another storm moved in.  We had one yesterday, too, with lots of lightening, thunder, and rain.  But today's storm also brought hail the size of marbles.  Once the lightening stopped, I gave the kids the go-ahead to explore our flooded street.

It was over a foot deep in some places!

Sophie lasted about one minute before she started crying about her feet hurting.  With all that hail, the water was freezing.

The kids rode their bikes through the temporary lake with no problem, but every car that came down our street turned around and went the other way once they saw all that standing water!

And here's a short clip of our birthday boy, capping off his special day by floating down our street.  What six-year-old could ask for more?

A Birthday, a Suit, and a Walk

Last Monday was my birthday.  Thank goodness my family didn't put 46 candles on my cake.  Instead, there were only three--one for the past, one for the present, and one for the future.  Bless their hearts.

My grandfather was born in 1901.  Here he is with his family in Germany, probably in the mid 1940's. (My father is the sullen looking boy standing behind his little sister).  I only met my grandfather a handful of times before he died.  I remember that he smoked cigars, was rather short and round, and that he had an "office" in his home right off the front entry.  This "office" was actually his sewing room.  My grandfather was a tailor.

He made clothes for others, as well as his own family.  He had to sew uniforms for Nazi officers during WWII.  He also made the wool suit my father is wearing in his wedding photo.  My father still has this suit...and it still fits!  Well, everything except the sleeve length.  He jokes that his arms must have grown over the years, because the sleeves are now a bit too short.  So he asked me if I could lengthen them.

My grandfather was a master at his craft.  I marveled at how well-made the suit was.  Welted pockets, button plackets on the sleeves, and a fully lined interior.  Much of it was sewn by hand.  This suit was made back in the day when pride was taken in workmanship.  Buttons were sewn on so that they wouldn't ever come off. 

Because my grandfather had left generous seam allowances, I was able to let out the sleeve length about 1 1/4".  Here is my father, in his newly altered suit.  He was quite pleased with the results, and I am just so amazed that he can still wear it.  It just goes to show that true quality and workmanship never go out of style.  I also felt very honored to have worked on something that my grandfather had made with his very own hands over 50 years ago.  I wonder what he would have been thinking while he made that suit, had he known his future grand-daughter would someday also add her own stitches to his creation?

Visiting my parent's home is always a fun excursion for us.  Since my mother passed away almost three years ago, it holds a lot of bittersweet memories.  I found myself getting misty-eyed when I reached for some spices in the kitchen cabinet, and found my mother's unmistakable handwriting on them.  The kids love visiting their "Opa"  because he lives out on five acres in the country, surrounded by beautiful woods.  And since there was a break in the rain, we decided to go out and enjoy a walk.  My brother and his son, Isaac, were also visiting.

Checking out the pond that my father made some years ago...the kids found lots of salamanders, much to their delight!

Because my father's property borders timber land, there are lots of beautiful trails to hike.



I just love those curls...is it wrong to covet my daughter's hair?!?

Coming back down the mountain...



Sophie and her Opa

We had a wonderful day.