missing pics

This hasn't happened for a long time... still don't know what I do wrong when the photos don't show up with my text. Hopefully this works...

On the road again

I have two brothers that live in Logan, Utah so yesterday I drove my mom & dad up to visit them. The highway passes through Sardine Canyon just before you drop into the Cache valley where Logan lies. The fall leaves were absolutely breathtaking!! Seriously, we were just in awe for probably 15 miles. The views along both sides of the road were just spectacular! If you live anywhere near this canyon, you should definately treat yourself to a scenic drive within the next week or so before this magnificent show will be over. My photo hardly does the beauty any justice! We were so glad we chose such a great day for our getaway.

Now, I don't know about you but a road trip is just not a road trip without stopping at some kind of convenience/gas station shop for a nice cold icey beverage and some kind of snack/treat. Look what I found! Have you seen these? Better yet, have you tasted these!!! They are RAZZberry M & M's. Yummy!!! Seriously... what an excellent version of this much loved-already candy. It said on the package that it was a limited edition so I think I'm going to have to stock up! Very delightful!

Both of my brothers that live in Logan are master carpenters! My brother Craig owns a factory there where he manufactures plastic products that are rotation molded. I feel like a little kid when he tours us through the shop and explains what is going on. They were producing everything from ATV gear carriers to ATR water and gas tanks to elk, deer and moose antlers. He is just a totally brilliant craftsman. When he was in high school, he was a sterling scholar winner in the industrial arts and for his project he built a jet engine. He is also the same kid that of course, was always failing engish and history because he could care less about that stuff. He has been very successful in the engineering and manufacturing world.

My other brother, Mark has taken on this GINORMAS home rebuilding project. He and his wife, Karen, bought a wonderful parcel of acerage on the foothills just outside of Logan and it came with this bizarre structure that was supposedly a home. It was basically a big steel structure that has been covered on the outside with wood and stucco and inside there were two separate apartment-like living areas. Being the creative visionary that Mark is, he could see some potential in this structure so now he and his wife are dismantling the steel structure as they rebuild a new ski-lodge type single unit home dwelling. I really don't know how to explain it but it is very impressive. Most impressive is that they are continuing to live in this construction site with their 3 year old daughter and do the work themselves. This summer they were able to complete about 1/3 of the roof top. They will just take it slow and steady and in who knows, 10 years, they'll have a masterpiece.

We were pretty exhausted by the time we got back home last night but it was so worth the effort to get away for a day.

Quilt of the Week

Ok so this is really just a 1/2 finished quilt since it is only the pieced top and hasn't been quilted yet. But this is a very special quilt. Several months ago I heard about an organization called "Quilts of Valor". It strives to present quilts to as many wounded servicemen and servicewomen as it can. Quilts are donated by anyone who would like to make a quilt. I found their website at http://www.qovf.org/ and decided I wanted to participate. I have made a quilt like this about 4 or 5 years ago and it was quick and fun to sew together so I decided I would go with this pattern. All the blocks are made from scraps of fabric I already had on hand. I did buy new fabric for the background and borders. The blue background fabric is titled "Democracy" and the brown border fabric is titled "Lady Liberty". I thought those were very appropriate names.

After I finished piecing the quilt top I contacted the qov people and they found a long-arm quilter who had signed up to donate her time to machine quilt it. She actually lives here in my same city but across the valley from where I live. I sent it to her about a week ago and now I'm anxiously awaiting it's return. I can hardly wait to see how she quilted it. I will then put on the binding and a label on the back with both our names as piecer and quilter and then qov will send me the name of a soldier to send it off to.

I so enjoyed this project! I have very mixed feelings about the whole war in Iraq and Afghanistan but I do want the soldiers to know that I'm aware of their sacrifice and I do care about them and am grateful for their service to our Country and it's Citizens, namely me and my family. My efforts are not much at all compared to what they have given on my behalf but this has meant alot to me and I feel priviledged to give a little of myself using what talents I have.

Good bye and GOOD LUCK!

As I type, half of my family (plus a 20-year old niece) is on a plane MOVING their life to China for a year... that's right I said China!!! Why in the world would anyone disrupt their nice, normal, typical American life to head for such a foreign shakeup? Good question! But I say, "Why not!"

Last summer when Cory and Colton came up from Arizona to spend a few days with us, one of the first things they said was "when we live in China, we get to...." Wow, back up, "what do you mean, When you live in China?" So that was how the big news was broken to us. Now Heidi, Eric and their adorable kids already live "out of state" so I guess "out of the country" isn't much different. We still have to get on a plane to visit them. Besides, we haven't ever been to Beijing. I think we'd love a trip to Beijing!

Thank goodness this world we live in today gets smaller all the time. So with Vonage and computer cameras and email and blogs, we will be able to stay connected pretty much like we did while they lived in AZ.

We really are so excited for them and this whole new adventure they will be having. You know, you can do almost anything or live pretty much anywhere for just one year. I'm just hoping that one year won't turn into 5 or 10 or who knows. So being the supportive parents and grandparents that we are, we are excited for you and for all the great, growing experiences you will be in for. We know you are a strong, capable, smart couple and a loving, tight-knit, supportive family and you will come back from China a stronger, more confident, grateful, appreciative and well-traveled family. Of course, we will MISS them and wish we could see them "more often" just like we always have but until we can be together again, we send them with our love and our prayers. Good bye and GOOD LUCK to Eric, Heidi, Colton, Cory, Quincy, Capri and Conner (and Kylee, of course!) ... see you soon (via the internet!)