Beginnings of Liberty

You know that feeling... the feeling you get when you see something and out of no-where you hear bells ringing and angels singing?

Well... On the shop hop last week I had just such an event occur. I walked into American Quilting in Orem and there, hanging in a little corner of the classroom area was this quilt. I was instantly smitten, I HAD to make it!

I asked the lady stamping shop hop passports where I could find the pattern and to my horror she said "It hasn't been published yet." I was heartbroken, how could this be?

She then said that it was a pattern written by someone at the store and that they had done it as a block of the month and I might want to check with the blond lady in the long sleeved white shirt to see if there were any kits left. As she was telling me this, the lady standing just behind me turned and walked away. Had I known what she was going to do next, I would have tripped her. Well ok, I wouldn't have, but I would have beat her to the lady with the white sleeves.

So I finish up my short coversation and head off in search of the white sleeved angel who creates beautiful things and pass by the woman who, moments before, had been standing just behind me. I said "Oh, you got a kit too?" and she said "Yeah, I got the last one". OH MY GOSH!!! I wanted to KILL HER!

This woman had stood and listened to me rhapsodize about my love for this quilt, then she STOLE IT FROM ME! There is no other way to say it, and I hope she knows she gets angel's black marks for that sort of treachery! How does she sleep at night???

Anyway... I went and found the white sleeved lady, just in case, and she said she was pretty sure she had given out the last one. I wanted to vomit I was that upset over not getting the kit for this quilt.

Then once again angels sang as I heard her say "Oh wait, one lady never came to class, I may still have her kit in the back room..." and off she went to search.

I could have kissed her when she brought out a kit and placed it lovingly in my eagerly waiting arms. I agonized over the money, it was $118, which for a kit isn't bad AT ALL, but remember me? I'm notoriously cheap. I even called B so that I could feel that much more guilt over my flamboyant spending and he said "Just BUY THE QUILT because if you don't, I'm going to have to listen to you whine for the next ten years." His support is overwhelming don't you think? Love you babe =0P



So I bought the kit, and today it began. I made the first block, called "Road to the White House". My only complaint is that those two blue half square triangle corners are a little off, but I am not unpicking it until tomorrow. My eye is swelling by the moment and I am headed for bed.

But I would like to thank Cindy, who never showed up for class, the angel with the long sleeved white shirt for making all my dreams come true, and my sweetheart B who despite his sarcastic remarks really does love me and is very supportive of my overly expensive hobbies.

PS, if you hear angels singing when you look at this quilt too, keep an eye on Under the Garden Moon for the pattern which will be out soon.

PPS If you are ever in Orem, Utah check out American Quilting, they are faaaaaaaaaabulous and just what you would expect a quilt store to be. Beautiful samples, helpful and fun ladies, wonderful fabric selection. You won't be sorry!

Update- I now believe that the name of the blonde angel in the long white sleeves with beautiful things in her brain is named Amy McClellan.

My eye this morning...

Just as I thought, my eye is much worse this morning. All I can say is it's a good thing I am off work right now, I can just imagine terrifying the kids looking like this. At this point I can't even get my eye drops in.

A swollen eye, a checkered quilt, and the "Redneck Wrecks"

This is my poor eye tonight at 11 PM (Yes, I know I need to do something about those eyebrows that are growing wildly out of control). This morning it was so swollen that I couldn't even open it. I think being upright has helped the swelling go down, and I suspect that tomorrow morning it will be huge again.

A trip to the doctor to find out that I have cellulitis (An infection) in my upper eyelid and I will be on oral antibiotics and antibiotic eye drops for the next two weeks. Fun stuff. Hurts too *Sigh*



My youngest son K came up to me several weeks ago and said "Mom, can you make me a checker board?" I said "I wouldn't even know how to make a checker board dude" and he said "You could quilt one" so I thought "Why not?" I bought the fabric at Walmart (this is probably going to be destroyed after all) and then promptly forgot all about it in the chaos of the end of the school year stuff that I had to get done.

Today I hauled it out and put it together but I blew it. I cut one of the sashing strips too small which meant I didn't have enough fabric to make a fourth strip....hmmmm what to do? I decided to just stick a square of the white flag fabric in each corner, then decided that that would be too boring and that pinwheels would be better.

I'm so glad I messed up because the quilt is so much cuter with the pinwheels than it would have been without them. Now I just need to get started on the yo-yo checkers!



And last but not least, B decided that we needed to release our inner redneck and head out for a fun filled night at the Demolition Derby which I have lovingly dubbed "The Redneck Wrecks".



Personally I don't get the fascination, I was so busy being scared that someone was going to get killed that I couldn't unclench long enough to enjoy myself.



I did join in the cheering though when, after being flipped on it's lid, this car was returned to it's upright position by the field crew and rejoined the melee.


Hope you are all having a great weekend, I am looking forward to a nice quiet day at Mom's house tomorrow.

Misty

Misty Andrews

Anyone who tells you that a friend made on the internet is not a real friend, has obviously never made a friend on the internet!

I "Met" Misty at 2peas about eight years ago, or close to that anyway. We chatted back and forth and found out we lived less than ten miles from one another.

I only met her face to face a handful of times, but that doesn't mean that she wasn't a "Real" friend.

I followed her life through planning to be sealed to her husband Jake in the LDS Temple. They have a rare kind of love, they adore each other and let each other know it as often as possible.

Recently, she became pregnant and we all rejoiced with her, she had waited for this little one for so long, and we all gave oppinions on baby bedding and offered heart felt congratulations when she found out that their little baby was going to be a boy.

And we all sat in numb shock when we were told that she had had a blood clot go to her lungs and that she and her tiny, precious, unborn son had returned to heaven.

The sadness I feel is not that for a stranger, the sadness I feel is for a friend.

My thoughts and prayers are with Jake, her most beloved husband and the father of her little boy, as he goes through the most difficult trial of his life. My thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved Misty, whether face to face, or over the internet.

Misty, may you dance with angels and cradle Lucas in your arms until the day that Jake is returned to you. God bless you on your journey.

Oquirrh Mountain LDS Temple

Photo Credit Michael Provard 2009

On Saturday I was able to attend the open house of the newest LDS temple, which just so happens to be the temple that my own ward is assigned to.

I love visiting temples, there is such a peace there, I wish I could go every single day and just sit and feel the spirit.

Anyway, since you can't take pictures inside the temple, if you would like to see more, you can go here, to see pictures from the media tour and see what the inside of the temple looks like.

Good morning

Hi there! How has your last week or so been? Mine has been BUSY BUSY and I have some fun things to share in the next day or two as I get over this dang stomach bug I'm fighting.

My past week consisted of...
Wasatch Front Quilt Shop Hop
Fourth Grade Field Trip Chaperoning
Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House
Playing in the rain
and Friends visiting from out of state.

It was a whirlwhind of activity and I really enjoyed it. I can't wait for next year's shop hop! I'm already saving money!

PS, it may be too little too late, but I'm hedging my bets and going to let you know about a little give away at Sheree's Alchemy. Up for grabs is a gorgeous box of scraps, but try really hard not to win, because on the off chance that it isn't too late, I really really really want to win it *wink* I have gorgeous things in mind for all those scraps!

What a Week!

So, this week has been NUTS!


#1- It was my last week of school, I had to have all my testing scores turned in, all my paperwork done, and my classroom cleaned out. It was a little depressing moving my classroom to the boiler room. I am homeless next year *Sniff* I will be rotating into off track classrooms, which basically means I have to pick up and move every two weeks. It's going to be horrible! But more than anything, I am really going to miss the kiddo's that I have worked with this year. They have worked so hard and been so amazing! I have three kids who have gone up six reading levels since February! That is just astounding to me. I love to see it when it clicks in their little minds and all of the sudden they can just READ! It's a great feeling and so validating for both them, and me, to know all our hard work is paying off and they are so proud of themselves.


#2- My identity has been stollen. Someone has opened email accounts in my name and used credit cards to by drugs from online pharmacies. It's a sickening feeling! I have spent the last week trying to get it all straightened out with the police department, the bank, and the internet crimes people. I feel so violated. What is sad is that these sicko's are LOCAL. They have had the drugs shipped to my actual house. The policeman told me that they do this because then the shipping address matches the addres on the credit card, that way it doesn't raise red flags. Then, they follow the package with the tracking number to see when it will be delivered, then just pick it up off the front porch. That scares the tar out of me, I don't want these people anywhere near my home, or my family.


#3- I don't think it's ever going to stop raining. Not that I am eager for the heat of summer to arrive mind you, I am just a little weary of the grayness and wetness of it all (But aren't my boys cute?)



#4- With all the crap going on, I TOTALLY forgot about my drawing. I had the boys draw a name tonight and forgot to take pictures, sorry, you're just gonna have to trust me on this one. The winner is VanC! Congrats! Here is a picture of your prize. You get to be the very first recipient of my very first pattern! How lucky are you? I hope you enjoy it!