This 'n That

Dear Friend,

Well January is moving on to fast for me and the weekends are busy. Marla and I made a day trip to Vernon and Springerville on Sunday to spend some time with Dad who was in the hospital. He looked better than I thought he would and is finally able to walk a little bit. Not sure how long he will have to be there and knowing how much he hates hospitals, I hope not too much longer.

We left here around 6 AM and watched a glorious sunrise. Then we were doubly blessed to catch the sunset on the way home. A 2 for one, can't beat it!














I have been busy sewing and hope soon to share another project with you.

In the meantime, I just saw that this book that has just be released and can't wait to get my hands on it, Tile Quilt Revival.




The quilt design is based on art tiles like this


















to make quilts that look like this















This is really a quilt revival-this antique quilt recently sold at auction of over $15,000







Now I know that I will never make a quilt that would bring any amount of money at an auction and I know that I may never even make a full size quilt using this technique, but to me the thrill of piecing quilts is learning new techniques and making quilts with variety. They may take longer to make but I will finish most of my projects someday.


So, if I am going to get the three projects completed that are setting next to my machine in the next couple of weeks, I had better get busy. Oh, yes, I have ordered the new book. My legacy to my children will be quilt books. I hope they learn how to sew soon.

I was pointed to this wonderful quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland for a reason. I need to let go of some of the things in my life that are holding me in one place and this really touched me.
"We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learn what we need to learn and brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future."

Thanks for listening.
Love, Jan

2010, A New Year, A New Decade

Dear Friend,

Happy New Year!

For 2010-
I hope this year brings each of you joy and happiness.
I wish you good health and the ability to accomplish your goals, large and small.

I continue to hope for peace in our nation and the world.
I pray that our elected leadership will return to the business of doing the will of the people and honor the Constitution of the United States.

I wanted to share one of my favorite hymns-so fitting for the new year or any time-

Come, Let Us Anew our journey pursue,
Roll round with the year,
And never stand still till the Master appear.

His adorable will let us gladly fulfill,
And our talents improve
By the patience of hope and the labor of love,
By the patience of hope and the labor of love.

Our life is a dream, our time as a stream
Glide swiftly away,
And the fugitive moment refuses to stay;

For the arrow is flown and the moments are gone.
The millennial year
Presses on to our view, and eternity's here.
Presses on to our view, and eternity's here.

Oh, that each in the day of His coming may say,
"I have fought my way thru;
I have finished the work thou didst give me to do."

Oh, that each from his Lord may receive the glad word:
"Well and faithfully done;
Enter into my joy and set down on my throne;
Enter into my joy and set down on my throne."

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Merry Christmas to All

Dear Friend,

It has been a wonderful Christmas this year. Even with the wallets a little thinner, and never enough time-we have had some wonderful times with friends and family.

The Christmas spirit began early this month with two great parties, the first was a gathering of friends from my work place. Our managers did a wonderful job of putting this party together with lots of food and fun. Thank you for the wonderful party.

The next day I attended another gathering of friends from my favorite Quilt Store. Lots of good food and laughs and Ken and his partner, Ron provided a wonderful setting-Christmas in every room in the house. When you enjoy a Christmas party with talented friends, it is a special treat to receive wonderful gifts - home-made candies, jellies, breads and special gifts for the sewing room.

In the meantime, I managed to complete 3 Christmas quilt projects and I must say that with the completion of each, my machine quilting improves. I still have one or two Christmas projects and my new goal is to make a Christmas theme quilt every year. Wish me luck!











The Sunday before Christmas is reserved for the Hunter Family Christmas Party. By tradition, homemade Mexican food and let me share a secret with you...we have the best cooks in our little group. This is where we continue a wonderful tradition that Mom start 20+ years ago of a home-made Christmas ornament for every member of the family. This year, Shana and Kristie had made these cute ornaments- decorated mittens.








We had this chance to take some great family pictures with Dad, too.



Grandpa and his grandchildren.














Christmas Eve I am sort of on my own as the girls usually spend this time with their other families so I went to Marla and Stu's. For the first time in probably 6 years, Dad was here and is handling it better than I thought he would. Another great dinner and Marla shared this CD with us. (If you get a chance, add this to your family Christmas library. It is a recording of the MTC Christmas presentation last year and is the story of my favorite Christmas Carol-"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day".)

I have to share this wonderful treasure with you now-this is what Kristie and Shana made for me- a family photo album of my favorite grandkids.

Christmas Day is a breakfast tradition of crepes and trimmings with my family, gift exchanges and fun-followed by a relaxing day and dinner later. As for now, I think it's time for a nap.

Later, with love,
Jan

I Heard the Bells

Dear Friends,

Enjoy the words to one of my favorite Christmas carols with me.

Christmas Bells

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1864)

I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men! It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said; “For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.” Love Jan

Meet Paul Revere, aka Wyatt

Dear Friends,

Well it finally opened up and rained here in QC this beautiful morning. It smells so good out here-real desert.

Last week Wyatt chose to do his American History report on Paul Revere. He prepared a wonderful story board and wore an 18th century costume. I am told he did a super job of answering questions and presenting himself as Mr. Revere.
Wyatt is almost 11 but he has a vocabulary and such a wealth of information stored in his head that we often think of him as a much older child. One of Wyatt's great gifts is his love of everybody. If he walks through the room, he will offer an "I love you Gramma" or "love you Hunter" or anyone else in the room.

It is wonderful to hear him be so open and expressive. He also has a wonderful talent of making friends. He is well known and well liked by his peers and his teachers. Wyatt also is known for befriending and helping the kids that attend the "special" classes in his school.

He loved playing this roll as can see, and I am glad he had the opportunity.
Congratulations Wyatt. I love you too.

More later,
Jan

I'm Back

Dear Friend,
I have not been too good lately...I need to stay on track and quit wasting time. So here I am, back with lots of things to say.

First-the Book Discussion selection-A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Yes I did download the audio version and enjoyed it so much, I am listening to it again. In fact, I highly recommend the audio over any movie version. It is my highly regarded opinion that very few movie scripts can ever do a good book justice, and so it is with this one.





Dickens paints such wonderful, live images with his words and makes me feel like I am right there in the room with the Scrooge and his visitors. I love seeing the knocker on the door as I he describes it, the detail descriptions of the noises, sounds and attire as he writes it.

If you are looking for something to put you in a Christmas spirit, I recommend a couple of hours with A Christmas Carol for starters.

Next on the list of catching up is a picture of the fall table runner I completed on Thanksgiving Day (just in time to put it away until next fall). It is from a Patrick Lose design-those are pumpkins on each end. I love the colors-What can I say, FALL. I have to pat myself on the back on this-my machine quilting is improving, but I have miles to go with that.

Now on to more projects.

I really wish I had time to make this. Isn't it beautiful! I think I'll order the pattern and just stare at it for a long time. If you love to applique and love this pattern too, this is where you can order it: bonbondesigns
Well, that is enough for now. Be back soon.
Love, Jan

Dear Friend.

I want to share this article written by Bill Schuler as it appeared on the ops page of the Foxnews.com today. I thought these 10 thoughts were well put and a good reminder for me.

Incivility takes on many forms. It can be found in the gestures of a stranger amidst the morning commute, in a stolen moment at a music awards ceremony or on the lips of a Congressman on Capitol Hill. Is it possible to heal the character of America? The following are 10 thoughts on incivility in America:

1. Where there is no demand there will be a reduced supply.

2. One breaks the cycle of rudeness when one focuses on others rather than one's self.

3. It is possible to make clear one's position without seeking to destroy or defame another.

4. With public notoriety there should come responsibility and accountability.

5. Reclaim the art of listening and you will foster understanding.

6. We should seek to win over our opponent and at the very least gain his respect for the dignity with which we speak our convictions.

7. We should do what is right not because we seek self benefit but because we stand on high moral ground.

8. Respect for others begins with self respect.

9. "I’ve seen too much hate to want to hate, myself." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

10. In denouncing the rude and vile we join our collective voices to reclaim civility in America.

Civility goes beyond public apologies after the damage is done. It must emanate, not from polls and focus groups but rather from character and honor. Good people will sincerely disagree and the issues that divide us by their very nature impassion us.

The question is: How long will America tolerate hate and rudeness in our public dialogue? Perhaps the scriptures identify the need of the hour in the simplest of terms: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12)

Rev. Bill Shuler is pastor at Capital Life Church in Arlington, Virginia. For more go to capitallifechurch.org.