fun family weekend

Somehow my entire family ended up in Brownsville this past weekend: Lee, Amy, Grace, Caroline, and Ben; Rachel; Keith & me. It doesn't happen often, that we are all together like this, and we had a great time.

Hi, Grace :-)

Not many smiles from Ben this weekend - he wasn't feeling very well.

But he did seem to enjoy the tractor.

And Caroline loved the swing

And Grace had fun with the cats

Here's grandpa and Caroline at "Big Ben Lake"

Fishing with Grandpa

Dad & the girls at the pond

a restful weekend

We had a wonderful weekend in Hocking Hills recently. We stayed at a quiet little cabin at Thunder Ridge (I would highly recommend this place!). It was a much-needed restful get-away.


Who wouldn't have a fun weekend with this guy around? :-)


"Hello. Welcome to Ash Cave."


One of my favorite moments was feeding these Fallow Deer in Logan after dinner one night.

This was along the road to our cabin. I really hope this rock isn't planning on shifting anytime soon!

The rest of these are some shots from the parks in the Hills. We visited Ash Cave, Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls. It was really nice to be out in nature for a little while after feeling cooped up all winter.

a quilt fit for a cat

some of my more recent sewing projects...

i made this small kitty-sized blankie for my friend betty. she's a cat. i think she likes it.




here's another rag quilt - my first ever adult sized quilt! (all my other quilt projects have been for babies or small children). it ended up a decent throw-blanket size. i was quite proud :-)

best christmas gift EVER (look out white elephant parties!)

When I was a little girl, I used to like to comb my uncle's hair. One day, he brought me a plastic head, like the one pictured below. I think he found it at a flea market--an old head used by cosmetology students to practice cutting and styling. He must have been tired of me combing his hair, so he gave me some fake hair to comb for a change. That gift provided hours of entertainment--I learned several styles of braiding and experimented on all sorts of hair styles. and my uncle probably is a little less bald today than he would have been, because I didn't comb his hair nearly as much after I received this wonderful gift.


When I went home for Christmas this year, I had an early present waiting for me. A decorative gift bag...with a new plastic head inside! I laughed so hard! What more could I want, but a head in a bag for Christmas?


I think it is kind of sad that most of my pictures from Christmas with the family have the head in there some where. Thank you, Uncle Jim, for providing so much comic relief over the holiday! and for those infamous white elephant parties with our small group, this one might crop up next time...just giving you all fair warning :-)

my first rag quilt! (and violets are...white)

I tried a new quilt technique--rag quilting. It went together so easily and nicely and turned out really cute! This one was soft and cuddly--a quilt a child can use and love, and one that mom can wash without worrying about it. I think this will be a method I will use again!

My anniversary violet is still blooming like crazy. and I'm loving it. :-)

wonderful friends

I feel so privileged and blessed to have these beautiful women for friends. We all met our freshman year at Taylor University, 3rd floor, English Hall. Nearly 10 years later (does that make me feel OLD or what?), we're still really close. Through all of life's changes--marriages, children, some of us moving across the country and around the world--I still feel really connected to each of them. I know that in a time of crisis or joy, we all would be there for each other. We've tried to all get together at least once a year--this year we met in the Chicago suburbs in October. We had a really sweet time together.


Jenni and Ed are expecting their first baby in February--we threw them a small shower.

Rebecca with her sweet little girl:

I made a blankie for the baby--she seemed to like it (it went right in her mouth :-)

turtles, turtles, everywhere...

I found this cute little pattern at Sew to Speak (a great little sewing shop in Clintonville- here's a link to their online store) and have been making several turtles. Most of these have gone as gifts this Christmas, but I'm selling them too, for $15 each. They would make a great toy (my nieces loved them) or pin cushion, or I can make the little guy into a scented sachet!