Sunday/Monday Quilt Inspiration: Mini Charm Squares

My apologies for not being here for the last week. I have a sister who has Alzheimers, and she's spending the week with us. She needs constant supervision. I hadn't realized how much ground she's lost since the last time she was here. 

At first she seems the same, unable to hold a conversation but capable of answering simple questions. After a while though, it's apparent that it's a charade she cannot keep up for long. I know this charade bit is just a stage of Alzheimers, but it's still a surprise at how well a patient can sustain it...until she can't. 

Enough excuses, let's get to those mini charm squares. They start out at only 2½" square, so it takes at least five packs to make a baby quilt. Enough packs could make a postage stamp quilt, but wow! You do the math, it takes thousands of those little patches, and there are only 42 squares in a pack!  Too much! Let's look at what you can do with just a few packs...

And what you can do with several packs...

Happy Memorial Day, may all your heroes be remembered.

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Memorial Day

Today's post is entirely about the American holiday we call Memorial Day. This is a special day on which we honor those in the armed forces who lost their lives while serving our country. 


Honor and gratitude to the veteran's who died while in the military for our freedoms. Their love of country went well beyond what any person should have to give. 

While the day is truly about the soldiers, I cannot but help to remember and pray for their families who suffer and grieve that loss every day. 

Also in celebration of Memorial Day, according to the comment sections that accompany the photos, these quilts were presented through "Quilts of Valor."

Have a wonderful Memorial Day by remembering all who gave their lives for American freedom.

The pictures above which depict soldiers receiving are all in a new board called "USA, country." I pinned only a few pins there and would love some help. If you want to contribute to this board, just let me know. I'll gladly make that happen!

All other quilts are in my "heart, quilts" board. Enjoy!

Happy Memorial Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful, happy Memorial Day and took some time to thank a veteran or pray for one.  At mass yesterday the priest asked that all veterans stand and the rest of us applauded as a way to say thank you.  The applause lasted for quite a long time while the men and women who protect us (currently or in the past) stood with honor.  I am so pleased that my sister, who we were visiting for a few days, was among those standing proudly.  

Of course, I thought of my dad, who served in the Navy during the Korean War, several of my sisters and brothers-in-law, and now another generation including my son and several nephews who have also served.  Although I personally did not serve in the military, I come from a family of men and women who have, and I am very proud of them and appreciate their sacrifices.  Sometimes the sacrifice was an easy one, but there have been times when the sacrifice was more difficult than I will ever really know or understand.

If you are a Veteran, thank you for your service to our country.  If not, please join me in thanking one. 

Marble and Memorials

First Division Monument

Spending some time in Washington, D.C. almost requires one to walk on marble and view a memorial or two.  Firstly, we were pretty impressed that the curbs are, literally, made of marble.  How awesome is that?  

Washington Memorial from across the Reflecting Pool

Well, other than that it's really rather wasteful and expensive, but still, beside the fact that I have not one inch of marble anywhere in my house, it's pretty amazing that the streets are curbed in marble.  



Once a person gets over that fact (and yes, it takes a while for some of us) it's rather interesting to try to figure out how much marble D.C. actually has.  

Korean War Memorial

I could not, of course, that would require way more math than I'm capable of, so we'll move on to the monuments....which are made of, you guessed it, MARBLE.

World War II Memorial

So, there we were, a family of gawkers taking in the marble, and walking.  The plan was to spend most of one day viewing the memorials around the Tidal Basin, which is a good 2 1/2 mile hike, if one doesn't waste steps taking any long routes.  


I carefully figured out where to get off the Metro (gotta love that system), the walking route and a return with as few steps as possible, and researched some info on each of the memorials.  

Lincoln Memorial

Well, things change sometimes.  We ended up tired before getting to the Washington Memorial, which happens to be the first one on the route!  


By the time we arrived at the Lincoln Memorial, we were all done for.  There was no more pushing or cajoling kids, nor did the adults want to push, prod or promise anything.  We just couldn't deliver.

Arlington Bridge Equestrian Statues

So, no where near the Metro, we had to figure an affordable way to get back to the hotel.  Turns out one can walk across the Potomac River Bridge and catch a Metro fairly easily.  


Thank goodness we all found a second wind crossing the river.  By the time we reached Georgetown, we were ready for a sit-down supper, showers and sleep.  Isn't it amazing how well we can sleep even when we're away from home?

Memorial Day

‎"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the the United States of

 America and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation 

under GOD, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."

Thank you to the many service men and women who put

their lives on the line every day so that we may be free.

Special thank you to the many sisters, nephews, 

brothers-in-law, and other family members 

who have served or are serving in our armed forces.

 

Now it's your turn.....how did you celebrate or acknowledge Memorial Day with your family?  Do you have a special family tradition?  What is that tradition?  Do you have family members who are or were service personnel?  One of our sons was in the Air Force and we celebrated by having a wonderful barbecue supper at his house last night.  Leave a message!