Let's Catch Up

It's amazing to me how quickly time is moving.  In a few minutes a whole week jumped forward. Just last weekend we were watching a tee-ball game with a granddaughter cheesing it up on base.

I blinked an eye and we were helping to light luminaries and sky lanterns for Relay for Life.  We walked for a minute and the day was over.  At least we didn't miss the whole relay: I think we put in a couple of miles.

We loved the lanterns, both lighting them and seeing them float in the dark sky.  This picture is the grands' favorite.  I think I agree although it is a bit grainy. 

Another weekend and we've babysat, eaten out and I graded papers and quilted the latest quilt, but it seems to have flown by extremely fast.  

In a few seconds school will be finished.  We just started!  (I'll admit I've said differently during a class or two.)  I guess the only thing to do in the middle of a short night is to enjoy the photos from the day.

Life is just a bit too short but that's probably part of what makes it so beautiful and awesome.  (I mean, I know God does that, but.....well you get it, don't you?)  

Have a Blessed Mother's Day.

Relay for Life Quilt

When our daughter-in-law Stacey sent a Facebook note asking for a small quilt to help her Relay for Life team raise money, I gladly agreed.  I had made this pretty little green quilt some time ago and thought it would be a good one for Relay for Life since the green makes it a bit neutral.

So this morning I took a couple of pictures, wrapped it up and packed it off.  Richard was supposed to drop it off at Stacey's this morning.  I thought I'd share my idea for keeping it clean.  I recently bought new sheets and kept the zippered plastic bag after tossing out the paper.  Since this little quilt will be traveling around to raise money, keeping it clean may be difficult and this should help.  

Of course, I had to fold the quilt up rather tightly to stuff it in, but once it was zipped up it relaxed some.

It's a scrappy, soft little quilt that I made by piecing large sections and straightening/squaring the sides before stitching the sections together.  I didn't have the long-arm at the time, so I quilted it using the specialty stitches on the Bernina.

How about those closed eyes?  90% of my pictures end up looking like this--one of the many reasons I hate taking pictures.
Happy quilting,
Mary

Excited Granddaughters and Relay for Life Event

Last weekend I made a few small purses for our little granddaughters who are three year olds (read the post here).  Marley got her purse on Sunday and on Monday Richard mailed off the other two purses.

 
 








I packed everything up into a box on Sunday and got a very excited phone call on Wednesday with Caki and Sophie both trying to say thank you at the same time. 

That was an interesting call!  I asked about the shorts that I'd made and tucked into the corners, but neither of the girls had noticed the shorts.  Caki knew that I was making the purses and was so excited that, when she grabbed one purse, the pair of shorts flew to the floor where her dad found it.  I don't know whether they fit quite yet, they'll try the shorts on this weekend, if it warms up enough!

Also this weekend is the Avoyelles Relay for Life event.  I purchased a few luminaries for my mom and grandmother.  Because I also helped in decorating the luminaries, I was able to decorate their bags myself.

 I got a few of my students involved, and of course the Betas and Explorer Club students, so that Mrs. Higgy, our in-house RfL guru and luminaria chairperson, was able to get all the bags decorated and ready for tomorrow's big day.  It's a good feeling to know that we helped in a small way to raise money for cancer research and to help cancer victims. 

  

The front of the bags.

These are the bags for my mom, Ellen, and for Ma-ma, my grandmother Volcie.  Both were cancer victims just before their deaths, although Ma-ma's cancer of the blood lasted for three or four years.  Mom's cancer was much more aggressive.  

The back of the bag in the
center names all eight of us
girls on one of mom's bags.

My one consolation is that neither one was in much pain.  I've heard and seen horror stories of pain and agony from cancer and am grateful that I did not see that with the two women who raised me and were such wonderful influences in my life. 

When is your Relay for Life walk?  Do you participate?  In whose memory or honor?  I'd love to hear from you!