Hooray for me!

 I have lots going on. Sometimes life gets super busy and hectic. I just need to go with the flow.

So first of all, I need prayers for my daughter in law.  She has undergone a surgery to implant a tube for in-home kidney dialysis. It has been on the radar since she delivered my 2nd grandson 6 years ago. He was born 2 months early so that she could have kidney medication which would have been detrimental to his in utero growth.   So when I visited two weeks ago, we consulted her nephrologist who said it was time; her kidney function numbers were too low and she had daily symptoms impacting her life negatively. 

Samantha and my oldest grandson

This also precedes a long wait for a kidney/pancreas transplant. It is so hard to be states away from them. I wish I could offer support and care, food and distractions for the boys and general love and hugs in person. 

But onto better things; the remodel for my kitchen has begun. Destruction with massive noise and such began Monday.  End game should be the 2nd week of August. It is exciting to finally be in the actual work stage as the journey with consultations and selections began before Christmas. 

              

Before                                                                                    After

It is an unusual kitchen : a step down  surrounded by cabinets on all 4 sides, and counters on 2 sides one upper and one lower.

Living out of boxes will be interesting. 

But the best news I have to offer is that I submitted a quilt to be judged at the Wisconsin State Fair. (My first entry and only other entry was way back in 2006.) So I was able to witness the judging in the 30ish categories yesterday.   And I was so excited to earn a 3rd place ribbon.  The first place was a quilter extraordinaire who won 3 first places yesterday and a member/friend in my guild. The only critique was my choice of background as being too thin and the seam allowances showed. I recognized that, but it was what I had yards of for completing it. So much for some online shopping. 

Judge Maribeth Schmit  showing the winners  ( and my quilt)

Other than that, a little bit of sewing before I could not be in my sewing room next to the kitchen.

Moda 4 blockheads

           

This totals 15 blocks so far: all 9 inch sized.

July 4th wall hanging:         a mess in a box.

June update

 Well, the weather is certainly a headliner this year.  Cool, cool temperatures to start the month and now quite the opposite with record breaking HOT temperatures. 

My husband and I flew to Louisiana to see the dear grandboys. They are both growing so tall and are always a welcome addition to my lap. Lots and lots of snuggles and kisses. I do love them so. ( Not that I wasn't happy to see their parents, as well.)

Of course lots of computers and video games. 

   Caterpillar from their tomato plants. It is amazing how much can be eaten in a day.

The weather was a 20 degree contrast to Wisconsin, and not exactly favorable to be outside. But we enjoyed books, puzzles, games and more. Additionally, we took them to Houston to expose them to some tourist sites. Of course, they really liked swimming in pools. Go figure! But they are becoming better and better swimmers. 

We toured the NASA site.  Such wonders to remember from my past many years ago. I remember watching so many launches and landings on the TV as a teenager. And we got to see an  an actual Saturn rocket that would have carried a later Apollo mission but was canned while there. A full football field long on its side.( housed inside a building). There were many buildings on the site for all kinds of engineering including the upcoming Artemis missions first to the moon and then on to Mars. The first rocket is already build and being tested yesterday for fuel success. The boys did well for all the activities we saw: movie, tram ride, hands on experiments, and many beautiful replicas. 

Rockets on the end of stage 1  of Saturn

Short trip to the moon, no spacesuits needed.

On top of tower overlooking the 747 that carried the Space Shuttle

Next, we went to the Museum of Natural Science which also included a planetarium and butterfly exhibit. Dinosaurs and dinosaurs, shells, minerals and gems. Such a lot to take in for one day.

And lastly we went to Galveston Beach. A contrast to others as Hurricane Katrina devastated it and now all the silt from the Mississippi empties around it making the water a brown color. The day we were there it was windy with higher waves. The boys learned how to jump and dive through them and of course, dug into the sand.

                           

The trip was marred by the medical news that my daughter in law needs a kidney/pancreas transplant and is going on dialysis. This has been an ongoing struggle as she has Type 1 Diabetes and had kidney struggles with her 2nd pregnancy 6 years ago.  We hold her in our thoughts and prayers. And maybe a 2nd trip to assist with the boys is in the cards for  me.   

Unfortunately, no sewing of any kind was completed for the trip nor did I have any fabric shopping.  Oh well.

But I have worked on a few things in between:    This is a quick baby quilt  using a charm pack.  It's nice to use up some of the stash, but I did need to buy the yellow. 

These are the latest Moda Blockheads 4 blocks making my total to about 10

                         

                                                   

All for now. Hoping you are having a good summer as well. 

May doings

 I may have taken a leave from blogging.  And that has been because I have now taken 2 trips this month of May.

First, my husband and I drove to Kansas City, Kansas to the great 100th birthday celebration of his aunt. It was absolutely wonderful to see his cousins and their families. Aunt Dorothy had 7 kids and was married to a World War II vet who had been captured and was in a prison camp for the last 6 months of the war. Over the many years we have had several reunions. Always a fun time. 

This is my husband and his sister with us spouses and dear Aunt Dorothy.

Aunt Dorothy was still very intelligent and perceptive and well liked in her church community. We were so blessed to enjoy her company and know that she has left a lasting presence in the world. She and her belated husband donated land on 87th street in Lenexa for the Sar-Ko-Par Park. 

Always love the Canadian Mounted Moose

Then, my sister was available and we took a trip together to visit our mother in Canada northeast of Toronto in the Kawarthas. It was a long, busy but very fruitful trip. Mom who has Alzheimers and is in a nursing home was able to communicate with us remembering us still and we recalled many wonderful times and relatives together. Not bad for a dear wonderful 90 year old. We even tried a zoom call with her sister and our cousins.

                        

In between I have done lots of little things: 

I finished the wool applique for this piece.  Now I just want to get it framed, instead of quilting it.

And that was May,  mostly. 

Will update for June shortly,  I am currently in Louisiana visiting the grandkids.