Easter, Anzac Day and Birthdays..

It was a very quiet Easter for us this year. We did not go to church but opted to stay at home and quietly reflect and then celebrate the meaning of the crucifiction and resurrection. Later in the morning we did drive down the hill to fetch John's brother David who now lives in a group home. We three enjoyed a late lunch and had a fun couple of hours being with this gentle man who had shared our home for a good seven years before gaining his independence last year.

Later in the afternoon I finished some blocks for an spring album swap I am in with a group of online chat friends. I chose to do a Hunter Star block. Those will be mailed out today. Nothing better than to be sewing on a lazy, rainy Sunday afternoon.

Today is Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand. It is also my oldest son, Joe's birthday. Happy Birthday Joe! He is still living and working in Liberia, Africa.

Joe and Ruth

Forgot to mention that I received my fabric for the Hands2Help project that I am taking part in. Check out the link on my page. My swap partner, Mary, sent me the most awesome fabrics for the making of a very fun quilt! Dinodaurs, dinosaur eggs, dinosaur foot prints! This is going to be so much fun!

John has left for New Jersey and won't be back till Wednesday evening. So it is just me and the crazy dogs left to our own devices! The weather is going to be nice tomorrow and Wednesday so I hope to be able to take them on a few long walks. Fingers crossed! Do you know we had snow on our deck on Saturday morning? hmmmmm.
Firstly though, I have 2 customer quilts to trim and bind and package up and then down to UPS. That will take up my morning.
So many projects to start, which one will be next?

uncle Jimmy and my dad Tom, twin brothers in wartime









Thanks to all of the soldiers who have laid their lives on the line for us and for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. And here I would like to share an Anzac Day lament.

The Ode

They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest we forget..

ta daaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I have been meaning to post the pics of the finished quilt. I ended up quilting it in a beautiful gold Glide thread. Really happy with the end result.
Today we are going to a John Deere event in Oneonta, (whoopee) The consolation prize is 2 quilt shops in the vicinity. (joy)
I feel a catch up blog coming up this weekend. So much happening in my world both here and back in Australia!
Check out the link to Hands2Help on my page, I have joined this very worthy project.

Retreat Project almost done!

The winter has been a long one, lots of snow, lots of grey days and lots of days stuck indoors. I certainly do have cabin fever in a big way! The retreat was a lovely winter interlude though, a bright gem at a dull time of year. I met lots of lovely ladies, mostly from Long Island and a few from Queens, some new quilters and some experienced. As well as being a social time it was also a spiritual time. Pastor Brenda was delightful.
Today I am going to quilt the retreat quilt. I finally finished piecing it this weekend, I hadn't worked on it since that weekend at Koinonia.
This is the quilt before the quilting stage..