Mid Winter in Canada

I have come to the realization that in my many years of quilting and the countless quilts I have made and started, I have not made A.N.Y  for my grandchildren! How did that happen?? Other than a simple 9-patch baby quilt before Ava was born 17 years ago that all 3 girls used. And how did she get to be 17? And driving? And making plans for college? 

I did make David a pillowcase when he was sick with pneumonia a couple of months ago. But Jonathan was sick also and so was their dad. I did buy some special fabric when I was in Missouri in Oct. So now, I need to make quilts for my grandkids. There are 7 of them. I have several on the go that will be fine for the girls, but what about the boys? Not flowers or applique. No. Got to have cats and soccerballs. Oh, I do have the fabrics. Had them for at least a year. These are among the fast new quilts on my Chookshed Challenge list for this year. No Y-seams. No triangles. No curves. Just sayin'. Something fast. 

The boys came over for a New Year's Eve sleepover and I had Jonathan design this using 3 layer cakes. Then I sewed it together after I came home from India. 

 This is my new profile picture. And yes. I did climb up onto those rocks by myself. Sort of. Barefoot so I had good footing. It was a breezy day at the beach on the Bay of Bengal. We almost had lift off. 

That was an amazing trip. I hadn't been there for 6 years. Everything changes. All the time. But my passion for the people there has not. There were just 2 of us on this trip. We plan to return in October and do a women's conference. This is one of my favourite things in India. Speaking to women. Encouraging women. Praying for women. 

I did get to speak to pastors and their wives this trip. I spoke about how my Sweetie and I stayed married for 53 years. 

I took one quilty project along with me. I ironed several fabrics onto some wash-away applique sheets. We were just hanging out one afternoon and the boys offered to help. So they did. 

I had 3 pair of sharp scissors with me. Turns out that I had a 4th pair that got into my carry on bag and I had to give them up at security at the airport. Oops.

A trip to India is never complete without visiting our school. We were celebrating the senior class as they were getting ready to write their final exams and the junior class put on a party for them. It was so much fun. Including dancing and balloons. 

 I am in the process of booking a Norweigan cruise with my Daughter for mid May. That is going to be fun. I have never been on a cruise ship.  She has been on several and loves it. 

I am also planning a Quilting at the Farm retreat for the end of May. Everyone is invited. It should be warm by then and the sping flowers at their best. Right now we are in the middle of winter with lots of snow on the trees and ground. My Sweetie has pneumonia and I am reading lots and doing not much else. Never a dull moment here at the farm. 

The Chookshed Challenge number for Feb is 10 but my hands cannot handle the EPP for now so I will work on something else like start another new fast quilt. I have lots of charm packs ready to sew together for a Dis-appearing 9-Patch for David. Now that I have started doing these without using pins or clips, I may as well get a few more made. They don't even have to be pressed until the very end. 

Blessings,

Chris