All Tied Up

Grandchild number 8 is now well on his way, and displayed his true colors for all to see.

This will make four of each: two boys, then four girls, then two boys. Leave it to my math majors to make a nice even pattern in our lives.

Bags

Last summer I found a new bag pattern. I got a bee in my bonnet and decided to make one for each of my Relief Society presidency for their birthday/Christmas gifts. My sisters were in town and we had fun choosing the fabric. Audrey helped me arrange the strips in a visually pleasing manner (what would I do without her?)

I finally got them finished, and gave them out today. I have to say I'm pleased with how they turned out.  

Now I've got to make one for myself.

Purple for Jennifer

Pink for Lori

Blue for Marilyn

Details:
Fabric: Hoffman Bali Pops (Pink Lemonade and Mango Margarita), and other batiks for the bag and lining

Pattern: Pack 'N' Go Tote by Kimberly Walus from Fresh Fabric Treats

Size: approximately 14 X 12 1/2 X 6. I cut the bag and pockets 2 inches taller than the pattern called for, and I'm happy I did.

Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy

This was a light novel, full of Binchy's quirky characters, many of whom appear in  some of her previous books. I went out of town for a couple of days, and it was just the kind of book I needed - easy to take up and put down.

The ending was a little flat. It sort of wrapped things up, but not in a very satisfying way. I finished the book with  a "huh?" in my mind.

Binchy's books have morphed over the years. The first Maeve Binchy book I ever read was Circle of Friends. It was meaty, and engrossing. I think I've read everything she's written. I've liked all her books, but some definitely more than others. Her more recent books are much lighter, mostly character driven and minimal on plot. I still enjoy them, but they no longer fit the same niche in my reading needs.

A Christmas Miracle

I know, I know, it's early to talk about Christmas, but I have to share this while it's fresh on my mind.

My mother knit our Christmas stockings. For as long as I can remember, we've had these stockings. No one else I knew had anything like them, and they were big. 

When we got married my mom made stockings for our spouses, then our children, then our children's spouses, and then our grandchildren (to clarify: my grandchildren, I'm the only one who has them so far). Years ago I talked mom into making some for her and my dad. Over the years she's made them for some other people who are special to her. The stocking has our name at the top. The ones above are the Grandma and Grandpa ones that she made for herself and my dad. 

The stocking is made from the top down, so the name comes first. My mom never made the stocking until the baby was born, just to be sure she had the final name chosen. My son Ray was born on the 16th of December, and Beth was born on the 17th. They had their stockings by Christmas, and the stockings had to be mailed from California. I think every grandchild born in December had theirs by Christmas. 

One last piece of background information. In my home as a child the stockings were never hung by the fireplace until Christmas Eve. In my home as the wife and mother, I hang the stockings on the fireplace as soon as the decorations are up. I want everyone to see them for as long as possible. We all love our stockings.

1966 - the first picture I could find with the stockings. Left to right: Diane, Cheryl, Tweeter

1986 - our family Christmas picture. Clockwise from left:  Audrey, Diane, Ray, Debra, Ray

Audrey, Debra, Ray

Audrey

Debra

Ray

A few years ago we all realized that my mom would not be able to knit stockings for all the upcoming grandchildren. I suggested she make some stockings that are blank on the top and I would cross-stitch the names on when needed. So now I have half a dozen "blank" stockings in my closet.

But my mom can't really do this kind of knitting any more. So when we moved her to Utah last January I had  an eagle eye out for the stocking pattern. I figured one of my daughters could make stockings, or we could find someone who knits to make them for us. (I crochet, I don't knit). No pattern was to be found. I swear I looked through every single piece of paper in that house looking for that pattern. I was desperate and discouraged. No pattern. I just could not figure out what could have happened to it. For me, it's one of the most valuable things my mother had. There are so many memories wrapped up in those stockings.

A little over a week ago I was searching for a picture of my dad in his military uniform. I got out all ten boxes of my parents things that I have stored here at my house. One box was labeled with counted cross-stitch fabric and threads. I put it aside, thinking I would donate it, as my mom can't do it anymore. Later I opened the box and briefly glanced through it. A piece of green yarn caught my eye. I pulled it out, and it was the yarn used to make the stockings. I started to cry. There was the red yarn too. I pulled it out, and underneath that yarn was the pattern. I couldn't believe it. I had not packed that box - I think my parents did. I never thought I would be so emotional about it, but it took me a while to compose myself. 

This year I already have my Christmas miracle.

A Nice Outing

Mom and Dad

Last week we took my parents for a drive to see the fall colors. Ray's been wanting to do this for awhile, but we've been busy and last week was our best opportunity. We drove up through Park City to Heber, then down through Provo Canyon and back home. Unfortunately most of the color on that side of the mountains was mostly gone already. But we still had a delightful drive with my mom and dad. Those are easy outings for my mom - no pressure to be "on" and with it for everyone else. She relaxes pretty well when it's just the four of us. We stopped for lunch. It was mediocre, but the company was great.

These days of doing things together with my parents won't last forever. We're trying to take advantage of them while we can. I have to say Ray is more thoughtful about it than I am. I just don't think of things, and he does. He's so wonderful with my parents. He takes my dad to lunch every week, and when Ray has to drive a distance for something he calls and takes my dad along with him for the ride. Ray says "Your dad is a 24/7 caretaker. He needs the break." And Ray is thoughtful enough to give him those breaks.

It's True. I Couldn't Help Myself.

I'm not much of a Halloween fan. That's putting it mildly. I'm happy for everyone who loves it, but it's not for me. Where to begin on why? Any holiday that puts that much enjoyment into spiders was never meant for me. I'll spare you the other hundred reasons why. The one redeeming factor of the day is that it is my father-in-law's birthday. Instead of Happy Halloween, I think Happy Birthday, Dad!

So today as I was on the road quite a bit, I popped my new CD into the player in my car and enjoyed some Christmas music. Like I said, I couldn't help myself.

The King's Singers have been one of our favorites for over 30 years. If you aren't familiar with them, give them a try. The have classical stuff, pop, folk songs,-- and I think recorded just for me-- Christmas music.

Baby Steps for Andrew

When I gave the pink version of this quilt to Marilyn a few weeks ago (click here), Beth told me she wanted one just like it. Little did she know that I already had all the fabric and was ready to go on it. Of course this one is blue, for Andrew.

Marilyn and Beth are exactly three months apart, and have been great friends since the first grade. Being cousins also makes the relationship special. When we found out Marilyn was due five days before Beth, it all seemed so apt.  Well, the babies are not five days apart, they are exactly a week apart. Even more apt, I think.

Trish also made this quilt in blue, and gave me her extra fabric. I combined that with my extras and made a small (20 in. X 20 in.) matching quilt for Rachel. She can wrap her baby in that when Beth wraps Andrew in his.

Rachel's quilt

Now I just have to make the label. I wanted to wait until he was actually born and I had the date to add.

Baby Steps
Completed: October 2011
Size: 40 inches by 50 inches
Pattern: Baby Steps by Mountain Valley Stitches
Fabric: Melodies for Exclusively Quilters

Number 7 Is Here!

Grandchild number 7 arrived this week! We were all happy to have him come, but none as happy as his mother, Beth.

Andrew Linford Petersen (9 lbs 12 ounces, 21 inches long) began life by being very accommodating to the rest of the family.  Beth went in to be induced at about 10:00 a.m., and he was born at 3:34 p.m. No keeping anyone up all night (let's hope that lasts), and everyone could come for a quick first visit that evening. 

He's absolutely beautiful, if I do say so myself.

Andrew

Beth and Andrew. Can you believe she just delivered a baby a couple of  hours earlier?

Bruce and Andrew. Andrew is the spitting image of his dad.

Andrew and Rachel. We're all wondering how big sister will react. She'll be 3 in January.

Beth, Andrew, Rachel, Bruce

Diane (me) and Andrew

Andrew and Ray

Andrew and Aunt Audrey

Andrew and Aunt Debby

Andrew and Uncle Ray

Welcome to the family Baby Andrew!