Lacrosse Banquet

The lacrosse banquet was last night. It was kind of a bitter sweet night for me and my DS. He ended his career on a sour note by becoming academically ineligible to play in the last 5 games of the season. For this his coach was a total jerk to him. I have been the president of the booster organization for the last 2 years. At the banquet last night, the coach did not thank me or any of the board. It was kind of sad. I went early to help decorate the room. We put the jerseys of the senior players up on a photo tripod and here you see my son (#15) with his friends. The boys sat at a table in front of these. It looked really nice.


This is Jake, Chris and Thadd (my son) at the banquet. They are all best friends. Thadd and Chris have been friends since elementary school when they played their first football game together. I have become really good friends with his mom too, she was the VP for the team. During the senior's speeches, Jake actually thanked me personally for my encouragement and for helping him with the sport (making sure he got to games, feeding him and just listening when he needed someone to talk to about things) What a great kid! Don't they all look handsome?

After saying that the varsity coaches were big jerks all year I have to say that the parents have been, for the most part, wonderful to work with. Everyone hugged me and told me how much they are going to miss me. One mom even wanted to know if I would be back for a game so she could get to see me. I got up and thanked my board and then my friend Terry (the VP) got up and gave me these beautiful flowers!

One of our members at large then began to speak and tell me how much they will all miss me and how much they appreciated everything I did for the team. He said lots of wonderful things about me and it was very nice to hear that all my time was so appreciated! Apparently the parents got together and took up a collection and gave me 2 gift cards. $50 to Joe's Crab Shack and $100 to JAF!!! How thoughtful and how nice that everyone thought so highly of me. I was in total shock! Then if that wasn't enough, one family, the one where she and I struggled during the golf outing time, came up to me and gave me a $25 gift certificate to Applebee's from her family! It truly made me understand how much they all appreciated my efforts.

The evening was fun, the food was good and I am walking away with a good feeling. Our treasurer was having a bad night though as her FIL was placed into Hospice last night when we were at the banquet. She and I have become good friends and her DH is planning on being my replacement as president next year. He is a great guy and will do a fabulous job. Please keep their family in your prayers as they go through this difficult time.

You are all so wonderful I know your prayers will help them, even if they don't know you are doing it for them, I'll know! THANKS!!

Salem Lacrosse

Monday was senior recognition at our lacrosse game. All the mom's of graduation seniors got flowers. My DH was out of town but we all had to walk through the 2 rows of players with their sticks upraised. Here is a photo of me with my DS the lacrosse player.


For any of you that don't know lacrosse here is DS running with the ball in his cross (the net part of the stick)

He plays in the attack position. (That is not a lacrosse net behind him it is a soccer net)

Here he is looking for a shot to the net.

He shoots...he SCORES!

Unfortunately he can't play for the rest of the week because his grades were not good enough. We keep trying to tell him that he needs to make sure his grades are ok, but not playing for a week when there are only 2 weeks left may make more of an impression!

Means I can go to quilting with the Cherry Hill ladies tonight! = ) (I'd rather be at the game!!)

I forgot to tell you on Monday but I am now down by 20 pounds!! Yeah me!!

Also, the latest 2 Houses from my Neighborhood BOM have been posted. Please remember to let me know if you are playing along!!

Week Catch Up

It has been a very busy week both at work and at home!  Quilting with the CL's has changed to Tuesday nights and the new Cherry Hill Village Quilters evening edition has begun on Wednesday evenings.  We had our first meeting last night.  I hope it will be a successful group.  I did manage to spread out the FS quilt blocks that I have done, in no particular order.  The photo is kind of yellow, I'm not sure why that is but here it is.


I really like how it is turning out.  I have like 30 some odd blocks finished but there are a total of 120 to make so I have a ways to go.  I found a pattern for a block that looks like a jar.  I have seen these done with different bugs, food and things like that.  I decided to try one with Halloween fabrics, so I got most of that cut out last night.  I still need to cut out the lids.  I have NO idea why I am starting another project, lol.  I will use it for our Christmas Bazar at the church to raise money for that group.  

I know, I know, I need to get back to Karen's quilt but...I just HATE making those blocks.  I think I will have to make myself make one or two before I allow myself to work on the FS or jar project.  I feel like a magpie, ohhhh, look over her at the shiny bauble!!

Lacrosse is beginning again and with it some of the left over drama is rearing it's ugly head.  i am so done with drama in my life!  I'm not quite sure how to handle it I have been prayerfully considering what to do and how to do it.  Please keep me in your prayers for guidance.  As the president of the club my role is so complex and I need to wear so many different hats.  I just hate all the drama, I guess I had my fill in HS!!  Anyway, I digress!!

My DD2's 20th birthday is on Sat, the same day we have the wedding so I will get to see her on that day at least.  Her bike got run over (by her room mate, accidently) so we are getting her a new one for her birthday.

Talk to you all soon!!

This and That

I am very tired today.  I stayed up until midnight to finish sewing the binding on the U of M quilt for my friends that are getting married June 14th.  I showed you a picture of the quilt in the past but here it is again.


 I gave Liz my sister's quilt today and we are still trying to decide what kind of quilting to do on it.  I want block work in the white blocks and I think chains of flowers and dragonflies going through the purple irish chain blocks. 

Liz and I went out for lunch today and that was fun.  We spent the whole time talking about the quilt I want to do for DS's lacrosse coach for next year.  Do you remember the little lacrosse guy I had Liz embroider for me?  
I am considering using him to make a quilt for the coach for next year when DS is a sr on the team.  I think I will have the outline behind the boy of the number of each senior and the boy will have his number where the "S" is.  I will then put their last name under that.  I think I can have Liz embroider the names and number for the rest of the team around the border of said quilt.  Liz thought we should stitch some up and see how we like them, which is probably a good idea.  She also told me we might be able to put "him" on a sweatshirt and use that for a fundraiser for the team.  I think that would be neat too!  She really is a "whiz".  It is so fun when ever we get together as our ideas flow fast and furiously!!  Good thing she doesn't live too close to me or neither one of us would get anything done except for the designing stuff!  

DD#2 is coming home tonight and the bowling fun-draiser for lax is tonight.  DD#2's birthday is on Sat and she will be spending it with my dad and sister.  She is living with them and she called me the other night to tell me that grandpa was so excited that he remembered her favorite place to eat so he is taking her out for dinner.  It is good for him and for her.  

Have a great weekend.  I suspect I may get pressured to finish the binding on TUQ this weekend so DD can take it back to college with her, but we'll see.  She asks about it every time she calls home.  I hope you all have a productive weekend.

Faith and Scratch

I don't know how many of you know Faith over at Nutbud Quilter but this is her dog Scratch. Scratch had a badly broken leg and the vet had to do an operation to pin it back together again. At the last visit her bones were not healing properly and the vet suggested amputation of her leg.  I know this was not a decision that Faith entered into lightly.  With the surgery and then the amputation it was very expensive for her too.  The vet does charity work but does ask for a donation.  Faith and her SO, Jim are musicians (I think Jim has another job as well) but Faith is deaf and is on disability so money is tight for them.

Here is Scratch after her amputation.  According to Faith she is getting up and hobbling around but is still in quite a bit of pain (the amputation was very recent).
Faith is a fabulous hand quilter, you should go and check out her work on her blog.  She is looking for a quit top to hand quilt to try to then sell to raise money to help pay for Scratch's surgery.  If anyone has a top they would be willing to donate please email me privately.  If any of you are interested in making an out right donation to the vet to help her out I can facilitate that too.  Again, please email me.  This is the type of top she is looking for.  I guess something scrappy and old fashioned looking.

I know that money is tight for everyone but if you can find it in your heart to help I know it would be appreciated more than you can possibly imagine.

Now a note on how my evening went!  Our lacrosse banquet was last night.  I had to speak and welcome everyone and then do my "thank-you's" to the people that have been so supportive to me through out the year.  I got flowers for a few folks and they turned out so beautifuly!  An orange rose, magenta carnations, Asltromeria, baby's breath and white daisies.  (I should have picked up an additional one for myself!)  I was very nervous in front of everyone but I was told that it went well.  My DS earned his varsity letter so he was pretty happy about that!  

I have quilting with the CL's tonight so more later.

XXOO

My Paducah Debut

I have a very funny story to tell you about the Japanese quilters at Paducah.  There was an exhibit of Japanese quilts there in a special section.  Yuki and I went there and we were waiting to talk to the group of Japanese quilters when a woman in front of us turned to me and was asking me if I knew what "DV" stood for as it was on a quilt around the corner.  Of course I did not and the quilters did not speak a lot of english so I asked Yuki to translate.  Of course the quilters were thrilled to meet another Japanese quilter so there was a lot of talking, very fast talking!  They explained that "DV" stood for domestic violence.  One of them had done a quilt with a purple ribbon symbolizing ending domestic violence.  Yuki explained that most Americans would not know the abbreviation.  Well, they gave Yuki lots of candy, tea and "stuff" from Japan and we were on our way to look at their quilts.  My favorite was this one, and I met the woman that made it too!

I thought these cranes were pretty great as well.
This was an unusual use of color in a double wedding ring quilt.  
So here is where my story continues.  We walked away and were about half way around the convention center when a little Japanese woman came chasing us down!  She wanted us to go up to their hotel room and meet the rest of the quilters.  So we went to the room and met, apparently, a very famous Japanese quilter.  She did have some amazing quilts.  I will have to ask Yuki her name as I don't remember it.  They gave us some gifts too.  Well, the woman that brought us there was speaking with the leader and with Yuki and then Yuki turned to me and told me they wanted me to make signs to put by their quilts for display.  They pushed paper toward me, a marker and a book with what they wanted (the title of their quilt and their name and an explanation of "DV").  They wanted an American to write it in English.  So I did.  They showered us with gifts.  Finally Yuki and I were on our way.  We stopped back by the Japanese exhibit only to see my signs proudly displayed by the quilts.  So even though I have not had a quilt accepted in this show I WAS IN THE SHOW!!!  See??

Well, after all that excitement, Yuki and I had reservations to go to Patti's Settlement, famous for their 2" pork chops.  Here is Yuki enjoying some tea.  She had never had drinks from a Mason jar before and thought it was cute.
They bake and serve the bread in a flower pot!  The strawberry butter is the best!
Here is what my dinner looked like.  Isn't that pork chop amazing??
Of course we had to buy a slice of pie to bring home to share with Liz and Marlene (there was no way we had any room left after that dinner!)  The pie was chocolate and yummy!!
I still have a few more stories but hopefully they will be winding down and you can see what is happening in the now.  Except for the fact that quilting is taking a back seat to lacrosse.  Our game last night was cancelled so I ended up having a free night.  So I made dinner and did a little sewing on my sister's quilt.  Not a lot, I have been so tired at night lately.  The game is rescheduled for tonight, of course.  No rest for the wicked!  Have a good weekend!!

More Paducah

For this post I wanted to talk about the classes I took.  Yuki and I took these classes together.  They were wonderful.  The first class we took was with Jan Krentz.  She is a wonderful, patient teacher and a really nice person.

The class was about learning about Y seams and making this large lone star.  Now Yuki and I had taken a lone star class here in Ann Arbor so much of it was review for us but she showed us how to make a border on it (not shown here) and that technique was good to learn.  She provided the kits and I chose the birds.
The second class we took was Hunter Star and Here is what my Hunter Star block turned out like.  It was difficult to choose fabrics when we didn't know what the pattern would be (I think it was called something like simplified stars class).  I might have chosen differently if I had known.  Her hand out was excellent and wow, the number and variation of blocks you can make with HST!  Who knew?
The third class we took was Take Away Applique with Suzanne Marshall.  I confess ahead of time to not knowing who she was but she was AWESOME!!  I was so fascinated by her birds, as shown here.
But this was amazing too.  Notice how she outlines the applique with black embroidery floss?  It really makes it stand out.  She uses a stem stitch but she and I do it completely opposite from each other.  I asked for pointers as I don't think mine is very good and she told me I do it the European way.  I liked her way better.  She is a very down to earth, humble person.  If you did not know her quilts and how talented she is you would not know it from her own mouth.  She told of her beginnings, checking books out at the library.  She is self taught.  She told us of her failures and how she turned into the expert she is today.  She even invited people to get together a group of people and visit her home for instruction.  Even to have lunch.  Amazing!
This was my lonely flower.  She told us that if you can master inside and outside curves and points you could do what she does.  Right....  But her Take Away Applique technique is so wonderful.  I know I will be using it in the future.  She has a new book out too and you should all check it out, it is great!
Look, here I am with Suzanne!!
This is the latest project she is working on.  I thought it was rather nice of her to let us photograph it!  Just shows you what a sweetheart she is!
Well, after all that hard work and all that hard shopping Yuki and I needed a break, so we decided to share some potato chip thingies (like apple peeling where you keep the string going, that is what they did with the potato)  So here is Yuki.


And here is me!  We only ate a little and gave the rest to some ladies sitting near to us.  

I have more from Paducah so stay tuned!  Life at my house has been so hectic lately.  We had a lacrosse game on Monday, I had a lacrosse meeting on Tues, Quilting with the CL's on Wed, a lax game tonight, supposed to go to a gold party on Fri (probably going to skip that) and another lacrosse game on Sat.  (which is senior recognition day).  I had to call all the incoming freshmen families this week before today and invite them to come to one of our last 3 home games too and there were 22 families!  My poor DH asked me last night if I was going to do this again next year (be president of the lax assn) and I had to tell him I was.  He is not very happy about that as he thinks I am never home (I really was never home anyway with swimming either).  

I also wanted to let you know that Liz got TUQ quilted and back to me.  I will try to get some photos and post them when I get a minute.  The paisley pattern was perfect for the quilt and she did the quilting in orange.  It really shows up well on the blue/green back.  I promise photos soon.  Too much to share and not enough time to do it!

Ahhh...Lacrosse season in Michigan!

So lacrosse season signals spring you say? Everywhere but in Michigan Today DS's team could have their first organized high school practice...outside! This is one tough bunch of boys! This was part of the warm ups.

These were sideways walks.
This is my DS!
Streeeeetch those muscles boys!
Stretch some more, it will warm up your muscles!
Whenever they dropped the ball and had to scoop it back up there would be snow in the cross (the net part on the stick). The coaches told the boys to shake out the snow before passing, but you know how boys are..
They thought it was funny to catch and throw the ball and the snow at each other. DS again.
They had to use colored balls so they could find them in the snow. Usually the balls are white. I thought this was a cool picture!
Now the coaches told the boys that whoever passed the ball, if their throw was so bad that the other guy couldn't catch it the thrower would have to chase the ball. So one of the coaches threw a really bad pass and this boy told him he was going to have to go and get it! I laughed and had to agree, it was, after all what they had said. The boy told the coach that I agreed with him and he had to do 20 down ups in the snow.
When he was done I reminded him that whatever didn't kill you makes you stronger. Sorry about that Popa!

I hope you all enjoyed my pictures of spring in Michigan! My hands were frozen and I was only out there for an hour and a half. I had 2 sets of batteries and both went dead. I took almost 300 photos but didn't think you wanted to see that many. If anyone wants to see the rest you can go to the picasa album at http://picasaweb.google.com/mamaspark/ChickenBBQFirstPractice2008

Think warmer weather, and soon