Design Wall Monday- December 31, 2012

It the last day of the year and time for my final DWM posting.  I took a bit of time to sew on the "EASY STREET" Mystery between events with family this week.  I'm happy to say I'm almost ready for the part 7 being released this morning. 

 First I had to draw and line on the purple 2" squares to make the Part 5 pieces.  Using an emery board works for me.  It doesn't slip and I can do these while watching TV.  I even found a new Purple one to use on the purple squares.  I still need more Turquoise and Black on White fabrics to finish the last two steps all the way. I have 6 different combinations for the Black on white 3-1/2" squares for part 6.

Maybe this morning's clue will be to put these parts together some how.  I can hope, right?  Bonnie is teaching in Texas so there isn't a link-up at Quiltville this week.  HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!

I'm linking up to Judy L HERE, She posted her DWM early.

Brown's Back in Moses Lake...

This Saturday was the day my Niece planned a Cousin's get together in Moses Lake, back at the Rose Street Chapel where my parents attended Church with us growing up.  It's been a while since these cousins have seen each other.  l-r: Allan Dale, Danette, Derlyn V, Jeffery, Milton, Sarah, Joe.

Lucky me, to be invited to go too so I could see 2 of my brothers and sister.

l-r: Roma, Allan, Derlyn, & Me (Mary)

One brother was traveling home from Seattle and didn't get to come.  A Picture with our spouses too.

l-r: Mary, Paul Sheila, Derlyn, Allan, Roma, Gordon

                           James and his son Austin came late.                 Cynthia &Derlyn V.

There was food and it was yummy!  I didn't take pictures of the Desserts. I made my Truffles and Banana Bread.

Skyping with Beth Ann in Oklahoma.  She wanted to be there so bad!  Next time...

 Even Santa came and brought gifts for everyone.

I set out some things from my Mother and Father to share memories.  Two Digital Frames played a slideshow of Family pictures too.  A great legacy of my mother's talents, Daddy's pictures and love of Family!

A trip to Moses lake is not complete without a stop to honor my parents. Thanks to Brant and Tina for the roses.  2 red ones - perfect to leave in the snow.  So glad my Army boy, Jeffery would drive us there and back safely and take the time to stop.  We stopped by Paul's parents assisted living Apartment on the way home to say hello and visit.  It snowed most of the day but didn't stick so the roads were ok.  Just one more gathering and my Holidays will be complete!  Happy New Year's with the Crowther side.

2012 Random Christmas Pictures

It's so fun to go through the pictures that we take at our Family gatherings.  Not all have been used on the Blog, they sure tell a story. This post is all about - "The Rest of the Story...." I Love my FUN family!
From the Eve of Christmas Eve- The Ransoms were the first to arrive so I put Elizabeth and Olivia to work slicing the cookies to bake for dessert.  Funny how they both left one big cookie and said, "I get that one". That's why I let them serve them to everyone.

 Olivia resting on the pew.

 The grandchildren trying to play UNO Attack The batteries were low and none came out when they pushed the button.  G-ma forgot to bu extras C batteries for Christmas.  Milton in the back on his smart phone...

 The little girls always want to play with Grandma's Babies.  The Barbies and Ken/Derek for some reason are always naked when I go to see how well they cleaned up the Toys room. Gotta put new "doll clothes" on the to do list!

 Grandpa always slices the meat for our meal.  NaDell zoomed in for this one. He eats as he goes, and I call him my 'cub scout'.

 Dog pile on Coy for making them take extra long for the Cousin's picture. 

 In this one Uncle Jeffery is one of the Kids...

 Jared looking at his scarf Andy helping Abigail unwrap her gift from G-ma and G-pa

 Elizabeth helping Seth put his Hero Lego together.

 Joe and Kori's son; Colby eating his 3rd or 4th plate of HAM. Sam taking pictures with an old Camera from the toy room.

Jared with bows on his face.  Lydia with one of each cookie.


Vincent looking all cute and innocent- this was before the kids tried to put the scarves on too tight and use them for jump ropes.

 Abigail telling me secrets.  I've tried to remember what she was telling me, but I guess it will stay a real secret.

On Christmas Eve this lighted bicycle went past my house blaring Christmas Music.  I ran out to take a picture with my phone.

Christmas Day at Andy and NaDell's I caught them playing with their son's new toy.  It's called the Crocodile Dentist.  On the first try when Vincent showed it to me I push the 'wrong' tooth down and Chomp it went on my finger.  Andy kept trying to figure out the randomness of the toy.  Gotta love being a big Kid!

 Here's two of the outtakes from the CROWTHER Frame gift that the family put together. I'm told that Kori saw this idea on PINTEREST and shared it with Tina who took the idea and ran with it over the e-mails keeping Grandma wondering why she asked me to have a picture taken with a BIG C.  She even had the pictures sent to my Walgreens and I picked them up.  Brant called to make sure I didn't peek at them before Jeffery got home to put them in the Frame that he and his housemate Christina found and cut the mat for in Lacey, Washington. I love the "homemade" gifts that get them all together to surprise me.  What will they come up with to top this one?

 These two families live in the same town and go to Church together.  My two oldest boys, I am not sure which decided it would be fun to tease Tina and trade one child to see if she would notice.

The look on Lydia's face and Coy's side glance tells me that's not their brother...
Big Teasers they all are---if you wonder where they get it, I'll tell you Great Grandpa Crowther started it!

Christmas Day 2012

The day didn't go as planned- Story of my life... That is why I don't plan much and try to be the rubber band---FLEXIBLE! It keeps the frustration down when plans don't work out my way. I still do get frustrated and disappointed at times being the little Red Hen.  Sorry guys!  Things might change after my DH is released as the Bishop of our Ward in Walla Walla. I can hope.

Christmas morning has always been for who ever is home and I encourage my Children's families to spend the Morning with their own little families.  The plan was for Ransoms to come to Walla Walla at Noon.  They didn't bring the gifts for Dad and I to the gathering on Sunday.  I'll get a few more of those pictures posted later.  NaDell took some at her house and I don't have those. Here are ones from my camera for now.

 The stockings weren't too full of goodies this year.  Just hanging there.  We don't need all that candy and peanuts and the orange just pulls these type of stocking off the place they are hung- too heavy.  I didn't do the WASIQ Holiday SWAP this Christmas like I normally do.  So, no Quilty surprises in my stocking.
Only Paul, Jeffery and I at home to open gifts on Christmas Morning.

 Candy Cane Bread- One of my favorite parts of Christmas Morning, when I make this ahead and the Time Bake part works. Jeff hasn't been home for this in 7 years. It tasted just right and didn't stick to the pan. Paul had to start it baking when he woke up, early as usual.  He let Grouchy (me) sleep a little later than usual.  But I heard the banging of lids and thought the house was falling in.  Crazy guy!

My guys opening their gifts from me. Pajama pants and socks for Jeffery and a new Briefcase for the Bishop. Right picture shows Jeff with the radio and flashlight I gave all the dads a few years ago. I'd saved his and found it to give him this year.  I didn't ship Christmas to him in Cuba, cost way too much and no way to know IF he really would get it.

 

 Paul really surprised me with these Fat quarters.  I asked him if he needed some $$ but he kept saying he was done. He didn't even go out shopping on Christmas Eve this year.  He had to work. He went to STASH and Sew n Vac downtown.  These came from STASH.  There isn't a selvage except on one that says Kate Spain.  I usually don't buy her fabric but it was purple and I think I can work a couple into the Easy Street Part 5 this week. Some of the ones on the bottom are really not my normal colors.  Not a fan of pink and orange together...
                                   

 Here is Grandpa with his new "Santa".  I buy him a novelty one every year.  This year it is a musical snowman dressed as Santa and singing "Jingle Bells". I'm talking to DD # 2 in Colorado on the phone...

 The Army Boy with his stack of gifts. It is sooooo good to have him home.

Then it was time to go to Tri-cities.  Paul's Mother fell and was admitted to the Hospital on Christmas Eve.

His sister called and said today was a good time to go and see her and maybe give Great-Grandpa a ride to go and see her. We delivered treats to the 2 Bishops' Counselors homes that I made on Christmas Eve.

 

No pictures at the Hospital. Great Grandma is in a lot of pain and they put a back brace on to stabilize her back.  So hard to see her lying there in such pain.  I tried to tease and told her to say "grandma got run over by a reindeer".  I know that's not so funny.  Great-Grandpa was already there thanks to his grandson, Daniel.  Paul stayed and had lunch in the Cafeteria with his father and visited.  I took Jeff and drove over to Ransom's. It started snowing so we had a White Christmas afterall.

 Here's my Grandson with the Hero Lego toy I got for the grandsons that were at our house on Sunday. He can take it apart and put it back together.  YEA Grandma's Plan C was a success.  They really liked these.
The girls didn't get Legos because I couldn't find any girl type ones.

 Jeff brought some souvenirs from Cuba to share with his buddy, BIL Andy!

"Rockin' Out in Fidel's Back Yard"

I stayed with the grandchildren while Jeff, NaDell and Andy went back to the Hospital to see Great- Grandma. We watched "Brave". They brought Dad back and we had a nice lunch. They gave me a beautiful Purple scarf and pair of silver earrings. They called the scarf something like a "Pashmina". It matches my winter coat, not the shirt I wore yesterday though. DH got a handy tool/knife. 

After we got home and rested a while. I asked DH to go and see the movie "LINCOLN".  It was good except for the swearing...I really am not too tolerant of that. There was an Ohio Star quilt on one of the beds that he noticed and said look at that quilt.  I was looking at the Dresses and thinking about the next book coming out on my Birthday by Jennifer Chiaverini called 'Mrs Lincoln's Dressmaker'. 

Now I just want to go and see "Les Miserables". Maybe with some ladies in my Ward.

Design Wall Monday- Christmas Eve

I should have a Christmas quilt up for today but I have to put this one back on the wall because...I can.

It's my center of the Civil War Sampler, the BoW from 2011 by Barbara Brackman.  She posted about the book being done HERE. The book is available now, you can see it HERE. 
A Blogging friend Denise at Count it all Joy posted that she had received a copy around the 12th of December straight from Barbara Brackman because she has a block pictured inside. We submitted our Blocks as we made them to a joint Flicker account.   Later that day she e-mailed me and said I had a block in there too on pg 64!

I've been watching for a copy of the book to come to my house...Nothing has come yet, so when I saw Barbara's posting on Saturday (linked above), I commented that I'd heard I had a block in there and must have missed the post about sending her my address.  Anyway, first thing Sunday morning I got a reply from her that my name was missed in accounting for the blocks pictured in the book to send the book to me and she would send me a book ASAP.   I'm pretty excited to be published again, it's a good feeling. It's the block called Empty Spools.  This was a different way to make spool blocks. I have to still add the border blocks all around my center and I need a few more blocks to be finished too.  This one will go on my end of the month goals for December over at Patchworktimes.

I didn't get my Part 5 cut out or sewn with all the prep for the family to gather on Sunday. I'll have to link-up to Bonnie Hunter's Blog later this week. We had a great time! I just have to wait until DD# 1 sends me some of the pictures she took so I can BLOG about it.  I didn't even try to take pictures.

I am linking up to Judy L's HERE.