September Farewells

 September is here with wacky weather and lots of goodbyes...

We met the 4 sisters left  at the Trail Center last week so they could email and say good bye.

We miss them and their joyful noise.

Training for Virtual Tours

Sister Parr and Sister Hunt & Us

Sister McGrew & Sister Hunt

Sister Parr & Sister DiVall

Sunday there were only 6 of us for our Sacrament Service in the Trail Center.

Sister Deets played the Piano and I got to lead the Hymns.

Our Husbands prepared and Blessed the Sacrament.

The meal after to Break the Fast was simple but yummy.

It is a new era here at the Mormon Trail Center.

Virtual Tours by the Johnson's and Deets on Google Meet.

The temps tomorrow are expected to be in the 50's.

Fall is here, Leaves need to be blown each morning when we go to the Trail Center.

A quiet Preparation Day, I could have stayed home and happily stitched the day away...

We took a ride and drove to see the Birthplace of Gerald Ford. He only lived there for 2 weeks at his grandparents home. There is a rose garden dedicated by his wife Betty. I was nice to walk around.

We also walked around the General Crook house. So many different natural grasses and flowers planted in the gardens. I liked the signs indicating the names of the flowers.

Museums and Quilt Shops are mostly closed on Mondays. 

I did start on the new Quilt for the Mormon Trail Center.  10 blocks are sewn. 

Shoofly blocks with neutrals reversed.              

Just need about 30 more. 

Have a great National Sewing Month!

August Already

Here it is August 2020

We are filling our days with weeding, watering, wandering and wonderful things.

This imposter weed was growing in the gardens at the Kanesville Tabernacle in Council Bluffs.

I saw it and thought it was part of the Zinnias.

A 2nd look and I pulled and pulled til it all came out.

The humidity got my hair all sweaty.

    Elder Crowther-

 watering the Sweet Potato Vines

 Sporting his new Apron courtesy of Sister Schaub.

   We took a Day trip on our Preparation day to Nebraska City.

This is down the Center Street by the Missouri River.

Last Tuesday we cleaned the frame on this Picture.

20+ years of Dust embedded in the corners and details of the frame.

Sister Johnson asked if I had a quilt to put on the Wagon and Handcarts downstairs.

The Quilts that were there got picked up by the owner last week

I brought my Star and Crown so I took it to the Trail Center and she loved it!

I was able to finally finish the Cabin Quilt that has been in the work for the past 5 months.

It is on the Wagon. (just for now)

I need to dye it to make it look old and then it will go into the Cabin.

We had a wonderful visit from Elder Kyle and Sister McKay of the Seventy.

He is Assistant Historian of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Masks on and social distancing, except for pictures outside.

LOL, the guys masks look like beards.

Elder Crowther took this picture of me taking a Picture in the Cemetery of 

President & Sister Johnson with Elder & Sister McKay.

What a privilege to have them come and visit.  They traveled to Martin's Cove the following day.

July is here!

July means we've been here for 6 months. 

Mission life is so different in Covid-19 time.

The 8 Sisters are giving Virtual Tours. 

Click the link: 

www.calendly.com/trailcenterschedule 

This is all that is left after one more Senior couple went home.

 We Tye-Dyed Navy shirts with Bleach.

The Sisters used colors on White shirts.

They're so cute!

They helped make these cute cupcakes for our 4th of July BBQ.

The Cowboy Hat on top is a Pringles chip coated in Chocolate then a Rolo is added with a licorice string.

For Jeffery's Birthday we went to 

Winterset, Iowa.

We saw signs for the Covered Bridges so after going to John Wayne birthplace and museum, we found 2 quilt shops then went to see 3 of the Covered Bridges. 

We also went by the Iowa Quilt Museum 

They were putting up a new collection of quilts so we got in free.

Theme is:

OUT OF CONTROL

Quilts that Break the Rules 

The pictures I took were fun. 

Here's a few...

Iowa Quilt Museum will have this display until October 2020.

Hope you're having a bit of Summer Fun.

June 2020

June already!

Time is flying by and we haven't gone anywhere.

So many places we wanted to go and see while we are in the Midwest.

Our Preparation days are boring, literally.

The Big Flower planting day, after the BIG Tulip Removal day happened midst the Pandemic.

Some wore masks, others kept social distance.

Here I am Digging Tulips and driving the Golf Cart.

It was an act of kindness to have all the help of the Seniors and Elders and Sisters.

Elder Crowther has a new favorite Tool.

Working the flowerbeds to get them ready for planting.

Being a Farmer has helped make things grow well here.

We even have planted a garden of Vegetables.

In the back yard and down the hill.

I took a bunch of pictures and posted them but had to ask for a picture with Sister Johnson.

She has taught me more about flowers than I ever 

knew I needed to know.

Red and Orange and Yellow and Purple really do go together...lol

Always something to keep us busy!

The New Desk is installed, waiting for the Quartz to be put on top.

The Young Sisters have arrived and the Trail Center is alive with giggles and a sweet spirit of youth.

We love each one!

 Me with the 8 Young Sisters.

 Sister Deets and Sister Johnson with the Sisters.

While we were having fun in old Town Omaha, the guys were

Painting the Shop and Garage.

  Can't take the farmer out of my Hubby!

Here he is with the "Tares" he gathered from our hillside.

Telling the parable of the Wheat and the Tares for our  Spiritual Thought in
Saturday Training Meeting.

I could share so much more, but I feel a Sunday Nap coming on...

Quiltville UNITY Quilt-Along - April 2020

I  am  joining in on another

Quiltville project.

It's called Unity.

The link is HERE

We can sew together, separately

 all over the World. 

I  had my Preparation Day.

We watch General Conference,

Then I had time to cut out the 1st part

 and stitched the parts.

I had to use fabrics from what I have here.

Just a few of my Happy colors.

They remind me of Spring.

Some of the fabrics are directional.

I used my brain to get them all 

going the same direction.

That took extra time, but so worth it!

I need to add the sashing and cornerstones.

Should I make them scrappy or 

a solid fabric?

I have made most of the 9-patches

needed for the Cabin Quilt.

It looks a bit Patriotic. 

The old Quilt is shredded.

I spread it out to take a picture.

It is so faded & fragile!

Can you see it is the same design?

I measured the finished size to 

make my blocks.

As of Friday,  all of us Senior Missionaries at the Mormon Trail Center have masks.

It is advised to wear them to keep others from getting sick now. 

My Sister mailed me Elastic & Bias tape.

I knew right where she could find it.

I put a pocket on the back for a filter.

I'll leave you with this picture of the tulips,

taken a day apart.

The grasses on the hill don't mind.

The tulips are confused...

 Happy April, pretty tulips on my 

walk around the Trail Center.

National Quilting Day - Late Posting

My Preparation day fell on my favorite Quilty Holiday!!

NATIONAL QUILTING DAY 

I had big plans to get my Frolic Quilt to a flimsy...

Alas, other projects were proposed.

Making Facemasks.

I had that Bandana fabric from my 

Hancock Fabrics days.

I stuck it in my bag at the last minute in January when we left home.

I made 3 sets of His & Hers Facemasks.

Elder Crowther humored me and posed.

He hates things over his mouth.

I gave one to our Mission President. 

It was his Birthday. 

 He gave me 2 thumbs up.
Sister Johnson said, "I want one!"
Of course, I delivered one to her later.

I used a You Tube Tutorial.

Then adapted it to put a pocket on the back.

I used selvages for the ties.

Twist ties zigzagged into the seam on top.

Bendable to allow breathing thru your nose.

I brought a few Quilts so since I didn't have a Porch, I hung them on the Fence.
My Marti Mitchell BOM from 2013
"The Romance Continues"
And the Denim Picnic Quilt we used for between Sessions of General Conference
We liked having a Picnic lunch on the lawn at Pasco Stake Center.

Maybe we can have a Picnic here in Nebraska between Conference Sessions

March Comes in like a LION

I haven't Blogged and I have missed it.

I email my thoughts on Sundays and run out of words, I guess.

My solo trip to get supplies to make new mattresses for the Cabin here was very interesting.

I got Ticking and 120" wide Muslin at JoAnn's with my 60% off coupon. 

Then I went to Office Max/Depot

Have you ever seen a Fit so full of Packing Pellets?

The Big Bags were buy 2, get 1 FREE.

Good thing I left Elder Crowther Home.

I'm glad I went when I did!

The traffic gets crazy in the late afternoon.

I enjoyed a trip to Costco, Chick-Fil-A and Krispy Kreme too. 

It snowed as predicted.

Gotta smile, it is called Winter Quarters!

For our Preparation Day I got to work on my "Frolic" Quilt.

I sewed sashings to 2 sides of the Blocks that were done and made 3 more.

I have parts cut to make all 25 Blocks, but it is slow going. 

Especially when I don't pay attention to which Flying Geese go with each block.

Gotta match those corner HST's.

Still debating on whether I will make the Half and corner Blocks.

A LOT of events have been cancelled or postponed.

Sad to hear, but it will be for the good of our Health and our country to be

Socially Distanced. No BIG Gatherings.

Take care and keep on Praying for an end to the Corona Virus.

5th Sunday in Nebraska

Elder Crowther asked me if I was still Blogging.

Well, I have been a little busy...

We are trying to get things all ready for the busy season at the 

Mormon Trail Center & Kanesville Tabernacle.

The History Department and our Boss are coming in March.

I want to make a quilt for the cradle in the Cabin.

I ordered some 1850's reproduction fabrics, they came in the mail this week.

I need to decide soon what pattern I will use.

Any suggestions from my Blogging friends???

We try to get out and see some of the sights too.

I wish we could have gotten pictures of the cool brick houses on 52rd street.

The Lincoln Monument in Council Bluffs was fairly easy to find.

Well need better directions to find the Black Angel.

 The Antique Shops are interesting, but I didn't buy anything!

When I saw all the PEZ, I thought of our Son by Love, Andy.

I spent Saturday evening laying out a few Blocks and stitching them for my Frolic Mystery.

4 More to add to the 11, Yea!

Happy Monday, tonight is Sister's Night at Sister Johnson's (upstairs)