Happy New Year!!

2020 is done and we are on to 2021! 

This photo was taken by the Mormon Bridge that crosses the Missouri River into Iowa.

  Living in the Midwest the ball drops earlier than the PNW.

I had time to work on the Quiltville Mystery while waiting for the New Year fireworks to start.

I'm way behind but It's not a race as Bonnie says.

I am not sure how I'm working in the Blue and Purple with the Gold Greens and Neutrals.

But Orange and Reds are in short supply in my Limited Stash here anyway. 

The Anderson's finally got to come in November.

After we got the Tree Decorated we took our Christmas Card Photos and a Group shot.

Christmas was very Different.  We celebrated together on Christmas Eve. 

A Nice Dinner with the Seniors from the Omaha Mission.

Sister Johnson had some games to play and we did a White Elephant exchange.

We were too nice, not as much stealing.

On this final Day of 2020 I talked my DH into stopping at the Hurt's Donut Co.

We've passed it many times. This is their Signature Dozen.

We had to share with our Fellow Missionaries.

I am Excited to meet our New Mission President around my Birthday time.

Sad to say farewell to the Johnson's and the Deets in the same week.

December 2020 "LighttheWorld"

 Well today marks 3 weeks til Christmas! I can't believe that we've been gone for 11 months now.

Elder Crowther wrote the Christmas Message and Sister Johnson took our pictures to make Photo Cards to send to Family and Friends. He also made an address list, found a bunch by googling and I found some in my messages, Letters and emails.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has #LighttheWorld" again this year. After the #GiveThanks hashtag the last week of November it's good to focus on the reason we Celebrate.

Click HERE for a Printable calendar.

I put one more small border on my Frolic and took it in to a Local Quilt Shop for the Frosting. It should be done soon after the 1st of January. I don't need it for Christmas.

The Annual Christmas letter has been mailed as well as the Grandchildren Ornaments.

Thanks to the Hubby for taking over and helping with getting them done and ready.

I'll share them later, not all have received them just yet.

I cried, Happy tears, when I saw the pictures of our Wyoming family putting them on their tree.

Christmas will be very different here.

I am trying hard to not be sad.  

I told the kids all I want is pictures of the families.

I buy what I really need.

We celebrated our 44th year with a Steak Dinner at the Apartment...

Hubby got me my favorite Russel Stover Chocolates with Nuts and a dozen Red Roses.

I was disappointed that we weren't moved back onsite in time for our Anniversary, oh well.

We should get moved back in time to put up the small tree we bought and a couple of Nativities.

Thanks to our Daughter, who works at Fountain Books.

 I got a new Nativity to put in the Trail Center Curio.

It's on the 2nd shelf.

I look forward to the 1st Presidency Devotional this next Sunday.

then I can Decorate.

The new Quiltville Mystery started last Friday, I'm still waiting for a few more fabrics,

 I will just print the clues for now.

I, of course, will add some Purple/Lavender and change the colors up a bit.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Our Address is :

Elder Paul & Sister Mary Crowther

8320 B Northridge Dr E

Omaha, NE 68112

November 2020

 Who knew what November would bring???

 I sure hoped for a better outcome... America deserves better. 

We have completed the planting of the nearly 10,000 Tulips and will have a visit again from Drew, Jake and Elder Frischnecht from Utah this week.

On the Quilty Front- I have Hand Quilted this Cradle quilt

It was made from some of the same 4- Patches that I sewed for  the 50 Shades of Brown SAL.

I am still not a big fan of hand Quilting, but "Betsy" is at home.

I don't have much choice, plus it makes it more primitive and that is how my 

Pioneer Ancestors would have done it.

My Frolic Quilt got Borders added. I didn't make it as a Full-size or on-point.

I even got a picture in the little bit of snow that fell.

This was taken at the Kanesville Tabernacle in Council Bluffs.

It is the size I felt I could handle while here in Nebraska.

But I feel it needs to be a little bigger. Thus I'm asking for HELP!

I bought the Floral fabric last November to use as a Border or for the backing of Frolic.

The receipt was still folded inside.

I used the Fairy Frost as the Inner Border before the Pieced Border.

Should I repeat it or go with one of the other choices shown?

Monday is my next P-Day, but our visitors come that afternoon.

So there's a little time for me to get a few more opinions.  

My sister and Julie H like the Limey green repeated, and one person for the Grunge -the bottom one. Olivia likes the middle print. 

Tuesday next week looks like a SNOW Day so I could finish it then and get it taken in for the "frosting" at a local LQS. This one will be Quilted by Check. Like Eleanor Burns, lol

I thought of sending it home to a friend, but changed my mind on that. 

I'll keep supporting local folks while I'm here.

It saves some extra expense for shipping too.

10-20-2020

 We enjoyed sharing the Local Sites and Sacred places we have here on our Mission in Nebraska.

The Wyoming part of our family braved the 14+ hour drive to come visit us.

We went to see the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge and Omar the Troll. Henry Doorly Zoo and Pioneer Courage Park, Kanesville Tabernacle and Mormon Trail Center and Pioneer Cemetery and Winter Quarters Temple.

It was fun to celebrate Christopher's 13th while they were here. A special Sunday Service to renew our baptismal covenants together and share Testimony of the Gospel.  Dressing up like Pioneers for a few Photos to remember them.

Lots of yummy foods and special Pioneer Videos to tell the Pioneer Story. Walks through our Gallery to experience a bit of the journey.  Walking where our Ancestors walked.

They asked to help with some of our WORK. We saved the Flowerbed by the Pioneer Handcart Monument for them to help. Pulling spent flowers and blowing the leaves, using the leaf blowers, all wanted to help. Even if it was just picking the flowers for a bouquet.

I LOVED EVERY SINGLE MOMENT WE HAD WITH OUR FAMILY!!!

It was the best medicine for Grandma Mary and Grandpa Paul.

50 Shades of Brown

I ❤️  that I got to sew along with 

Lori of Humble Quilts

I had a few Browns and Janet O sent me some!!!

Quilter friends are the Best!

I couldn't decide if my John Wayne fabric was going to work.

I stitched up a few while I waited for the squishie in the mail.

Lay out #1 

That light square was screaming at me, so I switched it out for the Finale.

A few fun directional fabrics and Voila!

I will quilt in later, gotta finish my other project in the works.

Thanks for the Linky Party and Great SAL,  Lori!

Linking  up HERE

October - Fall is here

Yes the month is nearing the middle and I didn't BLOG. 

We had a special Visitor from Utah...

Our FM Manager, Drew Corry.

We've been busy taking out flowers and blowing leaves.

I took a video of the DH blowing leaves into the street. This is a screen shot.

Now he shovels them and puts them into the dumpster.

I like using the battery operated blowers. 

We have harvested our Squash, Beets, Green Beans and Tomatoes

The Pumpkins on the side hill didn't get huge, but we at least got some that 

the deer and bunnies didn't eat the blossoms off.

I have gotten the Reproduction Quilt #2 off the Design Floor.

This is the last picture I took. Lots of partial seams.

We are in the process of Planting Tulips.

Elder Crowther keeps finding new places to make a flowerbed.

We've been on our knees, not just for Praying

The Plant Augers we got from AMAZON work great.

 

The Stihl Tiller is still his favorite tool.

General Conference was great and we still enjoy our short Sacrament Services on Sundays.

I love making the bread each week.

Virtual Tours are going, we have done a couple for friends and family.

you can click this link and sign up for either a Virtual Tour or to watch the

 Pre-recorded Tour with our Sister Missionaries that were here in the Spring.

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...