So what happened to 2011, seriously, the year went by too quickly.
There have been many good memories and a few sad ones. Bill’s health has been declining but he has never lost his great sense of humor, and is still capable of taking care of himself. His memory may be failing but Bill thinks that’s great, he gets to meet new people every day. The other day while I was driving, Bill was on the cell phone talking to our friend, telling her we were on our way to her house. Heather asked Bill, “where are you?” Bill asked me, “where are we?” For some unknown reason I said “by Churchill School,’’which is 7 miles in the opposite direction. Heather reactions was “WHERE!.” I remembered the name of the school and told Bill it was Superior. Bill to Heather, “sorry I’m dealing with a drunken navigator.” I thought that remark was so funny. Bill never ceases to amaze me.
We’re both sad that his ability to draw is becoming very difficult for him, but I take him out everyday so his life is still full.
For myself I try to spend my time quilting, or sharing time with great friends.
The sad part is the lost of family members. My nephew Tom, and my 24 years old female cousin from Hamilton, who was attending University in the States, was killed in a head on collusions. In addition I was sad to hear of Crystal sudden ill health.
For a week in October we were blessed to have our oldest son Al here visiting us.
We also enjoy talking with our kids in Utah on Face Time and on the phone. I talk to Brayden, the youngest of Chris and Nicole’s boys, almost every Saturday evening. He is so much like his dad Chris when he was young. Brayden is an interesting and fun loving kid, with an abundance of energy. He tells me about all his experiments including a few mishaps, which occasionally gets him grounded.
I participated in Aunt Pitty Pat’s quilt swap a few time this year and was pleasantly surprised with my swaps. They are always interesting to do plus the drive to the border is fun. I do get carried away at times buying new things on line from the States just to be able to do the hour drive to Ryden’s Store in Grand Portage, MN, with Bill, or anyone who will take me.
I’m hoping the year 2012 will be a happy one.
Hanging Garden.
Isabel was my neighbour for 50 years and a co-worker at Safeway for about the same length of time. A short time ago her son Kris, his wife and three year old girl named Leko welcomed a new baby boy into their home in British Columbia. I made the Sail Boat Quilt for the baby. Leko called her Grandmother Isabel here and asked if she could have a blanket like her brother, only she wanted it a wee bit bigger. Isabel asked me if I would make a quilt for her grand daughter. Kris’ wife was born in Japan and in the Summer she takes Leko there to see her Grandparents. Leko is fluent in the Japanese language. She is a beautiful pretty child. Heather, my good quilting friend, heard about this quilt I was planning to make, gave me a pattern and Asian fabric. I took one look at it and thought, I will never be able to make such a gorgeous quilt. Together we went to Luci’s, Circle of Friends, quilt shop to pick out the accent, backgound and backing fabrics. Purple is Leko’ favourite colour. It took me longer to make it because of Bill’s health issues, but I did get it done for Christmas. Wendy Currie did the top quilting.
Fortunately for me Isabel was vacating in Texas so I was able to take the quilt to our quilters guild meeting. Everyone who saw the quilt was highly impressed with Wendy’s quilting. Thursday, December 15, 2011, I delivered the quilt to Isabel. She hasn’t send it out yet because she wanted her family in Thunder Bay to see it first. She was more than pleased with the quilt. One more time I surprised myself on how well the quilt turned out. Now on to finish a few tote bags and Christmas stockings.
Hanging Gardens. Design by Georgette Dell'OrCo.
Quilting by Wendy Currie.
