Some memories from 2016

Just sitting here thinking about the things we have seen since the beginning of 2016. I know I haven't spent much time sharing our life, but I have been recording it with pictures.

We started the year out with a snow storm (or 2)...

Then after the snow disappears we started seeing the wildlife. Here is a herd or rafter of turkeys walking across a corn field.

Then here is an Heron just waiting for lunch!

Carl and I really love to just take in the sites as we are going about our lives. Cheap and just about every where you look if you look close enough!

Happy Quilting, Sharon Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013

Having fun again!

I love living close to cities that offer great entertainment. Not long ago Carl and I went to a concert that was a 'Tribute to Kris Kristofferson'. Tonight we are waiting to see Barry Manilow. Last year we saw Loretta Lynn twice and will be taking my sister and brother-in-law to see her next month.

While waiting I'm sitting here remembering other singers and entertainers we have seen over the years. What a fun journey we have traveled over the past 27 years.

Thanks Carl!

Another concert at Loretta Lynn's Ranch!

On our anniversary we went to see Loretta Lynn at her ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN. Then when Lissa was here in July we did the tours which were fantastic. Lissa and I spent a lot of time in the museum. This concert was a 'sister' concert with Crystal Gayle. Peggy Sue was there too, which was a nice addition. 

Here is Loretta's bus. We didn't realize last concert that this was out back of the stage. To the left of Loretta's bus was Crystal's, but it wasn't a clear picture so I didn't take one of it. 

Crystal came on first. Great show.

Peggy Sue and Crystal.

Loretta, of course!

Crystal's hair. It is just a mite shorter now. It goes just past her knees instead of to the floor.

Peggy Sue, Loretta and Crystal.

Loretta and Crystal.

I really love going to these concerts. It just amazes me the strength of the voices of these ladies. Loretta is 83, Peggy Sue is 72 and Crystal is 64. They just knock you out of your seats when they sing.

Happy Quilting, Sharon Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013

A review of 2014

Rereading my posts from this year I thought I hadn't posted very much, but after checking other years I did post quite a bit. This one is number 43 for the year and that is almost 3 per month, so I guess I do spend some time around here. 

This is my 58th 'last day of the year' event. When I was a teen my mother broke the law and got me some Boone wine for me and I spent some time on the telephone with a friend while I drank it. In later years I spent time in the local watering hole a time or two, then the laws got more strict with drinking and driving and I decided to stay home on this night. As time has gone on I have given up the bars to drinking at home to being a teatotaler and debating if I want to stay up and watch the ball drop on TV. I am contemplating on that ball drop tonight, but that will be decided at 11:45, if I happen to be awake then......

Lots has happened around us this year. We started off in El Mirage, AZ with me working at IMS Allergy & Immunology Specialist and Carl 'disabled'. Now we are in Cottontown, TN, with Carl 'retired', me working on Coyote Quilts & Specialties inventory and spending time with Julie and her family on a daily basis. 

In the spring on our trip across the states we were able to visit with family we haven't seen in many years. Thanks, Vince for sharing your family with us! 

Over the summer and fall we spent weekends at farmer's markets or craft fairs. We had some good days, some wet days and some great days. The best part was meeting other crafters in the area. Another couple of gals moved from Pennsylvania to get away from the cold and we spent a lot of time at the same shows with them. 

In May Carl and I went to New York for Larry and Roxanne's anniversary party. We were able to visit Carl's family also.

Then in October I made a second trip to New York with Julie to keep her company on her trip for Kristen's birthday. I managed to visit family I haven't seen in many years.

Cheryl and Larry

Jeff, his wife and daughter with Lissa and Bruce

And of course Tim and Rhonda.

I took care of Jeff, Tim and Robin many Friday or Saturday nights while a teen. It was the best paying job I had when I was babysitting....

During the summer we spent time in the pool with the grandkids, visited with Julie's friend's that visited, explored our new area, and made a trip to Georgia for camp with another grandkid. 

This fall as the leaves were falling we noticed a lot more things that were behind the leaves as we travel our favorite roads. There are a lot more houses hidden in the woods around here, LOL!

Over Thanksgiving there was a large party. Friends of Jim and Julie visit frequently and we get to join the festivities until we drop, which happens early compared to the 'kids'. It's nice to have things going on around us and being able to visit with new people. 

One of my early posts of the year was about the American Flag that I watched each morning on my way to work.

I have replaced the above site to the one below. These 3 flags can be viewed from 2 different roads that we travel and I just love it when the wind is blowing. This site still makes me pause and reflect what they represent. Over the years the number of stars and their placement has changed, but the meaning has always stayed the same.

Through the year I made several quilts and finished up a few UFO's. 

A new baby quilt

A finish UFO

Now to think about 2015. What do you have planned for 2015? Me, I am just going to plug along just like I did in 2014. No resolutions because they get broken real quick......

Until next time, 

Happy Quilting, Sharon 
Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" 
Certified Instructor since 2013

Merry Christmas, 2014!

We started this Christmas season with the usual pizza on Christmas Eve. Just sitting around the table after eating enjoying each others company. I think the girls are anxious for the morning to get here....

The traditional Christmas pajamas.

Christmas morning before the mess begins.

Pa happy with his stocking.

The girls happy with their 'together' gift. Some assembly required of course! Then they can get jumping on their trampoline.

A Mickey Mouse shirt for Pa.

I wonder which of the gifts was the biggest hit?

Happy smiles!

The end of the great reveal. 

Until next time,

Happy Quilting, Sharon 

Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" 

Certified Instructor since 2013

We're off to see the wizard!

Oops, I guess it's not the wizard we are going to see. ... Ella,  Maddi, Carl and I are on our way to the Harvest Craft Show in Portland, TN. My little helpers are amazing with set up, take down and everything in between.  Since the first show, Ella and Maddi know what to do and jump right in. I really enjoy having their help and company at these things.

Until next time,
Sharon

Day 27 of NaBloPoMo challenge!

Good evening! 

Today I put the quilt on the frame and of course my second pass the tension was off. It is really quick to stitch across but forever to 'unstitch'. I shall finish it tomorrow I hope.

Here are a few of the sites we have seen during our walks. 

Here are future suppers :)

Check out this tree. Not sure why it grew this way.

Many of the trees have a vine growing up and around them. This one looked like it was a vein all the way up the trunk.

What natural sites to you enjoy each day?

The question of the day is:

Do you enjoy being scared such as watching horror movies or reading scary books?

My answer to this is that I don't read or watch horror movies. I'd much rather watch a western (Sam Elliott, yum...), action (Harrison Ford), and sci-fi (The Mummy and Star Wars). I don't like Stephen King books, the Saw or Halloween movies, but I don't mind haunted houses.

How about you, do you like horror movies or scary books?

Happy Quilting, Sharon 
Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" 
Certified Instructor since 2013

Day 22 of NaBloPoMo challenge!

Today we walked on another part of the walkway that White House has made through town. It is a very pretty walk and a lot of people use it. No fear of tripping and they have different trees marked along the path. I'm not sure which section we will check out tomorrow.

The question of the day is yesterday:
Orange is a colour that people either hate or love: tell us how you feel about it.

Answer: My favorite colors while I was a teen was yellow, brown and orange! Just about everything except clothes was one of these colors. I didn't look good in those colors at all. I remember one of the dresses that my mother made me was brown with orange and white flowers. I shall have to look for it. I may have a piece of that fabric in my stash somewhere. I was very lucky that my mother was a great seamstress because I sure would not have had the fantastic wardrobe that she provided without that talent. I think I was the best dressed kid in school thanks to her.

How about you, did you like the color orange?

Until next time, 

Happy Quilting, Sharon Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013

Day 18 of NaBloPoMo challenge!

Happy Saturday! Not much going on around here today. We did go looking for a new secondhand store in Hendersonville. We actually managed to find it with the directions I was given several weeks ago. Of course we didn't get there before it closed for the day, but at least we know where to go now. Carl & I love visiting secondhand stores, estate sale and garage sales. We usually find things that we can use for a fraction of the retail cost. We use to have a regular route and stores we visited when we were looking for things when in Arizona. The estate sales aren't very good around here, but we shall keep looking. 

We have been seeing the advertisements for holiday movies and Carl wants to see 'The Bishop's Wife'. We can get it on Amazon free so that is what we shall be doing next. So I am off until tomorrow.

Until next time,

Happy Quilting, Sharon Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013

Day 16 of NaBloPoMo challenge!

No family birthday's today, but I have been working on kitchen towels all day. I have gotten all of these done since I returned from NY last week. These will be on my rack this weekend just begging for a new home. 

NaBloPoMo question of the day is really 3:

What is your ideal hayride? I really don't have an ideal hayride. I think I have only been on 1 hayride in my life.

What would you bring? Well if I did go on a hayride I would probably take a warm blanket if the weather was cold.

Who would be there? I, of course would need to have my hubby with me and because there are 2 of my grand-daughters in the house I would have to include them too. 

I have never been a cold weather activity person. The most winter sports that I have participated in my life is one time ice skating and I stopped sliding down hill when I was in jr high school. I have always loved snuggling down in the covers with a good book. That sure hasn't changed any for me. No matter if it is raining, sunshine, cold or hot you will always find me with a book. 

What is your ideal hayride?

Happy Quilting, Sharon Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013

Memories strike!

On Groupon a few weeks ago there was an offer for photo books and I decided that it would be neat to have a book or 2 of my quilts, table runners, purses and other items that I have made over the years. The first step to accomplish this was to pull some older pics that we had on CD's. So tonight I looked through 17 discs and found lots of pictures for my books, but I also found lots of other pictures full of memories.

After spending the past week with my daughter, niece, her kids and my sister and then seeing this picture of my niece and daughter it brought back memories of how much time they spent together over the years. I'm not sure what age these 2 were, but this is probably the last professional picture they had taken together.

This is a little munchkin snuggling with Gramma. I'm not sure if it was her sisters birthday or hers, but I sure did get some good lovin' that day.

Then we have this munchkin. She has so many funny faces.

This was taken during one of our visits to Kanab, UT while attending the Western Legends Roundup. Watching the actors in shows and movies then being able to actually see and talk with them is so cool. This is one of the events we are going to miss since we moved to Tennessee. 

 This last picture that was taken of 4 of my siblings and myself. My sister, Lissa is holding a picture of our oldest brother, Norman who passed away several years ago. From left to right is Joe, Lissa, myself, Loretta and Larry. This was taken the year that Loretta and I drove her RV from Arizona to New York then back to Arizona with Joe. We had so much fun on that trip. So there is a lot of memories in just this picture.

It never fails when I start doing one thing I get side tracked. At least this one was fun!

Until next time, 

Happy Quilting, Sharon 
Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013

Family visiting

Over the past couple weeks I had a grandson, grand niece and nephew, niece and sister visiting. We have spent time in the pool, rollerskating, shopped and driven around seeing the sites. A grandson flew back home at the beginning of the week and the rest of the crew hit the road today.

The most fun we had was rollerskating. Over the past few weeks we have been visiting the local rollerskating rink so we shared our fun with more family.

 

This is the one that surprised me the most. My sister hasn't been on skates in several years and even though she fell a couple times it was magic watching her.

This is the happy face that was jumping on the plane home.

Until next time, 

Happy Quilting, Sharon 
Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" 
Certified Instructor since 2013