Cut 'N Shoot!

Welcome to Cut 'N Shoot Texas (a real town 40 mi. north of Houston)
"Where the men are tough, the horses are swift, and the women are soft, and where we take a bath every Saturday night whether we need one or not."

I kind of have an idea why they gave the town that name. The residents probably did a lot of what Grandpa and I were up to last Friday afternoon (in fact, it's what we're doing this afternoon) --- me, cuttin' up my quilt fabric...

'n grandpa shootin' at the rifle range!

ready, set, quilt!

Don't you love the bird themed fabric that Courtney chose on the internet for her baby girl's quilt? She also chose the beautiful rose pink floral that co-ordinates with the design on the birds.  The remaining fabrics were easy to pick, once I knew what Courtney wanted. The backing is a light lilac with white polka dots.  With Courtney being way up north in Minnesota, it was so convenient for her to use the internet to select her fabric. It was so easy for me to hop in the car,and head out to the fabric store,where I easily found her fabric, and best yet, it was all on sale for 40% off.  I'm going to start cutting this afternoon. Grandpa just headed out to the shooting range with Uncle Bill and Matthew.  I told him, "Take as long as you like, I've got lots to do."

how time flies!

It seemed like time slowed down a bit when we first entered January.  Where did the time go? Just slightly  more than one week to enjoy the January page of a delightful  calendar (featuring grandkid photos) Lauren put together for me.

                                        

Decisions to make before the month is out: Do I sign up for the Connoco Philip's Rodeo Run? Jessica and Walter are doing it, so I could join them, except they're running the 10 K and I would be doing the 5 K. Can this old lady do a 5K? Sounds like a really fun time afterward -- a big party, with lots of give-aways.  I think I'll do it.
Things accomplished:  Not too much, outside the routine stuff I do.  Trying to remember my New Year's Resolutions. As long as I remember to breath, I'm halfway there. What I'm itching to do is to start on Courtney's baby quilt, and start reading another good book (my last read was The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury -- what an imagination and great writing style he has!) Oh, one thing I did today -- be sure and check on my newest entry at storiesofthenyefamily.blogspot.com. I've been getting all those old photos organized and doing a little research on life in 1913.

out of the big chill in Texas!

After a few freezing days, we've warmed up to the 50's and 60's.  That's the nice thing about living here in the South West. We get a break.  A few days ago, when we "skyped" with Mark and Courtney in Minnesota, we caught the view outside their windows -- lots of snow, a dark wintry sky, a frozen pond in the background--brrr.  My winters used to be like that, growing up in Rhode Island. Back then, you couldn't keep me out of the snow. In this picture, the big blizzard of 1956 had swept through the day before. School was cancelled; the snow plow had just come through. Here I am, diving into the pile of snow created by the snowplow.  I was in eskimo heaven, making my little igloo under all that snow.

the Big 60!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my brother Charlie, born on Friday, the 13th!!! I can't believe you are such an old guy now. You were the first baby brother to arrive in our family. When you cried, I'd say, "Don't cry Tarley. Nancy's here."  When you were taken for your doctor's visit at 8 weeks old, I warned the children in the waiting room, "Don't touch Tarley, that's mummy's Tarley".

You grew up to be such a fun brother to go bike riding with, throw snow balls at, laugh together at silly things. 

You grew up to be president of your senior class, quarterback of the football team, and after high school,  helped establish the LaCross Team at BYU. Then you married sweet Sun Mae, had great kids, and achieved your dream of becoming a medical doctor, and an accomplished sailor.

 But the thing that makes you the happiest is being a grandpa. I know you are having a great day today because those precious grand daughters are there with you eating birthday cake. Love from us in Texas!

final quilting projects of 2009

These are the last two quilts I finished prior to the holidays.  Evan and Avery share a room, so I made them in matching colors. I livened up Evan's quilt with an orange inner border. These two quilts were very fast and easy to make.  My first 2010 quilting projects will be a  quilt for Mark and Courtney's baby girl who is expected the end of March, and a quilt for Aiden.  I had never gotten around to making a baby quilt for Aiden, and thought he'd never even notice or mind, until he was watching me finishing up Evan's quilt. I was shocked when he asked, "Is that my quilt Grammy?" He feels sad he never got one, and reminded me again when he was buckled in the car ready to go home,"Remember to make my blanket." So does anyone have any ideas for a fun (but fast and easy) quilt for a lively 5 year old?

pa and I settling down for a long winter's nap

Thanks to an Arctic Blast, it's so cold here in Texas that...

• our teenage son wore long pants to school this morning instead of his usual shorts.
• a church social  was cancelled for this evening.
• birds are trying to peck through frozen bird baths to get a drink.
• -- not kidding you -- since the cold snap (Thurs. night), grandpa and I have been wearing these caps to bed.  Grandpa refused to pose for the picture, so I had to enlist Mr. Baloon. (I've grown soft living here in Texas. I'm the kid who used to play out all day long in the ice and snow back east, til my hands and feet were frozen.)
• the only one who believes in Global Warming is Al Gore.