HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND REMINISCING

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted.  I have some explaining to do!  I took a trip to Florida to get together with some of my cousins, the oldest of which just turned 91.  There were 5 of us and we spent about 5 days talking and reminiscing non-stop!!

Which brings me to the first picture, which is of me and my older brother on a horse named Red at our great-uncle's farm in Minnesota circa 1950.  This picture displays something that the 5 of us cousins had in common as an important remembrance of our childhood.  I grew up in the Chicago area, but in 1950 my grandmother's brothers & sisters were just about all farming in Minnesota and we loved to go there to visit.

The first day of the cousins' visit we went to see the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.

A couple days later we went to the Jupiter Lighthouse.

Cousins at the Jupiter lighthouse

The cousin missing in the Jupiter picture is shown with me below.  We were 2 weeks apart in age, so we were very close as children.  We are in Jupiter and that is the Atlantic Ocean behind us.

After my wonderful visit with cousins, I traveled to Pensacola to visit DS, DIL and DGD Abby.  They now have 15 chickens and Abby loves them.  It was great to have some quality time with Abby!

She will be 10 in December and is into all things girly and blingy!  She loves to polish her fingernails, so we did that one day.

We saw these ducklings on our way to the fabric store one day and had to stop to get some pictures.

A & E Fabric Store in Pensacola, Florida is wonderful!  I went there a few times - it's only about a mile from my son's home.

They have several orange trees in their yard as well as a huge grapefruit tree, so DS is picking some oranges for us to bring home.

We had our Christmas gift exchange and I gave Abby her quilt.

I visited the Pensacola Light House at the Naval Air Station with my DIL and Abby.  Oh, and BTW, I climbed to the top of all three lighthouses!

Since I came home, I have been getting ready for 3 craft shows.  After they are over, I will be getting ready for Christmas, as all of you will be doing.  Our 3rd son and his family will be coming to Oregon for Christmas - for the first time!  We are excited to show them where we live, etc.

Now I better get back to cooking for our Thanksgiving dinner.  We do have so much to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving to your and your families!

SEWING FRUSTRATIONS

We spent some time with DS#3 and family (who doesn't want pictures published of them) and we had a wonderful visit.  I had time to do some sewing and after finding this fabric at a thrift store, my DIL desided to purchase it.  I started to make a table runner and some placemats for her, but my Featherweight bobbin tension was off - way too loose.  I couldn't tighten the tiny screws in the bobbin case, so I decided to try my DIL's sewing machine (which is in the sewing cabinet that my Featherweight is sitting on).  She has never used it, but had it serviced a few years ago. 


Unfortunately, I couldn't get it to work right either so I had to put the sewing project away.

This is the fabric we found at the thrift store - about 6 yards of 56" wide fabric for $10!!

These are some other fabrics I got there for a very low price.

 The good news is that I get to keep the antique partial quilt top.  Below is a picture of the whole piece. 

While visiting, we saw another historic site in Kansas City, MO.

This is DH and I at a restaurant.

We have now moved on to visit another son - this time in Pensacola, FL.  The above 2 photos were taken from the balcony of the condo that we are staying in.  You might be able to see the gulf between the buildings - we are very close!

Christmas is rapidly approaching and we are looking forward to this visit here in Florida.  Are you travelling for Christmas?