Thoughts on UFO's

If you have been quilting for any length of time, you probably have a UFO (UnFinished Object) stuck away somewhere on a shelf. Most of us have them and we just can't seem to break away from our current project or planed next one to get them finished. Maybe they need to be quilted or a binding added or the quilt top itself is not quite completed. I have quilts that meet all of those criteria.


Here is the one I am currently working on. Everything is done except for the handwork on the binding and I am about half way around it. Basically, it has been like this for about 2 years but I pulled it out a few weeks ago and am determined to keep at it to completion.

To be honest, I was working off and on on a Whole Cloth quilt during those few years. I will give my thoughts on Whole Cloths another time.  

I decided recently I should do something about my UFO's. I'm not getting any younger and I would hate for my children to have to deal with the problem. I have one of my Grandmother's quilt tops and wish she would have gotten it quilted as it is really too delicate to do anything with now.  At any rate, I have pulled out 8 quilt tops to take to Kalamath Falls Oregon when I go visit my cousin this summer. While I am there a local longarm business will try to get them all quilted for me so I can bring them home with me when I leave, if not they will be ship the ones they couldn't finish.  

Before the end of June I will need to put the backing together for the 8 quilts. Some I have fabric for but most need to have fabric purchased and the local quilt shop, Quilt Ventura, will help me with that. Joey will be glad to see me coming with my stack of quilt tops.  Like a lot of businesses, hers is struggling to survive.  

Get out your UFO's, figure out what it will take to get them done and go for it.  I'm sure someone close to you would love to have one to wrap up in and think about you while they feel that hug that's included in each quilt.

My son Dan

Dan is seen a lot these days with a camera in his hands. Actually, he has gotten really good with his photography, some of the pictures are truly amazing.  The ones I admire most are the ones he takes of his family and I especially treasure the photos of Zach and his brothers. Because of Dan's hobby we have a treasure trove of 240 pictures of Zach from birth to the one taken by a friend just a few hours before his death.

These photos will help us to remember Zach in the years to come, bringing back memories to some and a great longing to others.

We had been urging Dan to update the portrait  of my 4 grandsons taken when Matt just turned 16, (10 years ago).  There is no formal recent portrait of the 4 of them together because the time slipped away and there is always tomorrow, right?

I have discovered among Dan's photos one taken last year at Zach's high school graduation.  I am hopeful I can download it and get it enlarged to replace the formal one.

There are some other pictures in his Flicker account that I hope to sneak copies of, if not maybe he will send them to me. Ones of Thomas, Austin, Janet and the rare on of Dan. See, when you are the photographer you are always on the 'other' side of the camera.

First thought

A lot has happened in the last few weeks the most profound being the loss of my 19 year old grandson Zachary. His passing has affected each family member in his or her own way. Some never had the opportunity to meet him personally, yet, his loss has impacted them too. It has reminded us all that life is precious and can be cut short at any time.

The Bible tells us at Eccl. 9:11 that 'time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all'

Zach was a young man just beginning to discover himself and the world around him. He had such potential and a love for adventure. I have discovered much about Zach through the photos my son, Dan, took. Such a rich storehouse of Zach's life. Thank you Dan for all that photo documentation of his life. The pictures also tell me that Dan was and is very much involved in his sons lives. Such a rich blessing and gift to them and to him.

The memories are painful for Dan right now, but he will come to see and understand the positive influence he has had on them. Thomas and Austin continue to draw on that strength from their Dad.

I know with certainty I will see and hug Zach soon, right here on earth, for I am convenced he awaits in Jehovah's memorie to be resurrected to a new earth cleansed of unrighteousness, death and pain. Mankind's foul deeds undone forever, replaced by God's Kingdom. A Paradise as it was intended to be.