Where were you?

The question of the day seems to be where were you 13 years ago – September 11, 2001?

It was a Tuesday and here in Texas it was a beautiful day.

I had just spent a fabulous weekend with my quilting friends in Round Top, TX at our annual Fall Retreat and my beautiful niece had even flown in from SLC to spend the weekend enjoying the hill country and sewing.

I was working as the service manager for Marine Max in Seabrook, TX.  I had driven over to our accounting office on the other side of the lake and as I left to return back to my office I called my sister in Atlanta, GA to see how she was doing.  She had been ill that weekend.  Her husband, Phil, answered the phone and he sounded a little strange, he was watching the news and said a plane had just crashed into a building in NYC, at that time we thought it might have been a small plane – while we were on the phone and he was watching the news he said he couldn’t believe it another plane had just hit another building.  We were both in total disbelief, one plane is most certainly an accident, a second plane could only mean evil was among us.  We hung up and as I tried to find information on the radio I began to cry.  I called my husband who had not heard yet and we knew our lives would be forever affected.  When I returned to the office I don’t recall if they knew yet or not, but we scrambled for a radio or TV.  Then I headed home and we pulled the TV out of my quilting room and took it back to work so the news could be on.

I called my team together and told them if anyone felt they wanted to go home to their loved ones they should.  I myself would be staying as I did not want to go home to an empty house.  The majority of our team stayed and we tried to go about our work.

My thoughts went to my son, who was living in Utah, I was wishing my baby, who was 22 at the time, was with me (or I with him!).  Momma’s need to know their chickens are safe!

I never take the sound of an airplane overhead for granted – I LOVE that sound.  I recall when our airlines were given permission to fly again and we would meet outside the building to watch them fly over and embrace that sound.  I must say I am not fond of all the hoops we jump through when we fly – but if they prevent this from happening again then it is ok.  I just build a little extra time in for security and I remember why we stand in those security lines.

I am going to share another momma’s take on 9-11, she had very young sons in 2001 and here is what she did – so they will never forget.

This post is from my Facebook page – HollyDee Quilts

In 2010 I was contacted by someone to see if I could quilt 3 quilts for her.  She lives over 50 miles away but she wanted to come show me the quilts and talk to me about them.  We had a consultation and I gave her my ideas for quilting them and a quote to quilt all 3.  She took them back home to piece the backings together and decide on some quilting options I have given her.  The 3 quilts are almost identical, 1 is for her, and 1 each for her 2 sons, 11 and 14.  She brought the quilts back to me and I put them in the schedule for January.  

These quilts were quite large 102×102 and like I said very similar.  I knew once I started quilting them I would be challenged to keep working on them because I enjoy variety!  I quilted the boys quilts back to back but had to wait to get more batting for mom’s quilt.  During this time she called to ask if I could quilt the boys names into their quilts.  I explained that these quilts were completed, but I offered to create machine embroidered labels for her quilts.

She sent me an email with correct spelling and the information she wanted on the quilts.

  • In Memory of 9/11/2001
  • Made for XXXXXX
  • 2002-2011
  • Love, Mom

And then these quilts took on new meaning for me.  Her sons were very very young on that day in our history and she wanted them to always remember and this was her way to honor that horrific event in our history.  I was touched to be part of her gift to her sons.

Here are the pictures

IMG_3712 IMG_3716 IMG_3718 IMG_3715 IMG_3711

I honor that day by trying to serve in the community more actively.  At the end of 2001 we began hosting a sibling group from a Group Foster home in our area – I love those kids and I am blessed to have them in our lives.

I quilt many donation quilts for organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Special Olympics, Rainbow Girls, Special Needs Students at Friendswood High School etc.

Most importantly I try not to take life for granted.  I enjoy my family and friends.  I make the extra effort to be a positive force in my grandchildren’s lives.

Where were you?

How do you honor those that were taken from us before their time?  And those that are still fighting for our freedoms!

I am honored and blessed to do what I do and be able to share it with the world!

Thank YOU for taking the time to share!

Denise

 

 

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail…..

Where did last week go?  I did not get the photos downloaded from Easter until just now.  We were invited to my son’s house for an after Church Easter lunch.  My daughter-in-law made tacos and all the fixings including guacamole which was super yummy!  After lunch the kiddos had their Easter egg hunt.  It was such a beautiful day!  After hunting eggs we played some soccer, some dodge ball, trampoline and just all around goofing around.  Here are just a few photos of our day, between my daughter-in-law and I we took 161 photos – I will only subject to 20 of them!

These first few photos were taken by me…..

Styling little man after church!
Styling little man after church!
Love the hat!
Love the hat!
This little man is so dang precious!
This little man is so dang precious!
So pretty in her Easter dress!
So pretty in her Easter dress!
Sweetness!
Sweetness!
Grandpa and Mr. B
Grandpa and Mr. B
Tak gets in on the action
Tak gets in on the action
Checking out the surprises in the eggs
Checking out the surprises in the eggs
Momma's Boy!
Momma’s Boy!
Catching jelly beans as grandpa tosses them!  Gulp!
Catching jelly beans as grandpa tosses them! Gulp!

 

Then my daughter-in-law got a hold of the camera and magic just happens!

Love that wispy hair!
Love that wispy hair!
The big boy child!  I love him so!
The big boy child! I love him so!
DeeDee pass the ball to me!
DeeDee pass the ball to me!
Hamming it up for the camera!
Hamming it up for the camera!
Such innocence ....
Such innocence ….
Deep pondering!
Deep pondering!
I can hear that sweet laughter!
I can hear that sweet laughter!
Such a handsome young man!
Such a handsome young man!
There is mischief in those eyes!
There is mischief in those eyes!
Always smiling!  This man is my world!
Always smiling! This man is my world!

I hope your Easter included time with those you love!  I am truly blessed!

 

Christmas is packed – but we have our memories!

I may be the last of the bloggers to share our special Christmas memories.  Oh well better late than never – right?!

I love Christmas – the grandkids make it even more special.  Each year they come over to help trim the tree and put out my Snow Village houses.  Also at some time during the Christmas break we decorate gingerbread houses.  I purchase the pre made houses, not brave enough to attempt baking our own yet…..  Over the years they have become quite the little artists, I love to watch them be creative.  I don’t show them the photos on the box or give them any other ideas for how to decorate their houses – this is there thing!

The Village Church
The Village Church
The Tree is Trimmed!
The Tree is Trimmed!
The Stockings are Filled!
The Stockings are Filled!
My first pie with homemade pie crust.  It was huckleberry and very tasty!
My first pie with homemade pie crust. It was huckleberry and very tasty!
My beautiful daughter in law!
My beautiful daughter in law!
The grandkids gave me charms this year - the one was from Mr. B
The grandkids gave me charms this year – the one was from Mr. B
We like to give a gift that my son and his wife wouldn't expect - this year was an enamel cast iron cooking pot, with confetti and look closer - we crumpled up cash in with the confetti - 1's, 5's, 10's and 20's.  It was pretty fun!
We like to give a gift that my son and his wife wouldn’t expect – this year was an enamel cast iron cooking pot, with confetti and look closer – we crumpled up cash in with the confetti – 1’s, 5’s, 10’s and 20’s. It was pretty fun!
Mr. B had asked for a new train for Grandpa - this is a really cool train!  It really isn't for grandpa!
Mr. B had asked for a new train for Grandpa – this is a really cool train! It really isn’t for grandpa!
The train engineer!
The train engineer!
And Little Toot with her present.  (momma is a little jealous!)
And Little Toot with her present. (momma is a little jealous!).  That is a lace heart for the sound hole.
Getting the feel!  Always encourage children to make and enjoy music - think what your life would be without music!
Getting the feel! Always encourage children to make and enjoy music – think what your life would be without music!
Pre-decorating.  Side-note:  The icing did not dry like glue this year, so hubby used epoxy to build the houses.  We build before the children arrive because the icing/glue needs to set before decorating.
Pre-decorating. Side-note: The icing did not dry like glue this year, so hubby used epoxy to build the houses. We build before the children arrive because the icing/glue needs to set before decorating.
The new Cake Bosses!  Those containers are filled with various candies!
The new Cake Bosses! Those containers are filled with various candies!
This years box came with fondant - this was a lot of fun to add to the houses - guess I will have to learn how to make fondant now!
This years box came with fondant – this was a lot of fun to add to the houses – guess I will have to learn how to make fondant now!
More fondant creations -  with cookie cutters from my friend Jerrianne!
More fondant creations – with cookie cutters from my friend Jerrianne!
Little Toot's - I love what she did to her windows!
Little Toot’s – I love what she did to her windows!
Mr. B - look at the chimney he made!
Mr. B – look at the chimney he made!
How much stuff can he put on it!  This is Mr. B's - he only decorated the front!
How much stuff can he put on it! This is Mr. B’s – he only decorated the front!  He also figure out that 2 candy canes make a heart!.  On the left is a fondant wreath he decorated – I think it fell of the house and that is why it is squished now!
Little Toot with here's.
Little Toot with her creation!
The back of Little Toot's - I love the collar and bow on her reindeer!
The back of Little Toot’s – I love the collar and bow on her reindeer! She also made the fondant tree on the bottom – it had so many decorations on it, it was sliding down the house.
Hubby surprised me with this fabulous table, made by a young neighbor from recycled wood.  (Her original prototype for a school project was made from a pallet!)  And my son and his family surprised us with a wonderful photo album of memories from our trip to Disney World!
Hubby surprised me with this fabulous table, made by a young neighbor from recycled wood. (Her original prototype for a school project was made from a pallet!) And my son and his family surprised us with a wonderful photo album of memories from our trip to Disney World!

And as the back photo on our memory book says…..

Until Next Time!

Denise