Priceless Quilt

As far back as I can remember, I have known Ruth Allen who has been like another mom to me.  I always called her Sister Allen because growing up, children did not all adults by their first name.  Ladies who went to our church were call Sister "last name".  Men were called, Brother "last name".  Any other adults were called Mr. or Mrs. "last name".  We had manners back then and respected adults.  That's a blog for another day...back to my post today.

Sister Allen has three beautiful daughters.  Her oldest is Elaine and that's why Mother named me Elaine.  She also has twins, Dayle and Gayle.  Brother and Sister Allen pastored our church back before I even started school.  Over the years, our families have remained close and stayed in touch.  To the Allens, I am Sissy.  It feels strange if they call me Elaine.  Mother named my sister Ruth, after  Ruth Allen. I even spent a summer with them at their home in Texas.  I have so many fond memories of times spent with them over the years.  Very dear friends they are.  They're more like family.

Last November my parents came to my house for my son's wedding.  After the ceremony, Mother asked me to come upstairs.  She said she had a present from me, but wouldn't tell me who it was from.  She said I had to guess.  When I opened the bag, this is what I found.

I immediately knew who it was from and that Mom Allen had made it herself.  Mother handed me a note from Mom Allen and I could hardly read it through my tears.  This quilt means so much more to me than just something to keep me warm.  It's a king sized quilt.  It took a very long time to make and a lot of hard work.  Needless to say, there is no amount of money that could buy this quilt.  Every time I crawl into bed, I think of Mom Allen and the love she put into the quilt she made just for me.  I can imagine the prayers she prayed for me as she was making it.   Here's a block that I know she put in the quilt as a message to me.

See the hearts?  I've checked the quilt and there are only TWO of these heart blocks on the entire quilt!
I know she wanted me to know she put tons of love into making the quilt.  She wanted me to know she loves me too.  I knew that without the quilt, but to be able to look at it, crawl into bed and cover up with it just makes me feel extra special. 

She also included a block on the quilt that alludes to my love for gardening, etc.  Maybe it was used because of that or for Hubby or for Andrew because he loves tractors.

She is a very talented seamstress.  She made most of the clothes for her girls.  My sister and I were blessed to get the twins' clothes when they'd outgrown them.   Oh for the good old days and making memories and friends that last a lifetime.

I wish I had the ability to put into words how special this quilt and the lady who made it are to me.  I don't, but I think she knows how much.  She and her husband are people I have always admired and  I feel the same way about their girls even though I seldom get to see them.  I'm hoping my sister and I can visit with them sometime this year.

That's my ramble for today.  I changed the sheets on my bed this morning and took pictures of the quilt.  I'd been meaning to for some time, but never stopped long enough to do so until this morning.  I knew then what I would blog about today.

I hope you have something and someone as special in your life!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Andrew!

Three years ago today, my life was forever changed.  I became a Grandmother.  There are no words to adequately describe all the emotions I felt that day.  One thing is certain.  I was immediately in love with my grandson. 

This is a photo of Andrew and his dad, Greg who is my youngest son.  They were trying on hats and "being cool".    I think both of them should have been in the buggy. 

Andrew - November, 2011.  Naked horseman, freshly bathed and happy to have broken free of Nana's grasp and the bath towel.  I couldn't resist getting a photo, although he may be mad at me when he gets older! 

Here he is helping Pa work.  "Nana, look.  I have Pa's glasses!"

No explanation needed...

Adorable little man with his friend, Serenity.

Dad and Son.  I love this photo.

He loves his Uncle Bubba - aka Jon, my oldest son.

Pa and Andrew in Jon and Greg's old wagon.  That wagon is at least 28 years old.  I love that we kept it all these years.  It's so special knowing Andrew is playing in the same wagon that his dad and uncle played with.  I wonder how many miles Dale and I pulled the boys around in it.

He fell asleep in my lap while watching you tube videos.  We'd watched tractors, trains, monster trucks, kids on roller coasters and of kids in firetrucks among other things.  I had a hard time signing off the computer without waking him.

I don't have any pictures of just Andrew and his Aunt Bren, aka Brenda who is Jon's wife.  Otherwise I'd have posted one of the two of them. He loves his Aunt Bren, though and the next time we're all together, I'm going to make sure I get a photo of just the two of them.

If you don't realize it by now, Andrew has my heart.   I absolutely love being his grandmother and look forward to every weekend because I know I'll get to see him!  There's nothing like his hugs and kisses - especially when I haven't asked for them!  The love just oozes from him.  And that's just one reason Nana knows he hung the moon.  Hee hee.    Anytime I'm down in the dumps, all I have to do is look at a picture of my little man and I feel better.

Happy Birthday, Andrew.   Nana loves you to the moon and back!  You're the best and my pride and joy!

Sunday's Ramble

Hubby, Greg and Andrew have gone to the car show and I'm enjoying some alone time which allows me to straighten up the house.  Everyone needs alone time now and then.   It gives me a chance to think and regroup.  I'm glad my guys had some "just guy" time together.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day.  I spent most of the day outside with Andrew.  We had a blast.  He helped me pull weeds from the flower beds, fed them to the horses and then proceeded to tell me that he was tired.  "Nana, I've been working all day.  I'm tired."   I said, "Andrew, what have you been working on?"  He said, "monster trucks."  LOL  There's always something new coming from his sweet little mouth.  I cannot believe he'll be three years old this week.  Where does the time go?  Seems just yesterday he was a tiny baby.   There's nothing quite like his hugs and kisses.  He fell asleep in my lap last night while watching fire trucks on you tube.

I'm trying to sign off the computer so we can go to bed.  Love how his little hand is resting on my arm.

My break from housecleaning is over.  Enjoy your Sunday and stop to thank God for your blessings and for those who love unconditionally. 

More Rambling

Charlie is Hubby's brother - my BIL.  Bonnie is his wife, our SIL.  They have been such a blessing to us.  In fact, I don't know how we would have survived the past year without them.   They both are two of the sweetest, kind people you'll ever meet.   Hubby has no other siblings and we were both thrilled when they moved back to Tennessee after having lived in Michigan and Virginia for years.  

Charlie has some land not too far from here and it's just waiting for dry weather so he can get it ready for a garden.  Yes, my garden is going to be there and I can't wait.  There's nothing like having a freezer full of peas, butterbeans, corn and butterpeas.  Oh, add okra and green beans to that list!  Planting time can't get here soon enough for me.   I'm already looking forward to a good tomato sandwich.  I'll have some tomatoes planted here at the house and some over there as well.  Can't have too many tomatoes.

Last night I purged my coupon binder.  I was amazed at how many coupons I threw away because they had expired.  I have to purge once per month.   The ones I used sure did help cut my grocery costs.  We have a Publix here and every Wednesday I'm thrilled to get the paper and see what they have for their buy one get one free items.  My favorite this past week was Blueplate mayo.  I must get over there today so I can stock up.  Back to coupons...I had expected stores to start changing their coupon policies with all the extreme couponing going on.  I wondered too if the manufacturers would start cutting back on the coupons they offer.   Yesterday I read an article that stated stores had begun putting limits on the number of items you could purchase using coupons and that some no longer allow stacking coupons.   This is another reason I'm looking forward to stocking my freezer with veggies from the garden.

The fence man came out yesterday to look at the problem.  He agreed the wood had rotted and the fence posts were not good quality - the fault of his supplier.  It appears he is going to try to remedy the problem.   We'll see. 

Ta Ta for now.

Rose of Sharon - A Little TLC

Before the last freeze warning which was about 3 weeks ago, I was outside with Andrew and noticed multiple new Rose of Sharon shoots that had peeked out from the ground.  These Sharons multiply.  I couldn't just let them freeze, so I brought them inside, placed them in a cup of water and sat them on my kitchen window seal.  This is what they look like now!

This past Saturday I was outside with Andrew once again and there were more of them.  I pulled them up and they sit beside the ones  in the picture above.  They look like this right now.

If you look closely, you'll see little green leaves trying to pop out.  I love watching them make their appearance.  Each morning, they've grown a little more, the leaves are a little larger and sometimes I have to give them more water.

I have transplanted a lot of these in the past 6 years.  They make a pretty fence between my yard and the neighbor's house.  I get to enjoy their lovely blooms and my neighbor does also.  Never mind that it blocks their view of my patio (ha ha) and my view of their electrical box on the side of their house.

These new little sharons will complete the "fence" down the entire side of my back yard and I can't wait!  I'll have many blooms to enjoy during the summer once they get large enough.

We're somewhat similar to these plants.  Everyone needs a little TLC.  It may be a kind word, a smile, a hug, or a note to say hi, I'm thinking of you.   We have to also give ourselves a little TLC.  It may be a bubble bath, a walk outside for fresh air, an affirmation that we are loved by others - anything that is just for us. 

If you don't receive a little TLC from anyone else today, give yourself a little TLC.  While doing so, remember that God's TLC is never ending.  We just have to accept it and realize that it's there even when we don't think about it.

Have a great Monday.

Crash

I guess at some point and for reasons I won't understand, all computers crash or decide to "burp".  Whatever happens, happened to mine.  I've lost graphics on my blog (which I had open at the time) and my pictures which were grouped by month have moved around.  Maybe it was an earthquake on my hard drive.  Maybe it was an almost 3 year old little boy who decided he would push buttons.   Regardless,  I now have to re-work my pictures folder and learn how to put graphics on my blog.  Oh joy.  It's certainly not a task I will attempt with Andrew here. LOL

It's been a cold Sunday here.  The wind feels like it cuts right through me.  Andrew couldn't care less.  He says he's warm and is outside riding the 4-wheeler.  He's bundled up though so hopefully my little man isn't cold.  His mom will be here to get him in a couple of hours.  (Boo hoo)

Dale is outside surveying the broken fence.  We just may be going to small claims court.  First, we'll give the company who built it the opportunity to make it right although we don't expect it to happen.  We will also be putting a big sign out by the road with the company's name on it.    Meanwhile, the horses have to stay in the back area where there's very little grass.  I'm guessing we'll have to get rid of them if that company doesn't fix the fence.  We certainly can't afford to.  We never ride them but I enjoy seeing them out grazing, running and then coming up to us so we'll pet them.  Drew loves them.  I can't imagine how many questions he'd ask if they were gone.  He's still asking about Buddy and actually got on his little 4-wheeler headed towards the woods saying he was going to go find Buddy.  I had told him Buddy went bye bye.   He decided he could find him.  Is that precious or what?

That's all till next time.  Enjoy the rest of your day.

Andrew

What is sweeter than a little boy and his dog.  This is my grandson, Andrew with Murphy.  He loves her to death and Murphy loves him to death. 

Hubby and I took Andrew to an observation place at the Nashville Airport today.  He loved watching the planes taking off and landing!  We stopped at the store afterwards and he got juice and candy.  Then we had to stop at another place for Hubby and Drew found an 18 wheeler that had 4 trucks on it and of course he wanted it.  He was so sweet.  Of course he took the truck to the checkout and brought it home. 

He's learned to use the potty chair!  I'm so proud of him.  He tells me when he has to go.  There've been a couple of accidents, but that's okay.  It's just part of the process.  It happens when they're ready.
He tells me he's a big boy.  I say, "but you're still Nana's baby".  He agrees and I love it.

It's such a lovely day here and I'm so glad we got to enjoy part of it outside.  Hope your day is pleasant and that you do something you enjoy.