Discovery

The phone rang, it was Cousin Billie calling for AppleJack.  

Cousin Billie said there had been a property transaction and the new owners had discovered the family homestead and cemetery.  This is all that remains of Great Grandfather's home.  The stones used to build the chimney were most likely found on their property,

The property and especially the cemetery has been neglected for years.  

Work has begun to clean up the cemetery and reclaim it from the snakes, chiggers and ticks.  On what a treasure of family history!

Detour

With our list in hand AppleJack and I sat off with our things to be accomplished:  Apple Store (my phone died) Macy's lingerie department (someone should have prepared me for the serious price increase in a decent pair of undies) Williams Sonoma for cookie dispenser, baby blanket for a friends new baby, lunch at The Picnic Cafe, new blooming plant to brighten up the dining table, etc.

To avoid the gosh awful bumper to bumper, horn honking, hand jester traffic, we often take detours and side roads.  When I saw these barn quilts hanging on these out buildings, AppleJack slammed on the brakes and we jumped out of the car to take a closer look.  I'm a sucker for HST's.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.  Someone with an appreciation for the past had been collecting advertising signs.

Does anyone remember purchasing this brand of gas?  Or paying this price for a gallon of gasoline?

How about this one?  This one is beginning to show its age.

This was a real blast from my past:  a Farmall tractor.  Growing up on a farm, I learned to drive a tractor before I attended school.  Whether it was hauling hay, picking corn, or grinding feed there was always work to be done.  Our Model H Farmall tractor was a work horse!

Farming was hard work and we were sometimes treated to an RC Cola and a moon pie.  Anyone remember these?  I treated myself to a glass of fruit tea and chess pie from The Picnic.  Sometimes it's good to choose the road less traveled.

Just one Star

Minick and Simpson

Just one Star

Look who is back from the long arm quilter and just in time for Memorial Day and Flag Day and Fourth of July.

Every quilt has a story--In 2010 Moda and Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson challenged quilters to make "just one star" for the brave men and women who have made great sacrifices for our country.  

From AppleJack, my Father, Grandfathers, uncles, cousins and all the way back to Grandfather Shultz who was in the Revolutionary War there are many men in my family who have served to protect and defend this country.

These stars are for them.  Once again, Susan, the long armed quilter did a fabulous job with the quilting.

For the backing, I found this fabric which told the story about the Battle of Gettysburg.  Such a sad story, a reminder about the Uncle and Grandfather who fought in this battle.  Because of all the wording and photos in the fabric it was a real challenge to match the pattern for the needed width.  Once again, I'm glad I took the time.

I did not have enough length in the Gettysburg fabric so off to my stash.  The red fabric reminded me of the colorful sashes the officers wore around their waists and the darker fabric is photos of the officers.

Just One Star so much work and so worth the time and effort.

It is a rather cool day in Music City--temps in the 60's--perfect quilting weather.  I'm cracking the whip on myself to get the North and South quilt set, change the decorations from spring to red, white and blue, pull weeds, and a trip to Holly Lobby and. . . 

Blackberry Winter

Cathedral Windows from the Shaker Museum

We are having Blackberry Winter in Tennessee.  Blackberry Winter is a cold snap which happens in the late spring when the blackberries are blooming.

The nighttime temps are quite low and AppleJack sends me searching for an extra quilt to throw on the bed.

There is nothing like sleeping under a quilt

Sometimes when I am matching designs in fabric for the backing I ask myself if it is worth the extra time and effort and then I look at Harry Tyler's lion.

I ask myself the same question when I am making HST's

Tumbler quilts 

Today, another day of Blackberry Winter, I will keep warm by sewing together the many blocks of my North and South quilt.