A New Look!

As you all know, I began this blog due to my love of quilting and my joy in making children's clothing. If I weren't so busy, it would become a complete obsession.

I was starting to get really tired of the old comforter on my bed and knew that the time had finally come to make a new one. But did I stop there? Noooooo I had to make new pillows, new pillow shams, new dust ruffle, new curtains... you name it, I made it. I now share it with you.... the bed. (I'm apologizing before hand about the darkness of my pictures. It truly looks better in person.)



I added a few more pillows than I had before due to the fact that I simply adore pillows! Jim, on the other hand, hates them. He especially dislikes taking them off the bed every night and promptly throws them off to the side before crawling into bed. That's alright with me... I promptly put them back on each morning after I get up. ;-) Because I had so many triangles left over after making the quilt, I used them to make a couple of pillow cases.... which I thought went perfect on the bed. I still had some triangles left and they came in quite handy on the borders of my curtains.



Here's a close up of the smaller pillow that I hand-embroidered. I designed a pillow pattern that fit the size of the design that I embroidered plus fit the size of the pillow form that I had on hand. (The embroidery design says, "Let's be sweethearts forever.")



Here's a side view of the quilt with the triangle borders. I love the look of scalloped edges so I made sure that I added that look on this particular quilt. I also needed a new dust ruffle, so I purchased enough of the green fabric to complete my desired look. If you look closely, you'll notice that I made and used a lot of piping using that same green fabric. I used it in everything! But I felt that it tied everything together quite nicely.



More quilts to come....

Yellville VI

I thought I'd share just a few more pictures of Yellville before I finished posting about my last visit. There are always a plethora of memories that are made each and every time that I go back that way. Good conversation, drives into town, (at least you don't have far to go, and the town itself is only a couple of blocks long.) going to church, (love it!!) and being surrounded by the only thing that really matters.... family. Yellville has hit big time these days though.... a Sonic burger came to town..... now that was big! My uncle Kenny fears that a stoplight might be next. Drat! I don't think I would recognize the place! The Sonic Burger alone threw me for a loop.

Below are a few pics of sights that one can't miss when in Yellville.

Aunt Betty's chicken coop. (The kids love to feed the chickens the scraps from the dinner table... and anything else that's available.) These babies are needed for the eggs that they provide and for the good meals that they make.



Uncle Kenny's guineas. I'm still not sure why they are so special to him, but they certainly are... and you better leave them alone. It took me forever to find these birds to at least get their picture.... they are so loud!! I think they're pretty and the best thing I think, in regards to their existence, is that they eat bugs.. lots of bugs, and back in Yellville, there's a ton of bugs! They've got chiggers, ticks, etc.. Yuck! I say go to it little birdies.



Okay.. okay.. I know that you can't see this very well, but these are lightning bugs. I took a ton of pictures trying to capture their pretty little lights, but no such luck.... Just pretend that you see them. These little guys remind me of being at Disneyland. They are everywhere once the sun goes down. It's simply stunning to see these little 'lights' all through the woods at night time. I know it's nothing special to those who live back there, but I really enjoy watching these little guys put on a show once the sun sets. Beautiful!

(Click on the picture... you'll see them better.)



Saturday night dinner is where everyone meets. Yippee! Good food, good company, good times. Here's Marla, her granddaughter, and my daughter, Nicole.



And last, but certainly not least, is Marla on one of her trusty machines mowing. She can turn that thing on a dime. Amazing!!



Love and hugs to you all. Smooches, Debbie

Yellville V

Those of you who are unfamiliar with Yellville, have no idea what names these people come up with back there to name their towns. At first, I thought Yellville was rather odd, but then when I heard some of the names of the surrounding towns, Yellville no longer sounded so weird. No, no..... how does Gasville grab you? Or how about Toad Suck, Tightwad, Pickle's Gap or Flippin? My parent's purchased all of their prescriptions at the Flippin Pharmacy. Nice....

But I have to say, Gasville trumps all of the surrounding towns. It is home to the number one pizza restaurant in the nation... number two in the world. I must admit, I thought it was a joke.... but it wasn't. Nima's Pizza was voted number one in making the best traditional pizza at the Pizza Challenge held in Las Vegas, NV. Talk about good pizza. When I show you the place, you're going to think I'm kidding, but you'll just have to trust me on this one. And to all of you pizza lovers out there, eat your heart out.... Gasville, Arkansas makes the best pizza ever. Here are the pics. (Ya gotta love that backward 'n'.)



Here are the signs they proudly display inside their restaurant.





Not to be outdone..... here is the best pizza in Yellville... served at my aunt Betty's on Saturday night. Now there's some good pizza!

Yellville IV

My cousin Tom, and his wife Brenda, live next door to my aunt Betty back in Yellville. Now 'next door' back in Yellville is a lot different than 'next door' out here in San Diego.... there's a lot of space between their homes. Tom retired from the fire department out here in Lakeside and now lives quite contentedly back in Yellville. He and Brenda have a beautiful home, which they shared generously with me on my last few days before leaving Yellville. Thank you so much!!

Here's Tom and Brenda posing for me in my aunt's living room. (Notice... he still has that firefighter mustache!)



Here's the incredible view from their front room window. Who wouldn't be contented with that??



Tom built himself a large garage/workshop, where he can do just about anything he wants. It is amazing on the inside!



Brenda loves to work outside in the yard... boy, does it ever show!! I don't think Tom has ever become so acquainted with the great outdoors as he has now that he is married to Brenda. She's the best thing that ever happened to him. Here's her 'workshop'... a cute little garden shop. Their home was a delight.



Still more to come.............

Yellville III

Aunt Betty and Uncle Kenny moved to Yellville, Arkansas about 46 years ago. California was just not the place they could call home for themselves or their family. Once there, Uncle Kenny began working at Ranger boats. Anyone out there who fishes for bass knows all about Ranger boats. I'm told that it's one of the best boats out there for any serious fisherman. Uncle Kenny became one of their best craftsmen when it came to building those boats... in fact they placed his sweet face on the cover of one of their catalogs as they thought him to be an invaluable employee. The girls, Marla and Marilyn, worked for Ranger alongside their dad. That company lost a lot when they all eventually moved on.

Speaking of Uncle Kenny, here he is resting in his chair after putting in yet another hard day of work out in the fields. Most of us think he's working harder now that he's retired, than he did when he was working at Ranger. ;-)



Not to be out done, I would never even attempt to keep up with my aunt Betty. She plants and takes care of a huge garden, cans nearly everyday, works the hay fields with uncle Kenny when needed, takes care of the chickens, butchers them, etc. etc.. She never seems to stop. She loves to cook and makes the most fantastic desserts you've ever seen or tasted. If an elderly neighbor (or any neighbor for that matter!) is in need, this family of mine, is always ready to lend a helping hand. They are generous, kind, humble, and hard working. Their Godly example is much to be desired. Here is aunt Betty and my mom enjoying each other's company.



And about that garden.... here is a small glimpse. It's as huge as it is beautiful. I think it's pretty cool that my uncle Kenny helps my aunt Betty out not only in the garden, but also in the canning of their incredible bounty.



And here's home for my uncle Kenny and aunt Betty. Looks pretty peaceful doesn't it?



To be continued........

Yellville II

Next stop.... Marilyn's. Marilyn works for the park system. She can drive bull dozers, tractors, fork lifts, or work chain saws, band saws, build steel bridges, etc., etc... I'm convinced that there isn't anything out there that her and her sister Marla can't operate. They amaze me!!! Forget MacGyver, I want THOSE girls on my side if I'm ever in any kind of trouble. The two of them can build anything, knock down anything, cut up anything, yet they both remain humble and kind. How I love those two.

Here is the road that leads to Marilyn and Bob's house. Five bucks jumped over the fence as I was driving down to her house for pictures. Marilyn likes them bedding down in her tall grass and cautions everyone to drive carefully and quietly. She has already named the largest buck 'Big Boy' and she has her sights on him the next time hunting season is here. Now lest you think Marilyn has no feelings, I want you to be aware that if there is ever any animal abandoned, left motherless, or injured, everyone knows to bring that animal to Marilyn. She has raised deer, rabbits, birds, just about anything until they are able to be set free. She has great respect for all of God's creation and treats them with great care. However.... one must eat.



You can't see it very well, but behind those hollyhocks, is a small stall that Marilyn built for her steer. He was huge! (Notice I said 'was' he's in the freezer these days.)



I caught Marilyn actually reading a book when I came down to get some pictures. (Marilyn NEVER takes the time to read, she says she hates to.) She is always too busy working outside.



Here's Marilyn, in uniform, helping out with Saturday night dinner after she got home from work. Every Saturday night, everyone comes down to my aunt Betty's house for dinner. That night it was homemade pizza. Yummmmmmm!



Next stop... aunt Betty's.

Yellville!

It has been a long while since my last post and I am sure that many of you have even stopped checking in, BUT... my husband and I have been preparing our home for my parents as they are moving in with us. This past month I have been back in Arkansas, helping finish up the last few items that needed to be packed up before the movers arrived to move them out here.

Yellville is the small town that my parents have called home for the past 10 years. My aunt and uncle live in Yellville, along with their children and some of their grandchildren. Life is so different back in that part of the country. My family back there grow everything that they put in their mouth. I have never seen such hard working, generous and humble people in my life. My cousins Marla and Marilyn work harder than any man I know..... except for my husband of course. ;-) I just had to share a few pictures of this side of the family that I already miss.

First up.... Marla. Here is a picture of the drive going up to her home. Pretty isn't it? Her and her husband Phil own a lumber mill and raise cattle on the side. I LOVE their cows. They're Scottish Highlanders... the only beef that Queen Elizabeth will eat. You don't see them in the states very much, but are they ever cute.




Here is Marla and Phil with one of their grandsons.



Here is one of the cows. You've got to love that hair.





There were a lot of babies this year. I think they were just as curious of me as I was of them. Tomorrow Marilyn!