Waiting and Prepared

Well, we have serious storms coming our way this evening. So they say. I am home with my two pups, Tom and Sadie. Hubs is out of town in South Carolina for school. I decided since I am in charge, I would make us a little storm shelter. So the closet in the basement is our place. Now this isn't your normal closet, this is my storage closet. It measures 9 feet X 9 feet. So it is pretty roomy for us to all get in there. Got a couple days worth of dog and cat food, leashes, along with their meds. Candles, matches, batteries, flashlights, kerosene lamps and extra kerosene. Got some snacks for myself and a case of Diet Cokes! Filled up the tub with some water. Got a big comforter and some pillows and we are all set. Now I really hope I don't need to use any of it!

Cross Another One Off The List

Sunday, my friend Cindy and I walked in our first 5K. She has the pictures on her camera, so I will post them as soon as she sends them to me. That is another thing crossed off of my bucket list!

Coffee with a Canine

I am feeling pretty good this morning! Click HERE to visit the blog Coffee with a Canine to read the story they did about me and my pups!

Six Months Ago...

So hard to believe it has been six months since that terrible Thursday. Miss you Dixie girl.

Honolulu or Bust!

I have been so busy these past two weeks making arrangements for Jax to fly away! I took this picture Friday during the day before we left for the airport. My daughter and I left around 8:00 p.m. to make the 5 1/2 hour drive to Chicago. Because of the size of his kennel, he had to fly on a bigger plane. O'Hare was the closest option. The moment has finally come that I can say Jax has been reunited with his family!!! Click HERE for the rest of the story.

MARCH BLOCK

I know, I am so far behind, I think I'm ahead! Here is my block for March. It is called Wagon Wheel. I didn't get it appliqued to the base block. I plan to do that tomorrow night and Stitch and Bitch.

Here's the story...

The Wagon Wheel was the second quilt to be displayed on the fence. Wagons with hidden compartments were one means of transporting runaway slaves.

The quilt was a message to pack things for their journey as if they were packing a wagon. With limited space and weight, they would need to consider supplies that would be essential for survival.

The wagon was also a symbol of a chariot that was to carry them home. The spirituals they sang carried hidden messages as well. Like "swing low, sweet chariot".

Sunbonnets and bandannas were indicators of social rank for women. Bonnets were worn by women that were above the rank of slave and indentured servants. A sunbonnet could also help fleeing slaves by disguising themselves by obscuring their faces. If a woman was to tilt her head slightly down, eyes looking shyly to the ground, she could use a bonnet for disguise.

In Nebraska City, Nebraska, stories are still told about a minister who used to drive his wagon with two sunbonneted ladies sitting by him. A half hour later, the minister would return with two ladies still sitting beside him. What no one noticed was that on the return trip, the two women wearing the bonnets had dark complexions.

I am going to list the names of the 12 blocks that I picked. If you have the book and want to work ahead, you will have the names. They are in the order that they appear in the Table of Contents in the book Underground Railroad Sampler.

1. Underground Railroad/Jacobs Ladder
2. Monkey Wrench
3. Wagon Wheel
4. Bear's Paw
5. Basket
6. Crossroads
7. Log Cabin
8. Shoo-Fly
9. Bow Tie
10. Flying Geese
11. Drunkard's Path
12. North Star

Thanks for your patience!

Rain, Rain, PLEASE Go Away!

I know I will regret saying that out loud come August. Seriously, we have had record breaking rainfall here in Southern Indiana. Not to mention the weather radio going off at 2:00 a.m. this morning with a tornado warning specifically for my little town of Newburgh. We are located in Southern Indiana along the Ohio River. Let me tell you, old man river is very angry right now. We are expecting water to continue to rise and they are preparing the flood wall in Evansville. News media is calling this "catastrophic". Not to mention, the very back of my property is in the flood plain. It has never come close to the house, but if we keep getting rain, it might. Be praying for those of us who live here. Some towns are evacuating. I worry about families with animals, almost all shelters don't allow pets...

Yes, that street sign says Waterworks Road. Photo courtesy of courierpress.com.