Secret Revealed

Now we can talk about the quilt I was working on that I couldn't talk about or show photos of on the blog. The quilt was a gift from our family in Montana and Arkansas to Maaike and Leon from Holland who are expecting their first child just after the first of December. Many years ago my Mom decided to get an exchange student when my niece was a senior in high school. I thought Mom was crazy to want another teenager in her home after all hers were grown and gone but she persisted and Maaike from Holland arrived. Maaike became a member of our family, not just an exchange student that disappeared when her year was up. She and her entire family including her new husband and his mother visit Arkansas frequently. Christmas of 2008 there were eight members of the Holland family celebrating with us.

My maternal grandmother was a quilter and made many, many of these baby quilts for family and friends. A few years ago I wanted to make one of the quilts for my niece who was expecting her second child and began searching for the pattern finding that my mother had inherited the pattern when Grandma died. When we found out that Maaike was expecting we decided she needed one of the baby quilts as she also knew and loved Grandma. I made the quilt and Mom and Ann, my sister, shipped it off to Holland about a week ago and Maaike called Mom today. Maaike--your Montana family wishes you, Leon and your new baby the best.


Today was a busy day. We brought all the Christmas decorations up from the basement and got the tree up and lighted. I made lunch then headed for Big Timber to run multiple errands--got the tires rotated on the Explorer, stopped at the library, mailed off some finished quilts to Marti in Arkansas, picked up a quilt to be quilted, got a massage and then went to our local quilt gathering. We learned to make pillowcases tonight--I made some to match the quilt I made for the motor home. One of the member brought great munchies for tonight and we enjoyed sewing and visiting. I am now home and pooped!

This guy and his girlfriend came strolling by about lunch time today.

Emmi was very glad to see me when I got home, she is the most excited little dog when someone she loves comes home.