Capital Jazz Cruise

Jim and I attended for the second year the Capital Jazz Cruise.  When I tell you that once you attend this cruise you will not want to go on any other cruise,  that is if your like to party, dance and hear/see great entertainment.  This cruise is like going to a non stop party.  Each night there are two main concerts and then there are other concerts in smaller venues.  This year we attended the Jam sessions after the main shows,  WOW it was such great entertainment.  Artist just came on stage and performed unscripted.  It was unbelievable.!! The Jam sessions became so popular that they had to move the sessions to a larger venue so everyone could attend.  All of the people were friendly.   the first thing that people asked you was "where are you from".  There were brothers and sisters from all over the country.  We visited with people that we met last year and made new acquaintances.

Nick Corleone

Phil Perry

George Duke

Ken Ford

Patty Austin

Sinbad

I am now trying to figure out how to create a collage of all the photos that I took of performers and the the beaches.

It Is A Family Affair

This past weekend had truely been a Family Affair.   Saturday morning we drove to St. Louis and went to visit my Stepfather who informed us that there was a 40th Birthday party for my cousin Regina.  Little did I know that I would see all of my aunts, uncles and cousins that I had not seen for 25-30 years.  OMG what a shocker.  Needless to say I took pictures of everyone,  knowing that my mother would say "Who was there!" 

Sunday we attended an annual family picnic on my birth father's side of the family.  Another good time.    This is a group of 80 year olds partying like rock stars.  I want to look and act like this group when I am 80.  This group should be the Poster Children for 80 year olds. 

Dorothy, Earl, Goldie
Sisters and Brother

It's Official My Mother Is A Great-Grandmother

"It is official my mother is a Great-Grandmother"  this is my answer to everyone who says that you are now a Grandmother.  But all kidding aside,  we have been blessed with a new addition to our family.  A beautiful grandson,  named Cayden James Kent.  He arrived on Monday,  July 11th.

Cayden James Kent being held by his Great-Grandmother Della
the day of his birth

With this electronic age we now live in,  we knew all about our new grandson before he was born.  My son runs into my house saying "Hey Mom where are my baby pictures,  I want to see if Cayden looks like me when I was a baby" as he puts a  DVD into the player to show us an ultra sound in color and 3D of  Cayden.  

I have now joined the ranks of the crazy grandmothers who run around showing pictures of their grandchildren.  I am trying not to be too obnoxious about it,  but it is really hard,  because you think your grandchild is beautiful and everyone else is suppose to think so.  

Cayden James Kent (CJ) One Week Old

Because my son lives an hour away,  his daily responsibility is to send me a picture each day of CJ.  My Daughter is to take pictures when she visits also and to come directly to my house so that I can transfer the photos to my collection.   Warnings to all who read my Blog,  there are bound to be more photos of CJ.

Race Against Hate - 5K

It is Father's day and we are off to the Race Against Hate.  It is beautiful morning the the weather is great.  One of my goals for 2011 was to be able to run a 5K.  My daughter, Annette,  has been my trainer and biggest supporter.  Setting goals is easy,  but achieving them requires a commitment and focus.  Sometimes you may not reach the goal when you planned but if you continue to add it to your list each year you will eventually accomplish it.  I think we sometime have a goal and if we do not accomplish it when we say we will we push it to the side and think that no one will know.

In addition to setting the goal you also need to make it public,  so that others can remind you of your goal when you get off track.  Believe me,  people will help keep you on track and they want to share in your accomplishment as well.  Over this past year I have had many coaches,  even if they don't think they are,  but when someone tells me they are going to call my daughter if they see me eating something that I should not.

I am taking this quote from Annette's post on Facebook,  because it really expresses my sentiment "
Most times, standing still is the easy choice in life. But I've never seen anyone fly with both feet on the ground. And I've never seen greatness come from doing what's "easy". If I've learned anything thus far in life... it's knowing when to leap..."

Well I LEAPED and finshed the race.  This was a major accomplishment for me.  When I started I could not run for one minute without huffing and puffing. 

I also finished my inspirational quilt for my 5K.  Now onto the next adventure and journey.

My daughter and I signed up for another race on July 17 we will be in the Mother and Daughter group.

Robots Gone Wild

Robots Gone Wild Quilt

I will soon be a grandmother.  My Courtney and Vanessa are having a child.  Of course you know that a quilt was in the the making.  I had this creative idea that I wanted words on the quilt and wanted it to be simple.  I had the top completed and  waiting to be quilted.   I had the quilt motif ready and then walked into a new store  called  Notice and found the a baby bowl,  fork,  spoon and sippy cup with a robot theme.  It just so happened that I had fabric that was a perfect match.  I bought the items and rushed home and made a whole cloth baby quilt.   You would think that using "cheater fabric" would be quick and easy but it took more time than I thought because I stitched around each robot.    However,  it turned out great and now have  a really cool baby shower gift.  Oh by the way I did not tell you that the Baby Shower is today.  Wow completed just in time. 

My Robots TGone Wild Baby Bowl, Sippy Cup, and Quilt

 I also tracked down a Boppy  pillow form and covered it with the Robot fabric.   Now you ask what is a Boppy pillow,  which is the samething I asked when I saw it on the registry list at Baby's RUS.    It is probably better to show you.  After I made it I did not like how the fabric laid and I took it apart.  Could not restructure in time for the baby shower so I will just keep it in my house for when the baby comes to visit.




Boppy Pillow


I will still complete my other quilt  hopefully before the baby is born in July.

International Quilt Festival

Last week I traveled to Cincinnati for the International Quilt Festival. 
I have been really spoiled,  because for the past years this festival has been in Chicago.  Even though I traveled by myself I never felt alone.  The people were extremely friendly and at dinner time I met new people.   We talked about the classes that we took that day or the classes that we were looking forward to taking over the next couple of days.  Walking down the street people greeted you because they knew you were a fellow quilter. 

I was also fortunate enough to attend the Play "Gee's Bend".  I highly recommend if you have an opportunity to see this production.

I took two classes:  Digital Collage for Mixed Media taught by Beth Wheeler and Illustrative Quilting taught by Pam Holland. 

In Beth's class we selected a background and a cutout photo that were supplied by Beth which she printed on fabric for each student. When then embellished our printout with paint and stencils.  We also learned how to print on twill tape.  We quilted and then bind.  I still need to bind my project.

Pam's class required us to trace a drawing on fabric.  We painted the drawing with pigment inks. I added words to my drawing.  We then quilted the drawing with smoke monofilament thread.  I had such a difficult time with the monofilament thread,  it kept winding about the thread spool and breaking.  I finally completed the outline quilting of the tree.  Still need to quilt the background of the quilt.  Pam also talked about the properties of  types of thread and needles.

I highly recommend taking classes when you attend the Quilt Festival.

I Have Really Lost My Mind This Time



The Miracle is not that I finished.  The Miracle is that I had the courage to start.

 I have really lost my mind this time.  I have signed up to run a 5K in June.  I have never run a long distance in my life.  I have tried playing recreational sports in my younger days.  Now I wait until now and decide to run a race.  I have secretly wanted to run in a race and finish.  My biggest fear is that I will not be able to complete the race but I am going to try. 

I have been on a weight loss journey now for the past two years.  I have been working out religiously now for 15 months.  Now I am working on being able to run the a 5K.  There is an application for the iphone call "Couch To 5K" I and using this in addition to my workouts to get me ready for this adventure. 

I have also created a quilt to keep me inspired.   I have completed the top and now I need to quilt and bind.  I will hang this quilt in my office at work so I will know that I need to stay strong when the temptation to eat something that I know will not help my dieting.

The Quote that I will stitch in the border:  "The Miracle is not that I finished.  The Miracle is that I had the courage to start"