April Went By In A BLUR - The Biltmore Adventure

 April Went By In A BLUR

As you may have already guessed considering I did not post one single blog in the month of April. Time seems to slip right through my fingers these days. I often ponder how to slow things down and get a hold of time but nothing seems to help, no matter what I try.

My sister planned and organized this adventure to the Biltmore Estate and the Chihuly Exhibit. It was incredible!

My sister wants an hallway ceiling like this!

My sister, Cindy and my Niece in law (my sister's daughter in law) Amanda

The Biltmore Gang

Clockwise - Angie, Me, Shelby, Cindy, and Amanda

An early start to the day at the Chihuly Exhibit 

It was a tad cold and windy but so much fun!

The Chihuly Exhibit Gang

From left to right

Angie, Cindy, Amanda, Me, and Shelby

The Conservatory is always my favorite part of the Biltmore Estate

Should you ever have an opportunity to see a Chihuly Exhibit, it travels around, please go ... it is amazing and beautiful to behold.

The wall in the background of this photo is what I want in my house!

I love it!

Angie among the Chihuly Exhibit

The Biltmore Estate

Asheville, North Carolina

What a great day and adventure.

From left to right

Me, Cindy, Amanda, Shelby, and Angie

Sisters

Making Something From Nothing

 Making Something From Nothing

While working on the bubblegum sonnet quilt, I'm left with half square triangle bits cut from the half square triangles needed for the quilt top. So, I decided to pieces these bits and make something out of them later on. 

I'm not sure what I will make but the possibilities are endless.

Half Square Triangle bits

These little half square triangle blocks are 1 3/4 inches square.

So CUTE!

Bubblegum Pink

 Bubblegum Pink Sonnet Quilt

Presently I am working on the Bubblegum Pink Sonnet quilt kit that I purchased from

Westwood Acres Fabric

Pattern and kit by Amanda, also @a.crafty.fox on instagram

As always, my apologies for the terrible lighting in my sewing room.

These pictures do not do this quilt and the fabrics used justice.

This quilt is just stunning and I'm looking forward to completing this quilt top.

Pretty in PINK!

I am enjoying this quilt project so much. All of it. The pattern, the fabrics, just all of it.

Family

 Family

Legendary - Grandpa Doc Thomas Gibson

*Written by my sister Cindy* 

Cheryl (cousin, see previous post) shared this picture a few days ago.  This man taught me that my word was my bond, that it is bad to owe anyone and that you can clean a blow dryer when it gets clogged up with lint.  He also loved his wife and his family, God and country.  He didn’t have to have the newest best thing that came along and he worked hard until his back problems got the best of him.  I loved him so much!!  Oh, and if you love a boat, it's genetic.

Written on the back of the photo seen below

Grandpa Doc and his dog, Connie

Family - Cousins

Family

Cousins

*Note - all of the Family posts are contributed by my sister, Cindy. I in no way provide the photos or comments. All of this comes from my sister. I post her Thursday Family texts here as a record of my family, for my family. Enjoy*

The cousins.  That's me (Cindy), Cheryl, Lori, Karen, Pat and Steve.  1970ish. Steve is 5 years older than me, Cheryl is 2 years older and Karen is 4 months older than me.  Then Pat and Lori and I are all 2.5 years apart. 

These were and are my favorite people.  We got together at least a couple times a year, camping out together in Grandma's living room floor on a big pallet of handmade quilts or riding bikes all around West Milton. 

We didn't do things that cost a lot of money-I guess nobody had any.   We went to the beach together a few times.  I remember jumping in the waves and playing shuffleboard.  We made homemade Halloween costumes that always included Pat being the prettiest girl you ever saw!   

I remember sitting in the floor in Steve's room and listening to Elton John's Yellow Brick Road album over and over while we stared at the album cover and tried to figure it out.  I remember playing Fish and Crazy 8 and Hate (uno before there were uno cards).  And making Jacob's ladder and other stuff with loops of string. 

When our Dad was in the hospital, we would visit for a couple weeks at a time in Ohio.  I've told Aunt Joyce I don't know how she stood it!!   

We tye dyed shirts together.  Pat went on dates with Steve. 

I loved getting hand me down clothes from these guys!   My white go-go boots and my favorite mini dresses were worn by them first. 

Today, Steve is a geologist in Idaho.  Cheryl retired from a long career in the courts in Las Vegas and now lives back in West Milton with Aunt Joyce.  Karen also returned to Ohio a few years ago after living in Denver and being the woman who secretly ran everything.  And you know about all of us. 

These are people I know I can count on and they can count on me.  Love your family, folks.  You never outgrow needing them.

 

Family

 Family

Apparently we have a published author in the family.

The author of the book pictured below is Patricia Lane Copeland, whose mother was Grandma Dorothy's sister, Edna.  That's Edna and Grandma in Crossville.  Grandma had told me Patricia wrote a book and I was able to track it down.  As you can see, she dedicated the book to her father, John.  The two children are Jon  and Amy, who are probably in their 30's now.  Back in the 1990's, they lived in Chicago.  Patricia's parents lived in Florida.  I haven't read the book yet but as far as I know, it is the only book she wrote. 

Patricia Lane Copeland, the author, and her children Jon and Amy.

Dedication to her father, John Lane

Edna Lane (Grandma's sister) and my Grandma Dorothy Gibson

The book written by Patricia Copeland

Family

 Family

As most of you know my sister is our family historian, and she is a darn good one. With each Thursday text with a new bit of family history I learn things I never knew about the lives of members of our family.

Today's picture shows Alan and Mandy Gibson.  Alan was Pa's (Patrick Callahan Gibson) brother.  Alan was born sometime in the 1880's.  He was a blacksmith for many years until he went blind.  I don't know the cause.  Then his son John moved to Illinois and convinced Alan and Mandy to move with him.  Alan was very dissatisfied with Illinois.  One night, he took a knife and slit Mandy's throat as she slept then went to John's room.  John was not there but Alan's bloody handprints were all over his bed indicating Alan had come looking for him.  Alan then slashed his own throat and died.

So tragically sad.

Alan and Mandy Gibson

Time Just Keeps Slipping Away

 Time Just Keeps Slipping Away

That seems to be the theme of my life these days. For whatever reason I'm unable to get a handle on time. I seem to be on the rise for work, work, sleep, and repeat cycle presently. I have list after of list of things that need to be done, things that I would like to do, and the ever growing list of things I'm unable to get accomplish!

What in the world!

Spring here in East Tennessee has been amazing and beautiful. Sometime in March, I think it was March, I went on a hike with my friend Lindsey to Ijams Nature Center.

It did not disappoint!

Ijams Nature Center

South Knoxville, Tennessee

Sock Knitting

 Sock Knitting

I had the goal in 2023 of knitting 5 pairs of socks in that year. I didn't make my goal. So I carried that goal over to 2024.

I've had 3 different pairs of socks in progress for a very long time.

So, I finally sat down the past few weeks and finished two of those pairs of socks.

My favorite toe up sock pattern, made with scrap yarn.

I love them!

My favorite cuff down sock pattern, made in blue DK yarn.

These socks are a short ankle sock.

I love them!

As I mentioned before, I've had these socks in progress for a while now.

I can't even remember when I started this pair of socks.

This pair of socks has a cable motif ... it could be a while before this pair is completed.

But, I'm feeling good, a nice strong start. 2 of 5 pairs have been completed.

Family - Momma and Papa Woodham

 Family

Momma and Papa Woodham

I asked my sister for more information on Momma and Papa, the adults in this picture.  They were My Mom's great grandparents, Grandmother Crisler was their daughter, Grandmother Kathleen was her daughter, My Mom was her daughter. 

Papa was James Henry Woodham, 1885-1967.  Momma was Aldonia Whitlock Woodham, 1863-1975. 

We don't have a lot of pictures but we know their families have been traced back several generations on Ancestry.com, all the way back to Aris Woodham who was born in Stokes Bridge, SC in 1771.  We would probably qualify for Daughters of the American Revolution if anyone wants to join.

Papa Woodham, Patrica Ann, Martha Jean, Rosa Marie, and Momma Woodham

My Momma and her two sisters are pictured here with their dolls. Momma Woodham and Grandmother Crisler made doll clothes for those dolls. 

The little things, It is always the little things...

 The Little Things

It is always the little things ...

Recently I purchased this little dresser.

$30.00

I am so happy and excited about this dresser. I haven't had a dresser of my own since I moved out of my little house in Deer Creek.