On Oct 1st and 2nd we had the honor and pleasure of going to our nephew Sam's graduation from Marine Boot Camp at Parris Island. The Marines really know how to put on a graduation ceremony.
The event started with a Family Day on Thursday. Family and friends were exposed to the educational experiences that their loved ones had gone through during the past 13 weeks. After a short speech by the commander informing us that their young men had not smoked, drank, eaten sugary foods, talked on the phone, or driven a car during the prior 13 weeks....and he expected them to come back to the Marines in as good condition after their LEAVE, which would begin after graduation the next day. That statement got an interesting reaction from the audience.
During Family Day we could wander about the "Depot", have lunch, visit the museum or shop but we could not take our Marine from the Depot. So that is just what we did, took him to the officer's club for buffet lunch, shopped at the MCX (where we all bought T-Shirts and other Marine support items), we toured the museum.... At 3:00pm it was necessary for Sam to return to his barracks...The rest of the family (Sam's parents, grandmother, sister and his girl friend) left the Depot while my husband and I toured the open spaces of Parris Island... what a beautiful place when you are not trudging through the under brush with a 100 lb pack on your back :)
Graduation on Friday was most impressive.....
Those men really know how to march.
We are all very proud of Sam....k
Several weeks ago as you might remember I commented on the blocks I was making for the River Rat TOGA (TreadleOn Gathering and Academy) that was being held mid September in Minnesota. Even though I was not able to attend this huge TOGA (I believe it might be one of the larger attended events) I was going to be allowed to participate in the block exchange since I try to "gather" with the River Rats when I am in residence in Minnesota during the summer.
Some folks make their blocks ahead of time,then bring them to the TOGA while others take the opportunity to gather with fellow attendees for a sew-in while others are taking classes or going on shop tours...or they gather at night at the motel for a late night sewing bee. Which ever it is they have a blast...
The photo is of the blocks that were returned to me..... the blocks this year were makers choice, so we could do anything we wanted with in the size requirements. Only a few folks took the opportunity to participate so I think that I'll join these blocks with some already collected... maybe this quilt top will be one that I work on during the up coming Winter Olympic Games Challenge, now that is another story.K
Next month the International Sewing Machine Collectors Society (ISMACS) is having their yearly convention in Charlotte NC. Part of the festivities of this gathering is a Halloween wall hanging competition. Of course, this procrastinate wanted to enter a quilt. I knew the design I wanted to use, Dancing Stars. I'd use the pattern but shrunk it down so that the blocks were about half the size of those in the pattern. After months of collecting black and white fabrics and orange for the highlight stars I was ready to begin the project. After working on it for about a week when it came time to mail it I couldn't find the camera to take a picture.... so when nothing else would do I did a photo shoot of the scraps... now you'll have to wait till the return of the quilt so see the Dancing Stars...k
Even though I won't get to attend the River Rat TOGA in MN later this September they welcomed my participating in the block exchange... this exchange was of 6.5 inch blocks with the design being the makers choice... I don't know if this block has a name but I recently drew it out on graph paper. The gold flower fabric was purchased on the Spring Mountain Shop Hop this year. I'd bought enough to share with the Loving Hands Quilt Group; matter of fact, I believe I challenged them to use it in a project of their choice. I like my block...
I liked the look so much I worked up the rest of the fabric inserting a green in the bottom section in place of the signature muslin... I really like this one but since I only have 14 of them......... what to do with them????? Any ideas???? K
Yes, another Disappearing 9 Patch has come out of the treadle... James Bond to be exact.... such a smooth silent stitcher :)
I think that this will be one of the quilts for the twin babies of Cumming :)
