After our neighbor cut the grass in our field with egrets following behind the mower, I found the birds on the pond bank in front of the house.

A minute later their friends came calling.

And then the bank became full of them.

And when I tried to sneak out the back door for a different view, they all decided to leave.

Friday was our School Closing Program preceded with a ball game. Here a group of onlookers visit during the game.

While these boys climbed high on the monkey bars, …

… these girls played down lower at a safe height.

After the program of singing, verses, and a contest between the 8th graders and former parents that had memorized the counties of Mississippi (guess who won), we enjoyed food and fellowship. It looked like the high school class found a spot off by themselves and enjoyed each others company.

Here are some of Mr. Darrel’s class with their science exhibits. Brittany & Rosanna

Garrett & Kent

Dalyn & Timothy

Last week I was invited to a 60th birthday party for Alma. I found a picture of her that I had taken earlier and cropped it.

Then I tweeked it on the computer with “colored pencils.”

Next I printed it out on fabric & quilted it. I was sorry that I was running out of color in the printer; so it turned out dull, but she was surprised and pleased anyway!

We played “Spoons” and “Fast Scrabble” in the gazebo and enjoy iced tea and snacks.

Last Sunday we had our monthly hymn sing at Roy Millers. Roy had polio many years ago and now is bed fast. He could listen from the window and follow along. It was a lovely evening.

 We are all safe and well. The recent storms have made a lot of destruction. Yesterday I went with Paul to scout out what CAM could do to help out. We first went to Smithville, MS, about 5 miles north of Amory. The small town along Hwy 25 was wiped out. These first pictures are from that town.
 

From there we drove over to Tuscaloosa, AL. Roads were blocked and we weren’t allowed to get into the worst part of the destruction. We did  drive around and saw some bad areas. The last two pictures are an apartment complex. There were so many people milling around there with medics and TV reporters. They were still searching for 3 people.

Today Paul pulled CAM’s tool trailer back to Tuscaloosa and a group of volunteers from Orville, AL are helping cut trees off houses just north of Tuscaloosa in a little burg called Woodstock.

What else can I say? The internet and news is full of the devastation.

And Dustin flew out yesterday for NYP in Canada. We haven’t heard from him yet.

I substituted teaching high school for Mr. Matt recently while he & Shelah were away to her brother Willard & Jenn’s wedding way up in Minnesota. Three of the 11th graders were on a class trip to DC, so that left only 6 students. I enjoyed the classroom and learning to know them better. Here they are studying and doing classwork.

Chad

Justin

Hannah

Daryn

Ashley read’s “Light From Heaven” after lunch …

…while Justin & Daryn play chess.

Science class was taught by …

… Ms. Hicks with A Beka.

Dale works on his “art” project.

Thats right. I had the students make quilts for ART. I took their pictures and printed them in black and white on fabric. Then they cut out the colored fabric and fused it to the b&w … and each of them machine quilted their own. I was right “proud” of their work.

Dale

Carl

Justin

Hannah

Ashley

Daryn

And then I made this one for Mr. Matt.

This “art” class was right down my alley!

Kirby & Ashton

Stacy

Georgi

And don’t forget to hurry on over to http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt-top100 and if you like my 3 blocks; give them a VOTE and a REVIEW. Voting ends April 19.

I love to go to Sewing Circle to help with the projects and visit with the other ladies. We started this “String Quilt” …

… over a year ago at our annual “Guest Day Sewing.”

Now after many months it’s finally finished.

Last Tuesday we also bound the comforters that had been knotted at our “Annual Comfort Knotting” back in March.

Till the end of the day, the finished stack was so high it fell over.

We also had faithful quilters, Elmina, Louise, & Paul’s mom, Silva.

Others tied more comforters, Evie & Sherlyn.

If you like my quilt block “Geese in the Pond” please go here and give me a vote.

http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt-top100

And then, to help me out more, click on the block and give me a review, like why it would make a nice block to be painted on a barn.

We have had quite a bit of company lately. Our guests for pizza last Saturday evening were Darren & Becky,

Jason & Karla & Katie Jo,

Karla’s brother, Josh & Marcia & Jake.

There were lots of children here that evening.

I also attended a baby shower for Shelah.

Here she is with her mom Rosetta and her Grandmother Anna Mae. Anna Mae made the quilt for her.

 I’ve been quilting at different homes in Columbus. Mrs Trudy & her daughter were glad to have us quilt on their porch at “Twelve Gables.”

 On the other side of the porch the Sandifer children played music that was sweet to our ears.

The day was so pleasant and balmy with birds chirping in the background. I sat beside Barbara W. and watched as the musicians entertained the daycare children across the street.

The children were glad to listen.

Last Saturday I quilted at the Columbus Welcome Center with Judy, Barbara, & Patti.

There, we were serenaded by this duo.

Other artisans were also there under the tents. This lady made beautiful baskets from pine needles and gourds.

Her work is exquisite.

What a nice blessing to have my niece, Autumn come visit for a night. She made this “Snake” quilt for Amy many years ago when she came for an extended visit.

Here’s Autumn in the center with her friends from Rosedale Bible College. They are part of a group of students that gave a lovely musical program last evening at Cornerstone.

Autumn took them to my fabric closet and showed them around.

Recently, Dustin decided to make a tree house for our grandchildren.

He said he didn’t want to put any nails or screws into the tree and he used the word ‘shim’ fairly often.

And sure enough, it’s sturdy and stable.

It seems like it takes my dryer so long to dry a load of jeans. So Paul is looking into the matter.

And Ashton looks on.

I had such a delightful day today in our home with a group of ladies from Hattiesburg, MS with Pine Belt Quilters. They came for the Volcano Mountains quilting class. I call my sample, Mount Ranier.

Here Wanda & Sally ponder over making the second cut.

After working all morning, I served them lunch and they sewed into the afternoon. Here are their quilts before leaving.