Fall, Quilts, and Fests

The trees are showing their colors, and we have a healthy rainstorm coming our way. It has been cool enough on recent mornings that the furnace has kicked on. I am in the mode of thinking about hearty meals of stews and soups. We had kale soup and homemade biscuits for dinner tonight which should help to keep the chill off.

I finally finished the Quilt of Valor quilt top and now need to contact the organization to find out where to send it to be quilted. I am quite pleased with how it looks, and know it will only get better once it is quilted and bound. So now which of my UFOs should I work on? I probably have eight or ten choices. All the patterns and fabrics in the stores are so tempting; but I have resisted all year because I know I have lots at home to keep me busy.

We chatted with all the east coast Kirkwoods this weekend and all is well with them. All are busy with school, and Rachel is going to be extra busy because she missed this past week of school due of mono. I think she will be ready to go back tomorrow, and fortunately, in her new Catholic high school, all the teachers assured her parents that they would see that she gets caught up when she returns.

We hope to spend some time with Craig and Cassie next weekend either at the Shelton Oyster Fest or the Puyallup Oktoberfest. Either one will afford us an opportunity for good beer and good food. I would like to return to Germany in the fall just to enjoy some of the fests in the small towns. The Germans seem to be able to find many excuses to put up a tent, cook up some wursts, and get the local oom pah pah band together.

Ken is off having some work done on the motor home which should be the last before we take it south for the winter. The fall RV show at the Tacoma Dome starts on Wednesday so we will make our annual pilgrimage to kick tires and chat with sales people, but there is not a new motor home in our future. I quite like what we have, and the only change would be to go to a diesel, which is more money for everything and less space to squirrel stuff away.

You may recall my blog of about one year ago when I talked about our niece, Linea, who was suffering from some severe mental health issues that called for extended hospitalization and electroshock therapy. I was circumspect at the time, but since have learned that she and her parents are quite okay with my naming them. I am happy to report that she is dong well, but is fully aware she will always have to deal with this health issue. She is in a relationship with a young man named Josh who has been there for her every step of the way and they are both students at Columbia in Chicago

Linea is very bright, attractive, and articulate; has journaled ever since she was in middle school, and has continued to do so through all of her health problems. As she has written about her journey, so also has her mother, Cinda, and they have been contacted by an editor to publish their experiences each from their own perspective. I admire Linea and her parents for all their inner strength and honesty, and I know this book will be an invaluable source for others who are struggling with this disease. I'll let you know when it is published.

I hear the sewing machine calling me..........Ciao