Block #68 for Rachel H.

I am still under the weather, but I managed to get one bird knocked out. I am getting a little faster at them; this time around it only took me 38 minutes. Sigh…

Tonight’s bird is dedicated to one of our old neighbors, Rachel. Rachel is a very sweet lady who was not happy that we moved. To be honest, we didn’t really have a lot of time to warn the neighbors before the sign went up in the yard. I do regret that.

Our last neighborhood was a patio home community with mostly retired people, and they loved my husband; Rachel especially. He was known for his green thumb so we would often get calls asking for advice on plants and trees. He would go to Rachel’s every year and help her fertilize her yard. One time, Rachel called him to see if he could help with her new cable box. He farmed that one out to me.

The thing I loved the most about Rachel was her resilience at her age (almost 80), even after her husband passed she was living on her own and always out and about, driving herself, sweeping her front stoop, baby sitting peoples dogs and feeding the neighborhood squirrels peanuts. She told us once, “If you ever see the paper still on my door step in the afternoon, you better send someone in to check on me…”

I hope she is doing well and still feeding those squirrels.

Thoughts on this process:

Well I am sad to say that I missed two birds. I need to come up with a more efficient way to both make these ahead of time and write the stories. I am also sad to say that I accidentally repeated fabric on a bird. I believe it was birds 6 and 66. When I put the stash together for this project, I tried very hard to weed out the repeats. On both accounts, I knew it was just a matter of time. Oh well… I march on…

Date Made: March 11th, 2015
Block #68
Days on Project: 70
Blocks Made: 68

For Rachel H

Block #67 For Aunt Sara

I have been avoiding writing this story because it is a hard story to write. There is so much to say and it will likely be my only very serious story on this blog. I like to keep this light and funny, and most of the stories on there will be. But for one night, I will tell you about my family and the tragic accident that happened in July of 2013. I will only tell it once, and I choose my Aunt Sara’s bird to do so. You will see why later. Why even tell it? Well, not doing so seems wrong. Telling some light hearted fluffy story about my amazing aunt just isn’t appropriate at all. And, I am hoping that you take away something from this. A lesson of caution, faith and strength.

My aunt and uncle have four girls (yes – it’s crazy).  I will use their initials to protect their identity, M, S, A, and R. They live on a farm and in July of 2013 the two youngest (10 and 11) were in something called a “gator” which is like a cross between a golf cart and an ATV. A and R were crossing the road in the gator when they were struck by truck. They both had very serious injuries and were life flighted to the nearest big hospital. R had several injuries including a lacerated spleen. A had so many injuries, I still don’t know them all, but the primary concern was a traumatic brain injury or TBI.

R was fully recovered within a couple months. A is making great progress everyday but she is still recovering and it had and will continue to be a long road. Why were R’s injuries so much less than A’s? She was wearing her seat belt.

This is dedicated to their mother, my Aunt Sara. She is one of the strongest women I have ever known. How she kept it together and kept her family together during this I will never know. It was awful but they made it. I don’t know if it was her personal strength, her unwavering faith, or just a mothers love for her children that kept her from losing her mind. Most likely it was all three.

I would like to share an excerpt my Aunt posted on FB near the one year anniversary of the accident:

If A & R’s accident has effected you at all I pray you will do 2 things;
1. Always wear your seatbelt and make all passengers do so to. A & R are clear examples if what a difference it makes 
2. Trust in Jesus. He’s our Rock & salvation. The bible is true. Read it. Often. and pray-often.
Psalms 145.

Date Made: March 9th, 2015
Block #67
Days on Project: 68
Blocks Made: 67

For Aunt Sara

Block #66 For Ricardo

I am back at it. Sort of. I am still sick, but I figure if I can sit on the couch knitting I can make a bird. This bird is dedicated to Ricardo, I can’t get into details but I was reminded today of what an awesome person he is. Ricardo is one of the kindest people I know. He puts everyone before himself and genuinely cares for people. He is one of those people that you actually think, “good things should happen to this person” who gives so much of himself to others. Ricardo, this “green” bird is for you.

Sorry for the brevity tonight. Still not 100%

Date Made: March 8th, 2015
Block #66
Days on Project: 67
Blocks Made: 66

For Ricardo

Block #65 for Aunt Wilma

You may or may not have noticed, I haven’t done a lot of family birds. There are several reasons for this, mainly, it’s been a tough couple years for my family and I am just not ready to tell that story. But not telling it and just doing something fluffy feels wrong as well. So I’m going to do it, but not tonight because it’s late. I am going to start on family birds tonight; easing into it with a fun patriotic bird for my aunt Wilma.

My mom and Dad and aunt Wilma and her husband are all going on a vacation together in a couple weeks. I hope they all survive. *just kidding, sort of*. I can promise you there will be lots of laughs, probably some fishing, shopping, but most of all, there will be a lot of games played. My mom and her brothers and sisters are very competitive when playing cards, dominoes or any game really.

My mom prays: “Oh please Jesus let this be my card” and when it doesn’t work out she *used to* say something like: “Well shoot a monkey”. My husband and I would always give her crap for this. “Man a lot of monkeys lost their lives tonight”.

My uncle Roland will flat out leave a game if it is going the wrong way, and if he doesn’t leave he will gripe and accuse you of cheating. He’s not always wrong.

But my aunt Wilma… Well I haven’t played much with her. But my mom always looks forward to her coming down so they can play. Oddly enough, after she has played with Wilma or learned a new game from her, she plays with me and the rules have always changed. “Mom, why did you do that?” “Well, Wilma said that this is the rule and not that… We’ve been playing it wrong” Yeah… Right…

It really doesn’t matter, I am better than all of them.

Date Made: March 6th, 2015
Block #65
Days on Project: 65
Blocks Made: 65

For Wilma M.

Block #63 for Dung

Tonight’s bird is dedicated to my friend and co-worker Dung. He is on my mind tonight as I have a trunk full of diapers with his name on them.

Super Powers

If Dung had a super hero name, it would be “Marathon Man”. Dung has committed to running 5 marathons a year for 10 years and he is about half way through. You just said “Oh My God” out loud, didn’t you? So, let me blow your mind (if it’s not already). He is also an Iron Man. He completes one a year. And, he doesn’t count them in his marathon count. Crazy, right?

Well… If he can do that, surely I can continue to sit on my butt making birds for the rest of this year.

Date Made: March 4th, 2015
Block #63
Days on Project: 63
Blocks Made: 63

For Dung

Block #62 for Rick J.

This one is dedicated to my current boss Rick J. He gets a block tonight for two reasons. #1 He gave me some pretty good news today. #2 He got me a new laptop. I love my new laptop, we have only been together a few hours but I know it is going to be a wonderful relationship. I have even named him, “Bubba”.

The Thing About Rick

Obviously, he is an awesome boss (recall items #1 and #2). But he also puts up with me on a daily basis and never gives me any crap. I like that in a boss. He has been my boss for a little less than a year so I don’t know a lot about him other than he has a freakin’ cool car, comes from a big family, and he is very chill. One day a group of us were at lunch, one of the guys at the table looks up and says “So Rick, do you have any hobbies?” It was the strangest question, especially coming from one dude to another dude. Rick just looks up and says “Scotch”. Since of humor… check.

Date Made: March 3rd, 2015
Block #62
Days on Project: 62
Blocks Made: 62

For Rick J.

Block #61 For Kelly S

This birdie is dedicated to Kelly S. Kelly is a friend and former co-worker of mine. I had a hard time picking a topic for Kelly tonight. Kelly probably doesn’t know this, but I look up to her. She is a strong woman of god and she exudes this in her every behavior, without even trying. I once had someone say these words to me “Oh, I didn’t know you went to church”. That phrase killed me. But it’s completely on the money, I think of Kelly and no one would ever say that to her. I still have a lot of spiritual discipline and growth ahead of me to get to where she is in her life. But I am thankful to have examples like her in mine.

One Funny Story

About a year ago we were remodeling our old house and Kelly came by to check it out. I have never been (up until that point) a more embarrassed puppy mom until that night. Kelly had a pair of pants on and Misty Dog was obsessed with them. She liked the feel of the fabric and wouldn’t give Kelly a moments peace. And to say that I have never been more embarrassed of my dog is saying something when you consider we have nick named her “poop head fred” and she fully understands the following command: “Not In Public, Misty!”.

After my surgery this fall, Kelly offered to bring over a meal for us. She was my only friend to do this. However, I must confess that the rest of them are fully aware that I don’t do the cooking ’round here. Anyway… Before she came over, my husband says, you think we should put Misty outside after what happened last time. I replied “No, I mean what are the odds she will be wearing those same pants?” I have learned in life that if you have to say “what are the odds” before something, it will probably happen.

So Kelly… Please accept this dedication as my thank you for being good friend and my apologies for my overly familiar dog. (Still so embarrassed…)

Credit:
My husband picked these fabrics.

Date Made: March 2nd, 2015
Block #61
Days on Project: 61
Blocks Made: 61
Husband’s Picks: 23

For Kelly S.