January was a roller coaster ride for our family, and it started out on New Year's Day at the Ark Encounter, a life-size Noah's Ark!
This awesome quilt was a birthday gift from my small group quilt friends and combines some of my favorite things: Tula Pink fabrics, Grunge Dots and plus blocks--they know me well! Here is the quilt on Noah's Ark:
We had to settle for a photo over the railing, as the bedrooms were roped off. They had woven coverlets on the beds, not quilts, but it's just a representation of what might've been, so who knows, they might've had quilts!
Here's a photo out in the gardens. The quilt pattern is The Benefit, by Abbey Lane Quilts. My friends gave me the blocks and I assembled and quilted it. I love this quilt!!!
This all happened on our way to Georgia, to bring our DD2 to her World Race launch. We also stopped in Berea, Kentucky, a community of traditional and modern artisans. DD2 is wearing her On The Go handbag I made for her trip, a "Patterns by Annie".
It's small with a lot of great zippers and compartments for traveling. I quilted the map fabric with Soft and Stable. The flap is centered on Japan, the first country she was traveling to.
Here's her group at launch in Georgia. They spent three weeks serving at J's Cafe in Ishinomaki, Japan, the city where the 2011 Japan earthquake hit hardest. You can read about it on her blog, here, and sign up for updates. They are in Taiwan now.
We had to rush our road trip home as we received word that my dad needed extra help. We made it home in time to spend the last 5 days of his life with him.
Here are my dad and I at the World War II memorial in Washington D.C. in 2012. I was an escort for him and his 3 buddies, all WWII veterans, as part of the Honor Flight.
Dad was 93 years old, a wonderful father who could make anything himself. He was a fisherman, Boy Scout leader, woodcarver, gardener of vegetables and flowers and a birdwatcher to his last day. He was a milkman and entered Heaven's gates on national Milk Day.
DD2, who spent the last 4 years caring for my Dad, wrote a wonderful tribute of her grandfather here.
Thanks for reading through my blog with me today. Next up is my guild's annual quilt show.
Grace and peace!!! ~Nancy
Linking up with Freemotion by the River, Wednesday Wait Loss, Midweek Makers, Let's Bee Social, Needle & Thread Thursday, TGIFF, Friday Foto Fun, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Busy Hands Quilts.
So sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose parents………
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful blog posting and tribute to Dad. Love the quilt made by your friends.
ReplyDeleteQuilter Bonnie
Hugs to you, Nancy. What a lovely tribute to your dad.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt. So wonderful that your Dad participated in the Honor Flight. See you soon.
ReplyDeleteThis post brings tears to my eyes. So sorry for your loss! The ark looks wonderful, I've always wanted to go to the Creation Museum and the Ark, and hopefully some day soon I will make it there. The quilt is really beautiful! What a great gift.
ReplyDeleteThoughts and prayers to you and your family, Nancy. It sounds like your dad had a wonderful, full life.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is beautiful! And what a great location shot!
Our fathers are special people. Sending thoughts of healing and peace to you and family. It's good you made it home in time to see him through his transition. Love the quilt too.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got to be there for his last five days. I bet he was very, very proud of you. That quilt is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss, hugs! My dad would have been 90 this past Feb 5. He loved fishing and gardening too and taught me so much.
ReplyDeleteYou were in my neck of the woods! I live in Danville, Ky about 45 minutes from Berea! I hope your dd2 has a wonderful adventure!!! I used some of that same fabric in my son's adventure quilt!
sk.oxley at gmail dotcom...yeah I still haven't gotten it figured out!!!
I am sorry for your loss. I can see the love you have for your father and I'm quite sure he knew and felt every bit of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sending healing thoughts to you and your family. May the wonderful memories you have of your father help you during this difficult time. Safe travels for your daughter and her group. Your quilt and her bag are both wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss, Nancy. Losing a parent is hard at any time. Best wishes for DD2 as she travels.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. That is a lovely tribute to your Dad. Glad you were able to be with him in his final days. Your quilt is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSorry for your loss. The quilt and bag turned out well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice tribute to your dad. It's hard to lose them but the grand memories remain and help. Sounds like you've been busy for the last few weeks. Great purse.
ReplyDeleteThe ark!!! That's high on our travel wish list! So great that you did the quilt photo shoot there! I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. He's of the same thread as my grandfather who is 94. Sending hugs your way!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the quilt hug gifted from your friends on TGIFF. I'm sure it was hard but satisfying to spend those last few days with your dad, definitely he would have had some amazing experiences in 93 years.
ReplyDeleteOh Nancy, I'm so sorry to hear your news! Glad though to read about your father. What a remarkable man. Love what your daughter is doing. She'll have a great adventure! Meanwhile your plus quilt is marvelous. I adore all those Tula Pink fabrics! Such a great memory of your friends for you to keep forever.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this read. That was such a great tribute to your father who sounds like a wonderful man.
ReplyDeleteThe ark photos were fun to see as well.