OUR BOAT TRIP THROUGH AMERSFOORT

The day the ladies arrived from England, we went on this boat ride through Amersfoort. It was a gift to us from Jacomina, one of Heidi's quilt ladies.

I don't ever remember what I am seeing, this was my second trip. The guide speaks only Dutch on this trip so Heidi had to keep telling us what she was saying.

Here is Heidi and Angela. We have another group picture I am putting on, but Angela took the picture so she isn't on it.

It was beautiful weather the entire time we were in Holland. What is going on? I am now home to typical cool Dutch weather. It is only 41 degrees today.

This is just more of the trip down the canal. Thanks Jacomina and Oomke.

Here is our group. We really had such a good time. I will be looking forward to England in 2010 and with Joni planning it, it has to be lots of laughs. Mary, want to come along?

GOD BLESS THE USA

This Memorial Day weekend, I am remembering my very special family. I went to church today and a newly ordained minister in an Army uniform preached the sermon. He is now off to Officers Candidate School then going to be a Chaplain in Iraq. He has already served in Iraq. It set me to thinking about our Military heros. Please remember all the people serving so far away.


Way back in World War I, my Dad was in the Army. He was the beginning of a very military family we have become. I am thinking of you today Dad and very proud of all of the men in our family.

This is Bill, the father of my beautiful children. He was a career military man. He was first in the Marines, then while we were together, he was in the Air Force. He retired in 1975. He was and is the backbone of our family.

This is my oldest son, Bill. He served in the Navy and is a wonderful support to me and all of the family. We appreciate you Bill. When I need help, I call on you.

Thank you for always being there for me.

Eric is my youngest and served in the Navy also as a Corpman. He was lovingly called Doc by his fellow shipmates. We met the doctor of one of his ships and he told us Eric should become a doctor because he was so skilled. Well, that never took place, he chose to be a truck driver. I love you Eric.

This is our wonderful Grandson, Mitch. He is now serving in Iraq and so very much in our thoughts everyday. We are praying for him and his Kristen, Haali and Mitchell. We love you. Stay safe so you can come home soon.

This is the newest Grandson we have, who is also in the US Army. Jason just returned from Quatar. He is now back at FT Bragg. Jason we love you and pray for you in your career and my wonderful Mandie and Zoe.

As you can see, we are a Military Family and we do say God Bless the USA.

A GIFT AND A PROJECT

I received this wonderful gift for a belated birthday gift from Roberta, who has been far to busy moving to send me a gift, but she did. What a lovely surprise. Thank you so much. It is all so very cute. It will be put to good use very soon.

This is the project I have been practicing for. Henry the VIII and his wives. I am doing a project now for my June swap gift for our online stitching group. I am then going to start this project. Thank you again Angela for the pattern.

PURCHASE AND GIFTS

My TV was 20 years old, so I decided to replace it. Kristy was able to set it all up for me, so we went on a buying spree. She put together the stand I bought and then set up the TV and DVD and Video for me. It is a great picture. I have a very long living room, and you can see if from way back.

When I got home from Holland, I had gifts from Eric and Bill. Witness, DVD from Eric, and the second in the set of Nora Roberts new books. Now I can watch the movie on my new big screen. I saw it before, but love the movie.

A SMALL GIFT FOR ANGELA

When I went to Holland, this little bear hopped into my suitcase to go and live with Angela in England.

Angela was kind enough to bring a pattern to me for stitching Henry the Eighth and his wives. I have been wanting it for some time. She told me she had it but never did stitch it. I knitted this little bear for her as a thank you. She gave the bear my very silly middle name.

A SMALL PART OF A WONDERFUL JOURNEY

In April, I started a journey with a beautiful sunset from the plane window. I had an interesting start to the trip with delays on the runways at two airports. One almost caused me to miss the flight. At last, I was on the way.

After making the flight, this was one of the early morning views. The clouds were just breathtaking.

Holland of course! This windmill was in a town we visited while George was with us. He only decided to stay for ten days. We visited the cottage when he was there, and went to a castle in the North

Skipping ahead, one of the nights after Hazel, Angela and Joni arrived, the quilt group got together and we had show and tell of quilts Heidi taught them to make. They get a pattern and then choose their own way of making the quilt. This is an example of how different they look. On the right is Heidi and the one she did.

When they had one of their quilt shows, Heidi had a theme of the Underground Railroad. She made up a girl who went on the path of freedom. This is her quilt from that theme. The quilt told the people if they were safe to go on the way. Heidi read her story that night so the stitching ladies could hear it. I was able to attend both of the quilt shows and they were both wonderful.

One of the ladies, Jacomina, along with her husband, made these beautiful puddings. They looked to good to cut and eat, but we did of course. Jacomina and her husband also gave us tickets for a tour boat through Amersfoort. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed it.

That night, we had wonderful dutch pancakes too. That was the day the ladies arrived. All of the quilt group brought traditional Dutch food, and we all ate some of each and were very full.

Thanks to all of them for treating us to a Dutch experience.

Well, here we are! Angela, Me, Heidi, Joni and Hazel in that order. I feel we all made friends and it was a wonderful week. Heidi did a great organized schedule, of course, she used to be a travel agent. She so knows Holland, you would think she was born there. This was taken at a castle we visited also. I took 148 pictures, but needless to say, they can't all appear at once. Holland stayed beautiful weather the entire time we were there. I had a wonderful month in Holland and now I am home and happy to be waiting for Kristy, Haali and Mitchell to arrive tomorrow.

I want to thank all of the Dutch ladies who gave me wonderful gifts and of course our small group of stitchers pictured above. We all exchanged gifts.

A VILLAGE VISIT

While staying at the cottage, we visited the small village of Exloo. This very cute statue was there. We saw another statue of a Gramma and a little girl, but didn't get a picture of that one.
The weather here is just not what I am used to in Holland. It is warmer than home according to George. Today is going to be in the 70's.
Tomorrow the two ladies from England and one from Pennsylvania will arrive. We are going to take a boat trip through Amersfoort. The last time we did that it rained, tomorrow and all week it is supposed to be very nice. Tomorrow evening we are going to one of the places I love best in Holland, the Pancake House. The pancakes are large, flat like crepes and you can get any topping. My favorite is Apple, cinnamon. Yummy.
I don't think I will be posting again until I am back in Ohio. See you all then.

On a much deeper note, my Grandson, Mitch is going to Iraq this week. Please pray he stays safe and the time flys by for him, Kristy, Haali and Mitchell. They are very much in my thoughts.