Sunday, August 18, 2013

The Best Of Times, The Worst Of Times...


It's County Fair time back home in Ohio and the pics coming my way have been a real treat.  It makes being homesick a little easier...

And the photos help (or is it distract from?) the deep sadness we feel at the passing of our very dear friend, Bill, after a short illness.  Our hearts are heavy and we miss him terribly.

And now for your viewing enjoyment...

Great Nieces E (age 3) and O (age 2) loved spending time together at the Fair.

E took off her tiara and put on a helmet to win a ribbon in her first horse show-- Which basically included being lead around the ring by her big cousin, but still, that's one huge horse for a little peanut!

One of their horses is known as "The One-Eyed Wonder" because, well, he only has one eye.  So when they did a fun 4-H horse show, my nieces dressed up as-- what else-- One-eyed Pirates!

Niece A won 4-H Outstanding Youth (along with lots of ribbons in horse shows)!  Two days later she was on her way to Ohio State University for her first year of college!  I still can't believe it.  
(And neither can her mother.  A is the baby of the family.)

We were lucky enough to have Niece K (Pirate on the right above) spend a week with us in sunny California.  It was her first visit here and we had a blast seeing all the sights, including the beach.  She's a senior at Ohio State this year.

And I made this quilt top called Glam Clams by pattern designer Latifah Saafir on Saturday.  Latifah taught a fab class at Sew Modern loaded with the tips and tricks to stitch this together.  
It still needs quilted but I'm thrilled with it.

Thanks for letting me brag and please, say a prayer for Bill and his wife and family.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins

20 comments:

  1. ha the county fair is big stuff....that is def a cool quilt....our fav is def the petting zoo and all the animals.....

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  2. It's Fair time in our neck of the woods too. Your nieces are all beautiful, and so is that quilt!
    So sorry to hear of your friends passing.

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  3. I love your quilt, and your beautiful relatives. What fun! I will say a prayer for Bill's family, too. I know your heart is heavy, so I'll say a prayer for you.

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  4. I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend Bill. It is good that you have these pics of such cheerful and beautiful girls to help you in your sadness. The pic of E with her horse show ribbon is priceless.
    Your quilt is gorgeous.

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  5. you have my heart, sugar, over the passing of your friend. xoxoxo

    thanks for sharing the lovely photos of your family and that very gorgeous quilt! xoxoxo

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  6. Oh, they're awfully cute!

    And that quilt isn't cute -- it's absolutely gorgeous!

    Sending prayers -- I'm so sorry for your loss.

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  7. Sorry about your friends. That's some seriously successful fair folks!

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  8. What a lovely family and some cracking photos, JJ. Hope you are well.

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  9. I love that quilt design. I look forward to seeing it when it's finished!

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  10. Your quilts always touch my heart. They're just so beautiful and you're so kind about making them for your family. Beautiful.

    I'm sorry about your friend. It sucks to have reached an age where people begin to be.. gone forever.

    And your family is lovely, all those sweet young faces.

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  11. Great family pictures. I love the quilt you made - it is very cool. Was it as hard as it looks to me?? I've never worked with curves before. Hugs my friend!!

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  12. So sorry to hear about Bill...

    Those shots are adorable.

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  13. very sad about your friend. Hope your memories of him give you strength.
    Lots of horses in your extended family. It was always a big treat to ride one.

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  14. So sad news about your friend! such sounds an enjoyable tour.. all the picture shots of cute smile looking amazing.....

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  15. Your quilt is lovely. My grandmother made quilts and every time I use the one she gave me, it brings up such wonderful memories of her. Quilts are real pieces of art.

    Your sadness at the loss of your friend comes through in your words. I pray that your grief will soon be replaced with warm glow of your memories of Bill.

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  16. So sorry about your loss of a good friend - never an easy thing. It occurred to me that the labels for this post all connect to memories, some happy, some bittersweet.

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  17. sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing these great family photos!

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  18. The little cousins are lucky to have each other to spend time with and grow up close. Nice pictures all. I like the quilt top, what a fun pattern. You are so talented. Of course I will hold up Bill and his family, remembering them and hoping they work through grief with love.

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  19. I am sorry for the loss of your friend, Bill, Joanna, and will keep him in my prayers.

    Your family is wonderful...from the little ones to the lovely college girls. It is hard to be so far away from them, I know...you, at least, get home to see them often and it's a nice break from southern California.

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