Trip on the Town

 Marnie and I decided to drive downtown to visit the Seattle Art Museum and Seattle Aquarium. They were exhibiting the collection of the impressionists from 1870-1900. If you've read David & Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell, you know they had a very difficult time getting exhibited. I absolutely loved the special exhibit and the long-term pieces, but didn't take many pictures, except for this Renoir and Cézanne.

Marnie and I loved this modern piece, but I didn't get a shot of the artist.

From there we walked across the street and enjoyed seeing fish at the aquarium. We had a casual lunch at a nearby cafe to finish off our outing. 

Framing a Quilt

 When I was growing up there was a beautiful pineapple log cabin quilt hanging on the staircase wall. I passed it everyday in the morning and evening. The seams were coming apart, but it was still beautiful.

After a few decades, my mom gave it to me and it lived in my closet for years. Then I decided to cut it up and frame a block or two. Hobby Lobby was the perfect place to find a shadow box frame.

Happy Thanksgiving

 Jim is wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you are enjoying an opportunity to spend time with your family. I hope you have a great day and can appreciate a delicious slice of pie.

Typical Week

All three of us are going to the trunk-or-treat tomorrow night. Paul brings full-sized candy bars and the entire event lasts about 30 minutes. Katie and James are coming, too. Marnie is finally done with marching band! She just ran upstairs, screaming that she got 103% on her math test today. She really loves Mr. Redfern. Dad is taking her to get a passport tomorrow.

Stake Conference was great this weekend. President Williams spoke about the Bubblegum Machine Mentality. The Ensign article is here:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/04/beyond-the-bubblegum-machine?lang=eng

The point of the article is this: You put a coin in the machine and out pops a gum ball. Say your prayers and they will be answered. Go to church and your trials will be lifted. Attend the temple and your righteous desires will be granted in short order. My early testimony of the gospel was built on this misconception. So it is not difficult to imagine my dismay when things didn’t always work out that way. I had to learn that having faith to turn to God and lay my burdens at His feet can be a difficult, heart-wrenching, and humbling experience. Through my own experiences and trials, I have learned that life’s challenges are meant to change us and turn us to the Lord in faith.

President Flake talked about Sarah. She has such anxiety issues that she throws up before every stressful event. She had been in the MTC just a few days before Conference, and she already wrote a wonderful letter home that she was having a great time. President Flake turned that into a great talk.

President Sainsbury spoke about the living water at the temple. Then the General Authority spoke about keeping covenants. Dad did a great job with the sound and the camera work. He had to miss the temple on Saturday night because of the evening session. David Springgay subbed for him. 

Dad is heading back to Rexburg this weekend to help with oil changes and stuff. The weather looks fine for the drive, just wet and rainy. 

A wonderful balayage for Marnie by Norene.

Nothing like feeling beautiful!

Jim is taking it easy with Grandma and Grandpa (and Rufus & Chuckles).

Jane Sassaman Class

Last month I was able to join a Jane Sassaman class in La Conner. I have always admired her work and was really inspired by her class. I prefer art nouveau style anyway, so we were a perfect fit. Her work begins with eliminating detail from a picture and then exaggerating certain features. Here is a bit of her art:

Euphorbia

Dandy

Sweet Potato Vine

This is my first effort with a poppy seed head. I learned quite a bit and enjoyed the class so much. Check out her website.

Connections

 One of the best parts of knowing so many people is making connections. Because Jackson is serving in Trujillo South, we were hoping he could make contact with Kathy and Kurt Marler, who are mission leaders in the North (recent division). 

I mentioned this to Linda Condie at the temple and she announced that she and Kathy were college roommates. In fact, they used to double-date the Marlers. The McKays and Marlers grew up in the same ward in Escondido. Don Marler even married us in the Los Angeles Temple. 

Linda and her husband served as mission leaders in the Alpine German-speaking Mission. Headquartered in Munich, it serves Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Afterwards, they returned to Seattle, where Robert serves as a sealer. 

We enjoyed a meeting in his downtown office where he showed pictures from their mission and encouraged us to serve missions. Their example has been very important to us.

The good news is that Kathy found Jackson at the MTC and even caught a picture!

Cluck, Cluck, Sew!

 Because I'm in charge of programs at Camano Island Quilters guild, I was able to get Allison to come from Poulsbo and teach for us. She stayed at my house and I talked her ear off about quilting (and church). 

Allison was teaching her Shimmer quilt, but I was unable to attend due to work at the temple. You can find all sorts of wonderful patterns at her website: www.cluckclucksew.com. 

I particularly like these two:

Frazier and Danika's Wedding

Danika and Frazier were married October 7 in the Seattle Temple. I hope I can tell the story of their meeting with the poignancy it deserves.

Frazier was serving a mission in Manaus, Brazil when he became too ill to continue. He was sent home and released, with the expectation that surgery would be needed. After a few consultations, he was able to have surgery to remove his gall bladder. While he was recovering, he came with me to the temple. I work 2pm-10pm so while I was in the office, he would attend sessions.

Danika received her mission call to Sidney, Australia at that time. She attended the temple for the first time with her bishop and family. When she saw Frazier sitting in the celestial room, she thought she recognized him. She asked her bishop if he recognized him, after all they were in the same stake. But he responded that he didn't know him.

A few weeks later, Danika attended the temple again, and wouldn't you know it, Frazier was there. She was curious, but she left for the MTC shortly thereafter. Frazier too was ready to leave. He was reassigned to Orlando, Florida-Portuguese speaking. 

Eighteen months later they returned. It was time to report to the high council and stake presidency. We were all sitting together in the high council room and she sees him. There he is again! After the meeting, Danika went on facebook to find Frazier. She looked through everyone in President Flake's account because that man knows everyone. 

It wasn't long before they saw each other at Institute and began dating. If I remember right it was 3 months until they were engaged. And now we are celebrating.

Over the River

 This Crabapple Hill pattern is very popular based on the number of times I've seen it. However, I prefer redwork, so I worked it up with red embroidery floss. Just one color to worry about. It took a long time because I only worked on it in the car.

Jim Arrives!

 Katie was a bit overdue and we were impatient for our first grandchild to arrive. She went into labor in the evening, but by the next day, nothing was happening. The hospital decided to induce her, but she suddenly started having contractions on her own. We were all kicked out of the room. Jackson, Paul, and I were on our way to work at the temple since it was a Thursday. 

Paul went down the hallway and with the door closed, he leaned close to listen. Eventually, he just stood with his back up against the wall, waiting.

Pretty soon we heard Jim crying. The hospital played a little ringtone over the sound system to announce a baby boy had been born.

Soon we were allowed in to meet him.

And we returned with Marnie so she could say hello.

Welcome to the family, Jim!

Laura Heine Class

 Laura Heine has been creating some amazing patterns lately. So many quilters have been fusing, it's hard to find enough fusable material. When I heard Calico Creations was having a class, I immediately signed up. Students could choose any pattern since the principles are the same for each.

I am working on this woman's dress form. It is quite fun to cut out flowers from Kaffe Fassett's fabrics. 

My classmate was making a little owl. I absolutely love it!

Mount St. Helens

 Paul and I took Jack to Mount St. Helens this week so he could enjoy the incredible geologic science still on display. It takes a few hours to drive to the Johnston Observatory, but there are many hikes and walks to stretch your legs once you arrive.

The Mountain blew sideways toward the location of the observatory and ricocheted down to Spirit Lake. After the eruption, the summit of Mount St. Helens was gone, forests were obliterated and rivers followed new courses. More than 150 new lakes and ponds were formed, and existing lakes filled with sediment, flooding their banks.

At the observatory you can view two well made documentaries. And at the end of the presentation, the long red velvet curtains slowly open, revealing the mountain. Incredibly awe-inspiring. 

Children's Books

 With a grandchild on the way, I feel the need to collect as many of my favorite books as possible. Marnie and I have been hitting thrift stores around Snohomish County to buy up the best children's books.

Which are your favorites?

Opening Presents

 Danika and Frazier are enjoying an opening wedding presents party. Both of them are local, so their friends are all nearby. And they were very generous. How they will get all of these things to Rexburg will be a trick. 

Elements of Art Design

 I was invited to share my Elements of Art Design with the Camano Island Quilt Guild. It was a challenge to put together art principles and application to quilting and limit it to 45 minutes. I started with the building blocks of visual art and continue with the principles of art design.

My PowerPoint presentation described these quilts more fully. The fun part is that some of these quilts were from members of this guild. The first meeting was on the island in the Odd Fellows Hall and the evening meeting was in Stanwood. I brought about 30 quilts to show and describe. As an extrovert I live for days like these.

Lake Tahoe McKay Reunion

 We enjoyed a fabulous few days together at Lake Tahoe. The lake has receded quite a bit so it was difficult to find a good beach. But we rented kayaks and wandered around a bit. One of my favorite activities was spending family home evening answering interesting questions. Tyler recorded the answers. It was fun to hear stories from my parents' youth.

Frazier in his element.

We enjoyed a session at the Reno Temple and met the presidency who is from Seattle.

Frazier and Danika became formally engaged (not at In N Out Burger).

We were walking by this sporting shop and couldn't help but stop and take a picture.

Here most of us are. I had to take Pam and Howard to the airport early so they are missing. 

We loved going to a High Cope Course at Tahoe Treetop Adventure Park. I made Danika do many of the jungle parts and she was so scared. I feel like a terrible mother-in-law!

If there is a get together, there must be a pile of children.

And there they are all together!