Easter

 As ever, Easter is always threatening rain and it turns out glorious. We've enjoyed great weather all weekend. Yesterday the kids were playing in the yard during Spring Break.

Today I've hid a record number of eggs. It seems as though I get more every year. And each year they find new and creative ways of carrying their eggs, baskets, jack-o-lantern buckets, and decorative bowls.

Forest Park

 There is a special merry-go-round at the Forest Park playground that we love. I'm very careful with starts and stops but let it spin as wild as it can while it's going. I love Spring Break.

Scouting Out the Park

 With family coming for a family reunion, we decided to scope out the new cabins at the Camano Island State Park. We want security, ease of bathrooms, meeting space for everyone, and a place to play.

Some of the cabins are still being built. The park sure feels different at nighttime. We had to hurry away before they closed the entrance gate.

Birthday Party

 With Katie and Calvin having birthdays so close together, it makes sense to have a combined party. We loved having so many teens here having fun.

Trip to Kalispell

 We decided to drive to Ida McDonald's wedding reception in Kalispell, Montana. With Greg and Mony all the way down in El Paso, it was easier, even in the winter. We drove to Missoula and stayed in the Ruby's Inn. We even enjoyed the hot tub in January. The next day we drove up to Kalispell and were shocked at the wonderful weather. We stopped by a quilt shop that was stuffed with incredible quilts for sale. I couldn't believe the talent on display. I commented to the quilters that we could move here; the weather was so nice. Their reply was that they'd never seen it so tropical in January.

Ida looked amazing and we were thrilled to see the McDonalds. It has been several years since we sat down for an Uno game in law school. What great times we had!

I couldn't get anyone to smile at me.

Here is Katie with the McDonalds in El Paso: Carlos, Ida, and Rachel.

Frazier's Band Performance

 It was a wonderful night to enjoy the Stanwood Middle School bands as they performed for family and friends. Frazier is the first in our family to join the school band. He has started with the clarinet and enjoys experimenting with other instruments in that family.

Cabbage Rose Quilt

 When I was wandering around In The Beginning in Lake City, I found a free pattern called Cabbage Rose. Patterns like this are used to sell a line of fabric. I absolutely loved it. So I bought a kit and got started. I was new to appliqué, but it was really easy.

The first layer is the leaves. I decided to make all six leaves one piece of fabric.

The flower is stitched on next and then the little center. I cut away the back when the fabric was too dark and showed through.

I brought this hand stitch project to Women's Conference and stitched during talks. I love needle-turn appliqué and made a couple of converts in my classes.