New quilt top completed

I think it was in March when I started cutting strips for this quilt. Yesterday, I completed the piecing with the borders. I am going to send it to the quilters in MO today. It is the biggest quilt I have ever made, (100x109.5) and goes nearly to the floor when on a queen sized bed. It has been lovingly made in hopes of giving it as a wedding gift to one of our "adopted" sons, Seth Stevenson and his intended, Alesia Pruitt. The name of the pattern is simply, "Five Stripes" from the book Quilts, Quilts, and More Quilts. I have lots of extra squares that I can add to in the future to make another quilt for Rowen and me.


Because the squares are alternated with the vertical and horizontal stripes, it looks like a basket weaving.

One corner, showing the border colors.
You can always click on the pictures to enlarge. I tried to make the squares really random so that ones that are exactly alike are not close to each other in the quilt.

An Albertson get together

Herb and Jenny Albertson (our oldest nephew) and family came for a little visit June 11-13. It rained the whole time they were here, so the kids played a lot of indoor games. We also had Esther and Dan Mendez (Rowen's sister) and family here for a meal and visit on June 11 evening. This included their oldest daughter, Christy, (husband Manoj, and daughter, Anjali), and Maria, Hadassah, Sarah, and Kwani. Only Stepheni was missing from the Mendez family.
On Sunday, the Kaus family were also here for church and Sunday dinner. We had a great weekend of family and fellowship!
Outside supper table Friday night. It was raining off and on, but the pavilion kept them dry.
Abi, Hadassah, Sarah, and Kwani

Daniel, Rowen, Emily, and Celeste

Indoor Supper table Friday night: Manoj, Rowen, Janet, Esther, Dan, Christy

Maria, Jenny, and Herb

Ben, Jason, Manoj, and Jeffrey all tickled about something!

A frequent sight, Abi putting Zachary to sleep

Celeste, Emily, Jason, Daniel, Ben, and Abi

The church crowd on Sunday-Our family, Herb's family, Kaus family

Beth, Abi, Ben, and Jason

Zeke and Daniel

Jenny and Zeke

Abi and Beth

Celeste and Emily

Christy and Herb introducing Anjali and Zachary (second cousins)

Emily holding Zachary

Operation Lifesaver Train Ride 6-11-10

A picture from the past!

Fifteen years ago, we went on the Operation Lifesaver train ride with our older children and Grandma and Grandpa Albertson. I was expecting Jason, and Beth was just 1 1/2. Jeffrey can barely remember it. In the picture below, Jeffrey, Grandma Albertson, Grandpa Albertson, Beth and I enjoy the train ride. Beth actually had a good nap...

Randy told me he told Quil a story about the train ride just last week! In the picture below, Randy and Tim are on the right second seat of the train.
After all these years, we found out the train ride was available again just in time for Beth's driver's training about the subject of train safety! From the left: Janet, Emily, Beth, Jeffrey, and Jason

Here the train guys are teaching us about train safety.


Here I am with our four large, younger children. BTW, according to this picture, I am still taller than Emily!

A Funny Picture, or Make That Two!

Kassie pulling Titus in the wagon, as he holds the STUDENT DRIVER sign!

Zaccheus up in the sycamore tree!

Sunday Picnic in the mountains (6/6/10)

Our group, except for Rowen who was taking the picture.

On Sunday after church, we packed up our Sunday dinner and went to
Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park on State Highway 34 for a picnic with the Kaus family.
This is one of our family's favorite picnicking spots and the first mountain spot Rowen
ever took me during my first visit to Colorado in 1983. The Kauses had never been to this
spot, as it is hidden off the road if you don't know where to look. It was a beautiful day,
and we had yummy food, even though we did not take pictures of the actual picnic!
This is what the sky looked like; it always seems a deeper blue up there!

Randy and LeighAnna take a walk while Kelly, Janet, and Rowen discuss the Big Thompson flood.

LeighAnna loved the play equipment.

Jeffrey visiting with Harry Kaus.

Both Quinten and Harry love being with Jeffrey and Jason!

Quinten and Harry Kaus excavating with play equipment.

Jeffrey in a fun pose!

Rowen and I in front of the remains of the original power plant, which was destroyed in the 1976 Big Thompson Flood.

Kelly reading the informational signs about the 1976 Big Thompson Flood.

Some brave souls took a short hike!


It was an absolutely perfect day to be in the mountains!

Johnstown BBQ Day June 5, 2010

Small town celebrations! We have enjoyed/participated in Johnstown BBQ Days since we moved here in 1989. Early in the morning the first Saturday of June 1990 we were scared to death when we woke to fire engines going up and down every street with their sirens blaring and megaphones shouting "Get out of bed!" We didn't know the firemen wanted everyone to be at the fire station for breakfast; we just thought the town was on fire!! Nowadays, Johnstown has grown so much that our area of town does not get the continuous supply of sirens it used to. We can actually turn over and go back to sleep. All the years Randy and Tim were teenagers, they got up and went to the fire station to eat breakfast. Rowen has gone a few times, but I have never gone. But we don't sleep in on BBQ Day. There is always a cause to be involved in. Some years we have walked the parade in support of various candidates, but in the last 12 years or so, some in our family have either helped with the museum activities or parade entry or the parade organization itself. Randy and Tim used to love helping with the parade, and wearing STAFF shirts!
This year, Jeffrey drove the ACE float in the parade, and Rowen and I helped staff the Parish House Museum. Emily walked in the parade with other historical volunteers, and Beth and Jason took pictures.

Nicole Hinkle, Emily pulling the wagon with LeighAnna Kaus and Ethan Hinkle, Phoebe Hinkle walking along behind.

Historical Parade Walkers: Suzanne Kloberdanz, Quinten Kaus, Kelly Kaus, Phoebe Hinkle, Nicole Hinkle, Ethan Hinkle, Emily Albertson, LeighAnna Kaus

Ethan Hinkle and LeighAnna Kaus in sepia~

Nicole Hinkle and Kelly Kaus

Kelly Kaus, Janet, Suzanne Kloberdanz

Emily holding LeighAnna Kaus

Ethan Hinkle looking cute and old fashioned!

There were booths in the park all afternoon, free tours at the Museum, duck races on the irrigation canal, a play at the high school, and the fireworks at nightfall. Plenty of stuff to do in Johnstown on BBQ Day!