Wow; the week is almost over!!

It always amazes me how fast time flies!!! This week just started and now all we have left is the last day of this week (or the first day of next week, depending on how you look at it).

Thursday morning was a rush of school.
Esther and I left around 12:30 and went to Sabetha. After we got there, we ran a few errands and Esther dropped me off at Mary and Wavia's.
We got my quilt on the frame this week, and we are now ready to start hand-quilting a pattern across the top. We sewed 'running' stitches all around the edge and a couple rows across the middle (these stitches are temporary) to keep the backing, the front and the back all together.
With the frame we are using, you sew the bottom of the quilt onto a strip on material nailed to the frame and then later, once you've quilted the whole thing, you undo the stitches. Well, once we got everything sewed to the frame, we started sewing the edging on. But it started to get all sloppy around the bottom for some strange reason. We ended up having to take out a lot of stitches and such. So I started quilting one of the blocks while Mary sewed the edging. Well, she forgot she had pins all the way around and ended up sewing 3 pins into the edging. We had to poke holes in the side so get them out.
About 1/2 way through the afternoon, Mary and Wavia's (the ladies who are teaching me) youngest sister, Adeline drove down from Illinois with friend. They were all so glad to see each-other. It is so nice to see sisters enjoying each other. You can really tell that they developed close relationships when they were young, and have invested a lot of time and energy to keep them going throughout the years.
We got everything worked out and working smoothly by the time I had to leave, and I was glad. The sisters were excited about working on quilting the blocks over the week-end. I am excited to see the quilt taking more and more steps until completion. I would love to see it completed by April, but we'll see!!! I'll keep you posted!!! :)
(By the way, if you are ever in our area, I would love to have you help quilt some blocks!!!) :)

On Friday Esther cleaned in the morning for Grandma. When she was coming home, a hose busted under the hood and she pulled over. Thankfully, she had the cell-phone and called Mom to go pick her up. Our red van has a problem with it and is currently out of commission, and now the brown van too (but only temporarily).
The bus is still running well which is such a blessing!!! It has also been wonderful because Seth has graciously allowed Dad to use his truck to get to work, thus sparing the bus more wear and tear.
Friday night was food coop and Mom and I went in to get it. Seth stopped by on his way home from work and loaded up everyone's orders into their vehicles.
After years of trying to figure out how to distribute everything and split bulk packages up and such, they switched to a new system, which, although a lot quicker and more efficient, I am back where I started, with a big question mark. But it is really a pretty simple process, so I should be able to get it figured out before too long!!!
Lydia was there, so I got to see and hold Paul for a bit. Nephews; they are the best!!! It is just too bad that I don't have Justice close by.
After loading up, Seth and I went to tow the van home, but we didn't have any keys for it, so there was no way to steer. We ended up going on home, eating supper, and then Esther went to help him get the van since she is a licensed driver.

Today was a Saturday work day. Esther cleaned the kitchen and Noah baked for supper tomorrow night. We are having a seminar session at some friends house, but we are bringing supper so Noah worked on dessert. I worked on bathrooms and cleaning out the bus, which needed it pretty badly. Tabitha and Charity worked on the downstairs rooms some and Moses and Micah helped out wherever needed. Phoebe was helping me to scrub the front porch and I was slightly skeptical on just how much a 4-year-old could do to clean a very dirty floor. When I stepped out for a moment to get another towel to dry up, she kept on scrubbing and when I returned, she had cleaned a very large little spot, and did a great job!!! She was delighted to be able to help with such a task, and she truly was a good helper!!!!

Well, I think I should call it quits for tonight, I justed wanted to keep you up-to-date!!
Signing Off,
Elizabeth~