Headed to Copenhagen, Denmark for Christmas

Excitement is mounting as my family prepares for a Christmas trip to Copenhagen.  This is extra special for a number of reasons.

This will be the first trip of this kind we will take together.

The group includes my husband, Dennis, both of our daughters - 

Alison & Natalie, my sister, Nola, and my sister-in-law, Dee.

These special pictures are of my Grandma, Dorthea Erbs.

She traveled to America from Denmark - arriving through Ellis Island.

We always spent Christmas Eve with her as a family growing up.

She was widowed very young and made a living taking in alterations 

and renting rooms in her three story house in Spencer, Iowa.

Every Christmas she made hot rolls 

and spritz cookies.

She also made flannel nightgowns with cotton eyelet lace for all of the grandchildren.

Here are two of the special pictures with her over the years.

My grandma,

Alison,

myself and

my mother.

My sister, Austin, Alison, myself & my grandma.

My grandmother passed away at the age of 99

at Christmas time many years ago.  

The minister compared her trip to America from Denmark to that of Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve.

My mother made several trips to Denmark and 

I know she will be watching out for us 

on our travels this Christmas. 

We will have memories of her 

in our hearts as well. 

Alison is our trip planner this time.

She has also been to Copenhagen and made all of the arrangements for our trip.

It feels good to be back on my blog again.

I have been away too long.

Stay tuned for pictures  from Copenhagen!

It is due to be a very special trip!

One Year Later

I have been very absent from my blog and have no excuses.

And it is hard to believe it has been a year since my mother passed away.

And, yes, the quilt auction was a BIG success 

and a very emotional time for my family.

The quilt in my mother's memory brought $800 

to the Lutheran Camp at Lake Okoboji in NW Iowa.

I am happy to report the quilt is safely in family hands.

I also made smaller versions of the quilt for my sister and her granddaughter.

I donated two additional quilts of mine to the camp auction and was most excited that this batik quilt brought $2000 to the camp.

I am taking a look at several quilts to donate this summer

but have almost completed a t-shirt quilt for the auction

featuring several camp shirts from over the years.

My friend, Trish Maxwell, has a great t-shirt business and came up

with this mosaic design.  The quilt is all t-shirt knits except for the outer border.

I used fronts, backs and even sleeves of the t-shirts to complete this one!

Can't wait to send it for the auction this summer!!

It seems I have fish quilts still on my mind.

Here is a recent project for Michael Miller fabrics.

Gotta' love my tocsin the picture!!

Next post - a year in our house in Oklahoma!

Now, that is something to talk about!!