Some Sad News and some Good News

My Uncle Dan passed away this past month.  He flew to Arizona for a Spring Break trip and collapsed in the airport.  It took a bit for his body to come back to Wisconsin, so last week we had the funeral.  Combine that with my Mom's health declining (she went in for chemo and changed her mind since the prep caused another heart attack) I decided to go be with the family for the week.  I tried hard to pace myself so I would not get worse again this summer as I did last summer.  Here is my uncle's obituary:  

Obituary

Dan, age 59, of Eau Claire passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday morning, March 21st, 2023 in Phoenix, AZ. Dan was born February 7th, 1964 at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire, WI to DeLos and Charlene Walker. Dan was a loving husband, Dad, Papa and brother.

Dan married Babette King on June 21st, 1986 in Eau Claire, WI. Together that had two beautiful daughters, Taylor Ann Walker and Ashley Marie Walker, one Grandson Brayden Walker. All were a very important part of his life. 

Dan graduated from Memorial High School in 1982 and attend UWEC and graduated in 1986 with a BS in Accounting. Dan received his CPA License in 1987 and was a Partner at Wipfli LLC where he worked for 37 yrs and had planned to retire on May 31st, 2023. 

Dan loved spending time at his Cabin (his happy place) on Lower Long Lake, in New Auburn, WI and enjoyed fishing for hours with his grandson Brayden. Dan also loved hosting family and friends at the Cabin during the summer months. Dan enjoyed playing golf and taking Brayden golfing as well. Dan was an avid sports fan and enjoyed going to Packer games at Lambeau Field, as well as attending many other sporting events with family and friends. Dan was a walking encyclopedia when it came to sports. Dan coached both his daughters in basketball, and loved attending all their sporting events, and other milestones in their lives and was very proud of both his daughters' accomplishments and loved them dearly. Most recently Dan enjoyed being involved his grandson Brayden’s sports activities which included hockey, baseball and football, etc. Brayden was Dan’s “mini me”, buddy and partner in crime. Dan loved and cherished his family dearly.

Dan was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA), Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accounts (WICPA), Wisconsin Government Finance Officers Association (WGFOA), Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA), and Eau Claire Jaycee’s.

Dan was preceded in death by his mother Charlene (Rushman) Walker and father Delos Walker. Along with his grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other family members.

Dan is survived by his loving wife Babette (King) Walker, daughter Taylor Ann Walker, daughter Ashley Marie Walker, and grandson Brayden Walker who gave his Papa absolute Joy! Dan is also survived by his Brother Steven Walker of Eau Claire, WI, sisters Toni (Gary) Hirn of Marshfield, WI, and Nancy (Greg) Pederson of Tilden, WI along with many other close relatives and friends. 

I quilted my Kathleen Tracey Mini Sampler with baptist fans a few weeks ago.  Pretty happy with how it turned out.

I got the binding on my Hawaii Sunset quilt after it came back from Melissa who quilted it.  

I finally made this cute Red Button "Little Blooms" pattern that Barb made awhile back.  I admired hers so much I had to make one.  I plan to quilt it with a meander.  I ordered a new template/pattern to use and am looking forward to getting to it.

My brother Sam and his wife Ashley and youngest son, Bear flew in for the funeral and to spend some time with Mom and Dad.  Bear and Hazel hit it off immediately.  It was really fun to watch them play together.

Barb and I sewed the April block for A Quilting Life's BOM.  Mine below.

 Barb's.

In better news, we put bids on six houses and finally got the last house.  It is still in the process of closing so keep your fingers crossed.  If all goes well, we will be moving in May.  We will be about 13 minutes from Hazel and granddaughter two!  I have parathyroid surgery tomorrow and am hoping for a fast recovery and we scheduled movers for mid May.  April is kind of a whirlwind and May is looking the same.  

Dad's Quilt of Valor and More

I am really enjoying the Once Upon a Book Club boxes!  I read this one in a few days.  Normally I think Picoult is a bit to fluffy but this book had lots of info on Egypt, death dualas, etc.  I actually really enjoyed it and was not sure which couple to root for!

I am also really getting into solo gaming!  I have been playing Tiny Epic Zombies almost everyday.  I need to teach it to Kathy so we can play competitive or cooperatively, but so far I got my ten bucks out of this used game (which arrived with extra kickstarter stuff unbeknownst to me!) and it is my current favorite!

Last Wednesday Kathy had shoulder surgery.  I was her driver but could not hang at the hospital so I hung out with Hannah and Hazel!  So nice to have six hours with her and she was an angel the whole time.  Cannot get enough of this Gramala thing!  Kathy is doing well, I am more worn out than usual from helping her and being her left hand.  Oy!

I dug out my hand sewn hexies to go to the North Shore quilt guild's small socially distanced gathering a few weeks ago.  It was nice to meet five of the members in person.  I have been stitching on a few hexies here and there and am glad this thing is seeing some progress again!

My sister and I nominated our (step) Dad for a QOV almost a year ago.  The gals in Tucson finally were able to deliver (with masks of course) and he loves it!  He served many years in the Navy.

 My sister's ex roomie also got one the same day and he was pretty proud of it too!

Quilted and Bound and a Loss

 Keeping up with my reading this week.  Finished this one and now reading Barbara Kingsolver's "Lacuna."

 I picked up FOUR quilts from the longarmer down the street.  She quilted my sister's Midnight Flight Christmas Quilt and now it is bound and waiting for a label.

 She also quilted my daughter Hannah and son in law Jeremy's wedding signature quilt.  Also bound and waiting for a label.  I used to label ALL my quilts, then somewhere along the line I got lazy and stopped.  I need to get back to it!

 The grandbaby's quilt with sloth in the center (Hannah and I saw sloths for the first time at the Dallas zoo and we have been in love ever since!).  The embroidery on this is awesome.  My friend Barb decided to make the blocks for me as a gift to Hannah who she has never met.  SO SWEET!  Of course then I had to figure out a pattern and since they are not finding out the gender it had to be gender neutral.  These thirties fabrics worked out well.

 Here is a peek at my lion for grandbaby.  I am hand stitching the binding on so not quite done, but I love the leaves the gal at Blue Whale Quilt Studio put on him (at my request).

Been doing lots of resting, reading, etc. but in the evenings lately I have found some time and energy to sew.  Taking each day as it comes and getting so excited for baby.
If you do not want depressing news click off here.

My nephew Christopher passed away a week and a half ago.  He was thirty years old and six weeks older than my daughter Hannah.  He is the only son of my sister.  She is heartbroken as we all are.  He is above with Coleman as a packer for Halloween.

 Above Coleman, Hannah, Jay (Mac) and Christopher on the bottom.  I took them all to the pumpkin farm and we had such a great day there.

 Christopher smiling in #3. And with my kids below too. So many memories with him and hard to even believe he is gone.

 I wrote his obituary and tried to capture who he was and how much he was loved.

With deepest sorrow, we announce that Christopher Jordan Simons, age 30, of New River, Arizona, died suddenly on Friday, July 17^th, 2020, while undergoing emergency surgery.  Christopher, endearingly known as CJ by his family and friends, was born on December 26, 1989, to his loving mother Tina Baeza (Neff) and his father, Brad Simons in Burnsville, Minnesota.  He was a son, grandson, nephew, cousin, and a friend to so many.  As a child he was always smiling and finding new and clever ways to get into trouble.  He was beyond intelligent and had a knack for math, spelling, and grammar. He was our go to guy for setting up electronics or troubleshooting computer and TV issues!   He would regularly correct others for using improper grammar.  CJ graduated from Career Success High School in Cave Creek, Arizona, at the age of 16 in 2006.  He followed in his family's footsteps and joined the Navy soon after graduation.  During his service he was part of Mission Enduring Freedom and visited much of the world while serving his country.  CJ had many friends, and if you were one you knew you were a brother to him and he would always be there if you needed anything.  He was as loyal a person as anyone could ask for.  He was known for giving advice (our “Dr. Phil”), love, and his daring and brave demeanor.  He could be stubborn and a bit quick tempered, but CJ never seemed scared.  He would never back down from anything. CJ always loved animals, playing poker, video games, going off-roading, cheering for the Packers, and spending time with his friends and family.  He could be regularly seen in his Boondock Saints shirt and seemed to always wear a hat.  He didn't like to smile in pictures, but his smile was larger than life and if you saw it, it would warm your heart.

 He will be greatly missed by his mother Tina (New River) and his father Brad (Eau Claire, Wisconsin); his grandparents Toni and Gary Hirn; his aunts and uncles (Sam, Ashley, Angela, Kathy, Steven, Cheryl, Mark, and Sue);  his cousins (Coleman, Hannah, Jay, Benjamin, Christian, Colton, Barrett, Stephanie, Billy, and Sarah), his girlfriend Jennifer, his ship mates and Navy brothers,  his “New River Mafia,” as well as many others.  CJ was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents and his maternal grandfather Lenny.

We feel if CJ could tell us one last thing he would tell us to hold our heads high. To smile at all the fond memories.  To cry tears of joy of the time spent with him and not tears of sadness.  To hug those you love, forgive those who need it, and know he is looking down on us smiling, and drinking a Faygo.

We love you to the moon and back CJ and always will.  You will always hold a place in so many hearts.  

A Celebration of Life and military funeral honor ceremony will be held as soon as we are allowed to gather the many family, friends, co-workers and all the people who loved CJ.

Prepping for Good Fortune!

Good Fortune Quiltville Mystery has fabric requirements available online.  This mystery will be starting on Black Friday and usually goes until around New Years.  By February the free pattern (with step by step awesome instructions) is pulled and you will need to buy the pattern. If you aren't going to make it, I suggest saving the steps anyway in case you fall in love with it!
My daughter Hannah recently got re-engaged to her high school sweetheart (they split not long after we moved out here to Arizona) and she is happier than I have ever seen her.

We love Jeremy and are glad they both had time to see what else is out there and still come back together.  The wedding is set for June 14th in Pepin.  Kathy and I are seriously considering moving back to Wisconsin at the start of June.  We are about 80 percent there. Not sure where we will land there (and it could be Minnesota) as it depends alot on where these two want to relocate to.  They plan on start their family immediately and want us grandmas there to help raise the babies.  We will brave the dark and cold of Wisconsin for that honor. 
My son Jay, whose official name is Mackenzie, has been engaged to Liz for a few years now and they are closer to setting a date.  They do not plan a big shindig and may even get married at the Renn Faire. 

We love Liz as she is like Jay's perfect match!  So easygoing and funny.  These two currently live in Appleton but plan to move to Green Bay to finish college.  After that no telling but I hope they wind up near us, or us near them!
So since these girls both love and I mean LOVE purple, Kathy and I decided we will both work on purple mystery quilts this year.  We are planning to do one with neutrals and one with darks as neutrals.  We will change up which color goes where but the palate will otherwise be the same.

I also love the name of this quilt and hope both these couples have good fortune for years and years!

Traditions Quilts Arrive in Wisconsin

My grandma Char's sister--my great Aunt JeanAnn loves her Traditions quilt.  So does my Aunt Sally but I haven't seen a picture of her with it yet.  So here she is with her Packer colored flamingos!

Moth in the Window and Grand Illusion Progress and Coleman is 28!

 Tonight I sewed up twenty more double diamonds for clue two of the Quiltville Grand Illusion mystery quilt.  Ten more to go, I am in the home stretch and will be ready for clue three when it comes out on Friday!  The key to these units is taking my time and not zipping through them!
When I finished that I wanted to do something easy so I made two Moth in the Window blocks.  I have cut out a bunch (and found my leftover cut out stuff from before too) and like to make these in positive/negative pairs.

 I want to get this top done before Christmas so I can wrap it up for Coleman.  It needs quite a few more blocks though so hopefully I can get going on it now that I have the other quilts bound and such!  Pattern is in Quiltmaker Nov./Dec. 2011.

Today is Coleman's 28th birthday too!  I cannot believe I have a kiddo that old!

We scanned a few of Coleman's scrapbook pages--here he is as a newborn and his senior year.  And below is his baptism and him in my lap (taken by my then four year old brother Sam), his first Christmas and when we moved back to Wisconsin (he was born in AZ) we got a five generation picture on the couch.  My Great Grandma Myrt, My Papa DeLos, my mom, me and Coleman.  Time sure flies!

A Prize, A QOV for Papa and Other Goodies!

Sassafras Lane Designs has sent me Quiltmaker's 100 blocks Volume 10!  I am a winner!  I am so excited to get this magazine, I really like the Sassafras Lane block "Glee" it is so modern and of course I also love Bonnie Hunter's block, "Something Blue" and several of the others I saw while hopping around the blogs!

 Picture From Quiltville.com

 I decided to take a picture of my magnets from Zazzle.com (ForestJane) and realized when I put them in order that I am missing #3 Tobacco Road!  I have all of them in pins, but somehow missed getting that magnet.  It will be on my next order.  I love this stuff, time to order a new T-shirt with Bonnie's #1 fan on the back too--I need to go down a size! :)

 I put my mother's father (Papa DeLos Walker) in for a Quilt of Valor.  He is a world war two vet--was in the Navy.  He is in a nursing home now and this past weekend Karen delivered this fabulous QOV to him.  He loves it and I am so happy he got it!  I am so glad for this organization and am pleased to make a quilt or two each year to donate to this worthy cause.

  I am astonished at how some folks make lots of quilts for this or really intricate patterns that are time consuming--for instance Kevin the Quilter is making Grand Illusion as a QOV. My hat is off to him! If you are so inclined you can check out how Kevin changed up the fabrics to QOV colors and see his finished clue one! He and I are considering doing a second Grand Illusion half sized--I know, I am missing my mind somewhere! I want to do one in Packer Colors for my brother, I think!

Kathy let me open up an early Christmas gift...she got some of the fabric from my wish list!  It was from Green Fairy Quilts on Etsy.  I love their shop! 

1. So should I start making more hst's for a second half size Grand Illusion?  Or just sit tight til Friday when clue two comes out?

A Very Special Christmas Surprise!

This past year my Dad's brother Jim lost his battle with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  He was an amazing man of faith and one of the best male role models I had in my life.  Here is pictured with the Arizona sunshine quilt I sent him and the little memorial quilt I made him with my Dad's shirts.  He always sent my sister and I birthday cards with 5 or 10 dollars in it to enjoy a cup of coffee, this year when I got my card I wondered if it would be the last.  He passed away less than a week after our birthdays.  Today I got a surprise in the mail.  His second wife, my aunt Mary, (aunt Norma died of cancer many years ago) sent me this hand painted ornament that my uncle Jim had made for us before he passed.  This has my dad, then my Uncle Lew and then Uncle Jim in it.  It is made from a picture before my Uncle Rick was born.  These three boys lost their mom at about the ages in this picture and then my Grandpa Len remarried Grandma Nan and they had Rick.  What a treasure this ornament is, such a thoughtful gift from a thoughtful man.  Oh how I miss him, especially since my Dad is also gone.  Lew passed away many years ago from ALS.  So all three of these boys are gone, but live forever in our hearts and our stories.  

You don't have to read on, but in the hopes that one day my children's children read this blog they may want to see Uncle Jim's obituary.  So here it is:

James J. Neff, DDS, 65
	James “Jim” Jeffrey Neff, age 65, of Winsted, entered into his eternal rest Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013. He was born Sept. 24, 1947, in Oak Park, IL, to Leonard and Florence (Lottridge) Neff. Jim spent his adolescent and high school years with his family in Chippewa Falls, WI. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree from University of WI- Eau Claire, and with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from Marquette University. After serving a term as a dentist in the Air Force in Washington, Jim decided to leave active duty in the military and start private practice dentistry. He and his beloved wife, Norma researched 50 communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and agreed that Winsted would fulfill most of their desires for a good environment in which to raise their children, be close to family, have a quality lifestyle, and provide high quality dental care. Jim had many interests, and always jumped into life with both feet in running stride. Besides maintaining a successful, state-of-the art dental clinic, he was active in many community activities, and in national and international organizations. He was a 5th degree black belt in Shotokan karate, and was instrumental in developing the Winsted Karate Club, which trained several world champions within the ASKF organization. He was active for many years in contributing to the growth of Winsted through his leadership in the Winsted Civic and Commerce Association and the Winsted Community Chest. Additionally, he served as a director, vice chairman, and chairman of St. Mary’s Hospital and Home; and as a director of Health Central Systems. He was on the founding board of St. Mary’s Apartments (now Linden Wood Apartments), was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 407, and a member of the Waverly Boosters. He also served for many years on the board of directors of Mayer Lutheran High School. Jim served in various leadership capacities in the churches which he attended over the years. In 1989, he was presented the Outstanding Citizen Award by the Winsted Civic and Commerce Association; and in 2001, he was presented the Outstanding Service Award by the City of Winsted. For over a decade, Jim has served on the board of directors of VVMI (Vernacular Video Missions International), and has been the chairman since 2004. Through this organization, he has enabled nationals in the Philippines, Guatemala, and Peru to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through Christian videos in their heart languages. He was also instrumental in beginning the Our Father’s Promise School of Ministry and Living Waters Christian Fellowship. Jim loved the Lord Jesus Christ with his total being and boldly proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God to people with whom he came in contact. He loved to pray for people and was known for how he reflected the love of Christ. Jim loved God’s creation, and enjoyed being outside bicycling, kayaking, SCUBA diving, camping, hiking, and cross country skiing. He is survived by his wife, Mary (Meyer Stamm); his brother, Richard (Lisa) Neff; his daughters, Carla (Chris), and Patricia (David); his sons, Brian (Joy), and Sid (Rebecca); his brothers-in-law, John (Vicki) and Marv (Gloria) Schauland; his sister-in-law, Gena Meyer and brother-in-law Nick (Barbara) Meyer; six grandchildren, Joseph, Emma, Maggie, Alanna, Isabella and Arya; and 13 nieces. In addition to his first wife, Norma, Jim was preceded in death by his brothers, Lewis and Allan; father Leonard and mother Florence; step-mother Nancy; father-in-law and mother-in-law Oscar and Emma Schauland; mother-in-law Mildred Meyer; and sisters-in-law: Ruth Schauland and Mary Schauland. A celebration of Jim’s life took place Sunday, Aug. 18 at 3 p.m. at the home of Living Waters Christian Fellowship at the Waverly Village Hall, with the Rev. Joel Swedberg officiating. Music was provided by the Waterfall Praise Team. Pallbearers were Louie Stifter, Brett Monson, John Schauland, Marv Schauland, Terry Sheldon, Kim Jackson, Nick Meyer, and Rick Neff. Visitation was Saturday, Aug. 17 at Chilson Funeral Chapel in Winsted from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorials will be donated to various missions that Jim and Mary support. The Chilson Funeral Home in Winsted served the family. Online condolences may be made to www.chilsonfuneralhome.com.

Valentine's Day :)

 Happy Valentine's Day!  Today I finished work early and Kathy and I went out for sushi.  Then we came home and did a little sewing and had a relaxing afternoon!  I sewed up this Betty's Choice block just for the heck of it.  It is Bonnie's most recent scrap block in Quiltmaker.  I am thinking I should make one of each block as the magazines arrive and just collect the blocks til I figure out something to do with them.  Then if I find one I LOVE I can keep on making it (like Jack in the Box).  Kathy always has great success with using black instead of lights so I tried it too...not sure it works for this block, but hey it is one block!

 I also did another QOV for Alycia.  Hoping some of the gals from PHXMQG will do a few too and we will mail them out Tuesday.

 I also sewed my purple pinwheels for the Rainbow BOM :)  I still have spools to go.

 We rehung the BOM's now that we have our purple blocks done too.  We haven't done red yet, since we are only two months in...I seriously can't wait to see this rainbow quilt shape up, it is going to be one of my all time favorites, I know already!

 For Valentine's Day I got Kathy a Red Sox shirt and lunch, and she got me this fabric (I was dying to get lots of greens for the emerald challenge coming up and the Denyse Schmidt's were on clearance as was the pattern..lol!  I picked it out and told her thanks!).  She also hunted me down an african violet.  These were my great gpa Rushman's favorite since his wife (Violet Valentine--so named for her birthday on Valentine's Day) was named Violet.  Just realized I love that name, maybe one of my grandaughter's will be named Violet, lol!  I can still remember all the flowers he grew--he also whittled.  I have an amazing peach pit in a basket shape that he whittled.  Hang on, let me take a picture of that too!

Here is the little basket.  It is one of my cherished possessions.  I think of my Grandma Char's (her dad whittled it) grandkids I am the only one that got one.  Pretty cool!  

I remember this set of great grandparents as two people who really loved each other.  They died a week apart when I was in my teens...they couldn't bear to be apart.  My beloved Grandma Char followed just a few years later.  I hope they are celebrating Gma Vi's birthday up there in heaven tonight!  Happy Valentine's Day All!