A Good Old Fashioned Quilting Bee

We've been talking about having a quilting bee for a long time, and it finally happened. This weekend all the girls from the family that live in town were invited to Grandma Kays for a quilting bee. They could bring a quilt if they had one that need to be put together and we all worked on them.

Grandma, Robin, Crystal, Dana, Tama, Colleen, Ellen and girls, Linda, me and all the little young ones were there. We set up two sets of stands and started tying quilts. (I know it's a quilting bee, but we though we'd start with the basics, putting them on, tying, taking them off and binding). The little kids played on the swings and the tramp and watched.

Of course we forgot to take pictures until we were nearly done. We started on a quilt for Caberiel that Tama brought. It turned out really cute.

We took a break at noon and had a potluck lunch of salads, chips and drinks. Then we put on a levi quilt Robin was doing for Travis and Stef for camping.

And we finished off with a quilt for Crystal.

They all turned out good and if you know us at all, you can bet that there was a lot of laughing and giggling and we had a good time. We even think we'd like to do it again next year.

Licking Rocks!

It all started when Jon was in High School. He signed up for a jewelry class and learned to do some silversmithing. The joy he found in creating jewelry from stones became an addiction and he went to the rock quarry Bedstone Rock to learn more from a good friend Al. He learned all about a lot of different kinds of rocks and stones and a whole lot more about making them into jewelry. Thanks Al for fueling his interest.

Now that he is on his own and married, he has a dream of doing it for a living. He has a full time job already, but someday he would like to have his own business. His friend Chantz has entered the world of rocks with him. They have been busy learning how to wire wrap, an alternative to silversmithing. In preparation for the day that they could go into business, Jon has acquired a rock saw, grinder, lap sander, tumbler, cabbing machine, fawcetting machine, and many other tools. The only thing missing was having a large supply of rocks and stone to work with.

Well.....he doesn't have to worry about that anymore. Yesterday we had 14 pallets of rock delivered to our back yard. And as you can see he has some brothers who are just about as interested in rock as he is. Like I say it is an addiction. They hold rocks, look at rocks, hold them up to the light, and.......lick rocks. I know it sound sick, but they really do. Something about how you can't see what they will look like polished, until you lick them.

He even has our granddaughter doing it. The other day she picked up a rock from the yard and brought it to her dad. Then she licked it and said, "See Pretty!" He decided to wet the rocks with a rag after that, but once in awhile I still see him with a stone licking it.

But I have to admit, they have made some pretty necklaces.

Hole-In-The-Rock Trek

For months the boys have been getting ready to go on a youth trek to the Hole-in-the-Rock trail. The youth were all divided up into groups and assigned to a "Ma and Pa". These families would call the boys to meet with them for activities such as, hiking, making leather belts, homemade ice cream, cook outs, and other fun get togethers. At the meetings they met their "brothers and sisters" and they got acquainted with their families.
In preparation for the actual Trek, the boys all made an effort to learn more about their Great-great grandfather Kumen Jones.
The Hole-in-the-Rock Trail was made by Mormon pioneers that were called by their church to make their way to the four corners state area and make a settlement and take the gospel to the indian people in that area. Kumen was one of those called to go and he took his young wife Mary with him. The group that made the first trek was made up of families of various ages. Kumen and Mary were just a young couple at the time.
The boys learned that the original travelers faced some very difficult times, but were cheerful and positive throughout their travels. They put their faith in God and decided that they would see it through and complete the mission that they were called to do.
The boys wore little wooden symbols on strings around their necks to remind them to be positive and cheerful during the trek. They began their trek by working at the Bluff Fort doing some weeding, path making, rock moving, chinking on the cabins, digging out old trees and planting new ones. They relaxed in the evening with some square dancing and some spiritual counsel. During the next two days, despite the hot weather, the gnats, and the hard work, the boys said everyone helped each other and tried to remain positive as they pulled handcarts through the sand and up the rocks where the original pioneers went. They each had some solo time where they read letters from their parents (us, not there Mas and Pas) and took time to think and record their thoughts in their journals. LeGrand Black talked to the youth about the original pioneers and the trials they faced. He told them about how the people were refined and strengthened during their journey and for the rest of their lives.
Talking with the boys about what they learned, one of them said, "We can do hard things and be cheerful and know that we are not alone. We just need to trust in Heavenly Father."
And that's what it's all about.