Celebrate the Red White and Blue!!

What does the Red, White, and Blue mean to you? Do you swell with pride when you hear the National Anthem as you place your hand over your heart? I not only swell with pride but I often don't make it all the way through without a few tears as thoughts of others' sacrifices come to mind. How many military families do you know? There are quite a few military men in my family in past generations. My father was in the Navy and then joined the Coast Guard.
Here I am at the ripe old age of 17 swearing into the United States Coast Guard...I know I don't look happy, but I was very excited and serious! As some of you already know, I met my husband while in the CG and when I got out, I followed him around so I was never too far from the military life I wanted... just in a different capacity.

Here is my husband (in the middle) getting his Warrant Boards pinned on by myself and his Warrant. I was and am so very proud of him. We have been relatively fortunate as to not have to be separated very much during his 24 year career and so when I place my hand over my heart, my thoughts are with all the other families who have not been as fortunate as myself. It was particularly hard for me during my daughter's college graduation as the realization struck me that so many would not be able to be present for their children this year. We are very fortunate indeed and I am always appreciative of that! Every year I take time to decorate my home from Memorial Day to the 4th of July with Red, White, and Blue. Here are some items that can help you do the same...

After 9-11 I designed "Home of the Brave" but it took me a few more years before I could put design into fabric. I have been asked why there is a flower on it? That is actually my stylized version of fireworks. You can read more about it here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4511768079/home-of-the-brave-pdf-quilt-pattern

"A Hero's Light" was designed in response to the WWII style stars I was seeing in the windows of neighbors when the war continued on. Since I am a fan of candles, I made candle mats so that a light could be lit for a loved one.

Lastly, I wish I could remember where I saw this pin! It was on etsy somewhere and it is a vintage CG pin that an officer's wife in the 1940's would have worn. It has crystals on it and was way out of my price range but man o man would I have loved that pin!!!

If you know a military family, send them a special message this 4th of July and if you don't, send out a special message on Facebook or on one of your email lists. IT will surely touch another family!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY to all the military members, family members, spouses, and children dependents and THANK YOU!!!

Lychee anyone?

When we lived overseas and my children were smaller, we used to be able to buy these fun little asian jellos in different flavors: kiwi, apple, and lychee. The white lychee jellos were my favorite although I had never actually eaten a lychee and didn't really know what they were.
One of the things my husband and I like to do is go to Saturday/Farmer's markets. When we went to the St Petersburg market last weekend, I found these wonderful little red things... Since I am adventurous (selectively:), I asked what they were and behold-they are real Lychee nuts. Aren't they a wonderful color?
You eat them the way you eat another of my family's favorites-Quenepas from Puerto Rico. You peel the red outer layer away and eat all the pulp off the inner nut. I have a few I am going to try and grow now that I am in Florida.
We also found real Guava fruit that we thought we would put into a refreshing rum drink...not so easy to do. The Guava has a bunch of hard seeds in the center and so it had to be blended first so that the seeds could be strained off. I understand now why this juice is so expensive.

Until next time, keep trying new things!

Coming to you now from FLORIDA

I can't believe it has been 2 months. Although I knew that I would lose a lot of time during the move, it still surprises me just how much.

So what have I been up to? Well after Easter and my girlies' birthdays, we prepared for my older daughter's graduation from ECU with 2 degrees no less!! I couldn't have been prouder.

Copyrighted 2010, "Flutterbys" NESTLINGS by Robin

These little framed butterflies were good-bye gifts to a wonderfully fun group of women I met with occassionally. They were gracious enough to invite me into their world and I will be forever grateful! Thank you!!

It was then time to visit my mother in Virginia one more time before moving. On the way, I FINALLY got the photo of the Tobacco Flowers that I had been trying to get for 4 years. They are so delicate for such a deadly plant.

Copyrighted 2010, "Spiked Pinwheels" NESTLINGS by Robin

Since the visit was right after Mother's Day, I was able to hand deliver my gift to her. Plus that gave me the excuse I needed to have a few more days to finish it:)

Added bonus: I was able to see my nephew that I hadn't seen in 2+ years...WOW he had grown and what a little personality. Here he is being a ham AND being licked to death by my Juni:)

All the work I had done before my trip to finish entries for the local quilt guild show paid off with 2 Blue Ribbons. Here is one for the challenge quilt that I named, "Snow Bird". The second one I will not show since I have entered it in Houston and don't want to jinx it:)

So now I live in Florida (Tampa Bay area) and this is a flower from my backyard. I don't know what it is but it is Orange, one of my favorite colors, so it doesn't really matter to me as long as it keeps blooming:)