The Kohlmans

My other Christmas project this year was for my Grandma Lu. When they sold their old house , I tried my best to help her rid her life of fabric scraps, with one goal in mind: make Grandma a quilt. She's made so many quilts and wall hangings for others, but she doesn't make many for herself, and not many have made them for her. So, when I saw the piles and piles and boxes of fabric, I knew that it would be perfect: a scrappy quilt made for Grandma from her own scraps. (Little did I know that I barely made a dent, and she has a whole closet full of scraps in her new house.) I enlisted the help of my family, sending them fabric to cut into squares. Everybody who received a package sent it back, in nice, neat sections. And, I would be remiss to not mention the fact that I kind of left it, mostly pieced, at my mom's house. She pretty much finished it, including the border and binding (inbetween which she found someone to machine quilt it, so that it would be finished for C...

My Grandma & Grandpa Loganbill are building a new house. Last weekend I stopped by (between baby showers) and got to see the progress.   The front  HUGE garage!  big closets in the garage yellow study with HUGE windows I love the color! bedroom living room side of the great room, with some more HUGE windows dining room side of the great room with pass-through to kitchen kitchen before cabinets   the view from the living room windows back of the house I'm sure things have changed some in the last week. They are on track to move in mid-December. I'm excited to see the finished place!

We sat at The Breadbasket Saturday evening (the 21st). Grandpa commented on how noisy the room was. My cousin Sherri leaned over and reminded him that over half the room was his family - his children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "You mean. I'm responsible for all this ?!" "Yeah, Grandpa." "Then I should be tired!" Probably, Grandpa. I think you've earned some rest. (scroll down for a post about saying goodbye)

I've never liked geraniums. After all, flowers are supposed to smell good. But these don't. They kind of stink, to tell you the truth. I may have even given my mother strict instructions not to plant geraniums in pots to decorate at our wedding. So it was completely confusing when, a couple of weeks ago, I started to feel an intense desire to plant geraniums - but not just anywhere. In the milk can and the pot on my front porch. Every time I glanced at one, on the way into Dillon's or driving past a neighbor's house, I wanted to reach out and grab one. Um... but... I don't even like geraniums. Why would I want to plant them? Then it hit me. Both of my grandmas have always had geraniums... Grandma Lu in pots on her patio, Grandma Donna in planters and pots on her front porch. And when things change, in big ways, I tend to long for the comfort I find in what's familiar, in the traditions and habits entrenched in who we are. Nostalgia always wins.

(This post is mostly for my sisters. At least the pictures.) My Grandma Lu &  Grandpa Varden sold their house, so Easter 2011 was the last family holiday at 511 Park Place. We spent countless hours playing in this backyard - under the bridge, up in the tree house, around the weeping willow, grabbing cattails in the creek. I know that it's time to move on, and that this is for the best, but I'll miss this place. My grandparents (all four of them) have been a big part of my life for all of it, and this house is no small part of the part of my life they are. And while it'll be hard not to come back every Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter and days in between, I'm looking forward to their new place and the new memories that will be made there.

Sprawling ranch in a beautiful established neighborhood. Sellers are the original owners and have taken price in maintaining this home that was custom built with many extras. The house was built with pre-stressed concrete so the lower level is a storm shelter. Lots of storage space. All brick home features lots of windows to view the wooded lot with creek. The lower level has a large family room complete with wood burning fireplace and kitchenette, and view out windows to large decorative patio. Lower level also features 15.5x20 gym, 16x10 shop and garage. Upper level features screened in porch, main floor family room and 12x10 study. Located in one of the nicest lots in town. Close to schools, city park and city pool. Art Deco decor. Blueprint shows over 3000 sq ft on main floor.  I found this online, a realtor's description of a house for sale. It's an amazing place, really. Custom built in the '60's. Cared for to this day by the origina...