Quilting and Loving

I had hoped to get the John Deere quilt done for Caleb before we left for our trip . . . it didn't happen. I was able to devote some time to it last week and am now just finishing hand sewing the binding.

As I was wrapping up the final quilting, I found myself frustrated with the mistakes I was making as well as those that had already been made. A strange thought came to mind - this quilt with all of it's quirky stitch patterns and mistakes is a picture of my love for Caleb - imperfect and not easily moved. I have a fierce love for my son. I believe he has a fierce love for me. He is honest to a fault - which I respect and appreciate.

Hymn of Gratitude and Praise

The words to this hymn ministered greatly to my heart yesterday. . .

What-e'er my God ordains is right: his holy will abideth;
I will be still what-e'er he doth, and follow where he guideth.
He is my God; though dark my road, he holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to him I leave it all.

What-e'er my God ordains is right: he never will deceive me;
he leads me by the proper path; I know he will not leave me.
I take, content, what he hath sent; his hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait his day.

What-e'er my God ordains is right: though now this cup, in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart, I take it, all unshrinking.
My God is true, each morn anew sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.

What-e'er my God ordains is right: here shall my stand be taken;
though sorrow, need or death be mine, yet am I not forsaken.
My Father's care is round me there, he holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to him I leave it all.

Beautiful Memories

I must say how thankful I am for my husband. He graciously spent time putting together the collages above for our family to remember the wonderful vacation we just returned from.

We have one of them in a frame (20x30) ready to hang. . . just haven't decided where.

It is a joy to watch the kids looking at the collage, pointing out specific pictures, remembering all that we did on vacation!

On the road with some comforts from home

Comfort on the road.

Each of the kids took a special piece of home with them on our trip. Beda made each of them a quilt - which bring lots of comfort and familiarity in unfamiliar situations.

I am thankful for the treasure of quilts!

Wiped out!

 

Calvin is worn out after visiting Jamestown Settlement and taking a ferry across the James River to Scotland, VA and Surry, VA.

The monument to the three ships that landed at Jamestown in 1606 from England.

Caleb being Caleb onboard a replica of the "Elizabeth" trying to move a piece of rigging?

Calvin being Calvin, trying to be like his big brother. . .

All three Kloster kids aboard the "Susan Constant" at Jamestown Settlement.

Calvin testing out one of the berths . . . yucko

The boys defending the Jamestown Settlement. . . don't you feel safer?

Across the James River we drove through Scotland and Surry, Virginia and took a quick look at what is left of Bacon's castle. The driveway was beautiful, tree lined with a vast lawn . . . Gorgeous!

Going, going, going

We have been going each day - this week we've been to Busch Gardens twice, Colonial Williamsburg three times and Water Country USA once. Holy Schnikes that is a lot of going! It's been great having the Bounce pass that Greg found on line when we got here last Saturday. It was a better buy than individually purchasing tickets for each place. We had 7 days to go to any of the three parks listed above. It has been very nice to not feel the pressure of super full days - we've been able to spend a little time or more each day and still have a good time!

Tuesday, after lunch we visited the Yankee Candle Flagship store - man o man did they have candles and knick knacks and Christmas knick knacks and ornaments, oh my! The kids each dipped a souvenir candle - Caleb a baseball glove, Calvin a tow-truck and Elise a Yankee Candle Jar.  We also found some Leather scented air spray. . . Nice!

After the candle extravaganza we headed to Colonial Williamsburg and visited the Bindery - where they bind books. Not necessarily printed books - but books for ledgers and record keeping - like they would have in 1774. Fascinating. All the paper they work with is linen and had to (at the time) be imported from England! We learned that binding a book is a 28 step process. To apprentice as a bookbinder takes seven years. The gentleman doing the binding (or talking about the binding did his apprenticeship in the south of England and it took 6 years.

We stopped in to the printing shop - where the day's work was done and prep work for the next day's work was beginning. The gentleman there was inking the sheep skin which is then put over wool attached to a stick that is used to put the ink on the typeface. It appeared to be a tedious process when we were able to see the printing process in motion on Thursday afternoon.

The Gunsmith and foundry was also on our list of places to visit. There are apparently only two gunsmiths on staff and the backlog of work for private orders is seven years long - they charge $15,000 to 20,000 for a custom made rifle. Greg was of course immediately trying to figure how many gunsmiths you'd have to apprentice to get the backlog gone. . . Always thinking!

After the gunsmith, I believe we made our way to the Govenor's Palace - which was occupied by the man appointed by the King of England  . . . agghhh. The entrance hall walls were covered and I mean covered with swords and rifles. . . up the stairs, the walls were also covered with swords and rifles. We took a peak into the pantry, the little girl's bedroom - the governor's wife's dressing room - which had been his office - she took it over when she arrived from England and booted him the the breakfast room. This dressing room had walls covered with hand tooled gilded leather. Apparently when the builidng was restored - by Mr. Rockefeller in the1930's he spared no expense!  The walls were exquisite! We also saw the master suite, the ball room - blue walls - the supper room - green walls with wooden trim - that had been painted white. The wooden trim took 2 men 4 years to carve for the original palace. Mr. Rockefeller employed two men for 4 years to carve the trim for the restored supper room.

After touring the inside of the palace, we walked out in the gardens. The kids enjoyed running through the maze and tormented a few small creatures as we walked through other bits of the vast gardens. It was a beautiful afternoon!

Wonder of wonders earlier in the day we had driven around some and found a Trader Joes! I could barely contain my excitement when Greg offered to go back that way - so we could get our bread for dinner there. I haven't been in a TJ's for almost a year. I think I was able to visit one last August when we were in California for Hannah's wedding.

The kids and I had a blast - enjoying our coffee sample and finding new snacks! and some bread for dinner . . .  which we ended up not using - as all of the sudden tacos sounded better than pasta! 

The snacks were a hit! and still are.

Will write more later!

Since we last met . . .

On Sunday, we visited a PCA church here in Williamsburg http://www.gracecovpca.org/#/home and enjoyed the sermon. On our way to lunch Elise was filling out the visitor information sheet and under the line titled: "I would like more information about" she wrote why the pastor's hair looks like Spock." Now we all wondered this - but hadn't written it out. Only Elise!

After a delicious lunch at Hot Dog King, we headed back to the coach for a quiet afternoon - I was blessed by my husband, who graciously watched the kids play outside so that I could take a nap. It was an amazing nap. Thank you love!

We had stir fry for dinner here before heading back intoColonial Williamsburg to attend a Capitol Concert - which I was sure was at the Parish church - however it was at the Capitol. Thus the name Capitol.

The concert was played on a harpsichord by a gentleman acting the part of chief musician to the govenor in Williamsburg  in 1774. It was an experience to listen to him both talk and play. Calvin fell asleep on my lap moments after sitting down - and missed almost the entire concert. We heard talk of Frederic Handel and other musicians of the time. We only heard music that had been composed by English composers.

On Monday, we headed to Busch Gardens arriving at a little after 11 am. The crowds were not as intense as we expected for a holiday, the heat however was intense!