What a Day

Not even sure how to start this post because it was a great AND tragic day at the same time.

Even though it is way past my beauty sleep time, because writing is therapeutic, I really needed to post.

This is the way a family outing starts out. This could have been the same picture snapped by the mom of the 11 year old girl that died at the ice caves today. Same age as Noelle. Just a little older than Daemyan. Wow,

I can barely comprehend (and don't want to) the grief and confusion this family must be feeling. You are trying to do the right thing by taking your kids on a road trip and the unthinkable happens.
We got there right as one of the aid cars was getting there. I was in la la land. Syl was driving, we had an awesome lunch and just wanted to take a nice drive. I wanted to do something with Daemyan. I wanted to stay and Syl and John wanted to leave.
I told Daemyan we were going to the ice caves and that's what I wanted to do.
I did not realize the severity of what had happened.
We started to walk the trail thinking that someone had broken a leg, not ok, but not life threatening. As we kept walking, people were walking back from the sight, very somber, shell shocked,  but only a few shared what was going on. Some EMT's
passed us with a stretcher, in a hurry but not "rushing". I started to get a bad feeling that I was pushing aside. What did they know that we didn't?
 But I had told Daemyan we were going to the  ice caves and I didn't want to let him down. ......like his dad...... like his mom.............

Daemyan was a little snot today. I know he doesn't  understand too much that went on at the ice caves today...........or last night with his dad.......... but I hope that someday he will look upon this day with fondness, even with it's tragedy, as a day he got to go on a road trip with grandma, aunt Sylvia, Noelle, and uncle John.

That's all I've got.

More on my quilt :)

I started this quilt for Daemyan last July.  I have  never made a quilt before, but working in a quilt store, you kind of catch the bug! I pieced it together a little bit at a time and finally had it professionally quilted and I love it!
It still needs the binding done, which I will have professionally done also since it takes a lot of hand sewing :(
I doubt it would EVER get done if I planned on doing it! Today Kandi, my boss, helped me make a pillow case with my leftover pieces. Also my first try at a pillowcase. It's really weird, the hum of my sewing machine is very relaxing ....kind of like comfort food. Reminds me of my mom sewing when I was younger. My french grandmother, mom's mom, also sewed, so I guess like singing, I am a late bloomer. Better late than never!

My first quilt!!!

   

4rth of July weekend, Cindi style

Cindi style as in LATE! ***blush***

Unfortunately, this picture does not even begin to show the craziness of our 4rth of July celebration.
It actually started on Saturday with the yearly Alapalooza and went on until way into the morning of July 5th.
Al & Lori Kirkeby have a party on the first Saturday of July for Al's birthday and have cleverly named it "Alapalooza". We have been faithfully attending it now for quite a few years, although I can't remember the exact year that they started it. We all look forward to it every year, as the weather is always great, food and drink good and plentiful, dog heaven if you choose to bring your pooch and then there is the swimming pool........... The kids get there and we don't see  them until it is time to leave.The only time they come out is to eat, and even then, we have to force them!

Even after swimming all day, they were so excited about the fireworks (which we had both Saturday and Sunday) that it was hard to get them tired out. Oh, to be young again!

When we got home from Lori and Al's, the girls talked me into saddling up Harmon and I ended up giving rides to all the kids. Poor Harmon didn' know what hit him! I even got on! Must have been a sight with me in my old 4-H saddle that is kid sized! Glad no one took a picture! Anyway, we had 12 people here spending the night! Sleeping bags, blankets and tents everywhere! The kids had a blast jumping on the trampoline, roasting hot dogs and smores at our campspot, the girls brushing the horses, the dogs and cats running for their lives!!! I'm sure they will remember this as a highlight of their summer!