The Retirement Quilt

By the time this posts, this quilt will have been presented to Mike.  I'll be posting pictures of the retirement banquet, parade and ceremony in a week or so, after we have returned home.

For now I can finally show you what I was working on part of last month but couldn't talk about.  And you'll now know why I was so frantic about getting my hand healed so I could sew.  The piecing on this quilt was actually done the week I was supposed to be in the splint.  I had spent two or three weeks previous to that designing the printed squares.  It then took about three days to quilt after my hand was feeling up to it.

For anyone who hasn't heard me talking about it, my oldest son, Michael, has retired after 29 years and 8 months in the U.S. Army. There is a star for each of his 19 assignments with his photo, place and dates, unit patch and crest, his rank and any awards he received during that assignment. Another star with his last official pic in dress blues and one with his full rack of medals. I planned to print and applique a piece with his final awards after they were presented this week, so by now I've hopefully done that.

The other pictures are candid shots spanning his career.  I used two rolls of Blumenthal Crafter's Image printer fabric to print all the pictures and emblems.

The words under the eagle in the center are a quote from Aristole that he has used as his email signature for many years.."We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act but a habit". It very nicely sums up his approach to leadership throughout his Army career.

The flags along the bottom are the countries in which he deployed. The other pics are candid shots throughout his career.



The backing is the same soldier fabric that surrounds the eagle. I really like that print even though Mike was Intelligence and not Cavalry. It just reminds me of Ft. Huachuca where he has spent so much time.

I hope I'll have some good pictures of the recipient with his quilt to share later.

Happy Birthday, Greg!

One of our favorite soldiers turns 22 today. It's hard to believe how quickly those years have passed. Greg, today we wish you were here with us, safe and warm and free from danger. We pray each day for your safety and that of those with whom you serve. And we thank you for your willingness to put your life on the line every day for this country. I hope you are able to find a way to celebrate today. Love you bunches! Grandma

The Oldest One

The two posts earlier today gave you a look at sons two and three, so it's only fair I post a recent pic of son number one (that would be in birth order..they all know I love each of them best..at least I hope they do!).

Mike is career Army...28 years in January. A couple weeks ago he and his wife, Lindy, attended a Marine Birthday Ball. Yes...he's Army..but has soldiers from all branches of the military in the brigade where he serves as Command Sgt. Major.

We won't talk about how old I feel seeing so much grey hair on my son. Until recently he shaved his head for several years..so the grey thing is something I'm still adjusting to. Actually I think it makes him look distinguished. Mark is only slightly behind in turning grey. Jeff keeps his short enough it's kind of hard to tell.