Veterans Day is approaching and after chatting with Alice in Ohio I was introduced to Ron, a proud veteran.
Ron joined the Marines at age 17 and headed to Korea.
He celebrated his 91st birthday party on July 2 last summer at the lake.
Alice is the Ohio reader who visited Behalt with Ron and then explained to us that Behalt is a building that shows the history of the Amish and Mennonite people.
This came from Alice:
Ron retired from the Dayton, Oh Fire Dept 39 yrs ago!! He doesn’t really have any hobbies. He also worked a second job for decorators in the Dayton area installing window treatments. He has 1 son & 3 daughters. Three of his kids live close by, the other lives in Dayton. He loves antiques, & has a extensive collection of Michael Garman statues. We both enjoy the outdoors & walking. Both of us are familiar with farm life. I was raised on a farm, he spent his summers on an aunt & uncle’s farm. He quit school & joined the Marines at 17. Was sent to Korea. Came home & finished high school. Met his wife in HS & they were married almost 66 yrs. She passed 2 wks to the day before my husband passed. I was married 55 yrs. As I said he lives across the street from me. He’s just one of those really good men. I’ll send a picture of the two of us together. Next week I’m taking him to Amish Country ( Holmes Co, Ohio)
Let’s honor Ron and all other vets on November 11! Feel free to send him a card if you wish – I know he’d appreciate receiving cards from readers.
Ron Fielder
6151 Glenarbor Rd.
Maineville, OH 45039
Thanks!
Alice made a Quilt of Valor for Ron:
Reader photos
Carrolyn’s slow stitching
One of these sewing spaces is mine and the other is Hank’s mom’s space. Guess which is which? Hahaha!!!
I have to stand behind this motto or is it an excuse?
Have a great week, Everybody!
Thank you Kathy in NY. And Patti, the clamshells were hand pieced but the borders were machine sewn and it was machine quilted. I took a class with Irene Blanck in 2022. The clamshells are glued and handbasted and then handsewn together. The quilt is pieced with scraps and I’d love to make another.
Fitted sheets should also be deep enough to stay on the corners of the mattress. And not so big that there are tons of wrinkles/folds in the sheet. Hate sleeping with wrinkles under me.
Paula – me, too! I can’t sleep on wrinkles
This Veteran’s Day will be bittersweet for me. My husband, Bob, passed away in August. He served in the Air Force for 12 years from June,1961 to June, 1973. He spent a year in Thailand, during the Vietnam war, working at a small radar site in northern Thailand. That was the only time I couldn’t be with him. We had four children and each one was born in a different state. This November 18th will be our 63rd wedding anniversary. I’m grateful to the Veteran’s Association for all their help during Bob’s illness. They provided his medicine, medical supplies, nursing care, and aides who came twice a day to help with his care, bathing, etc.. God is so faithful in all His provisions and love.
Dianne – I am so sorry for your loss! 63 years is a marvelous amount of time spent together – and he didn’t quite make it there but oh what a long time married!! I hope your family lives close by so you’re not alone in the 18th. Would you like to leave your address for cards?
Thank you, Mary, for your kind words. I do have family close by but I’m finding that the “firsts” are very difficult. If anyone would like to send a card, I would like that very much.
Dianne Huling
174 Pinehurst Blvd.
Eastlake, Oh 44095
I’ve been following your blog for a very long time and enjoying it. I even remember the Goat Gasette. I think that was the name of your little “newspaper”. Take care.
Dianne – yes, it was the Goat Gazette! Can you tell me a little bit about your husband – hobbies, interests – what did you enjoy doing together?
Sometimes it is …. My mess, my business! Heehee!
Hanks Mom you are lucky Hank isn’t a counter top grazer! I wouldn’t trust my daughter’s Goldens alone in my kitchen with food in the counter! She has two and Ranger is the grazer! He’s gotten a pound of butter off the counter and then Rouger helps eat the butter, or a loaf of bread, or cinnamon rolls to name a few! Your quilting space is very neat and tidy!
A couple more days of nice temps and then who knows.
Mary, I have lost many classmates and friends to agent orange from Vietnam plus all the PPSD the Vietnam, and other wars the vets suffer from. So sad.
Have a good day!
Joy – I enjoyed hearing about your daughter’s goldens. Finn and Ivy are grazers but there’s nothing at my house for them to find. I have a small pantry off the kitchen with a second frig, upright freezer, double sink and counter. All food stays in this room with the door closed – it’s the only way with all the cats and dogs here. And I have visiting dogs so this solves that problem which I realize isn’t possible for everyone. I know people must think my pets live in food areas but they don’t. We eat our meals at the island which are dished up, served and put away.
In my defense, my sewing room photo was taken right after I deep cleaned the room and before I started a new project. I finally put the last 3 projects fabric away which was still sitting around, then sorted everything by color and finally put fabric in shoe boxes as before it was just stacked willy nilly. This is way more organized than I have ever had my sewing room. I do like things organized 🙂
My new project is a red table top quilt for Christmas. It’s one of Country Threads patterns from their last book. Will I get it done in time? Maybe?? I only sew a couple hours a day, and not every day, so progress is slow.
Here’s the other 2 reasons I have to keep my sewing area tidy. The other side of the room is my remote office. Sometimes I have zoom calls so need to have an uncluttered background. But, the main reason is Hank is no longer sleeping in his crate and now spends nights in the office/sewing room. I don’t trust him to not pull things off the counter top, so I keep things clean and pushed back to discourage any of Hank’s 9 month old big puppy -bad behavior.
Awwww, Hank’s Mom! You can’t have “puppy” and “bad” in the same sentence LOL
It’s just puppy behavior 🙂 🙂 🙂
We do love Hank dearly!
Hanks Mom – I should have exp,aimed the photo of your clean sewing area but it was typical of your neat personality. Mine not so much. The minute I start putting things away I can’t find them and I spend precious time searching. The rest of my house looks the same – ha!!
Patti I really like your quilt, it is a great stash buster and I am always looking for easy quilts to make to donate to the Preemies. Our guild donates to the NicU at the hospital, quilts only need to be 36 x 36 so are quick and the guild provides batting and backing. Thank you to everyone else for providing quilts. I don’t really quilt all summer, been busy gardening and our son got married so was busy with that. I’ve gotten back quilting once I went to a quilt retreat in September. I’ve completed a queen size quilt top and am in the process of sewing blocks together for a chicken quilt I’m making. I will layer these two quilts at the same time because I need to layer them on the floor and need to move a bunch of furniture to do this. Once they are quilted I promise to send pictures but it may be after Christmas.
Mary, maybe in December you could ask for Christmas decorating pictures. I’m sure a lot of us decorate our homes. Just a thought
Teresa – YES! I’m hoping to do just that – I would love to see the Christmas decorating.
I too love the quilt Alice made for Ron. His story is beautiful, and I too will send a card.
Patti you are very productive I see. I enjoy all your quilts too.
Fitted sheets. When I was a young mom (I am still a mom but no longer young), a neighbor older lady showed me how to fold a fitted sheet. But I still struggle. Some are easier than others.
Finishing up baby quilts and stuff. Moving on I hope to other stuff at retreat this coming weekend. BTW, I did send a quilt to Columbia, SC. Have you heard how that drive is going?
Fran – I know Barbara is going to report and send pictures – I need to contact her and get an update.
Love the idea of sending a card to Ron and thanking him for his service. The quilt of valor has a fantastic backing, love it. I still don’t have my quilting space set up but maybe when the snow flies, I can focus on it. Spent one rainy day vacuuming the storage space of our home and assembling shelving and getting it organized. I don’t know where all the boxes of “stuff” come from. I truly need to downsize more of it. The garden shops had a big sale on native wildflowers, and I bought way too many plants which I then planet in our woods. Hopefully we will have some color in the spring and summer months to enjoy from our living room window. Our daughter came and helped me plant.
My sewing area definitely looks more like yours than it does Hank’s Mom’s. Thanks again for the quilt show and fall decorations.
Heavy frost and a few windy days have taken care of all the colored leaves around here. They lasted weeks longer than usual so, we had a beautiful show .
Dentist appointment this afternoon.
I love looking at the quilt with the extra doilies and buttons on it, by Carrolyn! I have a small plastic bin of “findings” – small things that could be added to a lap quilt to make a “fidget” quilt for a nervous person or dementia patient. Carrolyn’s slow stitching quilt reminded me of it. It’s pretty full…
Great post. Love the background on Ron. And I love the Quilt of Valor that Alice made for him. It’s beautiful.
Carrolyn did such a beautiful job on her quilt. I used to collect anything that had to do with hand sewing. I love to see what people sew. So many people are truly creative.
Mary, you do such a great job of bringing people together through your blog. I love to read everyone’s story and see what they create. A virtual quilt show.
Thank you everyone for sharing.
Carolyn – and let me add this to your comment – I love doing this but cannot if people don’t send me photos of not only quilts but other interesting things we all enjoy.
My Dad was a WWII vet and Veterans Day was very special to him. Our soldiers deserve this day and all acknowledgements of their service.
Patti, your quilt is so pretty. Differences in sewing spaces are just fine as long as people are productive. Creativity is my “release” from stress. Some people walk, others cook, yet others have other hobbies. To each her own. As long as we do what we love, we most likely bring joy to others. Mine is a tidy sewing room, but I still make a lot of quilted things. I always have one or two projects going or on the back burner – fabric chosen, maybe even cut, but not yet to the stage of sewing. I currently have fabric cut and bagged for 8 winter projects. I had time to do the cutting, but nothing else. But I was productive in prepping for when I have more sewing time this winter. Keep on sewing everyone!
I like now thinking of a picture I can send it Mary so I’m looking forward to my dolls around a small Christmas tree which I can vision me doing. We all need incentive once in awhile to share our treasures with someone else. Keep this up Mary as it’s been fun.
I loved all the quilts and pictures today as it is so wonderful we have this opportunity to share our lives. Carolyn’s stitching is just amazing to me and like collecting fabric for a new project, I’m tempted to gather my laces and doilies up after seeing her beauty. Susan’s quilt is so stunning. it’s kinda funny with you and Hanks Mom! Opposite sewing areas but such a love for beautiful dogs.
It’s a lovely fitting tribute Alice gave for her friend Ron and I will be going to the store getting my flu shot this week as I got my Covid vaccine a couple weeks ago. He deserves more thanks for serving than just my card. Thank you Alice for having him in your life as no one should be alone as you are good companions you both sound for each other.
Kathy, thank you so much for your comments. Ron really is a very nice man & I got to know him when his wife was so ill & helped him a couple of times when she fell. I also fixed a few meals for them. After she passed he was just so lost. He asked if he could walk with me as I walked with my dog every day. He had never heard of Quilts of Valor, so I nominated him & wanted the quilt to come from me. My son is also a retired veteran & just called to invite us to join him & his wife for a veteran’s day dinner. Many of the restaurants here give the veterans a wonderful free meal!
I really enjoy seeing all the fall photos. I was surprised that Ron lives in my hometown of Maineville!! Will look for a special card to send! I laughed at the saying about fitted sheets! They are horrible to put on!
Patty t – I should tell you all about my latest experience with a fitted sheet – it could make the comedy reels!!
Hi Mary, my dad was in the navy and served in the coral Sea battle of Australia, then joined the army in 1951. He served in Vietnam (5 tours!) where his lungs were damaged by agent orange. He died in his early 60,s, l miss his kind nature and watching cowboy or war movies with him on a Saturday afternoon. My younger son was born on 11 November,and served in New Zealand reserve forces, which gave him maturity and great organization skills!
Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sandy – Vietnam was a disaster for many, wasn’t it? In so many ways. Your son has a birthday on the 11th- wish him our best!
here is the link to the pillowcase. no affiliation on my part. just a suggestion.
https://sewcanshe.com/how-to-sew-a-pillowcase-one-yard-magic-pattern-with-no-waste/
lovely post. so many of your readers (and yourself) are such great creative decorators. it is so inspirational. then add all the quilts. they are wonderful. alice you made such a great quilt for ron – it is just wonderful. i will definitely look for a card for him. always appreciate our vets. my uncle was a marine. susan k, did you make your quilt by hand or on the machine? i think i bought that pattern and then wondered if i had lost my mind. . carrolyn such talent to put all those elements together. very nice!
i think the ‘creative minds are rarely tidy’ works for lots of us. couldn’t be all of us as that would be boring. i need to see all the color and things around me as it sparks ideas. true, i gripe because there is stuff in my way and i wish it wasn’t there.
i forced myself to go upstairs today looking for fabric for two backs. i won’t bore you with the details of the ordeal of getting up there. also brought stuff down to make pillowcases. i saw a new way to do it the other day and just seems so much cleaner and quicker. maybe not as creative but definitely quicker. uses up one entire yard of fabric per case. did manage to put it in the washer and then dryer. mr. ed carted it to the bedroom a bit ago for me. i’ll double check the site for the pillowcase and come back and post it.
i think i’m going to keep my latest quilt for myself. i really like it. found a really neat back for it.
the dogs look like they had a lovely play date. so fun.
told mr, ed i wanted him to move my upstairs fabric studio downstairs to the living room and move the living room upstairs. he can leave the tv here cuz there is a large one upstairs. i know he won’t do it. but i can dream, right? i don’t even have room downstairs to baste a quilt. i have to get up early tomorrow as the cleaners are coming to clean my house. thanks again, mary.
hugs and happy quilting to all, patti in florida
Patti, your 5 patch looked like a good scrap buster quilt with all is color and design. It’s looks like batiks and other fabrics but a beautiful color combination. I loved it. Is this the one you are keeping for yourself ?
yes. hoping i can get it quilted before the end of the year. i give most of them away but this one was fun. the pattern is a great scrap buster and you can pick your size for the patches – then just dark-light-dark-light-dark and then light-dark-light-dark-light. until you get confused like i did but i don’t care. i still love it. patti in florida
I forgot to mention how beautiful the quilt of valor is that Alice made for Ron! Spectacular! I will be sending him a card to thank him for his service.
I love looking at your sewing areas, Mary, but I could not sew there. I am one of those people who cannot operate in chaos. I was like that when I was working also. My desk area was always organized and cleaned off at the end of the day. But when it comes to pictures of sewing rooms, I am just plain nosy and love to see all the “things” people have. I so enjoyed it when people were sending in pictures of their sewing rooms. And maybe at Christmastime we will see some more pictures of Gloria’s wonderful Christmas decorations in her beautiful house hint, hint!
Sue – will make a note for Gloria and maybe I should do another week or so of sewing rooms, or front entries, or kitchens, dens, family rooms, bedrooms? I think it’s fun, too.