Quilting

[Racinbob 11,040]

Our granddaughter in Florida, Madison, is a senior this year and has been very active playing softball for probably 10-12 years. Softball is pretty much a year-round thing down there and in addition to playing for the high school she would go from one league to another as a particular leagues season ended. She has become extremely good and received a full ride to Lake Sumter State College. Several months ago our daughter, Shannon, called and asked my wife, Nancy, if she could make a quilt with all the jerseys she has piled up so she could give it to her at graduation. They came up to visit in November and, as planned, Shannon snuck in a bag with all the jerseys. Now keep in mind, Nancy has never done any quilting. This was truly a labor of love and she was quite nervous not knowing if she could do it right. She spent weeks studying on line, reading, talking to people and accumulating some special 'tools' before she touched a thing. Then weeks carefully laying out, cutting and fretting about the results. I even did my small part by suggesting that she latch on to a Lake Sumter shirt and using it in the center. She found it at their online store and ordered one. She had it about 50% done when the virus crap hit the fan and ultimately ended the school year. Most likely a normal graduation won't happen and our scheduled trip to attend won't happen. Nancy was depressed and set this project aside for some time. She said she had no motivation anymore. I just gave her some time and I could tell she was coming around when we were sent a link to the Daytona newspaper. They did an article on the status of sports and the current situation and interviewed Madison to get her opinion. This got Nancy going again. Yesterday afternoon I was hanging drywall in the basement and she came running down almost screaming "I'm done! I'm done". She said it's not perfect and all I could say is "When Madison sees it, it will be to her." Pretty darn impressive for her very first quilting project.

 

Our beautiful Madison

 

 

The front

 

 

The back

 

[Pullstart 62,783]

Looks perfect!  Great job Mrs. Racin’!

[stevasaurus 22,706]

That is too cool...WOW!!!   Do you think she would do one with all of my Wheel Horse Tee shirts???   

 

Hanging dry wall again Bob???  

[tom2p 2,394]

nice !

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,490]

[pacer 3,168]

Holy Smoke Batman that is way cool!!

 

I've got a couple grandsons that have knocked my socks off with what they have done ---- makes a feller mighty proud!

[Racinbob 11,040]

2 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

Hanging dry wall again Bob???  

 

Thanks for the compliments guys. I passed them on to the lady that deserves them.

 

Yup Steve. The main reason we got this place for the price we did was because I told them we'd forgo the home inspection. I inspected it carefully and only found a couple of minor issues......and one major issue. The basement walls. The people we bought it from had it built. The basement walls are called I.C.E. Block. Not a block at all but a variation of insulated concrete forms. The insulation is polystyrene and the walls are about R-39. The problem is that they didn't cover the polystyrene. I have no clue how they got a cert. of occupancy  before they moved in. With the mild winter we had we were able to get 50 sheets of drywall down there and I'd say I'm about 80% done. I also replaced the G.E. electrical panel with a Square D QO and included a listed transfer blocking 'device' for the generator. Going through that white door and you'll be in a 16' x 26' room I walled out and is now my woodworking shop. I never expected to get this much done so quickly but I guess it just happened. 

 

You can see where I'm not done yet. A chilly week coming up so I should get it finished. 

 

 

 

[Ed Kennell 38,021]

Beautiful she is Bob and what  an awesome quilt project.     I'm sooo sorry for the seniors.  Such a memorable period of their lives that they will not get to experience.

It is especially painful for the seniors that would have been playing spring sports.   Two of my four Grandsons will be graduating  this spring and it is painful for them, their  parents and grandparents to miss  the sports, music concerts, and graduations.

The good news is, they will experience other events later in life that will surpass what they are missing now.

 

Wishing Madison much success at Lake Sumter next year.   

      Oh what position...shortstop ?

 

[953 nut 55,065]

Nancy, quilting is my wife's passion and she is impressed that you did such a good job without any instruction other than the internet.     

My wife is very active in the Quilts of Valor program and made my QOV from street rod show shirts. She awarded it to me during our Wednesday Bible study a few months ago. The Yellow truck pictured in the center row is an airbrush painting of my truck.

 

[Racinbob 11,040]

3 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Beautiful she is Bob and what  an awesome quilt project.     I'm sooo sorry for the seniors.  Such a memorable period of their lives that they will not get to experience.

It is especially painful for the seniors that would have been playing spring sports.   Two of my four Grandsons will be graduating  this spring and it is painful for them, their  parents and grandparents to miss  the sports, music concerts, and graduations.

The good news is, they will experience other events later in life that will surpass what they are missing now.

 

Wishing Madison much success at Lake Sumter next year.   

      Oh what position...shortstop ?

 

 

Thank you Ed. We know many of her classmates and team members that are also seniors and we have shed more than one tear for them. Every one that we have talked to has had a positive attitude about things in spite of being sad and shedding tears of their own. Positive attitudes bring positive results and if they don't understand at this moment I know they will down the road a spell. 

 

Madison does indeed play shortstop as one of her positions. From watching her play I called her Ozzie Smith but minus the flips. She also plays catcher. The pitcher better be quick whenever the ball needs to go to second base because she can burn it in there. I have no clue how this little girl got the power she has. I don't know what Sumter State has in mind for her. 

[Racinbob 11,040]

2 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Nancy, quilting is my wife's passion and she is impressed that you did such a good job without any instruction other than the internet.     

My wife is very active in the Quilts of Valor program and made my QOV from street rod show shirts. She awarded it to me during our Wednesday Bible study a few months ago. The Yellow truck pictured in the center row is an airbrush painting of my truck.

 

 

 

Nancy said to say thanks to Mrs. Schmidt. Her QOV quilt is incredible. Nancy did have a bit more help than the internet. We have a friend in Pigeon Forge, TN that is an avid quilter and they had a lot of phone time and the lady at the fabric shop gave her a lot of advice. 

[Ed Kennell 38,021]

1 hour ago, Racinbob said:

 

 

Madison does indeed play shortstop

 

I'm not psychic Bob.....after 70 years of baseball, I should know a good shortstop when I see one.

 

Here's one of my senior Grandsons.   He will be attending Penn State this fall.

Edited April 12, 2020 by Ed Kennell

[tom2p 2,394]

 

at this game on March 8

 

to see a kid we know (my kid played with him) - and he was off to great start (batting .460)

 

little did I know this would be last baseball game I would attend this spring - and possibly the last sporting event I will attend in 2020 (?)

 

 

Edited April 13, 2020 by tom2p

[Ed Kennell 38,021]

Bob, I hope you don't mind me going off topic, but here is another beautiful young ball player.

You probably remember Mo'ne Daves, the 13 yo girl that threw  70 MPH and set a record when she  threw a shutout against Tennessee in the 2014 Little League World Series. 

About a year later as I was going over the rosters of the opposing teams our Diamond 9 travel team would be playing near Philadelphia.    

I saw some familiar names including Mo'ne Davis on the team we would be playing our first game against in the upcoming tournament

 

Mo'ne  opened the game pitching to our first batter, Clayton Kennell.  Clayton took the first pitch a high fast ball, faked a bunt taking a strike on the second pitch.  Then drove the third 1-1 pitch up the middle for a single.   Clayton stole second and advanced to third on a fielders choice.  He then scored on a single.    We did win the game easily knocking Mo'ne out in the second inning.    I have seen other  quality Little League teams turn in average performances when moving to tournament. baseball.   I believe this is primarily due to having played so long  on the LL size diamonds.   In the tournament ball, we increase the size of the diamonds in stages and at 14, they are playing MLB size diamonds and rules.  It takes time for the LL players to make the adjustment.  

After the game I made a point to meet Mo'ne's mother and asked for permission to get her daughters  autograph.  

I had a good conversation with a very humble young baseball  ballplayer  that informed me that her first love and goal was to play basketball for UConn.

Well, I understand she did not continue to grow in size which ruled out a basketball career.  She  is now a freshman starting second base softball for Hampton U.

I don't know Hampton and Sumpter schedules, but wouldn't it be cool if Madison and Mo'ne would someday meet on the diamond.

 

Here are a few pics from that day my Clayton met Mo'ne.

 

 

 

 

[Racinbob 11,040]

Great story Ed and certainly not off topic. I put a sticky note on my calendar (right now on the June page) to remind me to keep an eye out. Like everybody else I have no clue what's going to happen but I'm praying that these young men and ladies can get back to their game soon. I checked their schedule for this year and Hampton wasn't on it. Of course Madison wouldn't have been on the 2019-2020 team. All games from March 14 on have been canceled. Season over. 

[tom2p 2,394]

Ed - agree - for many kids the move / adjustment to the bigger field can take some time