Crafty Pigeon: September 2012

It was a busy end of August and beginning of September. Rachel flew out before Labor Day and we drove to Missouri for Mom and Grandpa Branson's Memorial services. We met my dad and Uncle Jack there in Mt. Vernon. Grandpa's service was on Saturday, it was raining most of the day and there was a bit of drama because the place they had dug to place the ashes was no where near my Grandma's ashes. So, the service was held at the wrong spot and by the time we were ready to leave the coordinator for the graves had called out the workmen to dig the hole in the proper spot and he was laid to rest next to Grandma. He had a military service with the Army Honor Guard firing a salute and playing Taps. They also folded the flag and gave it to Dad since he was the oldest surviving son. It was a very nice ceremony. We also spent some time looking at places we had lived and other locations that brought back a lot of memories of my childhood in Missouri. On Sunday, the sun came out and it was a really beautiful day for laying Mom to rest, she was shinning on us that day. She was laid to rest in the Whittenburg family plot in the Ozark Prarie Cemetery also known as the "Brick Cemetery." Her mother and father are there as well as her grandmother and grandfather. We got a really pretty box to put her ashes in and we included pictures of the family, a porcelain shoe, and a People magazine, all her favorite things. We then went to eat at Golden Corral one of her favorite places to go. I think she's very happy now and I feel happier now knowing she is at rest. Rachel came back with us to Dayton and she and I went up to the Ohio Reformatory and to Amish country. We really had a good time in Amish country. We could have stayed another day I think but I don't think our waistlines would have recovered. They have some might delicious food there, if she could have smuggled a case of Fry Pies on the airplane I think she would have. I took her to several quilt shops there and some back down here. She got to go to the infamous Fabric Shack in Waynesville but I think we were most impressed with the Zinck's Fabric Warehouse we found in Berlin, OH. It is definetely a place I have to take Clarinda and Melissa, lots of good bargains there. I am still working on purple quilt for JoAnn's wedding. I've made several mistakes on it and I am losing my enthusiasm for it. I also need to finish the pink baby quilt. I just really need to get my butt in gear, it is going to be Christmas before I know it and I won't have anything done. I have a quilt retreat next month and I have to start thinking about what I want to take to work on. I'll probably cut and take the quilt for Beryl. Today was the annual Pork Festival in Eaton, OH. We had our buffet of pork and had a look around at the crafts. The meal was just as delicious as last year. The craft booths left a little to be desired though, it was almost like we stepped back to last year. All the vendors were in the same place with the same stuff so we just did a quick look around, I got a carmel apple and we came home. I got home in time to watch the end of the early football games so perfect timing. Jack's birthday was yesterday and we had got him tickets for the Bengals game so he was there today and thankfully they won. Well, that is all the catch up news. I am sorry I am taking a long time to post these days. I am still not sure how to post from my Ipad and this little notebook that I got from Jack is not the best running computer. Hopefully, I will get it figured out sooner or later. Here are some pictures to enjoy.

Grandma and Grandpa's grave.

Mom's grave.

Aunt Ruth (mom's sister), Rachel and me

Rachel and I at the Miller Fall Festival.

Rachel and I visited this castle near Cincinnati. It was built by an eccentric man. He built it with the help of some boy scouts. He built it with the stones from the nearby river and worked on it into his 90s.