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 Quilt Adventures

Train Talk

8/26/2015

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Theme For All Ages

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This is one of my favorite themes, especially with mixed groups of young and old.
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My seniors had the real train memories, but the kids were all fascinated by the very idea of trains!

Books and Magazines

Images of train travel with sleeper cars and dining cars, brought back many memories. There were so many voices talking at once in my first group, we had to pass around a small train to show whose turn it was to speak!
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 "I remember when I was 5 and I had to get dressed up in a ruffly dress to travel with my grandmother on the train. I hated that dress and I couldn't stop crying!" Another shared,  "I remember when I traveled alone on a train with my 5 kids. The best part was that they had a car where parents could take their kids to play. It was large and open and the kids even played ball!  We had a great time." I couldn't even imagine there was such a thing! 

Sad Story

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One story began with a sad note, "I was only 5 when Father died. My mother couldn't take care of all 5 of us, so before the school year started, she put me on the train to Galveston. I lived with my grandmother during the school months and took the train home in the summers to be with my family."
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I couldn't help but notice her sweet expression as she spoke. I had a feeling this was not a painful memory. "Which train ride did you like best... leaving or returning?"   She laughed that she liked them both!  "I loved being with my grandmother and I loved getting home!"

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Funny Pictures
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Some books brought back memories of old movies. The book photo of  "Some Like It Hot" gave a lot of us a good laugh.  
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Who wouldn't love to be on train, "slumber partying" with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe?  We came up with quite a list of movies involving trains...  "North by Northwest",  "Strangers on a Train",  "Shanghai Express" , "Orient Express"...  

​Kids and Trains
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When I was a kid, there were more toy electric trains and everyone knew the story of "The Little Engine That Could".  
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I had quite a few kids visiting my senior groups and I was surprised at how much train knowledge they had.  The "Thomas the Train" craze, with all their books and videos must have educated and entertained this generation more than I realized!

Waiting for Trains to Pass
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Both the seniors and the kids had memories of being stopped by trains. (All 5 of my groups are located very close to tracks) The kids talked about sitting in cars and watching the trains rumble by.  We laughed at how powerless trains make us feel when we have to wait. 
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One senior recalled walking to school with her young uncle when she was a child. They came upon a train stopped on the tracks. Her uncle insisted they crawl under so they wouldn't be late.  When she began to cry, her uncle told her she could either go with him or walk back home herself.  She remembers the panic she felt as she followed him under the train.

​Train History
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The old Currier and Ives prints reminded us of how train travel used to be. Inez reminded us of the coal carried on the trains.
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And many of us knew how dirty people used to get in those early days of train travel... with all the steam and soot. The image above of the people watching the train go by reminded Betty of being young and waving to the service men when traveled by on trains.
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Music
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Music can be a powerful reminder of the past.  My old recordings of "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe", made the weariest in my group sway. 
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Songs like "I've Been Working on the Railroad" had my youngest singing along. But the nicest surprise was in a group I don't have pictured.  At the nursing home I had a son visiting his elderly mother.  He and his cousin sat away from the group, just watching.  But then the cousin asked if I knew the song, "People Get Ready".  I said I wasn't sure, could he sing it?  And he did an amazing version of the old Curtis Mayfield song.  You could imagine a church choir backing him up.  We were reminded of how often the train is a symbol in songs of the journey to heaven.   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOXmaSCt4ZE

​Sound
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I shared a recording of the clanging sounds at railroad crossings.  My toy wooden train whistle actually had a pretty authentic sound. But it was the recording of a distant train whistle that got the best reactions.  
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We all agreed, the sound of a train at night was the most special, when the rest of the world is quieter. "What do you think when you hear a train at night?"  I asked one group.  Dorothy answered with a sigh and grin, "Ohh! It makes me think of going places!"  To her, the sound conjured up good travel memories.  I asked, "Anyone else?"   Dot, who shares so many funny stories, became quiet. "It's a lonely sound." She said.  We all agreed.
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Last Stop for the Train
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 My last group was all kids at the Shelter.  I had a broad range from age 3 to 13, but they were amazingly enthused about trains. They were eager to see pictures of old trains and to hold the rusty rail spike. One even had a grandfather who worked on a railroad.
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They passed the little train car around the circle as I played a recording of "Casey Junior" and when the music stopped they answered silly questions about trains. They worked as a team to build a super quick "Brio" train track.  They laughed at their own mistakes when we sang a complicated & confusing song/game "Trainy Train, Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga- RAIL SPIKE!"  
But the best part was when I announced, "Everyone grab a chair!  Let's play train!" (The kids didn't even act like I was a crazy old lady!)  Our train wound around the mountains of Utah...  which was their choice of places.  And every time I blew the train whistle, the train screeched to a halt and we took turns sharing all the amazing things we spotted out our train windows.  
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We dragged out the train fantasy until it was time to clean up for dinner.  I had the kids help me fold up the Quilt. When the backside of the Quilt was revealed, some of the older kids began reading the words written on the muslin.  "Taos, New Mexico"  "Los Quenes, Chile"  I explained that I took the quilt when I traveled.  They were curious. I told the 2 sisters who had moved here from Utah, that I would be in their state, next week!  "I have a good place where you can take your quilt!"  Said one of the sisters.
The little girl  just beamed when she told me the name of a shelter where I could share the quilt with other kids.  Her lit up face made me smile, but the thought of her knowing yet another shelter made me ache.
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What Did I Learn?
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Trains are powerful, physically and also in how they can bring us together... in discussion and play!  ​
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Trains are also magical, in the way they bring out the kid in all of us!
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Backyard Quilt

8/20/2015

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With Great Nephews!

I've never had a quilt adventure in my own yard.   I've never had the quilt with me when I've spent time with my great nephews in New York or California. Since they were visiting us in Texas for a few days, I made use. They rose early one morning and we went out back to have some "quilt time" before the Texas heat hit.
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Soft in the Grass
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I'm used to the quilt being spread on a large table or on a gritty classroom floor or even a bit of carpet. It felt odd to have just the 3 of us, casually sitting on this lumpy soft quilt... on the grass!
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The kids "woke" Pickles the Puppet up out of his sleeping bag, just like my preschool groups do.  It was fun to let Silas take over the puppet work for me.
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I'm not sure what Pickles was telling Silas, but he and Colden thought it was pretty funny.
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I thought it was pretty scary when Pickles nibbled my shoulder.
And Then We Read
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We played a bit and then the boys, who both love books, sat and listened to two Quilt Story books. These two amaze me with their love of stories.  We would have been done faster, but Silas asks a lot of questions.  And then when we finished, the sun had gotten too warm.
What did I learn?


It's fun to let the quilt just be a quilt sometimes.  It did its job, being soft and cozy.  That's all we needed!
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Animals, Crops and Chores

8/13/2015

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Farm Report
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I wasn't going to blog about our Farm Theme last week. I've done this theme before.  But the little stories and the things I learned keep nagging at my brain.  It's as if I worry that I'll forget these sweet stories... so I'll share.
Farm Kids

So many of my folks in all 4 groups grew up in or around farms.  I love hearing about the things they loved best. Sometimes it's not the obvious memories like farm pets or the taste of fresh tomatoes.  This little windmill brought up lots of talk about windmills and well water!  "If there was no wind, you just had to pump!  But oh, that well water was so cold. It was sooo good!"  It made me want to drink some straight from a bucket!
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Chores
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Quite a few talked about having to feed the chickens or gather the eggs.  In the past I've had to sit through some stories of chopping heads off chickens.  No one brought it up this time.  A few had the job of milking the cow and it made me wish I still had my big stuffed cow I owned as a child. That thing had a clinking bell as well as a plastic udder!  It would have made a good tool for the few who kept trying to show me their techniques with their fingers!
Farm and Barn Music
Mary was eager to know what music I brought, before I even unpacked my stuff.  But, I wanted to hear their own tunes before I dragged out the I-pod and speaker.  After a few Farmer in the Dells and Old McDonalds, we wondered why there were so many kid farm songs.  Animals of course.  That seems pretty simple.

My recorded music got a few up and dosey-doeing like a barn dance. A few had fiddle players in their families.   
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It was the bluesy music that changed the tone of the group a bit.  Some liked the foot stomping tunes better, but Dorothy wanted to hear Bo Carter singing, "The Country Farm Blues" over and over.  Maybe Dorothy felt connected to the music since both she and Bo were from Mississippi.  
Music Eases the Pain
I had at least 4 people in each group who had stories of cotton picking. In past gatherings, I've heard grueling stories, so this time I challenged the groups to think of something positive that could happen while doing this backbreaking chore. "Getting paid!" was the first answer I got.  Then Robert remembered singing in the fields.
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He could remember his parents singing "Cotton Eyed Joe", which was a surprise to me. I associate that song with cowboy dance halls. But after getting home I researched the history of the song and learned it was first sung (with very different lyrics) by African Americans in before the Civil War.  
Tiny Props
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I tossed in a few tiny things that could spur on a memory.  The washing board wasn't really a farm tool, but many remembered clothes being washed with one on the farm.  Ramona even remembered washing the clothes in the river. I had an apron to help us think of typical "farm woman" chores back in the day. I had no overalls, but Robert recalled in fine detail about all the pockets and loops on his overalls.  I wish I had a small tractor in my prop collection, but we needed no props for tractor memories. I heard from men and women who could tell me all about driving those symbolic machines!
Animals
A few Currier and Ives calendar images reminded us of our favorite farm animals.  I always loved the cow, but Dot couldn't be swayed. 
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She loved her little sheep that followed her every where.  "Like Mary!" I laughed and she agreed.  She was giddy with the memory of that sweet lamb.  
Crops
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Some who had no farm history, had stories of vegetable gardens.  And we all had a good laugh about living in Sugar Land, Texas.  There was a lot of sugar cane growing around here, back in the day.  Not when I moved here 17 years ago, but the Imperial Sugar Factory hadn't down closed yet.  Dot didn't grow up in Sugar Land, but in Mississippi, her family grew sugar cane.  She remembers big vats of sugar syrup being stirred for days at the end of the season!
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Corn 

Corn was the most popular crop in all groups.  Dot had to demonstrate some shucking for us!  And Ramona told us about her mother making corn silk tea.  "She burned it just a little, then boiled it in water.  It was good for the stomach problems!"  Robert piped in about "husk tea" which sounded a bit worse. I looked up corn silk tea later and found many recipes. I should try it!
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Dairy...

The empty milk bottle brought up discussions of dairy farms and lots of milk memories.  As a boy, Ken had a job helping to deliver the milk bottles to the houses.  Many of us remembered milk boxes on the porch and the filled bottles with thick cream on top.  Irene lived in the city, but the milkman came up the stairs to her apartment, ..."and if no one answered the door he walked right in and put it in the ice box!"
What Did I Learn?

Mostly that I never grow tired of farm talk. Why is that? 

I did at least learn some intriguing bits of
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info about silk tea and the song Cotton Eyed Joe and well water.  I think I need to drive out southwest of Sugar Land and see a little of that cotton, before the season's over!
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 The Honduran Island of Roatan

8/3/2015

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 A Daycare Center in Coxen Hole
Coxen Hole may be the capital of Roatan, but it's not a big destination for the cruise ship tourists who flock to beaches and resorts when they come into port.  I was also a tourist on the island recently, but it's not memories of scuba diving or tropical drinks that make me smile the most.
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It's thinking about my zany morning at the Allred School, where I gathered on the quilt with these delightfully energetic kiddos!
The School
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Our driver-buddy, Jorge drove us 30 minutes to Coxen Hole. He grew up there and pointed out his school and church, but he  had never heard of this school.
When we found Allred, it looked like a little ship, sitting on a wedge of land in the "Y" of the road. The colorful mural was a good distraction from the barbed wire above the wall. Some workmen with noisy electric saws greeted us as we passed through the gates.
Hola!
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It was already heating up by the time Don and I arrived at 8:15.  Heavy duty fans whirled the warm air around the dim, but colorful room.   Children rushed up and greeted us with big grins and hugs.  There were lots of "holas" even though the older ones had been learning English.
Breakfast Time
The director hadn't arrived yet, but one teacher spoke English. She decided I should start at 9 instead of 8:30, since all the kids hadn't eaten their porridge yet. That was actually nice, since it gave me time to settle in and observe a bit first. 
It was also a treat having Don along for his third time assisting me with language and camera!  He was a better observer than me and noticed a crab scuttle through the corner kitchen area.  We eyed the little thing as it moved under the table and paused under a little foot!
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The Crab is Spotted!
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When we heard the squeals and saw the little bodies leap and dash about the room, we realized this was not a daily occurrence.  I was glad to see the teacher handle the situation with a smile on her face! 
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Two little boys made an attempt to capture the critter with flipflops. The youngest child made a leap into Don's lap!  (Don made a lot of friends, when he sat his 6'2" frame into one of those little kiddie chairs!) The teacher managed to grab the crab in a towel and move it outside.
Starting with the Youngest
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The kids were pretty wound up by the time I spread out the quilt at 9:00. I've learned lots of tricks for working with kids who don't speak my language, but this was the most lively non-English speaking group I've worked with.  My little tricks weren't very helpful!  I have to laugh just now as I notice something in this photo for the first time.  The little boy who seems to have his head thrown back into the bookcase, appears to be wearing one of my sandals!
Too Squirmy to Sit!
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There was no way these kids wanted to sit on that quilt.  So up we went, onto our feet to sing, jump, pat and clap.  No need to ease into this group. 
Listening and Singing
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After a bit, I could get them to sit back down, long enough to hear "Senor Pickles" (the giraffe) snoring inside his sleeping bag.  I was surprised that almost every child wanted to sing "wake up" to him.  So many beautiful little voices.
Senor Pickles Brings Order!
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It was a bit comical how little control I seemed to have over my young group.  But my puppet managed a lot better.  When Senor Pickles whispered a command in my ear, I sat up at attention. The kids obviously caught on because they laughed and sat up straight and quiet...at least for a moment. 
Good-Bye Beanies
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We stayed seated just enough longer for me to pull out a few Beanie Babies to teach another song/game.  I'll admit, this game was just a bit too tricky for these kiddos. They attempted to follow my motions and we had some fun, but the best part of the Beanie Baby song was that I got to leave those stuffed animals behind for adoption.  Slowly but surely, the toys that my grown kids once played with are finding new homes in far away places!
Scarves to the Rescue
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These packable, chiffon scarves are my best travel prop.  With my young group they suddenly became fun rewards for the kids who were sitting. I placed the sheer scarves on their heads and they gazed through the colors until I started the music... then some pretty silly dancing began.
The Older Bunch
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My second group was a bit smaller and since they were older they were learning some English.  They learned the word "quilt" and we shared words back and forth, by pointing out images on the printed fabric. 
When we stood up to do a song, the older group suddenly had as much energy as the young ones.  They giggled and followed my motions with lots of their own improvised movements & stunts. 
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I suddenly noticed the little boy in blue & white stripes and how carefully he worked to follow my movements.   I seized the moment and had the others sit down and invited him to "perform" alone.  He beamed at their applause!  It's always hard to notice the kids who are trying hard... in a wild group.
Creative with Scarves!
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With this group, I balled up the scarves and tossed to kids who were seated with their hands in the air.  Right away kids began finding clever things to do with the colorful props.  They became, hats and belts and blankets and ties.  The little boy in red was so delighted with his cape creation.
Music!
I started up some Dixieland Jazz and the kids got crazy.  While the saws buzzed outside the windows and sweat poured off my brow, we took over the room, swirling and twirling, jumping and snaking those scarves every which way.
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Wild Fun
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This kind of fun can so easily turn to chaos... when 2 kids collide or fight over a color... or test the limits by leaping off of chairs.  But I lucked out. I steered a few to work together in pairs, trying some new moves...
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Slow to Warm Up

But one little girl wasn't ready to join in. She hardly wanted to hold a scarf. I wasn't sure if she was new or shy, sad or even mad.   

After a while I asked her to hold one end of my scarf and I held one end of hers. We began to jump in circles with the 2 scarves stretched between us.  She held her smile back as long as she could.
London Bridge!
I don't even know if these kids are aware of the London Bridge song that I grew up with.  But we let the music from the I-Pod speaker help us with a jazzier version of the childhood game!   My new friend and another little girl became bridge holders, while the rest of us circled underneath.
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A Circle... Sort Of
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And then we connected our whole group, holding scarves instead of hands.  It was sloppy as we circled with the music in one direction and then the other.  But no one got hurt and there was laughter.  Good enough.
Adding to the New Quilt
When I finished up, I handed my group over to one of the teachers, along with boxes of crayons and printouts of geometric quilt designs for the kids to color... at another time.  I asked if I could borrow just a few kids before I left.
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I handed out fabric markers and quilt squares and showed a photo of the new quilt that I'm working on.  Their artwork added to the new quilt will help me remember my visit!   
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The Puppet

As I packed up, I noticed that Senor Pickles had escaped from his bag.  My once shy/sad little girl was having him talk to a younger boy.  I sure wish I knew what that puppet had to say!
What Did I Learn?
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I was exhausted after 2.5 hours. I was ready for a shower and a gallon of iced water. I looked at the kids and wished I had their energy.  They weren't a bit worn out.  
Then I looked at the teachers and realized they had many more hours to go.  I thanked them for the work they did to give these children a safe and enriching place to be.  My experience with the kids in Roatan was delightfully draining.  And for some reason it taught me to not forget the teachers.  I need to thank them more!
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    The Quilt

    For 20+ years children have called it the Magic Quilt.  They've danced and pretended all over these colorful squares.  I've dragged it to schools, shelters and studios where children have climbed on top to hear Magic Quilt  Stories and to act them out.

    I still regularly use the story telling quilt with children at a nearby  Shelter, but 7 years ago I started using the quilt on a table with a group of Alzheimer's  folks.   I was blown away by what these incredible people could share and enjoy, so I started up "Quilt Groups" at other centers.  

    In 2013, motivated by the warmth and generosity of the friends I've made through this quilt, I decided to start taking the quilt with me, when I vacation. So far I have met some wonderful adults and children while traveling and sharing the quilt in Mexico, N. Carolina, Utah, California, Mississippi, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala New Mexico, Bermuda and Honduras.  

    In this blog I will share about some of the adventures I've had near and far with the help of the quilt.  Mostly, I'd like to share some of the things I've learned along the way.

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  • Homepage
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  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!