I'll be seein you....

Hurrying out the door~! Gotta catch the ferry!!!! Going over to town to spend the night in order to meet my daughter at the airport tomorrow afternoon. I can't do this any other way with living here and boat schedules. So, very quickly, the quilt after I sergred the edges and washed it. Love the puckered look! Will bind while they are here.

The crocheted blanket is a gift from my aunt to Ethan. It arrived in the mail last evening!

We had rain, but no rain where the fire is. Just talked to the park and saw firetrucks going up the main road. They are going to try to keep it from jumping the trail north of Willow Pond. It appears to be heading north. I'll post if I hear of any new news.

Get ready for lots of granny pics!~~~~ I'll miss ya'll!

FIRE!~

I'm actually more afraid of fires on our island, than I am of hurricanes. This photo was taken at our beach road, Little Greyfield Beach Road (click on map to left).

I just walked in the door from taking these photos. Now, it might not look like a big fire. However, all fires begin as small fires....

I took this photo to give you a better idea of it's location. This is Stafford beach crossing, the next one up from the campground and the road where the Stafford Beach House is located.

http://www.cumberlandislandquiltchick.com/2010/02/stafford-beach-house.html

I am a State Certified Volunteer Fire Fighter on Cumberland Island.

When I saw this vehicle coming from afar, I thought it was firefighters, but it turned out to be Greyfield Inn, conducting their tours on the beach. They go up the main road, to the north end, then come back along the beach with paying guests.  This fall, the CINS (Cumberland Island National Seashore)  will conduct these tours, but will not drive on the beach.

We have long been a huge advocate for MORE access to the north end and other parts of the island, which is not easily accessible to the public. The island is around 18 miles long and you are dropped off at the south end. So, this is great news! The park will take you to Stafford Chimney area, which is private, then up to the old wharf, over to the Church, out to the beach for a picnic lunch and then back down the main road to catch the ferry. Wonderful news as far as we are concerned. America's National Seashore should be affordable and accessible to ALL, not just the elite and rich who can afford the extremely high rates to stay at the Greyfield Inn, the only commercial operation here. I think their cheapest room is around 500.00, but that's sharing a bath.

So, I'll let keep you updated on the fires. We are big advocates of dumping water via helicopter on fires to put them out. This is not very popular with the extreme environmentalists, but a fire could wipe out all the HUGE oak trees, flora and fauna, historic structures that are left, not to mention our homes. This is nature taking it's course in their eyes and it's all non indigenous, so it doesn't matter...
As you can imagine, we have trouble getting insurance here with NO fire dept. What little bit we have is VERY expensive. So, any fire here gets our attention! Grover has a few fire stories from the 70's, when he lived on the north end in front of the church and many throughout our years here.

Tonight's Sunset

I went over to the beach tonight for a break from quilting. (SO CLOSE TO FINISHING!) The sunset was incredible. We are so lucky to have the sunrise over the ocean and the sunset over the marsh.

I received a phone call this morning from Cyprus!~  Dear, dear Valentina called me and we talked for about 45 minutes, I suppose!!!!! Thank you so much Valentina! You have no idea what this gesture of friendship means to me. Do you know that we had a crystal clear connection? Something that I do not have on our cell phones, even here from the mainland. I am so touched by the heart of this lady and my soul sister...I've known her for only 6 months, and a lifetime. How fortunate we are to have our blogging family. Thank you ALL. You know who you are. I appreciate each and every one of you.

"Ears To You!"

You just never know what you'll find on the beach!

On the back of this child's hat, it says "Ears To You!" tee hee

I need to get over to the beach today. My butt is numb! I've been sitting for far too long quilting! One of the things that I always enjoy while quilting are Audio books, since I lack enough eyes and hands to do all that I want to do... Valentina mentioned this book, and I'm really enjoying it!

~The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society~

 http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/guernsey//book/#video

When I need a break, I work on this.  Look at this messy studio!

I always enjoy going back and looking at the photos I randomly decide to take. This one has the Oxford English Dictionary on my work table. lol  Wonder what I was looking up!?! You just never know! Notice I never show you the "other half" of my studio! There's a reason... Be afraid. Be very afraid! lol FABRIC!!!!!!! PILES of messy fabric! I'll get it all organized and show you one day.

If Boxes Could Talk....

When I took a few boxes down tonight, I didn't plan to post about them. These are slides. I'm sure ya'll remember slides. Well, I find it curious that the label exposed says, well, you'll see.( Don't tell me you aren't nosey enough to NOT enlarge it as best as you can....)

Anyways,

Grover was the VERY FIRST to have his house taken by the park. Code for CONDEMNED!!!!! He owned it FEE SIMPLE. That is code for, OUTRIGHT! (Just like if you own your house, he owned land and then built an A FRAME on the marsh near where we live now, but it's a much longer story) The park TOOK it. Then again and again and again and again...House, after house of his. ALL FEE SIMPLE.

Well, there are folks right now living "smack dab" in the MIDDLE of the wilderness, who are only there because they "promised to marry a family member of a family member...." Yes, there are folks here who have NEVER owned their land outright. All the while, living in the middle of a NON GREEN ZONE!

(I'll show you pics soon of the "Morristown" sign and very LOOOOOng HOTEL/ LODGE/Apts.)

Then, Grover represented (he's a lawyer. yes, still!) folks to help, "get what they thought their land was worth" (A certain elite group)

Well, you'll just have to wait to hear the whole story, but the long and short is that the park took 4 of his houses that he OWNED.  

Yes, yes, yes, yes...

He lived in front of the Church where the kennedy wedding was!

(another story for another day about a certain elite group~ who I did not capitalize their name because they have Capitalized enough)

But, it's much more than that. It's a very tangled web, which a few of us know VERY WELLLLLLLL..... and even fewer are a unique species, like me, who LOVE to TALK about it!  

Many a family left here thinks that it's in their best interest to "be nice to the park".

                                            Oh, what would "grandma" think!???!!!??? Would she approve?
Forgot!~  The more important issue at Greyfield is: Should they have cottage cheese pancakes on X day and fish on X day? Organic birds flown in from X? Well, it's no question really. It's always been this way, so it always should be. Personally, they'd make a lot more money serving fried chicken!

 Oh!~ and the man in the wilderness w/the mantle... "Grandma" really DID want him to have it.... (payment, don't cha know!) Well, he STILL is their lawyer! Wonder what payment will be next...Sure does come and go a lot up there at the Inn...
Too bad folks are not smart enough to think very far ahead. I think more folks should begin to EAT organically, than SMOKE organically... I'm just sayin!

NOw!~ To have a certain elite family here who called Doc, " the source of all of their troubles", come forward and want to buy his generator and certain things on his property...?!?!?!!?
Well, dumb ole southern me.... It just plain says a LOT!
It's all about, "What is in it for ME!??!!"
Doc would NOT want one of those "elite families" runnin his generator, any more than he'd want the park a runnin it!
It should go the library! Well, they Do have storms there (S.W. GA)  too!!!!!
Besides, if folks didn't like him in life, then why do they want his "stuff?!?!"

One Flower Wednesday!

These Trumpet Flowers are on the ruins of Dungeness. I've shown you these types before, but they were on the pergola, which is near here.

Only one Civil War era flower this week.

I managed to catch this "fig thief" in action.

He had several of his accomplices with him!

Well, they have to work together now~the birds are strong competition at this point! I've really enjoyed reading all of your notes from yesterday's post about figs...

I'm busy finishing the quilting on Ethan's quilt!~He will be here Sunday! I'll show you very soon!

Figs

I love figs. This tree was planted in our backyard about 14 years ago. For the last few days, I've gathered what I could reach, saving them to make fig preserves.

I reached as high as I could and bent the very pliable branches, so that I could pick them.

Then, from my studio, I've watched the squirrels and birds have a feast! The squirrels would carefully pick one and NOT devour it. They would scurry from one oak, to another, through the labyrinth of branches, until they found the perfect spot. Then, they would sit and feast on their one, carefully chosen morsel.  When this tree was smaller, I'd put a net over it, in an effort to protect the fruit.  It's entirely too tall now and I don't mind sharing.

As a child, I was a spider monkey, very tall and thin. I would be the one to climb up the fig tree to pick what I could, then bend down the branches for my father to reach.  I remember both my grandmothers and great grandmothers, making fig preserves and serving them with hot biscuits and butter. I love how such simple foods can evoke wonderful memories. Even the thought of them...

I wanted to show you this quilt. I love it! It's in the newest Pottery Barn catalogue (No, no paying endorsements here!). The original is housed in the American Folk Art Museum in New York.  It was made near Philadelphia around 1835 of approx. 2,900 pieces.  There are also others, including Gee's Bend reproduction quilts. No mention of where these reproductions are made in the catalogue.... but, you know me, I called.  Yes, China.  Supposedly, these are all paper pieced and quilted by hand. When I inquired about the backing fabric, I was simply told that it is a floral. Regardless, they are inspirational to look at and there's a video about how they "re-created" these (Which still does not mention China!).

Quilt Barn Trail

Click on this link to view video:
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d5463354f446b334e6a4d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link

I've done a lot of traveling!
When I was 12, my father bought a big travel trailer and every imaginable piece of equipment one might need. Tents, lanterns, stoves, canoe, you name it!  Off we went!~Leaving Louisiana, meandering northeast, up through the U.S. and into Canada. We then went ALLLLLLLLLL the way across Canada to British Columbia. Then, back down into Washington, Oregon, meandering again back down towards home. We ONLY stayed at National and State Parks, unless nothing was available. I suppose now he'd get in trouble for taking us out of school early for an extended summer trip, which lasted into the fall.  It was the best learning experience he could have given us.

I remember seeing the SEE ROCK CITY barns each year, when we took our annual vacation from Louisiana to Tennessee, N.Carolina, Virginia, etc. We'd all load up in our suburban and head out. Still, these memories are so clear of the barns, painted with signs... It seems that I'm not the only one who has these memories. Click here:  http://www.randesignscustomjewelry.com/history.html

I was reminded of those times today, when I watched this video. So, I wanted to share this with you. Marie, the recent winner of the Cumberland Island book, sent it to me. Thank you Marie!

I'm going to paint one for our barn here on Cumberland Island! Now, which block should I choose?
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Here are a few more links I've found that might interest you:
http://www.ohiobarns.com/mpbarns/hist/hw/hw.html
I've ordered this book, but the above link will give you a glimpse of this talented man and his work!

This is a nice blog with more information on the Trail:   http://americanquilttrail.blogspot.com/

Remember That FULL Moon From Last Night?

Before you read this... please note that I try to NOT go on with "words". BUT~!

I went over to the beach tonight to find that FULL moon, which kept me awake last night.
On that note:
I ALWAYS blow my horn.  Before, during and after crossing the dunes. I pretty much ONLY use the "little greyfield beach road" (see map on left) and have encountered many a picnicker sittin in the middle of it. Usually, right at the base of the first one and the last one. Well, those are the best views (don't ya know!) and according to them, they are "trails". 
I've written letters and had telephone conversations about putting up signs/doing something... They (the CINS) don't see the problem. They (CINS) can't put up signs, that would disturb the visitors experience....
Well, I can tell ya first hand what is gonna disturb somebody's experience! It's called a 4 WD pickup!

I've washed my hands of the matter.  I just do what I can on my end and let them deal with the rest...
Well, how'd you feel if you came home and kept calling and saying there's gonna be an accident at this intersection and nobody does anything? Then, there's an accident and they put up a red light?!?!) sigh...
I've also written letters about putting up ladders at various docks so that when someone falls in, they can get out. I have a very long list of things that I've pointed out. I keep getting letters from people in Atlanta sitting in a high rise, who have never been here and the "superintendent Du jour". We have more of a turnover in Park Superintendents, than we have hurricanes...
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Tineke, these are for YOU!

Same birds, but my camera is still adjusting to the 70's in the house and the 100 degrees+ outside...

These folks are out with their seine nets and poles, enjoying the evening...long into the night.

Well, There was a breeze blowing and I've gotten a lot farther than this, but I'm tired and will sign off for tonight.

Enjoy the FULL MOON!~wherever you are...

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 I think I should mount a camera to the front of my vehicle and take you for a ride over the dunes.  Kind of interesting that nobody has ever done this.  I wonder why... Might put a new perspective on things.

This Old Quilt

This is another of my old quilts, as mentioned here:

 http://www.cumberlandislandquiltchick.com/2010/05/one-of-my-antique-pennsylvania-quilts.html

I have another border around this quilt in progress.  I keep working on it during breaks from Ethan's.

This section is 40 inches.  I hope to have more done today...

if I can get to sleep!

When you live where there are NO exterior lights of any kind, you really do notice a full moon. I just stepped outside and took this photo. The night photos here always look so eerie, with the Spanish moss hanging from the oak trees.

And The Winner Is.....

The number 25~
Anonymous said...
I'd love to win. Sorry to say that we never visited much of GA when we lived in FL for over 40 years, it was just passing through going to visit the in-laws in NC. Now we live in Oregon so your book will fill in some gaps.
Marie
                                                CONGRATULATIONS MARIE!!!!!

                     "Kick up your heels!" ~ You won a great book!
                                                                 (It's on the way to you NOW!)

One reason I love having Giveaways, is to get to know who is reading my blog! With so many coming to visit me each day (200+!), I always wonder where you're from. So, I love it when you take the time to tell me. Oh, I know there will always be lurkers out there... but, it's nice to hear from the folks who look.  Thank you ALL for taking the time to enter and we'll have another real soon!

THIS IS ALSO MY 200th POST! I knew it was coming up, but when I went to announce the winner, I was reminded.  On February 7th of this year, I began my blogging journey. I had no idea what it would be like. Because of ALL OF YOU, I'm having the best time! THANK YOU!~ to every single person who comes by to visit me...
It's an ecclectic mix!

You never know what you'll see...

or where we're going!

One Flower Wednesday

It's nice to be using Civil War era fabrics again to make my hexie flowers! If you recall, I made several with this center fabric before I began the I SPY quilt. So, I'm back to these now, and wanted to use one of my new toiles. The background fabric that it is laying on, was given to me by my friend Sherri, over in Macon, GA.

I've shown you flowers like this before, which are on the pergola at Dungeness. http://www.cumberlandislandquiltchick.com/2010/06/one-flower-wednesday.html

Well, I've found these in another location. I'll show you soon, when I have the time to watermark my photos. Don't worry, not much longer... 

In the meantime, here's a post on another blog. It was written by a gentleman who lives in London, England, and has never visited Cumberland. He's a "virtual traveler"~ With the use of other's photos and researching the history of various places....It's his hobby.

http://www.kuriositas.com/2010/07/ruins-of-cumberland-island.html

Thank you Melissa (Andreasnest), for sharing this with me.

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I wanted to remind you about my Giveaway!!! To enter, please see my previous post and leave your entries there... Winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon.

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We still have LOTS of Painted Buntings here at our feeders.

I've been inside quilting on Ethan's I SPY. It's extremely HOT, humid and buggy here. We have 2 big central A/C units for the main parts of our home, and one window unit in my studio.  All are running as hard as they can at all times... Did you know we have to pay a 50% surcharge on our electricity here?!!?

Let's Have A Giveaway!

This is THE ONLY book one should read, if you want to learn about Cumberland Island, GA.

I'm giving away a copy to one of you~just leave me a comment to win.

Contest ends at noon on Thursday.  I'll have this drop shipped to you from Amazon and ship anywhere, worldwide. Good luck!

CONTEST IS CLOSED!

The Cotton Wife Likes My Laundry Detergent!

Dear Jennifer,

http://thecottonwife.com/?p=2061

I think your laundry detergent containers are much cooler than mine.  Looks like Boones Farms meets the milk man....  :) I would like to thank you for making the laundry detergent recipe that I posted a few days ago. See, the thing about kids is you tell them something and they "poo poo" it. Well, now that YOU have made my recipe and put it out there for the whole wide world to see... I think my daughter might give it a go! We country wives have to stick together and I'm honored that you'd take me seriously. Seems not so many do~ I need all the help I can get.

Sincerely,

Sandra

P.S. I hear you like to wear aprons, and I hope that you will share them with all of us.

Mail!~ I Have A New Wallet!

                            A few days ago, I told you about the bag that Cyndi at Bluebirdswing

http://bluebirdswing.blogspot.com/

made for my daughter.  Well, look what I received in the mail! Cyndi also made a wallet and key fob for ME! Included in the package were these very large pieces of beautiful fabric. She says the flora and fauna made her think of me... I love them!

Isn't it just wonderful?!?! I can't get over the workmanship and the fabric is simply gorgeous! Thank you Cyndi!!!

Oh, and Heidi has received her bag, wallet and key fob... She LOVES them!

I'm sure that Cyndi would love to make something for you or a loved one~just go on over and ask her!

Sea Turtles

These photos were taken May 28th. While at the beach last evening, I realized that I had not shown them to you.

This is a "crawl" from a Loggerhead Sea Turtle.

The turtle techs come and put cages over the nests to protect them from pigs,etc.

I find it interesting that some nests on the Gulf side will be dug up and moved to the Atlantic side. For years, we've been told that the turtles had an internal GPS, which leads them back each year. So, I'm curious how this will all work.

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Marcia at BLUE BOBBIN http://bluebobbin.blogspot.com/2010/07/favorite-friday-blog-finds_16.html

used the charm method of making pinwheels to create a really cut dog bed!

Donna at QUILTING ON THE MON http://donna-stickovich.blogspot.com/

has created a blog. I'm thrilled about this, as Donna makes the most beautiful quilts and is a hand quilter. You won't believe her incredible works!

Here's a few photos of my quilting progress. It's difficult to tell, but this will give you an idea of what's going on with I SPY.

I can not wait to wash this and see it all pucker up. This flannel is SUPER soft and thick, I'm so glad I used it for the backing.