Ward Wanderings: 2016

Coke in Japan

The labels on Coca Cola bottles in Japan can be turned into a Christmas Bow by pulling a tab. Works on 500 ml bottles only. Clever

Ladies' Meeting

Our annual wreath making ladies' meeting was December 9th. There were seven ladies in attendance; four of whom were new to this event. Henry told Jesus' birth story.

We made pine cone wreaths on a wire frame this time. Back in March/April, the city of Kobe was kind enough to cut the trees along the major thoroughfare--a distance of about 2-3 miles. Oodles of beautiful pine cones were left behind, so I collected a huge box of them. They turned out well, though it took longer than anticipated. After that we had a turkey soup lunch.

Please pray the new ladies will come again and hear the gospel.

More quilting

Baby quilt that says Play a Little Every Day

Cactus Quilt Shop in Tucson, AZ Row by Row of cactus flowers

Clouds

Beautiful cloud formations out the front door today.Thank you, God, for the visual stimulation.

Facing North

Facing Southwest about 1:30 pm

Facing South

Directly overhead

Southwest

Wonder what type of weather is coming our way?

Latest quiltsThes

This is a lap quilt with a mixture of squares and the back is totally scrappy.

This is for a baby somewhere. This is number 295 I've done in the last 20+ years.

Neighbor's Construction

Our neighbors behind us live next to a somewhat steep slope. In September, a Kobe city crew came and started redesigning the slope due to the strong possibility of landslide. Now there is no vegetation on the slope. These photos show what's behind the houses after they removed the three-foot stone wall. We think the city is going to put in a cement wall, probably up the side that's been cleared and level. We shall see. Construction is to be done before year's end.

Some support wall.

Here is where the stone wall used to be.

Latest Row by Row

The top one is named Hooked on Quilts from City's Edge Studio in Warsaw, MO. The bottom one is called Hooked on Quilting from Nancy's Fancy's in Richmond, IN. There's a 3" quilt on the end of the fishing line. All of this was appliqued with a satin edge stitch. Not my favorite thing to to, but it turned out nicely.

Update on KIBBS construction

Two ladies are cleaning the new tile in the main foyer area.

Tile almost ready for grout.

This view is from the dining area looking toward the front doors. A passageway was built under the existing stairs to my right as I took the photo.

This is the music room/storage area for now. The old sliding glass doors were removed and new double pane windows put in. Here sheet rock is being installed.

From the music room looking out to the parking lot.

New construction--what is being built?

About a half-mile from where we live is some new construction on a previously empty field. Rumor has it that it will be a new high school. These photos were taken from the stairwell of an apartment complex across the street.

So far it's just lots of dirt being moved around from pile to pile and loaded into multitudes of trucks to cart it away, maybe to make a new island offshore someplace.

Looks like water/sewer pipes ready to be put in.

KIBBS reform work

The Bible School is getting a new foyer area. Old walls were taken out to open up this area, taken from the President's office. The main entrance is to the left. New windows were added in several rooms

The floor needed cement added to level it out for new tile to be placed.

The sliding glass doors were removed and new double-paned windows will be put in. Eventually the parking lot where everyone is standing will be paved and the new siding will be painted white.
More photos to follow.

Row by Row Sewn Rows

These are from 2015 Row by Row Experience when we traveled last summer from Denver and headed East from there, then down to TX, and back up to ND, and ending up in Nebraska for Peter and Jewel's wedding. Along the way we stopped at some 40 quilt shops and collected patterns and fabric license plates. I'm getting around to putting these together then will make some quilts out of them--sometime in the future. It was a great experience meeting so many small business owners and talking about our favorite past time. Would love to do it again in another year.

The top is from The Fig Leaf in Ft. Collins, Co, the second one is from The Stitchin' Post in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

The top one here is from Sew Chic in Fairmont, WVA; the middle one is Watergun Fight! from from Robin's Nest, Edwardsburg, MI; and the bottom fish are Igg and Ook Best Fish Friends from In the Making in Birmingham, Alabama

The top one is from Quilters Haven in Rockford, Illinois, home of the Sock Monkey; The bottom one is from Material Girls in LaPlata, MD. I added this verse from Acts 14:17: "...He did good and gave us rain from heaven..."

The bottom one is from Unique Stitches in Bedford, PA.

More coming.

This one is entitled, It's OK to be Different from Heartsong Quilts in Hot Springs, SD, the second shop we visited.

Top one is a football field from Sew Delightful in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; the middle one is from Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria, VA, and has batik fish; the bottom one is Making Waves from The Quilted Ladybug in Moorehead, Minnesota.

Typhoon passes by

Today we got dumped on by a typhoon, but not a direct hit. There was lots of rain, but very little wind. The yard had standing water, the fields also had standing water and the creeks were nearly full to overflowing. This does not happen often here in Kobe, for which we are grateful.

The veggie garden under water

The creek below our property that's on the left slope.

Harvested rice field across the street. The chaff and straw are not going to be usable, unfortunately. It gets used for mulching and covering seeds so birds can't get at them.