Christmas Decorations 2013

OK, OK, I know it is not even Thanksgiving yet, but this year we are early with the decorations for a reason, Hilary Lewis is looking for houses to decorate, she is awesome and creative. Thank you Hilary for another beautiful home being decorated without me doing it (not my gift and talent, but definitely yours!)

 

Christmas tree in it's glory!

 

center of tree

 

stairs to loft

 

fireplace, stockings will wait until closer to Christmas, need to sew a few new ones for new son in laws!

front door

the loft

Mid arm sewing machine

Talking with a friend yesterday (a quilter also) she did not realize that I have a true quilting sewing machine and frame. So wanted to share some pictures of a quilt I worked on yesterday for some VERY special people.

 

The frame is nice, you do not baste or pin the quilt together prior to quilting you just pin the bottom fabric the batting and the top fabric to the poles. After you quilt a section about 6-8 inches you roll to the next section, until you are completed. This is a 60x60 quilt and I did not do close together quilting (because Christmas is coming and I have so many projects to do) It took me about an hour to set up this quilt, and about 1 1/2 hours to quilt it. In the quilting world that is pretty fast. If I did it by hand it would take me about 40+ hours. I do like to hand quilt, but have found I cannot complete things fast enough. This is a picture of the quilt on the frame in my loft (is getting so full of stuff up here, the bed may have to go)

 

Can you guess who the quilt is for?

Growing family

Looking through pictures taken last month from Dianna and Lee's wedding, and Darrell and Cathy's wedding, I realized I have pictures of all of our kids weddings, wanted to share how our family is growing and changing. Hope you enjoy the updates, we have. :)

Oldest son of OUR kids is Wayne, he and Maren have been married the longest also, I know it is getting close to 9-10 years? They got married before Tom and I did (8 1/2 years ago already!), They now have 3 beautiful children, Madison, Collin, and Ashlyn. Wayne and family live in Southern California, Wayne works for Fed Ex with the truck hauling stuff, Wayne works from home, and Maren is busy with the kids and also homeschooling, Maren loves to craft and sew.

Wayne and Maren

Collin, Ashlyn and Maddison

 

Brad is the next oldest, Brad and Jaime got married a year or two after Wayne and Maren (forgive me, but I cannot keep up with time, not good at it!)

They also have 3 beautiful children, Geneva, Bennett, and Janna. They currently are living in Colorado Springs. Brad is currently working for Red Robin as a waiter, but has plans of opening his own BBQ place someday. Jaime is currently a stay at home Mom, both Brad and Jaime have worked hard to further their education and provide for their family.

 

Brad and Jaime Tyra



Geneva, Janna, and Bennett


Ryan is the next oldest of our kids, Ryan and Danielle got married almost 2 years ago. Ryan is a nuclear mechanic in the Navy, has 12 plus years in the service already. Ryan is currently stationed our of Norfolk Virginia, but is looking at being transferred to Bremerton, Washington in the early summer. Danielle is a teacher and is currently teaching pre Kindergarden. Ryan and Danielle are expecting their first child in March, and do not want to know if it is a boy or girl, they would like a surprise. Ryan is expecting a boy though. (good luck with that)

 Danielle and Ryan
  Chinnock
Then after the boys, the girls are the babies, (works our nicely, hugh)

Cathy and Darrel got married just a week and a half ago, chose to have a super small civil ceremony, and it was beautiful and fun (see recent wedding posts for more of Cathy and Dianna's weddings)

Cathy works as an Assistant Manager at the B of A in Turlock, Darrell works loss prevention and manages apartments. Shelby is now 9 years old and in the 4th grade, enjoys playing with her friends in the neighborhood. Darrell, Cathy and Shelby live in Turlock.

Cathy and Darrell Adams (Oct 2013)

 Cathy, Shelby and Darrell (Easter 2013)

Last but not least is our "Baby" Dainna, not really a baby, she has been out on her own for many years. Dianna (or as she is called Dee) and Lee Boyette got married October 12, 2013 at our house. Dainna has a new job working for an airline, I know she is moving luggage, and other aspects of the airline. Lee is a prison guard. Lee and Dee live in the Denver area.

 

Dee and Lee Boyette at their vows, Lee and Dee chillin' (I know they are sideways, what can I say)

 

 

 

 

Weddings (part 2 of 2)

OK - so if one daughter getting married this month was not enough, Cathy Lund and Darrell Adams because engaged the Monday after Dianna and Lee got married. Cathy and Darrell have been together for about a year and a half and I could see this coming soon after they met, both kinda crazy about each other. Darrell works retail, and with the Christmas season right around the corner he knew he would not have much time off to get married and they did not want to wait. They decided to get married in Merced by the Justice of the Peace. Cathy planned a simple (very small) wedding party and dinner out at Stings. It was really fun not to have all the stress that Dianna and Lee's wedding had, and both weddings were very special because 2 daughters had found very special men that make them complete. Congratulations to ALL of you, welcome 2 new sons to the family.

Cathy and Darrell (we posed in front of the old courthouse building, and got busted!)

 

Pretty girls! Cathy and Shelby

 

Me, Cathy and Tom (I love this picture!!)

 

Mom and Daughter, love you sweetie! So happy you are happy!!

 

Weddings and things (part one of 2)

October has been a month of Love around the Tyra house. We hosted a wedding for Dianna Tyra and Lee Boyett on October 12th. We had so many helpers and workers around our house for the last month plus. Things were moved, sanded painted, cleaned, arranged, built....we had so much to do, but thanks to wonderful friends and family it all got done.
The wedding was at 3 pm, at 2 pm the backyard still did not have anything ready or set up, but somehow by 3 it was all done. (or close enough). The front yard also looked great. I was so busy with everything in the house, food and stuff I did not get a chance to take any pictures, but I knew there was a photographer and Anna Vineyard going to take pictures I did not worry about that - therefore I do not have many pictures yet - so please excuse!

Dianna and Lee just after they became man and wife!

 

they made it to the porch!

 

Brother's Brad and Wayne

 

Dianna and Tom on the Father/Daughter dance. XXOO

 

and then a baby shower....

I got to host a sweet baby shower at the house last Saturday, For Miranda from our church. The weather was perfect and so much as still looking great from the wedding it was not much work at all.

 

 

Miranda is expecting a boy in about 2 weeks (from when this picture as taken, baby #3 in their family) She looks fantastic!!

 

Lori Barrett, Kathy Saavadra (Miranda's Mom), and Miranda

 Joy Schultz and Joette Klemin enjoying the day, it was just perfect out. All the ladies enjoyed the warm weather and stayed to visit, it was really nice.

 

New cloth diapers

I bought a book with patterns a couple of years ago, gradually started collecting the fabric for the exterior of the diapers as I had a coupon from the fabric store. (called PUL fabric, Polyurethane Laminate). PUL is much softer than other plastic fabrics of the past, the print side is pretty soft and the exterior of the fabric is waterproof (more plastic looking).

I had a baby shower to go to yesterday, so I finally decided to try to make one of the diapers. I watched youtube videos (there are tons on the subject) and made one. The first on I made I had to do some seam ripping, but after that it did get easier. I made what is called pocket diapers, inside white material is a wicking away fabric (made for the diapers), and they have an elastic pocket at the back of the diaper to insert your "soaker" or prefold diaper folded in thirds. The entire diaper is washed each change, you do/can remove the soaker for washing. The PUL fabric does not withstand the dryer very well, so it is line dried. The soaker or prefold can be washed as you would wash any cloth diaper (hot water, bleach, hot dryer). There is a lot of opinions of washing of these diapers, kinda think some people are pretty wound up about the subject. I am sure a mild soap of the PUL fabric would be fine, and line dry. Baby poops on more that the diaper (if you have experienced Motherhood you realize that!)

 

 When I was a Mom with 2 kids in diapers I did not have the money to buy disposable diapers, I used cloth so I did not have to go get a job, the more money I saved the better off it was for my children. I see a lot of young mothers working, they grow up fast - I am glad I was able to stay home for the first few years of my children's lives. I used cloth diapers for my kids, and if you have the blessing of being able to stay home with your babies you might find it has it's advantages:

1. Save money (cost could be very low if you use a prefold diaper and a diaper cover only, sewing your own diapers will lower price significantly), see cost comparison: diaper price comparison

 

2.   Better for the environment

 

3. cuter!

  

    

 

Dreaming of babies lately, going to be a Grandma again, I better get sewing! What works for me (or what worked for me) my not work for you, I do understand the need for disposable in our society, and if that works for you that is great!)

Mariposa County Fair 2013

Every year I enter baked goods and usually a quilt in the Mariposa County fair. This summer has been so busy at work and at home! Work we have been shorthanded, so I have been working some of another persons job and at home we are preparing for Dianna Tyra's wedding on October 12th. (Dianna and Lee have asked for the wedding to be here at the cabin, so there is lots to do to prepare)

 This year I entered 3 quilts, one I have been working on about 1/2 the year, it is our bed quilt and the center of the log cabin block is a pistachio color to match our walls. I did not place on any of the three quilts (or the jar of plum jam I entered). When I went to pick up the items at the end of the fair tonight I found that I was not a total looser after all. I thought maybe the anniversary quilt I made for Uncle Ralph and Aunt Pat's 50th wedding anniversary would get a peoples choice, in fact I had voted for it for people's choice and had encouraged others to vote for it also - thought it would mean more to Pat and Ralph if it has some ribbon in it!

Anniversary quilt completed

Anniversary quilt prior to getting signed at the Anniversary party, me with my cousin Missy (also a quilter)

A jelly roll quilt, Shelby has asked for it for her birthday in a few weeks.

Shelby and Cathy hanging out in the park listening to music, poor Cathy had a summer cold and ended up going home early. :(

Tom and Shelby chilling in the park.