Memorial Day

My Memorial Day weekend has brought some sewing, some gardening, and some shopping.  Today there will be some barbecuing and family time.  Our flag is flying outside and we are thinking of those whose service ended in death, and those whose service continues daily. 

The most memorable Memorial Day I ever had was in 1980, when I was 18 and staying with some family friends stationed on Oahu.  The husband, an Army Major at that time, was Commanding Officer of Schofield Barracks and was off on maneuvers in the Philippines with his company for three months.  As they had four children, the youngest of whom was 4, I was helping out with childcare.  The family was living in officer's housing on Hickam Air Force Base, sandwiched between Pearl Harbor and the Oahu International Airport.  All the big planes flew low over the house before turning to land, and when the air force jets were flying in and out, the roar was incredible.  You got used to it surprisingly quickly.  Their two boys were in Boy Scouts and for Memorial Day we went to Punchbowl Cemetery outside Honolulu, where many victims of the Pearl Harbor battle were buried.  The scouts gave each grave a small flag and a lei was laid over it.  My stay in Oahu was a couple of months long and I never got to the Pearl Harbor memorial, but the visit that day to Punchbowl was a breathtaking and sobering sight that I will never forget.   

My patriotic Strawberry Fields Quiltalong blocks are taking shape, slowly, but are lots of fun.  Lori's instructions are good and I'm assembling mine block by block so's I can change my mind along the way :) 

 Here are the five I've finished so far, being tested out on the navy print I'm thinking of using.  I like the contrast happening there.  These are small blocks, finishing at 4 1/2 inches.  I can see how people can get addicted to making these tiny blocks, though I think 29 pieces per block is enough for me!

It's hard to pick a favorite among them but I'm pleased with the way my blocks are turning out.  Making them bigger than needed and trimming down works great for me.  Six more full blocks and two half blocks and then I can cut the background and start assembly.  I hope to get the remainder of the blocks finished today and the triangles cut for the zig zag setting.  I also spent time on Erica's quilt, putting on the corner triangles and getting one of the side borders assembled (Whew, that whip hurts when she flicks it!).