Thanks for the encouragement, Suze.

The notebook I am writing in will accompany the quilt when it moves to my DD's home. That's good enough for me.

I love hearing your stories!  You can remember things in such detail.  I can't say as I remember that much about my childhood--just bits and pieces.  You will have such a lovely heirloom to leave the future generations.

Well, if you do find a moving van, I have several pieces of fabric that looks like different kinds of gravel.  I'd be more than wiling to share.

would any of these do?

That is a very interesting piece of fabric but I've never seen trucks like those hauling gravel on Ohio's highways. LOL  (That's Australian for sure! Coober Pedy is a famous source of opals.)

I've always kept scrapbooks ... part of the only child syndrome, I think. It was just a way to keep a sense of continuity in my life.

(For example, I probably have five or six photos of myself with my parakeet Skeezix.) 

Love the pretty colorful stars. Your Christmas stars look fun too!

Wow what a cool story!

Just for fun, just because.  I do enjoy piecing blocks.  Putting them all together not as much.  I did use fabric from my stash for all except I was struggling with a green & a red, so I went by Gibsons and got a couple of half yard moda's.  I might try and finish by the weekend (E2E quilting only) and hang it in the den in time for Christmas.

Very pretty,  Dee!

I like seeing all the pieces come together, emerging from nothing into something gorgeous.  It's a good feeling of accomplishment.