tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17917146446271702352024-03-28T23:29:27.412-04:00At Home in the Heavenly Hills of West Virginia . . . daughter, wife, mother, friend . . .
. . . family, quilting, photography, genealogy . . .
. . . love, laughter, life!
Barbara Ann Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16730300480038213258noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791714644627170235.post-3348021048833412592018-02-25T12:06:00.001-05:002018-02-25T12:06:05.313-05:00Tying Up Loose EndsMy full time job as Distribution Supervisor at an oil and gas company includes many, MANY hours of sitting in front of a computer screen. While I enjoy my work, when I come home, one of the last things I want to do is work on the computer at home.<br />
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So, today is a computer day (or at least a morning) for tying up loose ends . . . like tax returns and wrapping up some photo edits and replying to emails. There's a pork roast with potatoes and carrots in the crock pot that's making the house smell oh, so good, and after lunch, I'm heading for the sewing room!<br />
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But first, I have to brag a bit on my daughter, my baby girl . . . if you're not into that, please scroll on . . .<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ6fpvPxw2XevGQc5evK8ocdpwDKTn7PQdE5Zz2bJkxwu7iLtvZ1yJxNVoyAOOrYfknlfZhj4KtiJp49r1aTqXDXzRoaaAsFxeXSWUuhA4uoKQp8npbXns7A7NpWAgU8yVVAORdbRIpM/s1600/Jessie+%2526+Darren+w+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ6fpvPxw2XevGQc5evK8ocdpwDKTn7PQdE5Zz2bJkxwu7iLtvZ1yJxNVoyAOOrYfknlfZhj4KtiJp49r1aTqXDXzRoaaAsFxeXSWUuhA4uoKQp8npbXns7A7NpWAgU8yVVAORdbRIpM/s400/Jessie+%2526+Darren+w+watermark.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessie and Darren - January 2018</td></tr>
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She's my oldest child and the one who tested me the most. But she's also helped me grow and define myself. I was 19 yrs old when she was born and while I had experience with children helping my Mom babysit for years, it is SO very different when it's your baby. I was scared and anxious - - - I wanted to be a good Mommy, no, really, I wanted to be the BEST Mommy. I set high standards for myself, my home, my relationships with my husband and my child and one by one, life whittled them down. I tried, I cried, I finally grew up and into the roles of Wife and Mother. And Jessie saw it all. And still loved me.<br />
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Her last year of high school was the hardest on all of us. She has always been very driven and ambitious, and she was determined to make her own path on her own terms. Life has whittled on her some too, but I have watched her rise above so much and come out stronger and more confident for having weathered the storms. She's had to adjust her dreams and goals as her path has changed over time, just as we all have. <br />
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She is kind, she is smart and she is beautiful. And I couldn't be more proud of my daughter as she grows into the life roles she has been given.<br />
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Watch for more news on her work as a personal trainer in the coming months - - - I'm so excited for her and eager to see where this new path will lead her and her family!Barbara Ann Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16730300480038213258noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791714644627170235.post-32148326007824074072018-02-22T17:35:00.001-05:002018-02-22T17:35:16.348-05:00Hello, there!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well,
hi!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How are you doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's been such a long time since I've seen
you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, let me move my piles of stuff
so you'll have a place to sit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need
to catch up and so much has happened that I want to share with you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hmm,
let's see . . . where to begin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's
been 6 years since we've talked and a lot has changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">First,
on the quilting side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I still love
it just as much as I always have!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There's something so satisfying about playing with a design,
choosing colors and fabrics and oh, that first slice into fabric that has been
languishing on the shelf for far too long!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's wonderful to pluck an idea out of your head, draft it up and then
see it come alive in fabric!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes, I
still tend to over think a design - - - to make it harder than it has to be by
being so particular about placement or color or size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I absolutely love using lots of different
fabrics!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll use a dozen fat quarters
instead of one big yardage, just to make it more interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then, my obsessive side kicks in and I
drive myself (and my dear husband) nuts trying to make sure there is ample
distance between prints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go figure ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIDPjYirkH3QknmnVjd92FSPTdiFzr-dqByXCdCBQT1nWPoyoIErkAusDp4t0o5_tfQ9xW8gfBxCD0zki1lbNYtbmsQpdWgAdEGFyV_FBjQ_ND5znlcQMDCy4FeglS2NciQCFAY9fA0Q/s1600/wreath+w+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIDPjYirkH3QknmnVjd92FSPTdiFzr-dqByXCdCBQT1nWPoyoIErkAusDp4t0o5_tfQ9xW8gfBxCD0zki1lbNYtbmsQpdWgAdEGFyV_FBjQ_ND5znlcQMDCy4FeglS2NciQCFAY9fA0Q/s400/wreath+w+watermark.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas wreath using leftover half-square triangles (HST). Each HST will finish at 1".</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">My
little shop, Heavenly Hills Fabrics and Crafts, has been closed since June
2013.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I picked the wrong economic time
to enter the business, I think, and then trying to keep my full time job and
with two kids at home, I just didn't have the time or resources to devote to
the shop as it needed to grow.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I really
miss interacting with customers, particularly at vending opportunities, but I
absolutely do NOT miss the paperwork and inventory management and lugging
products around!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You
might recall that I was a candidate in the NQA Judge Certification
program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, that didn't work out
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My paperwork didn't pass
twice and I haven't re-entered the new program to try again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've also cut back drastically on the judging
I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love judging quilt shows, but
with the changes in my work, it's much more
difficult to justify taking time off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have a judging job in March but it may very well be the last one I do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am still teaching quilt classes at Jackson's Mill in Lewis County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one thing I won't give up - - - it is
such a joy to teach!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, for the
weekend workshop, I'm teaching the second section of my Building Blocks series
- Half Square Triangles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friday's
afternoon class is the zipper quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
ought to check it out . . . go <a href="https://jacksonsmill.wvu.edu/events/lewis-county-quilt-retreat">HERE</a>
for more information on this awesome retreat! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm
also no longer involved with the state quilt guild.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I served as Membership Secretary and as
Judging Coordinator, met lots of great people and saw many beautiful quilts,
but I simply didn't agree with the actions of its' leadership and withdrew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it becomes apparent that there are
personal vendettas at work and logic is overridden, it's time to reconsider the
importance (and sanity!) of remaining in this type of organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By
eliminating a lot of the stressful aspects, I have been able to refocus my
energy and efforts on my personal projects and the circle of great friends that
have walked beside me through all of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am so very blessed to have quilting sisters who have listened, laughed
and loved, no matter how crazy or obsessive or irrational I may sound or
act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their unwavering support is far
more valuable than any title or job or group could ever be and I am so grateful
for the quilting that has brought us together.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNt0bN4LxkVYv88AxUefwEY2xnN6Vj_svl2u2XusKEbbowxSKk-0_txHEh2CjaXSDBNpwPVbSofNlwz51z0Yo24P7M17vsBDqIuSxihdEJa9MNI9paYRWoLVFb_HKDWscGl4XzdNwnYv8/s1600/Quilting+Friends+w+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1065" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNt0bN4LxkVYv88AxUefwEY2xnN6Vj_svl2u2XusKEbbowxSKk-0_txHEh2CjaXSDBNpwPVbSofNlwz51z0Yo24P7M17vsBDqIuSxihdEJa9MNI9paYRWoLVFb_HKDWscGl4XzdNwnYv8/s400/Quilting+Friends+w+watermark.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of our little quilting circle of friends - Sheila, Bev, Barby, Cathy, Sue, Karen, Erma and myself<br />
October 2017</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wait,
let me get a tissue.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">My eyes are leaking
a little . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ah,
well, now, what else has changed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
my daughter graduated high school and my son decided not to participate in
track and cross country, my photography changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was no longer about capturing the exact
moment a runner cleared the hurdle or the first foot landed in the sand of the
long jump pit, it was about framing and enhancing the beauty of my
surroundings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the advice of a
knowledgeable friend, I started shooting in raw and learned so much about
Photoshop and Lightroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We've taken a
few trips around West Virginia over the past few years and I've taken the time
to travel the extra distance or walk the trails to see the sweeping beauty of
my home state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband has been so
accommodating in going with me and waiting (mostly patiently) for me to take as
many pictures as I need to get just the right one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3Vo5ULV16-Qw3FfmP0kduK_MRg7dpI2VdyW71BCaOPgPJLyRseAt4mO-XOZkpS3o2vVb2I8eEICgs3EBi2DRQdT2I3EAGDRJU8tAnfw1nzDizzn6FE3IsnM71OD7cFod7j5ZmwKKxLc/s1600/Summersville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3Vo5ULV16-Qw3FfmP0kduK_MRg7dpI2VdyW71BCaOPgPJLyRseAt4mO-XOZkpS3o2vVb2I8eEICgs3EBi2DRQdT2I3EAGDRJU8tAnfw1nzDizzn6FE3IsnM71OD7cFod7j5ZmwKKxLc/s400/Summersville.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summersville Lake, West Virginia - September 2017</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Eventually,
I would like to have some of my landscape photos published, but we'll see how
it goes.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the meanwhile, I'm loving
seeing more of West Virginia!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
much as I enjoy genealogy, it always seems to be a backburner project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to pore over old black and white photos,
particularly of relatives, but my work is so scattered!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really need to take the time to organize what
I already have to identify the areas that would benefit from a more focused
effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my husband and I took our
Labor Day trip last year, we visited the New and Old Mount Lebanon cemeteries near Pickaway, Monroe County, West Virginia, where some of the earlier
generations of Beamers are interred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was incredibly interesting!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh, and that Labor Day trip? We had a great time, even if it did rain us out of a few planned stops. But we certainly enjoyed our time together! I'll tell you all about later, ok?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfjaHOIYn0uK6V4-LxfDnJynlmkAfKWMTRgoJSBVIy2yfuTtIboEyQrvmxfAbqE2JmKWlSBwklbO-5wbSXKjyGM_mxX2Zht4L5M2XRlATii45ylkO3Jmbw4ITq9yDgT0AROln39PF0xo/s1600/Labor+day+w+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfjaHOIYn0uK6V4-LxfDnJynlmkAfKWMTRgoJSBVIy2yfuTtIboEyQrvmxfAbqE2JmKWlSBwklbO-5wbSXKjyGM_mxX2Zht4L5M2XRlATii45ylkO3Jmbw4ITq9yDgT0AROln39PF0xo/s400/Labor+day+w+watermark.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and I - Labor Day trip 2017</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hmm,
what else can I tell you?</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
a more personal note, both of our children have graduated high school, our
daughter has graduated from college and my husband and I are adjusting to an
empty nest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our son is nearing the end
of his second semester of college already!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdiWikUngmSnMUXDHfomEqYopfdIEKmxVPBY3sBwcpOU_LxnWfpBz7fHng2VlJZiQGZGr8fLLUcMKHhJgxLMjWJxEYhvTbrMfrxkHSzqY5ao0vWpGHY92FhjePjppT69tiP00nP-6lhY/s1600/Darren+w+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="685" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdiWikUngmSnMUXDHfomEqYopfdIEKmxVPBY3sBwcpOU_LxnWfpBz7fHng2VlJZiQGZGr8fLLUcMKHhJgxLMjWJxEYhvTbrMfrxkHSzqY5ao0vWpGHY92FhjePjppT69tiP00nP-6lhY/s200/Darren+w+watermark.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darren - January 2018</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQ9FczeNTM3yfR9jJJk_JFARvDq6GdNLNIt06_mpiHLK61a69hYDRHaQ_Y7dWTPs8Q5VwqV6nr2nW_FSHWH4ZLUviz7xkHw3Z_ztaD8yxgANEOe_kvJV4-FCtiPpNWcofRDxH_yCi3H8/s1600/Darren+2+w+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="685" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQ9FczeNTM3yfR9jJJk_JFARvDq6GdNLNIt06_mpiHLK61a69hYDRHaQ_Y7dWTPs8Q5VwqV6nr2nW_FSHWH4ZLUviz7xkHw3Z_ztaD8yxgANEOe_kvJV4-FCtiPpNWcofRDxH_yCi3H8/s200/Darren+2+w+watermark.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darren - November 2017</td></tr>
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And
we are grandparents!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our grandson will
be two in July and we didn't know our hearts could be this full . . . oh, the
joy of watching your child with her own child!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wow!</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I've talked for a really long time!</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">So tell me something I don't know about you .
. .</span><br />
<br />Barbara Ann Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16730300480038213258noreply@blogger.com2