Eleven-Eleven...

 Remembering all those who serve, who protect and defend and those who serve by standing watch. My most sincere thank you to all of our wonderful miltary, past and present.
I showed this picture last year for the UFO challenge. It's one of many I didn't get around to for one reason or another. Nor have I gotten around "to it" until today. I have my reasons, but today I struggled with them, over came them and moved onward towards completion.
 I began sewing with my mug of coffee before 7 this a.m. There were 7 finished blocks in the container at that time. There are now 11 completed and 9 more prepped for sizing and sewing together. What took the longest was tracking down enough light colored flannels to do that background!! On #20 I was really diggin' and scratching to see what I could use. It's that big triangle, cut at 9", that causes the problems. Most of my flannel is in FQ form. The pattern is called North Wind(my source) altho I think it's also called Corn and Bean and a few other things. It was in a magazine several years back. I think I liked the big bold blocks best of all. I managed not to notice how much bias you are handling...ya. The pattern sets it as a 12 block quilt with borders. But that's only 36" X 48" before borders...kinda skimpy! So I'm taking it up to 48" X 60" and then will add about a 6" border, not sure if it will be all one fabric or not. Might do a 2" and then a 4". It's a UFO that I'd really like to give as a Christmas present, but it's NOT one of my FOCUS FIVE projects...just so you know how off target I get..LOL I have finished ALL the blocks for the string quilt(UFO#2) and have them all joined up. Now I have hours of ironing ahead of me, pressing all those seams open. I hope I can get it pinned over the weekend.
 
And on this day of honoring those who serve, I chose my parents. Miles and Doris, married in 1935. The Depression not far behind them, the future not yet bright because of war clouds all about. They spent the early years of their marriage in northern WI, with Dad working pulp lumber. That slid over into working for the WPA under Pres. Roosevelt. By 1940, with war clouds still dark and looming, they moved to my home town of Chippewa Falls, WI where Dad trained to be a drill press operator. W.S. Darley Pump was making bilge pumps for our military carriers and submarines. It was a job, but it was also "war work". With the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Dad wanted to enlist. I was an infant at the time. My Mothers Dad(who also worked at Darley Pump), together with the Foreman, went to the draft board and got Dad deferred from military service. They did it without his knowledge. I do understand the how and why of it, but also understand it upset my father beyond what words could convey. I'm not sure he ever forgave them for that. Three of his 4 brothers enlisted and served until the war ended, as did my Mother's brothers. Mom worked in an 'munitions factory a few miles from our home. It had been Presto Cookware until the war. She was still working there when I began kindergarten in 1945. I believe Mom and Dad served their country although in a way that we don't always remember or acknowledge. I honor them, as well, on this Eleventh day of the Eleventh month.