Heart Shaped Rock

I have a rock story from my son’s recent Boot Camp experience.  Charles was at Camp Pendleton and on the way to the shooting range when he saw a heart shaped rock and thought of us.  We have collected them for years on every hike or place we visit.  So, Charles picked it up and stuck it in a pocket of his jacket.  When finished shooting, each recruit gets patted down by a Drill Instructor.  He got the meanest, cruelest one ever.  The guy finds a lump in his jacket and the conversation goes like this…

Drill Instructor:  What is this?

Recruit:  It is a rock, Sir.

Drill Instructor:  A rock?

Recruit:  Yes, Sir.  This recruit saw the rock and thought it would make a good souvenir for this recruit’s parents, Sir.

Drill Instructor:  A rock?

Recruit:  Yes, Sir, this recruit’s parents collect heart shaped rocks, Sir.

Drill Instructor:  A heart shaped rock?

Recruit:  Yes, Sir. (thinking this recruit is a dead recruit)

Drill Instructor:  Wow, that is really cool.

Table runner gift

Last night, my friend gave me a table runner that she made as a thank you for a quilt I quilted for her brother.  Carole is the perfect piecer.  All her points are perfect.  She used a charm pack and knew that it would match perfect in my dining room.  I am thankful for my friends that are so good to me.

US Marine Boot Camp Graduation

Our USMC San Diego trip was fabulous!  The drive there was traffic congestion-free and the weather beautiful.  Boot Camp graduation is a big deal.  The first of two days is Family Day and it begins with a motivational run followed by presentations for parents while the young men clean up and prepare for the emblem ceremony.  The Senior Drill Instructor carries in the boxes containing the emblems. 

  

Once this is finished, there is base liberty until 5pm.  The following day is Graduation Day.  The band was great and had the audience clapping at times.   There is a pass and review for the platoons in front of the Base Commander. 

       

The ceremony ends by noon and our young men have leave until Jan. 1st when they return to Camp Pendleton for infantry training and then onto their MOS training.

 

1984 Quilt is Finished

Earlier this month, I finished a quilt that my then teenage sister started in 1984 when she lived with me for the summer.  Between then and now, my mom added the center Lone Star and I put the borders on it.  I quilted it and mailed it to my mom who was amazed that it was finished.  She gave it to my sister a few days ago and I got an emergency call Friday asking how to wash it.  Apparently, one of my nieces threw up on it.