Life after a Flood: It's Not All bad!

   Between 5 and 7 PM on February 27th, a small cold water valve under our master bathroom sink gave way. I was gone but had been in there prior to leaving at 5 PM, so I know it was confined to a 2 hour period. Believe me, 2 hours is ENOUGH! My studio is directly below our master suite, so you can imagine where all the water went, the studio and Randy's mancave next to it. I won't bore you with all the details, but it was a $30,000 loss. We have good replacement cost insurance, so after 2 full months, we are recovered.

   Two days into trying to wash and save my affected fabrics, my washing machine died, It was only a year old and under warranty, but it took 2 weeks to get the necessary electronic part. Hello laundromat, my old enemy.

   Two weeks into the cleanup/rebuild, I got the flu (and, yes, I had the shot.) This flu evidently wasn't the one expected to hit this year. I was very sick for 1 week and left with a bad cough for 3 more.  I found out that the cleanup company we hired had that flu running through all their employees while they worked here! The second week I was sick, my mother-in-law passed away. I couldn't attend the family get togethers till the day of the funeral.

  No pity party here. Like I said, good insurance, we survived and our house is better than ever.

  Good news now! My book, "Quilts of Love and Valor" is available now. It will be shown at Spring Market in Kansas City next week. Yea! I can't be there as my son, Isaah, is scheduled for cornea transplant surgery. My place is with him during that time.

  I'll share some pages from my book...

This is Marching with Sherman. It is also the cover quilt on the book.

Emeline's Garden Baskets.

Cakes for Soldiers.

Love Letters.

Baby Kitty's Quilt.

Union Encampment.

Bear Tracks.

Jacob's Cot Quilt.

25th Iowa.

Hardtack and Coffee.

Ritner Family Album.

   In the book, you'll learn about the Ritner family and the struggles they endured during the Civil War. You will see excerpts from the letters written during the war between Captain Jacob and his wife, Emeline Ritner, that inspired me to create each quilt.

   If you love history or even just reading old letters and diaries, you will enjoy reading Quilts of Love and Valor. The Ritners were a well known and respected family here in Mt. pleasant, Iowa. This is believed to be the only complete set of letters from both parties still in existence today. Look for my book at your local quilt shop. If they don't have it, ask them to order it. I hope you enjoy reading it and hopefully make one or more of these quilts for yourself.

Keep Stitchin',
Becky