This quilt block shows a dark blue airplane flying over a yellow building with gray windows next to a tall tower topped with an orange windowed capsule and antenna: the air traffic control tower. There is white stitching around the dark blue airplane. The control looks like a Jetson's version of the Seattle Space Needle. This is all against a light blue salmon-patterned background.

Block-A-Day 162 – The Controllers

Tina June 11, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

Theirs is a high stress job requiring complete concentration. To become a controller you must apply for training before your 31st birthday. Mandatory retirement is 56 years of age.

This quilt block shows the end of a bright orange fence with some flowers next to it against a light blue salmon-patterned background. The flower stems are yellow stitching and the flower bulbs are heart-shaped light red two-holed buttons.

Block-A-Day 154 – Marge Seedpod’s Shirley Hearts

Tina June 3, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

The heart shape is apparently very difficult to convince flowers to grow into. It’s an incredible achievement for her to be able to introduce Shirley Hearts this year.

This quilt block shows a railroad crossing against a light blue salmon-patterned background. There is the end of an orange fence on the left, and in front of the crossing signal on the right is another piece of orange fence. The crossing signal has a brown post and at the top are two large two holed buttons, one bright red and one bright yellow, indicating the lights. There is a striped diagonal lighter brown, yellow, and orange strip of fabric coming out of the post at an angle representing the guard that lowers to stop cars from going on the tracks.

Block-A-Day 153 – Railroad Crossing

Tina June 2, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

I watched the coal cars and thought of stories I’d read about people who had gotten in the car to hide or sleep and didn’t get out before the coal went in.

This block shows two green poplar trees, tall with narrow branches, rising up from the ground to the left. Their trunks are an orange rust brown, while the crown from bottom to top is a dark green. To the right is a two-slat bright orange fence with four fence posts standing up to start it. This is all set against a light-blue salmon-colored background.

Block-A-Day 151 – Approaching The Depot

Tina May 31, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

Julie treats the area around the depot like her own yard and garden. She pulls weeds, trims trees and paints the fences. … After Thanksgiving the trees and fences are decorated with Christmas lights.

This quilt block shows a railroad crossing signal and building against a light blue salmon-patterned background. The building next to the signal is tall and orange with a small red door. The signal itself is bright yellow with a large red two-holed button at the end of it indicating the light at the signal.

Block-A-Day 150 – Ding Ding Ding!

Tina May 30, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

There are more than 5800 accidents every year in the U.S involving a train and a vehicle. This results in 600 deaths and 2,300 injuries. Surprisingly, a fairly high number of them involve a car hitting a train.

This quilt block shows a coal railroad car against a light blue salmon-patterned background. There are two white puffs above the coal car indicated with white fabric (from the engine). The coal is a dark fabric with light yellow stitching indicating the coal piles. The car itself is a deep orange. Two dark-brown wheels, the same color as the coal, are below the car with the spokes outlined in a similar light yellow stitching.

Block-A-Day 148 – The Coal Car

Tina May 28, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

His father’s family lived in Oak Creek, Colorado for a time when he was young. My husband’s grandfather worked in the coal mines. They had a large family and little money. The little kids would run alongside the tracks and pick up pieces of coal that fell off the train.

This quilt block shows a railroad car against a light blue salmon-patterned background. The railroad car is a light orange box with a yellow sign on the side with black lettering that reads,

Block-A-Day 145 – In Freight

Tina May 25, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

When Scott ordered feeder pigs from the next county, they came bedded down in straw in the freight car. At the end of a few months those same hogs loaded up to go to market. Scott came to the train yard both times and cleaned out the freight car.

This quilt block shows a brown and orange cement truck against a light blue salmon-patterned background. The cab is brown with a light orange windshield. The fabrics are splotchy except for the mixer which is orange with brown speckled polka-dots. There is an orange band around the mixer with writing that says,

Block-A-Day 138 – The Cement Truck

Tina May 18, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

When we turned onto our County Road there was a cement truck coming and being his first left turn he turned a little too much. It looked like we were going to drive into the cement truck. He corrected and we missed but it sure made an impression on mom.

This quilt block shows a very orange van against a light blue background. The van has light yellow glass including windshield and windows. There are three windows on the side, one on a door and two as the carriage extends further back. There are two wheels below each with the obligatory small light two-holed buttons indicating the axles.

Block-A-Day 133 – The Family Van

Tina May 13, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

Farmhand #2 decided he was done with diapers at age two just before they left for Colorado on one trip. Farmhand #1 figured out real quick that if #2 needed to go potty Mom and Dad would pull over and everyone could get out.

This quilt block shows a large two part truck. It's one truck, but it has a front cab, and a large back end for moving things. The front cab is bright orange, while the back end is a bright light blue. On the back end are the words,

Block-A-Day 126 – Where Do You Want It?

Tina May 6, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

*WHERE DO YOU WANT IT? Movers* is a wonderful moving company. Moving is hard. I’m always impressed by people who move a lot. How much is a lot? More than once every 5 years.