big . . . Big . . . BIG . . . Changes to Operation Wood Hollow

You are all so FANTABULOUS (yes, that's a word)!!!  :o)

Operation Wood Hollow has had so many quilts donated to it!!!  :o)

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!  :o)

So, here are the BIG changes . . .

First of all, we're going to need to change the name from Operation Wood Hollow to something else (any suggestions???) and here's why . . . Because Operation Wood Hollow has had so many quilts donated to it, my husband and I have decided that we are going to go REALLY BIG with this and help people who have lost their homes to other fires as well -- especially the Waldo Canyon fire (Colorado Springs) and the High Park fire (Ft. Collins) -- and try to give them some comfort by giving them a quilt full of love, too!  I'm obviously going to need a LOT of quilts to do this, but I think it will be well worth the effort to help someone who has lost everything!  As long as I have quilts to give, I'll be spending this summer driving to those who have been affected by all the different fires in the Western United States to show them that people (especially TOTALLY AWESOME QUILTERS!) really care about what they're going through!  :o)

Large Incident: A wildfire of 100 acres or more occuring in timber, or a wildfire of 300 acres or more occuring in grass/sage. Wildland Fire: Any nonstructure fire, other than prescribed fire, that occurs in the wildland Wildland Fire - IMT1: Wildland fire; Type 1 Incident Management Team Assigned. Wildland Fire - IMT2: Wildland fire; Type 2 Incident Management Team Assigned.

On this map, the red and blue dots are the fires that give me the most concern.  I just did some research (don't quote me on this!) and there have been approximately 656 homes burned so far!  So . . . if there are any of you out there that wanted to donate a quilt, but thought it wasn't needed any more, IT IS!!!  More than ever!!!

We are researching how to turn this idea into a non-profit organization so we can help people in this way every year, but we don't have time with this fire season to wait for that!  Will you help me by continuing to send in quilts while we get this officially set up??? 

Kayde Dexter wrote this on the My Lazy Daisy Blog:  "You have no idea how much that quilt will mean to them. My house burned four years ago, and while we sat there watching the firemen do their thing a good friend stopped by and gave me a little lap quilt. That quilt means the world to me and brought a lot of comfort in a time of need."

I am so grateful for each of you that have contributed to this cause!  I know the recipients of your kindness will be as well . . .

Hugs!

We're Home!!!

We're un-evacuated now!!!  =D  The evacuation order was actually released earlier this afternoon, but I've been too busy until now to sit down and take some time to update everyone.  Thank you so much for your comments and e-mails!  And your concern and prayers have really touched my heart! 

I hope you're not tired of the pictures, but I've got a few more to show you . . .



I think firemen are AWESOME!!!  As people are running away from the danger, they're rushing into it!!!  They're my favorite kind of Superheros!!!  =D







This is what has been flying over my house for the last several days!  I heard there were eight planes and eight helicoptors fighting this fire!  Kinda fun and interesting watching how they work together so well!  :o)

So anyway, things have been much quieter with the winds and fire this afternoon!  I think the worst is past us now with the Wood Hollow fire on the west side of us.  Now if the Seeley fire on the east side will cooperate and just go away we'll all be happy!  :o)

I've got to tell you all how completely AMAZED I am by your generosity with Operation Wood Hollow!!!  I knew quilters had big hearts, but you guys have gone above and beyond anything I ever dreamed!!!  THANK YOU!!!

Just a little information to try to answer some of the questions people have been asking about Operation Wood Hollow:

1.  I don't know the exact number of homes that have been burned by the fire so far.  In a few days, once things have settled down a bit, I'll be speaking with the LDS bishop of the ward where the homes were located (the evacuees probably won't be able to go into the area until Saturday or so. They're still evacuated.)  The Red Cross told me this would be the best way to distribute the quilts.  They can't give me any information because of privacy restrictions, which I totally understand.  On the  other hand, the bishop will be able to tell me how many homes were affected. I will also ask him how many people in each home (children/teens/adults) and if they are boys or girls.  That will help us in determining the size and, perhaps, the style and colors of the quilts.

2.  I will happily accept any size quilt you are wanting to donate!  Unfortunately, this fire affected the little kiddos, too.  :(

3.  I would rather not post my home address here on my blog.  If you will leave me a comment I'll be happy to give you my address in an e-mail. 

4.  I have a P.O. Box for regular mail and a street address for FedEx or UPS.  Any of these guys know where I live and will get the packages to me just fine!  I've already warned the post master to be ready for lots of boxes coming!  :o)

5.  I probably won't be delivering the quilts for several weeks.  I'll let you know when it gets closer to the time that I'll want to start delivering them.

6.  Someone suggested putting the quilt in a large ziplock bag before sending it to me.  This will help keep it clean and be easier to manage while the recipient is getting settled.  Obviously, this is your choice -- you don't have to if you don't want to!

7.  If you'd like to send anything else along with or instead of a quilt that would be great!  Anything to help these people have a reason to smile in the midst of these trials they're finding themselves in!

*Whew!*  I hope I've been able to answer your questions!  If you have others, please don't hesitate to ask!

I really appreciate everyone spreading the word about Operation Wood Hollow!  You wouldn't believe how many e-mails I'm receiving telling me they've learned about this from someone else's blog!  That's awesome!  Please keep it up!  This really is going to work!  =D

Hugs!

We did get evacuated

You guys are so AWESOME!!!  I have been so touched by the comments here on my blog and the e-mails I've received concerning our safety! 

We stayed at our daughter's home last night and are just waiting now to find out when we can go home again!  In the meantime, I have lots of time to work on Operation Wood Hollow!  :o)

This is a picture of the fire (Seeley fire) that is now on the EAST side of our valley.  We were evacuated because of the Wood Hollow fire on the WEST side.



More Wood Hollow . . .



This is a picture of one home out of 15 in a subdivision that survived the fire . . .



I am so grateful for all of my blessings!  Our family is safe and I have lots great friends (that's you)!!!  That's all I need!  :o)

I'll try to keep you posted as things progress around here!  Please keep spreading the word about Operation Wood Hollow!  THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING!!!  You guys are the BEST!!!  :o)

Hugs!

Operation Wood Hollow

Well it turns out we weren't needed to help any evacuees with housing or food.  They all had family or friends they could go to.  The last report we have is that the fire is now 39,000 acres, over 300 homes have been evacuated, and 29 homes have burned.  One of those homes belong to some dear friends of ours, Dave and Janice Taylor.  This is a picture of what is left of their home.

Dave is our city planner.  I worked countless hours with him when I was on the city council.  He and his wife were helping others evacuate to safety so they weren't able to get anything out of their own home.  All they have now are the clothes on their backs.

That's why I was up most of the night sewing.  I can't even begin to imagine the heartache they are feeling right now with having lost everything!  I decided the only way I can help them start to rebuild their lives is by giving them a quilt.  I know it's a little warm right now for a quilt, but it's the only way I know of to show them how much I love them and care about what they are going through right now.  So so sad.

While I was sewing I had a lot of time to think.  I know this may sound crazy, but I'm going to try I'm going to get 29 quilts for these families who have lost everything!  Will you help me???  I'm going to call this "Operation Wood Hollow" (that's the name of the fire)!  If there are any "Quilty Friends" out there who would be willing to donate fabric, extra quilt blocks, quilt tops, or completed quilts, I would LOVE it if you would be willing to help!  Maybe this is too much to ask . . . I don't even personally know you . . . but if you'd like to join with me in this cause I would be forever grateful!  What do you think???

Please let me know if you'd like to make any kind of a donation - no matter how big or small - it would all be appreciated so much!  If you would be willing to share this on your blogs or with your quilt groups that would be AWESOME!!!  Please help me spread the word about "Operation Wood Hollow!"  I know this can be done!!!  =D

Hugs!



I need Quilts!!!

I just got asked if some evacuees could come to my house to stay tonight!  Of course they can!!!  FINALLY!!!  I can help in some small way!!!  I just wish I had spare quilts to give them to sleep with tonight and then keep to comfort them through all of this and after!  I wish I had a lot of spare cots!  I wonder how many people will come to my house to sleep?  What should I cook them for dinner?  I only have one spare bedroom and LOTS of floor space!  How can I make people comfortable on the floor to sleep?  I wish I was more prepared for this!  :/

Fire by my house

Yesterday afternoon and today we've been watching a wildfire that's just a few miles away from my house!  There have been over 1,000 people evacuated so far so we're just watching and praying!  I feel so helpless right now! 



My brother-in-law is a sheep herder and he's lost 600-700 sheep!!!  :(









I didn't take these pictures.  They are ones a friend of mine has sent to the news agencies around here. 

If you're curious, you can follow the fire on http://fox13now.com/2012/06/23/crews-fighting-sanpete-county-wildfire/  or http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=20974037&title=more-evacuations-in-sanpete-county-highway-89-closed&s_cid=featured-1. 

It hasn't rained here for more than two months so we're praying for some now!  The wind is so strong right now that a few minutes ago it blew over our garbage cans!  CRAZY!!!

I guess I'll go back outside now.  I can't sit still!  I just don't know what to do!!!  :/

Party Topper

I can't believe June is almost over and I haven't told you about this sale yet!!!  :/

The "Party Topper" is on sale for the month of June . . . $20 off!!!



I have this quilt kit, but along with many other quilts I have, it isn't finished yet!  :/  When I do get around to finishing it, it's going to be darling as a table topper for those fun celebrations, though!  :)

Don't forget  . . . the kit includes the pattern and fabric for the quilt top, binding, AND backing!  What a deal!!!  :)

Hugs!

1949 Singer Sewing Manual

I guess this counts me out of any more quilting!  =D

She Just Wants Some Chocolate Milk

I wish you could all meet my son-in-law, Rob.  He's a crack up and I totally love him!  You just have to chuckle at some of the things he does.  Like this . . .

Rob taught our three year old granddaughter, Cambria, that when there isn't very much milk left in the jug then you can pour in a little chocolate syrup, shake it up, and viola!  You have chocolate milk!  Makes sense, right?!?!?

This morning my daughter sent me this picture to show me that Cambria decided to try out her Dad's awesome recipe . . .

So . . . instead of pouring the chocolate syrup into the gallon of milk, she tried to pour the milk into the bottle of chocolate syrup!  LOL!  She totally cracks me up!  I love the look on her face in this picture!  Too funny!!!  :o)

Hugs!