Growing Great Memories

http://www.mostatefair.com/

When I received the email as an official Fair Fan a few weeks ago, I got such a lump in my throat. This year's Missouri State Fair slogan is 'Growing Great Memories' oh so appropriate! I just love it and I have been thinking about blogging this since I saw it and for some reason today I just couldn't get my mind off of it.

For me Missouri State Fair holds so many memories. As a child I remember going to the fair for a day. All the sights and sounds overwhelm my senses if I just close my eyes and remember back. As a child you just suffered through all the walking through a million buildings that you could care less about for that finale of the day, the Midway! The tilt a whirl, the fun houses, the 'Himalaya' and I could go on and on.

Then there are State Fair concerts, some of the early ones I remember are Beach Boys (my mom and dads favorite) Alabama (Randy Owens was a first crush I think) and as the years went on Hank Jr. and of course my man George Strait.

There were the years that I went for several days with my BFF Michelle, we stayed with her Grandparents in their camper. Explored the fair for the first time by ourselves. Went to see T Graham Brown in the Bud Tent, we thought we were cool to be there, since we were about 14, LOL.

As I got older in HS went a few years with friends and a boyfriend or two, more concerts, the Midway............but little did I know what a special place the Missouri State Fair would hold in my heart and that place was getting ready to firmly plant itself in my soul as my journey to 'growing up' was about to conclude.

At the end of my Senior Year in HS I started dating David. His family has a great heritage of times spent at the State Fair, although their experience was much different than my own, I soon learned to love and look forward to that change in my life.

MSF of 1989, is where it all officially began. Just a week before the fair, I began college at NWMSU, in Maryville, MO. I have no idea what possessed me to think that a college four hours away from was a wise choice (okay yeah I do know, but not going there) But alas, I had just spent my first week at college and was missing my sweetie something awful. So Akemi (my roommate, now my relative) and I drove from Maryville down to the fair. Us two 'town/city' girls got broke into what being a state fair exhibitor was like. A world within the fair that neither of us had ever known. Fun times amongst our group that camped together from water fights at the wash racks, short sheeting beds, the famous drop a rubber spider in front of people walking through the barns and so much more. We had the greatest time at the fair that year. I was hanging out with my sweetie and conveniently his cousin Dale Toedebusch was there as well and Kem and Dale met (the rest wasn't history till the next weekend when I had car trouble driving back to school and they came to rescue me, but thats a whole 'nother story)

I really couldn't say if it was the last night there or not, but one night while walking around the fairgrounds with David, we decided to rest/sit for awhile. Now David grew up going to the fair and he knows his way around the fairground fairly well. Packed fairgrounds no place to sit.......nope not a problem. So as we sat on some FFA kids' trailer/fair exhibit we talked about life, love and other stuff. I was painfully homesick and really hating the choice that I had made to be away from home and him. And while sitting there on that flat bed trailer, David said the words that would forever change both of our lives. That night he told me how much he loved me and reassured me that that fact would never change and then said the words I will get down on one knee right here and propose right now if you need me to. I knew I loved him for about three months before that, was pretty sure I wasn't going anywhere away from him wither for about that long, but that moment in time will forever be etched in my mind. It wasn't the official proposal, that happened about 4 months later. But that memory to me is almost as precious.

Well by the time State Fair rolled around the next year, we were 'old married folk' celebrating our one month anniversary right there at the fair! :) For the next few years we went with David's sisters for at least part of the time that they were up there showing or met friends and attended more concerts (shout out here to Mark and Tammi Miller, wasn't Huey Lewis a great concert?)

State Fair time 1994 was a time of great anticipation for us, Cody was due at anytime. That is the only year since we've married that we didn't go at all. I was swollen up like a tick and sitting at home in the air conditioner with my feet up was about my favorite hobby. The next 8 years saw us attend the fair anywhere from a day to several days. There was a year in there that saw me as a very pregnant State Fairgoer when Sam was on the way. Many more memories of fun times spent in the cattle barns, sitting around camp, Sam's first tractor pull, where in utero he didn't care for the vibrations coming from the loud engines.

As the years went by there was sort of a changing of the guard, David's sisters got 'too old' to exhibit just as Cody got old enough to exhibit. Our first year at the State Fair as a cattle exhibiting family was spent with a 8 yr old, his 2 hiefers, lil brother who enjoyed playing with his tractors in the sand of the floor of the barn and our lil bucket baby.

Jenna was 9 mos. old and not walking and was SO LITTLE it was really kinda hard to find a good place for her to enjoy the fair. As a joke one day David stood her in a 5 gallon bucket and she loved it. She was little enough that she could sit down in the bucket and play with a toy or stand up and be cute for all the passersby. Within probably half a day word spread and Bucket Baby of the Angus Barn stole the show from all of the high dollar black hided exhibits. She was a star!

There have been so many more memories at the Missouri State Fair. I think of the ones with my kids as the most precious. Taking the stroller to the shower house when I had two very little ones to get bathed. Cooking supper at the camp which was right by the cattle tie-outs and smiling proudly as practically every exhibitor who was exercising their cattle would stop by and ask when supper would be ready. We have our State Fair friends, ones that it seems like we never get around to seeing but during that week of our pilgrimmage to the fair. There are so many traditions that are engrained in the souls of myself, my husband and our kids that absolutely personify 'Growing Great Memories' that makes that lump in my throat all the bigger. Four months from today we will be packing up and heading to fair. The fair is full of endings like the show season and summer and beginnings with the school year right after and definitely full of memories.

Wiping a tear which seems to be a regular occurance while blogging,

From Tulip~

KH

:)

Projects, lots of projects

If anyone follows this blog anymore, I am sure you are in total shock that I am actually blogging today. It's been 4 months, how sad that is. I told myself at the beginning of 2010 I was going to start blogging again regularly and here it is April, every four months, hmmmmm, I really had in mind SLIGHTLY more often than that, but life just keeps happening and I just don't get it all done.
I don't get it all done because one of my favorite mantras should probably be why finish a project when you can start a new one, thanks Meredith! ;)
Lately I have been sewing up a storm. I have made a few projects for friends. So far towards Christmas I have completed a quilt top for Cody, started one for Sam, relocated and reworked one that I am planning to give Jenna and purchased the fabric for Seth's. I think that MY KIDS should really probably be one of the recipents of my hard labor.
Made a totally cute quilt for my Aunt O, in remembrance of her 60th birthday which was in February! Too cute, if I wasn't so lazy I would post the picture, maybe another day. We have several young people who are special to us, who are graduating from high school and college this spring, so graduation quilts are in process, wish me luck, I just may have bit off more than I can chew on that one.
I have big plans for sewing including a quilt for our bed, I am calling it our 20th wedding anniversary gift, but secretly hoping we get to go somewhere for our anniversary and that the quilt isn't the only gift, especially since who knows if I will actually complete it BY our anniversary! There are many other projects that I hope to do as well.
I am truly loving the time I am spending sewing. I definitely think I have addictive personality, I may not smoke or drink, but fabric is my vice!!! LOL
Besides sewing, I am making plans to do some painting and updating in our house! I have paint purchased to do our bathroom, kitchen back splash area and want to possibly do some decorative painting in Jenna's room. Along with the updates, I have some ideas in mind for some meaningful wall art. I have made some yo-yo's that I am planning to arrange like a flag to hang in our room and tie in with the new quilt and bedding(planning to make some pillows too!) I have some antique postcards that belonged to David's great uncle Bill (Seth William's namesake) that are 4th of July ones and a few Memorial Day ones that I am wanting to frame for a picture in our Dining Room. And I have been thinking of some way to preserve a family heirloom from my side of the family and I think I have finally come up with the idea. I have pictures of Mom, Jenna and I each at about a year and a half old, all wearing the same dress. I want to frame the three pictures AND the dress for a piece of wall art/ family history. I even wrote a poem to add to the picture. I am not sure this is the final copy, but here's the rough draft:
The Little Blue Dress

Purchased and worn on a very special day,
In 1950 in the month of May.
Bright blue cotton, in the back, a bow.
Sweetly trimmed in lace for a little show.
Kids do lots and especially grow,
It makes Moms sad, for this they know
With future dreams, it’s packed away
To be worn again, on some future day.
Granddaughter came with eyes of blue
Grandma said, she’ll wear that dress too!
Laundered and pressed, ready to go
Over the head and tie the bow.
Pictures taken and memories made
Captured in time before they fade.
Packed up away, saved and treasured
For a mothers love cannot be measured.
Would we see it again, who’s to know?
Such a cute little dress, tied with a bow.
Grandkids finished up just in time,
Great grandkids came right along, next in line
First a son, then another
Soon enough, they’re both big brothers
More blonde hair and eyes of blue
Absolutely! She will wear the dress too!
Love’s passed on, once again
Where’s it end? Where’s it begin?
To the daughter from the mother
Four generations, love one another.

Okay so it's Good Friday, we have eggs to color, a few chores to finish and lots of fun to have. Wishing you and yours a Blessed Easter weekend. Hoping to get back here very soon.
Until we meet again,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

Homemade Christmas Gifts, 2009 version

This year I decided that partly because of the hub bub and hype of Christmas and the focus on the materialistic things, AND shortage of CASH; I am making GOBS of the Christmas gifts we are giving. This fall Seth started preschool and goes Monday-Wednesday-Friday mornings. Well in effort to save gas, get in shape and accomplish the goal of homemade gifts, this is my morning routine. Drop off all four kids, yes at four different buildings, then drive to the quilt shop. It doesn't open till 9AM and I get done dropping off kids about 8:20, so I walk for about 40 minutes, which is around 2.5 miles. Then after the quilt shop opens, I take my sewing machine and whatever project that I am working on in and sew for a little over 2 hours each of those mornings. This has allowed me to make a Quilt for 'Festival of Sharing' that I donated in October, birthday gifts for two of my sisters-in-law, clothes for Jenna and Trinity (by Christmas they will have 3 matching outfits, a blue, tan and pink jumper each!) And some kind of sewn gift for basically everyone on our Christmas list. Since I can't remember who all follows this blog, I am not going to be specific. :)

The two pictures added to this post are a pillow I made to participate in the Christmas Challenge at the Quilt Shop, it will be a gift, if I can stand to give it away. The focus fabric is the ivory fabric with the pine branches and navy ornaments on it, I couldn't get real excited about it, so just added it into a project that I had been wanting to try. The Tree Quilt Square isn't totally original, another customer at the Quilt Shop made a BEAUTIFUL QUILT from a pattern sold there and I just fell in love with it, but decided that I could figure out a basic square similar to the one featured, so that was my attempt.

The other picture of the Christmas Stocking was a donated project as well. Material Girl Quilt Shop and Prairie Queen Quilting are sponsoring a service project where they challenged us to create a homemade stocking and donate it, they will in turn fill all donated stockings and give them to kids in need in our local area. For donating the stocking, we get to put our name in a drawing for a chance to win $50 in free quilting on our next project! So it's a win-win thing.

I am donating one other thing this holiday season. Those who follow this blog may remember the coloring book bags that I made and gave to Seth and Jenna for Valentines Day this year. I have made 10 more this year (all totally out of my fabric stash!). I bought Crayons when they were cheap at Back to School time and also purchased coloring books recently to put inside them. They are being donated to 'Christmas is Caring' which is a charity group in Paris, MO that our church helps out with.

Well if I am going to complete all of these projects, I should probably close this message. I hope to add more pictures of projects that I am working before Christmas, but who knows, it sure gets busy around the holidays. In case I don't get back here to my blog and if I don't get another chance, I would like to wish you and yours a blessed Christmas Season from me and the blessings in my life, my wonderful husband, David, and the four lights of our lives, Cody, Sam, Jenna and Seth.

Merry Christmas,

From Tulip~

KH

More Pictures and Updates

Since it was pointed out that I failed to make any mention of having a daughter, thought that I would mention that yes Jenna still lives here with us, much to her dismay somedays. I think she would move in with Rosel and her sheep at any given moment if given the chance. Although we scored fairly well at her birthday, she got to have a party with her friends, (see picture if it uploaded) also got a pair of Pink Justin Gypsies for her birthday, in laymans terms cowboy boots, which is the ONLY thing that has been on her feet since. She's having a great year at school, blowing me away with how quickly she's learning to read (thank goodness!) talks alot about a little boy named Lance, but he's not her boyfriend! :) And she's patiently awaiting turning 8 (just turned 7 on the 1st of Nov) because she knows that 8 is the magic age of being in 4H which she has waited her whole life to be in! Then she can FINALLY show cattle, no more of this bottle calf and sheep showing stuff, she'll be in the big leagues and Cody and Sam look out! Alas one more summer of bottle calves and lambs, and yes she's already asked if there is any calves that need a momma! OMG ;)

Also if they upload, I added a picture of Cody IN his Football uniform, playing in the marching band at halftime of the game the other night. And I think you are seeing a picture of Dad and I at the Veterans Ceremony yesterday.......for some reason however I used to upload pictures onto this blog easily in the past isn't working so well today.

Well it looks like there MIGHT be pictures on this post, so from Tulip~

KH

Happy Veterans Day!

Today was a really great one! Sam's school honored Veteran's with the 'Old Glory' project. Each student picked a veteran who was special to them and wrote them a letter. It told them why they wanted to honor them. And it also invited them to a Ceremony held at Sam's school today. Sam picked Dad. During the ceremony he presented him with a Flag that he had written a short essay on the 'white stripes' about what Freedom means to him. This was just an awesome event. Complete with the local VFW presenting the colors, the 5th graders sang America the beautiful. Mrs Dickerson the Social Studies teacher had several students read their letters aloud and the essays they wrote on the flags. What a wonderful tribute to all veterans, I can't imagine spending Veterans Day any other way!

Quick update on the life at Hasekamps~

Football is still in full swing! Our varsity is ranked #1 in the State and is in the process of making their way to the state championships! All of the boys get to dress out, the entire JV and Freshman teams, so Cody is on the sidelines and we are in the stands. He also plays on the Marching Band at halftime. Speaking of Cody since Band and Football don't

keep him busy enough, he's also in FFA and went to the national convention in October which was in Indianapolis, IN. Had a great time there I think, his story he enjoys sharing the most is that 'Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs (cable TV show)' was the opening session speaker and he thought he was amazing!

Sam has started wrestling season. (Cody is too old for club, and also decided to not wrestle in HS, which actually now that I am over it, is okay, less driving)

Cody got his permit, that's been interesting, and I will leave it at that.

Seth is going to preschool three mornings a week. (I am sewing at the Quilt shop while he's there, saves gas driving back and forth and wait till everyone sees at Christmas what all I have made!)

David is done harvesting beans, they are shelling corn now, running behind but October was SO WET, it couldn't be helped.

Would like to blog longer, but 4H is tonight and there's no missing, as this year I am the Community leader aka for in charge..........

Till next time,

From Tulip~

KH

My new purse

Inspired by beautiful purses made by my friend, Lori (her blog: http://www.girlsinthegarden.blogspot.com/ ) I decided after spending way too much on yet another blog, which is http://www.modabakeshop.com/ to make the 'Charming Handbag'.

I needed a purse to match my outfit for this evening. It's my 20 year class reunion. (matching accessories are important for these events, LOL) I had purchased a 'charm pack' (for the uneducated on these things, its a packet of precut fabric squares, 5" all from the same line of fabric, so beautifully coordinated!) My original intention for purchasing this was that I have a wedding next spring, daughter of a friend and I thinking about a quilt for the gift. Like paint at my house fabric has to live with me awhile and age, then it can become something.

I shopped this week for a new outfit for the aforementioned reunion and came up with something, out of character for in that it's 'frilly and girlie' but I will live........ It's a cute top in teals, taupes, cream and brown with a little yellow and green. Bought some cream colored tailored capris to go with and a cute necklace.......... I am a HUGE purse ADDICT and really looked for a purse to go with it, but since this outfit isn't the usual 'Kathy' fare......... sturdy and leather didn't seem to go.......so I had decided, oh well...........until........

I was on the Moda website (again for those who don't already know, Moda is a brand name of fabric, one I have come intimately acquainted with via Material Girl Quilt Shop!!! YAY MEREDITH!!!) Anyway, I saw the CUTE CUTE CUTE Charming Handbag on there and decided to give it a whirl. Now I did some altering of the pattern, instead 16 4" squares, I did 9 5" squares and I didn't put the plastic piece in the bottom and only used quilt batting for interior stiffness, whatever you call that......... anyway this also marking to firsts for me......machine quilting and having an appealing result and I actually used pins during most of the times that it was suggested and yes I think it probably made it all come out much better, most of my points meet, no easing of the extra fabric was needed, etc.........

I am excited to use my new purse. Speaking of using it, I have a reunion to get ready for.

Until next time,

From Tulip~

KH

PS--yes I added a button to the front after the picture was taken and the Moda fabric line that most of this purse is made of is Moda's Figgy Pudding, which is actually a Christmas line, ok, gotta go!!!! :)

Centralia Fair Cattle Show, July 11th

Since pictures uploading seems to be a challenge, I am going to hope that the ones I am currently trying upload happen........ I will randomly describe them as goodness knows that however I tried to upload them, chances are they will be in no particular order......
Seth and Jenna were 2 of about 10 open bottle calf class exhibitors, this is a great class to watch and the judge really made it great. It's so cool that the kids who aren't even old enough to show want to and do, but the judge took his microphone out to the arena and asked the questions and we heard their responses! TOO CUTE!!! Now Seth isn't quite as gungho as Jenna and still needs Sam to help him, but he's getting there. Jenna of course is a 'pro' and was mad at her daddy for not letting her pull the legs, which is cattle show slang for 'fitting/grooming' her calf....... She's a mess. Her black eye that she received earlier in the week was about gone. (Story: she fell, sppoked the calf who kicked, you get the picture, no broken bones or eye injuries! Thankfully!!!)
The boys did great with their heifers and steers. Sam's heifer won her class over some older, bigger entries, but the judge liked how his was built! That's cool! Cody's heifer was competing against a high dollar heifer (too long of a story for this blog) so she placed right where she should have in the class. Sam's Angus Steer was in the middle of his class, might have placed higher if the judge hadn't had to watch him run around the ring, remember his name is 'Play' and for good reason. Their crosbred steers won their classes and came in right below two REALLY HIGH DOLLAR steers, so for what we paid, they did GREAT!!! It was a good night. Looking forward to this weekend and showing at Audrain County.
From Tulip~
KH

PS--almost a hour later, only one pic uploaded, sorry, maybe I will have better luck later. :)

Pictures from today, take 2

(Samuel Earl Hasekamp, newest member of Tulip Christian Church!)

So that didn't work..........

I tried to add pictures from Facebook onto blogger, supposedly it works, but you can't prove it by me, I think onc eupon a time, I did it, but I can't seem to make it work tonight, so uploading one the slow/old fashioned way........ so now I will ramble on to kill time, while I wait to see if it uploaded THIS time........... (BTW, Brit, you with faster internet and probably more computer skills and a blog of your own, TRY this importing pics thing sometime, then you can teach me! PLEASE!!!!!)

No picture yet, okay to describe the picture you may or may not end up seeing that is supposed to accompany this post. It is one taken of Sam right after he was baptised today. For those who don't know the whole story and since I apparently have time..........

This spring our Pastor, Shelia Christy, started a class for kids thinking about joining the church. Sam was the youngest in it, but went to the classes. They concluded about the first of June and on Father's Day, Sam went up and made his confession of faith and decided to be baptised. Well Tulip CC doesn't have a baptismal, so we planned to do this at Sturgeon CC, where I was baptised and the church I grew up in. (David was 'sprinkled' or Christened as a baby as they went to a UCC church at that time.) So today, Sam was baptised at Sturgeon Christian Church, the same as me, and the church David and I got married in. Nice to have all those milestones in a memorable place. Sturgeon CC has a special place in my heart, and today was just another new chapter. (okay looks like you have a picture now at the top)

Well this week has several to-do's to complete.............so I am going to close and go to bed EARLY, at least early for me.......

From Tulip~

KH

Trying something new

I think I have figured out how to import pics from Facebook onto Blogger....... waiting for the pic to get here..... not sure it worked, going to 'publish' and see if it shows up.......
Crossing my fingers,
From Tulip~
KH

Playing Catch-Up, Picture wise

I know that I am bad, I haven't added pictures on here for quite some time, so I am attempting to get some added today, let's see how it goes. I had a good one of Dad with the Grandkids on Father's Day. Saying I get them added, I am hoping that you see also, some pics from the first Cattle Show of Summer, and if I get REALLY lucky, you are also seeing pictures from our Family Reunion............. we'll see how it goes.

(okay so my life isn't allowing me to get more pix uploaded and they obviously didn't upload in the right order.............)

Anyway, so it goes,

From Tulip~

KH