Home again, home again

Home again, home again, jiggety jig! I have so many different things to blog about, it's taken me a while to think about how to do this. I am going blog chronologically and some entries will be about only one day, and others will combine days. So sit back, and fasten your seatbelt! Be prepared to go into the past to the Civil War, spend some time at a quilt show, see new work of mine, and just generally get caught up with a cup of tea or coffee!

Before I start with my trip, I'll try to answer a couple of questions asked rgarding the Cherry Limeade quilt. First of all, there is only one pattern - a circle! I've referenced Dale Fleming's book and technique before about how to make these circles, so you can learn that from her. She was on Alex Anderson's show, and you can see the reference points here. Sharon Schaumburg and Kelly Gallagher Abbot both use pretty much the same technique, but I think Dale's book is a bit more straight forward with pictures to reference. The background is also explained in her book. The green fabric with the pink polka dots is called Dipped Chicks from Clothworks. I haven't finished the final borders simply because of the trip and several other commitments that must be done SOON. I'll post it when it's completed!

Here I am home in the Midwest again, with my family and friends around me. I spent a marvelous day in Tennessee following my research of my ancestors, finding their home land and graves. I learned more about the Civil War than I ever had in the past, and met some wonderful people along the way.

I started my journey by driving south of Nashville to the Murfreesboro area. There I found the Stones River National Cemetery, where one of my ancestors lays at rest in the National Cemetery. I was able to locate his name by using an on-line civil war soldier cemetery locator, and I've had this piece of information for several years. I've just never been in this area to go find him before. Additionally, all I had was the date that he died and that he died at Murfreesboro.

At the visitor center, I found Park Ranger Bill, anxious and willing to share information with me. He was so excited to have a descendant, too! I got to sign a descendant's register, and I felt quite honored. He got out maps of the day of the battle, hour by hour, and found the regiment that my soldier was with, then proceeded to tell me where he was at all points of the battle. After I bought a book about the three day battle at Stones River, I was ready to walk the battle area. Now, you have to understand, that it was very hot this day! The temperature was 107 degrees!!!!! Whewee!

This is where I started walking. As you can tell by the marker, this is the eve of the battle.

This is where Thomas (my soldier) was having breakfast with the 49th Ohio infantry regiment when the battle began about 6 AM on Dec 31, 1862.

There is a lot to see and absorb at this site, and if you want to read more about it, you can find more information here. It's wonderfully preserved, with the original cannons, and cleared fields. Even if you don't have ancestors here, you would truly enjoy the history of the area!

This is only a partial view of the cemetery.

Thomas VanBuskirt(k) at rest. He was wounded in this battle, and moved to Murfreesboro. He died 6 months later (June), and laid to rest in this cemetery.

The next posting will be more genealogy, and some fun stuff from the Nashville AQS show.