"I Remember Laura" Blog-a-thon - Quilted Memories.....

"On Sundays Mary and Laura must not run or shout or be noisy in their play. Mary could not sew on her nine-patch quilt, and Laura could not knit on the tiny mittens she was making for Baby Carrie. They might look quietly at their paper dolls, but they must not make anything new for them. They were not allowed to sew on doll clothes, even with pins."

~Little House in the Big Woods, Chapter 5, Sundays~

~Laura Ingalls Wilder~

Welcome to week one of the "I Remember Laura" Blog-a-thon! This weeks theme is Quilted Memories. Laura and her sister, Mary, were started in the needle arts at a very young age. They learned to sew, quilt, knit, and stitch samplers. A simple quilt pattern they first learned to make was a pattern called the nine patch. This week we will share our own quilted memories by telling our stories and sharing pictures of our special quilts or quilt related items. Do you or someone in your family quilt? Do you have a special quilt story? Then share it here by linking up below. Perhaps your quilt is not hand made but special to you none the less, then share it here! You may wish to copy an paste the above button to your blog post. Please leave a link back here so it will make visiting one another easier. Thanks.

I was first introduced to Laura Ingalls Wilder when I was in the third grade. Each week on Thursday afternoon Mrs. Brown's third grade class filed into the school library quietly and took a seat at one of the tables. We all sat shuffling and fidgeting until the librarian, Mrs. Vines, cleared her throat and got our attention. Each week in one brief chapter she lured us into the world of books where history, adventure,and fantasy came alive with the sound of her voice.

I remember the exact book and chapter that introduced me to a little pioneer girl and her family. The book was Little House in the Big Woods, the first book in the beloved Little House Series. The chapter Mrs. Vines chose to read was Chapter 5, Sunday's. The story had our class in giggles over Grandpa Ingalls and his brothers being naughty and sneaking out on a Sunday afternoon to try out their sled. They ended up with big black pig stepping in their path, being swooped up onto their laps and squealing like crazy as they passed the house where they were caught by their father. But, what I remember most is Mrs. Vines singing the songs that Pa Ingalls sang as he played his fiddle at the end of the chapter.

She then told us about Laura Elizabeth Ingalls, who was born on February 7, 1867 in a little cabin in the Big Woods of Pepin, Wisconsin, to Charles and Caroline Ingalls. Mrs. Vines also told us about Laura's prairie girlhood and her travels in a covered wagon. This is my first memory of Laura.

Remembering Laura and her pioneer girlhood, hearing her stories are like being wrapped in a quilt. Her stories are a patchwork of memories that share warmth and comfort. They stitch together the beauty of a rich heritage. They are made from scraps and pieces gathered from her pioneer travels, prairie homes, and the people that Laura knew and loved. Quilts are much the same. They keep us snug, warm, and comforted when we are wrapped in them. They are beautiful in design and have a rich heritage and history, especially those that have been pieced and stitched by the loving hands of our ancestors, and passed down from generation to generation. Laura's stories are all the richer for the retelling of them, so let us share our quilted memories with one another and enrich one another lives.

LINKING INSTRUCTIONS:
To link up you will sign in with Mr. Linky below. You will need to link to a specific post. This will make it easier to go directly to the post and not have to scroll to find it. Here is how to link up:

*You will need to open two windows on your computer, one opened to my blog and one opened to your blog.

*On my blog go to the entry box for Mr. Linky, enter your name or your blog name

*Using the second window open to your blog, click on your post title, this will change the address at the top of your blog page. Highlight this address by right clicking on it. Then select "copy"

*Go back to the window with my blog and in the box that says to enter your URL, paste your blog page address. Then click on "enter". If this is done correctly, you should see a little yellow smiley face appear after you refresh your page.

*Test the link from my blog to make sure it goes to yours.

UPDATE: Be sure to check both links for Quilted Memories, I put up the wrong link. I am so sorry! Some of you have signed up under the first link, I have corrected all the inks but one, I am unable to find a link back to Maureen. Maureen, if you see this, please relink, thanks! I am trying to post from beachside and having difficulty with internet service. I'll post mine later this evening when I can get to a spot with better connection.






Blessings,
Miss Sandy

P.S. Be sure to check back in here at Quill Cottage on Wednesday for Prairie Posts! This is where you will be able to read the inspiring interview with a relative of Laura Ingalls Wilder.