Bahrman Bulletin

I mentioned that the Bahrman ladies were talented quilters, yes? Well, once again they have produced another exquisite piece of artwork–that happens to be warm, too!

When Fern passed, Becca was offered all of her quilting supplies. It was a very generous offer, not only considering the value of the machines and materials, but mostly because of the countless hours Becca spent quilting with Fern. Fern served as Becca’s adopted mother in Oregon for many years. As they quilted, Fern would listen and give advice on life, as well as quilting.

Busy with school, work and swim, Becca didn’t have much time to quilt. Until this summer. Thinking that she needed an activity to fill some of her down-time so that Tom and I wouldn’t harass her too much about sitting around, she decided to make a quilt. And not just any quilt–she was going to design this one herself. Moreover, she didn’t buy one yard of fabric for it–using just the material she received from Fern.

By the end of June she had a pattern developed, fabric ironed, pieces cut, and two squares completed. And then July came and went. And then August came…we all assumed that the quilt, or pieces thereof, would be packed up and stored for a later time. Until last week. Without work to consume her time, Becca picked up where she left off. And without wasting a minute, she began sewing and sewing and sewing. Within a couple of days, the squares were done. A day later, she added the sashing and was quilting. And a couple of days later, she finished tacking the binding on. A quilt–all within about a week plus a little time in June!

It’s a fun quilt. Each square has a “twin” (or in one case, “triplets”), but finding them is a challenge due to Becca’s design. So the Bahrman tradition of beautiful quilting continues. Perhaps one day, Becca will have time to teach me the art.

Growing up on the east side of Portland, we were not afforded many opportunities to play in an outdoor pool. In fact, I cannot recall ever going to an outdoor pool in the Valley. Instead, we would occasionally pack up the car and head east for Kah Nee Tah, where the sun shines regularly and warm springs fill the pools with water warm enough even for my mom.

Gra and Papa Buck decided that their grandchildren needed similar memories and hosted a fun overnight getaway at Kah Nee Tah last week. It was the perfect half-way meeting place where Chiara could see her grandparents and cousins. And the girls had a wonderful time splashing and swimming for two days. Even Becca opted to come along for the trip. Although she was more reserved in her enthusiasm, I have a feeling she, too, enjoyed the sunny days poolside, without having to teach any lessons!

History has a strange way of repeating itself. Who knows? Maybe someday Chiara will be taking her children to Kah Nee Tah and telling them stories of swimming with Papa and Becca, playing with her cousins, and going out to dinner with Gra.

Chiara and I were surprised when we went to the mailbox last week and found a large box addressed to Chiara. It wasn’t her birthday, or Christmas. I hadn’t ordered anything. I was puzzled, but Chiara was estatic. Not only did she get mail, which is cause for celebration, but she received a huge box.

We were barely in the door before she wanted me to help her open it. I was hesitant, not knowing what this could be from Riverside, CA, but there wasn’t going to be any convincing Chiara to wait. So we cut the tape and Chiara opened the lid to find a beautiful quilt! She immediately held it to her chin, then pulled it out and laid it on the kitchen floor to test it out. Thrilled with it, she ran upstairs (well, as fast as she could carrying the quilt) and asked me to help her remove the quilt on her bed. Then she put the new quilt from Grandma Walle in place. She couldn’t wait to take a nap with her new quilt! (This from a girl who fights her nap every day.)

Chiara has been showered with quilts from the very talented Bahrman ladies. Even before she was born, Aunt Fern made her a beautiful quilt. Her Grandma made her a Little Red Riding Hood quilt when she was a tiny baby. And Becca made her the 5 Little Monkeys quilt the summer she worked at A Common Thread.

Grandma Walle had mentioned making a quilt for Chiara, but her eyes had been bothering her. When we were down in May, she mentioned her eyes were much better thanks to cataract surgery and she was going to continue the quilt for Chiara. While many women who are 93 years old would have given up the sewing many years–or decades–earlier, it is not surprising that Grandma Walle is still making beautiful quilts. It must be in the family heritage!

Chiara and I tagged along with Tom to the Oregon Coast this past weekend. Fond memories of Joe and Cora’s wedding and Chiara’s first birthday made it feel like we were headed back to an old friend at Salishan. While it was 90 degrees inland, it was a very cool 57 in Gleneden Beach. Tom spent Friday and Saturday morning at his conference and working while Chiara and I played on the beach, building sand castles and searching for heart rocks (ala Uncle Mike) and shells. On Saturday we drove down 101 to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. That afternoon Tom got to join in the fun on the beach, chasing the waves and flying his kite.

Chiara can’t wait to go back to the beach. While we have several fun trips planned for the next couple of weeks, she asked today if she could go with my friend Amy and her family to the coast this weekend! (Just what Amy needs, a two-year-old  AND eleven-month twins!) Hopefully we can take her back again soon, but first a few other trips…

Bend is a great place to live. There’s no traffic, beautiful sunny skies (most days), four seasons, and plenty of outdoor activities for each season. On the rare occasion that we are home for a weekend, we love getting out and enjoying our town.

One of the activities we’ve enjoyed since moving here is kayaking. This year, after a hiatus the last couple of years, we have gotten back out a couple of times. Tom paddled while Chiara rode in the tandem. We told her she needed to be very still so that the boat didn’t tip, which she was. Except, she was so still she was miserable. Once Tom told her she could move around a little bit, she had a blast. She even got so bold as to reach over the side of the boat to splash, help paddle along with her shovel, and sing “Row, row, row your boat…”

With the mountains in the background, a cool breeze blowing over the blue waters and a happy child in tow, a day on the lake is just the thing for a summer weekend in Bend!