Honoring Our Vets

What a beautiful way to start out Veterans Day.  The second I noticed the pink glow inside my living room, I ran OUTSIDE for a picture.  It's beautiful ... and threatening ... because what comes next is RAIN! 

There were things on my list however.  Start the engine so the battery wouldn't quit on me.  Yes I have a solar battery tender, but it doesn't work when it's raining.  I also had to turn everything back on and turn on the gas to exercise the generator.  

Prior to that however, it was sunny, meaning the solar is keeping the batteries at 100%, in spite of being under the shed.  That's a big plus!!

And then the rain came.  Not just a little light sprinkle, but a downpour!!  It got so bad I couldn't see the house next door.  Actually that was a good thing.  We definitely need the rain.  On the other hand, I realized my front sprinklers didn't seem to be working.  A quick check and ..... I discovered something weird.  The top plug of the GFI works just fine,  The bottom plug does not work at all.  I was completely soaked by the time I figured that out, so it will have to wait.

Although I really wanted a day off, it was not to be.  I got a phone call to please come down to the Elks Lodge.  How could I not considering the occasion.  Sadly, our entries in the parade got completely soaked to the skin.  It didn't stop them though!!  

I think we served something like 400 Vets ... chicken, pasta, scalloped potatoes, salad, rolls and any number of dessert choices.  FREE ... it was all free for them and their families.  Then we honored one of our World War II Vets ... 97 years old he is and still going strong.  You could hear the roar two blocks away.

Dinner was served from 1:30 to 4:00 with never an empty seat.  At the end there was a moment of silence for ALL veterans everywhere.  I love that!  Elks Lodges are definitely patriotic!

Remember that fabric I picked up?  One of the other things our Lodge does is make personalized quilts for Veterans and current service members alike.  Though I thought I was just picking up fabric, it seems the gentleman and his wife who were making these want to retire.  

They don't make a lot of them and they are fairly easy to put together.  The problem is eyesight and not having anyone to embroider them.  I still have SOME eyesight, but no embroidery services.  

I think if I make maybe five or six a year, it will make everyone happy, including the recipients.  I'm hoping I can find someone to personalize them.  The only alternative is to buy an embroidery machine, for which I have NO room.  I took pictures of their pictures so I would have some patterns.

Each branch of the service has a different logo and different colors.  I have no clue what those might be since I wasn't in the service, but I'm sure I can find someone to help me out.  The good news is that ALL supplies for these will be paid for by the Lodge.

Here's the first one I just quilted for a gentleman who is celebrating his 60th birthday and retirement from the Air Force.  

I wasn't exactly thrilled with the backing, but I didn't have anything to replace it with.  

Here's something else we do for Veterans.  If you are homeless, you can now apply for housing with Veteran Services.  Once approved and a home found, our Lodge goes out and buys whatever might be needed to make the house livable.  Couches, chairs, beds, bedding, kitchen supplies ... anything and everything that's needed to set up house keeping.  Pretty cool!!

It's hard to believe we do so much stuff, which is why I'm always crazy busy, but it's all for a good cause ..... MANY good causes.  

And you KNOW what tonight is ..... it is once again BINGO TIME!!!