Yesterday morning Bonnie and I left Curt here at the house to figure out the camper's air conditioning problem (which he solved with much prayer!) and work out how he was going to back the camper back up the impossibly steep and narrow driveway we parked it in the night before (not quite so easily solved, despite even more prayer!). We knew we wouldn't be any help standing around and offering suggestions!
Bonnie and I went to have lunch with the Cashiers Quilters and then to their weekly meeting. (Cashiers is the name of the little town here...it has nothing to do with the quilters collecting cash!) This turned out to be a very special meeting for me to attend. These wonderful ladies have joined with many quilt groups across the nation to make Quilts of Valor for several years. Quilts of Valor (or QOV) are beautiful quilts made in patriotic colors for our servicemen and women returning from battle. It is up to each group to determine where their quilts go. The Cashiers group has had their 500-plus quilts hand delivered to wounded soldiers in military hospitals in Germany, Hawaii, and North Carolina.
The thing that was so special for me at this meeting is that several of the women had made their most recent Quilts of Valor in memory of my Dad, Vice Admiral George Talley, whose burial we had at Arlington National Cemetery last month. What a touching tribute it was to see his name embroidered on the quilt labels! This is just a sampling of the gorgeous quilts these ladies have made. Each one is a full twin-bed size, and each is sponsored ($120 materials cost) by either the quilt maker herself or by another generous donor. The many hours of work that go into each quilt are of couse, donated by the quilter with love and gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our military men and women.
Many generous friends of my Dad have donated enough money to keep the Cashiers quilters busy for a long time!
If you're interested in finding out more about Quilts of Valor, go to: www.qovf.org. (That stands for Quilts of Valor Foundation.) I think you'll be really inspired! Thank you, Cashiers Quilters, and all other quilting groups and individuals, for expressing love and gratitude from all of us to those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.
In the late afternoon Curt and I made plans to have dinner with some long-time friends. But we were in for another adventure first! Remember that steep, narrow driveway I mentioned? I forgot to mention the slight curve, numerous enthusiastic rhododendrons, a couple of unfortunately-placed saplings... and then add the element of slickness from an afternoon of rain. I'll spare you the details...but suffice it to say that after much effort of blind backward uphill driving, finding ourselves unable to go forward or backward, Curt and I looked at each other and said, "This is why we pay for AAA." About 2 1/2 hours later we were on our way out the driveway, having made a new friend, Derek, who was a problem-solver extraordinaire! 
Well, you know you have wonderful friends when they give you a warm welcome as you arrive 2 1/2 hours late for dinner! Rebecca Cothran was one of Curt's favorite students at Montana State University 25 or so years ago. We've kept in touch through the years, and she has kept us informed on all the goings-on of her wonderful growing family. She and her husband Jim (who is a pharmacist at the Highlands/Cashiers Hospital) moved to Cashiers a little over 20 years ago and have raised and homeschooled 3 terrific kids, Madison, Brendan, and Isaac. We had a wonderfully warm evening, catching up and reminiscing, enjoying their generous hospitality and the lovely home they've worked on for all these years. Oh, and did I mention the food? Grilled mahi-mahi, roasted asparagus and potatoes, fresh fruit salad, and homemade peach cobbler. Amazing!
L to R: Madison, sweet dog Flint (my new best friend), Jim, Rebecca, Brendan and Isaac.
Thank you, dear friends, for a delightful evening, and for being such a presence of joy for all those around you!
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