Ask Jo: Quilts and More

Every so often questions and comments come from readers that I think others would like to hear my response to.  That’s when I feature them on the blog.  This is one of those days…

LuAnn asked, “I would like to see a bigger picture of the quilt in the picture from your “Family Day” post. The quilt is by the TV mounted above the toy storage area. It looks like a 9 patch with 4 red squares in each block. I love all of your quilts!”

I think she is referring to the quilt on the top of my ladder.  That is Criss Cross Applesauce.

I made the quilt back in 2013.  I think it might have been the first quilt I made from Bonnie Hunter’s book  Scraps & Shirttails II: Continuing the Art of Quilting Green.

I LOVE the quilt…and love the book!  You can read the full post about the quilt HERE.

It is the softest quilt EVER!!  I think it’s because I used recycled shirts for the front and back was a recycled duvet cover..and I also used Hobbs 80/20 for the batting.  It drapes and is SO-SO soft.  The quilt feels like we have had it for forever.

Of all of the quilts in my home, this is likely the most used quilt ever.  I keep in the living room and it has become the quilt everyone fights over.  It’s just so soft.

Many people poo-poo quilts made out of recycled shirts thinking that they won’t handle the washing and wear and tear.  I believe they are wrong.  As I said, I made this quilt in 2013.  It is used all the time and washed regularly.  It still looks just like I made it.

Here it is on a day when Scotty was at my house… and had the flu.

As I said, the most used quilt in the house!!

Brenda asked, “Everyone has a K name but Buck. Is this just a nickname and he really does have a K name ???”

That is an easy question and actually, a question our family gets often.  Buck’s real name is Kasjen with the middle name John.  It was his Great Grandpa’s name.  It’s a German name.  We pronounce it Kash-en.  It was a family name for many generations back.  Even in Germany where Kramer’s came from, there were Kasjen’s.  Some were Casjen John, some John Casjen.  It seems when they came to America the “C” was changed to a “K”.  So if you’re reading from Germany and you have Casjen John Kramer’s in your family history or John Casjen Kramer’s in your history, we might be related.

It was so fun when we went to a family funeral for Kramer’s Aunt.  There was a little boy running around and the parents yelled “Kasjen, get over here”.  Kramer and I both snapped our heads around and looked.   We never hear that name.  It turns out his cousin’s grandson was named Kasjen.  For him, it would have been his great-great-grandfather.  I love how family names are kept going.

As for how he got Buck as a name…Everyone was a little confused by the name Kasjen when Buck was a baby.  So the guy Kramer was working for kept asking, “How’s the little buckwheat?” instead of using Kasjen.  So Kramer and I started calling him Buckwheat and from there it just went to Buck.  He went by Buck around here…always has.  No one calls him Kasjen…not even in school.  He signed all of his papers as Buck.

When he moved to Cedar Rapids, he started using Kasjen.  Nowadays most friends in Cedar Rapids calls him Kash.  Lora calls him Kasjen so the kids know him as Kasjen so I call him Kasjen more now than I ever have.

Ann asked, “How do I access your videos?”
Yes, another easy question.  Go to www.youtube.com.  Once there search for Jo’s Country Junction.  All my videos can be seen there.   It should look something like this…

There is a button that says videos.  You can see all of them there.

Fran asked, “How do I find your podcast?”
My daughter Kalissa is the one trying her hand at podcasts.  You can go to any podcast platform and search for “The Pink Shoelaces” or you can hit THIS LINK.

After seeing my post about No Regrets (find it HERE) Patricia wrote:
“Thanks for all your posts, especially this one. I am so sorry for your loss, and even more so if it was a child. I have been so moved by seeing all the boxes of fabric etc. that you receive virtually every day. 

So much goodness and love you have given. You should be proud of yourself!  I am very proud of you and wish you all the love in the world.”

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with how the blog started as a humble little journal and has morphed into so much more.  When I read sweet notes like these, I have such a warm loving feeling.  I so appreciate the many messages you all send my way.  I feel so blessed to have so many of you wonderful heartwarming people in my life.  Thanks so much for sharing the love.

I think that covers the latest comments.  If I missed your comment please get back to me at rogjok@iowatelecom.net.  You are also welcome to leave a comment here on the blog.  I truly do read all of the comments.