wow, I have been so busy hosting a new game amid PBS glitches (and playing in more games at once than I ever have) that I almost forgot to come back here to sign up.  I'm in for tiers one and two, but since I won the quilt last year, I will NOT compete for this year's quilt.

WOO-HOO, Alice found us!  Don't think I've ever seen her in the Raoks before........she has quickly become a friend after inviting me to brunch about 5/6 years ago when she came to the area to visit her brother and SIL in Sarasota.  She invited a group of us from Tampa Bay area to join her and  her family members and has continued the tradition with every visit down here since. And some years we included a fieldtrip after our meal...to the Tampz Zoo or local botanical gardens.  Then when I flew to Boston to meet my new granddaughter in March she and her husband came into the city to share a lunch with me.  She is a proper example of showing others kindness. 

I'm in for Tier 1; will pm my number choice.

I live in Alexandria, Indiana, a small farm country town of a little over 5,000 people. We locals call it Alex (pronounced "Ellick") for short. Not a lot goes on around here ... but there was a brief flurry of activity during World War II. Alexandria was, for some reason, chosen to be featured as "Small Town USA" for a propaganda booklet which would be distributed abroad among U.S. allies, to show them what Americans are like and what they were doing for the war effort. Many thousands of copies were distributed in Europe, Australia, and elsewhere—but none in the USA. Several years back they made a reproduction edition of that booklet, and I have a copy of it. What a treasure! Especially since my mom's family is featured as an example of a typical farm family. 

You can read more about this 32-page booklet and see pictures HERE. That picture where they are sitting on the grass (it's out front of their farmhouse) shows my maternal grandparents with their 5 children; my mother is the youngest child. The younger of the two boys is my Uncle Wayne, who is featured in the video. He is still living, 90 years old. My father, John Grose, was a local history buff and also speaks in that video; he passed about 3 years ago.

Though my parents were born and raised in Alex (remember, it's pronounced "ellick"), my sister and I did not grow up here because Mom and Dad moved away as young marrieds. They moved back here, though, after they had both retired, and I ended up moving into their house here once they had both passed. My sister and her family live nearby now, too. For all my life Alexandria was just a place we'd come to visit relatives, but now it's my home. Funny how things come full circle

Thanks for sharing that, Robin!  I found it very interesting and how fun to see your family! 

Hi, Melanie! Please count me in for Tiers 1 and 2. My number guess is 47.

I grew up in Levittown, Pa. Levittown was developed by William Levitt who saw the need for post-World War II housing for returning veterans and their families. 17,000 homes were built between 1952-1958. Down payments were as low as $100. My maternal grandparents moved their family from nearby Philadelphia to Levittown in 1953. Three other towns named Levittown were built in Long Island, New York and NewJersey (now known as Willingboro), and Puerto Rico. William Levitt steamlined the building process so that homes could be built in a day. Levittown was the first mass produced housing develoment and ushered in the suburban sprawl.

Presently, I live in Palm Beach County, Fl. Not many people lived in this area except Native Americans until the early 1900s. A  Standard Oil executive named Henry Flagler visited Palm Beach around 1890. He was so enchanted with the area that he built two hotels, a mansion for his bride, and the Florida East Coast Railway.The super wealthy flocked to Palm Beach and built elaborated mansions overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  Flagler also established the city of West Palm Beach so that the workers in the mansions on Palm Beach had a place to live. The Great Depression in 1929 combined with the Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928 slowed development of Palm Beach County until after WWII. Agriculture, veterans who served and remained in Palm Beach County after WWII, and retirees fueled the postwar growth. Currently, a little over 1.5 million people reside in Palm Beach County. All 6 of our children were born here in Palm Beach County. Occasionally I miss family in Pennsylvania but having been here since 1983, I can't imagine living anywhere else!

Welcome Robin and Patrice. Today at midnight CDT is the last day to sign up.  Thanks to all for sharing all the fun facts and vignettes about their home states and cities. 

This swap is now closed. I will publish the list of swap partners tomorrow, but for all of you who have been waiting to hear who won the prize, the winner is

.........Drum Roll -   Lisa Deasey, who picked the exact number my hubby chose at random,  35.  I will have your quilt out to you this week, Lisa, and congratulations! 

Wow! Thank you, Melanie. I am speechless.

woot woot~~ congrat's Lisa~ a beautiful quilt from Melanie is a great prize~ Thank you Melanie for hosting this year~~ 

Congrats Lisa!

Congratulations, Lisa!!  That's wonderful news!

Congratulations on the quilt win, Lisa!!!!

Thank you, Everyone!

Kathy's package mailed.  Tracking# 9500111511435167625872

Wow, that was quick, Towana! Way to be first to mail!  I put the finishing touches on Patrice's gift this morning so should be able to mail this afternoon or tomorrow. 

Thanks to everyone who participated, in any way.  I look forward to hearing what lovely surprises are in store for our group as we celebrate the Fourth of July. 

Over the weekend I put my package together.  This morning I only need to add the mailing info. of the person I will sent too. 

Congratulations,  Lisa!  Enjoy your beautiful quilt.  :)

Patrice's gift has been mailed  USPS tracking number 9400 1361 0619 3350 7253 46

Lisa's quilt is coming UPS Ground  - 1ZB915C70313901150

I will be on the look-out. Thanks, Melanie!

Yeah to Lisa for winning the quilt!

Yeah for buddies! :)

Olie's package was mailed today. Tracking number # 9500 1100 5250 5171 5044 34 and expected to arrive June 26.

Congratulations to Lisa for winning the quilt!

Have a nice weekend, everyone.

I got a package of beautiful thank you gifts from Melanie, 2 cloth bookmarks and a table centerpiece square-- all in patriotic prints. I love how Melanie uses her sewing talents to support our Raoks!

Package out to Towana today to help her celebrate summer and the 4th of July. Tracking #9500 1141 6106 5172 1432 09. 

Today, a beautiful quilt was delivered. Thank you so very much, Melanie, for making it and running the swap.  The craftmanship is amazing and the time it took to design and assemble is appreciated.  I am going to hang it at work so that more people can see it than if I keep at home. It will be seasonal all the way through Labor Day!

Thank you!!

I mailed the first of 2 things to Melonie. 

9500111013315172476740

Thank you to Melanie for the beautiful hand sewn tote bag! I love it!! Melanie also included a beautiful hand sewn bookmark and a pretty card.

Thanks to Chris for the card from the Harry Potter Shop in New York City. I had no idea that such a shop even existed!

Cheryl sent a card from Geneva On The Lake in Ohio. It looks like a lovely and fun place to vacation. Thank you!