Artist: Mary Kihlstrum
Media: Hand Appliqué, hand embroidery
Drawing: John Kihlstrum

Our Airedale ODD-yssey occurred last May (2000) when Max was almost three years old and Bogart was 4 months old. From the time these two boys met, Max has been Bogart's big, protective brother. While I was outside planting and watering our flower garden, Max and Bogart were playing with the water, biting it as it came out of the garden hose. When I was finished watering, I wrapped up the hose, hung it on the fence, and went into the house. Moments later, Max began to bark! It was a different sounding bark, like: "Come out here NOW, Mom!" I ran outside and found Bogart completely entangled and STUCK in the garden hose! Max saved the day! I untangled Bogart, and immediately there was a wild celebration around the whole backyard: Bitey face and buttuckruns like you never saw!! Bogart is still fascinated by the mysterious flow of water from the garden hose, BUT he no longer ventures too close to that coiled monster hanging on the fence that seems to be waiting to grab him!! Oh, no, not this boy! Been there, done that! This was the first quilt square I have ever made! If that wasn't enough excitement, I helped piece together the two quilt tops that the quilting bee members made this year for Airedale Rescue. Christie (Williams) and I worked tenaciously, laughed often, and constructed two quilt tops that represent this years quilt theme: Airedale Antics! The character of the two quilts are crazy, wild, happy, colorful designs that are full of life, just like the hearts of the Airedales we all love!

Artist Bio :
We are owned by three delightful terriers! Two are Airedales. Max is 4 years old and Bogart is 1 1/2 years old. The third is a Wire Hair Fox Terrier, Cecil, who is 9 years old going on 2! Cecil is an Airedale wanta-be! All three of our boys are full of vinegar, ornery, tenacious, sweet, curious, and completely wonderful! I love every square inch of them! I do not know how I ever lived, existed, drew breath without an Airedale in my life. I found out that I have an Airedale heart, so why not spend time with my own kind! I am in the process of retiring from my professional life, in the mental health field, to become a FULL time puppy mom! Next year (2002), my husband, John, and I will be moving to the beautiful state of Idaho where we will build our dream home and happily share it with our sweet pups. Ah, bliss!! I wish to dedicate my quilt square to the loving memory of our two rescue Wire Hair Fox Terriers, Luci and Ricci. They both had wonderful, big Airedale hearts.

Webmaster's Note: Mary, together with Christie Williams, assembled both the "Airedale Antics" quilt and the "Faire Seasons" quilt.