Oh What a Day...

Sounds like a song...no that was Oh what a night...I must be showing my age. Well, this was quite a day. Not only is today my Very First Blogiversary...it is the day that I told my customers that I am retiring. The shop will close on August 22.
First I want to thank all of you who read my blog and comment how much I enjoy hearing from you. You all have become a very special part of my life. I have made some wonderful friends here in blogland and am very thankful each day. So as many before me have done...I am going to have a prize package for a lucky winner of my Comment drawing...leave a comment between now and Friday evening and I will have my trusty assistant Andy draw a name out of the hat. I look forward to another fun year of blogging and now that I won't be working any more and will have time to sew, sew, sew....I'll have lots more to blog about.
We knew that we were making the right decision about closing the shop and spending retirement together...even though Andy will still be doing his consulting work, and traveling...it was confirmed this evening when I got an e-mail from a gal whose husband had recently retired and went to play golf, had a massive heart attack on the golf course and died right there. She wrote to me and said that this was the best decision I could make...spend time with them while you have them...you just never know what will happen. That just confirmed it. I'm looking forward to spending time with Andy and I'm looking forward to spending LOTS of time in my sewing room...so ladies, you'll be hearing lots more from me.
Again, thank you for a wonderful year. You've taught me more than you'll ever know...here's to another year.
Send in those comments...

Well there just isn't much quilting going on here...don't know what's going on...good intentions...I know about that road and good intentions. I'll get back on track. Here's a picture of a charity quilt that we made while we were at the beach. Sue and I each got one done. It is very easy, really almost brainless, goes pretty quickly, but it is just tedious sewing.
 

It's made with one jelly roll...this is the Hampton's jelly roll by Minick and Simpson. It turned out to be a very nice size and I think it will go to one of the VA hospitals...they can sure use them. Our friend Patti gave us the directions, she had gotten them from a gal in Austin, TX...aren't quilters just the best!

These 3 blocks are for a swap that I'm in...got them done just in time...whew! How do these months come to an end so fast. I thought I had plenty of time.  


Tomorrow is my 1st Bloggiversary...I can't believe it's been a year since I started this journey...more tomorrow. Have a great day!

Home Again, Home Again

Well, all good things come to an end...our beach vacation is over and we are home. It was really great to get home...I called Andy after I dropped Mom off to let him know I'd be home in about half an hour...as I drove up to the house all 3 of my boys were in the front windows waiting for me. They really missed me. Howie and Zack jumped and carried on like I'd been gone for months...unconditional love...wonderful.Andy admitted that he really missed me this trip. This is the first time I've left for a whole week since he retired. He said it was really different being around the house all the time and me not ever being here...he said when he worked, he missed me when I was gone but it was different, he was at work all day, then feeding and taking care of the dogs, fixing his dinner and then the day would be about over...after all these years together, it's so sweet. He really is a gem.
My friend Sharon is participating in Pay It Forward and I was lucky enough to be one of her 3...so here's the deal...if you want to play along...be one of the first 3 to leave a comment and say you want to play and you will receive a gift from me and made by me within the next 365 days (it will be much sooner than that I promise) then put it on your blog and 3 people will sign up on your blog. Sounds like tons of fun to me.
Come on...who wants to play?

The End of a Day in Paradise

 
I just had to share this picture of last night's sunset...oh my goodness...what a sight. We had a beautiful day today...actually I'd say it was perfect.

Thank you Darlene :)

A huge thank you to Darlene...Darlene wrote a note to "my boss" and said that I really needed some time off, so guess what...I'm off all next week. Starting Saturday through next Saturday I'll be at Lido Beach, which is just south of Sarasota. I started going over there when I was in high school, with my parents...missed a few years when I was in college. It was my dad's favorite place in the whole world. He was in the Air Force and we traveled all over the world, but if you asked him what his favorite was...he'd always say Lido Beach. I started going back there with mom and dad when Josh was 9 months old. Andy and I had no money for a vacation, don't know how we thought we could have this child, oh to be young again...Mom and Dad asked if I wanted to join them. They really wanted to be with Josh for his first trip to the beach. It was the best week ever. Andy joined us for a couple of days mid-week...those were his days off then...and we had so much fun. Josh had taken swimming lessons beginning at 6 months old so he loved the pool. Andy would take him to the top of the slide and my dad would be at the bottom of the slide. He squealed with glee! Everyone around the pool would stop to watch this little guy swim like a fish. What great memories. Josh will be 30 this year and I remember that week like it was yesterday. I don't think I ever saw my dad so happy. I think I've only missed a summer or two in 30 years...one summer I taught summer school and another summer daddy was in the nursing home and I stayed in Orlando...I made mom go with a friend. We have gone every year the very same week, because we have a time share, so we see the same folks every year. It is so much fun to see everyone each year. Catch up on what's happened in there lives...the litle kids that we had are now married with children of their own and are bringing them. I wish Josh and Katie lived closer so they could bring Hampton over for a couple of days.
So, my books are packed to read on the beach during the day, my sewing machine is ready, I have a charity quilt cut and ready to go, and I have the October Spa Day cut and ready to go. No my clothes are not packed, but that's easy...shorts and bathing suits...We have Rosemary taking care of the shop and Sue, Mom and I are off on Saturday morning.
I'll take my laptop and check in...I'll try to send a post or two while I'm gone so you can enjoy the beach with me...Again...Thank you Darlene!

Happy Ironing

This is my new favorite thing...Mary Ellen's Best Press...It is wonderful! Vicky has mentioned using this product on her blog...and she loves it. I couldn't find it anywhere around here so I went online and ordered it from Mary Ellen Products. The service from them was great and I love the product, the down side was that the shipping was almost as much as the Best Press.
 
But I'll tell you it sure is great. I loved the Niagra starch in the non-areosol can but I like this better. You don't have to spray much...it smells great and every seam is wonderfully crisp.

 
This is a block from my Celebrate Spring jelly roll purchase. I have 12 blocks done...and lots more in process...it goes really fast...the guest room quilt will be done in no time.

I'm heading outside to the pool with hubby for a while...the sun is out and it's hot and the pool is wonderful...I'll float around in my pool chair and read my book for a while...it's supposed to storm later so I'll have time to get the shop BOM instructions written and a little sewing done.

Enjoy yur Sunday!

I'm Ranting

Sorry ladies...no pictures...nothing quilty...just ranting. I am so irritated and I want to give everyone a warning...we've heard this before but it is worth hearing again...watch your credit card bills...if you can check online do it periodically during the month. About a week and a half ago my VISA bill came...Andy got the mail and when I got home from the shop he said, "Check that bill please." Well, the poor man had almost had a heart attack when he opened the bill because it was almost $600 more than he thought it would be. I looked over all the charges, my hair, my nails, a few online purchases and then a travel company in Majorca, Spain for travel to the tune of $598 and change...I was on the phone in 2 seconds with customer service...the gal assured me that she didn't see any other charges and that the travel company had probably just made an error in keying in numbers. She took it off my bill and felt that would be the end of it. WRONG!!!! The Chase VISA fraud department called...they were calling because the red flags were flapping...yes there was my hair, my nails and 5 yes, 5 trips to who knows where. I don't even have a passport...applied for one back in April, they've cashed my check and I still don't have it...oh that's another subject...Bottom line, thankfully I'm not responsible for any of those charges, they've cancelled my card and are issuing a new one. I've had that account, the very same one for 34 years...the first VISA account I ever had. They said I should get my new card in 3-5 days...what a pain.
Sorry for ranting...but please be careful...check those statements.
I'll be better tomorrow...I PROMISE!

Happy 4th

 

Happy 4th of July to all my friends in blogland...enjoy the day!

I LOVE these Cherries

We went to the grocery store this morning and they had my very favorite cherries...Ranier Cherries...they are a lot more expensive by about $3 a pound but I don't even care. The season is very short and I enjoy every single one of them as long as they are around. I got a pound and I'll try not to eat the whole thing today. Last year I did that on the first batch I got and oh my goodness did I have a stomach ache.

 
If you've never had them and you like cherries you must try them. They make me do the dance!