whirlwind moments . . .

Well. That didn't go as planned!  I knew I wasn't going to be an every day blogger, but gosh, I sure hadn't planned on more than three weeks going by!  C'est la vie. Life has been so busy!  Lemme share . . .

I finished up my March 3-yard quilt.  Whoohoo!  Of course, I never got to the April quilt, so March and April are just going to share this one . . .

The girls immediately gave their seal (cat hair) of approval!

And while it doesn't look like a lot, I finished the waves and started on the ship on my Coming to America project . . .

Thursday, April 17th was a long day.  It was Todd's birthday, so Ezra and I made the trek out to the marina and had a picnic lunch.  Ezra sat in the captain's chair and informed me that since he was sitting there, it was now his boat.  Love that little guy!

From there, we met Joc and the girls (who'd spent the day at their homeschool cover) at the cemetery. 

I'd picked up Todd's favorite ice cream cake and we sang happy birthday to him and shared sweet "Pawpaw" memories.  

All in all it was a sweet (bittersweet) day. But it wasn't over.  While I'd have liked nothing more than to go home and sink into bed, our guild's speaker was Jan Davis, the first woman quilter in space.  

Mind you, she didn't actually quilt in space, but she did bring fabric with her (as one of her two personal items), including this beautiful block of her own design.

I'm glad I went ahead and went, but I slept until noon on Friday!

That Sunday was Easter. I celebrated with the Merkel crew at their house.  It was a beautiful day!

Filled with beautiful kiddos, all decked out matchy-matchy for the day!

Then I was on a road trip to Charleston, SC!  This summer is my 45th (can you believe it?!?) high school reunion, and they're taking a riduculously expensive cruise. I talked to a group of gals I've kept up with, to see if anyone was planning on going, and we decided to ditch the cruise and meet in SC for a long girl's weekend!

It was such fun!  We did the Charleston City Market, the Magnolia Plantation, and even took a haunted carriage tour!!  

We also ate a LOT of seafood; to my heart's content! It was our last night, eating out on the water, that I caught this gorgeous sunset . . .

And then this past weekend, it was ballet recitals . . .

Dinner with the darling Marie Bostwick, who was in town on tour, promoting her latest book, The Book Club for Troublesome Women.  Quilters who are also book readers may be familiar with her Cobbled Court Quilts series. She really is amazing!

And then Sunday evening my mom and I traveled to Gadsden to see the Gaither Vocal Band.  It was a great evening of music and praise and fun.  

Whew! I was actually glad it was Monday, and I didn't have any plans until late this afternoon! Happy month of May . . . summer is just around the corner!

:)

i may need an introduction . . .

It's been a year.

Technically, it's not even been a half year, but it still feels like a whole, full, 12-month year, and I'm ready to be through with it!  Is that wrong?

My daddy passed away late in January.  

He'd been in hospice care since December of 2021, so it wasn't a complete surprise, but I still wasn't ready for him to be gone.  I'm glad he's no longer suffering.  

He was witty and clear-minded right to the very end, making us laugh with his quick sense of humor.  Such a good dad. I miss him.

Todd was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer late in December.  He started chemo on the last day of January, and has had seven rounds so far.  We're taking a break now, and waiting on PET scan results, hoping that it hasn't spread anywhere else, and he can have surgery. His oncologist is treating to cure, but it's aggressive and grueling for Todd.  I'd take the burden for him, if I could.  

Have I mentioned it's been a year?

All that being said . . . it's been hard to write.  Even now, as I wrote the above paragraphs, it was hard to not shed a few (hundred) tears.  But that doesn't mean there hasn't been good things, happy times, and sweet accomplishments.  We've enjoyed loads of sweet family time and celebrations . . . 

Lots of family gathered for my dad's funeral.  So happy to see my James!

   

My oldest grandson holding my youngest grandson.  Sweet capture!

 

Celebrating my mom's and my sister's February birthdays at a new tea house!

Craft fair with my mom.

 

Ballet recitals in May -- in the books!

End of school year program.

 

Playing in the creek at the Camp!

I've enjoyed sweet time with friends . . .

I've created (and even completed some creations) . . . 

Todd's Alabama quilt!  He's toted it to every chemo treatment he's had so far.

These little "stuffies" were made from a dress that all three girls wore and loved. ♥

Stuffable fabric Easter eggs!

Finished Primitive Blessings, designed by Kathy Schmitz.

This is my most proud accomplishment of the year so far.  My version in wool of the Hospital Sketches BOM that Barbara Brackman offered on her Civil War Quilts blog in 2019.  

And we're making it. God is good.  All the time.

:)