Goodbye, Dear Father-In-Law.....

Just to let you know that Dear Hubby's father passed away last Friday.  Not that you knew him or would have ever heard of him but it is the reason I haven't been around for the last week.  Dear Hubby and I scooted down the road a piece (that's 4 hours in Southern-ese) last Wednesday afternoon, spent 36 hours in ICU waiting room and the last 5 hours of FIL's life with him.  What a touching but heart-wrenching moment.  One I hope to never have to repeat.

 Father-In-Law       Grandfather-In-Law         Dear Hubby

circa 1974

I had limited access to the internet.........just long enough to check emails and the bank account.  I may or may not get a chance to catch up on the blog reading/responding but I'll give it a shot.  And thank you all for your sweet comments about my kids.  Yes, they are very special.

Blessings, Cathi

Pay Attention, Kids.....

Dear Hubby and I are blessed with 4 wonderful kids (and a son-in-law).  Oh, they try our nerves from time to time and we often wonder if we have done everything we possibly could.  Well, this past weekend, all our fears were put to rest.

We wanted to get away again since it was a 3 day weekend.  Since Black Monday (the day I was laid off) happened, we figured it would probably be best NOT to spend the money.  DSK (Dear Sweet Kids) got together and gave us a large gift basket (sorry, no picture....Dear Hubby attacked the chocolate right away and put the champagne in the fridge) filled with champagne, chocolates, cheeses, crackers, sausages, etc. along with this gift certificate.

First thing Saturday morning, the Wild One and the Computer Geek (both of whom are still living at home) took "the boys" and drove to the Married One's house in Charlotte.  Later that afternoon, the Wild One put another gift basket on the front porch filled with Panera Breads and breakfast rolls. Dear Hubby and I had a wonderful weekend alone without kids, without dogs and without having to wake up first thing in the morning!

So pay attention, kids ........ Parents, feel free to share this post with whomever you feel appropriate.

Blessings, Cathi

Never enough fabric.....

Yesterday was my birthday but somehow didn't seem like it.  Last year was the big 50.  It was a very special day......actually a very special week (we celebrate birthday WEEKS at our house!)  This year was more like.....ehhhh, big deal, just another day.

But I did get some nice gifts that I have to share because that's what we bloggers do!!

Dear Hubby found out that I was going on a little field trip to the famous Mary Jo's with some friends from church last week.  He sent an email to me early that morning from work telling me I could spend a pretty hefty amount of money!  Who am I to turn him down??!! So I rushed through some patterns and books to pick out something I wanted to make, scribble down the yardage and off I went.  

Now MaryJo's doesn't carry Moda.  they won't sell to her (long story) but she does have a nice selection of Civil War prints.  So I picked out enough to make "Six Degrees" by Carrie Nelson (Miss Rosie).

Here is the fabric that I picked out.

I don't know where on the list it will go but just knowing that it's there and from Dear Hubby's heart is good enough for now.

Another funny surprise yesterday came from a quilting friend of mine that I met through our state guild.  We were on the board together for many years and is quite surprising that we are friends.  Our quilting styles are polar opposites!  So much so that when she won a fat quarter basket, she pulled the plaids out and mailed them to me!  I received the package yesterday, on my birthday, not even knowing it was my birthday.  I'm sure she didn't by the note she put inside.

For some reason, I have earned a reputation for loving plaids in our state guild.  No worries, it could be a much worse reputation!  On the plus side, I have received many gifts of  plaids over the years.  I have noticed in some quilt shops that the plaid bolts are usually the ones on the sale table!!  Better for me!  Silly people..........don't they know that every quilt can be made of plaids!!

And another surprise gift came from Mary at Quilt Hollow.  She sent a really cool book (that the Married One tried to sneak out of the house last night!)  It has a lot of fun totes and bags and ipod holders and cell phone holders.  After dinner, the Married One went through it letting me know which ones she wanted.  Good thing she knows how to sew!  I may have to let her borrow the book.

Also included was an adorable pillow all packaged up in a fabric gift bag.  Wonder how long it will be before I find out the red bag fabric would be perfect in some quilt?!  Thanks so much, Mary!

But I'm not the only one that enjoyed Mary's package!  Besides an affinity for dirty socks, Reagan also has a thing for cardboard.  I gave him the packaging for him to play with.

And then there is poor Nelson feeling left out.  Usually Nelson is the dominate one except when it comes to cardboard and socks! Reagan wouldn't let him near his new treasures so Nelson slunk off to pout!

Hope you have a wonderful day!!

Blessings, Cathi

Thoughts of Christmas - Row 5.....

This is Row 5 of my "Thoughts of Christmas" BOM and one of my challenges for this month's Charming Girls Quilt Club. 

Only 6 more months to go!

Who would have thought that 26° in the morning would have felt right balmy?  Not so terribly bad this morning.  Better than most but not what we're used to. 

Hope you are all staying warm.  I have a pork roast in the crock pot with some garlic and leeks so we can have burritos for dinner tonight.  The house smells daggum delicious!

Blessings, Cathi