Fun Day with the Girls!

I enjoyed another 24 hours with my little Darlins! Riley is just starting to pull up to stand at the end table and it crossed my mind that she looked just like my Mom when she tries to stand up! A little slow and a little wobbly but she finally makes it. Here is a picture of my little cutie!




Peyton and I fixed dinner in the afternoon. We fixed Taco Soup and it was a big hit with the fam. She has it all together when getting ready to cook, she told me we had to get her apron and she had to wash her hands! Peyton was pretty excited that she fixed dinner for her Mommy and Daddy.


WATCH OUT RACHEL RAY!!




Another good day of retirement!

Gatlinburg

We finished our trip in Gatlinburg visiting our friends Ron and Nancy for a couple of days. We were fortunate to be there for the beginning of the WinterFest and spent Saturday at Dollywood for the Christmas in the Smokies celebration. It was a wonderful 75 degree day and the park was decorated so pretty. Here are a few pictures of the time we spent there.

We went through Cherokee, NC and through the park to arrive in Gatlinburg on Friday evening. We were fortunate to see a couple of elk playing in the pastures near Cherokee.

More fun at Myrtle Beach

We are really having fun in Myrtle Beach. The weather is fantastic 76 and sunny with a very mild wind. I am lovin this place! I got a lot of Christmas Shopping done yesterday mainly for my two little darlins. Dan and David enjoyed a local golf course and we ended the day on the lazy river pool and hot tub. This afternoon we are hitting the putt putt course to challenge the guys. Losers have to buy supper at a local seafood place that has been recommended highly! Tomorrow we leave for a couple of days with our friends Ron and Nancy in Gatlinburg. The weather forecast is in the 60's and Sunny! I have never had such perfect weather on a vacation. A few more pics!

First Day at Myrtle Beach

We are having a wonderful time vacationing in Myrtle Beach. We got uup early this morning and enjoyed the sunrise with a hot cup of coffee. Soon we will be off to Barefoot Landing to enjoy some retail therapy. The guys will be playing golf tomorrow so the girls will be enjoying the big Tanger Outlet area. Here are some pictures from our first day.

The Sunrise




Kathee and David from the condo balcony


A view from the balconoy

Family Pics

Here are two family pictures. The first one is of my 89 year old Mother and her 5 grandchildren.


The second picture is of my two grandbabies (the little ones in front) with my nephews daughters. Second cousins, and my mother's 4 great grandchildren.


The girls on Nana Day helping me with cookies. Well actually this is the cookie package. I couldn't watch little hands and take pictures at the same time so we waited for a picture when the cookies were tucked away in the oven!



Finally, a picture of Peyton in her Halloween costume!

Quilting Plans UPDATED 10-18

Let me begin by thanking each of you that expressed your concern and support for our family this past week. We certainly have a lot of friends that care and that is such a blessing during times like these. Thank you for taking the time to let us know you care.

In an earlier post I discussed my Ladies in Waiting and the need to complete some unfinished projects. One of my friends on an internet group I belong to picked up on the problem and established a UFO Challenge. We were to each post 5 projects we wanted to complete and then another member would sponsor us by encouragement and providing a gift when we finished the project. Well, I now have sponsors for 4 of my projects and I am off and running to complete them.

The project I intend on finishing this weekend is in the challenge. I need to quilt, sandwich and bind it.







The second project will be the Irish Chain Quilt that I began over three years ago.


UPDATE - I finally got my pegboard installed to hang my rulers and quilty notion stuff. I had put this on the Honey-Do list many times but somehow it just never got to the action stage. Today I took matters into my own hands and found these wonderful Pegboard sqares at Home Depot made from a plastic resin. They interlock and you can make it any size you want. They attach with just 4 screws and the placement of the screws is the same width as most studs. My honey finally was able to mark this off this list and I LOVE it!



So that is what will be on my quilting agenda the next couple of weeks. Hope you all have a great weekend.

A Very Special Woman

My sister Jo and me - in 1958!

Today my family lost a hero. My oldest sister, and second Mom, passed away today after a valiant fight with Breast Cancer. After winning round one she, some 20 years later, had to take up the fight again against Recurrent Breast Cancer. It was a hard battle, one that left her weak, exhausted, and suffering. Today she found rest and healing, today our family is suffering a great void. Jo was the firstborn and so loved by our parents. Jo was the oldest of 4 sisters. She was the one we went to when we needed advice, aid, or just someone to talk to at 2 in the morning. She was our cheerleader, coach, and counselor. She was married to her high school sweetheart and just celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary this year. Quite a testament to their love and dedication to each other. Jo was a wonderful Mom to her three children and a great Nana to her darling granddaughters. Jo was an amazing woman who was trained as a nurse. Her training was just a small part of her nursing, you see Jo loved people and loved caring for them - she loved nursing.

Jo loved life and was always the life of our family gatherings. Many good memories come flooding back tonight as I recall the fun times we had together. Tonight I am more thankful for those times, and thankful for such a wonderful loving family.

Most importantly Jo was a child of God and tonight she is resting in the arms of her Heavenly Father which gives me great comfort and peace. She was a woman of faith that dearly loved her family and lovingly cared for those in need. What more can we hope for when we reach the end of our journey?

So Jo, these lyrics are so appropriate for how I feel tonight:
"Did you ever know that you're my hero, and everything I would like to be?
I could fly higher than an eagle, for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Thank you, thank you, thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings."

I love you!