A Bouquet of Flowers

Zachary came in with the mail yesterday announcing "You got a package, Mom!" I have been anticipating my 4 Season Swap and was certain that was it! I shrieked when I saw the return address!!! It was from Rose Marie! Rachel and the kids were reacting to my shouts of glee with their own excitement.."What???!! What is it??!!" It was this GORGEOUS bouquet of flowers!!! I have watched this quilt go together and never imagined I would be it's owner. Rose Marie is like a quilting hero to me! I feel so blessed and honored to have it hanging in my home. Just knowing her hands worked the fabric, and thread on this wonderful little quilt is thrilling for me. Yes...she is the Elvis of quilting!Embellished with yo-yo's, buttons, beads and embroidery, Rose Marie hand quilted the cross hatching and border. She threw in some unbelievable machine stippling...how did she get between all those stems and flowers???STUNNINGIt is hanging in my entryway. The first thing you see when you walk through the door. I have been very blessed to receive beautiful swap quilts every time.

Rose Marie also included an adorable 3-D note pad and 3 bottles of pure maple syrup for Kyle, Charlotte and Zachary. What a sweetheart. Thank you so much Rose Marie. You truly blessed us!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day!!!

Kyle came home from work yesterday with a beautiful handmade vase holding a white tissue paper flower. It is wonderful. The bottle is decorated with pink rice. He made it just for me!Tomorrow we will have a cook out here (rain or shine) and my son and his family will join us. My own mother is out of town for the weekend with my sister to attend my nephew's college graduation. I planned to attend also, but I did not want to be away from my children on Mother's Day. I will, hopefully, see my Mother on Monday.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!!That is me and my mom. Love her dress!!!Mother's Day is always a day I think of my Grandma Grace. She was my mom's mother and I was very close to her growing up. She smelled of peppermint and lavender most of the time. She would make pancakes for me and my sister in the shape of butterflies, snowmen, flowers....using red hots and little decorating candies in them. She always used white Kayro syrup, which I thought was a treat! This is the same Grandma who left me her dining room table and hutch, which I use in my sewing room. I also have an old sweater of hers that I sometimes use for a robe. It had a kleenex (not snotty) in the pocket when I got it and I always take the kleenex out and wash the sweater, replacing the same kleenex back in the pocket. It is a 16 year old kleenex. Is there something wrong with that? Probably. I have had her jewelry box for a while. It is filled with costume jewelry from the 50's-70's. Last summer I found another box at my mother's house and this also had my grandmother's jewelry in it. What a mess.There was even an old pair of scissors in the red box. My mom was letting Charlotte play with the jewelry when she would come over. Excuse me...I call dibs! I went through the 2 boxes and sorted brooches, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. There were some great finds in there. Yes, I shared with Charlotte. Here a couple of great things I put on today!This bracelet is a beautiful yellow with pearls and rhinestones. Fun!!I love these clip ons! They are wonderful. I can see my Grandma wearing these. There were several pairs of earrings I am excited to wear and a beautiful triple strand of pearls with a beautiful clasp. Maybe I will wear those for Mother's Day.

Whatever you are doing tomorrow, I pray you will be blessed as you celebrate the special calling of motherhood.