The Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop - 2011

Our First Shop!

A couple of months ago, Shelley and I were chatting (IM-ing) about her plan to attend niece Beth's high school graduation in Port Orchard, Washington in mid June.  She thought that since this would be more of a pleasure trip than business, that she might actually get to go to a quilt shop or two while she was there and she went a-googling to see what she could find.  Well, she found some fun for us!  It seems that 55 shops in the western half of the state have an annual shop hop and we could not come up with a single reason why we should not hop there also. She went a week and a half early for the family graduation fun and I flew up there last Tuesday night.  We spent night one in a hotel near the airport because I got in so late and Wednesday morning after breakfast we rented a car and began hopping.

Parkland Parish Quilts is in an old church building.

The company I worked for has a production plant in Milton - a suburb of Tacoma - and a couple of the gals I worked with on the phone over the last few years wanted me to come meet the people in the Milton plant and have lunch so Shelley and I aimed our first stops in the area of Milton.

Jeannie, me and Ronda

 I think Shelley hit her favorite shop in the morning on this day.  I would be hard pressed to declare a favorite as several of them there were really fun places.  So we made it to 3 shops before lunch and 4 more after.  Not bad for day 1!  We then went to her sister's home in Port Orchard for dinner and unwinding.

The Boerner Home

The Boerner Girls, Mom Robin and Aunt Shelley

Thursday was the day of adventure!  We headed as west as we could get to Ocean Shores for shop number 1 and my first physical encounter with the Pacific Ocean.  I love oceans! I could not wait to get my feet into this one even though it was pretty chilly. Shelley took me to the most amazing places! We headed north to Ocean City and through Copalis Beach before working our way inland to Humptulips, on toward the National Forest and to Lake Quinault.  Here we stopped at the lodge and this place had me completely and utterly speechless!  An incredibly beautiful lodge overlooks the most picturesque mountain-surrounded lake you can possibly imagine.

Lake Quinault Lodge 

looks out over Lake Quinault

The fireplace in the lobby

The seating in front of the fireplace.

 It reminded me of scenes of estates on lakes in Europe (that I've only seen pictures of).  The trees were amazing.  The view was almost overwhelming.  I did not expect to be so awed by it all.  Next we drove back toward the coast and stopped at Calaloch Lodge on the coast.

This coastal lodge

has this view!

This lodge looks out over the ocean where a river runs into it.  Driftwood, wild life and more amazing scenery took my breath away again!  I did not want to leave either place. 

I was beside myself with excitement when Shelley and Robin (her sister) were talking about the possibility of us going to Forks.  I've seen the first two Twilight movies - Shelley's seen none - and I have friends who are super big fans of the books and the movies.  The thought of going there was pretty exciting for me.  Shelley didn't get it but it was on the way so off to Forks we went.  

Lookin for Sparkly Vampires

Bella's Truck!

She took my photo in front of the Welcome to Forks sign and then I took one of Bella's red truck.  Very heady stuff!!

From Forks we continued on to Port Angeles where Shelley went to high school.  Here I got some beautiful views of The Straits of Juan de Fuca.  I got brave enough to climb the observation tower but then a breeze moved the tower and since my death grip on the railing was limiting my photography (not to mention regular breathing) I promptly climbed back down.  Sometimes being a chicken has drawbacks!  Shelley's dad and step-mom, who live in the next town over, came and met us for dinner and it was just delicious!  Shelley and I split a plate of grilled salmon, halibut and shrimp - my kind of meal!  Because the shops in the hop keep extended hours, we were able to hit one more just moments before they closed in Port Townsend.  That was only 3 for the day but with all the sight-seeing, it was a small price to pay.  We went back to Robin's to crash and get all geared up for Day 3 and that's when I got to meet Shelley and Robin's mom Jackie.  We stayed up pretty late chatting but what fun!   For Day 3, Robin and Jackie decided to see what this hopping thing was all about and the 4 of us had a wonderful breakfast at Uncle Dave's (restaurant, not relative) and then went to a really cute little town called Port Gamble for our first shop.  From there we went to Kingston, Poulsbo, Silverdale and Bainbridge Island.  Then we went to the shop in Port Orchard where Robin lives and then back to her house for a quick break.  Shelley and I then headed to Shelton for another shop and then we went to her grandmothers home.  Now this place was really amazing!  Shelley's grandmother, Virginia, and her mom and aunt have the most wonderful piece of heaven.  They have birds, chipmunks, fish and other wildlife to feed and the most amazing flowers, trees and plants you can imagine.  Virginia has a hothouse where she raises veggies and propagates her outside plants and there are lovely sitting areas all over the place to enjoy the scenery.

Robin and Shelley, mom Jackie and Gramma Virginia

We went to dinner at Applebees with more family members and then to the casino at Little Creek and then back to Virginia's to sleep.  Now here's the part I didn't quite get.  In the morning, all the residents collect on a covered porch to watch the wildlife have breakfast and play - only this porch is outside!  It was 44 degrees and they are all covered with down blankets, drinking coffee and counting how many finches are on the thistle feeder. It was a bit beyond this Texas girl's comprehension for sure. . . 

Okay, so it was almost 50 by the time this was taken. . .

Oh well, the company was wonderful the breakfast Aunt Carolyn cooked for us was out of this world and then it was time to get back on the shop hop trail.  This was Ferry Ride Day!  On the way to take Robin home we hit shops in Olympia and Yelm and after getting my stuff packed up, we took off to catch the ferry out of Bremerton and enjoy an hour long ride to downtown Seattle.

Feeding the gulls from the ferry.

I think I spotted one sea lion in the bay but I really only saw a moving lump in the water so I can't be sure.  Once in Seattle, we tried to go to a shop right downtown but is seems several, several thousand people had already arrived at Pike Place Market and had taken every parking spot for miles around.  We had one other shop in the area so we just went there and it was totally worth it.  Shelley and I had a great time at the different shops when the people stamping our passports would ask where we were from.  Saying "Texas" got us lots of "Oh, really!!" responses.  At The Quilting Loft, in the passport room, there was a quilt pattern designer named Laurie Shifrin.  Not only had she heard of New Braunfels, she's been to our guild meeting and taught a class there (before Shelley and I were members, but still).  She was so excited to have people from NB up there hopping that she was just bubbling.  She also has developed a really cool technique for curved piecing that I think Shelley and I are going to try really soon.  I really enjoyed meeting her and I hope that our guild will look into having her back some day.  

From downtown Seattle, we made our way to Bothell for two things.  Thing number one was a quilt shop and thing number two was MY family in Washington!  The shop was cute but we were getting a bit road weary and it was good to get to the Kramer home.  Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob, cousin Doug, his wife Shari and their cutie pie daughter Megan all welcomed us into their home and then took us to a fabulous dinner where I had dungeoness crab stuffed shrimp and Shelley had paella.  Dessert put us over the top and not long after we got back to their home, we crashed.

The Kramer's and me

Day 5 meant I had to go home.  I was not really ready to do that but I had a plane ticket so I kind of had to go.  Shelley and I actually hit 4 more stores on our way back to Sea-Tac.  This brought our total to 26.  She and I are wondering how on earth anyone could possibly hit all 55 in the same number of days.  We are also not above trying someday to do just that!  Sunday travel had some real highlights too.  From the moment I arrived in Seattle, Mt. Rainier stayed hidden in the clouds.  I got some pretty good views of the Olympics and some of the other ranges around us but the big one remained hidden.  I began referring to it as "the alleged mountain."  Well Sunday weather was so beautiful that I was finally able to lay eyes on Mt. Rainier and it was just - well, you're tired of all my adjectives - pick one!  I could see part of it from gate at the airport but the pilot was kind enough to give me a really great view when we got in the air.  We flew to Las Vegas and after an hour layover (and some time on the slots - wink, wink) we took off over Lake Mead and I could see the Hoover Dam.  Then, a few minutes later the pilot announced that out the left side of the plane you could see the Grand Canyon. I just happened to be on the left side of the plane!!   How cool to see the alleged mountain, the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon all in one afternoon! Mom insists they are all even more impressive from the ground - guess I still have to check that out.  Do you think there are any quilt shops in Vegas or on the road out to the dam?   

The final best part came upon arrival at home.  Hollis picked me up at the airport just a bit after 10:30 and we got my luggage and headed home.  Harris and Kristin were in the living room to welcome me home and then Morgan and Desiree popped out of the kitchen for added surprise.  It was very cool to have them there though I felt bad for the ones that had to be at work early the next morning like me.  Des said "we have an early birthday surprise for you - follow me."  She took me to my studio and showed me this:

The closet in my studio!

Desiree spent all of Sunday afternoon unloading my fabric from plastic storage bins crammed into this closet and Morgan and Clayton constructed this piece of furniture.  She then arranged all of the fabric into it.  I was totally speechless. This was no small undertaking and I am beyond blessed that people (Desiree) would do something like this for me.  I am overwhelmed!  A fairy tale trip with a fairy tale ending.  Someday I will put up a carousel of photos of the quilts because I took lots of those too!

Celebrations

I just had a wonderful weekend!  It lasted 4 whole days and it was a blast!  First, a little history.  Back in 1981 as Hollis and I planned our wedding, we agreed that is would be best to get married at the Walker County Courthouse in Huntsville at the end of the spring semester.  

The two of us in 1981

 We finished our classes on Tuesday, May 12th and didn't really want to have the ceremony on the 13th, so we waited until Thursday morning.  We were joined at the courthouse by a handful of friends and Judge Walter Cooksey tied our knot.  Afterwards, we went with our friends to the restaurant where we met and had lunch.  The guys decorated Hollis' truck and once lunch was over, we took it straight to the carwash - he was worried about the paint job.  After that, we drove to Houston where we met Mom and Daddy at Brennan's for a celebration drink.  Alan Alda was at the restaurant being interviewed for whatever project he was working on at the time and I got to shake his hand and have my photo taken with him.  Unfortunately, the flash did not go off and you can see nothing in the photo, but I have witnesses!  I met Alan Alda on my wedding day!  After that, we drove to Corpus Christi for the weekend.  I only remember that it rained quite a bit.  On Saturday, we drove to San Antonio to celebrate with Hollis' mom and 3 grandparents.  They had a cake for us and Mama gave us a microwave oven large enough to hold a 13x9 pan.  That microwave oven ran mighty well until just about a year ago - but I digress.  We went back to Huntsville on Sunday and worked at our jobs until summer school started.  A few weeks later, our friends Scott and Nancy Bounds gave us a wedding reception at their home in H-ville and it was just lovely.  I have a great scrapbook of all the events.


Fast forward to our 10th anniversary.  I agreed to the courthouse thing with the stipulation that someday we would have our civil union blessed as provided for in the service in the Book of Common Prayer.  H agreed that 10 yearrs and 4 boys later, it would be cool to do that.  We had the ceremony at St. Margaret's and a reception at our house with friends and family.  I have great pix of that too. 

For our 17th, I had some major surgery on my right shoulder and hand - not our most romantic day but Hollis and Mom took great care of me that week. 

For our 20th, we had lots of things to celebrate.  I was graduating from Southwest Texas State Univ with my teaching degree, Morgan was graduating from Canyon High School and Hollis and his partner had just finalized the paperwork to buy the business he worked for.  We had a big ol' party after my Saturday AM graduation.  With so much to celebrate, why not?

For our 25th, Hollis and I went to Ft. Leonard Wood to see Harris graduate from Army Basic Training.  It was the first time he and I ever got on an airplane together.  It was very emotional seeing what Harris had accomplished and also realizing that he was now trained to go to war and in a year or so, that would happen.

You will be relieved to know that we are now up to last weekend!  We both took vacation days for Friday and Monday and had lots of little errands to accomplish.  He was in the middle of a major tractor rebuild and I had lots of stuff to do.  Friday for lunch I met Caroline and Mason for lunch.  Mason is a sweet little two month old boy and Caroline and I could not stop talking!  She even ran me around New Braunfels for some of my errands so we could spend as much time together as possible.  

Hollis, Chelsey and me

Saturday was a big day in a couple of ways.  Chelsey was graduating from Texas State - ten years after I did - with her degree in education and Hollis and I went to San Marcos for that.  Chelsey had her graduation party at Buddy's Backyard in New Braunfels and Mom and Mama and Carl were all invited.  What a cool way to see our moms on our anniversary!  After hanging out at the party for a while, I went to get a haircut so I could look good for our evening.  The boys, Desiree and Kristin all met us at the house and we took them to dinner at a restaurant in San Antonio.  I sort of dropped the ball on the restaurant selection.  I picked an Italian place that got great reviews but while I was hoping for something fairly quiet and intimate, Sorrentos was not that place. It was a small, crowded, very noisy place.  The food was pretty good but we could not converse much and we were kind of crowded into a corner.  With some anniversary gift money we got from my mom, I had purchased 2 bottles of champagne.  We asked the waiter for 8 glasses and Hollis opened the first bottle.  I had asked Curtis ahead of time to propose the toast and right in the middle of his toast, the waiter came to the table to take our order!  Even after bringing us the wine glasses and watching Hollis open the bottle, he barged right in!  I will not forget Curtis' words though.  He said that the four of them are really proud of their married parents and all any of the want is what we have.  I was very moved.

The two of us in 2011

Kristin and Harris

After dinner, the family went back to NB and Hollis and I went to downtown San Antonio for a night at the Marriott.  We had a suite on the 32nd floor with a great view of the city that gave me my 5 most favorite guys ever!  We walked around a bit but then went back to the room to have some room service dessert.  I called and ordered a piece of dulce de leche cheesecake and about 20 minutes later, a waiter delivered a piece of chocolate macadamia nut mousse.  We ate it anyway.

Curtis and Clayton

Morgan and Desiree

Mi Familia

This guy hovered near a fisherman just waiting for a handout - it worked!

The view from the 32nd floor.

This is the small guy - about 2 ft long -  just hanging out.

Saturday morning we got up, packed up and headed south.  Since we had gone to Corpus Christi for our honeymoon, Hollis suggested that we take a day trip to the coast and since we were already in San Antonio, Sunday seemed like the right day to do that.  We drove to Rockport and walked around the marina for a bit and then went to Fulton to have lunch.  After that, we went to the Arnasas National Wildlife Refuge.  It's a massive place with driving and walking trails and lots of wildlife for the viewing.  At one lake I got some great video of a big gator coming up on land to chase a small one and there were deer, birds of all kinds, butterflies by the hundred, and mosquitoes by the million.  I was wise enough to take sunscreen but not bug repellent - live and learn.  We bought some fresh shrimp and fish and iced it down and then drove home.  We are having this really comfortable May and the high for the day was only in the mid-80's.  It was a perfect day.  On Monday, I relaxed some more and then we went back to work.  Weekends, anniversaries, celebrations don't really get much better.  Flawless? - not even.  Memorable? - forever.  I think I'm okay with that.  I hope you enjoy the pix!

Butterflies were everywhere.

This guy is about 6 ft long and he was about 3 feet below the deck we were on.

These two were air wrestling

What Kind of Man. . .

Morgan and Harris were born 4 years and 15 days apart.  Both in April, Morgan turned 28 on the 7th and Harris turned 24 on Friday, the 22nd.  We had family celebration of birthdays at our weekly Sunday family dinner and at Morgan's birthday dinner I asked Harris what he wanted to eat for his birthday dinner two weeks hence.  He said "pizza."  I know, it's shocking!  But wait - there's more to the story.  When I met Hollis he was 19, going to college and working at Pizza Inn in Huntsville.  I mentioned to Harris that since his birthday dinner was on Easter, it might be hard to call in pizza.  Hollis said not to worry - he knew how to make pizza.  This began a typical Hollis event.  On my iPad, he spent hours researching recipes for dough, sauce and baking techniques.  He got some basic supplies and we had test run just a few days later.  The crust was a bit thicker than he liked but it was a quite respectable first effort (after many years since the last homemade pizza).  Then he had to go to Ace Mart Restaurant Supply ($50 gift card + reason to shop = great fun) to get some pans.  He did not mind going.  Then it was time for round two of test pizza.  One night last week, Clayton was hanging around having ridden a horse over here from his place and he announced that he probably needed to get the horse ridden home before dark.  But before he left - he asked the important question - "So, uh, what are y'all doing for dinner?"  His dad said, "I'm gonna make another test pizza."  Clayton said, "The horse will be fine for another hour." and Hollis used his new - do you spell it t-o-y-s or t-o-o-l-s? - and made the pizza.  Only slightly underdone - cooked but not quite crisp - this one was substantially thinner thanks the cool pan and the also newly purchased rolling pin.  It was, however, determined that one more trip to Ace Mart would be necessary for screens and maybe a large enough cutting board to roll out a pizza.  He came home with screens and a big pizza spatula.  Somehow I missed out on both trips.  


So, certain he was ready, Hollis asked me Saturday if I was going to the grocery store to get flour, yeast, toppings and cheese.  I said I would go on Sunday - yes, Easter Sunday - after church.  There was a rough moment when we realized HEB (preferred grocery store) was closed but thankfully, Wal-Mart was open.  We made from one end of the store to the other with me in high heels not designed for shopping and then we went home.  We forgot the yeast and the Dr Pepper so I went back to Wal-Mart in more comfortable shoes.  Once changed out of his Sunday finery, Hollis made 3 bowls of pizza dough.  He sliced and diced veggies for toppings and put them all in bags.  Then, he went out to work on the tractor for the balance of the afternoon.  We were expecting 12-14 people total for birthday dinner so I made little order sheets so that each person could order a custom pizza with toppings of his or her choice.  As people arrived, they marked their choices and then I put the order forms under a magnet on the vent-a-hood and Hollis went to work.  He had brought in some fire bricks to be heat sink in the oven because he knew it would be opened and closed so many times.  This man made 13 pizzas.  Some were 8 inches, some were 12 and a few were 16 inches.  He allowed me to top my own and it was sooooooo  cool to have exactly what I wanted on my pizza.  There were anchovies involved!  Everyone had a wonderful meal - Grandma made her 3 layer chocolate cake and in general, I think a good time was had by all.  He finished getting his pizza out of the oven about 8:00 after two and a half hours of rolling, saucing, topping and baking pizzas.  I hope you are impressed by all this - I certainly am! - but the fact is, this was indeed a typical Hollis event.  


When I mentioned he went to work on the tractor for the afternoon, it was to say that he made more progress on completely rebuilding the tractor engine.  By studying and planning and working very hard, he, all alone, is overhauling the John Deere that he uses to bale hay.  Some people take their broken tractors to the tractor hospital.  Not H.  He is a bit over half way in this project that has taken several weekends and countless evenings since early February. He will have it running again in another week or two.  He just plain amazes me.  Other than laundry, quilting and scrapbooking, which he leaves to me, this man can do anything he sets his mind to.  Anything.  


When we were young marrieds and lived in the city, he had his blacksmith shop at his mom's home about 15 miles from where we lived.  A couple of nights a week and most weekends, he would straight there from work (aka, his day job), have dinner with his mom and then work in the shop.  When we moved to the country in 1994, he built his shop here at home and continued to build his blacksmith business and with what he earned aside from working full time, we put Morgan and Clayton through college.  A couple of years ago, he began learning casting techniques for a restoration project he was helping with.  We say he has entered his bronze period.  I know I can only imagine what will come next.  


Did I mention he makes me laugh?  All the time.  Two weeks from this coming Saturday we will celebrate 30 years of being married.  I really don't think ANYONE understands what this means to me.  If you had asked me as a 20 year old on my Thursday wedding day in 1981 at the Walker County Courthouse if we would still be together in 30 years, in all honesty, I would have said that I just didn't think so.  I knew he was smart and that meant a lot to me.  I knew he was morally upstanding.  It was evident in the way he lived his life.  I knew he was artistic and creative because he drew all over everything in college.  I knew he would make me laugh.  He's not perfect.  There were a couple of times I would have sold him on Craigslist and probably a larger number of times that he would have sold me - but, when I ask him why this has worked for so long, this is what he tells me: "I like you.  I married you expecting to stay married to you for the rest of my life."  Amazing.  Overused adjective, I know, but what other word is there?  I try to remember to thank him.  We are pretty good about expressing how we feel about each other.  We have a really good time together and I can honestly say that I am looking forward to the next 30 years.  And the best part is - I can have homemade pizza any time I want!

On Legacy and Creativity

Last Saturday on my way to meet Shelley to Shop Hop in Austin, I heard a story on Weekend Edition on NPR about a group of non-medical hospice workers in St Louis.  They call the group Luminaria and the members work with terminally ill people helping them to create their legacies.  One mother of a young adult woman said that the weekly visit from the Luminaria team member was by far her dying daughters favorite thing.  No matter how bad she felt, how painful her illness was, she dearly loved working on the letters, DVD's and scrapbooks that she was preparing as her legacy.  It was a lovely story.  It wasn't sappy - I didn't cry.  It was just a story I was really glad I got to hear.  But - it got me thinking.  Why must we be under a death sentence to begin deliberately working on our legacy? Maybe you have considered your legacy already.  I admit, turning 50 has had the term crossing my mind more often and I also admit, my legacy is important to me.  For purposes of this conversation, let's define legacy as how I want the lives of those I love (sorry, can't do the whole world) to be changed/impacted/improved because I was a part of it.  I hear we firstborns are people pleasers by virtue of our birth order.  I have always been willing to use that as reason that making others lives better matters to me.  I have very little use for or patience with those who do not concern themselves with the needs and wants of others.  Can't really see myself getting worked up over making their lives better.  But making life better for those I love - I live for that!  Major endorphin rush happens when I make something that makes someone happy.  I feel really lucky that I have an interest that allows me to not just buy and give my loved ones something that will make them happy but to make them something!  I think most of my quilting buddies would agree, our hand made items are a great start on our legacies.  I'm right in the middle of quilts for Clayton, Harris and Curtis.  I plan to make one for Morgan and Desiree for a wedding gift.  Friday night I finished one for Hollis and me - the first bed quilt I've made for us and our 30th anniversary is next month.  So my quilts and crafts are very much a material (no pun intended) legacy and my genuine desire to bring whatever happiness to those I love is my whatever-the-opposite-of-material-in-this-context is.  Frankly, I'd love to give everybody I like a quilt I made - not exactly practical but I sure wish I could.  I just want to leave a good legacy - physically and spiritually so that when I'm not around any more, there are examples of my love left behind.

Now to be certain, this leads directly to creativity.  I heard a quote from our speaker at guild yesterday.  She's a fiber artist, not a quilter, so I didn't know what exactly she had to offer us as a group of quilters but this quote alone was pretty much worth listening to her lecture.  "You can't use up creativity.  The more you use, the more you have." - Maya Angelou.  I went through a complete creative drought the last year that I taught and while Harris was hurt.  I couldn't sew on a button, much less make a quilt and I did not enjoy the way that felt.  I knew the stress in my life accounted for the drought and I was so relieved when the creative juices started flowing again but then things got a little crazy.  Now I actually worry about dying before I get make everything I want to make!  I always know at least 6 things I want to make as soon as I finish the project I'm on now.  This quote from one of my favorite sages certainly clears things up!!  I don't exactly know how I'm going to keep up but I'm sure trying.  Shelley and I have plans to put our creativity and instructional ability to work for us.  You can't even imagine how exciting that is for me to even think about.  We pretty much have way more ideas than we will ever be able to implement - and a couple of grand notions about how much we will love it and be sought after for our ideas and knowledge - another rush indeed.  Apparently creativity begets creativity.  So here's my prayer:  Lord, help me to build the legacy that reflects my faith and love for you and shows my fellow humans that serving and giving reaps great rewards.  Help me to be aware of needs and full of determination to meet them and help those I love to see your love for them in my legacy.  I have to get some sleep now - so I can create something this week. . .

It was Wicked!

So, my long awaited weekend came and went far too quickly.  I like to think I have wonderful ideas from time to time but this one was among the best.  Having seen Wicked twice with Mom and Kathy, I knew I wanted to share it with some of the other Wonder Women in my life and last Saturday, I did.  Now mind you, I really, really wish I could have taken every female (and Brock) in my life who has changed me for the better, but I limited it to Chelsey (mainly because it was her birthday that made me take the plunge), Desiree, Shelley and the surprise visitor, Kate.  Kate and Chelsey have been hanging out together in my world for almost all their lives.  They have done so by choice for the last 10 yrs and though they have lived in different states and had totally different lives, they are good friends and that makes me really happy.  If I were to begin writing about what wonderful young women they have become, this would get really drippy, really fast.  Suffice it to say, having them in my life has changed me for the better and for good.
The actual mechanics of getting Kate here and surprising Chelsey weren't all that complicated.  Making sure I didn't post on Facebook what Kate and I were doing was a little trickier.  Weather delay had Kate arriving in San Antonio about 8:00 Friday night.  Clayton came and got her about 9:30 and he, Curtis and Katelyn went to check out Friday night fun in New Braunfels now that they are all old enough to partake (legally, anyway).  About 2:30 AM, I heard Kate and Curtis laughing in the living room.  That was a common sound during the summers they were growing up.  I liked hearing it again.  Saturday, Kate and I went to The Quilt Haus so I could get some needed (yes, needed) supplies and after walking around the store by herself for a few minutes, Katelyn came to me and said "Aunt Laura, I need 3 more quilts."  At first I thought she had asked for quarters.  Ha Ha!  I told her to get in line.  She went to hang out with Clayton and Harris for the afternoon.  She wore her boots and rumor has it she got on a horse too. Once we were dressed and ready to leave, all we had to do was wait for Chelsey to arrive.  Desiree was there when Chels came in and as she chatted about her day and how excited she was, I told her to go look at the quilt top I had finished earlier in the day on the bed in the front bedroom (where Kate was hiding - ssssshhhhhhh).  To say that she squealed is to heavily understate her squeal.  The exact words of the squeal were "Shut Up!!!" It was priceless - just as I hoped it would be.  Chelsey told us that she had texted my boys to come to her birthday party the night before and the blew her off.  She was somewhat offended by that.  The boys were entertaining Kate so they couldn't play.  In fact, Kate and I were really scared that boys had inadvertently spilled the Katelyn beans to Chelsey but I heard that squeal.  She was genuinely surprised!!

We went to The Gristmill in New Braunfels for dinner.  Morgan was working in the kitchen but came out to say hello and take a group shot.  Shelley met us there and was wonderful enough to buy dinner!  Now we had everybody and it was time to go to San Antonio.  Here's what I learned.  1 hour is not enough time to get from The Gristmill to The Majestic Theater.  Well, it is, but just barely!  I dropped the 4 of them off in near the theater and went to park.  Around the block, on the 5th floor of the garage, in my high heels, I parked.  And then I ran/walked as quickly as I could, had my ticket out ready for scanning, got my playbill and sat down and before I could open the playbill, the lights went down!  Too close for comfort.  Mi compadres were all in their seats and had even had a minute to look at the shirts for sale before I got there!  The production was wonderful.  I cried in all the appropriate places and when it was over, Katelyn said "We need to go somewhere and talk about this!"
We went across the street to the pub (bar is such a harsh word) in the lobby of the historic Gunter Hotel and ordered a round of drinks.  Discussion occurred.  Shelley was the only one of us who had finished the book (I started it, didn't finish it) and she had more information on the plot and subplots but my favorite moment was when we had tackled all the intricacies of friendship and good vs. wicked and Chelsey said "Well, what was your favorite dress?!?"  It was a very Chelsey moment and I reveled in it.  Then, the waitress came back to ask if we wanted another drink and she told us it was last call.  You know what - that was my first last call - ever - in my whole life!  Mi compadres laughed at me - and by the way, so did my sons when I told them as family dinner Sunday night.  Hollis often says "You don't get out much - do you?"  I guess he means that rhetorically. . .

I talked Chelsey into staying at our house Saturday night though she had to be at training for her new job early Sunday morning.  She and Kate and I stayed up way too late.  Chelsey got up and left at 6:30 and I got up and went to teach Sunday School.  Katelyn and I went to see Gnomeo and Juliet Sunday afternoon and then , it was time to take her to the airport.  It all went so fast - much too fast!  I know they all had a great evening.  Des got a t-shirt to prove it!  I am so blessed to have these loved ones to run around with.  Because I know them, I have been changed for the better. . .and for good!
I wonder what my next good idea will be. . .

Super Bowl Reflections

Hollis and I just finished watching the Super Bowl.  I was pulling for the Packers and they won - I like it.  I am pretty much the only sports fan in my family.  I know - right?  One husband, 4 sons and I'm the sports fan.  I have fellow sports fan females at work and compared to Susan, I'm just barely a sports fan but in my family, I'm it.  I centered Sunday family dinner around the game tonight.  3 of the boys spent the weekend in Houston but all 4 of them, Des and the grandparents managed to find our place for dinner tonight.  The game was on, plenty loud, and I remember hearing at least once while I was putting the food on the table, all 4 boys and Hollis laughing out loud at one commercial.  I cooked 2 chickens in the crock pot all day with some sliced sausage and carrots (pretty good stuff) and made mashed potatoes.  We all sat down to eat and get this - all of the boys and Des left before half time!  The grands stayed until the beginning of the 3rd quarter and then Hollis and I were on our own to watch the rest of the game.  I think it's kinda weird. . .

Then there's last year's Super Bowl.  I really wanted New Orleans to win and they did.  The circumstances around the watching of the game were pretty surreal.  My dad had died 2 days before.  Morgan, Curtis and I had gone to Houston on Saturday and Harris flew into Houston from Georgia on Sunday morning.  We were lovingly housed by my sister-in-law Bonny and nephew Tom.  That Sunday evening, Bonny, my brother Currie and I all watched the game at Bonny's house while we compiled the music that would play at my dad's funeral.  I searched the internet high and low for Willie Nelson's song Turn Out the Lights because it was one of the requests Daddy had made and we planned to play it at the end of the service.  Couldn't find it anywhere.  None of the albums I searched on line had it.  iTunes didn't have it.  It was weird for sure.  Then we made the discovery and I don't remember who made it.  The title of the song is "The Party's Over."  It was right in front of me/us and I wasn't seeing it.  Strange what you remember in situations like that.  I spent an hour or two listening to air checks of my dad so that I could pick good ones to play as well.  Daddy was a pretty good football fan.  He would have been glued to that game.  It was kind of comforting to have it on the TV while we all worked on the CD we were making.  He mostly loved NASCAR though.  I don't think I would have enjoyed having a race playing in the background - not at all.  It was a really good Super Bowl and one I will always remember.  

I don't think tonight's game has that kind of staying power.  I really look forward to discussing it with Susan tomorrow (she calls the Steelers QB Ben Worthless-berger so I know she's thrilled with tonights outcome) but in a few weeks it will fade from my memory as have all the other Super Bowls I've watched over the years.  I don't really want to forget last years game though.  It was a tough time but I was surrounded by people who loved my dad and I was working on my contribution to his memorial service.  It's okay with me that those memories are tied to a football game - especially since the Saints won and I found the song we needed.  Remember, it's called "The Party's Over."

What a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you!  Ours has been just awesome.  Last year, for a couple of reasons (2 of the boys were not here, my mom had an awful wreck on Christmas Day on her way to my sister's house while on the phone with me) Christmas was just not that great.  I cried all the way through the Christmas Eve service at St. Margaret's (everyone thought I was just very sad about the retirement of our wonderful priest and I let them go with that) and I barely got through Christmas Day.  I have not had very many not-terrific-Christmases.  I love the season.  I love the gift giving.  I even make (yes, in the kitchen) fudge in several batches.  I am so thrilled that Baby Jesus is born in my heart over and over again.  I am a Christmas fan!  While last year was not very good, this year was one of those years when it was just outstanding in many ways.

Ashton's quilt has tools all over it.

Ayden's has aliens on it.

The gift giving for me began last week when Ayden and Ashton came over with Morgan and Des for Sunday night dinner.  Hollis made enchiladas and rice and we bought some tamales.  I gave the boys the quilts I made for them and they were a big hit.  Ashton grabbed his, crawled up in my lap to watch Toy Story 3 and fell asleep.  It was so nice to have a sleeping angel in my lap (although, as with most kiddos, he doubles his body weight and triples his body temp when he dozes off).  We also gave them a pop up indoor tent and some books.  I do love to shop for kids!  

Then we moved along the week to some great Christmas events.  Tuesday after work, my dear brat who moved to Pittsburgh last summer came to visit and he and I ran around New Braunfels getting some shopping done and deliveries made.  It was awesome to spend just a couple of hours with him and he even volunteered to go to San Antonio for me on Wednesday to pick up one of Hollis' gifts.  I love that Brock-guy and I sure miss him.  

Curtis

Clayton

Wednesday after work, Desiree and I went to Kyle for some more fun.  We met Mom at the Texas Pie Company where I bought some more gifts and then the 3 of us had a fabulous Mexican seafood dinner in a little place called Pisces.  Mom was headed to Fairhope by way of Vinton so in addition to her gifts, I was able to send some for other Englishes as well.  With Mom and Currie off to Fairhope, Alabama, Steve and Rachel in Vinton Louisiana and Kathy, Lane and kids in Red River, New Mexico, I think this is the first time all four of us have ever been in four different states for Christmas.   

Desiree and Morgan

a super family photo - thanks Daniel!

Hollis and me

All of our boys are here in the area, probably for the foreseeable future.  They were all waiting for us along with Desiree and Morgan's friend Daniel when we got home from church Friday evening.  Hollis made stir-fry for dinner and then we opened the gifts.  Much, much fun!  Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and then they went out to play.  Hollis made his amazing hot chocolate for Des and me and we chatted for a while before she left.  Clayton and Curtis took Daniel to nightspots in New Braunfels and Harris went over to watch Morgan and Des get everything ready for Santa's visit to Ayden and Ashton.  When they were all gone, Hollis went to bed.  I was tired and I wanted to sleep but I was just so filled with contentment that I didn't want it to end.  I stayed up in my quiet house and just replayed the evening in my mind.  Then, I got a text message from my mom that she LOVED the jacket I gave her.  More good news!  Kathy posted photos of her family skiing.  More fun stuff and it wasn't even Christmas Day yet!

This morning, Clayton, Curtis and Daniel returned from their adventures and once Harris got up and we heated up the chili Hollis made, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Daniel held down the fort (more specifically, the sofa) while we went for Christmas Dinner.  More scrumptious Mexican fare for lunch and then more gifts.  Just when I thought I could take no more, we decided to go see a movie.

Harris

Clayton, Harris, Curtis, Hollis and I went to see True Grit.  I had concerns about seeing this movie because I am a big fan of the original (a really big fan - I quote it often) so I had to be gently convinced by reviewers and interviews with some of the stars to get myself to say yes.  Let me just say, I have no regrets.  It is a wonderful movie.  A little more graphic in the violence than the original but it is true to the story line and not even a little bit disrespectful to the original.  I look forward to recommending it to people.  Then we went looking for dinner.  Whataburger had the audacity to be closed and since it had won the popular vote in the Suburban, that was a bummer.  We had to come home and make do with leftovers.  That is, until I remembered the salmon fillets Mom had given me Wednesday evening.  Curtis and I pan fried one whole filet in some seasoning and butter and toasted bagels to go with.  Hollis had leftover chili and tamales and the other 4 of us pigged out on salmon.  

So there you have it.  One wonderful Christmas!  I am blessed beyond blessed and I know it.  Please Lord, keep me ever mindful of all your blessings.  Never let me lose sight of how much love surrounds me and how much I have to be thankful for.  Show me how to be a blessing to others as I have been blessed and thank you for sending Baby Jesus to us year after year after year.