Mothers' aging

A friend of mine posted this to Facebook; it has a real life message and it touched me deeply.  It reminded me of my relationship with my mother as she aged and began to fail.  I cried as I read this. 

*****

A letter from Mother to Daughter

"My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through.

If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same st
ory night after night until you would fall asleep.

When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?

When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day... the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through.

If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.

And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked.

When those days come, don’t feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love.

I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you... my darling daughter."

 

Traveling Stash Box

  How would YOU like to be the recipient of the TRAVELING STASH BOX?  

I received the Traveling Stash Box!  There is a lot of treasure in this box and I am the lucky recipient.  I won this box from The Quilting Booklady!  (She got it from SewCalGal.)   

This picture on the left are all the goodies that were in the Traveling Stash Box when I received it!  




Below is the goodies I think I'm going to keep from the box.  I have a couple of the fabrics already in my stash that have been included in the treasure box!

 I've added a couple of books and a couple of patterns, a folder for organizing patterns and such, hanger clips, bobbins, safety pins, photo laminating sleeves and some batik squares and some Christmas charms.

 Traveling Stash Rules:
1.  Be an active blogger. Post about receiving the box on your blog in a timely manner. Post the giveaway for the box soon after receiving it.
2.  There's a note in the box that logs where it's been. Please add your info and place the note back in the box.
3.  There's a list of Rules and Guidelines in the box. Please read and follow these and return the list to the box.
4.  You may take anything you like from the box. Just replace every item with comparable quilt shop quality items equal to the amount taken.
5.  Ship the box to the next person in a reasonable amount of time.
6.  Due to the amount of postage shipping is only within the USA.

It is very important that those that enter understand that this is a Traveling Stash that they can keep what is in the box that they want, but they must fill up the box with other items that would be of interest to a fellow quilter and be of high quality.  And, they must host a giveaway on their blog and ultimately pay to ship the box to the respective winner. Fortunately, the box being shipped uses a large Flat Rate box so you can pack heavy items in it, or light items, and the cost is the same.  (copied from Insights from SewCalGal's blog)

To be the winner of this box, all you need to do is leave a comment.  If you're the lucky quilter whose name is chosen on Saturday, January 12, 2013, I'll be contacting you to get your snail mail information and ship this box off to you! 

 

Christmas Mug Rug Swap

I signed up to participate in the Christmas 2012 Mug Rug Swap that is going on at Flickr.  I have been in other swaps that go on there and for the most part have been very pleased with what my swap partner has made for me.

To the left is the mug rug that I made for LeslieCan'tStopQuilting.  I sure hope she likes it.  I'm going to tuck in some extra things to brighten her Christmas, too. 

On the right is the mug rug that GuiltyQuilter made for me.  She also included a few other "goodies" in my package.  I love the mug rug and the extras she sent along was awfully nice of her.

I'm working on a couple of Christmas gifts for the grandchildren, so I'm off to the sewing studio to do that.  Pictures will be coming later!
  

Sick hubby

My sweet hubby has been sick.  :(

He has some sort of stomach virus...I think I'm pretty safe to say that it wasn't my cooking that gave him this.

He came down with it on Saturday night and as of today, Tuesday, he is slowly recovering.  Sure hope he starts to feel better soon.  Hate to see him sick.

Katherine F. Carnahan

Today is a very special day in my heart.  It is my mother's birthday...99 years ago she was born to Bessie and George.

My mom played a strong and important part in my life.  We were best friends as I was a teenager.  When Daddy died in 1966, our relationship changed and we became even closer.  She was always there for me, and I tried to be there for her.

I still miss Mama and she's been gone for 21 years now.  Hard to believe.

If you are lucky enough to have your mom, give her a hug and tell her just how much you love her.

 

Thanksgiving

This year, Thanksgiving day started with the 22nd Annual YMCA Turkey Trot for three generations of Burdette women.  Pictured from left to right is Jennifer, Evelyn, me and Kelly.  We did our 5k...the three younger gals doing the run...me, well I walked most of it, with a little running thrown in to make it a little more interesting!  What a great way to start a terrific day.

When we got home, the menfolk had finished defrosting the turkey, had it in the roaster pan and had set out the makings for the stuffing.  Great men we have in our family!

Our dinner included turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, spinach risotto, red cabbage, green bean casserole, home-baked rolls,  macaroni and cheese (the grand children's favorite), pumpkin and coconut cream pie.  Yep...not very much food!!!  LOL!

Our time together was wonderful this year.  Unfortunately, daughter Kelly has a shoulder injury and isn't feeling very well.  She's a trooper and did as much as she could, but I was really glad to see that she is a smart woman and rests when she needs to.  With lots of help in the kitchen, I put together the stuffing and got the turkey into the oven.  Group efforts on side dishes made creating a wonderful dinner a cinch.

My family is fantastic.  I am so grateful for each and every one of them.  I'm thankful for so much.  Each day is a treasure, isn't it.  We have SO much to thank God for.  To think that my sweet husband (who teases so very much!!) and I started our little family so many years ago.  It's grown and we have such wonderful children, sons-in-law and grandchildren.  Each and every one of those people is so special.  Family is a wonderful thing...through everything, you love.

I'm getting a little "sappy", so I'll close this post with this:

Thanksgiving was such a great time!  Thanks!

Trick or treat?

It's a cold and rainy day.  Sandy (the hurricane/tropical storm/frankenstorm) is on her way up the east coast, coming inward toward Pennsylvania...and me...in Ohio.

Today is trick or  treat but it's so ugly out.  Not many trick or treaters here.

I've got a couple of the grandkids since their parents wanted a little "no littles" time, so I put on some meatball stroganoff and then the girls and I made homemade rolls.  They had a blast!

I don't like the cold, damp, rainy weather...then again it's all part of the "cycle of life".  I'm missing my daughters...all in all, just feeling a little blue lately.  I should stop complaining and think about the quilts I'm currently working on.  After all, happiness is a state of mind that we choose, isn't it.

I can't show pictures of the quilts yet, they are a surprise, but I love the fabrics and am eager to get on with the show!

If you are in the path of this storm, take care of yourself and be very careful.