We're at the beach!

Friday Jennifer and I brought the RV to the beach for a week + of quilting/sewing. We set up the screen room as our studio and put the foot to the pedal, LOL. Wednesday night Aime and the kids came down so we've switched gears to fun in the sun here at the beach. Last night when I commented to my granddaughter how happy I was she'd joined us at the beach, she told me we weren't at the beach, we were in the parking lot, ROFLOL! Yep, the RV park just looks like a parking lot to her, ggggggg. There's grass and trees everywhere but lots of RV's, ha. Today we managed to hit a great 40% off sale at the local quilt shop. Guess the business is for sale, wish I could own a quilt shop, ho hum. Hit a few local touristy type shops and stopped for our annual ice cream cone with the kids, this was Ethan's first one. 2 years ago it was here that Jaiden had her first one too! Jennifer and I each got a quilt top finished, she's working on binding of another quilt, I basted a table runner ready to quilt and made a hat for Ethan. Jennifer has also been working on a really cute Christmas project and made good progress. I'll post some pictures when I get home. I'm sure grateful to be at the beach rather than home where the temperatures have been in the 90-100's and that's just toooooooo hot for me!

Home again

July 8th I received a call from my sister while at work that my BIL was in the hospital and not expected to live. They live in California so I left work and flew out that evening. He has been ill for a long time and my sis has been his full time caregiver. He passed away on the 10th and we buried him on the 15th. Gene flew down on the 14th for the service and we both flew back together Thursday evening so I could return to work yesterday. A whirlwind of emotions, time spent with extended family I hadn't seen in many years, an opportunity to be present and hopefully supportive for my sis and the kids (who are all grown adults of course, just kids to me, ha). The service was lovely and the words spoken heartfelt. It was terribly hard to leave my sister with so much left to do, but my nephew is staying another week or two so she'll have some needed company and help getting things done. Then we're hoping she'll come up to spend some time with us when she's ready to get away.

Being there meant I was able to meet my Great Nephew Harmon!!! He is 8 months old and just adorable!! I managed to bonk his lip on a table, hit his head on his car seat and poke his leg with my thumb nail. I think I was forgiven in the end but I wasn't making too big a hit, LOL! Just have to share a picture of the cutie pie!

The puppies stayed with Aime once again and no doubt were spoiled rotten, ha! What a wonderful daughter to keep them for us when we needed the help.

Jennifer is 6 months pregnant and getting the nursery decorated. Grandma is starting to feel the pressure to finish knit items and quilts, LOL.

Eventually I will try to catch you up with pictures of this n that :-) Meanwhile I am off to catch up on YOUR blogs!!

Home from retreat

Jennifer and I went to Idaho for 3 1/2 days of lovely sewing/quilting. We do this with a wonderful group of women, our "quilting sisters" and each year we grow closer. It is a beautiful place to be and so hard to leave and return home. We managed to get a fair amount accomplished there. Both of us got a finished quilt basted and ready for quilting the first morning. Jennifer also made a darling flannel quilt all but the borders in bright colors using the Take Five pattern.
I cut and layed out the squares for a baby quilt; got 1/2 way done with a purse whereas Jennifer finished hers. While she finished her purse I worked on a small landscape "quilt" that our dear friend Thelma taught a class for. I need to decide how I am going to finish it, either add borders, just a binding or frame it. I also want to do some embellishing on it. I also finished Jaiden's bed quilt except for the last border but I did get some of the pieces cut for it. Before we went I managed to get over to Aime's and Jaiden's curtains with valance are now up, yay!! So I must get the bed quilt finished as it matches and Aime will buy a bed skirt. At retreat we had a demo on making a great string quilt and when the demo was over June handed Jennifer the little demo quilt, a pink baby size, and told her it was for her!!!! Talk about surprise, she was incredibly touched. On Friday night they gave her a surprise baby shower too. I tell ya, this is just a terrific group of women friends and they hold a special place in our hearts. So Jennifer came home with darling things for baby Maddy when she is born. And that's just 15 weeks away, YIKES!!!! Grandma better get busy on the quilt not to mention the afghan I started and all the other things I have planned, LOL!

The double trouble pups got to go to the puppy parlor and look and smell beautiful tonight. They even came home to a new bed we got while we were out.

Life has been much busier than usual or maybe I'm just more tired than normal after work these days. Consequently I'm not blogging much nor am I on the computer much. I do read a couple of blogs here and there to catch up but normally do it on my iPod at night in bed and that's too hard to use to leave comments for my blogger friends. So just know I'm still keeping up with you! I'll be back soon with some pictures to share, meanwhile don't forget about me, ha!