Yard Crashers

Stacy asked for some help with her backyard and getting her pool up and running.
It has an amazing patio with a planter around the perimeter. problem with that is... The planter stood between the patio and the pool.

We spent the day on  Wednesday working on a few things. Mike and Brian cut down a dead evergreen tree and moved some patio bricks from the front yard to around the pool. Stacy dug up some plants and weeds. I moved some plants and laid patio bricks between her 2 patios.

Stacy didn't know what to do with the planter, that is now empty. I am not too proud of what I told her - and I choked on the words coming out of my mouth, but I told her Gulp! Gasp! Fill it with stones. It really was the best solution for the kids and the dog running through the yard.

Bryan and Mary had some stones from their front garden so I told her that I would make a call and we could maybe pick some up on Thursday.

In the mean time Kaylyn and I had an idea to plant some flowers for Mary for her birthday.
Kaylyn spent the night on Wednesday. Her and Mike made some breakfast.

Kaylyn concentrated on making the perfect card.

We stopped at the Home Depot and got "blue" flowers, because Kaylyn knew that that was Mary's favorite color. All was carefully planned except for the rain. We couldn't help that. We didn't get any stones. Despite the pouring rain and the muuuuuddddy garden and with Mikes help (he dug the holes) I got the plants in and we left Kaylyn's card on her kitchen table.
 Mary called when she got home and she loves it. OH, Sweet Mary, you are soooo worth it!!!

10th year

This is our 10 year helping put flags on graves of soldiers in Mount Hope Cemetery for Memorial Day.
It always makes me feel good. We have never had a bad weather day and this year was no exception. Most years I take a volunteer with me who hasn't done it before and guild them through the cemetery pointing out which graves need a flag. No I don't remember each year -We are given maps.

This year I got to direct Mike and Brian around. Mike was so cute every time he placed a flag he would stand and salute.

We have the same block each year at the cemetery and after we get done there are 2 graves that I make a point to visit. The first is my mentor and old, dear friend from my first job at the school district, Ruth Hickey. I can't believe it's been 10 years since she died. The second I don't know at all, but we have the same last name Peggy Sue Millikan. She was 18 when she died and I can't help but wonder what her story was.

Every year it is a different group of people volunteering. Mike and I are the only ones who have been there all 10 year. This year the group is 4 current employees at the Inspection department and 7 past employees.

Group Pic.

SC Trip

When the invitation came for Leslie's wedding Mike and I decided we just had to go. We both are big fans of The TV show "American Pickers" so I suggested we stop in Nashville to visit their store there. And really a night in Nashville is fun anytime. There was so much stuff there that we saw on TV - One of my favorites was this red arrow from the Rt 66 episode.

The place is not easy to find and it is really not very big, but I am so glad we stopped there.

After a night in Nashville it was on to Clemson, SC. We got there Thursday afternoon and met up with Vicki and Bill for dinner. Dave came by the hotel to drop off openers for the gate (they live in a gated community), because we had a tee time for 8:00 Friday morning.
We had all of Leslie's shower gift from the shower up here so he took all of that and the wedding quilt I had made them back to their house with him.

When Leslie was here for her shower I asked her what her favorite colors were. "I don't really have one." OK - (seriously who doesn't have a favorite color or even a color group). Mary told me she likes pastels. Yikes, I am so not a pastel person. Now I have to figure out what colors to use for her quilt.
I looked again at her engagement pictures and decided to go with traditional fabrics in flowers. I get it all made and I put it on to the rack to quilt and doubt sets in. I took it to Mom's and showed her, Linda and Deanna and they all liked it.
Leslie's is going to like it, I just know it... Then I think of my sister - Some how HER opinion means more to me than Leslie's does. I guess I still want my older sisters approval. I don't know why.

I wasn't around when they opened their gift, but I guess they both liked it, because when I saw them Friday night Leslie hugged me real hard and told me how much it meant to her and Mary told me they both cried. Whew!!! Leslie and David with their quilt.

Friday morning we get up early and grab some of the free breakfast and head on over to Mary and Dave's country club for some golf. The course was dog legs and hills and water and sand and trees and beers. My foursome.

The wedding on Saturday wasn't until 4 so Mike and I decided to go check out one of the waterfalls that Mary and Dave talk about. We hiked a few trails there and decided that we needed to walk some more at the Clemson Botanical Gardens.

  The wedding was at an old church. It was really, really lovely. Leslie was beautiful dressed in all lace and Mary was the perfect mother of the bride.

The reception was at the Country Club and there was no complaints - All Good!
It was a wonderful time and Mary and Dave were awesome hosts.

Sister Picture - I think that was the first time Mary sat down all day except for the ceremony of course.

There are more pictures on my shutterfly and I took a short video of Leslie and David dancing. I really liked the song they chosed.

Work of Art

I have seen many, many quilts that look to be works of Art, most of them at quilt shows.

I for sure never thought that one of mine would ever qualify.

I realized, when I walked into Amanda's (she is the one running the mystery quilts) living room where three of her quilts are hanging on the wall that it doesn't have to be a showcase quilt. You just have to love it yourself. Amanda's mother works with Sharen out at station 2 and she has a red, white, and blue quilt hanging in her office and it looks good hanging there.

When I finished this mystery quilt my plan was to use it as a throw in my living room. I love it so much and I love the pattern I used to quilt it I decided to hang it up.

Which I couldn't have done without the hanger Mike made for me.

Mothers Day

Mike made breakfast for me and the Flory's. Roger got to try pancakes. I want to tell him to stop growing up so fast, but then he is such a charmer and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Stacy, Kory, Brian and the kids stopped by later in the afternoon.
We talked about camping and the things we did that she wants to do with her kids. I had to smile because now that she's a mother she gets scared on roller coasters and water slides. Watching your kids with NO fear can do that do you.
She remembers when once she thought that 30 was old and now sees that your kids make you young or old  not your age.
She has learned to pick her battles. Kaylyn wearing pink boots with her sun dress.She later switched to her flip flops.
Stacy has turned into quite the mother.
And best part she loves her StepMom!
These pictures were Stacy's idea and I love them all...

All about us!

And the kids.

Me and my Kribs grandkids.

What kind of daughter would I be if I didn't stop and see MY mom and grab a picture of her and Roger.