Home Leave

We’ve been home for a little more than a week now. Fortunately things smoothed out as the week came to a close. The generator is installed and the grass is repairing itself. We will probably never need it, the generator, but it’s here just in case.

I spent a little time in the sewing room. I found a cute purse pattern… well it looked cute on the front of the pattern. I was looking for something I could carry the tablet in… when I wanted to take it with me. I used one of the fabrics my DH brought back from Rwanda. I think it is my favorite fabric of the bunch. The pattern is called Bow Tucks by Quilts Illustrated, lots of places online to get your very own.

The mail was good to me while I was gone too. I got a long awaited Paisley block from the Sparkly Chickens Receivers Choice Swap. Jacqui’s interpretation of a paisley. I think it will go very well with the others. She also included some of her hand dyed fabrics… they are yummy. There are still one or two blocks outstanding… but no worries.

I also got a birthday chick from Cheryl, also a Sparkly Chick. She also included some Fat Quarters. I didn’t really notice until I took the picture, how well the 2 FQs play together….

I also received a book from a Pickle, (another Yahoo group I belong to). She went shopping at a book sale and when the book arrived it wasn’t her taste. I on the other hand love it. I have a replacement picked out to send, but I have to figure out the best way to send it…. it will take weeks… but by then it will really be a surprise!

While in the states I was able to meet up with my Bee Pals, as it was a regular meeting day. We met at noon, and Janel served us a delicious Salmon Chowder, sandwiches, salad and a Sorbet Bar for dessert. Another surprise was a member that used be with us came. What a delight it was to see Mary Alice. It was fun hearing all about what each one was doing, seeing what they were working on and showing what they had recently finished. I think I miss regularly meeting up with friends the most. I do get out but not regularly, there is just something about hearing and keeping up with the lives of friends in a really informal friendly setting. I also tried to meet up with Karen, who is both a Pickle and a Sparkly Chick, but she had just started a new job, and our time just didn’t match up. Maybe next time!!!

I also met up with a couple of others (Sue and Sarah, and Kim and Chris)… as well as visited some quilt shops. My favorites in the Chicagoland area, The Fabric Center in Morris, Quiltfabric.com in Willowbrook, Pieceful Heart in Lisle, Prairie Stitches in Oswego, and a new one Gentler Times Stitching in Naperville, along with Erica's in South Bend, IN  I didn’t buy much…. some fat quarters, a couple of yards here and there, some patterns… and a notion or two. All of it is still in transit! I shipped 5 boxes back to South Africa.

I wish I could have visited everyone, but I was making 2-3 round trips from South Bend to Chicagoland every, week…. the drive is a little over 100 miles each way, plus tolls… and some of those days were LONG.

Thanksgiving was a great event. In 2002 we (me and DH ) started making the trek to South Bend for Thanksgiving. It would take us a full day in good weather, much longer in bad. This year we had 4 generations together and even some pictures.  Family come in from Virginia, Oregon, Illinois and Arizona. It was amazing to see everyone at the same time. My sister came up from Missouri to visit for a couple of days too. I haven’t seen her in nearly 4 years, which was a very long time for us. We spent one day in Amish Country and the other day shopping at some of our favorite places. IKEA, Cost Plus (our mom used to take us to the original store in San Francisco when we were kids), and an ethnic grocery Caputos for some fun and different foods. There were a couple of other stores too… Like Penzeys Spices -I gave her a gift certificate for her birthday, (she had to shop online) but thought a store would be a fun place to take her too. There are some spices in the boxes too.

I can’t believe how fast 3 weeks went by. I can’t believe how much I spent…. but it was all stuff we needed… or wanted …. or…..

As Always…. more later

PS…. 3 of the 4 boxes of goodies arrived today!!! I even got it all sorted and put away. The dogs are very happy.