Big Birthday Surprise!

Wow!  What a day I had Sunday.  I spent all of last week preparing for a big surprise party for my Mom's seventy-seventh birthday.  Sunday finally arrived and I tool her to the Casino in Erie, along with me younger sister, Sarah.  Sarah texted madly from the back seat to let everyone here at the house know where we were on our journey home.  We arrived and Mom had to go potty, so everyone that was hidden in the dining room had to wait a little longer to yell Surprise!  When Mom entered the dining room she was sure shocked to find the whole family there!  The candles on her cake were lit and she blew them out.  My hubby, Rick said that they had all been waiting for a while for our arrival so they should all go outside.  Everyone went out back on the deck.
    My Sisiter, Sarah asked me for a Qtip so I went to get her a Qtip before going outside.  When I stepped outside I was surely shocked.  Everyone yelled "Surprise"!  There were even more people, besides the family out back.  It turned out to be a double surprise party!
   Rick had invited some of my clown friends and two of them even came in costume!  They were out in my yard entertaining my neices and my grandson.  It was a wonderful party!
   I got lots of wonderful cards and gifts.  Sarah got me a new birdbath and I even got a stripper!  Not what you might think, it strips fabric!  The best kind of stripper!  I also got some nice gift certificates that Ill have to find the time to spend.  It was a wonderful day.
I can't imagine how Rick and Sarah kept it all a secret.  Mom knew there was a party for me, I knew there was a party for Mom and Rick and Sarah had to be very careful what they said to whom!   They pulled it off!  Sarah and her husband John stayed late after the party and helped to clean up.  That was maybe the best gift of all.  Happy Birthday to me!

Wow!  What a wonderful couple days I've had.  I went to North East, Pa. to see Bonnie Hunter, a fabulous quilter, artist, author and all around fun person.  She was hosted by a fabulous group of ladies called the Crazy Quilters from North East.  I went to her trunk show on Sunday and I took a class today on how to make her star struck quilt.  I had a wonderful time.
 My wonderful husband paid for everything including one of Bonnie's books called "Adventures in Leaders and Enders".  Tomorrow is my fifty something birthday and I think that was the best gift I could ever get.  My hubby supports all of my artistic endeavors, even if some of them make him go hmmmmm!
  Now I'm just hoping that the family remembers, if they have to buy me anything for my birthday realize that fabric would be right up my alley!  I have one neighbor who always gives me some kind of soap!!!!  I wonder if she is trying to tell me something?  I really think she is just trying to be kind and wants to give me a gift but really doesn't know what to give me...so she trots off to Bed, Bath and beyond and I get....soap. God Bless her for even remembering my birthday every year!
   On another note, I finished making all my strawberry freezer jam and the raspberries have begun to ripen.  I've been picking them now for three days and I have about two quarts.  I see raspberry jelly in my future!
   My sister stopped over tonight and we are planning a surprise party for my Moms birthday on Sunday.
I have been working frantically to finish the lap robe/small quilt I am making for her.  It was an ugly fabric quilt challenge that I found online.  I incorporated a set of blocks that say "What Cancer Cannot Do" and I think Mom will like it because she has certainly had a battle where cancer is concerned.  Her birthday is a true testament to the fact that no Doctor can tell my Mom when she should die.  According to him, she has four months, maybe six.  That was three years ago.  Go Mom!  Lets just hope she has enough energy for a party after we take her to the casino!

Finally figured it out!

wow...I think I just figured out how to add a new post to my blog.  About time.  Believe me, I am no tech wizard.!  I have been plodding away at my ugly fabric quilt challenge.  It is actually a top now and I am quilting it for the 2nd time.  I tried machine quilting it and I am just not good at machine quilting.  I tried a meander stitch and decided I didn't like it.  I spent a whole weekend removing all those stitches.  I am now hand quilting it.  I am hopeful that I have it done by the 25th of June.  I want to give it to my Mom for her birthday!  She will appreciate all the love that went into creating it.  I am still trying to figure out how to use the last few bits of ugly fabric that I have left over.  I am thinking maybe I will create some yo yo flowers for the barer spaces on the quilt.  Something to use the fabric and add another splash of color.  I originally had applique flowers in these spaces, but decided I didn't like them either.  Oh My, I am so picky at times!  I've never tried anything like this and I am not sure I ever will again.  I feel so much pressure to get it right.  I am not a get it right gal.  I usually think out of the box and create my own path. 
  So in between pulling weeds and planting and work, I have been sewing away.  I am currently hand quilting three quilts and I am assembling blocks for another.  If I get tired of one project I can move on to another.
I am taking this weekend off and running away from home.  I'm going to Vincennes, Indianna for the Red Skelton Festival.  On Saturday, they have the largest clown parade in the USA.  Its a blast to see the huge crowds and visit with all of my old clown friends.  We all stay at the University and its a great time.  I am dressing as a ballarina clown and carrying giant car keys and a sign that says "Ballet Parking". 
Well, now that I finally figured out how to post, and not simply by accident, You'll be hearing more from me.  Actually I don't think anyone reads this or follows this, but it gives me a chance to say all the things no one here wants to hear me talk about!  Its my online sanity checker!