wrapping up the month . . .

Backposted (because how ever many years from now I'd regret not having posted these pictures along with their stories)!

Luckily for me, I did Ellie's birthday trip over a long weekend . . . which meant I had Monday *off*...which was particularly nice after the trip to Atlanta. If you know what I mean.  Ahem.  Anyway, I put Monday to good use and finished up my February UFO challenge project for our stitcher's group.

I sewed sashings and borders. And finished . . .

YAY!  This has been a very long project.  Haha!  Because I'm the world's most prolific procrastinator.  But that's okay, because I think it's so pretty. I know this needs to be handquilted; I'm thinking I'll save it for late in the fall, when I'll want to be covered up in a quilt while I stitch on it.  ♥

Joc sent me some pics of Ezra . . . 

Awww!  Tummy time on the quilt his Neesey made for him!  This little fellow has such a darling little smile.

He melts my heart!

Friday night I took another road trip, this time down to Montgomery to see comedienne Chonda Pierce!

My wing(wo)man for the event was my dear friend, Lindsey.  We had a really good time ... Chonda kept us rolling!

Tickets to the show were a Christmas gift from Todd!  I guess February was a month of realizing past gifts!

The weekend was also my mom's 81st birthday!  My sister (Julia) and her daughter (and her daughter's youngest) made the trip down from Virginia. Julia's birthday is also in February, so we had a dual purpose cake!

Edgar's Bakery makes such pretty cakes!  And delicious, too, trust me!  Mom had been enjoying her tree (which I totally get—and do myself), but keeping it fresh with ornaments in keeping with the season.  

Julia and I did it up in shamrocks, leprechauns and green and white pompoms (yes, the pompom maker came out again).  It was such fun and the tree looked so pretty!  The lights help keep the drear of winter away.  :)

And we had a quick minute before the Virginia crew had to get to the airport, to allow cousins (and second cousins) to visit!

A happy way to close out a good month!

:)

starting july off right . . .

We enjoyed a terrific long Independence Day weekend! On Thursday, we had 'staff enrichment', which means we went to lunch together at a nice restaurant and then went home afterwards. Hip, hip! On Friday, Todd and I did our usual boating trip where he fished and I mostly read. I never get tired of the scenery!

On Saturday, we hit the lake again, this time with the Merkel crew.  

 

We spent the day swimming and splashing (and eating), and then we headed towards the shoreline at dark to watch fireworks.  It was fabulous!  

All the big shows had coronacancelled, but there were enough private fireworks being set off that we had a 360-degree viewing field! 

Early on Sunday morning, Joc, Ellie, Evey and I loaded up in the car for the five and a half hour trip to Indiana, for a baby shower for my nephew's wife (they live in Alaska, but her family is in Indiana).

It was a fun trip with the "big girls" and I got to see my sister (from Virginia) and both of her daughters (and her oldest daughter came with her husband and family, and I got to see her youngest for the first time). 

It was a sort of mini reunion!

On Monday, before hitting the road seriously, Joc saw an underground river tour she thought would be fun, so we detoured over to Bluespring Caverns. It was amazing! It's the longest stretch of underground river in the United States.  The cavern (cave) is a balmy 54° (air and water), year around, which made it a lovely stop on a 90° day!

The girls mined for gems and fossils and that was fun, too!

I didn't get a lick of stitching done in the last week, but I *did* finish up the 2018-19 HQH mystery quilt a couple of weeks ago!

Really pleased with the quilting on this, which was done by my longarmer friend, Melissa.  She does such beautiful work!

My sweet little helpers enhance the look, too!

I hope y'all are all doing well and staying safe and healthy! 

:)