Sad day...

What a sad day for so many today...

The death of Farrah Fawcett has left me feeling so sad. I never met her but felt as if I knew her through the media reports, her movies, and television appearances. I remember when she was on Charlie's Angels and made an appearance on a celebrity sports show - one of the first reality shows. There was a question on the rules - she said to her team - let's be fair to the other team, how would we feel if that happened to us?

She was so happy to have her baby, Redmond. It is so sad that he has made such painful and destructive choices. I hope he can regain control of his life and go forward in a more positive light. His Mother will be his constant angel in his future.

Later in the day, the news about Michael Jackson's cardiac arrest was such a shock - and even more of a shock - that he passed. His younger performances were such fun and introduced a new generation to the moon walk and other dance moves. His song writing was a path that let us through the time period. Thriller is still the most purchased album ever produced.

His behavior turned...who knows why...

Heaven will be welcoming to both Farrah and Michael - both heroes in their own way. Blessings to their family and wishes for peace.

How time flies

Here we go again! Another Easter is around the corner - spring flowers are coming up and I may try to catch up a bit on my blog!

So much has happened since I last posted.

In September, I spent fifteen wonderful days in Virginia Beach meeting our new grandson, Aidan Joshua. Our son had to leave after I was there for four days on a training cruise. I had the rest of the time with our daughter-in-law and Aidan. We had such a wonderful time. She is an excellent wife and a very wonderful Mother as well as an exceptional daughter-in-law.

We spent our days admiring Aidan, shopping, going to lunch, sewing, and believe it or not, I cooked most every dinner!!! Toni introduced me to the Food Network, Rachael Ray, and some other cooking shows. I made several little wallets for Toni and her sisters, fabric bags to bag potatoes for her family, and got a lot done on Aidan's wall hanging.


The night before I left Virginia, my dear Mother-in-law's health began declining very quickly. As I was getting ready to fly out, she passed to Heaven on Angel's wings. I was blessed for 33 years with Peggy Egusa as my mother-in-law, friend, and confidant. I am sorry I was not there when she passed but am thankful for each memory and the joy of her presence.

The next week was a whirlwind. Ron flew in from Kauai, family members came from East, West, North, and South for the memorial service. Mike Egusa coordinated the service at his Church with his friend and co-pastor, Bruce, officiating. I delivered the eulogy of life as a daughter-in-law, Christopher Egusa had a slide show of pictures from Nana's life, and the family "choir" (I am not in the group!} sang Amazing Grace at the end of the service. It was truly a celebration of the life of a wonderful woman.

Ron was here for a week then he was back to Kauai, I was home a week later.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving in Kauai - just the two of us. I am used to a big dinner with family and friends. We made the best of it and had a lovely meal. I made the apple pie and worked on a quilt.

Christmas was approaching quickly - I went out the day after Thanksgiving at 5AM - WalMart was crazy - the line to enter the store stretched to the hospital. I decided to go to Macy's instead. Got some great things, then to KMart, and back to WalMart about 8AM where it was easy to get through the store and found most everything I needed without the earlier stress and crowds.

I flew to CA - Ron followed on December 18th. He was in CA for two weeks.

We celebrated Leila's fifth birthday at the indoor jumping place - so much fun! She loved having her friends jump with her for several hours then cake and fun in the party room. She also had a birthday celebration at school with cupcakes and a family dinner with more cake! It is good to turn 5!

Christmas was nice - just the five of us. Josh, Toni, and Aidan were in Staten Island with her family. Someday, we may all be together but for now, we are blessed to be able to share with some of our family.

Ron flew back to Kauai on January 2nd. He was happy to get back to the warmer weather - the California winters are too cold and damp for him. He was back to Kauai and golfed five of the first seven days he was there! By the time I returned to Kauai, winter had set in over there. It was barely sixty degrees in the morning. Our swim class actually cancelled class for a week due to the wind and heavy rain. I spent a lot of time sewing.

On Super Bowl Sunday, I took out a quilt I had started last summer as a gift for Nana Egusa and got the top finished. It is now finished!!! I gave it to Ron as a happy memory of his Mother.

Gosh - this is a very long post. Will catch up on life from January through April at a later date!

Aloha to all,,,

Did I tell you about our new grandson?

It is such a delight to have grandchildren! For the past four years, we have had a darling granddaughter...two weeks ago, we had a grandson! Our son and his wife had their first child - Aidan Joshua is a beautiful baby - we received a lot of pictures this morning. He has dark curly hair just like both of his parents - depending on who is holding him is who he looks like! So cute...cuddly...a friend used the word delicious to describe him! I will be able to see him in September for two wonderful weeks.

When our granddaughter was born, I made her bedding set including the crib bumpers and dust ruffle. A few months ago, I made Aidan a quilt, a diaper bag with a sailor on it, (a picture is posted on my earlier blog), and now need to make the quilt square to finish the quilt with his name on it. Think I will make a little pillow with the third little sailor I made previously. He has a darling bedding set that includes all the dust ruffles and all...I wonder if he may need a tailored bed skirt...more manly for a two week old man... I am looking forward to making a Hawaiian fish quilt for him during a class this coming Sunday. Hope we can show him our part of Paradise one day soon.

I love being a Mother, Mom, Mommy...the time with my children was so wonderful even when they had their life challenges...and then they put up with mine. I hope my children always know how much they are loved, cherished, and valued to me. I try to let them know in so many ways - including words. Our daughter-in-law is truly a wonderful woman and now an amazing Mommy. Blessing abound!

This week is full of fun - husband returned on Tuesday from a trip to the mainland, lunch with friends to celebrate a 70th birthday, lunch today just to celebrate friends, a sewing afternoon tomorrow with friends on the West side, a fabric dying class on Saturday on the North shore, and the quilt guild class on Sunday. Good thing I cleaned myself silly this past week...

Back to Paradise and loving our grandchildren!

Sunday, Sunday

It is another wonderful Sunday morning in Kauai. The morning started very early with the sound of rain at 4:30 am. That was followed by the roosters calling out their morning songs to wake the world. A bit later, the ducks had their say...all was right with the world!

What do we do in Paradise on such a wonderful Sunday? Well, start the morning by attending Church services then go to the charity car wash at the mall. Husband's big truck is now nice and clean...my car was washed yesterday! Got home with pure intentions of vacuuming both cars and the power went out for over an hour. Gosh, what to do in paradise when the power goes out...one could read, take a nap, make a sandwich...or wash windows and blinds. Three windows and blinds are now done on the inside. Guess it is time to do the outside of the windows. It is much nicer to see Paradise through clear glass...

Maybe time to sew this afternoon once the power decides to stay on and the windows are clean!

Music

Here is another fun one - this site allows you to put together some favorite music to blog by. I have just added a couple of songs but will add more later - what a wonderful variety of music to choose from!!!

Enjoy!

Favorite blogs and other wonderful things

Several friends have asked me about my favorite blogs...there are so many! It is almost like trying to name your favorite cookie or flower. Most of the blogs that I prefer have something to do with quilting (I have learned so much!), sewing (found out about tools and toys that have been fun to sew with), and other crafty things - even one about cooking (I need to learn how to cook one day soon!).

Some of the blogs offer contest entries, all offer good information, and the most wonderful blogs offer a sense of friendship and belonging.

Thank you to the bloggers for reaching out to the community!!!
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Below is a link to the Old Red Barn Company's blog. Wonderful pictures, very creative, and inspiring!

Favorite blogs and other fun things!

A friend asked me about my favorite blogs...gosh...there are so many to choose from. It is almost like asking what my favorite cookie would be or flower! Here are some that I enjoy - some of them have opportunities for winning fabulous prizes and each of them provide wonderful information...most on quilting, sewing, or other crafty things. Hope you enjoy the blogs as much as I do. Let me know your favorites, too!