It's that time of year again! Happy 102nd birthday, Mom!

It is amazing to think that my mother was born 102 years ago. She was a young 63 years old when she passed away. For the last 30 years of her life, she had physical problems and was in constant pain. How she managed to do the things that she did still amaze me. She kept putting one foot in front of the other and got things done.

I remember one conversation I had with her where she said that when she was a kid she didn't get many birthday presents because her birthday was the day before Christmas. We always made sure that she received a birthday present on her 'big day' as well as Christmas presents. 

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Quilting, Sharon Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013 

'Grand Ruler' instructor for Marti Michell since 2019

Happy 101st Birthday, Mom!

Mom is standing with her first father-in-law, Herbert Garrett with her oldest child Norman who is holding his oldest son, Norman Jr. some time 1963-1965.

                                         

            This was taken at Aunt Lillian's son Richard baby shower for the birth of his daughter Emily. 

                                                                 This was around 1977.

This is the whole gang at the shower. Sharon holding Julie, Mom holding Emily, Lissa holding Daniel and Bruce holding Wendy.

This was one Christmas at my house on Old Peruville Road in Groton, NY. My favorite color was orange and when I bought the house the kitchen happened to be orange. I may have mentioned it before but Mom would say to me, "When the hell are you going to paint this kitchen?" It was 3 or 4 years before I did change it. It sure was bright!

This was the same year and Mom was opening gifts. I'm not sure if this was for her birthday or Christmas but we all made sure she got a birthday gift each year. The kids are Jeff, Robin, not sure if the one above Robin is Peter or Patrick, my brother Larry, Julie and Norm.

It sure doesn't seem as though it has been 37 years since she left this world. Lissa and I were talking about it just the other day. So many times I would love to sit down and talk to her about family history and ask her different question. I look at my grandkids and realize they will never know her and most of the knowledge that I have of her and family history will be lost.

I love and miss you Mom!

Happy Quilting, Sharon 

Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013 

'Grand Ruler' instructor for Marti Michell since 2019

Happy Birthday, Sexy!

72 today! WOW! I sure wish you were here so we could celebrate. I missed the 'my birthday is January 3rd, you know that, right?' speech this past Christmas season! You always made sure everyone around you knew your birthday was coming up. 

Here are a few pictures from the 32 years we spent together. The only ones that are in the correct time frame are the first one and the last 2. The first one is the very first photo of us together and is one of my favorites. The photo booth was great! The final 2 were while Carl was in the nursing home and hospital.

The adventures we went on! A trip to the San Diego Zoo by way of Kelly's and Trebor's one year. Many visits to Western Festivals in Kanab, UT, and Scottsdale, AZ. The anniversary trip from Hoover Dam to Yuma, CA. A visit to the Shaker Village in Franklin, TN. The vacation with my sister and brother-in-law to the 'Shawshank Redemption prison in Mansfield, OH. Seeing the solar eclipse for the second time in Cottontown, TN. Visiting family at the Voorheis reunion in Reynoldsville, NY. Quilt store visits any time we went anywhere. Lake Havasu City, AZ, Zip lining for the first time in Cave City, KY. Local parks with visiting family, and in our own home we had fun! The only picture I found of Kelly was when we went to the PowWow in Fredonia, AZ one year. Of course, I only was able to get her from the back, sorry Kelly! I couldn't find any pictures of Trebor and I know we had some, but all my searching didn't give me the results I wanted. Sorry, Treb!

Love you, Beautiful!

Until we meet again!

Happy 100th Birthday, Mom!

It is so amazing to me to realize that my Mother would have been 100 years old today!

 After reviewing my last few birthday posts I realized that I started them all off the same way! 

What can I say? It's true!

I have no idea how old she was in this picture. Somewhere in her early teens, I'm sure. She was married for the first time when she was 17 so I am sure it was before then.

This one had to be prior to 1953. I never saw her wear earrings except on special occasions when she was older.

This one was taken in May of 1985 at a grandson's wedding. Check out those shades!

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love and miss you!

Happy 99th Birthday, Mom!

It is amazing to me that this is your 99th birthday! I wonder what you would have thought of all the technology that has been developed since you left us 35 years ago. I know you would have loved the internet especially Facebook and other social media platforms and the cell phones! I can just about hear the conversations we would have had to keep things straight for you. Also, I will never forget your favorite saying when you couldn't remember a word or two: get me the thingamabob on the whatchamacallit.... Yep that was always good. Mom, I haven't gotten that bad yet but I'm close. LOL! Yeah, mom that means laugh out loud, another thing that would have boggled your mind!

Love you!

Sharon

Birthdays!

It just boggles my mind that my mother would have been 98 years old today! It doesn't seem like it has been 34 years since the last time I saw her. I learned a lot of stuff from her. She would tackle just about any project except electricity. She taught me how to use a hammer, screwdriver, sewing machine, saw, hang wallpaper, paint, crochet hook, and to figure out what she wanted when she said, 'go get me the whachamacallit on the thingamajig'. LOL

This was one of the holidays at my house in Peruville, NY. She HATED this orange kitchen! Every time she was in the house she would say to me, "When are you going to get rid of this *?!* orange?" I LIKED orange at that time...... I did finally wallpaper that room and she was much happier with it!

She was a hell of a lady! Happy birthday, MOM!

Happy Quilting, Sharon 

Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013 

'Grand Ruler' instructor for Marti Michell since 2019

New Tute for our famous 'Masks'!

Check out my new 'tute' under my 'Tutorial' tab. 

This tute is for the famous 'masks' that everyone is sporting since our world has become crazy!

Check it out and let me know what you think!

You can make comments here.

Thanks!

Happy Quilting, Sharon
Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013
'Grand Ruler' instructor for Marti Michell since 2019

The year in review......

The end of 2019 is here and I can't believe how the years just fly right on by. I can't be this old when I feel young at heart. My body tells me every day that I may feel young at heart, the body just laughs and laughs. LOL! 

I started out the year with a daily 'diary' type book. I'm not sure exactly when I stopped writing in it, but one day I realized I hadn't written in it for some time. I'd have to get up off the couch to go find the silly thing just to check and that's not happening right now. 

I did have wrist and elbow surgery in April to repair my carpal tunnel. I planned on getting a few things done between surgeries and I managed to accomplish most of them the 9 weeks I had off work. I was also blessed with a new midarm quilter about the same time (which hasn't given me a hint on what his name is, yet). Poor Mr. Stretch was replaced with a Nolting Fun Quilter. I sure hope Mr. Stretch found a new home and he can continue to make beautiful quilts. Boy, it was hard not to play with my new machine when one hand was wrapped up in gauze and tape. I have since quilted several quilts on it and LOVE my equalizer stitch regulator! The next new thing I want to master is pantographs. I also have stencils that I bought at the Paducah show that I want to get good enough to use. I have a lot of things on my 'to do' list when it comes to my new machine. 

At work I also moved from the retail side of the store to the cafe just before my surgery. For a person that never flipped burgers as a kid I did ok, but it is not my cup of tea. When Carl & I got together he agreed to be the cook in the family and 'I quit'! was my motto.  So my last day for cooking all the customers that came into the store was the 23^rd. I'm sure I won't be missing the rat race.

In July Kaye Wood passed away suddenly. It still doesn't seem real at times. I just had a Facebook chat with her not long before this happened. I cherish the memories I have of her while learning her quilting techniques during classes and trunk shows. She was always laughing and doing something. She loved to travel and she once told me she loved to go on cruises. She did 2 cruises a year, one with family and one a quilting cruise. It would have been fun to go on a quilting cruise, but this gal does not like water that much! I wish I had half her energy and to be able to accomplish half of what she accomplished in her later years. I tell people she never let any grass grow under her feet! She is missed by many and I am one of the many.

I opened 2 spots in 2 consignment shops and closed 1 spot a few months later. The shop I closed was an hour away and didn't do as well as I had hoped. My second spot at Leola's Cottage is right in White House, TN and is set up for me to have quilt and sewing classes. I started out just doing classes and when they offered me a spot of my own I snatched it up real quick. Not only do I do sewing and quilt classes, but I have products up and am making some consigned quilts. It seems that Kaye's 'Trees with Ease' is a very popular pattern. I am going to sew up a couple in different fabrics to put in the shop. 

In August Carl and I went to Atlanta, GA so I could take Marti Michell's 'Grand Ruler' quilt class. So now I am a 'Grand Ruler' instructor. She has several different ideas on quilting that I have had to wrap my mind around. Her quilts are beautiful and her rulers and templates really do make lots of quilt piecing easier with less guessing. I can see using her templates on other patterns to make them go together easier. Now to just find the time. LOL!

Lots of things planned for 2020. I want to get more classes going, of course, make more quilts, master new quilting techniques (to me) on my Nolting, organize sewing 'stuff', straighten up the home front, and most of all enjoy life with Carl. We never know when life is going to change and it can in a blink of an eye.

Until next time,

Happy Quilting, Sharon

 Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013

                                        Marti Michell "Grand Ruler" Instructor since August 2019

Those that have gone before

In 1983 at the young age of 27 my BFF was just gone.... She left 2 little boys, a husband, a brother, 2 sisters, a mother and father, and lets not forget the multitude of friends. Suddenly I didn't have someone I could call and 'discuss' things with any more. No place to go and just be me. No friend that understood my snide remarks about things in our past.

Just a few short years later, in 1986, my mom joined the, 'Those that have gone before' group. The first disease just took pieces and she fought to get back to a 'life' which left her hurting every day therafter. The second disease is what finally had her joining 'the group'. For probably a year or more after she joined, 'the group' I picked up the phone to call and talk to her. Sometimes I even managed to dial a few numbers before I remembered.

Then in 1994, my oldest brother joined the, 'Those that have gone before' group. Another fighter that disease took way to soon. He never got to walk his youngest daughter down the aisle, nor see all his grandkids. The many plans he had for 'later' never happened because 'later' never arrived.

Another brother battled heart disease for many years and joined the, 'Those that have gone before group' in 2007. Another fighter that left behind kids, grandkids, brothers, sisters and tons of friends.

In 2017 the latest member added to 'Those that have gone before' group was my oldest sister. Her battle lasted a little less then a year and at times I still can't believe I can't call and ask her stupid questions any more. Everytime I boot up my computer I have a favorite picture of her as my background screen. It's my favorite because she was really, really happy at the time and it just shows and is the reason for this post.

Yes, there were others that came before these 5. 3 Aunts, 4 Uncles, 1 Great Aunt, 2 Grandmothers, a niece, and cousins. Some I was close with others not so much, but they are all part of my family and each has a special place in my heart. Some day I hope to see them all again and be able to sit around the table while we play cards, laugh and enjoy being together again.

Until then I shall remember the good, bad, silly and fun times that we had before they became 'Thoses that have gone before'.

Until next time,

Happy Quilting, Sharon Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013

Just about Loretta!

Just a few memories of the oldest sister! She started out on October 30,1941 in Genoa, NY. She was number 2 of 6 kids! Oldest brother was Norman, next in line after Loretta was Alfred (known as Joe), then Larry, Lissa and Sharon. Loretta made a lot of memories for almost 76 years with friends and family. A few of these memories are here. The older pictures I have no idea what ages or where most of them were taken.

Mom (Elizabeth Wager), Larry, Loretta, Joe and Norm

Larry, Norm, Joe and Loretta holding Lissa

Add caption

Lissa, Larry, Joe, Loretta and Norm

Joe, Mom, Loretta, Larry, Lissa and Norm

Loretta, Sharon and Loretta's friend

Loretta's high school graduation picture

Larry, Sharon (Norm's 1st wife), Norm, Mom, Cliff (Sharon's father), Loretta, Joe, Lissa, Sharon (in front) and Stephan

Grandpa Herbert Garrett, Mom, Stephan, Loretta and Chris

Loretta at Mom's on Rt 90 house about when she lived in Niles, NY

The next pictures are the family together in April of 1994.

Loretta, Aunt Jenny, Uncle Dick, and Bruce

Uncle Dick, Loretta, Larry

Rod, Loretta and Aunt Lillian

Kathy, Loretta and Rod

Loretta and Norm

Aunt Lillian, Loretta and Aunt Jenny

Roxanne, Larry, Loretta, Rod, Sharon, Kathy, Norm, Joe, Lissa and Bruce

Joe, Loretta, Aunt Jenny, Sharon, Aunt Lillian, Larry Norm, Uncle Dick, Lissa

Loretta and we think the baby is Megan

Us 3 girls Sharon, Loretta and Lissa

Joe, Lissa, Sharon, Loretta and Larry 2005 or 2006

Lissa, Loretta and Carl while visiting Out of Africa zoo in 2014

Loretta

Over the years we had a lot of fun with Loretta. Her sisters wanted to celebrate her life, not her death. So today we said good morning with a cup of coffee and cake donut, then we went to see the Patsy Cline museum. She was one of her favorite singers. She loved to dance, craft, sew and most of all she loved to gab! I don't think she ever met a stranger! All the people that touched her life will miss her as much as her family does. We love and miss you, sister!

Happy Birthday!

Until next time,
Happy Quilting, Sharon
Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013