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!

Treasures from the past!

Recently I changed my computer desk area around and all of the papers that I haven't had the energy to take care of the past year or so finally managed to convince me to take care of tonight. 

I'm glad I wanted to sort instead of just tossing! My first surprise was the $21.00! that was wrapped in a receipt.

The second was as I was checking to make sure I didn't throw away any business receipts I started this pile of  receipts from Carl's chocolate milkshakes and ice cream. All of theses were great reminders of all the simple joy I was able to bring to Carl when I couldn't go inside and give him a hug. I can still see his smile when the staff handed him a shake or a pint of ice cream!

I also found a few old pictures while I was sorting. My very favorite one of Carl was taken on one of our trips to Niagara Falls, NY. I think it was taken the first year Kelly, Trebor and Spencer came out to spend the summer with us. What is surprising about it is he is clean shaven in this one. For most of our 32 years together he had either a moustache or beard and moustache so clean shaven was rare. I carried this one in my wallet for several years and that is where I found it when cleaning.

Great treasures with great memories!

Happy Quilting, Sharon 

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

'Grand Ruler' instructor for Marti Michell since 2019

Biggest change of 2021

The beginning of 2021 started out with Carl continuing to be cared for in a nursing facility with the COVID pandemic still in control. No inside visits until May and then they were short-lived with the doors closing again to visitors in August. Then the day that completely changed life for me was August 28. That was the day I received a call from the facility that Carl had started his next life with Heavenly Father.

The 32 years that I had with Carl were filled with ups and downs just like every other relationship but I think the ups came out on top. He supported me in anything I wanted to do and loved to be included in all things but enjoyed my quilting the most. He had a great eye for color and often helped pick out the fabric while shopping and of course, he picked out the colors of my favorite quilt. He often joked with others when telling about our vacations that they were 'quiltcations' instead of 'vacations'. I am glad he is no longer in pain, but boy do I miss him! I have no idea where this picture was taken but it was one of his better ones in these last years.

 

'Till we meet again, 

Love you, Sharon 

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