Good Morning! I am back from the deep south and glad to see that you guys partied hearty without me! LOL Raeanne - Thanks for holding up the birthday traditions while I was gone. (If you want lessons in GIF 101, I can help. LOL) NHSuzanne - Those pictures are gorgeous! I too want to know what kind of camera you have. DH told me that while we were gone the weather turned cold up north. It is back to being hot and humid now though! BJ - So glad to hear that all went well and that you are up and around. (We never doubted for a second that you would come through with flying colors.) Jen - I agree that cleaning closets can be cathartic, but I hope you got to do some other fun things too. Dee's package sounded like fun. She is a great birthday partner! Tikanas - I hope you got to read your birthday wishes, even if you can't post. Email someone in the group and update us on your life. Inquiring minds want to know. Amy - I went to Lafayete, LA to visit my DD for a week, but thanks for missing me. I am glad to hear that you are still painting. I treasure my picture from you and look at it daily. Besh - I too love Heavenly from VS. My DD turned me onto it. I usually buy her some for her birthday and Christmas, but she said she has had to stop wearing scented lotions and sprays because of the bugs in LA. Donna - WTG with WWatchers. Your renovations sound wonderful. Any before and after pictures to show us?? Gretchen - What can I say? What a nice surprise to log on and see a post from you. I thought for a second you had moved to California, since you are now calgret, but I see you are still in Chicago. Please keep posting, we missed you. Patti - I hope you reached Dallas ok. My first Houston experience was WET! On the way to LA, it poured in Houston on my layover and my luggage got soaked. They must have left it out in the open at some point. I had to wash all my clothes when I got to DD's apartment. But my flights weren't delayed, so I got out on time and my return flight was uneventful. I met a really nice lady on my first layover and it turned out we had the same birthday. We chatted and tried not to notice the wind and rain outside! LOL Have with your DGD!!! Magic Kitty - Haven't seen a post from you lately. How are you holding up in the FL heat? DeeMarie - I hope you are having wonderful weather and enjoying every minute of your cruise. And speaking a enjoying every minute, that is exactly what I did in LA. Despite the heat and humidity, DD and I had a wonderful time. We explored the swamps, two plantations homes, went searcing for alligators, ate seafood, sampled Cajun cuisine and music and just spent some Mother/daughter time. The week went fast but I hope to be able to visit her again before they transfer out of the area. I will post a few pictures in the album when I get a chance. Now I have one more trip over Labor Day weekend and then I start back to school on 9/4. Part of me is looking forward to a paycheck, but part of me doesn't want the summer to end! Hi to anyone I missed. Maddie - where are you? Kate - are you sill with us? Joanne - Come back! John - We need you to check in brother! Gotta finish up some laundry and catch up on the mail and bills! UGH. Later, Marci

Not over the weekend, but I did go to Sit and Sew tonight... Picked up the Bernina from the shop on the way and looked at fabric... 80 bucks to fix the thread cutter, but it is working like a champ now. There were only 9 people at Sit and Sew tonight... I worked on an Irish Chain using my grandmother's fabric. The food was awesome (homemade pulled pork, pigs in a blanket made with honey and nuts, homemade peach cobbler... and I didn't even cook tonight, I just bought a glazed marble cake from Publix) and I was able to sign up for the quilt retreat day in October... we're going to make a Window Pane 9 Patch. It should be fun and 25 people have already signed up for it. Linda I'm glad there's good news about your heart! Jackie, what a sweet husband to want to spend the day with you and to be concerned about you not getting out enough... so considerate! I can totally relate... after working a full week, I just want to sit down in front of my machine and relax and not deal with anyone!

I was just thinking that we really cherish the donated handknit cap from hospital that came home with our baby and I’m sure families are cherishing your beautiful blankets.

I'm half done with my 6th blanket (Project Linus) plus random baby hats for local hospital and scarves for women's abuse shelter. My stash may not go down for awhile - a friend and I visited some AC Moore stores in the waning days of their closing sale and came away with many bags of yarn for minimal prices.