Spring Gathering

We had a great visit last week from the Texas Branch of the family. Heidi's work required her to travel to Muncie and Joe and the kids came along. It was great for all the cousin to get to play and swim together. We were even all at the same place at the same time for a hurried photo shoot. I'm getting much less fussy about the photography and am merely thankful to have the event documented. Not everyone has to be smiling...it's just nice that they are there! Jame's friend Holly was missing. Everyone got to meet her at a Fazoli's outing. We hit on family night complete with Clowns and balloon animals.

I had a previous committment to the American Quilt Show in Paducah Kentucky so I left the group in the middle of the week for 2 ½ days. They got along fine and Dennis got to play host. I kept my economic stimulus as low as I possibly could but with 50,000 yards of fabric being sold per day, it's hard not to join the ruckus. I only purchased 3 quilts-worth of fabrics and 6 patterns. Merely a drop in the bucket.

The weather was almost winter at the beginning of the week, but as verified above it was nice by the end. Dennis and I tried to do a motorcycle escort to the Indianapolis Airport on the Saturday that Joe/Heidi/kids flew out, but it was so windy that we had to turn back. They had no delays this time (see Heidi's blog at http://www.londt.com/) so they didn't need us to run interference in the terminal.

It's so tempting to try and pack all kinds of events in when everyone is together. It's a good year when it's 4 times that we gather, but we purposely tried this time not to over book. They didn't leave Muncie and except for me, neither did we.

I have one more week and then will graduate with a Masters in Adult, Higher and Community Education and Executive Development. It's hard to believe that this degree is already completed. My undergrad took so long. James is in the final push for the EMT certification and also a Certified Nurses Assistant.

Dennis has spent the later half of this week with his brother Ed in northern Indiana hot on the trail of the elusive Morel Sponge Mushroom. So far they've been "skunked" but we haven't heard much from either of them so we're thinking that no news is good news. Chewy seems to be suffering from his under the table human food feedings. He is one spoiled rotten dog.

Projects continue to be done here. Joe's Round-the-World-Really Quilt is completed and was presented to him last week. It needs to be photographed and then sent to Texas. A mountie hat for Joey was also assembled and looks pretty good. I have a neighbor who is coming over to learn to sew. That's been a good thing. She sews and I make a valant attempt to clean up my studio enough for two people.

I'm so thankful for the children I have who live close and for those who come back. It such a blessed time for me when we can all be in the same place!