Grandpa makes it to his 90 th birthday

Whilst this blog is not meant to be about my family I hope you will forgive my indulgence this week.

On the 14 th January Dad was admitted to hospital, seriously ill.

On the 15 th my husband was admitted to the same hospital, having suffered a massive stroke, he died some hours later.

On the 20th was hubby's funeral

The 21 st was the 17 th anniversary of the accident which left my son, Trevor, a quadriplegic

The 25 th is Grandpa's 90 th birthday ..... so good to have something joyful.

We managed to give dad a surprise party and the postcard above was sent to dad without me knowing anything about it.

The card arrived on THE day!

Well done Marian ... and a huge "THANK YOU'

This top hat is the one that was on the cake.

Dad had to flip his ears out to hold the hat on!!!!

Clara, a long time friend, shares her birthday with grandpa - as she says they are twins seperated by 60 years!

Clara and Greg also got engaged today, unfortunately I did not get a photo of the happy couple.

Leann giving her grandpa a hug for his special birthday

My previous blog is still available for viewing, but I have yet to work out how to add to it as my email addy changed when we went from dial up to broadband.
http://www.sandy-comforterquilts.blogspot.com

On the header for that blog is an embroidery that hangs in our bedroom in our little cottage.

Sadly, my best friend - my husband, died on Friday the 15th of January.

So no flaunting this week.

summertime Sunday

This 44C was at lunchtime - around about the predicted maximum for the day.

In the mail was a wonderful surprise - this table runner arrived from Stephanie!

Made using cobblestones, it is so effective.

I am going to be busy this year 'paying it forward' as so many have been all too kind to me

Think I was only in the cobblestone swap once in 2009 and that was the last one which was 'stash surprise'.

That swap is being rested now.

My sets of ATC's to be sent out were red and white Christmas - 6 of those.

The latest are the "I is for ... ?"

I decided to use igloo.

Packed up the Christmas decorations - hadn't used many this time, and did not use this hanger that my mum made some years ago - first time it wasn't used.

Anyway thought it might be of interest to some crafters as it is made from used cards.

Just quickly put it on the garden shed door in order to take the photos.

these five postcards were my contribution for the pick a theme swap - I chose "tickets". Intended to do a movie ticket but came across the railway ticket fabric so decided to use that instead.

Received a package of cobblestone blocks from a centralised swap -no particular theme, labelled a "stash surprise". I sent in 18 pairs of blocks made as positive/negatives. These are the blocks I received back.

Added in some blocks I already had and have enough to make a decent size quilt for donating.

Sadly my working sewing machine 'died' Christmas Eve so cannot actually sew the blocks together at this stage.