Daddy

Sometimes life brings things your way that you don't understand and are not  quite ready for.  During the past two weeks, life brought me just that very thing.  Today I said Good Bye to my Daddy for the last time.  For sometime now my Dad has been struggling with COPD.  He gave us a scare last Summer but somehow bounced back with renewed strength.  My Dad was a very strong man and most of the time it was easy to forget just how sick he really was.  But on April 14 he told my Mom that he was just not feeling right and maybe they should make the trip to the hospital.  During the week's stay the doctors were not very encouraging with their reports but my Dad remained strong and we were able to take him home on Good Friday-- just in time for Easter. We had a wonderful visit with him enjoying his favorite do wop music, laughing and reminiscing. 

He was such a proud Pap Pap and he loved his boys so very much! We were also blessed to have him with us to celebrate my son Alex's 20th birthday.

That evening we watched one of his favorite movies, "Return of the Pink Panther".  He had watched it so many times over the years that he was reciting the lines before they were even spoken.  We laughed at all the funny lines together as a family.  I am so thankful that this night will be the last memory Alex will have of his Pap Pap.  Three days later on April 29 my Dad's lungs became to tired to carry on and he went home to be with his Savior.  So today we said Good Bye........

Today we cherish the years together and the memories we hold in our hearts....

There is something special about a little girl and her Daddy.  Even though I am not a little girl anymore that something special remains.  I will miss the way he called me "Meems" I will miss his stories, his laughter, and his smile.  I will miss his hugs and kisses.  I will miss watching him fill with pride as he spent time with my son. I will miss how he enjoyed just hanging out with my husband.  I will miss his "I love yous"

Even though I must say Good Bye for now I know it is not forever.  Because my Dad, on April 17, accepted Christ as his personal savior I know that we will  see eachother once again in heaven.  But until that day I will hold tight to the memories I have and to the assurance that my Daddy loved me very much.  

A New Beginning

It has been almost two years since my husband had gastric bypass surgery.  Over the past two years he has worked so very hard to make this surgery a success.  He truly has made a total life style change.  To date he has lost 225.  He wakes every morning at 5:00am to go for a jog at the gym and just recently he has been taking our beagle for a run at the local park.  One of his goals after surgery was to be able to participate in a 5K race.  I am so proud to say that this weekend was his first.   We woke early to find that the weather was not going to cooperate  It was a cold and rainy morning but it could not dampen our excitement.

We arrived early at the race site.  Alex checked in and received his number.

Number 125----As we were pinning it to his jacket, he said "What do you think 125 means"  I thought a minute and quickly added the numbers in my head... 8    He said the number 8 means New Beginnings---how perfect for his first race. 

The race site could not have been more perfect either.  Alex chose this race because he liked the name.  It is a beautiful site with lots of Pittsburgh history.  If you would like to read more about it just click the links below.

Dead Mans Hollow 

Pittsburghs Tribune Review article

The race was to start at 9:00am.  All the participants gathered at the start line to receive some last minute instructions.

And then they were off.........

I headed off to the finish line to await my runner.   It only took Alex 33 minutes 12 seconds to complete the race which placed him in 4th place in his age catagory. An overall finish of 56 out of 125 participants.  Words can't express the pride I have in him.   

It was a perfect Saturday morning.  A wonderful way to celebrate Alex's NEW BEGINNING

An update on our friend Joyce

I know that so many of you have been thinking of and praying for our friend Joyce.(Scrap for Joy)   I wanted to give you all an update as soon as I could.  Joyce was taken for surgery on Monday at about 3pm and David called me around 9:30pm.  He said the surgery went really well.  The surgeons report was good and he said it could not have gone any better.  David expected her to be back in her room around 11:00pm.  I have not been in contact with her yet as I am giving her time to rest and recover---I told her to call me when she was up for a visit.  I should hopefully be talking with her soon and will have more to share with you all.  Thank you all so much for keeping Joyce in your prayers.  I know she is really thankful for you all and appreciates  your  love, thoughts and prayers.  I will be sure to give further updates as soon as I learn more.

Have a wonderful day.

xoxo

Mimi

Birds, Bitty Bugs and Beatrice

I know this is a silly title for a blog post but it sums up my total post for today. 

BIRDS

For several weeks now I have been watching a little Morning Dove sit on a nest right outside of my patio door.  She would sit there through wind, rain, hail and snow.  I could not imagine that she had already laid eggs---it has been so cold here.  But to my surprise this morning, I looked at the nest and look what I saw.  Not only had she laid eggs, but they already hatched and had grown into the sweetest baby birds.  I love nature and all the little miracles that it shares with us.

BITTY BUGS

What is a bitty bug you may be asking??? Well  it is another fun doll I created using a bit of whimsy pattern. I loved making this doll so much that I made a little boy bitty bug....... 

and a little girl bitty bug.........

Don't they make the perfect pair :)

BEATRICE

Lastly I would like to introduce you all to Beatrice.  I know I know another doll----I just can't help myself.

Since my last doll had blond hair and blue eyes, I thought it would be fun to create a little brown hair--brown eye princess.  When I saw this fabric in the quilt shop I just had to have a little piece.  It reminds me of the house dresses my Grandma used to wear. 

With her polka dot shoes and vintage buttons she just makes me smile.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit with me today.  I love sharing my creations with you.  Wishing everyone a Happy Week :)

It is Rednesday

I have not participated in Rednesday for such a long time.  I always enjoy hopping from blog to blog admiring every one's red so today I thought I would play along.  Are some of you wondering what exactly is Rednesday?  One of my favorite blogs to read is It's a very cherry world.  Sue is the author of the blog and her very favorite color is RED.  She decided to celebrate her love for red every Wednesday and call the day Rednesday. Each new week,  every one is invited to share their favorite thing red with a blog post of their own.  When you visit her blog that day there is a list of others playing along so you can visit their blogs as well.  It is always fun to discover new blogs.   The RED I am going to share today is found in my latest doll.  I have named her Abagail Rose.

Like I said before I am not a sewer, but these little dolls have really inspired me.  She was just a little challenging for me but I am so happy with the way she turned out.  I can't wait to make another :)

Happy Rednesday everyone!!!! Thanks for stopping by for a  visit I hope you will come again soon.

PS Abagail was created using a pattern from bit of whimsy

Cheerful Little Handkerchief Dolls

As I was cleaning and reorganizing my fabric I came across my collection of vintage handkerchiefs. Whenever I find these sweet little beauties at  flea markets or estate sales I just can not help but to take them home with me.  Maybe it is the dainty lace or perhaps the pretty little flowers that pull on my heartstrings.

Maybe it is because they are from a simpler time when a ladies wore dresses, hats and white gloves. 

I began to refold each little hankie and place them in the basket to return them to their storage shelf once again.  Then the thought hit me.....wouldn't they be perfect for a little doll. 

I am so happy with my little vintage handkerchief dolls.  I am even happier that I don't have to store away all of my pretty handkerchiefs any longer.  They will be repurposed into cheerful baby dolls for little girls to love. 

Meet Percy

This is Percy the Puppy.  I can't remember the last time I has such fun creating.  There is just something about these little dolls that make me smile. Once I made the first one I was hooked.  One of the best things about creating these sweet little dolls is that each one is just a little different. Each one with it's own personality. 

With Percy's spotted eye and

happy little tail his personality is one of cheerfulness. 

After I had finished with Percy, I thought it might be fun to create his sister, Penny.  I began to look through the piles of fabric I have been collecting over the years.  I just could not find the right piece.  I guess it didn't help that all of my fabric was stacked in bins ---so very unorganized.  I sure needed a way to organize my fabric so I could easily find what I was looking for.  I happened to be walking through Target a few days ago when I came across this wonderful hanging shoe organizer.  The fat quarters of fabric that were everywhere suddenly became very organized.  

 If you are looking for an inexpensive way to organize your fabric, this shoe organizer by Michael Graves is working perfectly for me.  Well now that I can find my fabric, I am off to sew once again.  Look for pictures of Percy's sister coming soon :)