Shirley Anne’s Heart

Posted By drsao on December 10, 2008

I just returned from KC where I celebrated an early Christmas and my daddy’s 87th Birthday.  Even though not EVERYONE made it (our family is spread far and wide) a lot of us gathered for SEVERAL DAYS of celebration.  Here we are…

Actually it was a partial miracle that I made it because my boots tripped the security alarms in the Richmond Airport.  It seems that I had walked through our yard (newly fertilized) and the nitrogen in fertilizer is a common substance used in the production of bombs.  No, I did not wear the same boots on the flight back home.  Who would have thought that that could happen.  I guess that I should just get used to it because I am searched every time I leave the state.  LOL

The PLAZA LIGHTS in Kansas City are always a wonderful sight!  I took this picture from a distance but it is still a beautiful sight to behold!

Plaza Lights in KC

Here I am with family at Jardine’s – a jazz restaurant/club in KC where the Sons of Brazil were performing.  I think my flash blinded my brother!  LOL

Fred and Elaine

sao and Chris

And….ta da….I caught my daddy doing something that he is famous for……putting JELLY (special jelly from the Chippoke Plantation in VA) on his pizza.  Yes, he has been known to do this on many occasions!

Daddy eating jelly on his pizza

Elaine Holding Abbie

Jessie Kept a Close Watch on HER CHAIR

Preston the HAPPY 3 yr Old Wonder

Tara Lynn the One Year Old Reader

Here are the proud parents of the little people….Tyler and Amanda.  It is pretty wonderful to be able to celebrate four generations of family gathered together.

Tyler and Amanda

 Joey got a Coast Guard Shirt from Cousin Dustin in the Coast Guard……..

Joey Likes his Coast Guard Shirt

My Mother got a new hat and new haircut…….

Brother Dan, Mother, Sao and Daddy.

In addition to family time, I  enjoyed the latest QUILTMAKER Magazine and STARBUCKS…….YEAH!!!!!!, seeing the Christmas wreath that I made 30 years ago….YES, 30 YEARS AGO……and remember my favorite thing (one of them)  – I got to see snow as I left the KC airport!

QUILTMAKER (Bonnie Hunter) and Starbucks

Christmas Wreath - 30 years old

Snow at the KC Airport

 

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Posted By drsao on December 2, 2008

We had a wonderful day today – and it just happened to be Marla’s birthday – so we just celebrated as we went along.  The main purpose of our trek was to get our latest P. Buckley Moss prints framed – however, our first stop was the BUSY BEA quilt shop in Chester.  What an experience that was!

At the BUSY BEA we were greeted by none other than BEA herself – who has owned and operated her quilt store since 1976.  Soon after we met her daughter Cathy – and believe it or not, our shopping experience felt more like a homecoming at the holidays than a visit to a quilt shop  – and Marla and I were just one of the family!  They were friendly and helpful.  We were treated just like family.  They had some fabulous flannels and when Marla and I purchased some, we were put to work folding our fabric.  It was just too much fun!  Bea, herself, gave us helpful hints about what fabrics went together.  We carried fabric, moved displays and were even given a cookie and invited to stay for coffee!   Marla and I are still smiling about this experience.  It was wonderful.  We were certainly NOT EXPECTING to have this much fun!

After our Busy Bea experience, we went into a nearby Country Store and Marla was able to find her annual snowman – which I took a picture of, of course!  It is really cute.

We had lots of fun at Sander’s Framing Art store in Chester.  Jerre was so helpful – and is a registered Moss Framer – and so we felt like we were in expert hands!  Marla was picking up her print today – and it was just beautiful.  We both ordered the member’s only print for this year – and now I am looking forward to April when the print is released!

Finally we went to the HALFWAY HOUSE – half way in between Petersburg and Richmond.  This house was built in 1760 from a land grant from King George II in 1743.  We might have been sitting in the very chairs that Washington, LaFayette, Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Lee, or General Grant sat in.  I LOVE THESE HISTORICAL places.  There wasn’t even any heat in the building, but we were quite comfortable and cozy!  There were fireplaces in every room. 

The ambience was fabulous – loved the geniune antiques, the low doorways – and even the bathroom was charming.  If that weren’t enough, the food was out of this world.  Marla had a chicken pot pie with the flakiest crust I have ever seen.  I had a grilled vegetable wrap – the best that I have ever eaten.  Since it was Marla’s birthday she got her peanut butter pie (with a candle) free – and I joined her in dessert by having gingerbread with hard rum sauce.  It was to die for….and yes, I took pictures.  🙂  The Half Way House is wonderful – and it is so interesting to think that people used to stop there to rest while on a stage coach ride from Petersburg to Richmon – and it is now on my LIST OF FAVORITE THINGS!!!!

We ended our day at Quilter’s Corner – where we picked up our block of the month free pattern  (QUILTERS CORNERS) and fabric – and our Moda Selvages assignment for December.  As always, we enjoyed seeing our friends there and ooohing and aaahing over all of the new fabrics! 

I hope you enjoy my pictures of today – remember to click on the picture to see the entire thing.  It was a wonderful day.

I am signing off for a few days while I travel to Kansas City, Missouri (I am leaving in the morning)  to visit my family and help my daddy celebrate his birthday!  There will be more pictures later….LOL  🙂

Category: Busy Bea in Chester, Half Way House, Life Comments, Marla's Birthday, My Favorite Things, P Buckley Moss, Quilt Shops | No Comments »
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Posted By drsao on November 30, 2008

Have you heard of the expression – DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN?  Well, That is what I had yesterday – double fun.  I decorated the Owens House for Christmas – while Max played with the kittens and I have PICTURES TO PROVE IT!  LOL   Max did emerge to take my picture by the tree.  I put up a small tree this year with no breakable ornaments – I wasn’t sure whether or not the kittens would view the tree as a play place!

I even got the yard decorated this year.  Grandangels Sarah and Cooper helped me carry reindeer and trees down from the attic – and they even helped me put them together.  YEAH!   And after a little bit of help from Greg to find the right place to plug in the lights – voila – Christmas exploded on the lawn!  Four reindeer and two spiral trees.

I am happy to say that the Christmas tree has only been knocked down once so far – I guess Tonto Morris and Daisy May (two of our baby kittens) just couldn’t resist.  They waited until their PEOPLE were asleep and then they had a ball.  This morning I found the tree down and most of the ornaments scattered around – they sure did have fun!

So, here is the house and lawn decorated for Christmas.  And, yes, I REALLY DID put bows on the chickens.  LOL

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Posted By drsao on November 29, 2008

We went to see the Lewis Ginter Botannical Garden lights go on in Richmond tonight – and if you happened to watch the 5:50 pm or the 6:00 pm news on Channel 12 tonight you would have seen us on the news!  LOL….for real!

The Garden, all lit with over one half million lights, was a beautiful sight and we enjoyed walking around looking at everything.  We even ran into Santa – what a surprise – and he had one of his unusual outfits on and his long red cape was decorated with white Christmas lights – very interesting.  Sarah was thrilled to see fairies there – fairies are her thing and she has lots of them in her bedroom decor!  I really enjoyed all of the doll houses on display in the library.  They were spectacular.  Oh, would I love to have a doll house.

Here are a few of my pictures!  Remember to click on the pictures to see the entire picture!

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Posted By drsao on November 28, 2008

Sarah and I went shopping today and Sarah bought all of her Christmas presents – it was so much fun.  We loved the crowds and the lines – and all of the excitement.  AND WE DRESSED ALIKE….too funny!

Grandma SAO and Sarah off to have fun on BLACK FRIDAY

Sarah wrapped her own presents!

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