Snail Mail, A New Sewing Macine, and a Dear Friend

 It took forever, but all of the grandchildren finally received my Valentines. I do not understand why the mail to New Hampshire takes so long. My last two mailings, which were only envelopes, took fourteen days and nine days, respectively. Anyway, I had so much fun making them and writing messages on the inside. Six year old Eliot exclaimed how much he liked his card and described all the details of it. Finally he exuberantly announced that I was his "second favorite grandma". Wait a minute...second favorite? I cracked up laughing. I told his mom I guess second place wasn't so bad except that with only two places to be ranked, it meant that I was last place. Lol! I said children's emotions are like the wind and ever changing. I expect I will be favorite another day.

A super big event this week was my purchase of a new sewing machine. I have been sewing on my Singer Fashion Mate 360 for forty-nine years! My sister Charlotte and I went in halves on it all those years ago. It still runs okay but like Steve said, I had been sewing with a stick shift and now I have an automatic. It is definitely an upgrade. I have had a few days to get to know the new Janome and I like it more each day. It is much more cooperative to work with and makes sewing more of a joy than a task. I finished piecing a Kim Diehl quilt pattern using fabrics from the Tilda Merry Little Christmas line. The dining room table hasn't gotten much of a rest these past few weeks.

 Lastly, I went to Eleanor's house this week as I always do. I realized that I have been going there every Wednesday for the last ten years (with the exception of illness or travel) . We get together for rug hooking but it is really so much more than that. I am between hooking projects so I had nothing with me to work on this week. That doesn't matter and I go anyway. Eleanor put the tea kettle on and said, "Tell me a story!" I always seem have plenty to tell and she is always amused. Eleanor will turn ninety-three next month and her husband, Frank will be one hundred this year. I love to hear their stories too.