My Momma Came!

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Hello my friends!

This is one of those times when I feel like I have nothing to say or share. I flew to New Mexico in January and spent a few days helping my Mom pack up to fly back to Tennessee with me for a few months. My sister flew out and got her and they just left yesterday; I feel like the last 3 months are a happy blur! I decided that this is what I had to share today!

I lost my Dad in July of 2023 and he and Mom had been lifelong sweethearts so honestly she has had a really hard time living life without my Dad; they were one of those couples that were inseparable. So everything has been a huge adjustment. But I’m so thankful for her willingness to leave her cozy ranchhouse and come stay with us for a few months.

Anyway, this morning I just felt like sharing some photos of my mother while she was here. I want to treasure these sweet memories.

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Our airport selfie as we began the long day of driving 3 hours to her closest airport and then flying all day to my closest airport…. and the another drive to our farm. Such a long day for my Momma. But she’s a good sport. (And wheelchairs are a lifesaver in the airport!)

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I moved my sewing machine, ironing station, and sewing supplies from my upstairs sewing studio to our dining room downstairs. That way Mom was able to sew to her hearts content without having to climb the stairs.

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My momma is so lucky to have her oldest granddaughter (my daughter) and her two oldest great-grand girls that live just minutes from us next to our farm. They came up often to play a game, play the piano, work on a puzzle, or just hang out.

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My mom in “her” bedroom with the flowers and card I got her on her Anniversary. My dad loved roses. Mom always got the most gorgeous bouquet of roses from him on their anniversary. This was a happy day for her, remembering so many wonderful anniversaries with Dad.

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We met for coffee with Jillian, Mom’s oldest great-grand girl, before she left for her morning college class. We did this a few times!

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Of course we can’t forget Belle. Our Australian Shepherd that never forgets my Momma… she’s so excited every year when she comes. Mom made sure to play frisbee with her on her little walks around the hilltop.

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Mom just might shoot me when she sees I’ve shared this picture! But I couldn’t resist. We were in our tornado shelter THREE times in the middle of the night this early spring and Mom was such a good sport about it! I think since there aren’t tornadoes where she lives in NM, it was kind of an adventure! But I had to send the picture to my siblings and we all thought it was pretty cute!

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Mom chose some fabric from my stash and I cut her some 5 inch squares; she had such a good time putting together a huge pile of nine-patch blocks that she plans to quilt this summer at her house. She was excited to have a project to take home with her. Rosetta had fun helping her lay them out!

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I had a whole bunch of red and white half square triangles cut before she came and I quickly sewed up a quilt top with them and Mom went to work on hand quilting. It took her most of the 3 months she was here to do the hand quilting and then the binding. But it came out SO gorgeous. I loved watching her work on it most every day. Her hands hurt with arthritis but she said she was exercising them!

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Just a few days before she left, she got it finished!

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We celebrated three April birthdays together this weekend. My Mom’s 88th, my husband’s, and Jillian’s 17th. It was so fun to celebrate together.

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Today I feel lonely. I keep expecting Mom to come and tell me something, or to be sitting in my little sitting area off the kitchen where she sat and talked to me while I cooked. It’s too quiet. But I also have a very thankful heart that this is something I get to do each year through the winter. Our memories together will be a treasure.

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Oh and I DID do something fun to talk about this month! I completely forgot to tell you that I made such a fun quilt coat for our very own Suburban Farmgirl, Nicole, here on the Farmgirl blog!! I asked her to send me a vintage quilt and I’d make her a coat. I really needed some projects to work on while Mom was here and this was so perfect! I got Mom’s advice on a few things and I was off and running. You can read Nicole’s blog post all about it and see the pictures – she is an absolute doll in the coat, as I knew she would be!

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Until our gravel roads cross again… So long.

Dori