QOTW and Catch Up

First off, I will answer the QOTW...I find it is a good way to start the week ahead....

Hand-dyed fabric
Hand-dyed fabrics - love 'em or hate 'em? If you love them, what kind/colours do you have?
I didn't think I was going to answer this but then I realized that I have bought hand-dyed fabric. I really like it but it all depends on what is going to be stitched on there. I discovered Picture This Plus fabrics at CATS in October and bought Glacier (a pale icy silvery blue) for Santa Clothes and I plan on ordering their Echo for Witchy Washy. I saw samples of both of these designs on hand dyed and regular antique white evenweave. The designs are WOW on the hand dyeds and I think I will be using more of them in the future if designs call for something like that.

Okay, now for a catch up on me. I know I have been silent and I feel so blessed to have others wondering about me. Last week two family members within days lost their fathers. One was sudden and very unexpected and the other one was expected but just not now. Then add Thanksgiving and the holidays into the mix and you get a very depressed Mia. I was actually fine til Thursdays (the first) funeral. During the Mass, it really hit me how much I miss my dad and mom. It also made me realize that my dad has been gone for only 6 months. It seems like so much longer. I also realized that I will have my second set of holidays without my parents in my home. (My dad was in Assisted Living for Alzheimers last holidays). So needless to say, Thursday and Friday were not my best days. Finally on Friday I told DH that after Saturday's Funeral (the second), I was going to pick myself up and move forward. I realized that I took two steps back so to speak on Thursday and Friday and I have learned that if I don't pick myself up, I am in for a good month or so of tears, depression, what-ifs, etc. Saturday afternoon, I relaxed with the kids and then Saturday night DH took me out. It really did me a world of good.

You see, DH's cousin (and DD's godfather) has a band that plays a lot of Grateful Dead, Beatles, Bob Dylan, etc. and they had a gig at a bar nearby already scheduled for Saturday night. So DH and I, along with one of my sis in laws and brother in laws and all of DH's cousins (including the one that lost her dad), went out Saturday night and I have to tell you, it did ALL of us a world of good. For the past week, we all had tears and for the first time, we had laughs and smiles. ALL of us. It was a fun time but it was also a healing time for all of us who have been through so much this year. First, I lost my dad first in May. Then two of DH's cousins lost their mother (DH's uncle was divorced) in August. And then these two other deaths this past week. By the time we left at 1 AM, all of us were feeling better and made promises to get together more often. I was also grateful to my other sis in law (the stitchy one) that watched my kids. So yesterday I woke up feeling a lot better than I have in while and was able to go about my day.

Now for the next three days, I need to get in gear for Thanksgiving. Most of the menu is done. I need to finish the shopping, cleaning and preparing. So today I figured I will do all of my laundry (didn't do anything all weekend for above reasons) and straightening. Then tonight DH said he would go to the grocery store with me to help me get the last minute things I still need. Tomorrow I will prepare a few things that can sit til Thursday and clean. I will do the same on Wednesday and then by Thursday I will be okay to finish up and serving a wonderful dinner for 16. That 16 is just DH's immediate family. We are not big but add the kids and we are. I will have our 4, SIL's 4, other SIL's 4, my dear FIL and our 2 nephews and 1 niece's girlfriends/boyfriend. It will be a nice time. We always have fun when we are together and I am so blessed that we are together very often.

I am sure I will write a blog entry for the next two days. I will need some sort of sanity to get me through all the work that goes into a big dinner. LOL

Have a great Monday everyone!