So Much Has Been Happening

I'm not sure where to even begin. 

 I think I will just start where I left off. 

 I went to Raleigh last week to visit my daughter. 

 We had a amazing week together.  

I always miss her so much when I come back. 

 I flew down on Monday and we drove to Atlantic Beach in NC. 

 We stayed for three nights and drove back to her place on Thursday.

This was the view out our balcony door.  

Looking to the left you can see the hot tub and to it's left was the actual swimming pool.

To the right were the cabana beds and a smaller pool, just for looks though I think

This is looking straight out from our room.  

Every morning they set up umbrellas and chairs for everyone.  

This is the Atlantic Ocean.

The area we were in was called the Crystal Coast. 

 I kept wondering if it was from all the amazing quartz I kept finding on the beach.  

And yes, much to my husband's dismay I brought them all home with me!

  Kelsey kept the shells.

We had some great food too.  Best nacho's ever were at the Ruddy Duck. 

 I found this really cool fossil of some coral too.

Nothing beats sunshine and the beach!!

We had a great time just hanging out together.

We stopped in New Bern on the way home from the beach.  

That is where Kelsey works right now, on the Neuse river.  

(I asked how to spell it and she said, "like the noose you put around your neck") and I laughed.  

We stopped in at the Sting Ray Cafe where she goes all the time when she is there.

The owner was fabulous and even brought us out some scallops 

he had just caught that were enormous!  

He grilled them and put crab all around, topped with cheese and drizzled butter.  

YUM!

There were some beautiful homes in that town too.  We drove around oogling all of them.

On Friday I took the car and drove myself to some quilt shops in the morning. 

 I went to Cary Quilting and found this pattern.

I also went to Wish Upon a Quilt and scored a little Bonnie and Cammile love.

I also went to Elegant Stitches and found a few things.

I had to be home after lunch so we could go to the outlet mall and go shopping. 

 I didn't take any photos of the things we got but we got some pretty good stuff there too.  

Unfortunately on Friday I got a call that my dad was acting really crazy and 

I knew that meant he had another infection. 

 I was gone, the owners of the home were gone and hubby was not going to be there until the evening.  So, bless his heart, he got home and took my dad to the ER, and it was my hubby's birthday!  

My dad ended up being admitted and by Sat night was so agitated they had to sedate him. 

 It was pretty nerve wracking to be so far away and not able to help at all. 

 I will go into this more another time though as this is already so long!  

On my way to another adventure I stopped at Thimble Pleasures.  I found some of this!

I put it on IG and ended up selling quite a few yards for them!  LOL 

 I also bought some other fabric for myself.  

I shared the mice and the dragonflies with some friends though.  

My adventure took me to Pitsboro to meet up with a blogging friend that I have not met IRL. 

 I got to see her studio and we went out for lunch and to a neat little shop.  

Many of you probably know her but it was Bea Lee, from Bea Quilter. 

 I did find out, for anyone interested that you say her name like BEE-A  not just BEE.  

Enquiring minds want to know.  

We had a great time. 

 It felt like we were long lost friends!!  

All in all the trip was great.  

I was anxious to get home to my dad.  

Seems like every time he goes into the hospital he comes out with a little less mental acuity. 

 I had the difficult decision to engage Hospice for him.  

His dementia has worsened and I really want to keep him out of any more hospital visits.  

They can treat his frequent UTI's from home now.  

So far he is holding his own.  

Oh how I miss this girlie!

So that was my last week and this week has been pretty much dad duty 

(he was not discharged from the hosptial until Tuesday night) and trying to catch up at home. 

 How was your week.  I missed you guys!

~XOP~