One Year Ago Today

One year ago today the world lost an amazing man and I lost my dad. 

He was part daredevil.

He was fascinated by my daughter's peacock, Gizmo.  

It was one of his fondest dreams later in his life to get to visit her farm and see all her peacocks.

He got that wish.

He was petting the pet turkey, Jocelyn here.

He and Gizmo sharing a bonfire at the farm.

He love my children fiercely and unconditionally and they adored him.

This is one of the last outings we were able to go on together.  

We drove to Lansing to see his best friend and stopped in Mason for ice cream on the way home.

This is my favorite photo of me and my dad.  

It was taken on my wedding day almost 32 years ago now.

I miss my dad.  I think about him all the time. 

 I still want to pick up the phone and give him a call to tell him something that has happened or is happening in my life, but I know he knows.

If you still have your dad or grandpa in your life, take a minute and give him an extra hug today in memory of my dad.  Spend a few more minutes listening to that same old story once again.  Appreciate all the time you have left and take LOTS of pictures.  

RIP dad, you are loved and missed!

~XOP

Tribute to Gizmo

If you follow my blog you will probably know all about Gizmo  

Remember Gizmo, the house peacock?  No?  

Well here are some photos of him to refresh your memory.

My daughter raised him from the time he was 6 days old.  They shared a special bond.

Gizmo got very ill last week. 

 He stopped eating and drinking and was very lethargic.  

Shelby took him to the vet on Friday and got some antibiotics.  

On the way home, she was stopped at a light in her car and the person behind her did not stop 

and she was rear ended.  

She is fine and so was Gizmo, but the car?  Not so much. 

 Then on Saturday while we were away, I received the text I did not want.  

Gizmo passed away.  

My daughter is just distraught!  

So yesterday we drove to Michigan State to have a necropsy done 

so we can know what Gizzy died from.  

It was very hard for her to say good bye and leave him there and I am so proud of her for doing it. 

 I know when she has time to grieve she will want to imprint another peacock so she needs to know if there is something at her house that caused his death.  

She is thinking a protozoan infection but hopefully we will know something soon.  

This is how I will remember him the best!

RIP Gizmo. 

 You were one loved and spoiled birdie!  

We will all miss you but I know you are now with Osiris and my dad keeping God amused! 

Shelby has a very loving tribute she wrote about Gizmo and you can read it here.

A good friend of hers (cataclysmess) painted this for her.

Love you Gizmo!

~XOP~

Mother's Day Weekend

I hope everyone that celebrates Mother's Day had a wonderful day! 

 I had a fantastic weekend with my family.  

They only one missing was my daughter in NC.  

On Saturday morning I went with my daughter and her boyfriend to a local nursery 

to pick up the plants for "our" garden.

I spent all afternoon weeding this stretch of the garden. 

 See my "helper" Gzimo, at the other end?

Doesn't everyone need a "helper" peacock?

He would get up on my seat when I got up to go get something to drink or stretch my back.

I also had a helper turkey, Jocelyn.

She was hatched from an egg when DD still lived at my house!

She kept begging for dandelion heads, silly turkey!!!

Hubby was working on the peacock pen

After many hours working in the hot sun, we stopped and went home to shower.  

On the way back we picked up my dad and brought him back to my daughter's house for a bonfire.

We roasted hot dogs for dinner and he just hung out by the fire with us.  

He got a little chilly so I found this quilt for him.  It's one I made a LONG time ago. 

 I still really like it though.

 Gizmo even had his own chair by the fire.

On Sunday the weeding continued.  

DD found this amazingly huge beetle!

I had to wear this hat so I wouldn't end up sunburned!  

I was the designated planter.  

I planted so many tomato and pepper plants. 

 Also lots of lettuce.  

Gizmo thought I had planted all these things for him!

Helping is thirsty work. 

 The water by the rubarb plant looked good to him!

 Hubby was roofing the pen on Sunday 

Then he took a break with Abbey and Gizmo

I finally got all the plants in for the day.

We ordered pizza and my son came over to join us for dinner.  It was a great way to spend the weekend!  I didn't do any sewing but I am looking forward to the fruits of my labor come later this summer!!

~XOP~

Stop Over To Pink Castle Fabric's Blog

I went to the Meet and Greet at Pink Castle Fabrics last night. 

 The teachers for Camp Stitchalot were there and I had an opportunity to interview them. 

 The teachers included Debbie Grifka of Esch House Quilts, 

Jeni Baker of In Color Order and Anna Graham of Noodlehead.

I posted about Debbie tonight and the other post will be up tomorrow with the interviews of Jeni and Anna.

Take a minute and stop in at  the Pink Castle Fabric blog and read about these three amazing women.  Leave them a comment and say HI! 

 It was an amazing night and I hope to get to spend more time with

 more amazing Camp Stitchalot counselors in the future.

Just some quick gratuitous pics of my daughter and Gizmo

I hate posting without pictures!

Have a great night!

~XOP~