This is it, the big day

There is nothing like working in an elementary school on your birthday. I have had so many little birthday wishes and songs today. It has been the best. The beautiful rose and box of baby cakes were on my desk this morning when I came in to work, a gift from my wonderful clerk.

I had a birthday banner on my computer.

The tulips are from my LSTC. My wonderful hubby even cooked breakfast for me this morning. After reading Dear Abby yesterday I decided to borrow an idea from one of her readers, I am embracing turning 50 and for the next year my goal is to try 50 new things. It could be something as big as a trip or as little as trying a new food. I am really excited!

I will announce the winner of my birthday giveaway tomorrow.

I was lucky enough to receive a blog award from Pat over at Silver Thimble. She is the one that deserves an award, she is my inspiration and a great friend. If you would like to check out some other great blogs here are 10 of my favorites:

1. Becky
2. Lori
3. Karen
4. Sherry
5. Kristi
6. Megan
7. Nedra
8. Gretchen
9. Mary
10. Melissa

I had a really hard time narrowing the list down to 10, there are so many blogs I try to visit on a regular basis. Hope you check these out, maybe you will discover a new one to inspire you. If you want to give out your own blog awards here are the rules:

Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.
Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
Link the nominees within your post.
Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award

What a weekend!!!!

This has been one of the best weekends ever!! Hubby outdid himself, our destination was revealed on Friday night. We were going to Barnsley Gardens in Adairsville. I was so surprised, it is a five star resort that was recently written up in Conde Nast Traveler magazine. I couldn't hardly sleep Friday night I was so excited. However, the weather didn't exactly cooperate with us. There is a lot to do at the Gardens, but most of it is outside, horseback riding, biking, hiking, canoeing, and golfing. It was too cold to do any of that, so we stopped at Tellus Science museum on the way up. I guess I am a nerd, but I thoroughly enjoyed the museum. It is divided into three parts: transportation, fossils, and minerals. They also have one of the few digital planetarium movies in the US. We spent a couple of hours there since it was too cold to do anything outside.

After the museum we headed to our main destination. When we got there, we found that the "Fairy Godmother" had been in our room,(the photo above is our cottage, I could live there.) she had left balloons and champagne. After checking out our room we wandered around the grounds and headed over to the restaurant on the grounds. We had a wonderful dinner, and were visited again by the fairy godmother, our waitress brought out the cutest little birthday cake. It was a perfect day. On Sunday we had a wonderful breakfast followed by a tour of the ruins on the ground. The ruins are the remains of a home built in the 1800's for Julia Scarborough by her husband Godfrey Barnsley. It is a very romantic story.

I have already had a wonderful birthday and it isn't even my birthday yet.

Mystery Trip

I am so excited!! I am getting one of my birthday presents early, my hubby is taking me on a mystery trip this weekend. I had told him a few months ago that I wanted to do something different and special for this birthday, but no surprise party. We are leaving Saturday morning and will be back on Sunday night, I have been told to take one really nice outfit to wear on Saturday night. I have been quizzing him and I do have few clues: we are going in the car, it is northwest from here, it will take about 2 hours to get there, and we have never been there. This is the first time he has ever planned anything like this, so I am really looking forward to the weekend. I was so excited, I was inspired to sew the last row of blocks on my Glory Bound quilt. I already have the fabric for the backing and want to get it to the quilter next week.

Help me celebrate

I remember when I was little thinking that 50 was as old as a person could possibly be. I have definitely changed my mind considering that I will be 50 in a little more than a week. I want you to help me celebrate. Tell me how you celebrated a milestone birthday and you will be entered in my birthday give away.

There are three books, Happy Hour by Atkinson Designs, Let the Good Times Roll by Anka's Treasures, and Surprisingly Simple Quilts from Australian Patchwork and Quilting Magazine. In addition there is a pack of 12 fat quarters, featuring icicles fabrics. To enter the giveaway leave a comment about one of your special days, to enter twice become a follower. The winner will be determined by RNG on my big day, February 10.

Anticipation

Last fall I signed up for a new BOM from Homestead Hearth. They have the best Block of the Month programs. I wasn't going to sign up for any more, I am already getting three of the BOM's, but I couldn't resist this one. It is the Civil War Tribute featuring Marcus Brothers repro fabrics. The program was to start in January and I have been patiently waiting all month to see the familiar manila envelope. The envelopes that I usually get are 5x7, I knew this one would be in a larger envelope, so I had several false alarms that it was here. Yesterday, hubby went to the mailbox so I had no idea that it had arrived. I did my exercise routine, messed around for a while, took a shower, then I saw the mail. I saw a manila envelope with the familiar return address. I was so excited, I couldn't wait to open it. The fabrics are perfect!! I wanted to get started today, but some unexpected and unwanted intestinal issues interfered with my sewing plans.

Tuesday Night Fun

Last night, Becky, Pat, and Krisite came over to do some stitching and some *****ing. "(Karin had to cancel at the last minute due to sick grand baby, hope she is feeling better now.) We had a great time. I am working on my Snowmen A to Z stitchery. I have completed three blocks, I didn't start at the beginning, I have done I, P, and the E&F blocks. I really like this pattern and can't wait to finish all of the blocks. Pat was working on a KathySchmidtz stitchery. She is a wonderful designer and has some great patterns. (both Kathy and Pat) I was glad that Pat was able to spend some time with us, since she is leaving for a Quilting By the Bay Retreat in Florida later in the week.

Becky brought her knitting, she alternated between socks and a scarf. Becky was also having a big day at school today with a visiting illustrator. I know she is really busy with that today. She is using one of Krisite's sock patterns. Krisite is the most talented person in the entire world. She knits, quilts, spins, weaves, and has a menagerie at her house. Krisite is working on an additional degree so she is always busy.

Becky is doing a great job with her practice sock. I don't know that I will ever attempt to do socks, they look really neat but I think for now I will stick with scarves and hats. Kristie was working on her yoyo's.

We had a great time! We have not only a love of quilting and sewing but Krisite, Becky and myself are media specialists, and Pat is a retired teacher. If we are talking about sewing in one form or another, we are talking about school. I am so glad that everyone could come over, I had a great time. Looking forward to seeing everyone next month.