So, I can't find my camera. I have torn apart my house, ginormous handbag and car to no avail. These are the last pictures I transferred to the laptop. They are of the mug rugs I made for the latest swap at the Quilting Gallery. The theme was the Sochi Olympics. My swap mate was a nice lady named Sandy from Iowa. I'd show you the cute mug rugs she sent me but did I mention? I lost my camera.

The big event you missed was the retirement party for Sue, our fabulous water aerobics instructor. Everybody was quite faclempt when it came time for her speech. Not sure who took this shot:

The five of us with the butterfly wings on our heads were the musical entertainment for the evening. Glad there is no video of that performance! Or is there . . . ?

Traditional Irish blessing . . .

May those that love us, love us. 

And those that don’t love us, May God turn their hearts. 

And if He can’t turn their hearts 

May he turn their ankles, So we’ll know them by their limp! 

Alzheimers Request

My friend, Penny, gave me this poem. We need to do more to end this terrible disease. You can donate at Alz.org

Do not ask me to remember,

don't try to make me understand.

Let me rest and know you're with me,

kiss my cheek and hold my hand

I'm confused beyond your concept,

I'm sad and sick and lost.

All I know is that I need you,

to be with me at all cost.

Do not lose your patience with me,

do not scold or curse or cry.

I can't help the way I'm acting,

I can't be different though I try.

Just remember that I need you,

that the best of me is gone.

Please don't fail to stand beside me,

love me 'til my life is gone.

Sue and Florence and I rocketed up to the Redlands Sunday to the Fruit and Spice Park for the 25th annual Asian Cultural Festival. We LOVE this day every year!

crazy wierd and wacky fruit

We tend to graze our way through the day and here are Florence and Sue posing in their Chinese hats with our Japanese beers and Bangladeshi food. Yum

We paid a visit to the Tibetan monks - this is their booth - and received a blessing. I kneeled in front of my monk and he said the usual things about health, luck, etc. in the year to come and I looked up and said and peace of mind? He said yes yes peace, and dipped his broom thingy in the holy water again and thwacked me in the face with about a quart of water.! I gave a little scream, I think. Trust Florence to say the right thing: Wow! That must have been a really special blessing! We went to the booth next door for our massages after.  yessssss

As you can see, it was a gorgeous day

And we saw what, as you may know, is my favorite performance of the day: The Fushu Daiko drummers. In the words of Tony the Tiger, they were GREAT!

The quilts

Just a few of the quilts from the show. Such clever creative women I have the privilege to know!

with Aunt Grace fabrics - love this!

I think Jo's quilt won Viewer's Choice - click on it, it's beautiful

Mary Ellen took first prize for this applique - well deserved.

Hard workin' women, Penny and Nancy in the Country Store

Off to the Asian Cultural Festival this morning, up in Homestead. But before I go I wanted to share this picture from the quilt show:

Ta da! Took second place!

Helped set up at the quilt show and here you see the transformation. More about the quilts later.

before

after!

Yesterday morning, Mom and I went on the Upper Keys Garden Walk 2014. I had some trepidation about it because, well frankly I used to live like this: a house on the water, beautiful landscaping. A husband. So is it all about wanting what I don't have? Not exactly. I've let my husband out of my thoughts. Mostly. And I get that I'll never live that life of privilege again. But on days like this I can't help but think what an injustice he did to me and my family. He took it all away from me and it's been a long struggle to get my self back. I'll never be the carefree person I was but I'm still putting one foot in front of the other, going through the motions as it were, and that's what I did yesterday. Saw some pretty gardens and here are the pictures.

beauteous mother

crazy climbing vine

outdoor shower

my friend, Suzy, as docent

The top parrot is 49 years old!

orchid house